Chapter 96: Matchmaking Amid Mourning

Xu Zhiquan: “It’s fine. Not yet necessary.”

He thought for a moment and added, “How many of your brothers are coming?”

Li Rui: “About twenty or thirty of them.”

Xu Zhiquan nodded. “That’s good…”

He didn’t say more, turned, and strode outside.

Fang Tao hurried to follow.

Once in the courtyard, Xu Zhiquan lit a cigarette and finally spoke to Fang Tao:

“It feels too empty like this. Having twenty or thirty classmates here is good.

I was thinking…

we still need to hire a team to handle funeral arrangements—get wreaths, tents, set everything up properly.

Also, since your classmates are here, we should prepare a big banquet…”

Xu Zhiquan inhaled and recalled the snippets of gossip he’d heard entering the village. He continued,

“Make it impressive. Let those neighbors see!”

Xie Bingran’s birth father was a convict. It wasn’t wrong that neighbors avoided them.

That was human nature.

But seeing innocent elders and children crushed by whispered slanders and cold stares in the village was too pitiful.

Xu Zhiquan’s expression wavered. He wondered how that young girl, once starving and helpless, had survived all those years.

Fang Tao’s shoulders twitched. He cleared his throat in a muffled voice and said,

“Understood, Mr. Xu. I’ll ask the elders at home who to hire for all this.”

Though Fang Tao seemed scatterbrained, he was actually clever.

Xu Zhiquan nodded,

“Let’s go together. First ask near your village; if that fails, I’ll call people from town.”

With that, the two quickly left the courtyard.

At the gate sat Women’s Director Aunt Feng.

They could have asked her directly, but Xu Zhiquan saw her impatient, box-ticking expression and decided not to waste words.

…

…

In front of the mourning hall, Xu Chen and Li Rui flanked Xie Bingran.

Soon, two boys burst in, panting.

They called out, “Bing Ge!”

It was the burly Zhao Feng and their schoolmate Cheng Yong.

Li Rui signaled Zhao Feng to keep his voice down.

Zhao Feng nodded, saying nothing.

He and Cheng Yong took the incense Li Rui handed them and bowed in silent tribute to their grandmother, then stood quietly.

Seeing Xu Chen, they whispered, “Chen Ge.”

Li Rui asked softly, “What about the other brothers?”

Zhao Feng: “They’re still on their way. Cheng Yong and I live closer, so we rushed over when we heard.”

…

After a while,

a middle-aged woman with a flirtatious gait wobbled into the courtyard.

Her face plastered with smiles, she looped an arm around Women’s Director Aunt Feng and whispered something, giggling.

Moments later, the director led her into the house.

Aunt Feng said,

“Miss Xie, this is Aunt Liu from the west end of the village. She often chatted with your grandma and came to pay respects.”

Aunt Liu forced a solemn expression, stepped forward, bowed, and said,

“Please accept my condolences, miss.”

Li Rui handed her incense; she accepted it and bowed sincerely.

The chubby Aunt Feng retreated to her table at the gate.

Aunt Liu glanced at the boys inside with a strange look.

She then crouched beside Xie Bingran.

Grasping her arm, she began,

“I used to chat with your grandma all the time.

She said, if she passed, leaving you alone would be too pitiful.

She hoped to see you married before she left…”

Li Rui and Zhao Feng exchanged grim looks.

They also glanced at Xu Chen’s dark expression.

Aunt Liu still held Xie Bingran’s arm and continued,

“You’re almost out of school. It’s tough for a young woman alone…

Better find a good family soon. Your grandma would rest easier…”

Xie Bingran remained kneeling, head bowed, silent.

Suddenly she yanked her arm free, startling Aunt Liu.

Behind her, Xu Chen’s face was thunderous as he asked,

“What are you implying?”

Aunt Liu glanced at him, startled but ignored him.

Soon she put on a polite smile and turned back to Xie Bingran:

“There are two families interested in matchmaking. You’ve been away; this is perfect timing!”

Before she finished, Li Rui, Zhao Feng, and Cheng Yong stiffened.

This village woman actually came to play matchmaker…

Xie Bingran stayed kneeling, head lowered, unmoved.

Xu Chen looked at Aunt Liu and asked coldly,

“Who are they?”

Aunt Liu smiled and said,

“First is Liu Daqiang from the east end of the village. You know him, right? He wired your house’s electricity.

He has two houses here and one in town; a bit older but well off. He was married, now widowed with a young son…”

“The other is someone you know even better—a primary school classmate, Huang Qingchun. He works at a food factory in town, earns over three thousand a month.

He’s good-looking but walks with a limp. You went to elementary school together, so you know about that. It’s not a major issue…”

Xie Bingran stayed silent, her body trembling with anger.

Li Rui ground his teeth in fury.

This matchmaker suggested a widower and an invalid!

Xu Chen’s face darkened as he asked,

“Anyone else?”

Aunt Liu rolled her eyes at him—she didn’t know these boys or this talkative kid.

She then resumed her flattering tone:

“That’s all for now. They’ve both had their eyes on you for a while and asked me to connect you.

It’s just making friends—nothing to be shy about!”

Xu Chen glanced at Li Rui and Zhao Feng and asked,

“Can you find Liu Daqiang and Huang Qingchun?”

Li Rui clamped his jaw. “We can.”

Xu Chen: “Don’t be too rough.”

Li Rui: “We know.”

Aunt Liu stuttered, looking up at Xu Chen. “What are you…?”

Xu Chen ignored her.

Li Rui narrowed his eyes: “We’re not doing anything. Just making sure no one sets you up again…”

Zhao Feng wore a fierce look. He said low,

“We’re here to mourn. You’re too loud, woman! Come outside and chat with me!”

Aunt Liu: “Huh?!”

Without more words, Zhao Feng reached out with his large hand and yanked Aunt Liu to her feet…

Maybe Aunt Liu meant well or just followed tradition,

but Christ, she was infuriating.

It was a funeral, and she came to matchmake. And worst, her candidates were a widower and a cripple.

In her and the villagers’ eyes, a convict’s daughter marrying anyone might seem lucky.

…