Chapter 55: Zhao Baili, Flashy With His Wealth

After Zhao Baili brought Miss Sun back to Yanggu County, they met Sun Dasha. Sun Dasha was very happy. His biological sister had come back, and she had brought lots of good food, so he merrily ate and drank his fill.

After he had eaten his fill, Miss Sun said she would find a wife for Sun Dasha and asked if he had a girl in mind. Sun Dasha immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, “Yes, I like Xiao’e.”

Xiao’e, whose full name was Cai Xiao’e, was also from Yanggu County. Her family was ordinary and they lived in Firewood Alley. When Sun Dasha worked as a peddler carrying a load and selling goods, he took a liking to Cai Xiao’e because she liked embroidery and often bought his needles and thread.

Every time Cai Xiao’e came to buy needles and thread, Sun Dasha would stand with his sleeves tucked in, smiling foolishly, muttering, “Pretty, really pretty.”

Cai Xiao’e did not particularly like looking at him, but he was the only peddler in the area. If she did not buy from him she would have to walk far to a general store, which was not worth it.

Therefore every time, Cai Xiao’e ignored him and only asked the price, “How much for this needle?”

“One wen.”

“And the thread?”

“One wen.”

“Here, take the money.”

After Cai Xiao’e finished buying and left, an older woman nearby wondered why the needles and thread were so cheap. Normally a needle cost three wen and a skein of thread three wen. Today they were cheap, so she wanted a bargain.

“Seller of needles and thread, how much are these needles and thread?”

“Are you buying?”

Sun Dasha asked, and the older woman found it curious. What sort of question was this? Of course she was interested in buying.

“Yes, how much?”

“Needles five wen, thread five wen.”

Good heavens, that was using someone else’s money to fill the hole left by Cai Xiao’e.

And so Sun Dasha hopelessly fell in love with Cai Xiao’e.

When his sister said today she would find him a wife, he immediately thought of Cai Xiao’e.

Having a full name made it easy for his sister. She would hire a matchmaker to propose. She would pay the matchmaker more, and the matchmaker happily ran to Cai Xiao’e’s home.

“Oh my sister, quickly put down your broom. Your good days are coming. Someone has taken a fancy to your Xiao’e…”

The matchmaker rattled off the story and praised Sun Dasha, saying he was strapping and strong, clever and capable…

Cai Xiao’e’s mother was stunned. She said, “Sister Zhang, aren’t you talking about the big simple peddler who walks the streets, Sun Dasha? I can see he’s strapping and strong, but clever and capable?”

“Oh, sister, what’s wrong with you? Don’t you know, Master Sun is quite clever. He sells needles and thread to your daughter for one wen and sells to others for five wen. He can keep those accounts straight. Isn’t that clever? He looks foolish, but he is actually clever. Besides, he has a good sister and a good brother-in-law. The brother-in-law said that once Xiao’e joins their household he will buy a house for her and provide maidservants and an old housekeeper. When that time comes, sister, will you still have to sweep the courtyard?”

Cai Xiao’e’s mother was somewhat tempted, but she still shook her head and said, “It will not do. My Xiao’e was betrothed as a child to someone. Although that boy has disappeared and we do not know where he went, we promised to wait for him until he is eighteen.”

“My word, eighteen?! Xiao’e would be an old maid by then, plus we do not even know where the person went. This matter is probably pointless. It would just delay the girl.”

As the matchmaker spoke, Cai Xiao’e’s father returned. He said, “I am good friends with that boy’s father. How can we go back on our word? You should go back and tell them we thank the Sun family for their kindness.”

The matchmaker reluctantly went back to report to Miss Sun and Zhao Baili. Sun Dasha immediately protested. Miss Sun urged Sun Dasha, “If she says no, we will just find another family. There are plenty of good girls in Yanggu County.”

“I won’t, I won’t. I only want Xiao’e. I want Cai Xiao’e!” cried Sun Dasha.

Sun Dasha threw a tantrum. Miss Sun was at a loss and looked to Zhao Baili. Zhao Baili smiled and said, “This is nothing. I, Zhao Baili, am so wealthy now. Surely I can handle the mere Cai family. Matchmaker, first go and investigate this child betrothal. Come back and tell us what the situation is, and then we will make a plan.

“All right, Master Zhao, Madam, you rest. I will go and find out,” the matchmaker said.

After a short while the matchmaker returned. “Master, Madam, I have found out. The child betrothal boy is from the Hu family in Vegetable Alley.”

It turned out that Hu Laoda, the head of the Hu household, was a good friend and old acquaintance of Cai Xiao’e’s father. In those days they liked arranging child betrothals, so they agreed that when Cai Xiao’e grew up she would marry the Hu family’s boy, Hu Yiping.

Later, when Hu Yiping was eight or nine, the boy took to bad behavior and stole money from the household. He was discovered by Hu Yiping’s father. Should a child that young get away with stealing?

Hu Yiping’s father angrily ranted in the house to his wife that if the boy ever came back that day he would break his legs for stealing.

Hu Yiping was still small and timid. When his father said those words he was eavesdropping outside. Hearing that his legs would be broken when he returned, his face turned white and he thought to himself, “I should run.”

So that night the boy ran away and disappeared. No one knew whether he was dead or what had happened. Hu Yiping’s father then went crazy searching for him for five or six years. He became a wreck from worry. After five or six years with no news, they feared that if the boy had been captured by traffickers and had his limbs cut, the child would be ruined.

His father was frantic with worry and anger and fell ill and died. The household was left with only the mother struggling to hold things together. When the Cai family learned of this misfortune, they went to look for Hu Yiping’s mother. Hu Yiping’s mother said that the child was neither seen alive nor found dead. She suggested they call off the betrothal so as not to delay Cai Xiao’e.

Cai Xiao’e’s father was a man of principle, but he also thought that with only one daughter he could not let her suffer through life. He told Hu Yiping’s mother, “Let Xiao’e wait until eighteen. If that good-for-nothing Hu Yiping still does not return by then, we will not wait.”

Thus the two families made this agreement.

When the matchmaker told Zhao Baili the story, Zhao Baili clapped his hands and said, “This matter seems not difficult. Cai Xiao’e is already sixteen and has been waiting all these years. It would not be unreasonable to wait two more years. But in two years she will be a full grown maiden and harder to marry. Matchmaker, go once more to the Cai family and explain the pros and cons.”

“Be sure to make clear the advantages and disadvantages of waiting two more years and the harm of holding out hope for Hu Yiping. Also tell the Cai family that after she marries in and becomes mistress of the house, I will add five hundred taels of silver as bride-price for my brother-in-law. I do not believe the Cai family will refuse.”

When the matchmaker heard this her eyes lit up and she stamped her foot with determination, saying, “Five hundred for the bride-price? There are hardly any like that in all of Yanggu County! I will handle this. I will handle it.”

The matchmaker agreed eagerly. Zhao Baili was pleased and said, “If the matter succeeds I will give you ten taels of silver as a reward.”

Upon hearing that, the matchmaker, as if energized, guaranteed, “Ah, Master Zhao, I make this vow today. If I do not get our brother Sun married to Cai Xiao’e, then I, I will marry him myself!”

“No, no, we do not want that!”