Chapter 88: Getting married

February 19th, Dafu’s first birthday.

The Fan household didn’t prepare a grand feast, only simply inviting a few close families, yet they still set up five tables.

The place was lively and joyous.

Two or three days later, Xu Yang spread word in the village that the county government planned to sell the village’s vacant, ownerless wasteland.

Those interested in buying land were to register directly with the Xu family.

Kang He had already learned of this news the day before; on this day, he neither went to the county nor arranged to slaughter a pig, instead waiting in the village specifically for this matter.

The last time the village sold land like this was over two years ago—the time had passed quickly.

Early in the morning, the farmers with intentions to buy land gathered at the Xu family, waiting to inspect the wasteland.

As the appointed time neared, Xu Yang led the farmers to tour the parcels of wasteland available for sale within the village.

Most villagers already knew which plots of wasteland existed in their own village, but weren’t sure which ones were up for sale this time.

“That twenty or so mu east of the village looks good to me,” Fan Senior whispered quietly to Kang He. “Some might complain that the grass is thick and the soil thin, but beneath that thin soil is black earth—very fertile!”

“If that part is for sale, we’ll buy the east outskirts,” Kang He agreed.

“This time, they’re nearly clearing all the ownerless fields, selling a lot. That spot hasn’t been farmed in years; it just might be up for sale.”

Soon, the group of villagers arrived at the east outskirts.

Upon hearing Xu Yang say that land was going to be divided and sold there, Fan Senior happily slapped his thigh.

After inspecting the land, Xu Yang explained the buying rules to the farmers.

According to the county government’s regulations, regardless of social status—be they scholars, farmers, or merchants—households with more than fifty mu of farmland may purchase at most ten mu of additional land, and only after households with less land have bought theirs can they buy more.

Those with between thirty and forty-nine mu may purchase fifteen mu.

Those with twenty to twenty-nine mu may increase their holdings by five mu.

Those with ten to nineteen mu may add another five mu.

For households with less than ten mu, they may increase their land by as much as thirty mu.

Most farmers were only interested in the smaller numbers.

Even if one could increase holdings by thirty or fifty mu, they simply didn’t have enough money to do so.

Each time, it became a lively affair, but usually only one or two mu were actually purchased.

Some short-sighted villagers sneered, “If big landowners could buy more, why wouldn’t they instruct their families to buy more? What’s the use of promising such large land quotas to poor households?”

They didn’t realize the government’s intention behind these regulations: to give ordinary farmers a chance to purchase at least a little land.

If reversed, there wouldn’t be a speck of land left for the poor families.

Kang He pondered this and happily told Fan Jing, “Our household barely has nine mu two fen in total, so we can just barely purchase the maximum allowed.”

Fan Jing was unhurried. “Let’s wait and see what the land prices are this time.”

After explaining the buying rules, naturally they discussed the most important concern for the farmers: the land price.

Xu Yang said, “This time the ownerless fields have been fully accounted for; opportunities like this will be rare for another ten or eight years.”

“The county wants to benefit the farmers. Good wasteland is priced at nine guan per mu; poorer wasteland at seven guan per mu.”

Hearing the prices, the farmers immediately began murmuring.

“My goodness, last time good wasteland sold for ten guan per mu, and this time it’s only nine. Poor land is seven, down by one guan!”

“That’s because last time the county sold wasteland in the west outskirts—land that had never been cultivated before. This time it’s ownerless land that was carefully managed five or eight years ago, so it’s better than the previous wasteland.”

“The price is still good. I’m even willing to borrow some copper coins to buy three or five fen this time.”

Kang He, Fan Jing, and Fan Senior, after learning the prices, began discussing which land to buy and how much.

“Father says the east outskirts soil is good. I noticed that the wasteland there is contiguous—not scattered here and there in small plots. If we buy it all, managing and farming will be much easier.”

Fan Senior added, “That’s right, it’s close to the village main road; transporting the harvest in autumn will be convenient. I’m for buying that spot.”

Fan Jing didn’t oppose, only concerned about how many mu they should acquire.

When they went to inspect the land earlier, Xu Yang measured twenty-two mu of wasteland in the east outskirts.

Of these, eighteen mu were poorer quality, and four mu were good land.

Kang He calculated the price: eighteen mu of poorer land would cost 126 guan, and four mu of good land, 36 guan.

So, the total for the twenty-two mu would be 162 guan.

Kang He couldn’t help but exhale sharply—this was not a small sum.

A few days prior, Kang He had counted the money on hand: 280 guan in savings untouched, 32 guan saved from earnings at the shop and occasional side income from slaughtering pigs at year-end.

Besides these, there was a 20 tael silver reward from the county for capturing a bandit, and 60 taels of silver ingots gifted by the Wu family.

All totaled, they had nearly 392 guan on hand—almost 400 guan.

Opportunities like this county-led land sale would be hard to come by again.

To buy more land later, they’d have to purchase from private sellers.

At best, they could only get three to five mu at a time, and the price would certainly not be as favorable.

They decided to bite the bullet and buy a full plot this time.

“There haven’t been any major expenses lately,” Kang said.

“If there are, it’ll be after the harvest. Better to buy these twenty-two mu now.”

“We can’t pull together a lot of money for her dowry, so we’ll buy land instead. Holding land deeds is safer. After marriage, whether the land is leased or farmed, it’s a long-term asset—better than dead money sitting idle in hand.”

Kang He said this to comfort Fan Senior.

Even if they bought the land, it wouldn’t diminish Zhen’er’s dowry.

Besides, they didn’t use all their savings; the butcher shop generated a steady monthly income.

He said this just to reassure Fan Senior.

Everyone loved Zhen’er in the household.

Besides, Fan Senior was a man of pride.

Since Zhen’er had married into a family of higher status, he wanted her dowry to be impressive—not only so she’d live well, but also to bring honor to their family name.

Fan Senior’s words stirred Kang He’s heart.

As a simple farmer, how could he not want to acquire more land?

But twenty-two mu was a big number.

Sweat ran down his back; even if he tightened the purse strings, how much money could he save from tending manure?

His wife might have some, but she was holding it back for Zhen’er and Qiao’er’s dowries—she wouldn’t easily part with much.

“Isn’t this too much? How will the household money be enough?”

Kang looked to Fan Jing for his opinion.

If Fan Jing agreed to buy, the rest wouldn’t be difficult.

Fan Jing, knowing how much money the couple had, trusted Kang He to manage the matter.

He assured Fan Senior, “Don’t worry about money.”

Kang He echoed, “The shop earns a decent amount. Just have to tighten the belt and get through this period.”

Fan Senior pondered a moment, then quickly set to organizing the land.

They would have harvests come autumn.

More land meant more grain.

They wouldn’t eat it all themselves; selling some could bring in a few dozen guan.

If times got tight, it would only last three or four years.

“Alright then, it’s settled.”

With the decision made, the three families rushed to register with Xu Yang to avoid losing the land to others.

No one in the village could hide how much land they bought.

Hearing that the Fan family purchased all twenty-two mu in the east outskirts made many gasp.

Kang He knew there would be talk among the villagers, so to avoid jealousy and trouble, he instructed Fan Senior and Chen Sanfang to pretend to borrow money.

They also inquired around about buying and selling livestock.

Their female donkey was pregnant with a foal—just the sort of thing to mention casually.

This way, others would think the Fan family didn’t simply have the money to buy over twenty mu easily; they had to borrow and hustle to make it happen.

The villagers’ envy cooled down a bit.

Besides the Fan family’s large purchase, Doctor Zhu also bought ten mu of poorer land.

He had been in the village for two or three years now.

Xu Yang had started his own family, and with a baby soon to be born, living in a tenant’s house wasn’t comfortable.

He wanted to build two rooms to live in.

Taking advantage of the government land sale, he used his savings to buy some land.

One purpose was to build the house; the other was to grow melons and vegetables for their own consumption.

Though neighbors often gave him more produce than they could eat, relying solely on their generosity wasn’t secure.

Growing his own, even a little, would be more reliable.

At the end of the month, after paying, the land officially belonged to them.

This time, the land measurement was quick and easy.

Fan Senior happily called Yi Huan and Er Xiang to start clearing the wasteland.

Twenty-two mu plus the household’s original nine mu two fen meant just over thirty mu total.

Being newly reclaimed land, a lot of hard work was required.

From then until the end of March, Fan Senior and the two helpers were in the fields from early morning to late evening.

It wasn’t just them.

Kang He and Fan Jing, after watching over the shop during the day, would come home and help out for an hour or two.

They took turns watching the shop and working in the fields.

After over a month of hard work, they finally cleared the twenty-odd mu.

And that was just the beginning—they had to start sowing seeds immediately.

With so much work at home, Kang He started thinking about hiring long-term labor.

With more land, sooner or later they’d need extra hands.

Relying only on family labor wouldn’t suffice—unless they kept working themselves like this.

But life was meant to be lived comfortably; working this hard felt somewhat backward.

He didn’t voice these thoughts, only quietly observed.

They’d just bought the land and were borrowing money everywhere.

Hiring long-term labor now would be pointless.

The family would persevere for a while, then reconsider after the autumn harvest.

On the last day of April, Zhen’er received a letter sent from the city.

She didn’t open it immediately but knew who it was from.

Besides Luo Chuanyi, who else would be writing to her?

Reading the letter, her face flushed red with joy.

When the family returned home, she read the letter aloud to them.

“My dear Zhen’er truly has good fortune.

That Luo boy passed the county exam even before turning twenty.

What an incredible talent!”

Zhen’er read that Luo Chuanyi had taken the local exam in February, then hurried to the prefectural city in April for the prefectural exam.

His results were published, and his name was on the list.

The prefectural exam was held once every three years.

He would take the provincial exam in three years.

They’d been engaged less than a year, and Luo Chuanyi was already a youthful and handsome student.

How could their family not be happy?

If this had happened last year, the Luo family surely wouldn’t have visited theirs.

Chen Sanfang was overjoyed.

“That’s not just luck, it’s a blessing.

Luo boy hadn’t passed all these years, but after being engaged to Zhen’er, he finally did.

Isn’t that her good fortune?”

Zhen’er felt shy at Chen Sanfang’s words.

Fan Jing’s face, rarely showing emotion, brightened with a smile.

He asked Zhen’er, “Have you said when the wedding will be?”

At this, her cheeks reddened again.

She whispered to the family, “He mentioned it in the letter… he wants it to be in August.”

The family paused.

There were only a few months left—time was tight—but mostly they were happy.

The Luo family hadn’t changed their minds after he passed the exam, instead wanting to hurry the wedding.

That was better than delaying it.

Kang He said, “When the date is set, we’ll start preparing your dowry.”

A few days later, cousin Yun came to the Fan household with Luo Chuanyi’s family, specifically to discuss the wedding date.

Luo Chuanyi was busy with social obligations in the city and couldn’t come.

Cousin Yun was earnest; Luo’s family polite.

Without Luo himself, the talks went surprisingly smoothly.

The wedding date was set for August 21st.

After finalizing the plans, Luo’s family went home to prepare the bride price and banquet.

Fan’s family prepared the dowry.

The wedding preparations were lively and busy.

Kang He discussed with Fan Jing.

Fan Jing said he would contribute fifty guan for Zhen’er’s dowry.

Kang He said nothing in opposition.

Not only was this within their means, but even if they lacked the money, they would find a way.

He had promised Fan Jing this when they married.

Chen Sanfang contributed twenty guan, and Fan Senior eight guan.

Together, the twenty-eight guan was used for bridal money.

Fifty guan was spent on cabinets, chairs, tables, desks, dressing tables, and other household furniture.

They also purchased bed curtains, quilts, soft pillows, and assorted textiles—some high-quality, some average.

Of course, they had to prepare some jewelry as well.

Zhen’er lived simply at home.

She kept herself clean and tidy but rarely bought jewelry to adorn herself.

Even if she had some, they were usually cheap silk flowers and other insignificant things.

The family planned to get her one set of silver jewelry and one set of jade.

They couldn’t afford more than two sets, but these ordinary ones would do.

Zhen’er’s dowry was already quite generous.

Some even advised, “Don’t buy any more jewelry. The dowry is already more than twice that of Sister Xiangxiu!”

“Foolish girl, we know you like simple things,” they said.

“But once you marry into the city, things will be different.

The Luo family is a scholarly household with a good background.

Their relatives and friends aren’t poor and uncultured.

Whether going out or receiving guests, without some jewelry to adorn yourself, no matter how fine your clothes, people will look down on you.”

Chen Sanfang held Zhen’er’s hand.

“In the city, idle rich families are common.

Unlike our village where everyone works hard every day, they have little time to dress up.

But they love to visit each other to show off.

Even if we disdain that, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Kang He nodded.

“That’s right.

If your fiancé wants to buy you jewelry, I won’t object.

We’re not so poor that we can’t afford two sets.

This is the family’s good intention.

If you refuse, it would hurt everyone’s feelings.”

Zhen’er was deeply moved.

That night, she cried alone in her room, feeling how well her family cared for her.

When Zhen’er married into the Luo family in the city, Liang’s family sent a box of cloth as an additional dowry.

When Fan Jing and Kang He married, Liang’s family hadn’t given much.

Firstly, because Fan Jing refused a lavish gift.

Secondly, the Fan family had struggled at that time.

Sending a heavy gift would have burdened the family, making reciprocity difficult.

Now that the Fan family was better off, they could give whatever they wished.

The eldest branch also sent some gifts to add to Zhen’er’s dowry.

They sent two sets of tea sets.

Not expensive, but elegant.

Maybe someone had given these to Fan Xin; they would be suitable for the scholarly families Zhen’er associated with.

Besides these, they gave a thick red envelope containing six guan.

Xiangxiu sent three new false hairpieces and twenty-two vermilion hairpins.

Zhen’er was marrying well.

Even though Grandfather and Grandmother Fan favored sons and were stingy, they gave Zhen’er two guan.

In June, the Luo family sent the bride price list.

The Fan family exchanged their dowry list.

“Who would’ve thought the Fan family was so wealthy? The dowry list is so long.”

The Luo household was managed by Yun’s elder sister-in-law Lü Shi.

After seeing Fan’s dowry list, the couple showed it to her.

Yun said, “The Fan family loves their daughter; that’s why the dowry is so generous.”

Lü smiled.

“My mother often praises our sister-in-law.

A few days ago, even my father said something.

Our sister-in-law can read and write, which pleased my father greatly.

He said the Fan family is rare in allowing their daughter to study.”

Yun added, “Father is like that—anything related to studying makes him happy.

He probably was a bookworm in a past life.”

Lü couldn’t help but smile.

The Fan family treated the bride price generously.

Though under current customs their bride price was lighter than Fan’s dowry, it still amounted to about forty or fifty guan.

All in all, it was quite respectable.

Fan Jing also added some property for Zhen’er’s private ownership.

Qiao’er was reluctant to see her sister marry.

Seeing the big wedding and lively preparations, she was even more envious.

“Big brother, when I marry, will the groom’s family also send me bride price?”

Fan Jing smiled, “Of course.”

Chen Sanfang pinched Qiao’er’s cheek.

“This girl’s been thinking about this for years.

Has big brother ever treated you differently than Zhen’er?”

At the end of August, the sounds of drums and gongs echoed through the village.

Zhen’er, wearing a red veil and a bright red wedding dress, bid farewell to her family and boarded the Luo family’s bridal sedan.

She cried so hard that the white powder on her face turned into a mess.

Chen Sanfang couldn’t help wiping her own eyes.

Not only the Fan family was reluctant to see her go, even Kang He felt a bit melancholy.

Zhen’er was kind and capable, always thoughtful.

He didn’t know how many times she had sewn clothes or washed shoes for him.

Dafu was a year and a half old; Zhen’er had taken care of him the most.

Now she was marrying away—who could bear it?

The wedding procession left, and on this side, they had to entertain guests with food and wine.

When Kang He turned, he no longer saw Fan Jing.

He searched and found Fan Jing had slipped back inside the house.

He hadn’t even taken off his shoes and lay straight on the bed.

When Zhen’er said goodbye, she had specially held his hand and told him to take good care of her.

He said nothing in reply, acting as if nothing had happened, while Zhen’er cried bitterly.

Now that she was gone, Fan Jing became lively again.

Kang He sat at the bedside and lightly poked Fan Jing’s waist.

“You’re not far away.

We can visit Zhen’er in the city every day.

Don’t you find it hard to be apart?”

Fan Jing turned over, back facing Kang He, refusing to reply.

Kang He fell silent, then went out to pick up Dafu.

The little one saw Fan Jing lying on the bed and called out, “Daddy, Daddy.”

Kang wiped the child’s mouth after eating and said, “Stay here with Daddy and take a nap, alright?”

Dafu clapped his chubby hands.

“Daddy, nap.”

“Hmm, nap with Daddy.”

Kang kissed his son’s face and took off his shoes.

The little guy happily stamped around on the bed.

Fan Jing had no choice but to sit up and take Dafu in his arms.

He glanced at Kang He.

“I’m going to greet the guests.

There are more than thirty tables outside.”

With that, he left the room.

Dafu wriggled in Fan Jing’s arms, leaning in to nibble his ear.

That bite hurt.

Fan Jing pinched the child’s tiny nose, forbidding him from biting.

“I want fruit, I want fruit.”

Fan Jing asked his son for food and scolded Kang He.

The family was well-fed, yet Kang had to carry Dafu around.

He had no choice but to take the little one outside to find something to eat.

Outside, Kang He was entertaining guests when he saw Fan Jing carrying Dafu toward the kitchen and finally felt relieved.