Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Fire in the Yu Family (IV)

Yu Manyi had rarely received recognition since she was a child, and she had never been particularly confident in her own abilities. She truly did not expect that the first recognition she would receive as an adult would come from a matchmaker who had come to propose a marriage to the Yu family.

The Yu family truly wasn’t what it used to be. The hall was arranged in rows, and even the tea served was stale. The matchmaker, who had traveled from the north to the south, was experienced and well-traveled. After sipping her tea, she quickly assessed the situation and smiled at Old Master Yu, saying:

"Having children, getting married, these are the major life events for us elders. I’ve heard about Old Master Yu’s recent difficulties, and I’ve already had the third young master here introduce our situation. I just briefly met Miss Yu at the door, but perhaps we could invite her out for another look?"

There was no need to invite her out. Yu Manyi was already standing behind the screen, and the matchmaker’s gaze was full of disdain. It was hard for her not to connect the death of Miss You with the woman in the yellow robe standing before her. The woman had her back mostly turned to Yu Manyi, so she couldn’t see her face, but she couldn’t help imagining it was as yellow as her robe.

Old Master Yu lowered his head to drink his tea, while third uncle carefully accompanied him on the side. His wife’s actions had already completely angered his father, whom he had feared since childhood. Now, his mind was preoccupied with solving his father’s troubles—

First, there were the financial troubles, then the damage to the reputation of Yu Manyi after her broken engagement. Everything else was outside of his consideration.

"She’s still the young lady of the Yu family," Old Master Yu said. "Even if nothing has been settled, can outsiders just come in and see her? You didn’t even inform me in advance."

The last sentence was directed at third uncle, who quickly defended himself, "Father, I’m just trying to help the family get through this difficult time. As soon as I heard there was a solution, I just wanted to tell you quickly and didn’t consider the formalities. Father..."

He lowered his voice, just loud enough for Yu Manyi behind the screen to hear: "With our family’s situation, we need to settle the accounts as soon as possible."

"We haven’t fallen that far yet." Old Master Yu’s voice carried a hint of fatigue, but his tone was not firm.

The matchmaker remained completely unbothered, smiling and sipping her tea, seemingly unconcerned with what the two men were saying. Third uncle then lowered his voice again to discuss matters with Old Master Yu. Yu Manyi heard the rustling of paper, as if he was showing Old Master Yu something written on it.

Thus, Old Master Yu’s already unsteady voice became even more uncertain.

"I can’t make these decisions anymore," he said. "If I make a mistake, my descendants will blame me. Manyi was raised by you, and the previous engagement was arranged by you. Whether it’s set or broken, it’s all in your hands. This time, let you, as her parents, make the decision."Third Uncle let out a short, harsh laugh. Upon hearing Old Master Yu concede, the matchmaker immediately interrupted, saying, "Yes, yes, as parents, who doesn’t want the best for their children? Besides, the one I’ve introduced to you—marrying him will bring untold wealth and honor!"

"Yes, I also want what’s best for Manyi, that’s why I brought you here," Third Uncle said. "That poor nephew of the Shen family, the bookworm—let him blow all he wants!"

With this remark, he distanced himself from the third aunt and made clear his common stance with Old Master Yu.

"However, Old Master Yu," the matchmaker continued slowly, "it wouldn’t be difficult for me to handle the marriage arrangements, but this paper still requires your review."

There was another sound of paper rustling, as Third Uncle handed over the papers to Old Master Yu. The matchmaker set her teacup down and spoke with a hint of seriousness.

"We are a respectable family, and normally this process wouldn’t be necessary. But I’m sure you’ve heard about what happened with the You family...?"

Yu Manyi’s back stiffened.

"...We sent the first dowry, and the bridal procession had already reached the door. But then, the girl’s family couldn’t control her. When the procession arrived, they were met with a body, hanging from the beam in the room!"

It felt like lightning struck her from above, the first time someone spoke so loudly and coldly about that scene in her ear. She leaned on the screen, feeling the blood in her veins turn cold.

She hadn’t seen You Xiaoqing’s body with her own eyes, but at that moment, the image of her death, as described by the matchmaker, came to life, vivid and clear before her eyes.

"...Hmph, I thought they were lying to me and tried to open the door to verify. Oh, I’m just a woman who’s never seen much of the world. When I pushed open the door, I was horrified! Her body was hanging right in front of me, her feet kicking at my face, and I couldn’t sleep for several nights after that!"

"The You family is even worse! They couldn’t take care of their own, and they didn’t even return the dowry. Old Master Yu, tell me, who doesn’t expect to pay for the wedding procession with drums and gongs? They’ve all had to pay for it!"

"Enough!" Old Master Yu, perhaps disturbed by her description, finally spoke up. "What exactly are you trying to say?""Hey, we're matchmakers, we're used to speaking in detail," she said. "Anyway, the man I’m introducing doesn't want to make a loss. He told me that if we finalize another engagement for him, the girl marrying him must sign and seal the contract. If she regrets it later, there will be proof, unlike that dead girl, Miss You, who tried to back out..."

"Shut up!"

Suddenly, a loud rebuke echoed through the hall. Yu Manyi could no longer hold back her anger and jumped out from behind the screen, shouting loudly. She no longer had the grace of a young lady. She appeared so suddenly that the first to react was Uncle Qi, the doorman, who scrambled to stop her.

"Shut up, you scoundrel, you’re not allowed to say another word about her!" Yu Manyi was so furious she lost her words. At the moment, she couldn't think of any proper insults, and the tears started streaming down her face. "You were the one who arranged her marriage, you forced her to death, you and the You family are not good people, you—"

Yu Manyi’s mouth was suddenly covered. She turned her head and saw that it was Third Uncle, who had rushed over, using his arm to pin her arms, his right hand covering her mouth and nose, not allowing her to say another word.

"Ah," the matchmaker finally reacted, surprised. "I thought she was a quiet young lady when I saw her at the door. I didn’t expect her to be so fierce. But it’s fine..."

She smiled at Yu Manyi, her eyes flashing with coldness.

"When you’re married to your husband’s family, a few older sisters will teach you. You’ll soon understand."

Third Uncle awkwardly smiled, and Yu Manyi struggled desperately, biting his hand, forcing him to retract it. She broke free from his grasp with kicks and punches, running to Old Master Yu’s side. She nearly shouted "Grandfather!" for the first time in her life, right in front of him.

"Grandfather, I won’t marry into his family," she repeated several times, seeing Old Master Yu’s expression shift slightly. Her heart hardened, and with a loud thud, she knelt down, gripping his robe and his hand, which had wrinkles, begging, "Grandfather, they forced Miss You to death, I won’t marry into his family! The Yu family lacks money, I can earn it, I can earn money, I don’t have to get married!"

Old Master Yu didn’t look directly at her but subtly shifted his gaze. Yu Manyi’s heart sank, and she gripped his hand even tighter, continuing, "Grandfather, he’s so rich, why doesn’t he marry locally? Why does he come here to propose? He can’t find anyone in his own place! He must be terrible if no one in his hometown is willing to marry him, that’s why he’s come here! If I marry that far away, past the Yangtze River, then the Yellow River, how long will it take before I can come back home?"

"What a determined young lady," the matchmaker said, looking at her crying with surprise. "This is the first time I’ve met such a determined young lady... She speaks clearly and cries in a way that makes your heart ache. Old Master Yu..."

She set down her teacup and sat up.

"Enjoy a few more days with your granddaughter. I’m staying at a hotel in town, and once you’ve settled things, ask the third young master to come tell me. I’ve already prepared the bridal sedan and the suona. This time, you won’t have to wait much longer."She walked like a ghost, making no sound at all, drifting out of the main hall. Yu Manyi was still holding onto Old Master Yu’s hand, pleading endlessly. It was the first time in her life that she had been so close to him.

She cried so much that even Uncle Qi, the doorman, couldn’t stand it. Standing by, he said, "Old Master, if Fourth Young Master were still here..."

"Shut up!" Yu Manyi didn’t even know what conflict her real father had with Third Uncle. He had been standing nearby, silently enduring, waiting for Old Master Yu to speak. But as soon as he heard those three words, he immediately shoved Uncle Qi aside, grabbed Yu Manyi’s arm, and lifted her away from Old Master Yu.

The contract fell to the ground. Third Uncle gripped her arm with one hand, while with the other, he picked up the contract, signaling another servant to fetch the ink pad from the study. Old Master Yu remained silent the entire time, simply watching Yu Manyi struggle in Third Uncle’s grip, as though by saying nothing, the guilt would not fall on him.

"Third Uncle, you’re worse than my third aunt!" Yu Manyi shouted at him with red eyes, "You’re the worst! I was wrong, you’re the worst!"

"Is that so?" Third Uncle remained unmoved, still gripping her arm so tightly that her flesh turned blue. He glanced at his silent father and said, "Someone always has to be the worst."

The ink pad was brought over. Even though Yu Manyi was exhausted from struggling, she summoned every bit of strength she had left to resist the force that pressed her fingers into the red ink and then onto the contract. She used all her might, but it felt utterly powerless. Yu Manyi watched helplessly as her fingerprint was imprinted onto the contract—a red, smudged mark.

All her strength was drained the moment her fingerprint was pressed onto the contract, and then pulled away.

The moment she relaxed, Third Uncle's grip suddenly loosened. He let go of her, and Yu Manyi collapsed to the ground. He glanced at the contract, and when he looked up again, Old Master Yu had already left, taking the stack of documents with the dowry list.

"Manyi," Third Uncle sighed, "I told you, you’re the most pitiful... Third Uncle will do his best to find you a good family, alright?"

…

At the post office.

In a month, the young postman would be promoted to a postal clerk. He was the only one from this batch to pass the promotion exam, but he wasn’t happy about it at all.

The first half of the year had brought nothing good for him. Miss You had passed away, and his sister Yu Manyi had been called off from her engagement. He heard that her Third Uncle had arranged another marriage for her, but the details hadn’t come out yet, though he had an unsettling feeling in his heart.Today, he felt particularly uneasy.

He choked on his food at breakfast, and his stomach had been uncomfortable all morning. He ran to the restroom several times. By the afternoon, his eyes started to hurt, and everything he looked at seemed to have a blurry outline. He kept hearing someone crying in his ears, making it impossible to concentrate. His energy was drained, and he felt weak. He continued working at the post office in this half-dead state, and as closing time approached, a colleague suddenly knocked on the door and told him someone outside was looking for him.

"Send the letters to the mailbox, wait for the delivery of the received letters," the young postman said.

"It’s not about the letters," the colleague replied. "You should go. It's a woman, and she's very anxious."

A woman? The young postman thought for a moment, and assumed it might be his older sister again, always bringing trouble his way. He sighed, put away the work in his hands, and slowly walked outside the post office.

To his surprise, it wasn’t his sister waiting for him.

However, it was still a middle-aged woman.

He felt she looked familiar, and after thinking for a while, he remembered her as the owner of a fabric shop in the eastern part of the city. He had seen her a few times while delivering letters.

The shop owner was standing anxiously in front of the post office, glancing around, her hands tightly gripping each other. He walked over suspiciously, and when he spoke, he startled her.

"Did you come to see me?" he asked, wondering if he had delivered the wrong letter.

"Hey, hey," the shop owner stared at him, fumbling for a long time, and finally, after gathering some courage, took a letter from her chest and stuffed it into his hands.

At first, he thought he had delivered the wrong letter, but when he opened it, he saw a handwriting he was very familiar with—it was the handwriting of Yu Manyi, which he had seen repeatedly when he copied her homework back in his literacy class.

"Did Manyi ask you to find me?" he quickly scanned the characters, though his dizziness and stomach ache from the day made it hard to read clearly.

"Yes, it's Miss Yu. Miss Yu asked me to find you," the shop owner spoke again, as though summoning a lot of courage. "She said, tomorrow at dawn, she will meet you at the usual place..."The young postman lifted his head and met the shop owner's gaze.

"She wants you to help her prepare three things," the shop owner said, speaking each word clearly as she repeated everything Yu Manyi had asked her to convey.

"Miss Yu needs kerosene, strong liquor, and a boat..."

She paused, her speech becoming clear at that moment:

"...a boat that sails on the canal."