C11 The New Year's Money

Sheng Nanzhen looked at her mother, Miao Xiu, with disbelief. "Mom, I’m not interested in someone like Yang Shuxian."

Sheng Nancun chimed in, "Yeah, someone like Yang Shuxian isn’t worth it."

That day, when they went into the water to find someone, it was just him and his older brother. Yang Shuxian just stood on the shore, not moving an inch. It made his blood boil.

After dinner, the sky outside had turned completely dark, and the wind was howling. Sheng Nanzhen sat on the bed, having just finished a bowl of medicine, and began to ponder her life.

When Miao Xiu came in, she saw her daughter deep in thought. It was the first time she’d seen her so preoccupied, and she worried that it was because of Yang Shuxian.

As she worked on a shoe sole, she walked over. Sheng Nanzhen snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Miao Xiu mention finding a matchmaker to introduce a potential husband.

How old was she? Just seventeen, and already they were talking about marriage?

"Mom, I’m not in a hurry."

"It’s not about being in a hurry. A daughter grows up and eventually needs to get married. You can’t keep her at home forever. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Sixth Aunt finds someone good."

"Mom, I don’t want an arranged introduction. I want to find someone myself."

Miao Xiu paused, surprised. "How will you find someone on your own?"

"Mom, trust me. I just want to find someone myself. Please, just let me do this."

Sheng Nanzhen said that if she didn't speak up, Miao Xiu would surely introduce her to a whole bunch of people, which was terrifying.

"You..."

"Mom, please just agree with me," Sheng Nanzhen pleaded, shaking Miao Xiu's arm so much that she couldn't even focus on her sewing.

"Alright, alright..." Miao Xiu relented, but then added, "Zhen, men and women are different. A man can still find a wife when he's older, but if a girl waits too long, no one will want her."

She was worried about how long it would take for her daughter to find someone.

Indeed, back in the '80s, most girls were married off by the time they were seventeen or eighteen. It was a stark contrast to what she had seen in her own generation, where the more accomplished and capable women often remained single into their thirties. It was like two extremes.

"Mom, I'm not ready yet. I want to become a bit more accomplished before I find someone equally outstanding."

Miao Xiu looked at her daughter, and after a few seconds, as if struck by an idea, she suddenly got up. When she returned, she was holding five crisp ten-dollar bills, which seemed to have been saved for a long time.

She handed the money to her daughter. "Zhen, here's your New Year's money. It's a bit late, but once you're feeling better, go to town and buy some fabric or shoes, and spruce yourself up a bit."

Sheng Nanzhen thought to herself, "So, in Mom's eyes, being accomplished means dressing up fancy?"

She wanted excellence, but not like this.

Nanzhen pushed the money back to her mom, saying, "Mom, I don't need it."

"Why not? I just want you to have nice clothes to wear."

"Mom, I've grown up. I can't keep doing things like before. I'll ask you when I really need it."

"Take it. When you start earning money, you can give some to me, and I won't be shy about it."

Nanzhen thought about it and agreed. Once she started earning, she would definitely take good care of her mom.

Seeing her daughter not refusing anymore, Miao Xiu felt relieved.

"If you ever need money, just let me know. Want me to sing you a lullaby to help you sleep?"

The original person had a quirk; even at this age, she needed Miao Xiu to sing lullabies to fall asleep. But she wasn't that person anymore!

"...Mom, no need. Now, whenever I hear a lullaby, I feel like I'm... being submerged in water. It scares me."