Zhou Gu'er's words took everyone by surprise.
Zhou Mazi was no exception.
For a man with his explosive temper to actually let Zhou Gu'er finish speaking without interrupting—what did that mean? It meant Zhou Gu'er had read his mind. He wanted more benefits, an endless stream of them.
"Talk is cheap. You'll earn it and give it to me? How are you going to make money? You think you can just conjure it up by flapping your gums? You must be dreaming."
Although Zhou Mazi wanted more, deep down, he didn't believe Zhou Gu'er.
"Making money isn't easy, but how can we know if I don't try? Dad, just let me try. If I really earn some money, I can give it to the family. After I've made the money, you can marry me off then and get another payment. Isn't that better than marrying me off to Zhang Da now?"
Zhou Gu'er was so disgusted with Zhou Mazi she couldn't even bring herself to address him with any respect.
A flicker of calculation crossed Zhou Mazi's eyes. He took a small sip of his wine, mulling over Zhou Gu'er's words.
"Dad, don't listen to her! Her, make money? That's a laugh! She's just looking for an excuse to stay here and freeload."
Zhou Cai yelled, not caring in the slightest whether Zhou Gu'er could actually make money. He just wanted cash *now*—for new clothes, for meat, and to show off to the other kids in the village.
"You say you can earn thirty dollars for me. You're not planning on taking a lifetime to do it, are you?"
This time, Zhou Mazi ignored his son. He was an adult; his calculations were naturally more complex than a child's. All he wanted was money. He didn't care how he got it, as long as he had it to spend. If Zhou Gu'er could really earn money, then he wouldn't agree to the marriage with Zhang Da. It would be just as she said: if she earned thirty dollars for him, he could marry her off later and get a second payment. If she married into a good family, he might have a steady source of income for years to come. That was certainly a better deal than marrying her to Zhang Da.
But deep down, he still didn't really believe Zhou Gu'er could make money. 'If it were that easy, I would've gotten rich myself a long time ago.'
"Dad, how about this? Let's set a one-year time limit. If I can earn thirty dollars for you within this year, you won't marry me to Zhang Da. If I really can't make enough, well, in a year I'll only be twenty, which is a perfect age for marriage. I'm sure I won't be unmarriageable at twenty. You can still collect your thirty dollars then. So either way, you don't lose out, right? And let's say I do earn enough. Then all the money I make will be for you and the family. Our lives will get a little easier, and you could even go for a drink now and then. What do you say?"
Zhou Gu'er figured a year was about right. 'If I can't even earn thirty dollars in a year, then I really am useless.'
Zhou Mazi took another swig of his cheap liquor, her words replaying in his mind.
'This girl is acting different today. Normally, she's so scared she won't even lift her head. Even when she's unhappy, she'd never dare tell me. The most she'd do is secretly wipe away her tears. But today, she's so bold, daring to argue with me. The girl has grown up.'
'Should I agree? If I do, then Zhang Da's money is gone. But she's not wrong... Seeing how bold she is now, and how she's laying it all out, maybe she really can make money. Besides, a year isn't that long. Even if she can't earn thirty dollars, I can still marry her off then. Twenty is a good age; I won't have to worry about finding a groom's family willing to pay a good price.'
'And if she does manage to earn the thirty dollars this year, that's even better. She's my daughter, I'll have money to spend for the foreseeable future. Looked at that way, giving her a year isn't out of the question.'
'As for Zhang Da, I don't really like him myself. If I marry Gu'er to him, he'll probably come knocking on our door trying to extort us. I really don't want a son-in-law like that.'
'So, I'll turn down Zhang Da for now. That way, the villagers will say I have a conscience for not treating my adopted daughter like an outsider. It also sends a message that Zhou Mazi's daughter isn't someone just anyone can marry. Maybe Zhang Da will even offer more money. Or maybe word will get out that I have a pretty daughter, and more suitors will come calling. Then I'll have even more choices.'
Zhou Mazi had made his decision: he would refuse Zhang Da for now. However, he didn't want to agree to Zhou Gu'er's terms so easily. 'If I just give in like that, she'll think her old man is a pushover. Then everyone will start thinking they can defy me. That's no good. I'm the head of this family, and everyone does as I say.'
"Look at you! Do you even act like a daughter? What kind of things are you saying? All this talk about marriage... aren't you ashamed to have it get out!"
Zhou Mazi scolded Zhou Gu'er.
Zhou Gu'er lowered her head, but her heart settled. 'He's tempted,' she thought. 'If he weren't, he would have slapped me by now.'
"Husband, Gu'er is just desperate," Li Hua quickly interjected. "Don't be angry with her."
"That's right, Dad. Big Sis is just anxious. She really can't marry that Zhang Da," Zhou Feng'er chimed in. 'It looks like Dad is tempted. This is great! If Big Sis doesn't have to marry Zhang Da, then I won't have to do her chores.'
"Yeah, Dad, just agree with Big Sis," said Zhou Duo'er, who shared her sister's line of thinking.
"Enough! What is all this racket? Can't a man eat a meal in peace? Are you eating or not? If not, then get out!"
Zhou Mazi swore, then went back to his drink.
"So, Dad, is she getting married or not? I want to eat meat, you know."
But Zhou Cai, unafraid, pressed on. He was still young, after all, and didn't quite understand his father's implicit meaning.
Zhou Gu'er acted as if she hadn't heard a thing and continued to eat her meal slowly. 'Since my adoptive father is tempted,' she reasoned, 'I don't need to be the one to push things forward anymore.'
"You really think you can earn thirty dollars for me in one year?"
Zhou Mazi didn't answer his son, his question directed at Zhou Gu'er. He still wasn't sure, deep down.
"Dad, one year," Zhou Gu'er affirmed with a nod. "If I can't earn enough in one year, you can marry me to anyone at all. A blind man, a cripple—as long as he has the money, I won't have a single complaint."
Zhou Mazi tossed back another mouthful of wine.
"Dad, don't listen to her! What's she capable of, anyway?"
Zhou Cai was disgruntled; he wanted the money now.
Zhou Mazi glanced at his son. 'The boy is still young,' he thought. 'He just doesn't get it.'
"Fine! I'll agree to it today! But if you can't earn thirty dollars for me in one year, see if I don't break your legs and then sell you to Zhang Da!"
As he finished, Zhou Mazi slammed his hand down on the low table, as if the act itself was needed to finalize his decision.
The SLAM of his hand on the table and the clatter of the bouncing bowls and chopsticks made everyone jump.
Zhou Feng'er and Zhou Duo'er were relieved. If she wasn't getting married, they wouldn't have to do the work. And yet, they weren't entirely happy either; it felt as though their big sister had gotten what she wanted.
Zhou Cai muttered under his breath, clearly displeased.
Li Hua, however, was delighted. 'As long as my daughter doesn't have to marry Zhang Da, that's what matters.' She didn't believe for a second that Zhou Gu'er could earn thirty dollars in a year—it was no small sum. But a year was a good buffer. Perhaps a better suitor would appear in that time, and her daughter wouldn't have to marry Zhang Da at all.