Explore Chapter 7 of 'Little Erhei Gets Married' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
San Xiangu grew anxious. Though she and Xiao Qin were mother and daughter, they had not been on good terms in recent years. San Xiangu loved the young men, but the young men loved Xiao Qin. To San Xiangu, Xiao Erhei was like a fresh fruit, but alas, with Xiao Qin around, she had no share. She had long wanted to marry Xiao Qin off to get her out of the way, but due to her own dubious reputation, few were willing to form ties with her. If that were the case, she thought, she wouldn't even be able to crack a joke with Xiao Erhei anymore. What a pity that would be! So she began seeking a match for Xiao Qin, asking one family after another.
"When the recruitment flag is raised, volunteers will come for the rations." There was a Mr. Wu, a retired officer who had served as a brigade commander under Yan Xishan. His family was wealthy, and he had just lost his wife. He had seen Xiao Qin once at the temple fair and was willing to take her as his second wife. When the matchmaker mentioned this to San Xiangu, she of course agreed. In a few days, the betrothal gifts were exchanged, and the matter was settled. San Xiangu thought she had resolved a major worry.
Xiao Qin had already discussed matters with Xiao Erhei and was almost settled. How could she listen to her mother? On the day the betrothal gifts were presented, Xiao Qin quarreled with her mother, throwing the jewelry and silks sent by Mr. Wu all over the ground. After the matchmaker left, Xiao Qin said to her mother, "I don't care! Whoever accepted the gifts should go with him!"
San Xiangu was stumped. She slept for half a day, and after dinner, claiming that a spirit had possessed her, she yawned twice and began to sing. First, she scolded Yu Fu for failing to manage the household. Then she said that Xiao Qin and Mr. Wu had a predestined marriage, singing something like, "predestined marriage is decreed by heaven; defying heaven's will means you won't survive..." Yu Fu knelt on the ground, pleading, but the spirit insisted that he immediately beat Xiao Qin. Hearing this, Xiao Qin knew there was no reasoning with her mother who was pretending to be possessed by spirits. She simply slipped out, leaving her mother to rant alone.