Chapter 7 Section VII

But I miscalculated. That night, my father was smiling when he came back.I thought Zigong had already paid the county court, and my father didn't have to make trouble in front of the county magistrate, so I was very happy.But I was wrong.During the meal, he said to me earnestly: "Aying, you are getting old, it's time to get married." As soon as he finished saying this, my heart felt like an electric shock, and I almost couldn't hold the chopsticks in my hand. I glanced at my mother, thinking that she had already pleaded with my father for me.But my mother had a face that was so confused that there were no outlines. I was feeling uneasy, so I heard my father continue to say: "I have already found a person for you, the eldest son of the county magistrate Wang Wengji. I have met him several times. He must be tall and strong, with a handsome face, familiar with "Poetry" and "Li", and he will have a bright future in the future. Tomorrow is a holiday, and I have invited the royal family to our house as guests. We are all acquaintances, so you don't have to stick to etiquette. You can see it for yourself tomorrow.”

I blurted out: "No, I won't marry anyone except my son-in-law." My face must be ugly at this moment, I feel like I can't even control the muscles on my face, they are convulsing. The father was stunned, he suddenly became furious, raised his hand, and landed heavily on the table. A lacquer bowl on the table could no longer stand firm, drew an arc, fell to the ground and spun several times, with his buttocks facing the sky .I have never seen my father lose his temper so much and cry without thinking.My father said angrily: "Don't mention that rascal to me again. He will be sent to Dunhuang County next month, and he will never come back for the rest of his life. I have the final say on who you marry." He paused After a pause, he said again: "I would rather you die than let that scoundrel go."

I cried all night and almost had the idea of ​​suicide. My mother was worried and sent a maid to sleep with me upstairs.In fact, I don't really want to die. When I think that I haven't married and have children with my son-in-law, I feel unwilling.Until the last moment, I will not be reconciled to my failure.The current situation is to play it by ear and wait and see. Early the next morning, my father sent a maid to urge me to dress up and take a bath, then put me on a gorgeous skirt and forced me to come downstairs.At breakfast time, the magistrate Wang's family really came.My father also invited a few gray-haired elders from Fugui to accompany us, and everyone sat down on the mats in the yard full of peach blossoms. glanced at him.It was a plump man with big ears, his eyes were always squinted into a line, and his nose was thick, just like the unlucky look mentioned in the "Book of Physiognomy".In particular, his chin was oddly shaped, with the mandible protruding forward like a drawer that he had forgotten to close.God, is this what father called the handsome county magistrate?My heart sank to rock bottom.I wondered about this myself, why should I be disappointed?Originally, I never thought about marrying him, why should I be disappointed?