Li Jingui did not know what to say. She looked at Liu Sanniang and gulped down the talisman water herself.
Li Jingui frowned. It was indeed disgusting.
However, after being a witch for so many years, she had never seen anyone refuse to drink it. Liu Sanniang was the first one.
She was speechless that people actually wanted to drink such a disgusting thing.
Li Jingui packed her things. As long as Liu Sanniang did not enter this line of work, she wouldn't make a fuss about it and ruin her job.
Madam Wei came back with a poached egg for Liu Sanniang.
Liu Sanniang said sweetly, "Mother, feed me."
Madam Wei smiled. "You're old enough to eat it yourself. I'm busy."
As Madam Wei sent Li Jingui out, she asked her again. "Is there really no problem? Is my daughter alright?"
Li Jingui replied perfunctorily. "Yes, your daughter is fine."
She was jealous of Liu Sanniang's ability.
After sending Li Jingui off, Madam Wei returned to the house and helped Liu Sanniang peel the egg.
Liu Sanniang smiled as she enjoyed her mother's love.
She could feel the affection from Madam Wei. It was sweet like honey. The love from Madam Wei seemed to have turned into energy that nourished her.
Liu Sanniang still wanted to sleep with Madam Wei.
Madam Wei also wanted to sleep with her daughter, but she thought better of it. "How can you sleep with Mother at this age? It'll be embarrassing if word gets out."
If word got out, people would think that her daughter was still a baby.
At the age of marriage, reputation was the most important for girls.
After hiring the witch, Madam Wei was relieved. Other than working in the restaurant, she was also helping her children select a spouse.
Liu Sanniang was at home making shoes.
In the blink of an eye, it was May. The weather was already hot. Liu Sanniang often made plum syrup. She placed it in a bucket and hung it in the well for a night. The next day, she pulled it out and drank it. It was sour, sweet, refreshing, and most of all, delicious.
Plum syrup was the family's favorite during the entire summer.
Today, Madam Wei helped Liu Dalang dress up. "Dalang, did you remember what I told you?"
Liu Dalang looked a little shy and nodded. He was a little nervous and did not know where to put his hands. "I remember it clearly."
Madam Wei glanced at Liu Dalang. "Then tell me what you remember."
Liu Dalang answered. "When I get there. I'll ask her if she's here to get her third aunt's basket."
Blind dates needed to be unintentional. At a glance, if they liked each other, the two families could talk about it later. If they didn't like each other, they would just pretend nothing happened.
This was a custom passed down from ancient times, and everyone abided by it.
Most of the time, blind dates would take place in a random store. The boy would pretend to be shopping at the store and take a look at the girl.
Liu Dalang's blind date was arranged by the two families. He would go to a place with a basket to see the girl who would come to pick up the basket. Inside the basket, Madam Wei prepared some gifts for the girl to take home.
Madam Wei was satisfied with Liu Dalang's answer.
Her son had grown up. When it came to marriage, he was a little shy, but everyone was the same.
Liu Sanniang smiled and held Madam Wei's arm. "Mother, I want to go with First Brother to take a look."
Madam Wei agreed, thinking to herself that Liu Dalang might be more emboldened to approach the girl with his sister around.
Liu Erlang wanted to go too. "Mom, I want to go too."
Madam Wei immediately shouted. "In your dreams."
Liu Erlang was not angry at being shouted at. If his mother did not allow him to go, he could simply sneak out.
Liu Sanniang already knew that this blind date would be successful.
At this moment, Liu Dalang had already gone out with the basket on his back.
The appointed place was beside a grocery store on South Street. Liu Dalang had a basket on his back while he stood at the side waiting for the girl to come.
Liu Sanniang and Madam Wei sat at a stall not far away and ordered a bowl of noodles to eat.
Liu Dalang looked a little nervous. He was worried that the girl would not like him.
Madam Wei was not in the mood to eat the noodles. She was focused on Liu Dalang.
Just when Liu Dalang was getting anxious from waiting, a girl carried a child over. Liu Dalang looked straight at her and was at a loss. Seeing Liu Dalang, the girl walked straight up to him.
Liu Dalang looked at the child in the girl's arms and was at a loss. His mother did not tell him that the girl whom he was on blind date with, had a child.
Liu Dalang mumbled. "Are you here to get the basket your third aunt left behind?"
Liu Dalang still had some hope that this child wasn't hers.
The girl looked at Liu Dalang and smiled. She put the sleeping child into the basket and carried it on her back. "Thank you very much. Bye."
Liu Dalang stood rooted to the ground with his mouth open, watching as the girl walked away with the basket.
Madam Wei, who was watching from afar, was so angry that she was about to lose her temper. "Liar! This evil matchmaker actually tricked me into coming here and told me that despite coming from a poor family, the girl was pretty and young. This girl is obviously a divorced woman with a child."
Liu Sanniang was also surprised. As far as she could remember from the memory in her previous life, her future sister-in-law was indeed from a poor family, but she was also fair and good-looking. She was a little tall, but because she was too tall, she was often mocked upon.
Where did this woman come from?
Liu Sanniang comforted Madam Wei. "Mother, is there a mistake? Don't be anxious yet."
Madam Wei was furious. "I want to ask that old witch why she lied to me."
Liu Sanniang looked in Liu Dalang's direction and found that he was already gone.
Madam Wei wanted Liu Sanniang to go back alone while she went to settle the score with the matchmaker!
Liu Sanniang panicked a little. This was completely different from her previous life!
If there was something wrong with his brother's blind date, would his marriage change too?
At the thought of this, Liu Sanniang felt anxious.
Indeed, from the beginning, many things were different. The trouble that should not have befallen her family fell upon her family. Chu Yan, who should not have known her, seemed to be pestering her too.
Liu Sanniang paid the bill and was about to go home when a few officers approached the noodle stall.
Seeing the officers, Liu Sanniang was reminded of Officer Zhou. Fortunately, he wasn't among them.
The officer asked. "Have you seen a strange woman with a crying baby?"