"Li Mo, do you want a wife or not?"
In a small village, an elderly man in a rough linen robe hurriedly ran, his face alight with excitement. Bursting into Li Mo's house, he eagerly proclaimed, "Just say the word, and I'll bring her to you immediately!"
Li Mo, the young man in question, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a handsome face obscured by a black cloth covering his eyes. Originally, he had not been blind; it was a consequence of his unexpected reincarnation into this world a year ago. Upon his arrival, he found himself unable to see, and he eventually drifted to this village, where the kind-hearted village leader took him in.
He soon discovered that he had been transported to the Warring States period, specifically to a village near the capital of the Han Empire, Xinzheng. The village was part of an administrative division that included counties, townships, villages, pavilions, and units. The village leader, equivalent to a modern village chief, was also the head of the local production team.
Upon hearing the village leader's words, Li Mo shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. "Uncle Zhang, don't tease me. I'm a blind man. What girl would want me?"
Though blind, Li Mo possessed extraordinary talents. He could increase his internal strength through breathing exercises and strengthen his bones through sleep. Over the past year, he had noticed his body becoming significantly stronger. Despite his slender appearance, he had developed muscles all over.
The current emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng, had not yet fully assumed power. However, Li Mo, well-versed in history, knew that turbulent times were on the horizon. He decided to bide his time, practicing in this village for a decade to prepare himself for the chaos to come. He had already developed the ability to navigate using sound, making daily life manageable despite his blindness.
The prospect of marriage seemed far-fetched to Li Mo. Who would marry a blind man? He brushed off the village leader's suggestion, but the old man insisted, "Why would I deceive you? It's true, and it's a compulsory order from the court."
"The court issued a decree yesterday, mandating marriages for men and women of a certain age to increase the population. Those who refuse will be sent to forced labor camps!"
Li Mo's interest was piqued. The Han Empire, with its small territory and population, had suffered several wars in recent years and was now adopting population policies similar to the Qin Empire's. In Qin, those of marriageable age who remained single faced fines, while those with children received rewards. Had Li Mo been in Qin, he would have been fined for being unmarried at twenty-three!
The Han Empire's approach was even harsher, sending those who didn't marry to forced labor camps. The authorities would pair unmarried men and women, regardless of prior acquaintance or feelings. The idea was to take them home for a deeper understanding, revealing all they needed to know about each other.
"Li Mo, living alone is inconvenient. If you marry, you'll have someone to help you at home," the village leader argued. "Besides, if you were sent to a military camp, you wouldn't be able to distinguish directions on the battlefield. Listen to me, whether the wife is good or bad, it doesn't matter how they look, right?"
Li Mo considered the village leader's words, grabbed a bamboo pole by the door, and headed out. "What you say makes sense," he acknowledged. "Even though I can't see, I can imagine beauty! In my past life, I saw many celebrities and influencers like Mi Mi, Re Ba, Bing Bing, and Zha Na. With a rich imagination, every day can be exciting!"
Seeing Li Mo walk briskly, the village leader wasn't surprised. He accompanied Li Mo to the Pavilion Office, which was bustling with activity. Over a dozen single men from the village had gathered, eager for the upcoming pairings. The main hall was divided into two sections: one side filled with weeping girls, the other with single men and their families, eager and expectant.
In this era, choosing a wife wasn't about beauty but practicality—whether she could work and bear children. Parents advised their sons to look for girls with strong waists and ample hips, good for bearing children, or with big feet, hands, and sturdy limbs, indicative of strength for work.
As the village leader approached with a stack of bamboo slips, he called for order. "Enough talking, line up. First, Sun Erwa." The Pavilion Head began calling names, and each man stepped forward to receive a bride. The chosen men were noted on the bamboo slips, and they could take their brides home immediately. The women's wishes were not considered—a sad reality of the times.
Li Mo and the village leader arrived late and had to line up at the back. As the number of girls dwindled, the village leader grew anxious, scratching his head. Li Mo remained calm; he was used to dealing with challenges.
Finally, it was Li Mo's turn. "Li Mo, it's our turn," the village leader urged, pushing him forward and nodding to the Pavilion Head.
The Pavilion Head glanced at them, pointing to the empty seats. "It's over, can't you see all the girls have been chosen?" Noticing Li Mo's blindfold, he scoffed, "Huh, really a blind man."
The village leader, shocked, became anxious. "What do you mean it's over? How can it be over?"
The Pavilion Head glared. "Who allowed you to be late? What can I do now? Go back!"
As the village leader sweated nervously, Li Mo stepped forward, grabbing the Pavilion Head's hand. "Director, please, find a way. I'm blind; if I don't get a bride, I'll be sent to the military, and it's a death sentence."
The Pavilion Head, about to scold him, felt something hard in his hand. After a moment of realization, he softened, pocketing the coins and reconsidering. "You're right. A blind man like you would be sent to die on the battlefield. There is one more woman in the backyard—you can take her."
The village leader's face lit up. "Thank you, Pavilion Head, thank you!"
However, a nearby guard protested, "Director, that woman has no identification; her identity hasn't been verified."
The Pavilion Head snapped, "Am I the Pavilion Head, or are you? Let them take her!"
The guard retreated, and the Pavilion Head turned to Li Mo. "But let me warn you, she's mute, tall but with thin arms and legs—not much for work. She covers her face with a black cloth, so who knows if she has sores or birthmarks. Once you take her, there's no turning back."
He chuckled, "But since you're blind, you won't mind, right? Come on, I'll take you to her."