Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 148

In rural areas, there is a special custom that even if two people are in a free-love relationship, when they reach the point of discussing marriage, they still need a matchmaker.

Or, if the two people know each other very well, a matchmaker is still needed.

A matchmaker, as the name suggests, is someone who arranges marriages. In the south, they are called "Hongniang" (红娘), while in rural northern China, they are simply called "Meiren" (媒人). Of course, in Dongtaizi Village, where Zhao Da'e lives, matchmakers are mostly called "Guanshide" (管事的), which is the common way to address them. However, calling them "Meiren" (媒人) is still easier for people to understand.

It's impossible to do without a matchmaker, because there are many things that need to be said and many things that need to be done by the matchmaker.

Choosing an auspicious date, bride price, family meetings, exchanging gifts—a whole host of wedding arrangements—requires a matchmaker. After all, money is often involved, and once money is involved, things become complicated. This is especially true for matters like bride price. The matchmaker acts as a liaison between the two families, choosing a mutually acceptable method and amount for the bride price, and also serves as a witness. What if the groom gives the bride price, but the bride claims she didn't? Having a matchmaker as a witness saves a lot of trouble.

However, the Wu family were originally from outside the village. Although they had been in Dongtaizi Village for many years, they were still outsiders. Apart from the family downstairs who interacted with the Wu family more often, they didn't really know anyone else.

Wu Shanhe realized that he didn't seem to have many people who could act as matchmakers for his son, so he set his sights on Zhao Da'e.

"I've been thinking about it, but Zou Xiaohua from the supply and marketing cooperative seems like a good match for my son. Everything's great. It's just missing a matchmaker... Big Goose, look at you..."

Zhao Da'e was stunned: ? ? ?

What the hell!

Don't be ridiculous, you think I'd be a matchmaker at six years old? That's a bit outrageous.

“I’m definitely not suitable. As for being a matchmaker… I’ll recommend someone to you. Now that this street is considered a street, you have to go to the family down below, the eldest son of my sixth grandfather’s family, Zhao Tiedan. My uncle is a real braggart. He lies without blushing, can drink like there’s no tomorrow, has a really thick skin, and is incredibly unreliable. He’s perfect as a matchmaker.”

Wu Shanhe was stunned: "This..."

Are the standards for matchmakers really that "high"? Wu Shanhe got married decades ago, so he doesn't really understand the concept of a matchmaker. But after hearing what Zhao Da'e said, he's starting to question his own life.

Zhou Chunwen laughed and retorted, "Big Goose, don't talk nonsense. How can a matchmaker be like this? Lying, bragging, and unreliable—can they really be a matchmaker?"

Zhao Da'e nodded very seriously: "No problem. That's exactly right. What does a matchmaker do? They make the dead seem alive and the false seem true. They also have to not blush when scolded and not fight back when hit. This job is not something an ordinary person can do. You can't do it without some special abilities."

My great-uncle Zhao Tiedan, from my sixth great-uncle's family, could down a pound of baijiu (Chinese liquor) without uttering a sound. Conversely, when he wasn't drinking, he'd talk nonsense all day and his boasting was utterly unreliable. This made him perfect for a matchmaker; if he drank, he wouldn't talk nonsense, and there was absolutely no risk of things going wrong. He was also incredibly good at boasting; he could make the Wu family the richest in Kashi County… basically, the whole world was theirs.

Trust me, let him go, you won't go wrong. Besides, Zhao Tiedan has one huge advantage: he's shameless. But when it comes to matchmaking, you can't be shameless. If something goes wrong on our end and people ask, Zhao Tiedan will be the scapegoat.

Wu Shanhe nodded in relief: "Then I'll go find Zhao Tiedan later. Da'e, I was thinking of getting you listed in this too."

"No way. I haven't even started school yet, I can't read a single word. A six-year-old like me, acting as a matchmaker? Wouldn't people laugh their heads off?!" Zhao Da'e resolutely refused.

"Alright then," Wu Shanhe had no choice but to give up.