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When it comes to Taohua (Peach Blossom), everyone within a hundred-mile radius knows her. She was born into a family that wasn’t wealthy, but still well-off enough. Her father was honest and simple, not involved in much. Her mother, who had been adopted by her uncle when she was young, grew up in his household before marrying him. Though she was somewhat clumsy, having lived under someone else’s roof, she was thoughtful and practical when it came to handling situations. She was great at managing both household chores and child-rearing. Despite her strong character, she had four daughters and no sons. So, reluctantly, she gave her four daughters to a family in a neighboring village, one that had no daughters but carried the surname Zhang. That’s where our protagonist, Taohua, comes in.

The elders often say, “With good seeds, there’s no worry about growth,” and before anyone realized, Taohua had reached the age of seeking a partner. The first suitor she met had parents who worked in the city, and they had a good family background. However, after just one meeting, the man rejected her. Here’s what happened.

One afternoon, Taohua and her suitor went to his house together. They spent hours talking and laughing in the room, and before they knew it, it was well past 10 p.m. He suggested he should take her home. She replied, “I have a strange habit: I can’t return home after dark. If I do, I’ll get sick.” As she spoke, she even grabbed his hand. The man, young and shy, quickly withdrew his hand. “I’d like to stay here tonight and go back tomorrow,” she added.

He didn’t agree immediately, saying, “We’ve talked a lot today. I’d like to ask you something. I know it might be a bit early, but I want to know: what’s your impression of me?”

Taohua curled her lips, a bit impatient, and answered without much sincerity, “It’s fine. If I marry you, will I really become a city resident and be able to work in the city?” She was secretly thinking that if she could indeed work in the city, staying there tonight wouldn’t be a waste.

He then led her to his sister’s room where she stayed for the night, and they returned home the next day.

It turned out that the man saw through her urgency to settle down. Taohua had no real affection for him; she was simply using him to secure a city resident status. After marriage, she would think about the next step. Therefore, the relationship naturally ended in failure.

Afterward, Taohua got a job as a ticket seller at a local transport company after using her connections. Not long after, she got involved with the son of a newly rich local family, Wan Lin. She visited his house frequently, calling his parents “uncle” and “aunt,” and even the same-age Wan Lin was somewhat confused.

One evening, after work, Taohua, carrying some pork she had bought at the county market, arrived at Wan Lin’s house. His mother welcomed her in. Taohua explained, “Aunt, I was passing by the market and saw some fresh pork, so I bought two jin (a Chinese unit of weight).”

Wan Lin’s mother said, “You came to visit, not to bring pork.”

Taohua, while speaking, took out a pack of “Ashima” cigarettes—quite popular at the time—“This is for Uncle. Is he not at home? Out doing errands?”

“Wan Lin’s father is always busy. He spends more time napping at home than actually being around. He’s gone to help at a wedding in a neighboring village.”

Taohua nodded, but kept glancing nervously toward the inner room. As an outsider, she had no reason to look further. By the time evening came, Wan Lin hadn’t returned, and Taohua left alone.

When Wan Lin’s father came back, his mother immediately said, “Taohua came today. She bought pork for us and even brought you some good cigarettes.”

Wan Lin’s father said, “I think this girl is okay, but there’s something about her that doesn’t sit right with me. Our Wan Lin is honest and doesn’t speak much. But this Taohua is too clever, full of tricks. She says one thing, but her heart thinks another. It’s hard to say. Besides, this is a matter for the young people; what can we old folks say?”

“I see what you mean. When I told her you weren’t home, she didn’t believe me and looked inside several times. I’ll leave everything to you, both inside and outside the house.”

The next day, Taohua was getting ready to go to the county with the bus driver. When she looked up, she saw Wan Lin standing by a small shop, greeting the driver. She quickly walked over and said, “What are you doing here today?”

Wan Lin replied, “Nothing, just wandering around.”

“Come with me to the city, we can shop around.” Before Wan Lin could respond, Taohua had already dragged him into the bus.

“When I came to your house last time, I didn’t see you, only sat with your mother for a while. Your father was out helping someone,” she added.

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