The villagers of Han Family Village had just returned from the fields, with the men lying under the shade of the trees for an afternoon rest, and the women gathered at the entrance of the village, embroidering while chatting about family and neighborhood gossip.
The topic of the women's conversation was none other than Han Muzi, saying he was always idle, not going out to do carpentry work for others. Now, with his father gravely ill, and his recent match with a girl from the neighboring village falling through, he remained unmarried at the cusp of twenty years of age.
Just then, they heard the sound of gongs and drums.
"What's happening?"
"Is someone getting married at this time?"
"Who would get married at this Shichen?"
Everyone stood up, craning their necks to see what the excitement was about.
A boy, about ten or so, ran over breathlessly.
"Mom! Han Muzi has struck it rich!"
"Who?"
"Han Muzi?"
"What fortune could he possibly come into?"
