"No dowry, of course, and surely, the father could not expect much in the way of gifts. Perhaps a few laying hens, cotton cloth for Yangjin's sisters, six or seven sacks of millet to get them through the winter."
This statement is made during the conversation between the Matchmaker and Hoonie’s mother. The Matchmaker has been sent to find grooms for the Widower’s daughters. She identified Hoonie as a potential man who could take good care of Yangjin, the youngest daughter of the Widower. The Matchmaker looks around the house and realizes that there are few commodities that can be exchanged for marriage instead of bride price. She urges Hoonie’s mother to accept the deal because yangjin is a young girl and would not disappoint Hoonie. She further tells Hoonie’s mother that there is no dowry to be paid but a few laying hens, millet and cotton clothes for Yangjin’s sisters. The quote aids the reader to understand the level of poverty that the village people are going through.
"Maybe a goat. Or a small pig. The family has so little, and bride prices have come down so much. The girl wouldn't need any jewelry."
The Matchmaker gives a list of small gifts that Hoonie’s family can exchange for the bride (Yangjin). All this while, Hoonie’s mother is silent and does not protest. When the Matchmaker realizes that Hoonie’s mother is not objecting the gifts, she adds says, may be they can add a goat or a small pig but the bride does not need Jewelry. The Matchmaker is a brilliant woman and bride price negotiator. Before giving a list of items to be given as a gift for getting the bride, she does an early assessment of the homestead and ensures everything she bargains for is in store.
"I remember holding my first son when he was a baby. How happy I was! He was as white as a basket of fresh rice cakes on New Year's-soft and juicy as warm dough. Tasty enough to take a bite. Well, now he's just a big dolt,"
As she discusses with Hoonie's mother about the bride price, she starts to reflect on how she was raising her children especially the son. The son was white comparable to snow and as soft as dough. Currently, she has granddaughters but she has no grandson. She wishes that she can get one any time sooner. Hoonie's mother feels sorry for her from the expression of her voice.
''The girl has a nice face. No pockmarks. She's well mannered and obeys her father and sisters. And not too dark. She's a little thing, but she has strong hands and arms. She'll need to gain some weight, but you understand that. It's been a difficult time for the family."
To explain how suitable Youngjin is, the Matchmaker takes her time to describe the girl's face. Her face is smooth and fine. There are no marks and she is chocolate-like. Additionally, she says that Youngjin has good behavior and will not disappoint Hoonie. She is respectful to her elders an indication that she will respect Hoonie as her husband. She further describes her weight and strength arguing that she can add weight once she is married to Hoonie. Currently, there is no enough food at her father’s house. These explanations by Matchmaker paint a picture to the reader on how desperate families are in the villages. Similarly, she is trying to win Hoonie’s mother to accept her plea to marry off Yangjin to Hoonie. Hardly people find something to eat because of poverty and bad governance.
"I'll speak to my husband and son. There's no money for a goat or a pig. We may be able to send some cotton wool with the other things for the winter. I'll have to ask."
Hoonie’s mother listens carefully to what the Matchmaker has to say. She understands that the girl under question is from a poor background. However, her husband is not rich either. Her husband can only approve what the Matchmaker is proposing in terms of bride price. Nevertheless, to prepare her in advance that it is not possible to get a goat or a pig, she tells the Matchmaker that there is no money for that kind of price. What the Matchmaker forgets to understand is that perhaps what she is seeing is meant to aid the family to survive for months before they save enough to buy more food. At some point when the property owner increased rent, it was hard for the family and this is an indication that Hoonie's family is not rich either. They are just struggling like any other poor family on the Island. The difference is that Hoonie's parents are very responsible and they can go out of their way to ensure that their son is comfortable.
