"No time to lose, all the fifteen and sixteen-year-old girls who aren't engaged, come draw lots!" The village chief placed the bamboo tube and sticks on the stone and scanned the dirty, dark, and skinny girls with his eyes.
Someone questioned, "Isn't Dumb Girl just sixteen? Why doesn't she have to draw?"
The village chief immediately replied, "Dumb Girl is engaged, she's no longer an unwed girl and can't participate in the draw. Stop dawdling, come quickly to draw. The chosen River God bride will have porridge and meat tonight and get washed and dressed to meet the River God tomorrow morning."
There were thirteen unengaged girls of the right age, lined up to draw lots one by one.
"Too bad I wasn't chosen!" A little girl almost cried, holding an empty stick. She was so hungry that if she were chosen, she could eat her fill of porridge and meat and wouldn't have to wake up hungry early tomorrow to work.
