Chapter 103 Painstaking Efforts
As the sun's shadow gradually shifted, it reached the end of noon.
A gentle breeze slipped in through the window, playfully hiding behind the bed curtains, as people shoved and jostled each other to peek at the figures snuggling together in bed.
Granny Xu peeked into the inner room twice, and seeing that her master showed no signs of waking up, she ordered the afternoon meal to be taken away.
Then have the kitchen staff prepare some snacks for the master to eat when he wakes up.
A sumptuous dinner is prepared.
As for the master's washing and grooming after waking up, the head maid will take care of that.
She sat down at the doorway, carrying a basket containing the lion-head shoes she had made for her young master.
Whether the young master wears it or not is another matter, but it is her way of showing her affection.
Every stitch and thread is a testament to the deep bond between master and servant.
Time offers hope and warmth.
*
Li Qu's letter to the Li family contained nothing more than ordinary greetings, reminders, and reports of her safety.
She emphasized what she had missed: the matter concerning Lin Xiaocong.
After the collapse of the imperial tombs, officials in the capital were required to observe a year of mourning and refrain from marriage.
'Young Master Lin Qi works for the Imperial Medical Bureau, making him a government official in the capital.'
Xin Zheng headed to the capital at top speed.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaocong and Li Rong were on their way to the matchmaker's house.
*
The carriage moved slowly, and the atmosphere inside was inexplicably ambiguous.
Lin Xiaocong was clearly reading a book, but Li Rong, sitting there, kept glancing at the box containing the three books and the official document about her place of residence, and felt very uncomfortable when she looked at Lin Xiaocong again.
Lin Xiaocong seemed oblivious.
He was studying fire avoidance diagrams.
He appears very serious, and sometimes even frowns slightly.
Without blushing or skipping a beat.
Polite and courteous.
I'm just thirsty.
Li Rong couldn't see the contents of his book, so she assumed he was researching some difficult medical case and quietly poured him some tea.
Seeing that Lin Xiaocong's cup was empty again, Li Rong picked up the teapot, ready to refill it for him.
He raised his hand and placed it on the back of her hand: "I've finished reading, no need."
Separate with a light touch.
Li Rong did not feel offended.
She said "Oh" and withdrew her hand.
She sat to one side with a serious expression.
Look at your nose with your eyes, and your heart with your nose.
I was filled with anxiety.
Will she be able to successfully marry herself off?
*
Let's go back to yesterday, August 16th.
Early in the morning.
Lin Xiaocong then went to the Li family.
He proposed marriage to himself.
There was no official media, no elders.
All three documents were prepared, along with the official document regarding Li Rong's place of residence.
As long as the Li family and Li Rong agree, it can be filed with the government.
The reason for such a low profile is:
During the national mourning period, officials in the capital are required to observe a one-year mourning period and are prohibited from getting married.
"If the second young lady cannot wait until next year, we will have to find some connections to move the wedding date to before the mountain collapses."
"In this way, we cannot give the second young lady a grand wedding ceremony."
The cunning fox always knows how to exploit people's psychology, say the most plausible things, and seek the greatest benefit for itself.
He picked up his teacup and drank the tea.
The slightly bitter tea left a bitter taste on his lips and teeth.
He remembered that he had sent the Li family some top-quality tea.
After he finished speaking, Li's mother, who was in the main seat, was speechless for a long time.
Lin Xiaocong waited quietly.
He twirled the cup in his hand with complete control.
Sure enough, Li's mother was very angry.
"You mean, you want Rongrong to quietly come home with you and live a simple life! She can't even have anyone to drink with!"
Lin Xiaocong: "Since you've already married into the family, how can you still invite people to a banquet?"
Li's mother was furious: "This is worse than someone taking a concubine! At least they hold a banquet for a concubine!"
Taking a concubine is considered a joyous occasion, but it is forbidden for one year.
Lin Xiaocong did not point out any errors in Li's mother's statement: "I'm sorry, this is my fault."
Is this Lin Xiaocong's fault?
This is the fault of that supreme ruler!
Why did he have to collapse before Rongrong's wedding?!
Li's mother was so angry that she couldn't speak.
As a mother, Lin Xiaocong is the best among all her potential son-in-law candidates!
But then came the national mourning period, which is beyond human control!
But Li's mother was unwilling to let Li Rong suffer this injustice in silence!
She looked at the noble young man sitting below her, who looked remorseful and helpless.
The scenery is beautiful and the moon is bright; the gentleman is upright and dignified.
A true gem.
I can't bear to kick him out.
She was unwilling to let her daughter suffer.
Therefore, there is anger.
Li's mother slammed her hand on the table: "This is outrageous!"
A hint of a smile flashed across Lin Xiaocong's eyes as he stared at the ground.
It was at this time that Granny Yue entered the house.
The atmosphere in the hall was unpleasant.
The rough matchmaker who was leading the way for Granny Yue quickly explained, "Madam, you said before that as long as Granny Yue comes, we can invite her in directly without having to announce her arrival."
Li's mother waved her hand dismissively.
Please have Granny Yue sit down.
Granny Yue took her seat.
Before she could speak, Qiu Chan, standing behind Lin Xiaocong, seized the opportunity to speak up: "Second Miss, would you be willing to take our young master as a concubine?"
"Young master, you can set up a banquet for your wife immediately."
A mistress is not recognized by society or law.
She was even less than a concubine.
Sleeping with a mistress is not a happy event, but a romantic affair.
"You're talking nonsense!" Li's mother slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
Through the veil she wore, his eyes gleamed fiercely.
"Your young master is a celestial lord in heaven and an emperor on earth!"
"My daughter would never be his mistress!"
Qiu Chan muttered, "There is a huge disparity in status between the Second Miss and our young master."
"Even if she becomes our young master's concubine, it would still be an honor for her."
"Fight your mother's climbing!"
Li's mother stepped forward, grabbed Qiu Chan's ear, and pulled him out from behind Lin Xiaocong.
"Is my family lacking food or drink? Why would I want to be your young master's mistress!"
The cicadas chirped, "My young master is incomparably handsome, skilled in both literature and martial arts. Countless noble ladies in the capital would love to become his concubine, but none of them can!"
This angered Li's mother, who pinched him even harder.
The cicadas, in pain, cried out even more pitifully.
Li's mother: "What a piece of trash. He always looks dull-witted and shifty-eyed."
"I didn't expect you to be so tongue-tied!"
She dragged Qiu Chan to the doorway and kicked him in the butt.
"roll!"
Qiu Chan was kicked so hard she fell flat on her face.
She lifted her head from the ground and sobbed, "It hurts so much!"
Young master, this servant has done his best!
It's up to you now!
"It's good that you know pain, but you keep saying all sorts of nonsense!" Li's mother stared at Qiu Chan on the ground, clapped her hands, and turned back to her seat.
Lin Xiaocong spoke up at the right moment: "Granny Yue, I have made everything clear."
"You should go back and inform your grandmother."
Seeing Li's mother's irritability, Granny Yue went over what she wanted to say in her heart.
He asked Madam Li, who was seated at the head of the table, "About the Second Miss and the Seventh Young Master..."
"Has the young master explained everything to you?"
Li's mother nodded, suppressing her breath: "It's clear now."
Lin Xiaocong stood up: "Qiu Chan can't speak, so I'll punish him when we get back."
"As for the choice, we might as well wait for the second young lady to return from the steamed bun shop."
"Auntie, you should have a good talk with her."
"I will visit again tomorrow."
Li's mother remained silent.
Lin Xiaocong then looked at Granny Yue: "Granny, did you come by carriage?"
Granny Yue stood up: "Yes."
"I came by car this morning. Let's go back to Grandmother in the same car as Granny."
Granny Yue, deceived by Qiu Chan's feint, said to Mother Li:
"Please consider that our young master has been doing his best to treat the second young lady's illness."
"Be more understanding and less blaming."
Li's mother said, "We paid for the consultation; the matter cannot be confused with this."
Can marriage and medical treatment be the same thing?
Granny Yue was embarrassed.
There are plenty of people who pay for medical consultations, but not just anyone can save their young master.
"The old lady instructed me to deliver the gifts she owes; please accept them, madam."
Li's mother wanted to discuss things with Li Rong before making a decision, so she did not refuse the Lin family's polite visit.
After Lin Xiaocong and his entourage left.
She went to Mr. Li, who was in the courtyard with his child, took off the veil on her head, and threw it aside.
"How disgusting!"
"The third son's wedding had no ceremony, so is the second son's wedding going to be equally uneventful?"
Li's father was silent and did not speak.
Li's mother hesitated: "But Rongrong will be twenty next year!"
"If the Lin family doesn't marry next year..."
"Rongrong's reputation is even worse!"
She gets angry when her reputation is mentioned.
"You have no idea what people outside are saying about Rongrong!"
"Things like being sick, not being innocent, being unable to have children, etc."
“Those people praised Rongrong to the skies for being as beautiful as a flower right in front of you.”
Behind her back, they pointed at Rongrong and said she was an unwanted old maid, no matter how good-looking she was, no one would want her!
“Some people say that when Rongrong gets older, if she is still unmarried at twenty-two, any man would be grateful and ask someone to take her back.”
Upon hearing this, Li's father put down the child, picked up a carrying pole, pointed towards the door, and shouted angrily, his face turning red.
You can control everything, but you can't control what people say!
Li's mother stepped forward and hugged her son.
"I'm really annoyed!"
In a fit of anger, Li's father threw the carrying pole to the ground and then squatted down to shed tears.
He hated himself for being useless and incompetent.
Li's mother was conflicted until Li Rong returned from the shop.
He told Li Rong about it.
Li Rong waved her hand dismissively: "I want to go with the matchmaker to see the three documents being filed and the documents being recorded in the register myself."
She didn't care about anything else.
She had a good night's sleep last night after her acupuncture session was interrupted, so she washed up and went back to bed for a nap.
Li's mother looked at Li Rong, who fell asleep the moment her head hit the bed: "..."
Reluctantly, she went out for a stroll with Li Han.
Finally, he spent one or two taels of silver to treat a famous matchmaker from Qingqiao Hutong to a pot of tea.
I inquired about eligible men of marriageable age in the neighborhood.
result……
Most of those older than Li Rong were either engaged or married.
Those younger than Li Rong valued her looks, but they were also pretentious.
"Madam Li, to be honest, which family with a son doesn't arrange a marriage for their daughter early on?"
"Your daughter is not young anymore."
"The men who are a good match for your daughter have already been picked over by others."
"What's left now are either ugly or lazy, each with their own flaws. There are no normal people among them."
"If you ask me, I'd rather mold men for a lifetime than mold steamed buns for a lifetime."
"The owner of Shunlong Restaurant, while not exceptionally handsome, was certainly of decent appearance."
"The first wife died three years ago, leaving behind two sons."
"If your daughter marries into that family, you won't be afraid even if she can't give birth to a son."
"He's thirty-two. Don't think he's too old. Older men know how to take care of women!"
Li's mother smiled and pointed to a man with thinning hair and a rat-like face passing by outside the window, saying, "Is this the Zhou Zheng you mentioned?"
Compared to this man, Young Master Lin must be a god!
"If you don't like this one, there's also the son of the Liu family who makes dried meat."
"You know, his son is a bit chubby and short, but he's a very honest person."
"Every time you go to get meat, I always give you the best!"
Li's mother thought of the tall, long-legged, and well-proportioned Young Master Lin.
Is there anything else?
"Yes!" the matchmaker gave a thumbs up.
“This man is extremely wealthy. He already told me that he would marry your daughter if she was willing to marry him.”
"We are willing to give you two shops, a two-courtyard house, and a small estate with five hundred households."
"For your daughter to keep as her private stash."
Li's mother's eyes lit up: "Who?"
The matchmaker gestured for Li's mother to look over.
Then she saw a man in his fifties with a short mustache sitting in the seat next to her, smiling at her.
Seeing that Li's mother was looking over, he stood up politely and bowed to her, saying, "Your son-in-law greets you..."
Li's mother splashed a cup of tea on the other person's head: "Get out!"
After saying that, he slammed the cup down on the table.
He pulled Li Han away.
The matchmaker, furious, pointed and cursed from behind: "No wonder she's almost twenty and still can't get married!"
"Choose, choose, choose until you're twenty-three, then you can crawl into any man's bed!"
Li's mother got into a fight with the matchmaker.
After returning home, she patted Li Rong on the shoulder and said, "Nothing is ever perfect!"
"Old, fat, someone who'd be a concubine, crooked-nosed and cross-eyed, and Lin Xiaocong, who would you choose?"
Li Rong: "I don't want the old ones, I don't want the fat ones, anyone around the same age is fine."
"Then let's go with Young Master Lin."
"If you keep being picky at your age, you'll only have fewer and fewer options."
“It’s even harder to find someone over twenty.”
*
Inside the carriage, Lin Xiaocong closed the book in his hand, his gentle gaze falling on Li Rong, who was sitting upright.
The fierce, wolfish glint in his eyes was veiled by a gentle mist.
"Rongrong, is there anything you want?"
The way he addressed her instantly brought back memories of how he had taken liberties with her.
She suddenly looked up at Lin Xiaocong.
Lin Xiaocong looked at her with a faint smile: "What's wrong?"
A gentleman is upright and virtuous.
His eyes were clear.
Li Rong coughed and looked away: "It's nothing, it's just..."
"You usually call me Second Miss."
Lin Xiaocong reached out and poured Li Rong a glass of water.
He felt she might need it.
"Today is different. From now on, may I call you Rongrong?"
Li Rong: "If you marry me, I'll do whatever you want."
"Really... you'll do whatever I want?"
His voice inexplicably carried a hint of flirtation and ambiguity.
Li Rong didn't answer him, but picked up the cup beside her and drank her tea.
She's never eaten pork, but she's seen pigs run.
I don't know why he asked such a strange question.
Or maybe I'm just thinking a jumbled mess.
She felt her face getting a little hot.
After drinking the tea, I put down the cup.
She slightly lifted the carriage curtain to let in some fresh air.
"Marry me first, then we'll talk!"
Lin Xiaocong leaned against the carriage wall, looking at the woman's reddened ear tips, his smile deepening.
When the matchmaker arrived, the refined and cultured Hua Yang came out to greet her.
Lin Xiaocong got off the carriage first, and then helped Li Rong, who was wearing a veil, off the carriage.
Li Rong saw Hua Yang's appearance through the fence and exclaimed, "Ah!"
Hua Yang, his face bruised and swollen, chuckled, "You flatter me, you flatter me."
Seeing his miserable state, Lin Xiaocong couldn't help but laugh even harder: "You succeeded?"
Hua Yang bowed to Lin Xiaocong and said, "Thank you for your help, Brother Lin."
Lin Xiaocong finally got his revenge for being laughed at by Cao Guangli.
With a warm smile, she said, "Congratulations."
Flower Sheep: "Hehe."
He glanced at Li Rong out of the corner of his eye and invited the two of them in.
Hua Yang is the head of the matchmaker family.
While demonstrating, I explained each step of the process.
Li Rong stared intently at Hua Yangyong's seal.
He took two copies of the documents and official papers, keeping one for his records and returning the other to her.
As Li Rong carried the box out of the matchmaker's gate, she was completely disoriented.
Hua Yang saw the two off at the door.
Lin Xiaocong first helped Li Rong into the carriage, and after Li Rong got in, he turned to look at Hua Yang.
Hua Yang mouthed softly: You don't need to worry about it.
Lin Xiaocong: "Use your tongue wisely on Cao Guangli, don't use it indiscriminately."
Flower Sheep covered her mouth.
Knowing full well that this guy was a smiling tiger, someone he couldn't beat or outmaneuver, he had no choice but to back down.
His voice slipped through his fingers: "Don't worry, if I reveal anything, I'll offer my head as a warning."
Lin Xiaocong smiled, gentler than the warm March sun: "I will pick it up myself."
Hua Yang covered her mouth even tighter.
He only breathed a sigh of relief after Lin Xiaocong's carriage left.
A master of traditional Chinese medicine!
A single needle can be fatal; it can kill without a trace.
He was so scared.
Hua Yang couldn't help but shiver.
He chose to leave work early to meet male prostitutes and seek comfort.
*
Inside the carriage, Li Rong held the box in her arms, beaming from ear to ear.
Lin Xiaocong asked with a smile, "Are you very happy?"
Li Rong looked up, and a galaxy of stars unexpectedly entered Lin Xiaocong's eyes.
She smiled very brightly.
She said, "Of course! I'm finally married!"
Lin Xiaocong could hear his own heart pounding.
Yes, that's the smile.
Clean, pure, straightforward, and passionate.
He smiled gently and said, "Rongrong, how about we go to Chuntang Garden to see if you like the room layout and furnishings?"
"If you don't like it, you can change it."
Holding the box in her arms, Li Rong mentally considered Lin Xiaocong as one of her own.
She was so happy.
She has settled her life's most important matter!
She will never have to be called an old maid who can't get married again!
She will never again implicate her parents, who might be exiled!
It won't affect the sisters' reputation or delay their brother's marriage in the future!
She answered readily and cheerfully, "Okay!"
Lin Xiaocong raised his hand and hooked his neatly crossed collar with his index finger.
His gaze still showed no sign of aggression.
Extremely patient.
He even took her for a stroll through the market to help her get to know him as quickly as possible.
Upon arriving at Chuntang Garden, he helped Li Rong out of the car, remaining as proper and polite as ever.
It was late afternoon, and the setting sun cast a golden glow on the orange trees.
The two walked side by side.
The woman held the box, and when she looked at him again, her eyes were bright and sweet.
She also carried a hint of indescribable shyness.
Lin Xiaocong couldn't help but reach out and pat her head.
"Rongrong, you still haven't told me what you want?"
"I can't think of anything right now. Will you give me anything I want?"
Lin Xiaocong looked at her gently: "Well, Rongrong, take your time to think about it."
"Okay, I'll let you know when I've thought it through."
"Rongrong, aren't you going to ask me what I want?"
"Then what do you want?"
Lin Xiaocong stared at the main house door as it drew closer.
"Let's go inside and talk."
"Oh, okay."
Li Rong entered the house first, her gaze intently falling on the ornaments and decorations.
The whole room was decorated in festive red.
The door behind me closed with a rather loud sound.
Before she could turn around to look, a strong, long arm slipped into her waist.
He suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Her back pressed against a strong chest.
He smelled her scent, leaned close to her ear, and kissed her earlobe.
A strong, undisguised sense of aggression and possession enveloped her from behind.
His voice was hoarse and husky as he whispered in her ear, "Rongrong, this young master wants you."
From the Hezhou Prison to the present.
He has gone to great lengths to achieve this.
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