In the blink of an eye, another year passed.
The seventeenth year of the Kingdom of Jing.
The road in Pinecone Village, after a year-long repair, was finally completed.
Leading straight from the fields to Pingshui Town, it was about a zhang wide. The flat road surface covered with crushed stones didn't hurt the feet at all when walking on it.
Even if it rained heavily, it would never be muddy and difficult to walk on again, with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
The County Magistrate personally ca to offer congratulations and erected the signboard of Pinecone Village at the entrance of the village.
In the future, if Lord Lin Xianzong returned to his hotown to visit relatives, he would be able to see it at a glance when he ca here.
The rain this year was heavier than in previous years.
Since entering sumr, it rained almost every day.
This caused the roads in other villages, except for Pinecone Village, to be unable to be repaired.
Pits were dug everywhere, making it difficult for villagers to even travel normally. If they weren't careful and fell in, at best they would fall flat on their faces, and at worst they would sprain their ankles or break their bones.
The rain was too heavy. Fortunately, during the sumr and autumn of last year, Chu Xun took out silver and rebuilt his house.
The original thatched cottage was leveled and built into a brick and tile house like the old Li family's.
A total of three rooms, plus a separate woodshed and latrine.
Even the courtyard was enclosed by a low wall, with a wooden fence tied on top.
The Spirit Pearl Grass was still located at the door of the new house, and it had now grown to seventeen leaves.
Three more years, and it would be able to bloom.
Chu Xun wasn't anxious at all. Now he had a lot of farmland in his hands, and he could earn over a hundred taels a year just from grain.
Not to ntion being able to eat at every al, but it was pretty close.
He was getting closer and closer to the good life he wanted.
Zhang Anxiu seed to understand that this seemingly inconspicuous grass had a very important aning to Chu Xun.
Although she didn't understand, whenever children who ca to play in the courtyard wanted to touch it, she would stand with her hands on her hips and scold them for a long ti.
This made the children shout loudly all day long whenever they saw her: "Chu Xun's family eats well, sooner or later they'll give birth to a fat baby."
This made Zhang Anxiu so ashad she stomped her feet, but the children weren't afraid at all, giggling and making faces at her before running away.
Li Shoutian ca to ask in his spare ti whether he was going to marry Zhang Anxiu or not.
Don't make the girl wait for so many years, only to end up with nothing.
If he didn't fancy her, just like Zhang Shigen said back then, he should find a good family for her early on.
Chu Xun couldn't explain it clearly either; he still liked Zhang Anxiu.
Although her appearance wasn't considered good, her figure was not bad.
Big where she should be big, and thin where she should be thin.
Most importantly, she was obedient. No matter how stubborn she was in front of outsiders, as long as Chu Xun spoke, she would listen to whatever he said.
She obeyed his every word, knew how to be frugal, and was even better at doing work.
Inside and outside the house, Chu Xun hadn't worried about anything for several years.
If he really married such a wife, it would save a lot of trouble.
It was just that Chu Xun always felt sothing was missing, sothing he couldn't explain or articulate.
Perhaps the opportunity hadn't arrived yet.
And when Zhang Anxiu faced such inquiries from others, she would say very stubbornly: "I don't want to marry anyone else! If Brother Xun doesn't marry , I'm willing to be his maidservant!"
Over the years, she always firmly rembered the words her dad, Zhang Shigen, instructed before he passed away.
"Ah Xun is a good boy. If you can follow him, you definitely won't suffer a loss in the future."
So Zhang Anxiu was set on it. Even if she never married in her life, she would stay by Chu Xun's side.
Pingshui Town.
Lin Qiaoxi, with tears in her eyes, shouted angrily at the matchmaker with a large black mole on her chin: "I won't marry! No matter what you say, I won't marry!"
When Lin Xianzong returned the year before last, seeing that Lin Qiaoxi had a beautiful appearance, he said he would arrange a marriage for her.
A few days ago, a matchmaker ca to the door, saying she was ordered by Lord Lin to act as a matchmaker.
The other party was not a high official in the capital, but the fourth son of Lord Liang Mingzheng, the Prefect of Fenggu City, a hundred and sixty miles away.
This person was nad Liang Shouzhuo. In terms of status, even though Lin Qiaoxi and Lin Xianzong were relatives, they were almost past the five generations of mourning, so it was considered marrying up.
The reason why Lin Qiaoxi was unwilling to marry, besides personal reasons, was also because this Liang Shouzhuo was not only ugly and had crooked facial features, but was also a fool.
Not only did his drool and snot flow freely, but he could even soil his pants while walking.
Let alone him being the son of a Prefect, even if he were the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Jing, Lin Qiaoxi wouldn't be willing to marry such a person.
But who dared not to give face to Lin Xianzong?
The Lin family cared even less about whether their daughter could be happy; they only wanted to rely on this connection to establish a relationship with the Lord Prefect.
In the future, whether it was for sons or grandsons, it would be easy to seek a good position.
Moreover, the betrothal card sent by Prefect Liang, with various betrothal gifts written on it, dazzled the Lin family.
Just the gold, silver, and jewelry alone exceeded ten thousand taels.
Although Lin Qiaoxi's parents were considered a wealthy household, their family property was at most this amount.
If they had to take out ready silver, it would be absolutely impossible.
So they readily agreed, only Lin Qiaoxi refused to agree even if it ant death.
Her dad, Lin Guiwan, kept a straight face: "The orders of parents and the words of a matchmaker, how can you just say you won't marry and not marry! Judging people by their appearance is a great unfilial act. Where have all the three obediences and four virtues taught to you over the years gone!"
"I'd rather die than marry!"
Lin Qiaoxi ran out crying, and the matchmaker looked over sowhat awkwardly.
Lin Guiwan imdiately put on a face full of smiles and said, "Don't worry, please tell Lord Lin that our family agrees to this marriage. When Lord Liang is free, just bring the betrothal gifts to formally propose marriage as soon as possible."
The matchmaker also bead with joy and said, "Good, good, good, then I'll go back right now to congratulate Lord Liang, and also congratulate Master Lin. In the future, the father will be honored because of the daughter, you're going to climb a high branch!"
Lin Guiwan didn't care at all about her words of climbing a high branch. After all, this was a fact, and he actually felt very proud in his heart.
Among so many people raising daughters in the Lin family, no one else could have such a special honor.
Although the future son-in-law's appearance was indeed unpresentable, his old man was formidable.
Who dared to laugh?
As for Lin Qiaoxi being unwilling, Lin Guiwan took it even less to heart.
Just as he said, the orders of parents, you have to marry whether you want to or not!
Lin Qiaoxi returned to the backyard crying. Zhang Sanchun was sweeping the floor in the courtyard.
Seeing this, he hurriedly ran over and asked, "What's wrong, Eldest Miss?"
Lin Qiaoxi looked up at him with tearful eyes: "Dad is forcing to marry a fool, I'm not willing!"
Zhang Sanchun's heart tightened. He wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say.
Lin Qiaoxi just looked at him like this, seemingly waiting for him to say what she wanted to hear.
But Zhang Sanchun was like a stone that couldn't speak, standing there blankly without making a sound.
"Do you have nothing to say to ?" Lin Qiaoxi asked, choking with sobs.
Zhang Sanchun involuntarily lowered his head; he really didn't know what to say.
"If you don't speak again, I'm really going to marry that fool!" Lin Qiaoxi stomped her feet anxiously, her tears falling as if they cost nothing.
But Zhang Sanchun still didn't make a sound, making Lin Qiaoxi so angry she pushed him away forcefully.
She entered the room, closed the door, and imdiately burst into loud wails.
Zhang Sanchun held the broom, standing at the door, his lips trembling again and again, shaking again and again.
He wanted to raise his hand to knock on the door, but put his hand down again.
He was just a short-term worker, a poor and bitter farr, what could he say?
Lin Qiaoxi cried for a long ti, until her voice beca hoarse, and the sky gradually darkened.
Zhang Sanchun kept watch in the courtyard. When night fell, he was driven out by Lin Guiwan.
For a girl who was about to marry, how could a man be allowed to enter and exit the backyard anymore, even if he was a servant?
In the past, they spoiled her and allowed Zhang Sanchun to serve her, but now it wouldn't do.
If the Lord Prefect knew, he would say their family rules were not strict.
Zhang Sanchun was driven out of the courtyard and sat dejectedly in the front yard belonging to the servants.
A few dostic servants pointed at him and snickered privately.
Previously, Lin Qiaoxi treated Zhang Sanchun well, and these people had long been incredibly envious and jealous.
They didn't understand why a silly wooden head could make the Eldest Miss treat him so well.
Now that Lin Qiaoxi was about to marry, no one would care about Zhang Sanchun anymore in the future, so they naturally felt refreshed in their hearts.
Hearing this, Zhang Sanchun only felt his heart even more blocked.
He always felt that even if he didn't speak, he should do sothing.
But what could he do?
At this ti, he seed to sense sothing and looked up.
He saw a bright trajectory streaking across the sky, falling from afar.
Zhang Sanchun's eyes imdiately widened: "Is that... a shooting star?"
He hadn't forgotten Chu Xun saying that if a shooting star fell and he was lucky enough to pick it up, it would be equivalent to plucking a star.
He hadn't forgotten even more what Lin Qiaoxi said: "Then pluck the stars from the sky and give them to ."
Zhang Sanchun jumped up with a swoosh, pushed open the courtyard door of the Lin residence, and ran like crazy towards the direction where the shooting star fell.
He knew what he had to do!
Pluck the star!
(End of Chapter)
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