W Chapter 87
by VolareWithout exception, they were all there to arrange a marriage for Ling Xing.
Xu Youfang was firm, only saying that she would ask Ling Xing later, and if he nodded and said he was willing to consider it, she would ask someone to propose marriage.
She said that they were not considering matchmaking for the time being, and told the matchmakers to go back and wait for news.
There was only one popular item, and it was first come, first served.
There was also an undercurrent flowing between the matchmakers, and none of them dared to really listen to what Xu Youfang said and go back and wait?
In their opinion, it was just that the Shen family didn’t want the popular item to become someone else’s.
This was also human nature.
If it were them, they wouldn’t be happy either. Which family wouldn’t want a “God of Wealth” at home, earning money for the family every day? Naturally, they would try every means to refuse and obstruct, and would definitely keep the person at home and not let them marry out again.
But since Ling Xing was not from their family, no matter how human it was, they still had to act as matchmakers and make money.
Taking people’s money, acting as a matchmaker for others.
The matchmakers didn’t want to upset Xu Youfang to her face, so they all agreed nicely on the surface, and then turned around and went to the county town to find Ling Xing.
Since it was not easy to say anything with the Shen family in between, they would talk to Ling Xing face to face.
They didn’t believe that Ling Xing was really willing to keep guarding and didn’t want to marry again.
They went around proposing marriages and acting as matchmakers, and their courage and knowledge were much greater than ordinary villagers.
When they arrived in the county town, they were not completely clueless. First, they inquired about where there were two-story shops, and then they inquired which shopkeeper’s surname was Ling.
Sure enough, following this line of thought, the matchmakers quickly found Ling Xing.
This was also because everyone in this area knew Ling Xing. Hearing that they had come to be his matchmaker, everyone adhered to the idea of “better to tear down ten temples than to ruin one marriage,” and told the matchmakers where to find him.
“Shopkeeper Ling has two shops, one is Ling’s Snack Shop on Spring Rain Street, and the other is on the next street, called Ling Xie Sweet Soup Shop. If you can’t find him at one place, go to the other.”
The enthusiastic stallholders gave the matchmakers detailed directions, sincerely hoping that Shopkeeper Ling could find a good marriage.
Learning that Ling Xing had more than one shop, the matchmakers were even more delighted.
If they could arrange Ling Ge’er’s marriage, they would definitely get a lot of happy money!
Ling Xing had just come out of the sweet soup shop and was preparing to go to the snack shop to take a look.
As soon as his left foot stepped out of the shop, he was blocked by three women.
The three matchmakers were also shocked when they saw the legendary two-story shop.
They were even more surprised by the extent of Ling Xing’s wealth.
If it hadn’t been for matchmaker Tian’s quick reaction, seeing Ling Xing come out, pulling the two people beside her and reminding them to come back to their senses, they would still have been looking up at the shop.
When the three saw Ling Xing, they were stunned again.
Good heavens, they hadn’t seen him these days, but this Ling Ge’er had become even more noble and beautiful!
They didn’t dare to recognize him at once.
Even if he was a widower, with such looks and wealth, he could even marry a wealthy young master from the city.
The three were amazed by Ling Xing’s beauty, and couldn’t help but think of those families who had asked them to be matchmakers.
In that moment of silence, they were quite ashamed to speak.
Those people were really not worthy of Ling Ge’er.
But since they had already come, they still had to propose the marriage.
“Are you Ling Ge’er? I am matchmaker Tian from Xiao Liucun. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other. This time, I’m here to bring you good news!”
“I am matchmaker Zhao. The food in your town tastes really good. Someone asked me to be a matchmaker before, and I succeeded. They invited me to eat. I heard it was the craftsmanship passed down by you, Ling Ge’er. Oh my, you are really a capable and resourceful Ge’er!”
“Ling Ge’er, I am matchmaker Zhu. I even helped you when you married the Shen family’s eldest son. Do you still remember?”
Ling Xing was surrounded by the three, unable to walk away. Listening to their different styles of trying to get close, he probably guessed why they had come.
“If you are here to propose marriage to me, I am not considering getting married for the time being. Please go back.”
The three had finally seen the person, so how could they easily let Ling Xing slip away.
It didn’t matter if Ling Xing refused, women and Ge’ers were thin-skinned, and how could they have the nerve to agree openly in public.
So the three surrounded him even more closely, thinking of asking Ling Xing to take them to the shop so they could have a good talk.
If Xie Qingya hadn’t felt something was wrong in the shop and called people out in time, Ling Xing really wouldn’t have been able to leave.
Zhang Jiu’s brothers were all strong and sturdy men, and they were also tall. The matchmakers felt scared when they approached.
They couldn’t help but let go of Ling Xing and shrink their necks.
Ling Xing was freed and ran away quickly, not daring to look back.
The thugs did not approach any further, but just stood there waiting for Xie Qingya to speak.
When Ling Xing was in Xiao Liucun, he didn’t interact much with the villagers, and was busy setting up stalls to make money every day.
So he didn’t recognize these three matchmakers, but Xie Qingya, who dealt with the villagers all day, knew them.
The matchmakers’ eyes also lit up when they saw Xie Qingya.
It seemed that what was said in the village was true, Wang FLang was now following Ling Ge’er, and his life was really getting better.
Xie Qingya did not make things difficult for the three, and advised them to go back to the village as soon as possible.
Xie Qingya didn’t have much to say to the people of Xiao Liucun. After reminding them, he turned around and entered the shop.
The matchmakers didn’t take Xie Qingya’s advice to heart.
Not only did they not leave, but they worked even harder to propose marriage.
In addition to the families who had asked them to propose marriage before, they also selected suitable ones from their own relatives’ families to talk about.
What if they succeeded? Wouldn’t this immense wealth also fall on their heads?
Xie Qingya was just a close friend. To put it bluntly, he was still an outsider, and Ling Xing could take care of him like this.
Then how would Ling Ge’er take care of those who were related to him by blood?
Thinking of this, the matchmakers became more and more enthusiastic.
Leaving was impossible. If they couldn’t propose this marriage, they wouldn’t leave!
In just two days, the news that Ling Xing had a two-story shop in the county town spread throughout the surrounding villages, and the number of matchmakers who came not only did not decrease but increased instead.
In the early stages, Ling Xing could still cope, but later he was really overwhelmed by the crowd.
These people found out the location of the courtyard and didn’t sleep, directly blocking the door of the courtyard.
Ling Yue almost couldn’t go out to study with Wang Juan.
Ling Xing didn’t dare to stay in the courtyard either, so he went to the shop.
He could still have Lin Qingyu and Xie Qingya block the people, so he could have some peace and quiet.
The liveliness of Spring Rain Street and the next street these days was all about discussing what tricks Ling Xing would use to avoid the matchmakers.
The onlookers enjoyed watching it, but it was Ling Xing who suffered.
He even dreamed of being chased by a group of matchmakers when he slept at night, and he was so scared that he didn’t dare to open his eyes to sleep.
He was also paranoid and felt that there would be matchmakers lying under the bed to propose marriage to him.
He couldn’t sleep well for several days in a row, and he became a little dazed.
Shen Lai was worried and gave Ling Xing acupuncture every night, so he could have a good sleep.
He had strong comprehension and was diligent and hardworking, and his acupuncture looked quite decent.
Ling Yue, who was next to him, felt stiff in his back as he watched the long needles being inserted into his skin. The speed of blinking and breathing slowed down a lot.
These needles were really terrible.
The person involved, Ling Xing, felt good, and the places that were pricked with needles were slightly sore and swollen. He felt much more relaxed and comfortable, and soon began to doze off, and finally had a good sleep.
Seeing that his brother was finally able to rest well, Ling Yue also breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Lai helped Ling Xing to sleep, and when he came out, he passed by Ling Yue, glanced at him, and deliberately inserted the needle slowly into the cloth.
“Ah Yue, if you stay up late to study again, I will prick you too.”
Sufficient sleep can repair the body and recharge your energy.
Overdrawing time by staying up late will only make the body more and more depleted.
Ling Yue’s eyes stared at the needle, and his breathing stagnated.
“I know, Fifth Brother.”
After seriously learning medicine from Doctor Pei, Shen Lai liked obedient “patients” the most.
He packed his things, and while Ling Yue was still immersed in the fear of acupuncture, he raised his hand and pressed his shoulder, smiling and saying, “Ah Yue, little brother, be obedient, Fifth Brother won’t prick you.”
After saying that, he saw Ling Yue visibly blushing, and Shen Lai laughed mercilessly and left.
The more he laughed, the redder Ling Yue became. He stood in place, looking down at the ground and twisting his clothes.
After standing for almost a quarter of an hour, Shen Lai was already asleep, and Ling Yue returned to normal, as if nothing had happened, and returned to the house.
After entering the house, Ling Yue subconsciously wanted to sit at the desk and read a book.
He stopped after only two steps.
Then he honestly climbed into bed and went to sleep.
……
Since the last time he was comforted by Ling Xing, Li Huiyuan rested for two days after returning, and then began to study hard.
The private school was still open, which could subsidize the family and save money for the triennial township examination.
Today was a holiday, and he had free time.
Thinking of Ling Xing in his heart, he remembered that Ling Xing had said before that they could meet, so he set off early in the morning, wanting to come and see him.
Li Huiyuan first went to the courtyard, and no one answered when he knocked on the door. He thought that Ling Xing should have gone to the shop.
He felt uneasy and walked towards Ling’s Snack Shop.
It was impolite of him to come without saying hello in advance.
The private school had reopened some time ago, and there were many trivial matters. He forgot to send a post to inform him in advance.
He really wanted to see him again and couldn’t wait for the next holiday. By the time he came back to his senses, he had already arrived in the county town.
Spring Rain Street was still prosperous, and Li Huiyuan’s Confucian uniform was eye-catching, attracting the attention of many people.
There were few scholars in Yunshui County, and those who could wear Confucian uniforms were at least scholars.
Those who had no fame most respected scholars, and there were also many wealthy children who bowed their hands to Li Huiyuan, showing their goodwill.
Li Huiyuan didn’t think he was really superior just because he had fame, and he returned the salute with a very good attitude.
This surprised the wealthy children.
Scholars were noble and didn’t want to interact with them.
Although merchants in Dayu could also take the imperial examination, there were many restrictions.
In order to curb merchants from taking the imperial examination, each prefecture would issue imperial examination nameplates, and the number was limited. Whoever gave the most money could get the imperial examination nameplate.
How could the wealth of the wealthy households in small county towns compare to that in the prefectures?
The wealthy people in Yunshui County could barely get the title of child student when they entered the examination hall. If they wanted to go further, it all depended on their family wealth.
Li Huiyuan’s peaceful attitude made the several wealthy children who had shown goodwill to him feel happy, and they took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
“Scholar, where are you going? We have a carriage and can give you a ride.”
The leading young man sincerely invited him, and Li Huiyuan smiled slightly, “No need, I’m going to Ling’s Snack Shop.”
The shop was not far ahead, and it would only take a few steps to get there, so there was really no need for a carriage.
It was not easy to find a scholar who was willing to talk to them, so the young man said again, “There is a queue at the snack shop. If you go now, you may have to wait for a while. My servant is in the front of the queue. What would you like to eat? I can help you get it.”
Li Huiyuan waved his hand.
Since they were being so kind and sincerely wanted to help him, he didn’t perfunctorily say, but told the truth, “I’m not buying food, but looking for someone.”
“Looking for someone? Then you have to find my servant.” Seeing Li Huiyuan’s blank expression, the young man explained to him.
“Scholar, you don’t know, but recently, Shopkeeper Ling has been targeted by matchmakers. I don’t know where they came from, but they are blocking him every day. Now there are guards patrolling around the shop. If you are not a customer in line, no one is entertained, and they are all asked to leave.”
The young man added, “But if you are familiar with Shopkeeper Ling, you can tell the guards and they will take a message.”
Li Huiyuan knew in his heart that the young man who had struck up a conversation with him wanted to get close to him. People establish connections with each other, that is, you help me and I help you.
That’s why he told him these things, so he could decide whether he wanted the young man’s help.
But he couldn’t think too much now. His mind was full of the matchmakers that the young man had mentioned.
Was Ling Ge’er going to meet someone and remarry?
Also, Ling Ge’er was so outstanding, there must be many people proposing marriage.
Counting the time, Ling Ge’er had been a widow long enough. He was also eighteen years old, and if he continued to wait, he might delay his next marriage.
Li Huiyuan looked blankly at Ling’s Snack Shop, his mind full of thoughts.
He wanted to be good enough before he proposed marriage.
But now, time was running out…
Could it be that he was going to do nothing and just watch?
Li Huiyuan’s eyes were scattered for a moment, but they quickly gathered again.
He clenched his fists, made up his mind.
No, he couldn’t just watch like this.
Otherwise, he would definitely regret it in the future!
Although one cannot get married during the mourning period, one can meet and betroth, and then get married after the mourning period.
After Li Huiyuan made up his mind, his face couldn’t help but turn hot.
These were all his thoughts, and he didn’t know what Ling Ge’er would think.
No matter what he thought, the most urgent task was to find a matchmaker. First go to the Shen family to propose a meeting, at least let Ling Ge’er know…
He had him in his heart.