The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 16 Miss Lin

In the blink of an eye, another year has passed.

The seventeenth year of the Jing Kingdom.

After a year of repairs, the road in Songguo Village is finally finished.

The road leads directly from the fields to Pingshui Town. It is about ten feet wide and has a smooth surface covered with gravel, so it is not uncomfortable to walk on.

Even when it rains heavily, it will no longer be muddy and difficult to walk on, with one step deep and one step shallow.

The county magistrate came in person to offer his congratulations and erected a sign for Songguo Village at the entrance of the village.

If Lord Lin Xianzong ever returns to his hometown to visit relatives in the future, he will be able to see this place at a glance.

This year's rainfall is heavier than in previous years.

It has been raining almost every day since the beginning of summer.

This resulted in the roads in villages other than Songguo Village being unable to be repaired.

The village is riddled with holes, making it difficult for villagers to even get around normally. If they accidentally fall in, they might end up face-planting in the mud, or even sprain their ankles or break their bones.

The rain was too heavy, but thankfully, Chu Xun used his money to rebuild the house last summer and autumn.

The original thatched huts were bulldozed and replaced with brick and tile houses like Old Li's.

There are three rooms in total, plus a separate woodshed and outhouse.

Even the courtyard was surrounded by a low wall, with a wooden fence on top.

The Spirit Pearl Grass is still located at the entrance of the new house, and it has now grown to seventeen leaves.

It will bloom in three more years.

Chu Xun wasn't in a hurry at all. He had a lot of land now, and he could earn more than a hundred taels of silver a year just from grain alone.

While we can't say we can eat meat at every meal, it's pretty close.

The good days he wanted were getting closer and closer.

Zhang Anxiu seemed to understand that this seemingly inconspicuous grass held great significance for Chu Xun.

Although she didn't understand, whenever a child who came to play in the yard tried to touch it, she would scold them for a long time with her hands on her hips.

As a result, whenever the children see her, they shout, "Chu Xun's family eats well, they'll have a chubby baby sooner or later!"

Zhang Anxiu was so embarrassed that she jumped up and down, but the children were not afraid at all. They laughed and made faces at her as they ran away.

Li Shoutian asked Zhang Anxiu during his spare time whether or not he would marry her.

Don't let that girl wait for so many years only to end up with nothing.

If you don't like her, just like Zhang Shigen said back then, you should find her a good family as soon as possible.

Chu Xun couldn't quite explain it, but he still liked Zhang Anxiu.

Although she wasn't particularly good-looking, she had a nice figure.

The big parts should be big, and the small parts should be small.

Most importantly, she is obedient. No matter how stubborn she may be in front of outsiders, she will listen to whatever Chu Xun says.

They are obedient, know how to save money, and are a great help when it comes to work.

Chu Xun hasn't had to worry about anything at home for several years now.

Marrying a wife like that would save you a lot of trouble.

Chu Xun just felt that something was missing, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Perhaps the right opportunity hasn't arrived yet.

When questioned like this by others, Zhang Anxiu stubbornly replied, "I don't want to marry anyone else! If Xun-ge won't marry me, I'd be happy to be his maid!"

Over the years, she has always kept in mind the words of her father, Zhang Shigen, before he passed away.

"Ah Xun is a good boy. If you marry him, you won't suffer in the future."

Therefore, Zhang Anxiu was determined that even if she never married, she would stay by Chu Xun's side.

Pingshui Town.

With tears welling in her eyes, Lin Qiaoxi angrily shouted at the matchmaker, who had a large black mole on her chin, "I won't marry her! I won't marry her no matter what!"

When Lin Xianzong returned two years ago, he saw that Lin Qiaoxi was beautiful and said he would arrange a marriage for her.

A few days ago, a matchmaker came to the door, saying that she was sent by Lord Lin to arrange a marriage.

The other party was not a high-ranking official in the capital, but the prefect of Fenggu City, 160 miles away, and the fourth son of Lord Liang Mingzheng.

This person's name is Liang Cizhang. In terms of status, even though Lin Qiaoxi and Lin Xianzong are relatives, they are almost beyond the fifth degree of kinship, so it can be considered a marriage of convenience.

Lin Qiaoxi was unwilling to marry Liang Cizhang not only because of her personal reasons, but also because Liang Cizhang was not only ugly with crooked features, but also a fool.

Not only does it drool and snot flow everywhere, but it can also soil its pants while walking.

Even if he were the son of the prefect, or even the crown prince of Jing Kingdom, Lin Qiaoxi would not want to marry such a person.

But who would dare disrespect Lin Xianzong?

The Lin family didn't care about their daughter's happiness; they only wanted to use this connection to get acquainted with the prefect.

In the future, whether it's his son or grandson, they will all be able to find good jobs.

Moreover, the betrothal letter sent by Prefect Liang, with its list of various betrothal gifts, dazzled the Lin family.

The gold and silver jewelry alone amounted to more than ten thousand taels.

Although Lin Qiaoxi's parents were considered wealthy, their family fortune was at most this much.

However, it is absolutely impossible to obtain cash.

So they readily agreed, except for Lin Qiaoxi, who absolutely refused.

Her father, Lin Guiwan, said sternly, "A marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers. How can you just refuse to marry like that! Judging by appearance is outrageous! Where have all the traditional virtues I've taught you gone?!"

"I'd rather die than marry him!"

Lin Qiaoxi ran out crying, and the matchmaker looked over awkwardly.

Lin Guiwan immediately put on a beaming smile and said, "Don't worry, please tell Lord Lin that our family agrees to this marriage. When Lord Liang has some free time, please bring the betrothal gifts to formally propose marriage."

The matchmaker beamed and said, "Very well, very well, then I'll go back and congratulate Lord Liang and Master Lin. Their fathers will rise in status because of their daughter; they'll be marrying into high positions!"

Lin Guiwan didn't care at all about her accusations of climbing the social ladder, since it was true, and she was actually quite pleased with herself.

The Lin family has raised many daughters, but none of them have had such an honor.

Although the future son-in-law's appearance is indeed not impressive, his father is amazing.

Who dares to laugh at us?

As for Lin Qiaoxi's unwillingness, Lin Guiwan didn't take it to heart at all.

Just like he said, it's your parents' decision, you have to marry them whether you want to or not!

Lin Qiaoxi returned to the backyard in tears, where Zhang Sanchun was sweeping the ground.

Seeing this, she rushed over and asked, "What happened to you, young lady?"

Lin Qiaoxi looked up at him with teary eyes: "Father is forcing me to marry a fool, I don't want to!"

Zhang Sanchun's heart tightened; he wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say.

Lin Qiaoxi just looked at him like that, as if waiting for him to say what she wanted to hear.

But Zhang Sanchun stood there like a silent stone, speechless.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Lin Qiaoxi asked, her voice choked with emotion.

Zhang Sanchun involuntarily lowered his head; he truly didn't know what to say.

"If you don't say anything, I'm really going to marry that idiot!" Lin Qiaoxi stamped her foot anxiously, tears streaming down her face.

Zhang Sanchun remained silent, which angered Lin Qiaoxi so much that she pushed him away forcefully.

She went inside, closed the door, and then burst into tears.

Zhang Sanchun stood at the doorway, broom in hand, his lips trembling.

I wanted to raise my hand to knock on the door, but then I put my hand down.

He was just a day laborer, a poor and miserable peasant, what could he say?

Lin Qiaoxi cried for a long time, until her voice became hoarse, and the sky gradually darkened.

Zhang Sanchun stayed in the courtyard, but Lin Guiwan chased him out at night.

A girl who is about to get married should not allow men to enter and leave her backyard, not even a servant.

They used to spoil her and allow Zhang Sanchun to serve her, but that won't do anymore.

Let the prefect know, and he'll say their family has poor discipline.

Zhang Sanchun was driven out of the courtyard and sat dejectedly in the front yard belonging to the servants.

Several servants pointed and whispered among themselves at him, secretly laughing.

People used to be incredibly envious and jealous of Lin Qiaoxi's kindness towards Zhang Sanchun.

They couldn't understand why a simpleton like him could be treated so well by the young lady.

Now that Lin Qiaoxi is about to get married, no one will care about Zhang Sanchun anymore, so they naturally feel relieved.

When Zhang Sanchun heard this, he felt even more choked up.

He always felt that even if he didn't say anything, he should do something.

But what can be done?

At that moment, he seemed to sense something and raised his head.

A bright streak appeared, streaking across the sky before plummeting downwards.

Zhang Sanchun's eyes widened immediately: "That's... a shooting star?"

He hadn't forgotten what Chu Xun had said: if a shooting star were to fall, and he was lucky enough to find it, it would be as if he had plucked a star from the sky.

He also didn't forget Lin Qiaoxi's words: "Then pluck the stars from the sky and give them to me."

Zhang Sanchun jumped up, pushed open the gate of the Lin family mansion, and ran wildly in the direction where the meteor had fallen.

He knew what he had to do!

Reach for the stars!