At first, Mother Lin had looked through quite a few portraits, all of them depicting daughters of distinguished families.
They were countless times better than Zhu Cui'er.
But as more and more matchmakers came, she could only say that she would keep the portraits and let Lin Feng look at them when he returned.
Gradually, fewer and fewer matchmakers came.
Outside the Lin household, Butcher Zhu and his family watched matchmakers carrying precious gifts nearly wear down Lin Feng's doorstep.
They thought they had come to the wrong house!
"What is going on? Even if Lin Feng joined the Demon Purging Division, it has only been a few days. Surely all the daughters of distinguished families in Kaiyang County haven't taken a liking to him?"
Aunt Zhu asked in confusion, her words dripping with sourness.
"It is all because of you, you wretched girl! Why did you choose that useless Xu Xiong back then?!
"Now he cannot even move, and Xu Qiang is dead. So many people are seeking revenge against the Xu Family. We might get dragged into it too!"
The more Aunt Zhu looked at her, the angrier she became, and she could not help viciously poking Zhu Cui'er in the head!
"Enough! Are you trying to get us killed? How dare you talk about the Xu Family like that? If they hear you, do you think they will spare us?!
"Hurry inside and test your sister-in-law's attitude. She is softhearted. See if we can make a breakthrough through her.
"Lin Feng's side will probably be difficult!"
Butcher Zhu stopped his wife.
In truth, all three of them had been blinded by money back then.
They could not put all the blame on their daughter.
Zhu Cui'er also wore an aggrieved expression.
Then, the three looked around furtively before sneaking into the Lin household.
When they entered the main hall, only two matchmakers remained in the Lin household.
Mother Lin was receiving them.
"Sister-in-law, we came to see you. Look at you, moving into a new home without even inviting us for a drink!
"Old Zhu and I brought some meat today, to nourish you, Brother Lin, and Lin Man!"
The moment Aunt Zhu saw Mother Lin, she spoke.
It was as if the day Xu Xiong had come to their door had never happened.
But the moment Mother Lin saw her, her smiling face turned from sunshine to storm clouds!
With the two matchmakers present, however, she did not flare up.
At that moment, Zhu Cui'er took out a candied hawthorn skewer and wanted to give it to Lin Man.
Lin Man looked at the candied hawthorn skewer, then at Zhu Cui'er.
She shook her head and said, "Big Brother said that our family has nothing to do with yours anymore!
"You went with that dog-bear, so you are no longer my future sister-in-law!"
Previously, Lin Man had not understood what had happened between Lin Feng and Zhu Cui'er.
Lin Feng had not explained much either.
He had only told her those words.
Lin Man had remembered them firmly!
The only mistake was that Xu Xiong had become dog-bear!
The two matchmakers were highly skilled at their trade!
Not only could they read expressions and judge the situation, they had also investigated Lin Feng's background.
They understood that this was the Zhu Family that had previously broken off the engagement with Lin Feng!
From Mother Lin's expression, it was clear that she did not welcome them.
And Lin Man was innocent and guileless, with children speaking without restraint. What she said represented Lin Feng's opinion.
Since neither of the two people in charge liked these people,
there was no need to be polite to them.
If they handled this well, it would earn them points with Mother Lin and Lin Feng!
It could raise the chances of successfully arranging the marriage!
"My, how laughable. Bringing three taels of pork—are you trying to fob off beggars?
"And you say it is to nourish Sister-in-law Lin!
"Look, this is what nourishment looks like!"
As she spoke, the matchmaker opened a brocade box, revealing a ginseng root inside!
"That is right! I heard this girl has been spending time with the Xu Family's young master, hasn't she?
"Heh, and now she still comes to the Lin household. I am afraid she will soil the Lin residence!"
When her rival struck first, the other matchmaker secretly cursed her for being cunning. Naturally unwilling to fall behind, she also mocked them, insinuating that Zhu Cui'er was unclean.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of all three Zhu family members changed.
"Hehe, Sister-in-law, those are merely rumors spread by others!
"Cui'er has always kept herself pure.
"When she was with Brother Lin back then, she was completely innocent!"
Butcher Zhu gave an awkward laugh, wanting to muddle through it.
When Mother Lin heard this, her eyes slanted as she was about to say something.
But the matchmaker beside her spoke first!
"Heh, back then was back then. Some people, after enjoying a few good days, no longer know their own surname!
"They were probably long ago knocked senseless by silver.
"Who knows whether they are clean or not?"
"Exactly! And even if she is clean, so what? Can she compare to those daughters of distinguished families and delicate beauties from the city?
"What is she comparing with?
"The size of your Zhu Family's faces?"
The other matchmaker hurriedly piled on, unwilling to be outdone.
"Clean or not? Wouldn't washing make her clean?"
Tilting her head, Lin Man asked in confusion. She did not understand what these adults were saying.
Seeing their words becoming increasingly explicit, Mother Lin sent Lin Man away. Such adult conversation was unsuitable for a seven-year-old child.
"You!"
Aunt Zhu raised her hand and pointed at the two matchmakers, her chest heaving violently. She was clearly furious.
Butcher Zhu also rarely revealed a look of guilt once more.
Faced with the two matchmakers' sharp words, Zhu Cui'er could not even lift her head.
Mother Lin had always been gentle and virtuous. Even if she racked her brains, she could never say such things.
Yet why did these words sound so satisfying!
So cathartic!
Sure enough, evil people still needed evil people to grind them down!
"What do you mean, 'you'? If it were me, I would have been too ashamed to show my face at the Lin household long ago! Sister-in-law Lin is virtuous and does not hold it against you.
"Yet you are pushing your luck!
"As the old saying goes, today you look down on me, tomorrow I will stand beyond your reach!
"Give up this thought as soon as possible!
"Brother Lin is not someone you can ever hope to reach!"
This heavy blow directly shattered Butcher Zhu's family's defenses.
Faced with the combined punches of two formidable matchmakers,
the entire family fled in panic!
"Wait. Take this pork with you! Xiao Feng said that the silver Xu Xiong gave back then would count as a congratulatory gift for you.
"From now on, there is no need for our two families to have dealings with one another!"
Mother Lin said.
The Zhu family still wanted to use this pitiful pork to preserve a sliver of affection.
In the end, the matchmakers stepped in, directly stuffing the pork into Zhu Cui'er's hands.
Then they drove them out.
Mother Lin felt as though she were floating on air. She had said fewer than three sentences in total, yet Butcher Zhu's family had fled like rats crossing the street!
Thus, Mother Lin was unusually generous for once. She took out two taels of silver and rewarded the two matchmakers.
In the end, Mother Lin agreed to keep the portraits, but returned all the gifts.
Although marriages were arranged by parental command and matchmakers' words, Lin Feng had grown up and was the head of the household now.
Such a major matter as marriage should rightly be decided by him himself.
It was not until evening that Lin Feng returned home. When he saw those portraits, he could not help laughing and crying.
Naturally, he knew that it was because he had displayed extraordinary potential that these Lineages wanted to bind their interests firmly to his.
Marriage alliances had always been a common method used by Lineages.
However, he would not consider such things at all right now. After admiring the portraits of those daughters of distinguished families, he could only have his mother politely decline them.
As for Zhu Cui'er's family, he thoroughly approved of what his mother and younger sister had done.
There was no need to show such people any kindness.
Not long after, to his surprise, Zhao Chengzhe, the young master of the mighty Zhao Family, actually came to his home!
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