Chapter 73: Popular Cai

"But it's still early for Cai to consider," Chen Xiao Mi said.

"Not considering getting married, but considering getting engaged, we need to act fast to get Cai a perfect partner!"

Lu Lin couldn't help but think in modern society how parents forbade kids from dating when they were at school, but they would rush their children to just get married after they graduated from university. Not getting married when you were thirty was considered a failure, not only your parent but also the whole society would judge you. And people would just judge you to filth if you have some standard in selecting a partner.

However, Lu Lin knew marriage wasn't something you could rush for.

Chen Xiao Mi rolled his eyes and said, "But no way I'm considering being betrothed to Zheng's daughter."

Chen Xiao Mi knew a little about this Zheng. She was the most notorious shrew in the village. Even if her daughter was a good girl, Chen Xiao Mi frowned at the thought of marrying her daughter to Cai.

"So, I didn't promise her anything," Lu Lin said.

Lu Lin thought that it was just Aunty Zheng who had her eyes on Xiao Cai, but he was wrong, he found that there were quite a few people coming over to 'propose marriage'. Of course, they were doing it in a subtle manner. They would just bring their daughters to the shop and asked the girls to ask Chen Xiao Cai a few random questions, they would exchange some greetings with Lu Lin before they left.

When Aunty Zheng met Lu Lin, she praised her daughter, "My daughter is beautiful, smart, virtuous. And you know what, fortune-tellers all say she can bring good luck to her future husband!"

Although parents always felt that their children were the best, Lu Lin still felt that Aunty Zheng's words were a little exaggerated. How could anyone tell that a ten-year-old girl or so could bring good luck to her future husband!

After a few days, Lu Lin was shocked by how popular Cai was. The arrival of Aunty Zheng seemed to have ushered in a wave of matchmakers and inquiring aunties from the village. Some of the matchmakers would just directly ask Lu Lin what Chen Xiao Cai's type was.

......

Lu Lin said with surprise, "I really didn't expect it! There are so many girls who are interested in our Cai.

Lu Lin couldn't even recall there were how many matchmakers had talked to him about Cai already.

Those matchmakers would just talk on and on with their silver tongues,. However, Lu Lin couldn't just walk away because the other party had no malice, he had to act like he was interested and listen to them attentively despite himself.

Chen Xiao Mi blinked and said, "It's a little unexpected indeed."

Chen Xiao Mi once worried that no one wanted to marry Cai, so he was so glad that Cai was actually quite popular.

"The key is to have money," Lu Lin said.

He didn't agree to anyone's proposal at all, but some women would just mention the ostentation and extravagance of Lu Cheng Yu's wedding when they talked to. 30 tales of silver and 2 gold hairpins as betrothal presents, big red sedan chair and over 100 guests on the wedding ceremony', Lu Lin was well aware why they mentioned that. They were reminding him that they were expecting a big wedding ceremony for their daughter and Chen Xiao Cai.

With Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi's savings, it was no big deal at all, but it was unnecessary! Lu Lin still believed in keeping it low-key, especially when Lu Lin didn't trust the public order in this time space. If they were to hold a grand wedding ceremony for Cai, the Lu family and Chen family could still sit still, they would come them for money.

......

Chen Xiao Cai came up and tugged at Lu Lin's sleeve when Lu Lin was fetching water in the yard this day.

Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiao Cai and asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Xiao Cai lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. He then blushed and said, "Did someone bring up proposal of marriage to me?"

Lu Lin nodded, "Yeah! You're popular. Quite a few girls in the village have fallen in love with you, including that Zhang Ya. This little girl is said to be the prettiest girl in Big Stone Village."

Lu Lin honestly didn't see that, but everyone kept saying that, so he tried to convince himself.

Chen Xiao Cai lowered his head and said, "I don't like those people. Don't agree."

Chen Xiao Cai didn't like the girls in the village at all, it was not like he had a really good opinion about himself. He didn't like them because he felt that these people liked him just because they wanted to live a good life. Their family was doing so well now, and those people wanted to sit idle and enjoy the fruits of their work. He didn't want that. What was more, someone... someone had already stolen his heart.

Chen Xiao Cai hesitated for a moment but he didn't mention that he had someone in his heart already.

Lu Lin nodded and said, "I've rejected them for you. You're still young. You need to work harder and save up a bit more first. Your big brother and I have talked about it, it will mean a lot if you offer your future partner some betrothal presents that you earned by yourself." Then Lu Lin added mischievously, "We need to support Mai maybe we can't afford your betrothal presents by then."

Chen Xiao Cai pouted and said, "I completely understand. I have a lot of money now."

Wan Li was a servant bought by Lu Lin, Lu Lin wasn't supposed to pay him any money, but Lu Lin had been paying him 1.5 taels of silver per month anyway. Now Cai was earning the same amount of money since he had replaced Wan Li, Cai also had been earning commission, so he was right, he had some savings now.

Chen Xiao Cai patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I can afford my own wedding ceremony."

Chen Xiao Cai was very confident in his ability to save money. He was only 11 years old, he would have to wait until thirteen or fourteen years old to get married. His expenses were not very big, he could save ten taels of silver a year. Three years later, it would be thirty taels.

Lu Lin was impressed by Chen Xiao Cai's confidence!

......

In Zhang Family.

"Mom, what did Lu Lin say?" Zhang Ya asked.

Her mother Ma Shi said helplessly, "Lu Lin said that Chen Xiao Cai is too young and he isn't considering getting married any time soon."

Zhang Ya let out an "Oh", then she added, "Did Lu Lin not tell Chen Xiao Cai? I can't believe Chen Xiao Cai would turn me down."

Zhang Ya was very confident in herself, she found it hard to believe that Chen Xiao Cai didn't want to be betrothed with her.

"Chen Xiao Cai is a silly boy!"

Zhang Ya actually didn't like Chen Xiao Cai. Among the girls in the village, Zhang Ya was always considered the pretty one. Many of the boys in the village liked to surround her and kiss her ass.

Zhang Ya always remembered Chen Xiao Cai as a thin and ugly-looking boy. Grandma Chen always said he and his brother Chen Xiao Mi were ill-starred. Her own mother always reminded her to stay away from Chen Xiao Cai.

Zhang Ya listened to her mother and she would try her best to avoid Chen Xiao Cai.

However, everyone started to talk about Chen Xiao Cai differently. They kept praising him, saying young as Chen Xiao Cai was, he was very capable.

Chen Xiao Mi had money. Chen Xiao Mi might be willing to offer Chen Xiao Cai's future wife 30 taels of silver as betrothal present.

When Lu Cheng Yu got married, all the children in the village ran to his house to watch. After that, the wedding ceremony had been the talk of the village for so long.

Ma Shi spared no effort to persuade her mother to marry Chen Xiao Cai, Zhang Ya finally agreed to accept Chen Xiao Cai with reluctance. However, she never expected that she would be turned down. Originally, Zhang Ya didn't agree to marry Chen Xiao Cai, but after being rejected, she felt so aggrieved.

The first person in the village who had asked for a proposal with Chen Xiao Cai was Zheng. With such a person leading the way, people kept approaching Lu Lin.

In Zhang Ya's opinion, it was natural for Zhang Qian, Zheng's daughter to be rejected. That little girl was short and fat. She had always said bad things about Chen Xiao Mi before. It was strange that Chen Xiao Cai liked her, but she felt so wronged that Chen Xiao Cai didn't like herself either.

Zhang Ya originally thought that Chen Xiao Cai was not good enough for her, but she was willing to accept him for the sake of money. However, she didn't expect that she would be rejected, so she was mortified when she heard she was turned down.

"I wonder what Lu Lin wants to find for Chen Xiao Cai."

Ma Shi thought to herself, "Chen Xiao Mi is different from before. This family is working in town. Lu Lin and Chen Xiao Mi are earning more than forty taels in a year. What's more, Chen Xiao Cai is also making money. He should be able to save thirty a year, or maybe seventy to eighty taels in two years."

......

Several families looked for Lu Lin and wanted to be betrothed with Chen Xiao Cai, but Lu Lin had declined them all politely. Some villagers said that Lu Lin was exactly like his cousin Lu Cheng Yu who looked down upon village girls, they started to think that chances were Lu Lin wanted to be betrothed with a lady in town. However, Lu Cheng Yu was a Tongsheng, while Chen Xiao Cai just worked at a commercial house.

Lu Lin didn't go back to the village as often now. He had no idea how angry those aunties who he had turned down had been. However, even if Lu Lin knew, he wouldn't pay them any attention.

Granny Shen was worried about her farmland, she would go back to the village whenever she could.

Shen Chi sat in the mule carriage, a little distracted.

Granny Shen drove the mule carriage and asked, "Ah Chi, are you okay?"

Shen Chi shook his head and said, "I'm okay."

Recently, Shen Chi had been working as a helper in the store, and Shen Chi knew that people from the village kept talking to Lu Lin about Chen Xiao Cai. Shen Chi didn't know where went wrong, he felt a little upset on seeing those people trying to propose to Chen Xiao Cai.

Granny Shen looked at Shen Chi and sighed in her heart.

Granny Shen also thought that Chen Xiao Cai was good, but the gap between their family and Chen family was too big. Moreover, they had accepted too many favors from Lu Lin alerady, so it was not appropriate to ask for more.

Shen Chi lowered his head and kept quiet.

......

Granny Shen dropped everything to their house and went to the farmland, followed by Shen Chi.

"Shen Chi, hi, you are back!" A fat woman saw Shen Chi and walked towards him.

Shen Chi nodded.

"Shen Chi! You must have been earning a lot!"

Shen Chi shook his head and said, "Not much." Shen Chi could earn several hundreds of cents from making knots. During this period of time, he helped out in the shop as well. Lu Lin said he would give him a pay raise, but Shen Chi felt it a bit inappropriate, so he refused the offer.

"You don't have much, Chen Xiao Cai must have earned a lot. He is the shopkeeper. He must be earning at least one tael of silver per month. I wonder where Chen Xiao Cai learned how to settle accounts."

Shen Chi didn't say anything, settling accounts was definitely one of the most coveted skills in this time and space. Most of the people who knew this skill were taught by their masters or family members. And a handsome tuition fee was usually a must!

Shen Chi lowered his head and said, "Cai is earning more than me."

"Have you heard that, Chen Xiao Cai doesn't like any of the girls in our village? Is it because of you? The Chen family is so different now. Chen Xiao Mi should have saved a lot of money," the fat woman looked at Shen Chi with disdain in her eyes.

"I'm not very clear about Xiao Mi Gege's business."

"You and Chen Xiao Cai are so close, he didn't tell you about his brother's savings?" The fat woman's voice turned so coy when she mentioned Chen Xiao Cai's name.

Shen Chi understood the undertone now and he couldn't help blushing.

Granny Shen saw Zheng confronting Shen Chi from afar and she quickly ran over. "Why are you finding fault with my grandson?"

Zheng was not someone to be trifled with, so she immediately said, "Granny Shen, what are you angry about?! I'm just praising your grandson. He knows how to seduce a man at such a young age. He is a Bio, he should stay home instead of working in a shop and show his face in public."

"Damx you, fat woman," Granny Shen was so angry that her face turned livid. She wielded her rake and hit Zheng.

Zheng continued, "If you have the guts to do it, I have the guts to say it. A young Bio trying so hard to seduce a capable young man! "

"Damx your fat ass! I'll slap you!"

Shen Chi found Zheng was not the only one who had that thought, they were so foul-mouthed when they talked about him and Cai. He couldn't stay in the village anymore and he returned to town that night.

After Shen Chi came back, he was clearly downcast.