Making money, taking exams and supporting the family

chapter 81: Lin Xiaolian's Blind Date

The next day was the official Mid-Autumn Festival.

According to tradition, today Lin Ze had to spend the festival with his father Lin, and could not bring him out. Moreover, today was also the day to find a match for Lin Xiaolian. Lin Ze had agreed to this with Lin Sangui the previous day, so he couldn't back out. After getting up in the morning and getting dressed, he brought a few big crabs and two pounds of pork to Zhang's place.

Lin Jianwen also rushed home last night because his relationship with Lin Xiaolian was closer. If he was late for the matchmaking, who knows what rumors might spread to damage his reputation.

When Lin Ze saw Lin Jianwen, he couldn't help but sigh at how difficult ancient exams were.

In just over half a month, Lin Jianwen, who had previously looked healthy and full-faced, had lost a lot of weight and looked visibly exhausted. He no longer had the confrontational and calculating look in his eyes; instead, he just looked exhausted.

This showed how mentally and physically draining the imperial exams were. It wasn't surprising, considering that the exams lasted nine days in a small enclosed space, which could exhaust many people.

Seeing Lin Jianwen's ghostly appearance after the exams, Lin Ze decided to strengthen his physical exercise plan and took the exams even more seriously.

When he arrived at the Lin household, he inevitably encountered Zhang Yinzhu, the self-absorbed narcissist.

Fortunately, she wasn't foolish enough to show off in front of her man, and since Lin Jianwen had just finished the exams, he still had hopes of passing. She wasn't stupid enough to make him unhappy at this time.

To avoid losing her composure in front of Lin Ze, Zhang Yinzhu didn't leave her room all morning.

Chen Shuju also changed her usual attitude and didn't argue with Lin Ze today. After all, Lin Xiaolian was her biological daughter, and the match they were considering this time was quite good. She had no reason to sabotage it.

Of course, she wouldn't admit that the main reason was that she couldn't outwit Lin Ze. Ever since he learned the truth about the past and realized she wasn't his biological mother, Lin Ze hadn't been polite to her, which infuriated her.

Lin Ze didn't care about their scheming thoughts.

When they arrived at the Lin household, Zhang Xiu went to the kitchen to help Lin Dad, while Lin Ze pulled Lin Xiaolian to a corner to ask about the match, so he could be prepared to help later.

"Little sister, why haven't I heard about this match before? Was it arranged by Dad or your mother?"

He got straight to the point and asked her directly.

Yesterday on the ox cart, Lin Ze heard Lin Dad mention it, which made him puzzled about Lin Xiaolian's marriage arrangement. He had only been separated from the Lin family for a few months and had always lived in the village. If there were talks about Lin Xiaolian's marriage, he would have heard some commotion.

Usually, arranging a marriage, except within the same village which was quicker, took some time. A matchmaker helped find someone, the girl's side discreetly gathered information, and all this took at least a month or two. Only after everything was confirmed, the 'matchmaking' took place.

If they had started discussing this marriage for Lin Xiaolian earlier, Lin Sangui would have mentioned it to him.

"It was mother who arranged it... but, brother, I know that person."

Talking about her own marriage, the usually bold girl now seemed shy, stuttering and blushing.

It was a coincidence. Last month, when she went to town to help Lin Dad sell the newly harvested rice and white flour, she accidentally met a man. He didn't look remarkable but was very nice. He not only helped chase away some thugs who were bothering the village girls but also kindly introduced them to a reasonably priced grain merchant.