TLHHS 🍁 Chapter 10: I want to marry you.

Qiu Wenfu was used to getting his way through bullying and intimidation. His family was the wealthiest in the county and had close ties to the County Magistrate, so he dared to openly oppress Zhang Moyuan, even though the latter held the rank of Xiucai.

The county they were in was called Yanhai County, named after a salt-making workshop the government had established in Yanxin Village below.

The three Lin brothers worked in that very salt workshop.

Zhang Moyuan remembered that the current County Magistrate of Yanhai County was Ji Gaochi, who would be executed three years later for selling official salt on the private market, and the Qiu family had been the ones handling the transactions for him.

Now, Zhang Moyuan didn't mind bringing that event forward a little.

"Have you come here about the newly produced salt from Yanxin Village?"

Qiu Wenfu's previously swelling arrogance instantly deflated. He stared at Zhang Moyuan with a look of mingled shock and uncertainty.

Could he know something?

Before leaving, Qiu Wenfu's father had warned him repeatedly: this batch of salt was of utmost importance, and under no circumstances could outsiders find out about it.

Even illiterate children knew how heavy the charge of selling official salt privately was.

Zhang Moyuan said thoughtfully, "Or are you not here to buy salt?"

Qiu Wenfu immediately relaxed. With that matter weighing on his mind, he'd forgotten that ordinary people also went to the salt workshop to buy salt for eating.

"Of course I am. What else would I be doing in this wretched place?"

Zhang Moyuan didn't miss the faint trace of guilt in his tone.

"Then you'd best go quickly. It's almost dark, and if you buy a lot of salt, transporting it won't be easy."

With that, Zhang Moyuan walked away.

He left Qiu Wenfu standing there, frowning deeply as he watched his retreating figure.

Zhang Moyuan had spoken so casually that Qiu Wenfu couldn't tell whether he'd been deliberately dropping a hint or merely speaking offhand remark.

After all, the Qiu family was a wealthy clan with many mouths to feed; on the surface, the amount of salt they needed to buy was indeed substantial.

Before he could think it through, Zhang Moyuan was already far away.

Qiu Wenfu spat out a vicious curse. That brat had gotten away again!

When Zhang Moyuan returned to Jiahe Village, the sky was just turning dark.

He carried armfuls of things as he walked toward Lin Yan's house.

All the way, he was careful not to let anyone see him. After all, a marriage proposal was merely a request for Lin Yan to marry him, but if others caught sight of it, it would essentially be treated as a done deal.

The Lin family would be placed on a pedestal of public opinion.

That was how things worked in the village: once two families began interacting, in everyone else's eyes the match was as good as settled.

Zhang Moyuan had no parents, so the part that would normally be handled by them had to be done by him personally.

Just as he rounded the corner, he spotted a short, wretched-looking man standing there.

Zhang Moyuan recognized him at once. It was Lin Yan's father.

He stuffed all his things into a bag before approaching. "What do you want?"

Father Lin jumped in fright.

He'd been gambling outside these past two days, and after losing everything, he'd come home as usual to demand money. But the moment he'd opened his mouth; Lin Yan had chased him out with a broom.

His three sons, for some reason, had suddenly grown bold as lions and actually joined that little brat Lin Yan in driving him away.

Even Lin A-die wouldn't give him the time of day.

This was nothing like what he was used to, and Father Lin was bewildered.

Coming to his senses, he'd immediately started yelling as he always did, making a scene to draw a crowd. Lin A-die, embarrassed, would surely give him money to send him on his way.

But before he could make a sound, Third Brother Lin had stuffed a rag in his mouth and dumped him outside the door.

Then they'd simply and neatly shut the door.

Father Lin had seen everything clearly when he'd gone inside earlier: they were eating beef noodles.

Each bowl was topped with a thick layer of beef, the brown broth glistening with oil, and the fragrance had drifted right out through the door into the air.

He'd planned to eat after getting the money, but now he had neither money nor noodles.

He could only stand outside listening to the sounds of laughter and chatter within.

He was the head of the Lin family!

Zhang Moyuan glanced at the Lin family's tightly closed door and roughly understood what was going on.

"Who are you?"

Father Lin flustered for a moment, but he quickly recognized this as Xiucai Zhang and immediately switched on a fawning expression. "Xiucai Zhang! Have you come to see my Yan'er?"

The way he said "Yan'er" in that tone made Zhang Moyuan feel revulsion.

"You want money?"

Father Lin nodded eagerly. "Xiucai Zhang, do you have any money on you? Could you lend me a little? Don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as I win."

Zhang Moyuan couldn't be bothered with more words. He simply pulled a handful of copper coins from his sleeve and gave them to him. "In the future, if you need money, come directly to me. If you bother the Lin family again, there will be no more money."

He gave it so readily that Father Lin could barely believe it.

"This money... is it really for me?"

"Don't want it?"

"I do! I do!"

Father Lin pounced and snatched the money away, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Xiucai Zhang, I'll make the decision today: I'll marry my Yan-ge'er off to you! When will you come to propose? How much betrothal money are you planning to give?""

Zhang Moyuan ignored this, saying only, "From now on, come to me for your gambling money. But I have conditions: you are not to bother the Lin family, especially Lin Yan. And you are not to speak of this to anyone."

Father Lin readily agreed. "Got it, got it."

"Get lost."

Father Lin immediately ran off.

Zhang Moyuan slowly withdrew his gaze.

When dealing with a gambling addict who had fallen this far, the only way to achieve the desired effect is through indulgence.

By the time he reached the Lin family's doorstep, his expression had changed. No trace of the earlier ruthlessness remained.

Hearing the knock, Lin Yan's first thought was that Father Lin had returned.

But then he reconsidered. Would Father Lin ever knock so politely?

He'd be lucky if the man didn't pound the door down.

"Who is it?"

From outside came a voice like jade falling into a clear spring: "Apologies for disturbing you."

Lin Yan froze. What was Zhang Moyuan doing here so late?

Lin A-die and the others couldn't even place who it was.

Who in the village had such a pleasant voice?

Lin Yan walked over and opened the door. "Why have you come?"

At the sight of Zhang Moyuan, Lin A-die and the others grew flustered, all instinctively straightening their clothes.

Zhang Moyuan smiled faintly. "Lin Yan, may I come in?"

Before Lin Yan could speak, Third Brother Lin chimed in, "Of course you may. Little brother, quickly let Xiucai Zhang inside."

Lin Yan: "..."

"Fine, come in then."

The moment Zhang Moyuan stepped inside, he greeted Lin A-die. "Uncle Lin."

Lin A-die was overwhelmed by the honor, not knowing what to do with his hands.

Lin Yan sat back down to continue eating his noodles, but Lin A-die kept giving him meaningful looks, so he had no choice but to look up and ask Zhang Moyuan, "Have you eaten dinner? I can cook you a bowl of noodles."

Zhang Moyuan shook his head. "No, thank you. I've come today to see Uncle Lin."

With that, he began taking things out of his hands one by one, arranging them neatly at his feet.

Lin A-die stared and was dumbfounded.

Weren't these betrothal gifts?

And so many of them, so complete.

A marriage proposal on this scale would be extremely impressive if word got out. They could brag about it for ages.

Lin A-die looked questioningly at Zhang Moyuan, then at the silent Lin Yan, his expression full of confusion.

"Yan'er?"

Lin Yan didn't understand the etiquette of betrothal, but he could read Zhang Moyuan's eyes.

He pulled Zhang Moyuan aside and whispered, "What are you trying to do?"

Zhang Moyuan answered honestly, "I want to marry you."

Lin Yan: "..."

"So... all these are betrothal gifts you've brought?"

Zhang Moyuan shook his head. "If you agree, they're betrothal gifts. If you don't, then they're simply gifts for visiting Uncle Lin."

Lin Yan was stunned.

He suddenly understood why the man had chosen this time to come.

If he'd come during the day, Lin Yan probably wouldn't have had the chance to refuse.

Even if he'd insisted on turning Zhang Moyuan down, his own marriage prospects would be ruined forever after.

Not that Lin Yan had any intention of marrying anyone, but it was still touching to have someone consider his feelings so carefully.

"Such heavy gifts. You'd give them away just like that?"

It sounded as if he were refusing.

Zhang Moyuan wasn't disappointed. "They're not heavy. It's only right."

"All these things must have cost quite a bit. Doesn't it pain you?"

Zhang Moyuan shook his head. "Then remember to eat more of them."

Lin Yan couldn't help snorting with laughter.

What was wrong with this man? He looked so shrewd and intelligent, yet right now he seemed so clumsy and foolish.

"You really want to marry me, just because of what happened that night?"

"More than that."

Lin Yan smiled. "What else?"

They'd only met a few times. Surely, he couldn't have fallen in love with me already, right?

"I like you."

Lin Yan: "..."

So that really was it.

"When did you start liking me?"

Zhang Moyuan thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "From the first moment I saw you."

From the first moment I saw you after being reborn, I liked you.

Actually, Zhang Moyuan hadn't realized it at the time; he'd only confirmed it later when reflecting on things.

In his past life, the way he'd planned to save Lin Yan hadn't been like this at all.

But after being reborn, the moment he laid eyes on Lin Yan, none of those plans had come to mind.

Lin Yan lowered his head and whispered, "The first moment... that was quite a while ago, then."

The first moment would have been with the original Lin Yan.

"Not long ago. It was that night."

Lin Yan's head snapped up to look at him.

"That night, the first moment I saw you, you huffed and asked who I was..."

"Stop. Don't say any more."

It was too embarrassing.