TLHHS 🍁 Chapter 11: From now on, please think of me as part of the Lin family. If any trouble arises, I’ll do my part to handle it"

When Lin A-die heard that Zhang Moyuan had come to propose marriage, he was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped into his bowl.

Elder brother Lin asked uncertainly, "You wouldn't be doing this because of my father out there..."

Zhang Moyuan smiled. "Elder brother, rest assured. I've come to propose because I like Lin Yan. And Lin Yan has already agreed."

Elder brother Lin was still somewhat nervous speaking to him, stammering a couple of replies before falling silent.

Lin A-die was also nervous, but as the only elder present, there were things only he could say.

"Xi-Xiucai-lang, I'm sure you've heard about our family's situation. Yan'er's father loves gambling and comes home to make trouble every few days. But that has nothing to do with Yan'er. His three brothers and I will shield both of you from it."

Lin A-die was actually quite anxious inside. He really didn't want to bring up Father Lin regarding such a fine match, but he was an honest man at heart and couldn't live with himself if he didn't.

Besides, everyone lived in the same village. Even if Xiucai-lang didn't know now, he would find out eventually.

It wouldn't do if he ended up resenting Yan'er because of it.

Zhang Moyuan waited until he finished speaking before replying. "Uncle Lin, you needn't worry about any of that. I'm already aware of all the circumstances. From now on, please think of me as part of the Lin family. If any trouble arises, I’ll do my part to handle it"

Lin A-die nodded, looking at Zhang Moyuan with deep admiration.

What a fine son-in-law.

Zhang Moyuan's gaze swept over the three Lin brothers one by one, as if waiting for them to speak their minds. But none of the brothers had any objections, so they all turned to look at Lin Yan instead.

Over these past few days, the center of gravity in the Lin family had naturally shifted toward Lin Yan.

Lin Yan simply made the call. "Alright, then it's settled. We'll pick an auspicious day and hold the wedding."

Zhang Moyuan smiled helplessly. It's clearly his own affair, yet he's speaking as if it's someone else's business.

"I checked before coming. The end of this month is an auspicious day."

"Isn't that too soon?"

There were only a little over twenty days left. Would they have enough time to prepare?

"It's not too soon. We'll manage."

"Fine then. Tomorrow we'll go buy the things tomorrow."

"Alright."

The two of them discussed and set the date just like that, and Lin A-die and the others naturally had no objections.

With everything that needed saying said, it was time for Zhang Moyuan to leave.

Lin Yan walked him to the door.

"You should go back now. It wouldn't be good if someone sees us."

"Aren't we getting married? Let them see if they want."

Zhang Moyuan smiled. The Lin Yan standing before him now seemed quite different from the one in his past life.

Much more open and at ease.

"Will you still be going into town to sell food tomorrow?"

"Mm."

"Then after you finish selling, shall we go buy the wedding supplies together?"

Lin Yan nodded. "Alright."

Zhang Moyuan smiled. Lin Yan thought he was about to leave, but the next moment he was pulled into a broad embrace.

It lasted only an instant before Zhang Moyuan released him, showing remarkable restraint.

"Go back inside."

"Alright."

When Lin Yan turned and returned to the house, he found everyone sitting exactly where they'd been, looking at him as if they hadn't moved an inch.

"What's wrong with all of you?"

Lin A-die's heart was racing, his fair face flushed red, presumably from joy.

"Such a fine match. Such a fine match."

It was as if those were the only words he could say.

Lin Yan laughed. "A-die, let's put these things away first."

Zhang Moyuan's gifts were still lying on the floor.

Lin A-die hurriedly stood up. "Yes, yes. Look at me, I'm so happy I've forgotten everything else."

The gifts Zhang Moyuan had bought were very complete. There were several kinds of sugar alone, not to mention wine and tea. At first Lin Yan hadn't thought much of it, but when he picked up the small wine jar, he realized something was off.

This fragrance...

Lin Yan leaned in to sniff it. He didn't know much about wine, but the rich aroma was clearly not from ordinary wine.

Soon he found the characters "Xifeng" engraved on the bottom of the jar.

It was actually Xifeng wine.

The book had mentioned the price of Xifeng wine. Lin Yan silently estimated it and was startled.

And that bag of tea, surely it wasn't cheap either.

After thinking it over, Lin Yan decided to tell Lin Adie and the others.

Lin Adie didn't know anything about Xifeng wine or famous teas, but when Lin Yan mentioned the prices, he froze.

He'd never seen so much silver in his entire life.

The three Lin brothers all crowded around, touching the wine jar here and there, their eyes full of curiosity and longing.

How delicious must this expensive wine be?

But thinking was one thing; none of them had the shamelessness to ask Lin Yan for any of the betrothal gifts.

Lin Adie carefully put everything away. These would all need to be displayed prominently during the wedding.

Haibei understood what getting married meant. He was reluctant to part with Lin Yan, and hadn't spoken much all evening, silently trailing after him wherever he went.

Haike understood nothing at all. When Lin Adie told him the family would soon be holding a happy celebration, he showed a mouthful of tiny baby teeth and giggled.

"unca, kiss kiss."

Elder Sister-in-law Lin patted his little head and said helplessly, "Little uncle is getting married, not getting kissed."

Haike looked puzzled. Elder Sister-in-law Lin explained what marriage meant, and when Haike heard that Lin Yan would be marrying into another family, he grew anxious. His little mouth puckered up and he burst into tears.

Haibei was also quietly wiping away tears beside him.

Elder Sister-in-law Lin was torn between exasperation and amusement. These two little brats had never been this reluctant to part with him.

Lin Yan held one in each arm and said with a smile, "What are you crying for? Even after little uncle gets married, I'll still be living in the village. Just a few steps away. If it really comes to it, you two can be my dowry. I'll pack you both up and take you with me."

The whole family was amused by his joke.

Haibei, embarrassed, hid behind the stove. Haike lay in Lin Yan's arms, his little mouth twitching with sobs.

Lin Yan's heart softened at the sight of their tears.

After the joke, the Lin family fell back into busyness.

Lin Yan measured out all the ingredients and put them into the stone mortar, leaving the rest of the work to his three brothers while he sat off to one side drawing blueprints.

Pounding sauce by hand was far too inefficient. He needed to build a hand-operated mixer, and besides that, he also wanted to make a grill.

After careful consideration, Lin Yan decided to make both out of ceramic, attractive and hygienic.

Once he finished the blueprints, his thoughts turned to marinated raw seafood.

First of all, he would need ice.

In this era, ice-making technology was limited. The most common method was ice storage: gathering ice in winter and storing it for use in summer.

But it was summer right now, so that method clearly wouldn't work in time.

There was another method, though, using saltpeter.

Saltpeter was generally used for medicine these days. He'd ask at the apothecary tomorrow.

Lin Yan casually sketched an ice container onto his blueprint as well.

--

The next day, Lin A-die and Elder Sister-in-law Lin went with Lin Yan to set up stall as usual.

The moment their little stall was set up, it attracted a crowd of customers, most of them people who hadn't managed to buy any the day before.

After yesterday's experience, the three of them had settled into clear roles. Lin A-die was in charge of giving out samples, Elder Sister-in-law Lin scooped the sauce, and Lin Yan handled the money and explained things to customers.

"What's this?"

One customer took an interest in a new jar that had appeared today.

Lin Yan opened the jar, scooped out a spoonful of the greenish sauce, and explained, "This is called hot and sour dressing. It has a lighter, more refreshing flavor."

The customer who'd asked immediately said, "Then give me three scoops. I'll take it home to try."

"Alright."

They hadn't prepared much of the hot and sour dressing, and it was mostly bought by returning customers adding two or three scoops to their sauce purchase. It was sold out in no time.

The fruit shop owner from next door squeezed his way in eagerly. "Yan-ge'er, do you have that mustard from yesterday? Hurry and give me some."

Lin Yan took a handful of yellow seeds from a bag beside him. "These are yellow mustard seeds. Wash them clean and grind them into powder, and that's mustard. Just don't eat too much at once."

The owner froze for a moment. "Yan-ge'er, you're telling me how to make it? Then how will you do business?"

Lin Yan smiled. "Mustard is just one of the ingredients I need. You can buy this stuff at any apothecary. You would have found out sooner or later anyway, so I might as well tell you directly and earn some goodwill. Don't you think?"

The owner liked Lin Yan more and more. He was straightforward in speech and action, a pleasure to deal with.

"Alright, Yan-ge'er, I owe you one. From now on I'll give you an even better price on lemons."

Lin Yan shook his head with a smile. "No need. If other customers ask, I'll tell them too. Everyone gets the same treatment."

His attitude was open and straightforward. He said what he meant, neither taking petty advantages nor playing tricks, giving people a sense of his good character.

The owner clapped him on the shoulder happily. "When your business grows big, don't forget me."

He'd been in business for many years and had read countless people. Someone with Lin Yan's character would never stop here.

Lin Yan smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.

Today they'd prepared three times as much sauce as yesterday, but there were also far more customers. In the end, they sold for nearly four shichen.

Thinking about it, they were moving noticeably faster than yesterday.

Lin Yan stretched his aching shoulders and back, and was just about to start packing up when he saw a fair, slender hand extending toward him, offering a large, fragrant steamed bun.