Reborn in 80: Starting with hunting in the mountains to get rich

Chapter 270 Xu Da visits the Lin family

Xu Da was still thinking about Zhang the matchmaker, the one who had introduced him to Lin Mei. He planned to take two baskets of eggs and go see Zhang again to ask how things were going. Otherwise, if he shamelessly went straight to the Lin family, the young lady might be scared off.

Xu Da drove his car, feeling quite smug, all the way to Zhang the Matchmaker's house. Zhang the Matchmaker, seeing him, was very concerned and eagerly asked, "Has the marriage been arranged yet?"

Xu Da patted the car smugly, knowing that Zhang the matchmaker had poor eyesight and couldn't see the car clearly.

Matchmaker Zhang squinted her old eyes and stared at the car. She exclaimed and slapped her thigh, laughing, "This is incredible! They even brought the car here!"

Xu Da said with a smile, "Aunt Zhang, is Lin Mei home today? Why don't we go and ask her? If she's home, I'll drive over to her house and see her."

Matchmaker Zhang quickly agreed with a smile, "Of course! Once your marriage is settled, you'll be set for life!"

If a match can be made, the happiest person is the matchmaker. Matchmakers often say: "If you can make a good match, you can keep pushing forward like a wheelbarrow without it falling over. Having children and continuing the family line is the most important thing in life."

Most of the time, women are sensitive about their image, so they subtly inquire about the man's family situation. However, the man's family is also cautious. Feeling inferior, the in-laws will investigate more thoroughly, primarily to ascertain the woman's character and conduct.

But with more people proposing marriage, there were also more people trying to sabotage the engagement.

Just as Xu Da followed Zhang the matchmaker out the door, he saw Li, a recipient of the Five Guarantees (a government welfare program for the elderly and disabled), running out and calling out to him, "Little Xu is back! Where have you been?" Xu Da knew that Li lived on the west side of the village, so he quickly asked him.

"Uncle Li, how is the Lin family doing lately? I haven't been back to see them for a month or so. Is everything alright with the Lin family?"

Grandpa Li's family is a recipient of the "Five Guarantees" (a government-provided social welfare program for the elderly, disabled, and orphans). After his daughter-in-law ran away, his son still couldn't get married. The family has a son and a daughter, but no woman in the house. Grandpa Li is very perceptive and saw right through the other man's worries.

Grandpa Li chuckled and said in front of the two men, "You're asking about the Lin family's daughter. If you ask me to say she's good, I can't find anything I can say. If you ask me to say she's bad, with all these neighbors around, how could an old man like me do such a thing?"

Xu Da was taken aback and didn't dare to say anything, not knowing what Grandpa Li meant by that.

Seeing that something was amiss, Matchmaker Zhang quickly stepped forward to inquire about Old Man Li's well-being and said with a smile, "Tell me the truth."

Grandpa Li sighed and said, "To be honest, you should go back! This family is no good."

Zhang the matchmaker's expression froze, while Xu Da's face turned petrified. He didn't believe it and continued to press, "Uncle Li, what do you mean by that? What do you mean the Lin family is no good? What's wrong with Lin Mei lately? Did she do something wrong? Or is there something wrong with the Lin family?"

Old Li sighed after a long pause, waved his hand, and let the two leave. "Hmph," he thought, "my own son hasn't even found a wife yet, how can I just stand by and watch others find them?"

He'd be happy if the marriage was ruined quietly.

If the groom's father were to come along and subtly interfere, his outburst would definitely ruin the marriage. The more free the courtship, the less room there is for matchmakers to manipulate the relationship. Only arranged marriages, where neither party knows the other's background, are likely to fall apart due to such manipulation.

Suddenly realizing what was happening, Zhang the matchmaker pulled Xu Da aside, spat at Li the old man's retreating figure, and said, "That old man is up to no good, he's deliberately trying to mess things up for you. Don't listen to him, this family is on welfare, who knows how they got their spots, it's very strange. Come on, the Lin family is still waiting for you to come over."

Xu Da felt relieved after being comforted by Zhang the matchmaker. He went back, changed into a smart new outfit, and took the initiative to visit her in disguise.

Lately, as Zhang the matchmaker visited more households, she noticed that Old Man Li was always trying to sabotage marriages. Over time, the neighbors became wary. When Old Man Li strolled around the village in his spare time, before he even made a move, Zhang the matchmaker would go from house to house telling the prospective spouses, "If Old Man Li comes to cause trouble again, just ignore him. He has a sharp tongue and doesn't do anything good."

At that moment, Li Ju'an was at the Lin family's house, eating canned fruit and chatting.

The news that he was learning to drive at the forestry station's motorcade had spread throughout the village a month earlier. Lin's mother was very surprised when she found out. Lin Jiadong constantly called out "Brother Li" at home, making it impossible for his mother to ignore him.

The more surprised Lin's mother was, the more she wanted to find out more. She asked Lin's father, "Old man, do you know how successful that boy from the Li family is now? After his father passed away, he built a three-story house and is running a bee farm and fruit trees in the fields. A couple of days ago, Li's eldest and second eldest uncles came over and chatted with Captain Yang for quite a while. Captain Yang even relied on the two uncles to pull some strings in the city."

Lin's father didn't take it to heart at first, and said, "Right, that kid Li Ju'an, his uncles left the village a long time ago, and now they're doing quite well in the city, aren't they?"

Upon hearing this, Lin's mother became anxious and said, "It's not just good, I heard that the eldest son of the Li family works in a factory in the city, and the second son and his wife are also technicians in the factory workshop. Both of their sons are doing quite well."

Upon hearing this, Lin's father's eyes widened, and he said, "Old Li's family is doing quite well outside."

Lin's mother nodded, sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and quickly asked Lin's father, "Hey, what do you think of Li's second uncle's youngest son? I heard he's not married yet. I don't know what he does in the city. He must have a respectable job, at least a contract worker. Why don't we ask someone to inquire about him?"

Lin's father shook his head and said, "If you want to introduce someone to Amei, you also have to consider Amei's own decision."

Lin Mei listened silently in the room. Lin Jiadong knew what his sister was thinking, so he went out and called out, "Dad, Mom, my sister already has a boyfriend. What era are we living in? It's all about free love now. You two shouldn't keep arranging these things for my sister."

Lin Mei panicked upon hearing this and quickly tried to pull Lin Jiadong away to stop him from speaking. Sure enough, Lin's mother stood up abruptly, glaring and shouting, "Lin Mei, come out here! When did you start secretly dating behind our backs? You shameless bastard! What if you get cheated on by a man? Did you spend the night with him? How are we supposed to put our faces now? If word gets out, will you ever be able to get married again?"

Lin's mother was so angry that she grabbed Lin Mei and tried to drag her out. Lin Mei cried and shouted, and she didn't know where she got the courage. She shook off her mother and pushed her away, shouting, "It wasn't done secretly. I like Li Ju'an. I'm dating Li Ju'an."

She had always been obedient and well-behaved, and had never disobeyed her parents like this before. Startled by her shoving and shouting, Lin's mother froze, and Lin's father also put down the wooden board he was holding, pausing in surprise.