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  Friends, give me more advice!

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  "I, Lin Lan, still say the same thing - even if I were to marry a pig or a dog, I would never marry Zhang Da Hu as a concubine."

  Her words were loud and clear, revealing her firm attitude.

  The village head, Jin Fugui, coughed twice and ignored the uneasy expression of Yao Jinhua. He furrowed his brow at Lin Feng and said: "Lin Feng, did you hear what Lin Lan just said? We only ask, have you taken your mother's last words to heart?"

  Yao Jinhua's silver teeth were clenched in anger, and the old man was holding a chicken feather as if it were a command arrow.

  Lin Feng looked at Jin Hua with a difficult expression and said: "Mother's last words, Lin Feng dare not forget."

  "Why did you allow the daughter-in-law to accept Zhang's betrothal gift without Lin Lan's consent?" Jin Fugui pressed on, his tone severe and unyielding.

  Lin Feng felt wronged in his heart, for himself and also for Jin Hua. Jin Hua didn't want things to turn out this way either. It was all because of Zhang Dahu, that evil tyrant, who wanted to force her into marriage.

  Before Lin Feng could speak, Yao Jinhua said: "Village chief, you know that Lin Feng is a honest man, so don't scare him. It's true, I didn't ask for Lin Lan's opinion on this matter. The reason is that at noon, I already told you, when Wang the matchmaker brought the betrothal gift, she made it clear that Zhang the rich man had already taken a liking to Lin Lan. I also told Wang the matchmaker that we should ask for Lin Lan's opinion, but Wang said that since Zhang the rich man had already made up his mind, who could change it? Don't refuse the wine and then drink the penalty wine instead... Village chief, I was afraid of Zhang the rich man's tactics, so I didn't dare not accept the betrothal gift. If you have a way to help us return the gift to Zhang the rich man and make him willingly return the gift, I, Yao Jinhua, would be eternally grateful. Lin Feng only has this one younger sister, how could I not love her? It's just that as a weak woman, I really don't dare oppose Zhang the rich man."

  Yao Jinhua's tone was gentle, her expression pitiful, and she played the role of the innocent, kind-hearted, weak little white flower to perfection. Although these old guys were despicable, they had the most say in the village, so Yao Jinhua wouldn't be foolish enough to openly oppose them. She simply passed the hot potato to them, saying "You're so capable, go explain it to Zhang Da Hu yourself!"

  Lin Lan was so hungry that she hadn't eaten lunch or dinner, her stomach was empty, otherwise she would have vomited.

  "Yes indeed! Unfortunately, I wasn't around today. If I were, this wouldn't have happened." Lin Feng hastily agreed.

  Chen Liang originally had an opinion of Wang the matchmaker that was as big as the sky, and he hated her to the bone. He said indignantly: "Wang the matchmaker is not a good thing, my family's Chunhua was ruined by her. I warned the villagers early on not to find Wang the matchmaker, don't find Wang the matchmaker! Lin Feng's wife, isn't this looking for trouble?"

  Yao Hui's uncle said with a piercing gaze, "Lin Feng's wife, no need to speak nicely, if it weren't for Wang the matchmaker going to Zhang's house to discuss the matter, would Zhang have sent over the betrothal gift? This business of proposing marriage, even if it goes quickly, still requires some back-and-forth before it can be settled."

  Yao Jinhua was about to argue strongly, but Ye Ziyou interrupted him: "Since you also recognize that you were wrong, tomorrow go with Lin Feng to find Wang Matchmaker and let her return the betrothal gift."

  "Oh dear! Uncle Yaohui, this is absolutely unacceptable. The betrothal gifts have already been accepted, and I'm sure Matchmaker Wang has already relayed the message to the Zhang family. How can we possibly tell Mr. Zhang that Linlan doesn't want to marry? That would be a death wish! Or should we say that the villagers don't approve of Linlan marrying into their family? Uncles, let's not forget that our village's silk is all sold to Mr. Zhang." Yao Jinhua hastily said.

  Jin Fugui stroked his sparse beard, pondering: "Lin Feng's wife also has a point, if we want to fire Jin, we need a suitable reason." However, in his heart, he had a few more grievances towards Yao Jinhua, this vicious woman was truly poisonous, she was clearly threatening them, if they let her go and fire Jin, who knows if she would tell Zhang Dahu that it was the village chief who forced her to do so, wouldn't Zhang Dahu then break his old bones?

  "This is really hard to find a clue!" Yau Fai shook his head and sighed.

  Chen Liang's uncle said gruffly: "Can't force Lin Lan to marry him, can we?"

  Lin Lan thought for a moment, it's time to bring out Li Xiuciai. Since Yao Jinhua has already sung the high note, let her continue to sing all the way!

  "It's actually not that difficult, I already have someone in mind. I was planning to discuss it with my brother these few days, and then sister-in-law will say that the other side has already arranged for the engagement, she doesn't know." Lin Lan said calmly.

  As soon as this was said, everyone in the house was stunned. Was Lin Lan telling the truth or lying?

  Lin Feng said, "Sister, don't just marry someone for the sake of having a reason."

  "Exactly! Lin Lan, this match is really not good, where has a young girl gotten engaged and the sister-in-law doesn't know?" Yao Jinhua said with a sarcastic expression: "I'm not saying it, but marrying Jin Baozhu is not as good as marrying Zhang Da Hu!"

  Lin Lan glanced at Yao Jinhua with a faint smile: "Who said I want to marry Jin Baozhu? I'm interested in Li Xiuciai. Besides, isn't it strange that you told Zhang Daifu that my brother and I looked down on poor Xiuciai and didn't agree, so we just pretended not to know about it?" Yao Jinhua wasn't worried about her? Then let her take the blame!

  Yao Jinhua took a cold breath, extremely unbelievable: "How could it be Li Xiuciai?" This is even worse than Jin Baozhu, Jin Baozhu's family at least raised a group of ducks, what does Li Xiuciai have? Except for a belly full of sour and rotten poetry, a thatched cottage with four sides leaking wind, what else?

  Jin Fugui and the others were also stunned, how did Li Xiuciai get involved? Jin Fugui suddenly remembered what happened this morning, could it be that Lin Lan really liked Li Xiuciai, otherwise why would she be so nervous about Li Xiuciai, afraid that Li Xiuciai would be harmed, and let Er Niu bring a group of people up the mountain? Jin Fugui gradually showed an enlightened expression.

  "Why can't it be Li Xiutai? Li Xiutai has been in Jianxi Village for three years, and his character is well-known to all of you uncles. Although Li Xiutai is a bit poor, he is well-educated and has good moral character. Isn't that what we value most when evaluating people? Moreover, I believe Li Xiutai will definitely make something of himself in the future." Lin Lan said proudly, with an air of certainty as if Li Xiutai would really become a top scholar.

  Chen Liang nodded and said: "To say that Li Xiuzai is a good person, he is filial and kind. Last time I asked him to help me write a letter, he didn't even accept my silver."

  There was another thing that Chen Liang had kept in his heart, the village women and girls all liked Li Xiuzai, many people openly or secretly showed their affection to him, but Li Xiuzai didn't even bat an eyelid, he was a real gentleman.

  Yao Hui's uncle also said: "I heard that the Ye family in the city all want to invite him to be a western scholar, and the county magistrate also wants to invite him to be the chief clerk."

  "What's so great about being a secretary or accountant, can earn some money!" Yao Jinhua was very disdainful. What kind of talent is it to be on the golden list? Poor and struggling scholars are seen more often.

  "You can't say that. There's a saying: don't bully young people who are poor, they might suddenly rise to greatness one day." Jin Fugui said slowly.

  Chen Liang Shu nodded in agreement: "I think it's okay, but... Lin Lan, can Li Xiucai know that Zhang Da Hu wants to marry?"

  This matter must be inquired into clearly, if Li Xiuciai is also afraid of Zhang Dahou, it will be troublesome to throw a challenge at the critical moment...

  Lin Lan softly murmured: "I told him."

  "What did he say then?" Lin Feng asked anxiously.

  Lin Lan thought for a moment, feeling that she couldn't say everything herself, which would be too unseemly, so she hesitated and said: "This... it's better if Brother goes to ask him personally tomorrow!"

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