CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 145: MATCHMAKING

Huang Yuzhen warmly took Lin Qin’s hand and explained, "Aunty has a little favor to ask of you. I heard you were preparing for your college entrance exam, so I didn’t dare to come by. Now that it’s over, I’m shamelessly here!"

Lin Qin was flattered, "Aunty, just tell me what you need, there’s no need to be formal."

"Then I’ll just say it!" Huang Yuzhen grinned, "I want to ask you to play matchmaker for our Shaoyun."

"Xiao Hong?" Lin Qin instinctively thought of her.

Huang Yuzhen nodded vigorously, "Exactly, exactly, it’s her. Shaoyun and Xiao Hong have been seeing each other for half a year now. He’s brought her home a few times, and I think she’s a nice girl. Plus, our Shaoyun isn’t getting any younger. With less farm work in the summer, we should quickly take care of the wedding."

Lin Qin understood and teased, "Aunty, don’t you mind that Xiao Hong’s family isn’t well-off?"

Huang Yuzhen chuckled awkwardly, "The Zhao family’s situation is indeed a bit troubling. But ever since Xiao Hong’s elder brother got married and her mom started helping with a stall in the city, life has clearly improved.

I heard her brother plans to buy a house in the city, so they’re saving up like crazy! If the Zhao family really settles in the city in the future, we would practically be gaining in-laws in the city!

Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s fine. Running a stall is better than farming; they can make money. I never dreamed of marrying into a wealthy family, just that the daughter-in-law’s family doesn’t become a burden to Shaoyun."

Lin Qin knew that Huang Yuzhen was a shrewd and sensible person. Since she had asked, Lin Qin couldn’t refuse.

"Okay! I’ll mention it to Sister Fang when I pick up Xile from school. It’ll be more reliable if Sister Fang talks to Xiao Hong’s mom."

Huang Yuzhen was delighted, "I knew you were smart. If this works out, I’ll give you a big red envelope."

Lin Qin gladly agreed.

That evening, she deliberately went to pick up the children an hour early, mainly to chat with Sister Fang.

It’s summer break, and even the retirement college’s teachers and students are on vacation, but the study room is still open, so Sister Fang, as the administrator, isn’t on break.

Without teachers and students in class, the teaching building felt cold and quiet.

Sister Fang was sitting there, drinking tea and reading a newspaper.

Lin Qin placed some snacks and ice cream on the table.

Sister Fang was startled. She turned around and saw it was Lin Qin, and the reprimand on her lips turned into cheerful chitchat, "What brings you here? Oh! You even brought ice cream and snacks for me? Tell me, what’s up?"

Lin Qin gave her a thumbs up, "Sister, you’re amazing! I haven’t said a word, and you already know I have something to discuss. It’s like this...."

Lin Qin explained Huang Yuzhen’s request to play matchmaker.

Sister Fang was elated and slapped her thigh, standing up suddenly, "This is fantastic news! Truth be told, everyone knows about Xiao Hong dating; her mom knows too. She’s just not reassured, always feeling that since they’re from the countryside and poor, the man’s family would look down on Xiao Hong and that their marriage might not work out.

Hey! I didn’t expect you to bring good news. Hold on, let me see... it’s still early, and Xiao Hong’s mom’s stall isn’t far from here. I’ll take you there so you can tell her in person. You can also explain the situation from the man’s side, saving me from running back and forth several times."

Lin Qin was thus swept away by the enthusiastic Sister Fang, who even took the snacks and ice cream with her.

The two of them stayed out until it was time for the nursery school to release the children before they returned.

Lin Qin went to pick up the child while Sister Fang cheerfully returned to her workstation, tidied up, and could soon clock out.

After leaving the retirement college with a child on her back, Lin Qin didn’t go back to Nanyu immediately but first took a trip to Shanglin Village.

On a summer evening, the village people were outside enjoying the breeze and chatting. When they saw Lin Qin cycling with a child, they all greeted her.

They watched as Lin Qin headed towards Lin Qingxiang’s house.

Huang Guihua, standing nearby, said enviously to the woman next to her, "Lin Qin is really well-off now. Look at what she’s wearing, this Lin Qingxiang family has a good relationship with Lin Yi, and they’ve gotten lots of work this year, living better than us."

The person next to her nodded in agreement, whispering, "It’s just that rich people hold grudges. Lin Qin got wealthy but hasn’t helped her second uncle."

Huang Guihua sneered, "Come on! People like leeches, I wouldn’t help either!"

The villagers began talking about Lin Qin, the past grudges and resentments, some even bringing up old accounts.

Lin Qin was unaware of all this as she sat in Lin Qingxiang’s house, reporting the day’s progress to Huang Yuzhen, "I met with Xiao Hong’s mother and explained everything to Aunt Zhao. Their side has no objections, not even asking for a bride price.

They keep emphasizing they’re not selling their daughter, just wanting her to marry someone who cares, so the young couple can live well. I praised you to Aunt Zhao, saying you have a good temper, know right from wrong, and aren’t the type of evil mother-in-law who oppresses daughters-in-law."

"That’s right! The kids’ father and I have decided to plow over the half-acre vegetable plot in the back and build them a new house.

If they want to eat with us, they’re welcome, and if not, they can cook for themselves. I won’t meddle in the couple’s lives."

Huang Yuzhen said this confidently, not because she’s particularly fair-minded, but because she doesn’t like cooking, eats simply, and with the family men working during the day, they only come home for breakfast and dinner, where sweet potato porridge suffices.

Having married a daughter-in-law whose circumstances she’s unaware of, she doesn’t want to be disliked by her, so she laid it all out in advance.

Lin Qin grinned, "That’s great. When shall I say you’re hoping to host the wedding banquet?"

Huang Yuzhen was momentarily stumped by this, pondering for a long while before saying, "We’re starting to build the house now, which will take at least two to three months, so the earliest would be entering winter for the banquet. As for the bride price, how about two hundred eighty?"

The main issue is they still need to build a house, and building will leave little money left, plus hosting a wedding banquet costs money, so they can’t offer a higher bride price.

Lin Qin understood the Fang family’s financial situation and appreciated Huang Yuezhen’s sincerity. She laughed, "That’s plenty! I bet the Zhao family didn’t even hope for such a bride price. I’ll let them know."

The next day, Lin Qin made a point to visit Zhao Xiaohong’s mother and conveyed Huang Yuezhen’s words without missing a beat.

As expected, Zhao’s mother was thrilled and immediately agreed to Huang Yuezhen’s arrangements.

The match between the two families was just about set; they would wait until the house was built, and Lin Qin would accompany Huang Yuezhen for a formal discussion.

After finishing this task,

Lin Qin could finally take a break. Waiting for exam results was quite dull. She remembered Liu Ling, who should also be taking the entrance exam this year. She wondered whether Liu Ling had chosen liberal arts or sciences, and if the school had released the correct answers.

With this on her mind, Lin Qin felt restless and decided to bring some things over to Granny Liu’s house.