Since Lin Bei wanted Lin Zimao to help the family, he would not withhold that little pocket money. With a wave of his hand, he transferred all the childcare expenses he had saved over the years to Lin Zimao’s card.
If Lin Zimao hadn’t been taken away by his mother, he would have lived the life of a young master. He would have had brocade garments and jade meals1錦衣玉食 (jǐn yī yù shí): brocade garments, jade meals (idiom); (figurative) a life of luxury; extravagance; elegantly dressed and feasting on delicacies. since he was a child while receiving the best education from the first-class planet.
Now that he has asked Lin Zimao for something, there is no reason to treat others badly. It’s just that Lin Zimao didn’t grow up beside him, so if he rashly mentions the business marriage, Lin Zimao would definitely be extremely disgusted with this arrangement. It’s better to hide this matter from him from the beginning. When the company’s funds arrive in the account smoothly and the predicament is resolved, then it will be Lin Zimao who can’t get off the tiger2騎虎難下 (qí hǔ nán xià): if you ride a tiger, it’s hard to get off (idiom); fig. impossible to stop halfway; ride a tiger and find it difficult to get off―be unable to extricate oneself from a difficult situation; have no way to back down., not himself.
He isn’t worried that the Jiang family would stand up for Lin Zimao, the Jiang family has always been reserved and proud, they would definitely look down on Lin Zimao.
Before Fang Jiawen came back, he told him about the investigation on planet Alpha. Lin Zimao had never left planet Alpha and had received the most basic twelve-year compulsory education. If Lin Bei hadn’t sent Fang Jiawen to bring him back, Lin Zimao might not even be able to go to university, let alone the university on planet Feige. From then on, Lin Zimao would probably be just a peasant on planet Alpha, perhaps not even able to afford a flying car. He would never have gotten ahead.
After Lin Bei gave Lin Zimao what he felt was enough pocket money to surprise him, he felt more at ease.
After learning from the housekeeper that Lin Zimao asked the driver to take him to the shopping mall, Lin Bei was a little more relieved. It seems that the child really is buying gifts. This is a good thing. It means that he knows how to socialize with others.
Lin Bei just hoped Lin Zimao would find out a bit later that his marriage with Jiang Xuan was a business marriage and not a prenatal betrothal3指腹為婚 (zhǐ fù wéi hūn): an old practice of marriage; betrothed when still in womb by parents of both parties; prenatal betrothal..
Lin Zimao, who was sent out by the driver, was still wearing his ordinary clothes.
The driver of the Lin family dropped him off in front of the largest shopping mall in the city center.
Wherever there are people, there is a market. Even though today’s holographic network is no different from the reality, humans are social animals. They need to meet up with each other. Most people will still choose to go out to shop, and shopping malls are a good place to go.
He stood on the smooth and clean ground at the entrance of the shopping mall. The shopping mall seemed high-end and oppressive4不可一世 (bù kě yī shì): to consider oneself the best in the world; to have an overweening or insufferable arrogance; be/ride on the high horse/ropes; be high and mighty. Lin Zimao looks out of place5格格不入 (gé gé bù rù): (idiom) inharmonious; incompatible; be incompatible (with); be out of line/step (with); be like oil and water; be like a square peg in a round hole..
He looked down at the bank balance that had just arrived in the account. It was not much, but it was enough to last for a while.
Without raising his head, he turned and left the high-end shopping mall. After checking the route to another block, Lin Zimao turned around and walked further away from the noisy and bustling neighborhood.
His purpose is clear.
The farther he walked from the bustling area, the older the neighborhood looked. The billboards that hung on each side of the street were full of dust. There were some wires which hung on them for who knows how long. It was as if the environment on both sides was not from the same century.
Lin Zimao took a slow breath. He was more comfortable in a messy environment than in a lavish place6富麗堂皇 (fù lì táng huáng): (of houses etc) sumptuous (idiom); (of buildings) beautiful and majestic; beautiful and imposing.. It was as if he was still on planet Alpha, where no one cares about a person’s background.
He was going to No. 108, South Shanghai Street. After searching for a long time, he couldn’t find the building number. Lin Zimao couldn’t help but ask a middle-aged uncle who was the owner of a bakery.
“Hello. Is No. 108, South Shanghai Street, located here?”
The plump boss shook his head and laughed: “Sorry, lad, I don’t know. When I came here, there was no 108, South Shanghai Street.”
Lin Zimao thanked him, and then bought a bottle of water from the self-service vending machine on the side of the road. He continued walking while asking several people one after another. They all said that they had never heard of No. 108, South Shanghai Street. He carefully looked at the houses with brand-new street signs and wondered if the street signs had been renumbered.
Lin Zimao walked around South Shanghai Street for nearly an hour before leaving. None of these people seem to be the original people who lived here. He can only return without success.
After all, since he doesn’t know enough about this place, he surely won’t gain anything by rushing.
Tired from walking, Lin Zimao went back to that first bakery he had been to and rested. The store sold coffee, milk tea, and juice. He decided to order a glass of juice. The price of this is not cheap, but first-class planet juice is quite sweet.
Thinking of why he originally went out, he called the driver to pick him up. He needed to buy a present for his so-called fiancé.
To be honest, he has no experience in buying a gift.
He sat in the rest area of the bakery and lowered his head to turn on the communicator, trying to connect to the internet. However. he had just arrived last night and hadn’t registered for the Internet here. As a result, he can’t log in to check online, which is a little embarrassing.
On the way back to the mall, Lin Zimao heard a store’s robot using the most primitive way to shout for store promotion.
“Don’t miss it when you pass by. See what you should give as a gift at the Qixi Festival7七夕節 (Qī xī jié): Qixi Festival or Double Seven Festival on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month; girls’ festival; Chinese Valentine’s day, when Cowherd and Weaving maid are allowed their annual meeting.! Of course, you can give the most creative and tasteful gift! Everything in the store is 10% off, everything is 10% off, everything is 10% off! Don’t miss it when you pass by…”
Lin Zimao stopped in front of the robot waving a small red flag. Looking at the decoration of the storefront, it should be a creative store.
The female shopkeeper greets Lin Zimao warmly: “Sir, what would you like to buy? Seeing how handsome you are, there must be someone you like. Do you want to send a gift to a boyfriend or a girlfriend?”
Lin Zimao looked around at the fresh fruits and vegetables displayed in the store: “Am I going the wrong way?” This looks like a fruit and vegetable store.
The female shopkeeper laughed and said: “How can it be wrong? I heard that on Valentine’s Day, if our ancestors sent a bouquet of vegetables to the person they liked, it meant they wanted to build a good life with them. Think. Isn’t living all about life’s daily necessities8柴米油鹽 (chái mǐ yóu yán): lit. firewood, rice, oil and salt; fig. life’s daily necessities; From the idiom 柴米油鹽醬醋茶 (chái mǐ yóu yán jiàng cù chá), lit. firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy, vinegar, and tea; fig. life’s daily necessities; From a poem in the Yuan Dynasty dynasty play 劉行首. plus a little romance? This vegetable is also red and green. Won’t sending fresh ingredients to the person you like instantly create a fireworks atmosphere?”
Lin Zimao only thinks that the female shopkeeper’s eloquence is good: “Fireworks atmosphere?” He thought of his fiancé in the hologram and changed his mind about leaving here, “Then give me a bouquet.”
***
Half an hour later, Lin Zimao returned to the car with a bunch of very fresh ingredients.
Lin Zimao asked the driver: “Uncle, is it nice?”
The driver: “It looks very fresh.” He thinks the vegetable sellers are getting better and better now. The vegetables are arranged like bouquets.
Lin Zimao nodded, agreeing: “Then good.”
It won’t be wasted if given away. The bouquet recipient can also directly make two dishes and one soup when they go home at night.
After returning to the Lin family and having lunch alone, Lin Zimao applied for access to the network of planet Feige.
Planetary networks of different planet levels are also different. Although the price is quite expensive, fortunately, the speed is fast.
In the afternoon, Lin Zimao hugged Jiaoyan and slept for a while.
At four o’clock in the afternoon, the housekeeper came up to prepare the clothes he is going to wear tonight.
Lin Zimao only opened one of the suitcases which contained simple clothes, and placed the others in the corner.
After the unpleasantness last night, the housekeeper spoke very briefly. Lin Zimao didn’t talk much. As long as the housekeeper doesn’t touch his bottom line, he is very cooperative.
The housekeeper prepared a relatively conservative light-colored shirt and pants with texture. Lin Zimao disliked the buttons being too fastened, so he unfastened the top two buttons, revealing his white collarbone and the black rope hanging around his neck. The ornament hanging on the rope is covered by the shirt.
The person who came to pick up Lin Zimao was Fang Jiawen.
Lin Zimao gestures to Fang Jiawen to help him get the bouquet for his fiancé: “Hold it for me.”
“…What are you trying to do?” Fang Jiawen said with amazement as he held the vegetable bouquet in his arms.
Lin Zimao asked him: “Tell me, do you think it’s fresh or not?”
Fang Jiawen looked at the crystal clear drops of water on the spinach leaves and nodded: “Very fresh.” Pure flavor Very suitable for hot pot ingredients.
Lin Zimao: “Then it’s fine.”
Lin Bei immediately walked over with Lin Zimao. Glancing at the bouquet of sparse fruit in his hand, he asked with a headache: “You’re going to give this to him?”
Lin Zimao said with embarrassment: “It’s not good? The shopkeeper said this is very popular on planet Feige.”
Lin Bei took his bouquet and threw it to Fang Jiawen: “No! Jiawen, take it away!” He feels more and more that this son is not up to par, “Don’t do this kind of disgraceful thing in the future.” Seeing that he didn’t fasten his buttons, Lin Bei was a little angry, “Button up your clothes! What kind of look is this?”
Lin Zimao reluctantly fastened the top two buttons.
Bai Meiying was on the side pretending to protect him and said to Lin Bei: “Lin Bei, don’t blame Zimao, he just came to our capital city. He doesn’t understand the customs here and just needs to stay for a while longer.” She excluded Lin Zimao from the conversation. She thought that it would be great if it was Ziyi instead. A handsome man and a beautiful woman who could make a good relationship. Unfortunately, she wasted her chance to get close to the Jiang family.
Lin Bei gave Lin Zimao a reproachful look: “Go back and learn more from your Aunt Bai.”
Lin Zimao lowered his head as if he felt ashamed.
Bai Meiying held Lin Bei’s arm, whispering to him not to embarrass the child or something.
Lin Bei thought it was necessary to teach his son from the countryside a lesson once in a while, but he didn’t see Lin Zimao’s clenched fists. He took them into the restaurant after checking the time.
This is a Chinese-style restaurant that exclusively serves people in private rooms. There are elegant names for each private room and they are posted outside the doors.
Lin Bei took Lin Zimao to the private room, but unexpectedly the manager who led them said that Mr. Jiang had already arrived.
After a few polite greetings, Lin Bei stepped aside and pulled Lin Zimao to him. He showed him to the Jiang Ping husband and wife in front of him. Lin Zimao felt like a commodity and was a little unhappy. He was not interested in listening to Lin Bei’s eager introduction. His eyes fell on the young man sitting beside him holding tea; that’s the Jiang Xuan he had seen in the holographic photo.
Lin Bei said with a flattering smile: “Brother Jiang, this is our Zimao.”
Jiang Ping looked at Lin Zimao and said with a smile: “Don’t stand, sit, sit.” They are all people with extensive experience. They had already seen Lin Zimao’s appearance before and knew all his information very clearly9一清二楚 (yī qīng èr chǔ): to be very clear about sth (idiom); perfectly clear; as clear as daylight; as clear as moon; as plain as the nose on one’s face; beyond the shadow of a doubt; be crystal clear..
Lin Zimao was pushed to sit beside Jiang Xuan. His face is cold and indifferent, as if everything has nothing to do with him.
Jiang Xuan, who was sitting upright, raised his head at this moment and the two looked at each other. Lin Zimao smiled at him, thinking; The real person was even more exquisite and beautiful than the holograms. This is probably the best-looking person he has ever seen since he was a child.
Jiang Xuan only slightly pursed his lower lip in response.
It was only then that he remembered that the gift he brought could not be sent out. Lin Zimao felt a little regretful.
Both Jiang Ping and Lin Bei are masters at activating the atmosphere. Additionally, the two wives also talk to each other from time to time. They go back and forth and chat pretty well.
In fact, there is another middle-aged man who also came with them. With this person’s contribution, the two families can make things happen. Although the Jiang and Lin families have always maintained contact, when it comes to marriage, there is still a need for a middleman. This person is also very funny, so the atmosphere is even more harmonious. He also praised the children of both families again and again.
But the two children who were just sitting together were too quiet. The two married protagonists are more like a foil.
Jiang Xuan’s mother is very beautiful, bright and charming. She and Bai Meiying have two different styles. Their personalities are also different. Her name is Qi Jingshan, and she is sitting next to Jiang Xuan. It’s also convenient to talk to Lin Zimao, who is across from Jiang Xuan.
Qi Jingshan: “Can Zimao and Jiang Xuan attend the same school?”
Lin Bei was considering which university to pick for Lin Zimao, but Lin Zimao’s grades were not good. He was still worried, so now that Qi Jingshan mentioned it, he pricked up his ears.
Lin Zimao is very well behaved: “Okay, Auntie.”
Jiang Xuan turned the cup of tea in his hand and glanced at his own mother.
Lin Bei has gotten a bargain so he also behaves well: “Is this appropriate? I remember Jiang Xuan studied at Feige University?”
Qi Jingshan laughed and said: “Isn’t it just right? Zifeng is also Jiang Xuan’s senior brother and he is studying in Feige University this year, correct?”
The Lin family and the Jiang family have always been friends. The younger generation also usually has contact. They can find out about a situation just by asking. If not for this, the marriage wouldn’t be as smooth.
Lin Bei pretended to sigh: “Yeah. In the blink of an eye the kids are all grown up.”
Qi Jingshan agrees: “That’s right! Then it’s decided. Our family has a quota in Feige University. It’s useless for Jiang Xuan, since he passed the exam by himself, but this quota is just right for Zimao. There’s no need to waste it. The house that Jiang Xuan bought near the school is big enough for two people. It’s also convenient for them to go to school from there.” She nudged her son’s arm, “Take good care of younger brother Zimao in the future.”
Jiang Ping also nodded, very satisfied with Lin Zimao’s good behavior and obedience: “Tomorrow, find an old gentleman to calculate an auspicious day, so that the two children can get married sooner.”
Lin Zimao, without batting an eyelid10不動聲色 (bù dòng shēng sè): not a word or movement (idiom); to maintain one’s composure; to stay calm and collected; to not turn a hair; to not bat an eyelid; to not show or betray one’s feelings or intentions; betray no emotion., turned his head to look at Jiang Xuan, only to see him tap the teacup in his hand with the tip of his fingers. He didn’t do anything, so Lin Zimao didn’t know if he had listened or not.
Qi Jingshan asked him directly: “Jiang Xuan, what do you think?”
Jiang Xuan kept silent. The gentle smile on Qi Jingshan’s face gradually froze. When she was about to lose the smile on her face, Jiang Xuan finally popped out a single word: “Um.”
Very good! It’s to everyone’s delight and satisfaction11皆大歡喜 (jiē dà huān xǐ): everybody is happy； to the satisfaction of all; to everyone’s delight and satisfaction; As You Like It, comedy by Shakespeare..
No one has ever asked Lin Zimao whether he agrees with the marriage. His opinion doesn’t matter.
However, when Lin Zimao heard that Jiang Xuan agreed on the spot, he was actually relieved.
The author has something to say:
Jiang Xuan: How could I not agree to the marriage, hurry to the bridal chamber!
I will not add footnote for repeated idiom/proverb in future chapter.
Thank you Emeralz, for your help editing this chapter~
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