Promise!

Chapter 87, Settled

Don’t think that Yue Song is exaggerating. Zhuang Jin is handsome, has great potential, and has a good personality. He is really a hot commodity. Even the maids in the inner courtyard will be attracted to him, and someone will regret missing out on him, let alone the maids in the outer courtyard?

This level of popularity has really reached the point where he has to rely on connections. However, Yue Song will at most add someone to the list after confirming that the other party is indeed good and making comprehensive considerations. He will not and cannot designate anyone.

"Director Yue, this matter is naturally best if both parties are willing. I would also like to meet in person and ask you a few questions. What do you think?" Zhuang Jin looked at him.

"Of course you can, Brother Zhuang, go ahead."

Yue Song handed over a list: "This list contains the first-class maids from the outer courtyard who have signed up and are willing to do so. Brother Zhuang can take a look at it... As long as you confirm the candidates and come to register before 6:00 PM today, they can all be accepted."

"Thank you, Director Yue."

……

'Chen Yun, Yu Xiaoxiao, Song Lan...'

Zhuang Jin used his connections to conduct background checks on some candidates and selected those who had no major problems with themselves or their families. Compared with the unfamiliar first-class maids in the outer courtyard on the list, these familiar and innocent girls who had done their own background checks were naturally given priority.

He looked at the list given by Yue Song. Among these first-class maids in the outer courtyard, Chen Yun was not among them. However, during his own background check, he found that the other party was the most suitable one after comprehensive comparison. He planned to give it one last try. If it didn't work, he would give it a try.

Now, it is May. In the flower beds in the outer courtyard of the Shen family, flowers are in full bloom, colorful and beautiful, bees and butterflies are playing, and the trees are lush and green.

Zhuang Jin found Chen Yun and asked her out in a secluded place with few people, so as not to waste either of their time and get straight to the point.

"I have now broken through the fourth sutra, and my master has promised me marriage. He has chosen a maid from the outer courtyard. I wonder if Miss Yun is interested? My family..."

He didn't hide anything and explained his family situation. He added, "I know I'm not the kind of gentle and humble gentleman, nor am I the traditional kind of good man who sees injustice and takes action. But I'm definitely not a heartless person either. If someone is kind and affectionate, I will definitely not let them down."

Although Chen Yun is relatively familiar among the maids in the outer courtyard, they still don't know each other well enough compared to the couples who were in free love in their previous life. In this case, no matter how much they promise, it will seem false. However, Zhuang Jin is willing to be patient, to understand, to cultivate feelings, and to exchange sincerity for sincerity.

Chen Yun heard the sincerity in Zhuang Jin's words. At this moment, the shyness of talking about marriage directly, the happiness of Zhuang Jin's approval, and the panic of not knowing how to respond made her cheeks flush, as if she was drunk. She only felt the fragrance of the flowers among the flowers where butterflies were dancing today, which was particularly intoxicating.

Zhuang Jin waited for a moment, but there was no reply.

"I understand. Sorry to bother you. Miss Yun, just pretend I didn't come to see you today. We can still get along as before. I'll always remember your words of help when Hou Yong came to see me. If you have any trouble in the future, you can come to me. I will help you to the best of my ability."

After saying that, he strode away without any hesitation.

Although Chen Yun is the most suitable person according to the background check, this kind of thing requires mutual consent and a two-way effort. Zhuang Jin can take ninety-nine steps forward, but he also needs the other party to take one step forward.

Chen Yun watched Zhuang Jin walk away, thinking she had rejected him. She was stunned and at a loss. She subconsciously wanted to persuade him to stay, but she lacked the courage. Then she thought of what her brother had said a few days ago. Suddenly, a hint of determination appeared in her eyes, and she said, "Wait, I, I do."

To be honest, the moment she said this, she lowered her head shyly, with impulsive regret, unknown uneasiness, and some relief and relaxation in her heart, but she quickly suppressed all these chaotic emotions.

Chen Yun knew that she was grateful and appreciative of Zhuang Jin, but it had not reached the level of liking or loving him. However, she was willing to understand him, be sincere, and bet that Zhuang Jin was her soulmate.

Although in this era, especially for women, this is a gamble that cannot be lost, and the stakes are a lifetime, but as Zhuang Jin said, sincerity for sincerity, she is willing to believe it.

Chen Yun thought about these things and also talked about her family.

Zhuang Jin stopped and looked back, feeling pleased. It would be best if he could get the consent of Chen Yun, the most suitable person for the background check. He turned around and listened quietly.

After Chen Yun spoke, he did not hide anything and told her about his background check.

If this kind of investigation had been carried out in Zhuang Jin's previous life, he would probably have been scolded as "lower-headed" immediately. However, Chen Yun did not think it was a big deal. She even understood and felt distressed, thinking that Zhuang Jin acted like this because of the matter concerning his cousin Ni Ying.

After this unique "blind date", the two went to register.

"Haha, so Brother Zhuang chose Miss Yun. He really has good taste. Miss Yun is one of the most outstanding maids in the outer courtyard. If she hadn't been unwilling, she would have entered the inner courtyard long ago... It's only because Miss Yun didn't come to apply, otherwise I would have recommended her directly. I think you two are suitable."

Yue Song spoke nicely and added, "Brother Zhuang, you know that the current situation is special... everything must be done quickly and simply."

"If we set it today, we can have the wedding tomorrow. It just so happens that tomorrow is an auspicious day. At the beginning of last month, Du Shiyuan, the first martial artist recruited to break through the fourth level, held a ceremony in the Shen family's outer courtyard. The eldest son even came in person..." "After tomorrow's wedding, there used to be a month of wedding leave, but now... again, due to special circumstances, there's only a three-day holiday. Brother Zhuang will take up his post on the fifth day..."

Yue Song explained these things.

Zhuang Jin has no relatives here, so he stayed to keep an eye on things and confirm all matters.

——On his father's side, Zhuang Yutang and Zhuang Yuyong were the principal wives. From how they addressed Zhuang Jin as "bastard" and "little beast", it was clear that the Zhuang family elders had sided with the other party, needless to say. As for his mother's side, because of his father's family background, his mother was an orphan, and her grandparents had long since passed away. The few other relatives who had been there watched indifferently from the sidelines, and who had come to him this month after learning of his success, were all driven away, as if nothing had happened.

Chen Yun went back to prepare, informed her brother, some relatives and friends, and left her address. Zhuang Jin agreed to go over in the evening to meet her brother-in-law and see if there was anything missing.

……

Chen Yun was walking back with a stack of wedding invitations in her hand, her steps brisk.

She had walked this path countless times, but when she walked it again today, looking at the stone road paved with bluestone, the houses with white walls and green tiles on the roadside, and the big willow trees on the embankment, she felt inexplicably fresh.

Chen Yun's thoughts wandered, and she thought: When she was a young girl, she walked on this road. Today, she walked on this road again, and she was about to become a bride. She didn't know what this place would look like in twenty years, and what she would become.

'But at least at this moment, I have no regrets.' She thought with a gentle expression.

After circling the treetops a few times, a few magpies flew into the sky and gathered together to form a magpie bridge. The river flowed under the mossy stone bridge, sparkling and shining as it flowed into the distance.

……

In the evening, Zhuang Jin and his group of five had a small gathering at the end of the month. He hurried over, showed up, and talked about the marriage.

Lin Hong, Qian Wende, Bi Kai, and Wu Hao naturally congratulated him and said they would help him tomorrow.

Afterwards, Zhuang Jin left first because he had an appointment to go to Chen Yun's house.

The remaining four, Lin Hong, Qian Wende, Bi Kai, and Wu Hao, didn't leave. Their topic of conversation was still Zhuang Jin. Qian Wende, like a lackey, talked about the night raid on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, Zhuang Jin's display of prowess, and the subsequent clever extermination of the Medicine King Gang's hunting den...

The story was told vividly, like a vernacular story, with emphasis on Zhuang Jin's composure and his ability to plan and strategize. Of course, he did not overlook his number one 'general', who went deep into the tiger's den to fight with wits and courage.

This also allowed Lin Hong and the other two to gain a better understanding of the events surrounding the Moonlit Night Raid. They were shocked and impressed, needless to say.

……

After Zhuang Jin showed up at the gathering, he went to find Chen Yun. After confirming that everything was fine and there were no problems, his stomach began to growl.

I was busy all afternoon, and I didn't eat anything during the previous gathering, so I was hungry at this time.

Chen Yun was quite thoughtful and prepared some warm porridge and side dishes. Zhuang Jin picked up his chopsticks and waited.

"Sister Shu!"

At this time, an excited voice was heard: "I have sent wedding invitations to relatives and friends. Several of my good friends have donated dozens of taels of silver. Adding to my savings, the dowry tomorrow should be considerable. It will not be looked down upon by my brother-in-law."

When Chen Yun heard this voice, she seemed a little flustered.

When Chen Honggan walked in and saw Zhuang Jin, his eyes fell on the table again. He immediately smiled and said, "Sister Shu, I wanted to add more porridge in the evening, and you said you had finished eating. It turns out you were hiding it to entertain your brother-in-law!"

This joke made Chen Yun feel quite embarrassed, but it also brought them closer and made them seem more cordial.

As Zhuang Jin chatted with the other party, he gradually came to accept this future brother-in-law.

Just as the background check showed, Chen Honggan was a generous and chivalrous person, open and straightforward, and possessed a personal charm. To be honest, he was more likable than Zhuang Jin, who was aloof, indifferent, and selfish.

……

(End of this chapter)