Duke of Zhenguan

As the two were talking, the vermilion gate slowly opened, and the butler, Cheng Quan, came out to greet them:

"Master, you're back!"

"Hmm, this is Lin Chuan. Send a few men to invite Brother Qin, Yuchi Laohei, Zhang Liang, and Niu Jinda over. Tell them I have good wine and meat!" Cheng Yaojin instructed with a smile.

"I'll have someone go and invite them right away!" Cheng Quan replied with a bow.

"Go inside!"

Cheng Yaojin nodded and invited Lin Chuan inside.

Compared to the Yan family, the Cheng family's mansion was not only larger, but also more luxurious.

Upon arriving at the main hall in the front courtyard, just as they sat down, Cheng Yaojin's wife, Madam Cui, arrived with two young men slightly older than Lin Chuan. Smiling, she addressed Cheng Yaojin:

"Master is back. And who is this?"

"Why has Madam come here? This is Lin Chuan! Chu Mo, Chu Liang, why don't you come over and pay your respects?" Cheng Yaojin said.

The two boys were quite straightforward; they stepped forward, cupped their hands in greeting to Lin Chuan, and said with smiles:

"Greetings, Brother Lin!"

Lin Chuan quickly stood up and bowed to the woman:

"Lin Chuan greets Madam! Greetings to my two elder brothers!"

Cui looked Lin Chuan up and down a few times, nodded in satisfaction, and then subtly winked at Cheng Yaojin.

"Lin Chuan, please sit for a while. Chu Mo and Chu Liang, you two attend to Lin Chuan. I'm going to change my clothes!" Cheng Yaojin said to the three of them as he stood up.

After saying that, he walked towards the door, and Cui Shi quickly followed.

After walking for a while, Cui smiled and said to Cheng Yaojin:

"He is indeed handsome and talented, but his social status is rather low!"

"The Ministry of Personnel has prepared the documents for the conferment of titles, and they should be announced at the next court assembly!"

Moreover, this lad is quite capable. At such a young age, he is already a junior official in the Ministry of Works, and he has a good relationship with the Yan family. He has a bright future ahead of him! Cheng Yaojin said with a smile.

"That's true, it would be even better if she came from a better family!" Cui said softly.

"Ha, background..." Cheng Yaojin sneered.

Knowing that Cheng Yaojin had always been at odds with powerful families, Madam Cui didn't bring up the matter of his status again, and asked softly:

"Should we send Chu Rou to meet her?"

Cheng Yaojin nodded and whispered his instructions:

"Madam, please ask Chu Rou's opinion first. I promised her that the husband I chose for her would require her approval!"

"Master, just indulge her!"

Cui glared at Cheng Yaojin and led her maid to the backyard.

In a small courtyard on the east side of the backyard, Cheng Churou, dressed in a blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), sat on the edge of the eaves, staring blankly at the distant sunset, her feet, clad in blue embroidered shoes, gently swaying under the eaves.

Standing under the eaves, the young maid Cheng Chun looked up at her mistress with trepidation, afraid that her mistress might accidentally fall.

When Cui entered the room, she saw a scene that made her eyelids twitch.

He wanted to scold her, but was afraid of frightening Cheng Churou, so he could only speak softly:

"Chu Rou! Why are you climbing up the roof again? Come down quickly!"

Cheng Churou snapped out of her daze, looked at Cui Shi, and quickly jumped down from the eaves.

Seeing Cheng Churou jump straight down like that, even though she had seen it countless times, Cui was still furious and coldly rebuked her:

"Chu Rou, how many times have I told you? A young lady should act like a young lady. You've already come of age and are about to get married. How can you be so sloppy and unruly!"

"Mother, I know I was wrong!" Cheng Churou curtsied and said softly.

"..."

The rest of Cui's words were stuck in her throat.

Two months ago, if she had been scolded like this by me, the girl in front of me would have said something like, "What's so good about getting married? It's better to be at home. Even though I always get scolded, at least Father dotes on me."

The anger in Cui's stomach suddenly dissipated, and she reached out to take Cheng Churou's hand, saying softly:

"Your father has found you a husband. You've met him before; he's the young man who used to run a noodle shop in the East Market. I just met him; he's handsome and capable, and he earned a title on his own! Do you want to go and see him?"

"what?"

Cheng Churou, who was usually decisive and generous, let out a soft exclamation, her face instantly turning red, and she lowered her head, at a loss for what to do.

"If someone can catch your father's eye, they must be a good person. But you know how much your father dotes on you. If you don't agree, he won't force you. After all, it's a matter of your lifelong happiness, so it's good to go and meet them!" Cui said softly.

"Go change your clothes!"

Cheng Churou glanced down at the dust-covered hem of her skirt, muttered something under her breath, and turned to run into the house.

A moment later, Cheng Churou, who had changed into a clean dress and had her hair combed again, followed Cui Shi to the main hall in the front courtyard with a flushed face.

Cheng Yaojin, now dressed in a brocade robe, was discussing gasoline with Lin Chuan when he saw his daughter enter. Seeing Cui Shi nod at him, he smiled and said:

"Chu Rou, you've come at the right time. This is Lin Chuan. Don't you love his family's noodle shop? Father brought him here. Let him teach the cook at home in a bit!"

Upon hearing her father's words, Cheng Churou's face instantly flushed red, and she bowed her head to Lin Chuan in a curtsy.

"Greetings, Young Master Lin!"

"Greetings, Madam!" Lin Chuan quickly returned the greeting.

He naturally recognized Cheng Churou, but the few times he had seen her before, she was dressed in men's clothing. Although she was already stunningly beautiful in men's clothing, Cheng Churou was undoubtedly even more captivating when she changed into a dress and styled her hair in a girl's bun.

Having seen so many beauties with modern beauty filters, Lin Chuan's mind was still somewhat unsettled when he saw a truly beautiful girl, a gift from heaven and earth, even after experiencing the unscientific process of time travel.

Even after Cheng Churou left with Cui, Lin Chuan was still somewhat absent-minded.

Upon seeing this, Cheng Yaojin became inexplicably angry.

After a while, Qin Qiong, Yuchi Gong, Zhang Liang, and Niu Jinda arrived at the Cheng family home one after another.

After exchanging greetings, they all smiled and looked Lin Chuan up and down, making him feel very uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Cheng Quan walked in and said to Cheng Yaojin:

"Master, the meal is ready!"

"Let's go eat!"

Cheng Yaojin smiled and beckoned everyone to the side hall.

"Go and bring the wine His Majesty bestowed!"

Just as they sat down, and the maids were serving dishes to everyone on the tables in front of them, Cheng Yaojin loudly gave the order.

A moment later, Cheng Quan carried jars of wine into the side hall and placed two jars on each person's table.

One jar weighs at least two jin!

Seeing Cheng Yaojin pour wine directly from the bowl, Lin Chuan knew something was wrong.

Before Lin Chuan could react, Cheng Chumo, who was sitting next to him, picked up a jar, tore open the seal, and handed the wine to Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan took the jar, leaned in and took a sniff; the rich aroma of the wine hit his nose and mouth.

Before Lin Chuan could even pick up his chopsticks, Cheng Yaojin had already picked up his bowl and said with a smile:

"Gentlemen, let us first drink this cup to the brim!"

Lin Chuan secretly groaned, but gritted his teeth and drank the bowl down in one gulp. Fortunately, the alcohol content was not high, at most around 25 or 26 degrees.

Before he could catch his breath, Cheng Yaojin picked up the bowl again, smiling as he said to Lin Chuan:

"Lin Chuan, this is your first time visiting our home, you should have a full drink!"

Lin Chuan picked up the bowl again and drank it all in one gulp. His stomach was already churning. If he had known that Cheng Yaojin drank like this, he would never have come!

Unfortunately, it was too late to regret it!