After marrying the fierce god, her handsome young husband was pampered to the extreme.

Xia Ying picked up a fish ball and stuffed it into his mouth, her cheeks flushed as she said, "Caiwu, Lianzi, you two step back first."

Lin Er finally chewed the fish ball and swallowed it. "Yingying, although I'm glad you can feed me yourself, please put smaller pieces next time. I'm afraid I'll choke."

Xia Ying took a deep breath and told herself not to be angry.

"What exactly are you trying to tell me?"

Lin Er said, "Give me your hand."

Xia Ying asked warily, "What do you want to do?"

"I would never harm you." Lin Er pulled Xia Ying's hand from her lap.

The young man's hands were fair and delicate, with slight calluses on his fingertips from long hours of using the abacus.

Xia Ying struggled a couple of times, but couldn't break free.

Soon, he found out exactly what Lin Er wanted to do.

He stared in astonishment at the exquisite, fully green jadeite bracelet on his wrist. "Where did you get such a fine piece of jadeite?"

"Of course I bought it," Lin Er said, playing with the young man's wrist. "The size is just right."

Xia Ying's eyes widened. As the son of a merchant, he naturally knew the value of the jade bracelet.

Such a piece is usually only seen in the imperial palace.

Not only is it a vibrant green, but it is also completely free of impurities, even clearer and more lustrous than ice.

"Where did you get such a nice bracelet?" Xia Ying admired the bracelet, still retaining some rationality in her mind.

Lin Er said in a wronged voice, "I already said it was bought, why doesn't Yingying believe me?"

"Where did you buy it?" Xia Ying continued to ask.

Lin Er pretended to be hurt and said, "Yingying, you don't suspect that I stole this bracelet, do you?"

Xia Ying said, "That's hard to say."

After all, he's shameless; what wouldn't he do!

Lin Er said, "I got this by chance when I was gambling on stones in Yuezhou. But the stone wasn't big, and I only got three bracelets from it."

Xia Ying exclaimed in surprise, "You actually know how to gamble on stones?"

"No, it was just luck," Lin Er said. "At the time, this was the cheapest stone in the quarry, and I figured I'd just spend the money to have some fun."

Hearing him say that, Xia Ying believed him somewhat. "Really?"

"Back then, three bracelets were found in that stone. The other two bracelets are in my uncle's and brother's hands. If you're worried, I'll take you to the capital to meet them later, and then you'll know for sure whether they're real or not."

"I'm not doubting you... it's just that this bracelet is really valuable... wait, who wants to go home with you? Shameless."

Lin Er curled his lips into a smile. "What's wrong, Young Master Xia? Are you scared?"

"Who's scared? I have nothing to do with you, why would I go home with you! ... Besides, you're marrying into the Xia family, do you understand? From now on, you're a member of the Xia family."

Lin Er said, "Fine, I'll marry into your family. I accept it."

"I didn't force you..."

After spending these past few days together, Xia Ying was completely convinced that with Lin Er's abilities, he could definitely muddy the waters of the Yunzhou Trading Company.

He had no need to use the Xia family's in-law connections.

So why did he snatch his embroidered ball...? Xia Ying didn't understand, and he didn't want to ask.

Asking him makes it seem like you care about him a lot.

"Who said you forced me? It was clearly my own choice." Lin Er picked up a strand of the young man's dark hair. "That embroidered ball couldn't have just grown legs and run to me by itself. I must have snatched it."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ying's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Lin Er raised an eyebrow, seemingly having found a good way to appease Young Master Xia.

"Yes, it's all because Yingying is so beautiful, she's got me completely captivated..."

Xia Ying quickly covered his mouth, saying, "Don't talk nonsense."

Lin Er looked at the young man's bright red earlobes, removed his hand, and asked, "Do you like the gift I gave you?"

Xia Ying pursed her lips. "Why give it to me? We're not even related!"

"Aren't we a couple?"

"Yes, but..."

"So, it's alright for me to give my husband some small gifts, isn't it?"

Xia Ying said, "But..."

"Good boy, take it." Lin Er pinched the young man's earlobe. "I'll find some good quality jade to make you a pair of earrings later. They'll definitely look beautiful."

Xia Ying looked at the man in front of her, "Marrying me seems to be the only one who benefits. What are you after...?"

"Didn't I already say that?" Lin Er smiled, "All I want is you."

Xia Yingcai didn't believe it. "Are you trying to eat up someone who has no descendants?"

Even Lin Er, who was used to seeing big scenes, couldn't help but exclaim, "Huh?" "Excuse me, Yingying, where did you get this conclusion?"

Xia Ying pouted, "You couldn't possibly have fallen for me at first sight, could you?"

"Is that not allowed?"

I don't believe it.

Lin Er was both amused and exasperated. "Although our family isn't exactly a high-ranking or wealthy family in the capital, we're not so destitute that we have to resort to bullying young men to make money."

"You know my family background very well, but I know nothing about yours. That's not fair!" Xia Ying's tone carried a barely perceptible sense of grievance.

"So that's what Yingying cares about. If you want to know something, just ask me. I'll never hide anything from you."

Xia Ying said, "Okay, then tell me, what does your family do? How many people are in your family? What do they all do?"

Lin Erqing cleared his throat. "My father was a valiant general who once led troops in the southern border region, but he is now dead."

"My uncle is a member of a collateral branch of the Ye family in Huzhou. He has little to no relationship with the direct line and has almost no contact with the family after the elders passed away."

"There are six of us brothers. The eldest brother is... well, a wandering swordsman, let's not talk about him. I am the second brother, and as you can see, I am a businessman."

"The third son is a scholar, so let's not talk about him."

"The fourth and fifth brothers went to the southwest; let's not talk about them anymore."

"My youngest brother is a boy. He's been frail and sickly since he was little, and rarely goes out. He speaks in a soft, weak voice, lacking any strength. As for looks, he's as handsome as you. He's only ten years old this year, his face is still very round, and his eyes are also very round. But you know how boys are, they change every year..."

Xia Ying: "..."

Xia Ying sighed. Someone who can praise their younger brother so highly probably doesn't have any bad intentions.

"You brothers have such a good relationship." Xia Ying was a little envious of such family affection. He thought of his own younger brother and sighed again.

These are both younger brothers, but other people's younger brothers are so cute, while his younger brother looks like he'll be ready to be sold soon.

Lin Er noticed the fleeting envy in Xia Ying's eyes and was reminded of the little pig that Han Cejun raised.

"We brothers were all born to the same father, and there were no bad people stirring things up, so it's normal for us to be close."

Xia Ying was slightly surprised. "Your father didn't take a concubine?"

"Yingying, it's our family rule to marry only one person in one's lifetime," Lin Er said.

Xia Ying emphasized, "You're marrying into my family; I'm the one marrying you."

"Alright, whatever," Lin Er said. "I don't care about these empty titles. If you're willing, I can call you husband."

Xia Ying's face turned red again. "You...you're shameless."

"What does a son-in-law need face for? All he needs is his husband's affection."