Chapter 118: The Old Village Chief Who Worries About Everything (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)

Linhu Village!

"Remember, don't cause trouble. The prefecture city is not like the county. In the county, Little Chen can still help a bit. There are many big figures in the prefecture city. If you really cause trouble, don't go looking for Little Chen."

"Save money, don't stay in inns, find a porter's guild and sleep on a shared bed. If it exceeds twenty wen, don't stay."

The old village chief, Zhao Canghu, was currently giving instructions to the three villagers before him.

The county competition is held in the prefecture city. Zhao Canghu naturally couldn't take the whole village out to cheer for Lin Chen like last time.

Furthermore, even if everyone really went, they wouldn't be able to see the competition.

He had already asked the town head, and this competition was held in the prefecture city, and it was inside the Wuzheng Office, so outsiders couldn't get in at all.

For this reason, he arranged for three people from the village to go to the prefecture city and wait outside the Wuzheng Office. When the results of the county competition came out, they would return to the village to report the news at the first moment.

If Lin Chen could get a good ranking this time, not only would they have to offer sacrifices to the ancestors, but it was also time to renovate the ancestral hall.

"Village Chief, don't worry, we definitely won't cause trouble."

A young man promised. He was chosen by the village chief, not because he had a good relationship with Lin Chen, but as the village chief said, he had a good physique and could ride a horse back to report the news.

Originally, the one with the best physique in the village was Gu Fei, but Gu Fei was busy practicing to produce essence and Qi and couldn't spare the time.

Zhao Canghu had also thought about whether to arrange for someone from the Lin family to go, but in the end, he didn't arrange it.

Lin Chen's parents were definitely not suitable for the long-distance travel to the prefecture city. As for Lin Chen's eldest brother Lin Liang, out of caution, it was better not to go.

People don't look for trouble, but that doesn't mean trouble doesn't look for people.

Better safe than sorry.

If Lin Liang went to the prefecture city and encountered any trouble and suffered a loss, with the brotherly affection between Lin Chen and Lin Liang, Lin Chen would inevitably want to avenge his eldest brother, adding to the turmoil.

But these three people in front of him didn't have a close relationship with Lin Chen. If they really encountered trouble and suffered a loss, he thought Lin Chen would also think about how to deal with it properly, without being impulsive.

Zhao Canghu wouldn't say these considerations. In the eyes of the three villagers, the village chief arranging for them to go to the prefecture city was because he valued them.

"Go."

Waving his hand to let the three villagers leave, Zhao Canghu took out a book from his bosom, titled "Thirty Words of Advice for Martial Artists from Humble Backgrounds".

This book was collected by Zhao Canghu not long ago, entrusting a county town book merchant to collect it from various places. In his room, there were several similar books.

Buying these books, for no other reason, Linhu Village produced a Lin Chen, which was not easy.

In the book in his hand, one point was mentioned: martial artists from humble backgrounds who have achieved some success must advise their families not to cause trouble.

According to the book, many martial artists with poor family backgrounds achieved results in the Martial Way, and their families became ignorant of the height of the sky and the thickness of the earth, resulting in offending noble families, suffering suppression from noble families, and finally fading into ordinary people.

Zhao Canghu deeply agreed. He knew the character of Lin Chen's father and mother; they were not this kind of overbearing people. As for Lin mother, she just liked vanity, so arranging for the wives of each family in the village to say some nice flattering words was enough.

After reading these books, Zhao Canghu also said heavy words to the villagers: People in Linhu Village are not allowed to do anything using Lin Chen's reputation.

Having lived to such an old age, Zhao Canghu saw through many things. Linhu Village produced Lin Chen. It seemed that Lin Chen hadn't brought any benefits to the village yet, but in reality, the whole village was already basking in Lin Chen's light.

Every family has relatives from other villages, especially those little wives whose maternal families are mostly in other villages. Linhu Village produced Lin Chen, and the people in the village are also tough when talking at their mother-in-law's house in other villages. When discussing topics at the wine table, they must mention Lin Chen.

Zhao Canghu is not the kind of rigid person who is not human. It is human nature for villagers to brag about Lin Chen in front of relatives from other villages and drink more wine.

But they are not allowed to talk about the Lin family's family affairs to outsiders, and even more so, they are not allowed to use Lin Chen's name to fish for money or promise anything.

If anyone dares to do this, don't blame him, the village chief, for not giving face and expelling them from Linhu Village.

It is not easy for children from humble backgrounds to get ahead, but they cannot be ruined by family and neighbors.

Having lived to such an old age, he couldn't give Lin Chen help in the Martial Way, so he would guard the home for Lin Chen, so that Lin Chen would have no worries and could devote himself to the Martial Way.

"Village Chief, two more pleasure boats came to the lake today."

Zhao Canghu, who was reading in his courtyard, frowned when he heard the news from a villager. Since Lin Chen won first place in the monthly competition, their village's water area had many more pleasure boats.

Outside, it is rumored that Linhu Village has good Feng Shui. Some people come to visit by boat, and Zhao Canghu doesn't stop them, but some people are drunk and not interested in wine.

During this time, many young girls from wealthy families have appeared in Linhu Village.

At first, he thought these young girls were here for Lin Chen, but as the villagers informed him, he realized that things were not that simple.

Some people are here for Lin Chen's eldest brother, Lin Liang.

"It seems I have to go to the Lin family and settle Lin Liang's marriage, otherwise some people might not give up."

"Village Chief, why are you here? Come in and sit."

Lin father, who was carrying a hoe and preparing to go to the field to work, saw the village chief walking towards his side and hurriedly turned back to instruct Lin mother: "The village chief is here, does our family have boiled tea?"

"Have something to discuss with you couple. Is Little Liang not at home?"

"There are many pleasure boats relying on our village lake, so Little Liang goes to teach those young masters and young ladies from wealthy families how to fish, and can earn thirty wen a day."

Lin father led the village chief into the house, and Lin mother also boiled tea and poured a bowl for the village chief.

In the countryside, tea is not poured with cups, but with bowls.

Zhao Canghu didn't use the tea, listened to Lin mother's words, and frowned: "Thirty wen is not a little, but Little Liang is Lin Chen's eldest brother. This status, let alone thirty wen, even three hundred wen, someone is willing to give this money."

Hearing the village chief's words, Lin father and Lin mother were stunned, and it was Lin mother who reacted first: "Village Chief, what do you mean by this?"

"What else could it mean? Young people have a few who can endure the temper of fishing? People want Little Liang to teach fishing, not whether they can catch fish, but Little Liang himself."

For Lin father and Lin mother, Zhao Canghu didn't sell it: "There are many people in our village who are better at fishing than Little Liang. Why do those people look for Little Liang? Have you thought about it?"

"And that Chen family's daughter, every time she comes to swim in the lake, she looks for Little Liang. People like Little Liang, and as for why they like Little Liang, isn't it because of your Lin Chen."

Zhao Canghu explained the matter very thoroughly, and Lin father and Lin mother also understood.

"Village Chief, it shouldn't be, that Chen family is a big family, can they look down on Little Liang?"

Lin father didn't believe it, Lin mother curled her lips: "Our Little Liang is not bad."

It's just that Lin mother also had no confidence in these words.

"I asked someone to inquire about that Chen family. There are a hundred acres of land in the family, a wealthy family in Qingshan Town."

"Village Chief, you said that there are a hundred acres of land in the family. To say that they look down on Chen'er is possible, but to look down on Liang'er, is it that you, Village Chief, thought too much?"

"The Chen family is a big family in Qingshan Town, that's right, but that's only relative to our village. You really don't know what Lin Chen winning first place in the three-month competition means. Believe it or not, if Lin Chen wants to marry, there are plenty of powerful families in the city willing to marry their daughters, and none of them are worse than this Chen family."

The village chief was a bit fortunate that he came in time. This couple, Lin Jiang, didn't know what Lin Chen, such a martial arts genius, meant to the Lin family.

"The Lu family, Zhao family, and Cheng family in our town, which one is worse than that Chen family? But why are these three masters so enthusiastic when they see you, Lin Jiang, calling you 'brother' one by one? Is it because these three masters are easy-going? It's because you are Lin Chen's father."

"Originally, this is your Lin family's family affair. Since the Chen family has the intention of marrying into your family, I, the village chief, shouldn't talk too much."

"Village Chief, don't say that."

Lin father hurriedly opened his mouth: "We couple only know how to farm and fish. Little Chen can walk to today, which is inseparable from your help, Village Chief. We couple know all this. Little Liang's matter, you decide."

"Yes, we couple listen to you, Village Chief. Before Chen'er went to the martial hall, he also said that if we encounter anything we can't decide, we should find you, Village Chief, to discuss it."

Lin mother originally thought that even a big family like the Chen family wanted to marry their daughter to her son, and she felt beautiful in her heart, but then she thought, since the village chief came for this matter, it must not be that simple.

"This matter actually depends on what Little Liang himself thinks. That Chen family wants to marry their daughter, isn't it because they value Lin Chen's potential? If Little Liang really likes the Chen family's daughter, this marriage is not impossible to conclude."

"No."

Lin father suddenly interrupted: "Little Liang still shouldn't marry the Chen family's daughter. He and Erya are very good."

Lin Jiang saw his wife's puzzled expression and smiled bitterly: "What is our family's situation? Before Chen'er practiced martial arts and made a name for himself, he was just a fisherman and farmer, and he couldn't enter the Chen family's eyes at all. That Chen family's young lady can really look down on Liang'er, or is it because of the Chen family master's parents' orders that she dare not disobey?"

"In my opinion, the Chen family's young lady must look down on Liang'er in her heart. If she is forced to marry Liang'er, I'm afraid there is resentment in her heart. The Chen family forces their daughter to marry Liang'er, so there must be a plan. In terms of calculations, how can our family compare with them?"

His son marrying a daughter of a big family is naturally a great happy event to be proud of, but Lin Jiang's brain is clear, this marriage is not a good match.

"Let's call Little Liang back and ask first."

Zhao Canghu stroked his beard, and for Lin Jiang being able to understand this point, he was also old and gratified.

A quarter of an hour later, Lin Liang returned home.

"Father, Mother, Village Chief, you are here too?"

Informed by people in the village that his parents were looking for him, Lin Liang rowed back to the shore and headed straight for his home. After entering the courtyard, he found that the village chief was also there.

"Little Liang, I ask you, what do you think about the Chen family's second young lady?"

Zhao Canghu asked with a smile. Lin Liang was stunned, then smiled bitterly: "Village Chief, I know what you want to say. I don't have

Lin Liang's reply left Zhao Canghu, as well as Lin Chen's father and mother, astonished. Seeing the expressions of the three, Lin Liang chuckled and said, "I'm not stupid. That second young lady of the Chen family isn't even willing to touch a fish; she thinks fish are dirty and smell too fishy. She's simply not someone who likes fishing."

"Besides, there are plenty of people in our village who are great at fishing. Why would she ask me for guidance? It's all because of Brother Chen."

Zhao Canghu patted Lin Liang's shoulder with satisfaction: "Even though this second young lady of the Chen family doesn't like fishing, she is fair and delicate. If you truly like her, as long as you speak up, the Chen family will certainly be willing to marry their daughter to you."

"Village Chief, I really don't have that intention."

Lin Liang shook his head. The daughters of wealthy families indeed had a grace and charm far superior to the girls in the village.

Recalling the time he first came into contact with this second young lady of the Chen family, Lin Liang did not deny that he had indeed felt a bit moved.

Such a young lady from a wealthy family was someone he wouldn't have dared to look at more than once in the past.

But after several interactions, although this second young lady of the Chen family intentionally acted close to him, he still sensed her disdain for them, the fishermen, in her words and actions.

"Right now, I'm just going for those thirty silver taels."

"Good lad, you're quite sharp."

Zhao Canghu laughed heartily. Lin Chen's father, standing to the side, spoke up: "Liang'er, your marriage with the Chen girl should also be put on the agenda. I'll find a matchmaker to visit their home and settle the marriage."

"This child will listen to Father."

Lin Liang did not object. Compared to that Miss Chen, he still preferred Er Ya; being with Er Ya was very comfortable.

"Since you're proposing, you'll need to build a new house. I'll find a plot of land in the village for you, Xiao Liang."

"Build a new house?"

Lin Liang waved his hands hurriedly: "Village Chief, let's not do that. Let's wait a few years."

"Silly boy, building a house doesn't cost much. Don't worry about your younger brother; he doesn't lack this bit of money for his martial arts studies."

Building a new house in the village only costs a few silver taels for an ordinary structure; if you build it a bit better, using some blue tiles and red bricks, it would be just over ten silver taels.

Given the Lin family's situation, if Lin Liang wanted to build a new house, everyone in the village would certainly be willing to help, which could save quite a bit of money.

"It's settled then. As for the marriage and such, you family members discuss it yourselves; I won't interfere further."

Zhao Canghu arrived with worries and left with satisfaction.

Yet, while passing by the Lin family's ancestral home, seeing the tightly shut gate, Zhao Canghu also let out a sigh.

Lin Chaoyang sees things clearly now, but unfortunately, it is already too late.

Just as Lin Chen's father and mother were discussing when it would be appropriate to go and propose, Lin Chen was currently following the team out of Poyang County, riding a horse straight toward the Raozhou Prefecture.

They set off at dawn and didn't arrive before the Raozhou Prefecture city gate until dusk.

Although it was dusk, the flow of people at the Raozhou Prefecture city gate was still endless, with merchant caravans coming and going in an unbroken stream.

"Senior Brother Lin, do you see that over there?"

Fu Ang signaled with his eyes. Lin Chen followed Fu Ang's line of sight and saw another group of people appearing in another direction at the city gate.

"These are the martial hall students from Yu Shan County. This time, the Prefecture Trial isn't just a competition between our Poyang County and Yanshan County; other counties are competing too. They are all held at the Wuzheng Office, but our Poyang County and Yanshan County were arranged by the Wuzheng Office to be at the very front."

Tai Rupai said in a low voice upon seeing the direction Lin Chen and Fu Ang were looking.

"Hall Master Tai, why are our Poyang County and Yanshan County the earliest?"

"Why else? Who told us that our two counties have always been at the bottom of the rankings in the Prefecture Trials? The strongest ones, of course, have to be placed at the end to anchor the show."

(End of chapter)