Chapter 6: The brat's selling Grandpa's field, huh~

In a barbecue shop.

Lu Yuan and Su Liyan sat facing each other.

In the middle was a griddle, covered with slices of meat and vegetables.

This winter month is about to enter the twelfth lunar month; in this weather, eating this meat is especially comforting.

Lu Yuan ordered three plates of meat—one each of pork, beef, and mutton—plus a block of tofu and some vegetables.

After grilling, they dipped it in sesame sauce, took a bite, chewed a few times, then swallowed it whole, scalding enough to make them shiver—nothing could be more fragrant and satisfying.

Su Liyan had never seen so many good things before.

At home, they could only afford a meat dish during New Year; if there was a major drought or flood, even that New Year's meat would have to be skipped.

But after a few bites, Su Liyan began busily picking meat for Lu Yuan.

Seeing Su Liyan not eating but instead putting meat on his own plate, Lu Yuan swallowed the meat in his mouth and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"You eat too; if it's not enough, big brother will get more—no need to save, it's cheap."

"This plate of beef is a bit pricier at five mao per dish; the others are cheap."

Moreover, the vendors here aren't like those on Earth who skimp, slicing meat as thin as paper; this plate has plenty.

"And this is still cheap?"

Su Liyan's heart jolted—just the cost of this plate of beef could feed her family of four for five days...

Su Liyan wasn't a glutton, but smelling the meat's aroma—and seeing how fragrant Lu Yuan's eating was—she couldn't resist taking two extra pieces for herself, putting them in the dipping sauce bowl, and eating them in small bites.

While eating, Su Liyan secretly observed Lu Yuan out of curiosity.

As for Lu Yuan, Su Liyan was full of curiosity.

You have to know that just a few hours ago, the two of them didn't even know each other...

"Yuan Ge, how old are you?"

Su Liyan asked curiously.

"Huh?"

Lu Yuan froze, then lifted his head to look at Su Liyan.

It's actually kind of funny—we're about to get married, yet we don't even know each other's age.

But in this society, that's quite normal.

This is the standard "parents' order, matchmaker's word".

Some women, when they marry, don't even know how old their future husband is—they might not even know what he looks like, waiting until the bridal night to open a blind box.

Of course, in recent years things have improved—the new emperor ascended the throne, social customs got better, so the couple can now see each other; if the person getting married disagrees, the parents can't force their will.

"I'm twenty-one this year."

After saying that, Lu Yuan wrapped the grilled meat in a piece of cabbage, stuffed with garlic and chili, and shoved it straight into his mouth!

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Su Liyan, who had just picked up a cabbage leaf, froze.

"Ah??"

Lu Yuan lifted his head, glanced at Su Liyan, and said with a strange expression:

"What's up?"

"You don't look like it?"

Su Liyan, somewhat at a loss, looked at Lu Yuan and said:

"No, big brother... I... I'm twenty-three..."

Lu Yuan: "???"

At that moment, Su Liyan looked at Lu Yuan with a worried face, afraid he would reject her because of her age.

"Isn't it said that men prefer younger women..."

But what Su Liyan didn't expect was that Lu Yuan would say, completely unbothered:

"That's even better—people say older ones take care of others, and I like someone older than me."

Seeing that Lu Yuan didn't despise her, Su Liyan's heart nearly burst with joy; she kept giving him meat while nodding repeatedly, saying:

"I will definitely serve you well from now on..."

For a moment, Su Liyan didn't know whether she should call him 'older brother' or 'younger brother'.

And at that moment, Lu Yuan raised his head and said:

"Just call me older brother."

"This isn't just calling 'older brother'; it's about family status!"

Hearing that, Su Liyan smiled, pursing her lips, and nodded repeatedly, saying sweetly:

"Okay, big brother~"

Su Liyan also felt that, although she was two years older than Lu Yuan, calling him 'younger brother' still felt a bit awkward.

Maybe it's because they just met and she called him 'older brother,' or maybe it's something else.

Halfway through the meal, Lu Yuan remembered something and then looked at Su Liyan, saying:

"By the way, how much betrothal gift did the Gao family say they'd give you?"

"Since this is a formal marriage proposal, a betrothal gift is naturally required; asking how much the Gao family will give, I naturally can't give less than them."

Su Liyan was startled, then quickly replied:

"Eight (units)."

Hearing that, Lu Yuan couldn't help but spit and say:

"This family is really something—just giving eight?"

"Here, giving a betrothal gift is also customary, but it's not as extravagant as in my previous life, where they'd demand hundreds of thousands at the drop of a hat—ordinary people would have to go without food or drink for four or five years to save up."

It's not that exaggerated here; basically, it's around ten or fifteen yuan.

Generally, rural areas give ten yuan, while the city gives fifteen yuan.

Seeing Lu Yuan like that, Su Liyan naturally knew this was her man standing up for her.

Her heart felt sweet, but she also said:

"They said they'd buy me a sewing machine, so the bride price would be a little less…"

Lu Yuan couldn't help but curl his lips and say:

"Is that for buying you? No, that's for buying for their whole family."

At this moment, Su Liyan looked at Lu Yuan with a face full of happiness and said sweetly:

"Anyway, I'm not marrying into their family; I'm marrying you, big brother~"

……

After lunch, Lu Yuan sent Su Liyan to the outskirts of Huangcheng, where there are ox carts to the surrounding towns and villages.

Now the customs are still quite proper.

This new emperor, after ascending the throne, really gets things done; not to mention remote places, anyway there's no banditry or military trouble around Huangcheng, so Su Liyan returning home naturally doesn't need to worry.

At this time, Su Liyan changed into her old clothes from before; she said she couldn't bear to wear the new ones, fearing they'd get dirty on the dusty road.

Lu Yuan didn't say anything either; it was fine either way.

At this moment, Su Liyan carefully tucked the three yuan Lu Yuan gave her into her pocket; she had never held this much money in her life, so naturally she wanted to keep it safe.

"Go back and tell our parents clearly: today counts as our engagement; tomorrow you come pick me up to go to your place for the betrothal gifts."

Lu Yuan ruffled the fluffy white fox ears on top of Su Liyan's head and grinned.

After the morning, their relationship became much more intimate; they were no longer as reserved as at the start.

The gorgeous, elder-sister-type Su Liyan, after Lu Yuan's head rub, instead showed an extremely obedient look and sweetly replied:

"I'll listen to you, big brother~"

After the people going downhill filled the ox cart, Lu Yuan then waved and bid farewell to Su Liyan.

In the afternoon, Lu Yuan still had other things to attend to.

First, to buy some things needed for the betrothal.

Second, most importantly, to make some money.

Although he had over three hundred thousand yuan, Lu Yuan planned to buy a whole horse.

A tall, big horse would cost at least over two hundred yuan.

Although he had saved quite a bit over the years, almost enough to buy a horse, but after marriage there would be many more places needing money.

If officials happened to discover and investigate, that would really be disastrous.

This really isn't Lu Yuan being overly cautious; the new emperor is a wise ruler, and after ascending the throne he's been cracking down on corrupt officials left and right.

Being careful now is perfectly fine.

So, Lu Yuan needs to find a way to earn some legitimate income.

As for how to do that—

Needless to say—

Selling the father's field, huh~

Lu Yuan naturally wasn't looking to sell the big estate, but had his eye on the various furnishings and decorations inside!

Just as Lu Yuan turned around to start working, a sound suddenly came to his mind.

【Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining a five-star perfect wife, reward: 《Artisan's Heart》】

(End of chapter)