Chapter 452 - 384: 800 Heart-Eyes
Soybeans paired with cold water will make a piglet kick its legs out.
Compared to corn and greens, soybeans are great for fattening up poultry and livestock. But pair them with cold water, and you’re guaranteed bloating and a bad case of the runs.
How could a young wild boar possibly handle that? Especially when fed that way every single day.
"Hop in, Uncle Zhang." Zhao Jun waved to Zhang Lifu. "Come with us, and Baoyu can drive you home afterward."
First, they helped Zhang Lifu load the other half of the wild boar meat. On the way back, they also loaded the Black Bear Zhao Jun had killed yesterday. Then, Li Baoyu drove the truck all the way to Zhang Lifu’s home in Mangliu Village.
When they reached his house, Zhang Lifu insisted on pulling Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu inside for a drink of water, but they refused.
Zhao Jun chopped off a large thigh from the Black Bear, leaving it for Zhang Lifu along with the Bear’s Paw, before getting back in the truck and driving away.
The truck pulled up to Zhao Jun’s house. Just as Zhao Jun was getting out of the passenger seat, he saw Liu Tiezui walking out of his family’s home.
"Oh, Aunt Liu."
"Jun!" Liu Tiezui wasn’t very steady on her feet and came out with Wang Meilan supporting her. When she saw Zhao Jun, she beamed. "Aunt Liu is here with good news for you! Nine in the morning, the day after tomorrow. Dress sharp, we’re going to meet your match."
"Alright, you got it." Zhao Jun smiled and made way for Liu Tiezui. She waved to Wang Meilan, saying, "No need to see me out, no need. I’ll be back first thing in the morning the day after tomorrow."
Just then, Li Baoyu came around from the front of the truck and sidled up to Zhao Jun, grinning. "Brother, your marriage is all set!"
"You rascal." Wang Meilan turned back and smiled at Li Baoyu. "You’re already nineteen. You should be looking for a match, too."
"Me?" Li Baoyu laughed at her words. "Auntie, I’m not in a hurry."
"Don’t say you’re not in a hurry." Wang Meilan grabbed Li Baoyu by the wrist and said, "What do you think of that Liu Mei from the Liu Family?"
"Who?"
"Who?"
Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu cried out in unison, both staring at Wang Meilan in utter shock.
Seeing how surprised the two boys were, Wang Meilan paused and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Zhao Jun sensed something was off and quickly asked Wang Meilan, "Which Liu Mei?"
"The one at the east end of the village..." Wang Meilan raised a hand, gesturing eastward.
Now, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu were certain. The Liu Mei that Wang Meilan was talking about was the very same girl Zhang Laibao was infatuated with.
Because Zhang Laibao had done something bad—misdirecting Jie Zhong—he had gotten a bad reputation in the village, and Liu Mei had broken off contact with him.
’Others didn’t know, but Zhao Jun did. In his past life, this Liu Mei had actually married Zhang Laibao. But that man was so terrible that he drove Liu Mei to despair, and she eventually hanged herself.’
’The girl was kind-hearted by nature; marrying Zhang Laibao would have been a complete waste. And as for Li Baoyu...’
’The wife he married in their past life was the perfect example of that old saying: an unworthy wife can ruin three generations. She didn’t respect her in-laws, she couldn’t raise her children properly, she constantly fought with her husband, and she funneled all their money to her own family.’
At this thought, Zhao Jun called out from a distance, "Aunt Liu! Aunt Liu!"
Liu Tiezui’s legs were weak, and she had only made it about a hundred meters. Hearing Zhao Jun call, she turned and shouted back, "What is it?"
Zhao Jun raised a hand and yelled, "I’ve got another Black Bear’s paw for you!"
"Oh, my heavens, that’s wonderful!" Hearing this, Liu Tiezui immediately turned and hurried back.
This sudden turn of events left both Wang Meilan and Li Baoyu stunned. Wang Meilan grabbed Zhao Jun and asked, "Why are you giving her another one?"
"Mom!" Zhao Jun said to Wang Meilan. "When Liu Tiezui gets back, let’s have a good talk with her. Ask her about Liu Mei."
"You silly boy!" Upon hearing this, Wang Meilan gave Zhao Jun a light smack on the back and said crossly, "Your father only mentioned this last night! I haven’t even spoken to your uncle and aunt about it yet."
With Wang Meilan’s explanation, everything became clear. Zhao Youcai and Zhang Zhanshan were arch-rivals. The fact that Zhang Zhanshan’s son had his potential match fall through was enough to make Zhao Youcai wake up laughing from his dreams.
If things hadn’t already progressed so far with Zhao Jun and Ma Ling, Zhao Youcai would have wanted Zhao Jun himself to marry Liu Mei.
That would have been enough to anger Zhang Zhanshan to death!
Now that Zhao Jun couldn’t marry her, he could have Li Baoyu do it. If Li Baoyu married Liu Mei, it would still be enough to anger Zhang Zhanshan half to death!
Besides, that Liu Mei was only seventeen, pretty, and came from a respectable family.
That was why Zhao Youcai had told Wang Meilan to find some time today to mention this to Jin Xiaomei.
But the morning had been busy with chores. Wang Meilan had just finished tidying up the house when Liu Tiezui arrived, so she hadn’t had a chance to talk to Jin Xiaomei yet.
Marriage was a major affair that had to be decided by the parents. For Wang Meilan and Zhao Jun to decide on Li Baoyu’s behalf would be completely improper, no matter how close their families were.
"It’s fine, it’s fine." Zhao Jun smiled. "I’ll just ask Aunt Liu what Liu Mei’s situation is now." Turning to Li Baoyu, he asked, "Baoyu, so what do you think of that Liu Mei?"
"What do you mean, ’what do I think’..." The towering, six-foot-three Li Baoyu, with his broad shoulders and thick waist, was actually blushing. Zhao Jun wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.
"Jun!" Just then, Liu Tiezui drew near. When she was still about two meters away, she called out, "You killed another Black Bear?"
"Yup!" Zhao Jun replied with a smile. "Of course. I was so happy hearing your good news earlier that I forgot. The moment I remembered, I had to call you back."
"Such a good boy!" Liu Tiezui pointed a finger at Zhao Jun and chuckled. "No wonder everyone says you’re so righteous."
Zhao Jun gave a small laugh but didn’t reply. Instead, he waved Li Baoyu over. "Baoyu, hurry up and get the Black Bear down."
"Right, right." Li Baoyu answered twice and went around to the back of the truck.
At that moment, Zhao Jun pointed at Li Baoyu and said to Liu Tiezui, "Aunt Liu, my buddy here is really doing well for himself now. He’s even secured a permanent position on the Forest Farm’s motor pool."
"Is that so?" Liu Tiezui looked at the burly Li Baoyu and smiled. "Such a big, tall boy, that’s great. After your auntie’s done with your business, I’ll find someone for him, too."
This was purely a matchmaker’s occupational habit. Besides, there were perks to arranging matches—not to mention the food and drink, there was always a red envelope of cash at the end.
But what Liu Tiezui didn’t expect was that the moment the words left her mouth, Zhao Jun shouted to Li Baoyu, "Baoyu, get over here!"
"What for?"
"Get over here!" Zhao Jun shouted. "Aunt Liu says she wants to introduce you to someone."
"What?" Liu Tiezui was taken aback. ’She had just been making a polite remark. How did this Zhao kid grab onto that and run with it? And so fast, too.’
"Introduce me to who?" Li Baoyu walked a full circle around the truck before finally heading back toward Zhao Jun and the others, muttering as he went, "How old am I even? Already starting with matchmaking..."
Though he said this, his voice grew quieter and quieter.
However, Zhao Jun, Wang Meilan, and Liu Tiezui all heard him clearly. Liu Tiezui and Wang Meilan exchanged a look. They both understood: Li Baoyu wanted to be set up. And while Liu Tiezui didn’t know the specifics, Wang Meilan did. She knew that Li Baoyu had probably taken a genuine liking to Liu Mei!
Thinking of this, Wang Meilan glanced at the grinning Zhao Jun and thought, ’This boy. No wonder his father says he has a thousand tricks up his sleeve.’