Chapter 65: Embroidered Ball Chooses Son-in-law

  Yang Zhong, although Chen Shi's master, was actually only a few years older than Chen Shi. He looked mature and steady, with great dignity. In a low voice, he asked: "Have you gone to Yancui An again?"

  Chen was so frightened that he did not dare to answer.

  Yang Zhongdao said, "I didn't mean to criticize you, on the contrary, I highly appreciate your approach. My sister has been resentful of Miss Li because of Master Hu's sudden passing and has been making things difficult for her. I've also tried to help my sister, but as you know, the more we treat Miss Li with kindness, the more my sister becomes hostile towards her. I don't want to hurt my sister either, she's really suffering, but at the same time, I don't want her to hurt Miss Li. Now that you're able to secretly help her and let her feel the warmth of the world, I'm delighted."

  Chen Shi was overjoyed and hastily knelt down to kowtow: "Thank you, Master."

  Yang Zhongdao said: "I know you like Lijing very much, but I'm a bit worried that I'm not good enough for her. So, I thought of a good way, which is to suggest that my sister hold a blind date party for Miss Lijing, and you can be sure to win!"

  Chen Shi knelt down and kowtowed, Master's kindness was like rebirth. He worried that this would happen, but Master helped him sweep away the obstacles. Hu Yang would not dare to interfere under her brother's authority. If he let Miss Lijing choose for herself, his chances of winning would be greater. He said: "Disciple thanks Master."

  "Please rise. Since that's the case, I'll take you back to the Hu family estate tomorrow. Lijing has already been brought back to the Hu family estate because she's reached marriageable age this year and there are many people coming to propose to her. Tomorrow is the matchmaking meeting where Xiuball will be choosing a suitor, and I need to go back to preside over it. You can wait below to receive Xiuball, I believe Miss Lijing will choose you."

  The next day, the streets were packed with people. Many flocked to the city center where a colorful pavilion was set up, and the seats were filled with distinguished guests who all came to catch a glimpse of Miss Hu Lijiang's elegance. Yang Zhong and Madame Hu sat on one side of the viewing platform, while Miss Hu Lijiang, dressed to the nines, sat high above, looking down at the sea of people below. Chen Shi was squeezed in at the front, wearing a white outfit that made him stand out in the crowd as he continuously waved at Miss Hu Lijiang. Miss Hu Lijiang's heart was also racing with excitement as she looked at Chen Shi, thinking to herself that Brother Yang Zhong had indeed helped her, and rumor had it that he even planned to adopt Chen Shi as his own son so that he could be a suitable match for her.

  Colorful flags fluttering, the red sun high in the air, the crowd is excited, shouting "Choose me! Choose me!" Even many officials' sons are squeezed among them, all hoping to be chosen. Looking at the time, it's already 9 o'clock, Yang Zhong walks up to the platform and loudly announces: "Thank you everyone for your love and support for our Miss Hu, traveling from afar to Lingbo, today's matchmaking meeting, regardless of wealth or status, as long as you truly like my daughter Lijiang, you can become a son-in-law of the Hu family. Now I declare, the matchmaking meeting begins!"

  Huli Jing held the embroidered ball and watched as Chen Shi's head pushed through the crowd, finally squeezing to the front. She hastily threw out her own embroidered ball, Chen Shi caught it in his hand, becoming so emotional that tears streamed down his face.

  A long-cherished wish has finally come true.

  He tightly hugged the embroidered ball, no matter how everyone snatched it, he refused to let go. Yang Zhong was also very happy, this child had finally achieved his own wish, and Li Jing had found a good home, from now on, she could live a happy life without being bullied by her sister again, so he would be able to make up for the early death of his brother-in-law Hu Libing. He looked at his sister, Hu Yang's face was filled with an unusual smile, seemingly very happy that her younger sister had found a good home. Yang Zhong became suspicious and asked: "Now that the embroidered ball is in the hands of this white-clothed young man, should we ask him what his surname and name are, and where he lives?"

  Hu Yang said, "Don't rush, take another look, is there any change?" Looking at her confident appearance, Yang Zhong secretly thought it was not good, his own sister had a city in her chest, had she made some move? Just thinking about this, the audience below suddenly ***, he stood up to look around, Chen Shi had already fallen into a pool of blood, and the embroidered ball had landed in the hands of a beggar. Yang Zhong flew down from the platform, people saw what happened and hastily retreated, leaving only the unconscious Chen Shi and the beggar holding the embroidered ball on the scene.

  Yang Zhong hastily ordered his family members to carry Chen Shi back to the Hu residence. The beggar also turned around and was about to leave, when Hu Yangshi shouted loudly from the stage: "The strong man with the embroidered ball, slow down! You are our Hu family's dragon-riding son-in-law!" Then she ordered the servants to bring the beggar back to the mansion and treat him well.

  Huli Jing saw everything on the stage. Just now, Chen Shi had already taken the embroidered ball in his hand, but suddenly a few big men rushed in and forcibly snatched the embroidered ball from Chen Shi's hand. Chen Shi insisted on not giving up, and after a fight, Chen Shi fell into a pool of blood. The crowd dispersed, leaving only this dirty beggar behind.

  This is a premeditated move, except that the sister-in-law doesn't do what others think. The sister-in-law still hates herself so much, she really doesn't want to be happy. So if she marries Chen Shi, Chen Shi's disaster will not stop at this, and there may even be concerns about his life. Forget it, a plan has been decided in her heart, since the sister-in-law is willing for her to marry a beggar, willing for her to have no fixed abode, then let her have her way, if this can calm down her anger towards herself.

  Back at the Hu mansion, Yang Zhong hastily invited the best doctor to treat Chen Shi. After examining his injuries, they found that they were not too severe, just some superficial wounds. Hu Li Jing's heart finally put down its guard and she left Chen Shi's side to follow Yang Zhong into the main hall.

  Huyang smiled all over his face and said to Huli Jing: "Sister, congratulations! Now you're embroidering a ball to attract a suitor, and you've attracted such a wonderful son-in-law. Looking at that beggar, this good son-in-law doesn't seem to care about this matter at all, and is now attacking the fruit he brought, it seems like he hasn't eaten for many days."

  Before Hu Lijiang could speak, Yang Zhong couldn't hold back his inner anger and spoke first: "Sister, you're wrong. The one who should be the son-in-law of the Hu family is Chen Shi. He was the first to receive the embroidered ball, but it was snatched away from him and ended up in the hands of a beggar."

  "Hey, brother, you said during the matchmaking meeting that we should follow fate and let me marry blindly. But behind my back, you're secretly manipulating things by getting Chen Shi to come and match with Xiu'er. Don't think I don't know - Chen Shi has been in a relationship with my younger sister for a long time. Now that everything is settled, the embroidered ball is already in the beggar's hands. You said at the matchmaking meeting that you wouldn't ask about wealth or status, but now that you see he's a beggar, are you going to go back on your word?"

  Yang Zhong was speechless for a moment, it seemed that his precious little sister was indeed worthy of reevaluation. He could only pin his hopes on Hu Lijiang making her own choice, if she insisted on Chen Shi, after all Chen Shi was the first to catch the embroidered ball, and only lost it due to an accident.

  Huli Jing smiled slightly at Yang Zhong: "Thank you, Brother Zhong, for thinking of me, but I want to choose the beggar. I'm willing to roam the world with him."

  Yang Zhong was taken aback by her words, but immediately understood. He looked at his sister with a scolding expression and said, "What are you doing?"

  Huyang pretended not to see her brother's reproachful gaze and forced a smile: "Since my sister has already made up her mind, I wonder when she plans to hold the wedding?"

  "Hu Lijiang said: 'It's all up to Sister-in-law's arrangement.'"

  "Let's get married tonight!" Hu Yang ordered the servants to prepare for the wedding, but in fact, there was nothing much to prepare, as she had already made up her mind from the start. Once she chose someone, they would get married immediately and send the young girl away right after.

  Evening.

  The Hu family's lanterns are shining brightly. Miss Hu's wedding banquet is being held on a grand scale, with many distinguished guests in attendance. Relatives and friends of the Hu family, as well as merchants and officials, have all come to celebrate.

  The wealth of the Hu family dominated Jiangnan and was unmatched in the region. Under Yang Zhong's management, the Hu family's wealth rivaled that of princes and nobles.

  Miss Hu's hair was high and elegant, her clothes were beautiful and luxurious, with a red veil on top of her head, she walked out of the back hall with a gentle and graceful manner. Then, looking at the beggar who had been summoned by the embroidered ball, after washing away the dirt from his body and face, he appeared in a bright and clean state. This person was tall and majestic, with a dignified and solemn appearance, carrying an air of inviolability. It was completely impossible to tell that he was a beggar.

  Everyone applauded and cheered, a perfect match between a talented man and a beautiful woman, truly a great couple.

  Yang Zhong looked at them and actually felt that the two people were really well-matched. The groom was even more majestic than Chen Shi, and could match up to Miss Lijiang. Miss Lijiang had always been calm and composed, never showing her emotions. This person was also calm and composed, seemingly unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him.

  Yang Zhong and Hu Yang sat in the high hall, accepting the bows of the groom and bride. Unexpectedly, a strange thing happened again, after bowing to heaven and earth, the groom refused to kneel down and thank Yang Zhong and Hu Yang.

  Yang Zhong only said that the groom's behavior towards his sister was unbearable, and advised: "Younger brother, forgive me for speaking bluntly. Our younger sister Li Jing was rescued from under the horse carriage by her older brother Hu Li Bing. You should be grateful to him instead."

  Hu Lijiang covered her head, unclear about the situation, and listened to Yang Zhong's words. She realized that it was the groom who refused to pay respects to her brother and sister-in-law. Therefore, she asked: "Husband, if you didn't want to marry me Hu Lijiang, you should not have accepted the embroidered ball at the time. Now that you've already accepted the colorful ball, yet refuse to pay respects to my relatives, what do you mean by this? Don't you know human etiquette?" As she spoke, she pulled down her veil and gazed at the groom, her eyes no longer gentle as usual, but instead radiating a heroic aura.

  The groom looked at Hulijiang, he had never taken a good look at this girl before. In his opinion, she was just a weak and lonely girl who allowed her sister-in-law to bully her. Her sister-in-law told her to marry him, a beggar, and she did, without any objection, with no will of her own, only possessing a delicate appearance. But now, this action had suddenly touched his heart, she was indeed a clever and kind-hearted girl, whose potential should not be underestimated.

  Yi said: "I will kowtow to Heaven and Earth, my parents, and others; I fear that no one can withstand this one kowtow of mine."

  Hu Lijiang let out a cold laugh: "No matter how high and mighty you think you are, I'll tell you this - even if you were the crown prince today and married me, Hu Lijiang, you'd still have to kneel down and pay respects to my elder brother and sister-in-law, because that's the greatest moral obligation!"

  The groom was taken aback and looked suspicious. "Could she have seen through his identity?" Just as he was hesitating, someone suddenly burst in.