Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 257 Promise
Zhao Zhen listened and nodded repeatedly, saying that Taoist Dong had a thorough understanding.

Taoist Dong smiled and said, "I have only lived longer and seen more. I will go back today and take out the thousand-year-old peach wood. I will carve the embryo of the magic tool today and choose a day to open the altar and perform the consecration ceremony so as not to delay the exorcism of the great official."

As he was about to leave, Taoist Dong said, "Don't worry, Taoist. In addition to telling you all this, I have another favor to ask of you."

"What's the matter, sir? Just speak up."

Zhao Zhen said, "Old Taoist priest, Hu Cheng from Hujiazhuang is my wife's brother. Sanniang is now married and is worried that there will be no female relatives to take care of him at home, so she asked me to find a marriage for Hu Cheng. I thought about it carefully and found two people in the county who are suitable. The first is Jin'er, the maid of Lin Jiaotou, and the second is the daughter of Liu Taigong from Taohuazhuang who moved here with her family some time ago."

"Sanniang likes the daughter of Mr. Liu, but I heard that Mr. Liu only has one daughter and wants to marry one to take care of her in her old age, but I'm afraid my father-in-law won't agree. I'd like you to be a matchmaker and go between the two families to see which one is more suitable."

Taoist Dong smiled after hearing this and said, "I am best at matchmaking. As for these two people, I have seen them in the Taoist temple. They are really good looking. But I am afraid that Jin'er is not suitable."

Zhao Zhen asked hurriedly: "Why is this?"

"I'm afraid Jin'er already has a lover."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "Old Taoist, please tell me about it. I will also take a look and see if we are a good match."

"It was none other than the head of the great official's farm, Bao Xu."

"What? How could Jin'er be interested in this inferior product?"

Taoist priest Dong waved the whisk in his hand and said, "The word 'fate' is the most wonderful thing. I have seen Miss Jin'er three times in the academy, and twice she was accompanied by this Captain Bao Xu."

Zhao Zhen said, "In this case, only the daughter of Mr. Liu is suitable. However, if she really marries into the family, it will be troublesome. I will go and see if I can help them get married."

"That's not difficult. My lord, please wait for my good news." After saying goodbye to Zhao Zhen, he went back to Lingguan Palace.

Zhao Zhen called Bao Xu over and looked him up and down. He was still a big man with double eyes, exposed wolf lips, a hideous face like the bottom of a pot, nine feet tall, and a dark body. How could Jin'er like him?

Bao Xu was frightened by Zhao Zhen's stare and asked, "Sir, why did you call me here?"

Zhao Zhen asked, "What's going on with Jin'er?"

Bao Xu blushed and said timidly, "Nothing serious, I just said a few extra words to you on weekdays."

Zhao Zhen laughed and said, "If you two are interested, how about I ask Taoist Dong to propose marriage for you? But she is just a maid, I'm afraid she is not worthy of you."

"Deserve it, deserve it..."

Seeing Zhao Zhen watching jokingly from the side, Bao Xu lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhao Zhen stopped teasing him and said, "Haha, since you are sincere, I will ask my wife to speak up for you. Let Coach Zhang adopt Jin'er as his adopted daughter, so that you will not be humiliated. I will get ready and wait to be a bridegroom."

"Thank you very much, sir, for your help."

"I'm waiting for my brother, there's no need to do this."

After sending Bao Xu to train the soldiers, Zhao Zhen hummed a little tune all the way back to his residence on the mountain. He saw Cheng Wan'er making clothes in the hall, and Hu Sanniang watching boredly.

When Cheng Wan'er saw this, she said, "Husband, what good thing must have happened to you that you are so happy?" Hu Sanniang also looked at Zhao Zhen curiously.

Zhao Zhen said, "Yesterday, Sanniang asked me to find a marriage for Hu Cheng. Today, I asked Taoist Master Dong to come to the farm. I just found out that Jin Er is already in love. Taoist Master Dong thinks that she can be married to Mr. Liu's daughter. He will give me the news in one or two days."

Cheng Wan'er said, "Who does Miss Jin'er like? I can't tell normally."

Zhao Zhen said, "It was none other than the village chief Bao Xu."

"Ah, how could it be him? These two don't seem to be a good match." Zhao Zhen said, "My lady is right. I was just asking you to go and ask Master Zhang to adopt Jin'er as his adopted daughter. Then they can be considered a good match."

Cheng Wan'er said, "What are you talking about, sir? I was talking about looks. Bao Xu is big and strong, how can he match Jin'er?"

Zhao Zhen took out Dong Laodao's words and said, "The word 'fate' is wonderful beyond words. Madam, just help me make this happen."

Cheng Wan'er stopped sewing and said, "This should be done as soon as possible. I will go to Instructor Lin's house right now. In terms of appearance and knowledge, Miss Jin'er is the most outstanding in the county. Her status is indeed inferior. If Instructor Zhang adopts her as his adopted daughter, she will be a perfect match for you, the county's head."

As he said this, he took Qingzhu and Danju with him, packed two plates of fruit, and went to Coach Lin's house to find Mrs. Lin.

Hu Sanniang asked, "My husband, didn't you say that Mr. Liu's family wanted to recruit a son-in-law?"

Zhao Zhen said, "Don't worry, Sanniang. Taoist Dong is very good at talking. Since he said there is good news, it must be true. I see Sanniang is bored, why don't you go out for a walk?"

Hu Sanniang said, "My husband, I can only ride a horse and use a sword, but I can't do this sewing and mending work." As she said this, she pushed the basket in front of her aside. Zhao Zhen took a glance and saw something embroidered randomly on the white silk, and the stitches were as sharp as a centipede.

Zhao Zhen said, "Since Sanniang loves martial arts, you can go to the training ground with me every day. The captains of the troops in various military camps have their own skills. Exercising with them every day can also improve your martial arts."

Hu Sanniang said, "My husband, I heard that Wu Sanniang, the wife of Luan Tingyu in the county, is also leading troops in the army. I also want to lead a team of soldiers so that I can make a living by doing daily training."

Zhao Zhen said, "Sanniang, Luan Tingyu and his wife are in the army together, and they can take care of each other. Why would you go to the army? If you really want to train soldiers, there are more than ten female soldiers in the county who have been on the battlefield and are good at horse fighting. They can charge into battle and break through the barriers to kill the enemy. These people are Wu Sanniang's sisters. Because it is inconvenient to be in the army, they are arranged in the silk shop in Xixi Village."

"I heard from Manager Wang Qiao that these people are hardworking, but unfortunately they are not good at women's work. How about I recruit them as farmhands? They won't be needed to do the cleaning work. From now on, they can practice martial arts with you, patrol the manor, and serve as guards when you go out on patrols and battles?"

Hu Sanniang smiled happily when she heard this. She stepped forward and hugged Zhao Zhen's arm, saying, "My husband, let's go to the silk shop now. I don't want to wait any longer."

Zhao Zhen heard this and said with a smile: "It's already noon, it won't be too late to go after lunch."

Upon hearing this, Hu Sanniang sighed and said to her maids Taozhi and Liuzhi, "Go check the kitchen. Is the food ready?"

The two looked at each other, and Taozhi said, "Madam, the eldest lady hasn't come back yet."

As he was talking, Qingzhu pushed the door open and came in. He bowed and said, "Master, Madam Lin asked you to stay in the mansion and let me come back to tell you. Please have dinner with Madam Sanniang. You don't have to wait for me."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Okay, you go and take care of my wife. After dinner, Sanniang and I will go to Xixi Village. Tell my wife not to worry."

Qingzhu responded, turned around and went out.

After dinner, under the constant urging of Hu Sanniang, Zhao Zhen packed up and the two of them rode to the silk shop.

After the greetings, Wang Qiao saw Zhao Zhen and Hu Sanniang together and asked, "Sir, do you want to make clothes for Miss Hu?"

Zhao Zhen said, "It's my fault. I forgot for a moment. Steward Wang, please measure Sanniang's size. As the weather warms up, please pick out some good fabrics for the ladies to choose from and make two new sets of clothes for each of them."

Wang Qiao responded, took out the tools, and personally measured the dimensions of Hu Sanniang and recorded them.

While measuring, he asked, "Since you are not here specifically to make clothes, what is your business?"

Zhao Zhen said, "I sent sixteen women to you earlier. I wanted them to learn some skills, but now it seems that I was wrong. These people have practiced martial arts since they were young and performed in the streets. It is too late for them to learn the skills of sewing. I will take them away today and let them practice martial arts with Sanniang."

Wang Qiao heard this and said, "Sir, these women never shirk their work. They rush to do the heavy lifting. They don't know how to use a small needle and thread. Now that they can hold swords and guns again, these sisters must be very happy."

"Please wait a moment, sir. I will go to the backyard to call them over." After saying this, Wang Qiao went to the back.

(End of this chapter)