Wang Huilan nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She knew that the servant had a respectful look on his face. He was most likely going to discuss the marriage.

He had gotten to know Liu Zijin for the past few days. Liu Zijin treated her gently and politely. He had also clearly said that he had a motive. It would be a lie to say he liked her very much, but he was willing to spend time with her.

This was something that Wang Huilan liked very much. Perhaps if they interacted with each other day after day, she and Liu Zijin could last for a long time.

Looking at Liu Zijin’s words, Wang Huilan pursed her lips. She asked the servant girl to put away the words.

She was in no mood to write now, so she returned to her yard to wait for news.

Liu Zijin came to the main hall and cupped his hands when he saw County Magistrate Wang. “Your Excellency.”

County Magistrate Wang looked at Liu Zijin. He was neither servile nor overbearing, and his temperament was extraordinary. It made County Magistrate Wang a little worried. He did not know if this was a good or bad thing.

But in the end, he decided to let Liu Zijin stay. Even if it was someone else, his daughter, Wang Huilan, would be hurt.

“Zijin, the results are out. Congratulations, you’re ranked second.”

County Magistrate Wang looked at Liu Zijin and spoke.

Liu Zijin looked at County Magistrate Wang and asked gently, “Is Number One someone called Su Hua?”

County Magistrate Wang nodded. “Yes, why? Do you know him?”

Liu Zijin nodded. “Yes, he’s my good friend.”

County Magistrate Wang was shocked. Looking at Liu Zijin like this, he could not underestimate him. County Magistrate Wang was puzzled, but he did not want to hide it. Anyway, Liu Zijin had already confessed, so County Magistrate Wang asked directly, “Zijin, have you changed your mind? With your talent, you will definitely have a place in the imperial examination in three years.”

Therefore, Liu Zijin didn’t need to do anything unnecessary like this.

Liu Zijin smiled bitterly and said, “My lord, perhaps I might really be able to achieve something in a few years, but my mother might not be able to wait until then. Sometimes, it’s not necessarily a good thing to look far ahead. What I care about the most is the present.”

Being the Wang family’s live-in son-in-law might be a momentary humiliation, but as long as his mother lived well, it would be fine.

Without a good body, there was no chance of enjoying the glory of the future.

He needed a lot of money to nourish his mother’s body. This was not a small sum. Being a live-in son-in-law was actually a win-win situation. Because he was weak now, it did not matter if he suffered some losses.

When he became more powerful in the future, the Wang family would naturally give in to him.

Seeing how honest Liu Zijin was, County Magistrate Wang asked again, “So you haven’t changed your mind yet?”

Liu Zijin nodded firmly. “My intentions haven’t changed.”

County Magistrate Wang looked at Liu Zijin. He softened his tone and said, “Alright, you and Huilan will get married on the seventh day of the seventh month. I’ll order people to prepare for the marriage. You have good friends here, so tell them to come to the wedding banquet. I don’t care what tricks you play. Before you make a name for yourself, my daughter, Huilan, is your wife. I hope she has all the rights of a wife.”

“Of course. I’ll also educate her on how to be a good wife.”

County Magistrate Wang did not want his daughter’s marriage to be hidden.

In the future, when Liu Zijin made something of himself, no matter what, it would not change the fact that he was once the son-in-law of the Wang family.

Liu Zijin nodded. “Okay, I’ll ask them now if they’re willing to come for a drink.”

If they were willing to come, then he was happy too.

If they were unwilling to come, he wouldn’t force them.

County Magistrate Wang nodded. “Alright, go ahead.”

To prevent Liu Zijin from doing anything cheap, he had to deliver the wedding invitation himself.

Liu Zijin cupped his hands and left.

He returned to the courtyard. Wang Huilan had already returned to her own courtyard. Liu Zijin instructed the servant who took care of him before leaving.

The servant came to Wang Huilan’s courtyard and reported the matter to her.

He then retreated.

The servant girl smiled and said to Wang Huilan, “Miss, master told you everything. This means that the master really cares about you and respects you.”

Wang Huilan was also happy. “That’s true. He’s a good person.”

The servant girl massaged Wang Huilan’s shoulders and said, “Miss, don’t think too much. I think he has a good character. In time, he will definitely put aside appearances and fall in love with a gentle, polite, and kind lady. You will definitely have many children and grandchildren and grow old together.”

Wang Huilan pondered and whispered, “I hope so…”

It would naturally be best if they could live like this until they were old. If they could not, it would be fate.

The Wang family had given Liu Zijin what he wanted, and Liu Zijin had repaid them. If they really separated in the end, they did not owe each other anything. No matter what, it was a good arrangement.

—-

Liu Zijin rushed to the inn, afraid that Su Chong and the others had already left.

At first, he didn’t want them to know about it.

However, after spending the past few days with Wang Huilan, he did not dislike her. Since he had decided to marry her, he treated her sincerely. Wang Huilan had given him what he wanted, so he should let everyone know that Wang Huilan was his wife.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

It was Su Xiaolu who opened the door.

Seeing Su Xiaolu, Liu Zijin was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses.

Su Xiaolu only smiled faintly and turned to enter the inn.

Su Chong had already come out to talk to Liu Zijin. “Zijin, where have you been for the past few days? You haven’t been back for the past few days. I thought that you should go back after the rankings were released, so I waited for you.”

In the last exam, Liu Zijin only appeared when the rankings were released and it was time to go home. Su Chong thought that it would be the same as last time, so he did not ask.

Liu Zijin looked at Su Chong. He smiled slightly, took a deep breath, and said, “Su Chong, I’m getting married on the seventh of July. Please stay for two more days and attend my wedding with Brother Su Hua and Brother Zhou Heng.”

“What? You’re getting married??”

Su Chong was shocked. This, this was too sudden.

After only disappearing for a few days, he was actually getting married.

When Su Hua and Zhou Heng came out, they were also stunned.

However, after thinking about it carefully, they knew what was going on, so they did not lose their composure.

Su Hua asked calmly, “Who’s the lady?”

Liu Zijin looked away and said indifferently, “It’s the daughter of County Magistrate Wang, Wang Huilan. I’ve been in the county magistrate’s residence for the past few days.”

“Zijin, you, were you threatened??”

Su Chong frowned, still in disbelief.

The banquet he attended a few days ago was hosted by County Magistrate Wang.

Many people whispered that County Magistrate Wang wanted to find a son-in-law. When it came to Wang Huilan, everyone looked at her with disdain. She was as fat as a pig and did not look good at all. As scholars, marrying such a woman was simply an insult to their ancestors.

However, County Magistrate Wang’s standards were high. He looked down on uncultured people.

However, who would be interested in a woman like Wang Huilan if they had knowledge and ambition? If they endured a little longer and participated in the imperial examination in the capital, wouldn’t it be better to be selected by the capital?