Mrs. Lin looked at Nuo Xiaoxi as if she was looking at her daughter-in-law, kept serving her food, and urged her to eat more without being shy. She even mentioned that they would be one family in the future. This baffled Lin Chuan. It was understandable to urge someone to eat more and not be shy, but what did she mean by saying they would be one family in the future? How should he interpret that? Was it because they were originally colleagues in the same factory, and now he had helped the Nuo family, so the two families had gotten closer?

After dinner, Mrs. Lin instructed, "Chuan, you take Xiaoxi home, it's getting dark."

"Oh," Lin Chuan nodded.

"Auntie, I can go back by myself. No need to trouble Brother Lin," Nuo Xiaoxi hurriedly said.

"Silly girl, it's dark and the road is bad, how can I be at ease?" Mrs. Lin smiled. "Your home is still so far away, so let Lin Chuan take you."

This time, Nuo Xiaoxi did not refuse.

Lin Chuan put on a coat and then led Nuo Xiaoxi outside.

It was quite dark outside, and they passed by the factory gate. Zhou Kai was still busy fixing a Beijing jeep, and Lin Chuan hoped he would fix it soon to spare him the daily commute on foot. This Beijing jeep used low-grade gasoline, which was cheap, and most importantly, it had a small displacement so the fuel consumption should be low.

Lu Dapao was urinating at the factory gate. After shaking off, he turned his head and saw Lin Chuan and Nuo Xiaoxi walking side by side. He immediately teased, "Brother Chuan is on a date?"

"Fuck off," Lin Chuan cursed with a cigarette in his mouth.

Lu Dapao disappeared into the factory in a whiff and shouted loudly, "Guys, come take a look, Brother Chuan is in love."

"Damn, which girl is it?"

"Who is it?"

A crowd of people rushed out of the factory. Zhou Kai, the fool, even more audacious, directly shone a flashlight at Lin Chuan, shouting, "Yo, isn't that the little girl from the Nuo family? Chuan, robbing the cradle? Nice."

"Fuck off," Lin Chuan shouted loudly.

"Hahaha…" The group laughed unrestrainedly, even whistling lewdly.

Nuo Xiaoxi's face turned red with embarrassment, she was almost unable to lift her head, her heart panicked like a flustered deer, but fortunately, it was quite dark, so Brother Lin probably couldn't see her blush. Nuo Xiaoxi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Xiaoxi, why is your face so red?" Lin Chuan curiously asked.

"Ah? No, it's not," Nuo Xiaoxi quickly shook her head, saying, "Brother Lin, I... I'm not blushing."

"Still saying no." Lin Chuan laughed. "Don't mind them, these little rascals are just loafing around after eating. I'll deal with them later."

"Brother Lin, you... don't, they didn't mean it," Nuo Xiaoxi hurriedly said.

"Xiaoxi is always so kind-hearted," Lin Chuan stayed puffing on his cigarette.

In the darkness, the silhouettes of the two gradually disappeared. Lin Chuan took Nuo Xiaoxi home and then returned.

However, after returning home, Lin Chuan found his mother beaming and bustling about. Occasionally, she'd sit on the sofa and sneakily chuckle. This puzzled Lin Chuan, and he curiously asked, "Mom, why are you laughing all by yourself?"

"Chuan, come here," Mrs. Lin beckoned Lin Chuan over.

Lin Chuan hurried over and sat across from Mrs. Lin, smiling, "Mom, what... what did you need?"

"Chuan, you're an adult now," Mrs. Lin said sentimentally. "Xiaoxi might be young, but she's sensible. This afternoon, Xiaoxi's mom came by and talked about a lot. She took the initiative to propose Xiaoxi as a daughter-in-law for me. At first, I disagreed, but later on, I thought about it and felt that Xiaoxi's mom was right. Xiaoxi isn't too young anymore; in three years, she'll be twenty, which is the legal age for marriage. Moreover, at this age, bearing children wouldn't be a problem…"

"Mom, what are you talking about?!" Lin Chuan was immensely shocked.

"Didn't you understand?" Mrs. Lin smiled and said, "Starting now, Xiaoxi is our Lin family's daughter-in-law."

"Ah?!" Lin Chuan's mouth gaped open: "How can that be, she... she's still just a small girl."

"Not so small," Mrs. Lin smiled. "She's seventeen already. Three years from now, she can get married; the moment she graduates from college, I'll arrange your wedding right away. Of course, young people these days are open-minded, if you want to have children earlier, I have no objections..."

With that, Mrs. Lin laughed heartily. Lin Chuan helplessly responded, "No, how could I take advantage of someone?"

"Silly boy, I know what you've been up to," Mrs. Lin chuckled. "It's not taking advantage, I've also asked Nuo Xiaoxi."

"What did she say?" Lin Chuan asked, puzzled.

"She agreed, and is willing to marry you." Mrs. Lin's smile was radiant. Although Nuo Xiaoxi is still young, she is obedient, sensible, and well-behaved. Today, being a school holiday, she ran around busy with chores all day for me. Where else can you find such an obedient and sensible girl?"

Mrs. Lin understands the way of the world. Given Lin Chuan's circumstances and background, without money or influence, it's hard to find an attractive wife. Now that such a beautiful girl is willing, what reason does she have to refuse? Mrs. Lin smiled and said: "Chuanzi, I've already given our family's heirloom jade bracelet to Xiaoxi. From now on, she will officially become a daughter-in-law of the Lin family."

"Mom, aren't you being ridiculous?" Lin Chuan said helplessly: "Xiaoxi doesn't understand things now, but after she goes to college and experiences society, her world will broaden. Aren't you just tying her future up with a rope?"

"This is mutual love between man and mistress, voluntary from both sides, how am I tying her down?" Mrs. Lin frowned and said: "Xiaoxi is a sensible girl, I understand her. Of course, if she wants to call off the engagement later, she can. Right now, you two should talk things through and try for a child soon. Wouldn't that settle everything?"

Lin Chuan was somewhat helpless: "Mom, please don't meddle in my major life decisions."

"Chuanzi, I want to ask you, do you find Xiaoxi beautiful?" Mrs. Lin asked seriously.

"Beautiful, of course, beautiful." Lin Chuan nodded.

"Then why don't you like her?" Mrs. Lin asked again.

"I..." Lin Chuan was at a loss for words. Aren't all men weak when it comes to beautiful women? Lin Chuan forced a smile: "I just think Xiaoxi is too young."

"Not young anymore, she's already seventeen." Mrs. Lin smiled: "Aren't you only twenty-four? A seven-year difference is nothing."

Under his mother's persistent persuasion, Lin Chuan had to accept the reality. It seemed that both families had already discussed it, and basically, his opinions were not considered. He wondered what Xiaoxi was thinking, why would she want to marry him? Poor and without money, was she really moved by him? It's conceivable if that's the case.

Lin Chuan didn't want to think about it anymore. After all, Nuo Xiaoxi was still young. When she grows up, she will understand on her own. If by that time she still insists on marrying him, why wouldn't he be happy to? Of course, by then, he might already have a girlfriend.

He washed up and went to sleep, not wanting to worry about so many trivial matters. He still had to go to work the next day. He escaped a tricky situation at today's self-review meeting only because Tang Yumeng let him off the hook.

.........

Early the next morning.

Zhou Kai came knocking, and upon seeing Mrs. Lin answering the door, he quickly smiled and said: "Auntie, is Chuanzi brother here?"

"Is it Xiao Kai?" Mrs. Lin smiled: "Chuanzi hasn't gotten up yet, come in and sit for a while."

"Zhou Kai, are you looking for me?" Lin Chuan came out of the room, getting dressed.

"Chuanzi, the car is fixed." Zhou Kai excitedly looked at Lin Chuan.

"What car?" Lin Chuan was confused.

"The Beijing Jeep, the old factory director's car." Zhou Kai was almost jumping with excitement. This guy had been tinkering with the car for over a month, taking breaks and scouring various second-hand car markets for parts, which cost tens of thousands of yuan and consumed more than a month. Now, he finally got this broken car repaired, and Zhou Kai was unspeakably thrilled.

"Really?" Lin Chuan was overjoyed, saying: "Awesome, go ahead, I'll be right there."

Lin Chuan was delighted.

After a quick breakfast, Lin Chuan grabbed his coat and rushed out. Mrs. Lin chased after him: "Chuanzi, what are you up to?"

"Mom, it's nothing." Lin Chuan quickly reassured: "Just fixing up the old factory director's car, it might still be useful."

"You still have it, that's public property." Mrs. Lin anxiously said.

"What's the problem?" Lin Chuan laughed: "It's all scrapped cars no one wants, I just tinker with it and keep using it."

Seizing the moment while his mother wasn't paying attention, Lin Chuan ran out, Mrs. Lin said helplessly: "This child, always causing trouble."

Mrs. Lin is not a troublemaker, unless someone truly infringes on her interests, she would stand up, just like with the Changlin Community land. If the developers aren't willing to provide enough compensation, she is determined not to relocate. Who would want to move? Without money to buy a house, would she rely on renting outside?

Lin Chuan quickly ran to the factory.

By this time, the factory was crowded with people including Lu Dapao and Huang Bo, all eagerly anticipating. Seeing Lin Chuan arrive, Lu Dapao said excitedly: "Brother Lin, you finally made it."

"Where is the car?" Lin Chuan asked anxiously.

"Here." Zhou Kai stood behind the crowd, with a large piece of red cloth covering the car, but the two black wheels peeking out from under the red fabric indicated the car was hidden underneath. Zhou Kai smiled: "Brother Lin, come pull down this red silk, let's have a delivery ceremony for you."

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