Faced with Zhang Yuanlin’s apology, Qin’s father and mother were the first to react.
Exchanging a glance, Qin’s father said with a gentle smile:
“Xiao Zhang, actually I think Shopkeeper Wang’s words were quite interesting. Looking at it this way, you two really do seem destined and well-matched.”
Qin’s mother added:
“That’s right, that’s right! A talented scholar and a beautiful lady—that’s an accurate description. Of course, we’re just joking, hahaha!”
Zhang Yuanlin maintained his polite smile. Good grief, so this is how jokes are made? Your daughter’s face is practically burning red!
However, this also meant his future parents-in-law were completely won over.
“Um, Brother Zhang, I’ve thought about it—this string of pearls is too valuable. You should take them back. After all… after all, we’re just friends…”
With her small face flushed red, Qin Huairu stepped forward and tried to hand the pearl necklace back to Zhang Yuanlin.
Hey, this girl is getting particular with words now? What, can’t accept gifts from friends? Does it have to be between boyfriend and girlfriend?
So she’s giving me an ultimatum?
Not bad, she’s quite clever. Seeing how quick-witted she is puts my mind at ease!
In the original story, Qin Huairu constantly came up with immoral schemes just to survive and feed her children.
She definitely had brains, but never used them properly—just petty cleverness that couldn’t stand up to proper scrutiny.
Now experiencing it firsthand, this nineteen-year-old Qin Huairu is not only fresh-faced, beautiful and innocent, but also possesses genuine intelligence and quick wit. She’s far from becoming that woman who would do anything wicked just for a bite to eat.
Hmm, with proper nurturing, she’ll definitely become a gentle and dignified virtuous wife and mother—perfect to be my Zhang family’s daughter-in-law!
“Sister Qin, what are you saying? People give you gifts mainly because you’re beautiful, because your beauty catches everyone’s eye. If it were someone else, there probably wouldn’t have been this misunderstanding. So you should keep it yourself!”
Praising her indirectly, Zhang Yuanlin declined without even reaching out.
Firstly, we’re going to be married in the future—what’s mine is mine, and what’s yours, including you yourself, will be mine too. Why stand on ceremony?
Secondly, this string of pearls doesn’t catch my eye, including that piece of jade. It’s not that these things are worthless, but having seen so many fine things, my standards have become higher.
Of course, it would be a pity to discard them, so let’s each keep what we have for now!
Qin Huairu blossomed like a peach flower at his praise.
“Brother Zhang, you really know how to sweet-talk!”
Then gathering her courage, she asked:
“Then does Brother Zhang also think I’m pretty?”
Zhang Yuanlin said with a serious expression:
“Of course. Walking with my dear sister makes me feel like I’ve become the center of attention on the whole street.”
Internally, Zhang Yuanlin was delighted. When the prey eagerly wants to become the hunter, his plan would be perfectly accomplished.
Hearing Zhang Yuanlin’s words, Qin Huairu continued boldly:
“I also enjoy shopping with Brother Zhang. Standing with Brother Zhang makes me feel like I’m the center of attention on the whole street too. Let’s walk together then!”
With her parents present, walking together wouldn’t invite gossip.
Zhang Yuanlin knew—Qin Huairu had completely fallen for him and wanted to talk more along the way.
That’s how people are—even the most aloof person becomes chatty when with someone they like, while the most lively person turns mute with those they don’t.
Zhang Yuanlin was precisely waiting for Qin Huairu to shift from passive to active, letting her believe she was in control of the situation while he continuously offered encouragement and support.
Only in this way could Qin Huairu enter the compound with enough confidence to carry out subsequent actions.
From start to finish, Zhang Yuanlin merely needed to play the role of prey while subtly guiding the other party.
He didn’t reject Qin Huairu’s suggestion, but there was one final thing Zhang Yuanlin needed to do.
Keep occupying their time!
The Qin family had promised the Jia Family to meet for lunch. If they still remembered the appointment, they should be leaving around now.
But if they chose to stay with Zhang Yuanlin, their subsequent time would be under his control.
After strolling around a bit longer, Zhang Yuanlin said:
“Uncle, aunt, and Sister Qin, since you rarely visit, there happens to be a hot pot restaurant just two streets away. I’m familiar with the owner there. If we walk over now, we’ll arrive right around lunchtime. Shall we have a meal together?”
Upon hearing about hot pot, both Qin’s father and Qin’s mother grew excited—they had never tried it before.
“Great, great! Let’s have a meal together!”
Qin Huairu also looked full of anticipation, unconsciously moving a bit closer to Zhang Yuanlin.
And so, the group wandered along the bustling streets.
During this time, Zhang Yuanlin took the Qin family to various shops, accumulating a heap of benefits along the way.
Since they were all old acquaintances who owed Zhang Yuanlin favors, each treated him with utmost courtesy.
Thanks to Zhang Yuanlin’s unparalleled skill in fixing just about anything, these small business owners with their old collections couldn’t afford to lose his goodwill.
So, upon learning that Zhang Yuanlin had brought friends, they eagerly went out of their way to be hospitable.
Zhang Yuanlin had always repaired things for others without charging money—because he didn’t need it. But helping others without taking payment meant accumulating favors, a practice as old as time.
Unable to pay him in cash, these shop owners could only think of ways to repay the debt. Since this was the first time Zhang Yuanlin had brought friends along, it was the perfect opportunity. As long as it wasn’t something they treasured too much, they’d happily give it away!
At this point, it didn’t matter whether Zhang Yuanlin accepted the gifts—as long as his friends did.
And so, the four of them strolled and collected gifts along the way. By the time they finished exploring the two streets, they were loaded with goods, having spent not a single cent.
From fun little trinkets and exquisite silk scarves to shiny leather shoes, items ranged from costing a couple of yuan to thirty or fifty.
In just two hours, not counting the string of pearls, the combined value of the Qin family’s acquisitions soared from mere cents to over a hundred yuan.
The depth of relationships varied. For instance, Shopkeeper Wang, whom Zhang Yuanlin had helped by repairing his father’s old pocket watch—coupled with some artful persuasion—had proactively offered luxury items.
As for the other shop owners, Zhang Yuanlin was merely paying a casual visit, chatting without any specific purpose. Since the gifts were given to others, such generosity was already quite considerate.
Of course, Zhang Yuanlin didn’t care for these items. Over the past two years, he had received no less than a hundred similarly valued gifts from dozens of shop owners across Sijiucheng, all stored away in the Still World.
“Uncle, aunt, Sister Qin, how did you find these two streets? Quite interesting, right?”
Standing at the street corner, Zhang Yuanlin asked with a cheerful smile.
See? This is the territory I’ve secured. I don’t even need to bring money when I come here to “restock”!
The Qin family, thrilled with their abundant haul, couldn’t stop grinning, praising the experience as fascinating and lauding Zhang Yuanlin for his remarkable capabilities.
After chatting for a while, Qin Huairu completely relaxed, her wide eyes darting around curiously before she started to turn left.
But Zhang Yuanlin made the first move, pointing straight ahead and saying:
“Sister Qin, it’s about time—let’s go eat first!”
Ahem, don’t go left—that area hasn’t been secured yet!
Qin’s father and mother, who had been feeling peckish, immediately chimed in:
“Yes, it’s time to eat. Huairu, let’s listen to Young Zhang!”
Since they had previously agreed on hot pot for lunch, Qin Huairu obediently nodded.
“Mmhmm, we’ll follow Brother Zhang’s lead!”
And so, under Zhang Yuanlin’s guidance, the four of them headed to the hot pot restaurant across the street.
As for the matchmaking meeting with the Jia Family… Heh, since when was that ever happening?
Zhang Yuanlin had prepared his interception plan from the very beginning, determined to carry the spirit of freeloading to its fullest extent.
From the evolution of hunter and prey to the progression from strangers to intimacy—everything unfolded as anticipated.
Perhaps Jia Dongxu could never have imagined that the seemingly ordinary Zhang Yuanlin was actually a high-level player.
Who had now intercepted his blind date.
Indeed, Zhang Yuanlin had been keeping track of every resident in the compound who eyed his property. He hadn’t acted earlier simply because the right opportunity hadn’t arisen.
Now that the chance was here, he would start with Jia Dongxu—the closest in age and the biggest threat to his property—launching a dimensional strike to crush them all underfoot and grind them into the dust!