Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 2234 - 8: Coming to Propose Marriage (Part 2)
"I heard you’re also in the selection for consort this time?"
Chen Leyao was taken aback, assuming he thought she was of the same character as Huo Haitang, so she quickly said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, we of the Chen family have not sought any..."
Halfway through, Chen Leyao couldn’t continue.
No help? But her mother had sought out Princess Pingxi and Lin Wei before!
Moreover, her brother was the prospective brother-in-law of Princess Pingxi, and the princess was the sworn sister of His Highness, the Crown Prince. With such twisted connections, who would believe the Chen family did not use the back door?
Zhao Hongde shook his head with a smile, obviously not wanting to entangle with her on this matter, and instead switched the topic to another matter.
"Three years ago, we met. You haven’t forgotten, have you?"
Met?
This time, Chen Leyao was genuinely confused and involuntarily raised her head to scrutinize Zhao Hongde’s face.
But she was very sure she had never met him!
No, to say she’d never met him was not entirely accurate. When she was trapped by the Wu Family, Lin Wei had taken her to Dong Tian to wait, just to see what the real Third Prince looked like.
In that regard, that should have been her only chance to meet Zhao Hongde.
But Zhao Hongde said they’d met, how could this be possible?
Could it be that he saw her that day too?
Zhao Hongde raised his hand and gently brushed her bangs, his eyes full of tenderness: "That night, in Dong Tian, that fleeting glimpse, your gentle and kind nature, had already touched my heart."
Although nearly three years had passed, Chen Leyao’s tolerant and generous demeanor towards the little girl who bumped into her still lingered vividly in his mind.
A kind woman is always the most beautiful, and will always have good fortune accompanying her.
This saying is indeed true.
Chu Wei Cloth Shop became an Imperial Merchant, and Chen Haigang was proud, but he still felt somewhat lacking in confidence when facing his son.
Especially Lady Jiang, whose face was full of embarrassment, even her smile seemed a bit stiff.
"Ruochu, if you have time, do come home often to visit!"
Chen Haigang was straightforward, unable to utter soft words.
Chen Ruochu, holding Lin Wei’s hand while receiving everyone’s congratulations, had a slight change in expression upon seeing his father arrive.
Liuzi and others immediately sensibly fell silent, retreating to the side to quietly watch the scene.
Seeing Chen Ruochu remain silent, Lin Wei gently tugged her sleeve, wanting to say something.
But before she could speak, Lady Jiang had already begun with an appeasing smile: "Indeed, Ruochu, it was all a misunderstanding back then. The Chen family’s doors are always open for you. Your father, he, he’s always been thinking of you, worried you wouldn’t live well, always sending people over secretly to check on you!"
Lady Jiang’s words were actually just off the cuff, meant to please both Chen Ruochu and Lin Wei.
Not knowing that this time she hit the nail on the head of Chen Haigang’s real feelings.
He only had one son in his life; when he was younger he didn’t think much of it, but as he got older, he became more concerned about his child.
Chen Leyao was always around, needing no extra worries, but this son had left the Chen family to start anew, how could he not be worried?
Not only did he regularly send people, but he also often quietly went to see his son personally. He even secretly introduced clients to his son!
All of this, he never mentioned to others, doing all the good deeds for his son quietly.
"Why are you talking about this! Go see where Yaoyao is, such a grown girl, and you’re not worried!"
Rebuked by her husband, Lady Jiang’s face couldn’t hold, and she immediately fell silent, her lips pursed.
However, she did not leave to look for Chen Leyao, as there were maids and servants accompanying her daughter, she wouldn’t be in danger.
Chen Ruochu glanced at his father, whose temples were greying, and his once-hard heart softened a bit.
"Father, take care of your health, I, I will visit you often when I have time."
The word "Father" brought Chen Haigang to tears instantly. Since he was willing to call him father, it meant he was willing to return to the Chen family.
Good, good, though knowing that his son’s heart knot had not yet been untied, as long as there was hope, it was enough!
Watching the blurry, tear-streaked back of his future father-in-law, Lin Wei couldn’t help but sigh in her heart.
When Chu Wei Cloth Shop just started out, no one could understand how difficult those days were. Without experience, without customers, the public only watched the son of the Chen family with suspicion, even disdain.
Chen Ruochu’s determination was such that even after eating hard bread for three days, he did not seek help from the Lin family.
Fortunately, they received their first business deal, followed by more business opportunities later.
With the help of these people, Chu Wei Cloth Shop’s business gradually improved, finally progressing step by step to its current state.
Although Chen Ruochu never mentioned why those early customers came to support their business, she knew that these partners were actually introduced by Chen Haigang.
If even she, an outsider, could see it, how could Chen Ruochu, his own son, not?
Chen Haigang may be excessively straightforward and inflexible, but his affectionate devotion to his son is without question.
The depth of fatherly love, though it lacks subtlety and tenderness, still offers warmth akin to a mountain’s weight.
Chen Leyao ultimately did not become the Crown Prince’s concubine, as her status as a merchant’s daughter still did not qualify her to be a concubine.
However, even as a Liang Di, with the Crown Prince’s affection for her, her life would surely be far better than a concubine’s.
As for Huo Haitang, she was eventually sent back to the Huo family on the same terms.
After understanding the reason, the Huo family was filled with ire and directed it all at the Chen family.
In their view, without that entanglement with Chen Leyao, the Crown Prince would not have discovered the Huo family’s shady dealings.
They even speculated these things were all part of the Chen family’s trap—their family took over the Imperial Merchant in business and seized the position of concubine in the palace, this had to be a prearranged plot!
Even though the Huo family’s grain business was thriving, Zhao Hongde had already hinted to Lin Yuan and Xia Zheng that taking over the Huo family’s grain business was only a matter of time.
For the Huo family, either they would wake up and change their ways, or they would blindly continue their path and be ultimately destroyed by Xia Zheng and Lin Yuan working together.
At present, it seemed that destruction was far more likely.
With everything finally settled, Lin Wei could finally rest properly.
Just as she was about to bring out her embroidery needle for some cleaning, a maid excitedly rushed in exclaiming, "Miss, Young Master Chen is here to propose!"
It wasn’t the first time Chen Ruochu had come to propose, no, to be exact, it wasn’t dozens of times, but it certainly was at least a dozen.
But every time Lady Liu couldn’t bear to see her daughter get married and turned him away with various excuses, she had nothing more to look forward to.
Lin Wei’s expression remained unchanged, continuing to gently wipe her embroidery needle with a soft cloth.
"He comes to propose every few days, what’s so special about it? Did he bring some weird betrothal gift this time?"
At least the betrothal gifts he brought each time could excite her and the maids for a while.
The maid giggled, "Not at all! I’m happy because Madam has agreed!"
What?!
Agreed?!
Lin Wei abruptly lifted her head, her face full of surprise, her mother had finally agreed?
