Chapter 346 Prepared
Li Zhijun kept his doubts to himself, such words he could not discuss with outsiders, he could only ask his younger brother about the situation at the other estate when he saw him.
Li Zhihao did not know how his niece had managed it, he just saw when he opened the estate's warehouse, that empty large vat, was actually filled with aromatic spring water.
The rice piled in the warehouse had also decreased by half, this was the same in both warehouses he managed, and if it weren't for his niece giving him a heads up, he would have thought a major thief had struck.
Ye Jiaxing had entered Ye Manor to work with his partners a few years ago, and since he joined earlier than his friends, he naturally earned a higher salary.
He then became the leader of the group, just as the large iron factory was hiring, he thought that he could not keep working at the estate forever, and constantly being a farmer he definitely would not match up to another family's lady.
So, having made a decision with his family, he learned some skills and thus entered the factory assembly workshop to work, his other partners followed him to the new job as well.
Having worked all day yesterday and had an overnight shift, he only returned home in the morning, ate a bit of breakfast, and went straight to bed?
"Jiaxing, dinner's ready!" His mother, seeing her son so exhausted, did not disturb his sleep.
With the family's hard work over the years, and her son being sensible, they had added a new room to the house, which was also a matter to consider.
The intention was to make this room into his son's future marital room, just adding one room in the house's courtyard, and renovating the other rooms as well.
Ye Jiaxing washed his face and returned, seated himself, and began eating voraciously, indeed he was hungry, his mother's cooking had improved significantly, and both his parents also worked at Ye Manor.
In the evening when they returned, they would bring back some melon seedlings, the discarded or substandard melons and vegetables were given to these workers to take home and cook.
Tang Shunyan learned just last night that the wet nurse's family was going to the county tomorrow, he also prepared in the morning to go to the county together.
Zhong Xingwang also learned the news at the same time, how could he not accompany them?
"Jiaxing, that Ye Zhongting has already gotten engaged, you should settle down too, and find a suitable family,"
Ye Jiaxing's mother pleaded earnestly, and as a father, he also nodded in agreement, an eighteen or nineteen-year-old young man should indeed be starting a family.
Ye Jiaxing had not heard this for the first time while eating, as he grew older, he faced this matter of getting married and having children.
Some people even approached his parents, it was the girl's side that had asked the matchmaker, his parents were afraid to make the decision for him, when asking him:
"Dad, Mom, I'm still young, there's no rush!"
Ye Jiaxing's mother, like her son, once also had a small fantasy, if her son could become a rich man's son-in-law, how prestigious that would be!
However, this fantasy, after receiving the news yesterday, was about to be shattered, she was extremely anxious, rushed to the factory gate to find her son, but was blocked by his father, who said it was unsafe to disturb their son at work, as not focusing could be very dangerous!
Ye Jiaxing's mother was anxious about her son's safety at work, safety came first.
"Son, let's not dream anymore, wake up!"
Ye Jiaxing felt his mother's attitude was a bit different from before, stopped his eating motion, "Mom, what happened? Did another matchmaker approach you? Just reject them!"
Ye Jiaxing's father, who had been silent up until now, who had also once dreamed like his wife of becoming the father-in-law to a wealthy daughter, also could not help but sigh:
"Ah, my foolish son, your mother is also looking out for your good. Yesterday, someone proposed for the Hongji boss's eldest daughter, I heard they've already offered the betrothal gifts."
Ye Jiaxing stood up agitatedly, "Dad, Mom, the event that happened yesterday, why only tell me now?"
At that moment, his tail trembled with agitation, and his mournful eyes looked at his parents as tears fell from his heartbroken, pained eyes.
"Son, let's not think about it, shall we? Our social statuses are mismatched, it's destined that in this life we are inferiors," Ye Jiaxing's mother advised.
Ye Jiaxing shook his head, dispirited and dejected, he ran out of his house.
"Son, where are you going?" Ye Jiaxing's father and mother, both too anxious to eat, chased after their son's footsteps.
Ye Jiaxing merely ran a short distance and gazed at the Ye's Mansion from afar.
He didn't dare come closer, as the house always seemed so noble, making him feel unworthy to enter.
Something significant had occurred at the Ye's Mansion a few days earlier, known to everyone in the village, he dared not visit, only his parents went to see and gather information.
Ye Jiaxing had never imagined that this day would come so quickly, he was aware he wasn't worthy of that beautiful young lady.
And in that young lady's eyes, he could not see a look of affection for him.
Ye Jiaxing was still infatuated, ever since he had set his heart on this young lady, over the years, his brothers had started addressing her as sister-in-law, and he was pleased with this nickname.
Ye Jiaxing stood resolutely there, appearing so bleak in the night, and his parents felt very sorry to see him this way.
"What is love in the eyes of the world? These common folk don't know. Only those who have tasted it understand," they said.
Both parents were farmers, met by arranged marriage, had barely seen each other twice before coming together to live, bound merely by familial affection!
Ye Jiaxing seemed not to feel his parents' consolation and stood silently for a long time before going to look for Ye Zhongting and summoned a few brothers for a drink.
Ye Zhongting and the other mates already knew about the situation from family discussions, also learning about it only after the fact.
Now seeing Ye Jiaxing's distressed demeanor, they could only join him in drinking, understanding as men do.
Among these many friends, only Ye Zhongting was betrothed, but he too had only met the girl once and wasn't as deeply devoted as Ye Jiaxing.
"Brother, there are so many women in the world, and we brothers are so outstanding, we'll find a good partner!"
The other brothers also spoke up. They weren't betrothed yet either, their families wished them to be, but they felt freer being unwed.
Ye Jiaxing had no words, immersed in his own sorrow, perhaps he would never see her again?
Ye Jiaxing felt he might go mad if he didn't see this woman again, even if they couldn't be a couple, just seeing her from a distance, he was willing to do anything for her.
During the somber drinking, he thought a lot. The Hongji boss marrying off his daughter, wouldn't simply send her off without also buying some properties for her in Capital City or somewhere else.
Perhaps he should try to go to Capital City too, help manage someone else's properties, which would broaden his horizons and allow him to earn money. He felt his life experience was insufficient, not good enough, which was why the girl didn't fancy him.
"Right, I heard Steward Li prepared some grains, the day after tomorrow he's going to Capital City with Boss!"
One of the friends shared a bit of news, which was told to him by a family member working at the estate. This was supposed to be a secret not many were supposed to know.
Li Zhihao had specifically called this friend's family member to go to Shangjing, of course, they had to reassure their family and pack their bags.