Chapter 12: Liu Xin Plays Matchmaker

  Dian Wei thought to himself, "What's the big deal? I'm just a bit ugly. The tiger saw me and ran away, the villagers saw me and ran away, and now this pretty boy takes me for a bandit!" Dian Wei was furious, he swung his large iron halberd and shouted loudly: "Where did this little brat come from? Take a blow from my halberd!"

  That young man danced with a long spear, holding up an iron halberd, not fearing at all. Liu Xin knew that this young man was definitely Zhao Yun and wanted to see his martial arts skills, so he didn't stop him. Fan Jing, however, shouted loudly from the side: "Zhao Yun, my good nephew, don't move your hands yet! These two are kind people who came to help us put out the fire!"

  Dian Wei listened, jumped to one side, and still glared at Zhao Yun with anger. Liu Xin also couldn't pretend anymore, so he walked forward and said: "So Fan Liangzhang knows this person, then he must not be a bandit, everyone misunderstood, let's stop."

  Dian Wei listened to Liu Xin's words and put away his iron pike, saluting Zhao Yun with a bow: "Since you're not bandits, I won't fight you."

  Zhoa Yun also put away the bright silver spear, first helping the beautiful girl behind him down from the horse, and then dismounting himself. He said to Liu Xin and Dian Wei: "Just now, Zhao Yun saw a fire in the village and was momentarily anxious. If he has offended anyone, please forgive him."

  "Oh, you're Zhao Yun. I'm Liu Xin, the new magistrate of Hejian, and this is my guard Dian Wei." As Liu Xin introduced himself, he glanced at the girl behind Zhao Yun, thinking to himself that she must be Zhao Yu, and asked out loud, "I presume this young lady is your sister?"

  Zhao Yun saw Liu Xin and immediately asked about the girl beside him. He replied displeased: "I am an only child, I have no sisters."

  "This is young lady Fan Juan." Fan Jing beckoned to the girl and said: "Haven't you met Lord Liu yet?"

  The beautiful young girl took a step forward and reluctantly bowed to Liu Xin: "Min Nu has seen the adult."

  Liu Xin hastily paid his respects, and only then did he realize that she was the legendary Fan Shi who had grown up with Zhao Yun. Later, when Zhao Yun went to Gongsun Zan's place to join the army, her father, seeking power and wealth, married her off to Zhao Fan's older brother. When Liu Xin asked about his daughter, Fan Jing suddenly became very enthusiastic and insisted on inviting Liu Xin to sit at home for a while. Liu Xin looked at Zhao Yun and saw that he had suddenly changed color, so he smiled in his heart and said: "Thank you, Mr. Fan, for your kindness, but the village has just suffered from bandits, so it's more important to comfort the villagers first." He also said to Zhao Yun: "This young man is called Zhao Yun, I don't know where your family is, let me go with you to take a look and see if they have been affected by the bandits' disaster."

  Zhao Yun vigilantly looked at Liu Xin and said: "No need for you to worry, Zhao Yun is alone, with no family or property, I'm not afraid of any thieves."

  Liu Xin saw Zhao Yun's appearance of rejecting people from afar and secretly felt bitter. Fan Jing, you've really made me miserable! Zhao Yun now regards me as a romantic rival. It seems that I still have to start with Fan Juan. Unexpectedly, Zhao Yun was also an orphan, and Fan Jing was someone who looked down on the poor and loved the rich, so he naturally wouldn't be willing to marry his daughter off to him. Therefore, he turned to Fan Jing and said: "Fan village elder, since there's nothing good to worry about at Zhao Yun's house, I might as well go to your house for a visit."

  Fan Jingzheng was about to go and survey the villagers' losses, when he heard Liu Xin say that he wanted to take a look at his home. He was suddenly delighted and hastily pulled Fan Juan, saying to Liu Xin: "Sir, please follow me."

  Liu Xin didn't say another word and followed Fan Jing's father and daughter as they left. Dian Wei carried the pair of large iron halberds and led two horses to closely follow behind. Zhao Yun saw this and was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he picked up his spear and led his horse to follow along with them.

  Arriving at the Fan residence, they only saw that the large gate had fallen to one side, and some grain was scattered outside the door. Fortunately, there were no signs of fire damage. Fan Juan asked her father in surprise, "Father, has our home also been robbed?"

  Fan Jing sighed: "Alas, the group of people just now were like evil spirits, rushing in to grab food and leaving, fortunately they didn't set fire, it's already a blessing."

  "It's a pity," said Zhao Yun, taking up the conversation. "If I had been here just now, these robbers would not have dared to be so insolent."

  Fan Jing ignored him, his eyes darting towards Liu Xin, and said: "Daughter, the bandits have taken away all our grain, how are we going to get by? I don't know if we can even make it to next summer's harvest. Your father has no other hopes, just hoping you can marry into a rich family, maybe they can help support us."

  Liu Xin saw Fan Jing lead the topic to his daughter's death, and secretly smiled in his heart. He said, "Fan Li Chang, I'm not clear whether your local government is handling this matter or not, nor do I dare to ask. However, you don't have to worry, tomorrow you can bring some people to the Hejian Taishou's mansion, and I'll privately send some grain back with you first to alleviate the urgency."

  Zhao Yun angrily shouted from the side: "Fake benevolence and fake righteousness, who wants your stinky rations!"

  Fan Jing became unhappy and said: "Zhao Yun, Lord Liu is sending grain to me, what does it have to do with you? My family doesn't welcome you, get out!"

  "Father, why do you speak like this."

  Liu Xin chimed in from the side: "Fang Li Chang, girls are outgoing, I think Miss Fang has a crush on Zhao Yun Xiao Ge."

  Fan Jing hastily said: "Nothing's going on, nothing's going on. They're just kids, they often play together, don't misunderstand."

  Liu Xin burst out laughing and said, "Fan Li Chang, this is where you're wrong. I think the two of them are a perfect match, both talented and beautiful, and they seem to be meant for each other. Since I happened to run into them today, why don't I just act as their matchmaker?"

  Dian Wei, who had been silent all along, suddenly shouted: "Good, good, good! When there's a happy occasion to drink wine, be sure to bring me along!"

  Zhao Yun saw that the two of them were actually helping him speak, and only then did he realize that he had wrongly accused good people. Fan Juan's face turned red with shame, and she lowered her head to steal a glance at Zhao Yun, feeling anxious in her heart, not knowing whether her father would agree or not.

  Fan Jingyi listened and found it far from his original intention. He stuttered: "This... this..."

  Liu Xin thought to herself, "You wouldn't even want Zhao Yun as a son-in-law, and yet you married your daughter off to Zhao Fan's older brother, only for her to become a widow so soon." She said with disdain, "Ah, Fan Liang, don't look down on this son-in-law of yours. I have a good eye for people, and although Zhao Yun is struggling financially at the moment, I think he has great potential. If he's willing to follow me to Hejian, I'll teach him well and he'll definitely make something of himself in the future."

  Fan Jing listened to Liu Xin's words and changed his tone, saying: "The adult is indeed kind-hearted, but my virtuous nephew has a eccentric temperament, I'm afraid he may not be willing to follow the adult."

  Zhao Yun didn't wait for Liu Xin to speak and said first: "Since the lord is so kind, I am willing to follow the lord to Hejian and await the lord's orders."

  Liu Xin saw Zhao Yun agree to come down, and he secretly felt pleased in his heart. He said to Fan Jing: "Fan Li Chang, it's settled then. Tomorrow you bring people to Hejian to fetch grain, and that will be the betrothal gift I give to your young lady on behalf of Zhao Yun. After a few days, we'll settle their matter. What do you think?"

  Fan Jing could only nod and say: "Since you have given orders, how dare I not obey? Everything will be done as you see fit."

  Liu Xin suddenly thought of something and asked Zhao Yun: "Zhao Yun, how old are you this year?"

  Zhao Yun said: "Lord Hui, I am fifteen years old this year."

  Liu Xin said: "He's only fifteen, and his height is not short, it's just that he seems a bit young. But never mind, let's settle the marriage first."

  Fan Jing said: "Sir, this is not a problem. In our countryside, many people get married and have children at the age of 16 or 17. I just don't know if Zhao Yun is too young, will sir not use him?"

  Liu Xin laughed and said, "In the past, Gan Lu was twelve years old when he was appointed as a prime minister. Zhao Yun is already fifteen years old. It's more than enough for him to be my bodyguard first. Zhao Yun, follow me back to Hejian tonight, do you have any opinion?"

  Zhao Yun looked at Fan Qiong, wanting to speak but hesitating, as if reluctant to part. Dian Wei said displeased: "You little brat, why are you dawdling? If you're going, hurry up and get moving, the sky is already darkening."

  Liu Xin stopped and said, "Ah, I think Zhao Yun is reluctant to part with Miss Fan. How about this? Fan Lichang, would you be willing to move your whole family to Hejian? That way, everyone can take care of each other. As for the land and housing, I'll arrange it myself."

  Fan Jing never thought that one day he would climb up to the position of Tai Shou, so he naturally agreed: "The humble citizen will follow the arrangement of the superior."

  Liu Xin was overjoyed: "Good! Zhao Yun, you will escort the Fan family to Hejian tomorrow and go directly to the governor's mansion to find me. Dian Wei, bring the horse, we're heading back to the mansion now."

  Zhao Yun saw that Liu Xin was truly considering his well-being, and he was moved in his heart. He invited him to stay, saying: "Sir, why not rest in the village for a night, and we can return together tomorrow?"

  Liu Xin said in his heart, "This little guy is still in the midst of a passionate love affair, inseparable like glue and lacquer. I'm just starting to taste the sweetness, and for your sake, I've left my wife alone at home, empty and unattended. Now that things have been smoothly settled, how can I linger here any longer?" But he said with his mouth: "Since there has been a banditry incident in Changshan, as the Taishou of Hejian Prefecture, I must investigate. I need to hurry back to arrange patrols and prevent any unexpected events. Liu Zhi cannot stay long, so I'll take my leave first. I'll wait quietly in Hejian for your esteemed arrival."

  Liu Xin finished speaking, flipped over and mounted his horse, saluted the crowd with a bow, and left with Dian Wei. Zhao Yun looked at Liu Xin's gradually disappearing back, and remained silent for a long time. Fan Juan walked up and pulled his hand, saying excitedly: "Thanks to Lord Liu today, Father finally agreed to our matter. You must work hard following Lord Liu in the future, and cannot disappoint his kindness."

  Zhao Yun also sighed and said: "Yes, just now I almost wrongly accused the adults. Now it seems that not only did the adults help us, but they are also a conscientious and responsible good official."

  Fan Jing looked at his daughter and then at Zhao Yun, sighed, hoping that what Liu Xin said was true, that Zhao Yun would have a great future.

  Liu Xin left Zhen Ding Zhao Jia Village, his heart racing like an arrow, and he couldn't care about the fatigue. He rushed through the night, and on the way, he and Dian Wei only ate some dry rations and drank a little cold water. The horses didn't stop running, and before the fourth watch, they arrived at the city of Hejian Prefecture. At this time, the city gate had not yet opened, so Dian Wei shouted loudly under the city wall: "The governor is returning to his mansion, quickly open the city gate!"

  The soldiers on night watch had fallen asleep, having sweet dreams, and were suddenly awakened by the shouting. They were furious in their hearts, walked up to the city wall and scolded loudly: "Where did this bird man come from? What's with the yelling at midnight? If you want to enter the city, wait till dawn."

  Dian Wei flew into a rage: "Blind dog, this is Governor Taishi, open the city gate at once!"

  The soldier was sleeping drowsily, and after hearing what Dian Wei said, he didn't pay any attention to it at all. He said: "What prefect? I only recognize Lord Li, the county magistrate. Unless the county magistrate himself comes to call on me, not even the King of Heaven can make me open the door."

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