Xu Lin had been feeling genuinely on the verge of depression lately.
So, the simple sentence that Chiang Xiao had just spoken felt like a form of salvation to Xu Lin.
He felt as if he had been swept from the clouds into the sunlight by a hand.
"My mom has been upset with me over this the whole time, and I’ve been feeling like I’ve done something wrong," he rubbed his nose.
Chiang Xiao said, "Auntie is probably just worried about you not being able to find a wife. It seems like all elders are like that, afraid their children won’t find partners, won’t get married, or will have children too late. She might just be having a hard time understanding at the moment. Actually, Brother Lin Zi, you’re quite a good catch—kind, filial, you’ve got a beautiful courtyard, skilled hands, and a pair of honest and kind-hearted parents. Many girls would want to find a partner like you. Once you start taking on some work and slowly build a reputation, life will get better and better, and good girls will see your worth."
Chiang Songhai watched her with his mouth agape.
Why does this feel so out of place?
Little, a young girl, was saying these things to comfort Xu Lin, a man several years her senior, and she spoke with such maturity. It was an oddly peculiar sensation.
Yet, Xu Lin suddenly felt a weight lift from his chest; it was as if Chiang Xiao had spoken directly to his heart with her words.
In fact, he didn’t feel that inferior; he thought quite highly of himself, despite the inconvenience of his legs.
But everyone had always seen him as disabled, always thinking that if he were to marry, the girl who married him would surely suffer an injustice.
Only Chiang Xiao spoke such words to him, assuring him that he was quite the catch.
"Thank you, Chiang Xiao. I’ll definitely look for work diligently. I also think with the skills I’ve learned, I won’t have to worry about going hungry," said Xu Lin, feeling relieved, and his whole demeanor changed.
Chiang Xiao nodded, shifting her gaze, only to notice a chair. It was wooden and looked new, with a backrest and armrests, polished until they were smooth to the touch. The curvature of the backrest appeared very comfortable, specially fitted for the shoulder and neck area with a smooth rest panel. The whole chair seemed to beckon one to sit in comfort.
She stood up, walked over, and sat down, leaning back to test it. As she suspected, the chair was indeed very comfortable, fitting snugly against her back and shoulders.
Seeing her interest in the chair, Xu Lin said, "If you chair, I can make one for you."
Chiang Xiao was immediately delighted, "Brother Lin Zi, did you make this chair yourself?"
"Yeah, the old chair my mom always sat in broke, so I chopped down a tree from the hills and made this one for her."
Chiang Xiao hadn’t really thought much about Xu Lin’s craftsmanship before, but after seeing the chair and sitting in it, she suddenly felt like she had stumbled upon good fortune again.
She needed to furnish her entire apartment in City M, and had been wondering where to find someone to make furniture. Now, wasn’t the perfect person for the job right in front of her?
Excited, she asked Xu Lin, "Brother Lin Zi, can you make all kinds of furniture?"
Seeing her shining eyes, Xu Lin felt a bit embarrassed but nodded and said, "I can make most kinds, I studied for an extra couple of years just so I could master various types of furniture."
"If I hired you to make furniture, would you be able to leave?" Chiang Xiao thought that if she were to have an entire set of furniture made, it would be better if it was crafted on-site, but she was unsure if Xu Lin could afford to leave and live in the city for a while. Some small items could be made here and transported over when ready.