Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 434: The possibility of 404 marrying Zhu Shi is 1

Chapter 434: The possibility of 404 marrying Zhu Shi is 1

"I’m going to marry Senior Brother Zhuang!?" Zhu Shi was stunned.

Meanwhile, Mazao, who had been quietly observing from the side, showed a slight change in expression.

Lu Chan first frowned in confusion, then, as if an idea struck him, clapped his hands forcefully and said with sudden realization: "So that’s it... There’s even this tactic of marrying a fan!"

I had no idea what he was talking about, but Zhu Shi seemed to understand a little, yet still found it hard to accept reality: "Why is the solution to the problem me marrying Senior Brother Zhuang!"

"It’s simple. The method of anchoring Zhuang Cheng in the abnormal world through a group of followers has a core issue: the lack of communication between Zhuang Cheng and the followers." Mr. Zhu explained eloquently. "Although this fledgling belief uses Zhuang Cheng as a totem, he does not partake in its management; the real managing parties are I — or rather, we, the Zhu family.

"From a social and managerial perspective, it’s us, the Zhu family, that now seem like the heart and brain of this group. If Zhuang Cheng is the God, then the Zhu family serves as the priests, communicating with the God and conveying His will to the followers, or collecting the followers’ intentions and transmitting them to the God. We are the bridge between the followers and the God.

"Though Zhuang Cheng could simply take on the Zhu family’s current role and everything would be fine, as the group of followers grows larger, the related affairs will become increasingly complex, occupying much of Zhuang Cheng’s time and energy. There have been such types of great Impermanence in history, but Zhuang Cheng clearly doesn’t want to become one of them, so the conclusion is simple.

"Zhuang Cheng just needs to marry you.

"Marriage is a strong bond that ties two parties together, sharing a significant degree of the connections each holds. Followers are generally accepting of such matters. Historically, those in power over sacrificial rites sometimes even married the Gods; the sacred marriage ceremonies of holy maidens, Goddesses, witches... have fairly mature procedures.

"For Zhuang Cheng’s followers, having a God who isn’t part of their social network is normal; having the Zhu family, who controls the rites, absent, however, is a matter of survival. Isn’t this the position Zhuang Cheng needs? By binding Zhuang Cheng and you, as the representative of the Zhu family, through marriage, there will be no issues left."

Listening to Mr. Zhu’s lengthy yet simple explanation, Zhu Shi gaped while Lu Chan showed admiration and said, "Could it be... Mr. Zhu, all your actions have been to lay this groundwork..."

Mr. Zhu proudly replied: "Exactly... While Zhuang Cheng hasn’t established any relationship with any girl, as long as I help my clueless granddaughter secure him, there will be no further ripples.

"All the teenage pulling and tugging, the sweet and sour taste of love, those are all illusions. My daughter Zhu Jiu lost because she dragged it out for too long; dealing with men, you just have to act swiftly, turning the raw rice into cooked rice immediately!"

Lu Chan involuntarily clapped his hands and said: "As expected of the legendary eighth generation head of the victorious Zhu family, who eliminated all competitors overnight... Even in matters of men and women, you understand the essence of speed in warfare and hit the nail on the head in an instant..."

Mr. Zhu chuckled, stroking his beard happily, "Haha, you’re too kind, too kind..."

Did you ever ask my opinion when you were planning my granddaughter’s marriage?

I wanted to say this, but I had to admit that the plan Mr. Zhu presented was indeed comprehensive.

On one hand, the anchoring effect provided by the group of followers is already extremely powerful, and removing risks through marriage with the Zhu family makes it flawless; on the other hand, I have no resistance or aversion toward Zhu Shi, and have even viewed her as a member of the opposite sex in the past, also acknowledging the fact that I do have feelings for her.

There’s only one problem with Mr. Zhu’s plan: the timing came too late; I already have an agreement with another girl.

Meanwhile, Zhu Shi frankly said, "—But Senior Brother Zhuang is already dating Mazao."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhu looked as if struck by lightning, accidentally tearing out a few strands of his beard.

"Ah? So fast!?" He exclaimed in shock, "But... that’s impossible! I see that Zhuang Cheng is straightforward in usual matters yet hesitates deeply over things he cares most about; and Mazao is a reticent gourd with avoidant attachment tendencies. Even if she likes Zhuang Cheng, she won’t express her feelings on her own. Without a special trigger, these two wouldn’t even reach the confession stage until the end of time..."

"It’s because I encouraged Senior Brother Zhuang to confess to Mazao." Zhu Shi said.

Mr. Zhu yelled in frustration, "What good deed have you done!?"

For some reason, I suddenly felt that Mr. Zhu was indeed Zhu Shi’s grandfather.

"Is this true? Zhuang Cheng, have you really... with this young lady..." Mr. Zhu looked at me and Mazao.

Mazao’s expression was a bit hesitant, seemingly unsure whether to give a definite answer. She seemed very concerned about how others might view me if our relationship became public.

Strictly speaking, Mazao and I hadn’t officially started dating; we just made prior agreements. But at this point, I couldn’t respond ambiguously. If being labeled a weirdo was the price to pay, so be it; Mazao was the most important person in this situation. So, I nodded firmly and said, "It’s true."

Mr. Zhu didn’t criticize, but expressed his regret: "Is that so... But you haven’t seriously discussed marriage, have you?"

"Grandpa, why are you still talking about this?" Zhu Shi said, "Besides, you didn’t ask for my or Zhuang Cheng’s opinions while planning. Isn’t it inappropriate to treat Zhuang Cheng this way?"

"I didn’t ignore Zhuang Cheng’s opinion; if he hadn’t been inclined, I wouldn’t have continued pushing." Mr. Zhu said, "Also, the development of the group of followers wasn’t specifically a ’plot’ to marry you off to Zhuang Cheng, nor did I intend to leverage it against him for benefits.

"For Zhuang Cheng, who lacks connections in this world, developing a group of followers to strengthen the anchoring effect was the primary task. The option of you two marrying was merely a coincidental opportunity in this process, a method to patch up any gaps.

"It’s best if you can get together, then there will be no future worries about anchoring; but if not, there’s nothing we can do. Zhuang Cheng will just have to forge connections himself over time—only lacking the shortest shortcut."

Mr. Zhu seemed to hint at me subtly, while Zhu Shi appeared to notice this and then showed a helpless expression, turning to me: "I’m sorry... Senior Brother Zhuang, and Mazao... My grandpa wasn’t usually this tactless."

Just as I was about to respond, Mazao tugged on my sleeve, then looked at Zhu Shi and the others, asking: "Why can’t Zhuang Cheng marry Zhu Shi?"

Hearing this question, I almost doubted my ears, and Zhu Shi was rendered speechless. Even Lu Chan, who had been watching, let out a puzzled sound: "—Huh?"

Mr. Zhu, too, was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "Exactly... Why can’t the great Impermanence be bound by secular morals and laws, even if it’s bigamy..."

"Wait! Grandpa, please don’t muddy the waters!"

Zhu Shi, overwhelmed, stopped Mr. Zhu from continuing, then looked at Mazao urgently: "Um, Mazao... why did you come up with that question?"

"Is it possible that the Doomsday Era doesn’t have the concept of ’marriage’?" I also asked Mazao, "Do you not know what ’marriage’ means?"

Mazao first recalled, then said: "Though I rarely heard the word ’marriage’ during the Doomsday Era and barely understood its specific meaning at the time, now that I’ve traveled to this era for some time, I’ve often learned about modern social norms, including knowledge related to marriage."

"It’s good that you know." Zhu Shi sighed in relief, "So you probably also understand that marriage is a bond between lovers..."

"Marriage is when adult men and women integrate their economic resources through the formation of a family to better resist risks." Mazao said in all seriousness, "While it seems there is a romantic symbolic meaning of lifelong commitment for lovers, marriage and love have not been strongly associated concepts throughout history. There are countless marriages of convenience without love.

"Many married couples reportedly meet their spouses through arranged marriages, treating marriage merely as a phase of life, marrying with a task-oriented mindset. This shows that marriage doesn’t inherently possess lifelong sacredness.

"In other words, Zhuang Cheng being with me doesn’t conflict with Zhuang Cheng marrying Zhu Shi.

"I’ve even heard of many unscrupulous people using marriage as a means to profit by seizing the other’s assets, but I trust Zhu Shi surely wouldn’t..."

It’s rare for Mazao to say so much all at once; however, before she could finish, Zhu Shi interrupted: "Wait, wait... Mazao, where did you learn such knowledge?"

Mazao answered honestly: "The internet."

"What improper knowledge have those messy netizens filled Mazao with!" Zhu Shi exclaimed loudly.

Saying this, she grabbed my wrist and looked at the others.

"I have something to discuss with Senior Brother Zhuang privately!" she said.

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