Miss Hai really knows how to treat people differently. Wait, why is she so respectful to the Lin couple?

Hai Shengyang noticed the strange look Meng Zhan was giving her, but she pretended not to see it and smiled only at the Lin couple.

The Lin couple did not recognize Hai Shengyang and thought she was Meng Zhan's current wife.

Madam Cui looked at Lin Feiyun and muttered in a low voice, "Does that mean we should respect that bad person who stole our wife and husband?"

Lin Feiyun scratched his head. "If she hadn't seduced Meng Zhan, we wouldn't have gotten Bai Wanqing as our daughter-in-law!"

Lin Feiyun was about to continue his analysis when Cui interrupted him.

"Alright, I understand. Then we'll treat them all with courtesy." Cui immediately turned and smiled at Hai Shengyang.

"This must be Madam Meng!"

Hai Shengyang's smile froze on his face, and Meng Zhan was also somewhat embarrassed.

“Madam Lin, Mr. Lin, she is not my wife. She is Hai Shengyang, the daughter of Governor-General Hai of the Three Norths,” Meng Zhan introduced to the Lin couple.

Hai Shengyang bowed to the Lin couple again.

Governor-General of the Three Norths? Lord Hai? Cui and Lin Feiyun naturally knew that this was their boss's superior.

What's going on? Now that Da Tou is away, his daughter has come to the house to confront him?

Cui's face immediately darkened. Hai Shengyang saw that Cui was visibly unhappy and assumed that she had misunderstood his purpose.

"Madam Lin, please don't misunderstand, we are not here to see Lord Lin."

"I've come here just to have a chat with you. I've often heard of your great name when I was in the capital. It's an honor for Shengyang to meet you today."

Madam Cui frowned. She hated the people in the capital the most. How come even though she had run so far away, someone still chased her here?

But since they were guests, Cui had to be given that much face.

"Oh! In that case, Miss Hai, if you don't mind, would you please come in and have a seat?"

Cui pointed to one of the thatched houses and said.

Hai Shengyang had already seen the state of the village when she entered it; it was far worse and more dilapidated than she had imagined.

She had never seen these thatched huts in the capital; they were only found in the countryside, in the kind of huts built for cattle and horses.

Not to mention Hai Shengyang, even the maids who served him had never lived in such a dilapidated place.

They looked at the young lady with some fear, finding it hard to imagine Hai Shengyang stepping inside.

Hai Shengyang was also having a fierce internal struggle at that moment, considering whether or not she should go in.

Standing opposite, Cui immediately saw through Hai Shengyang's thoughts. "Miss Hai, what's wrong? Are you scared off by the conditions here?"

Hai Shengyang immediately shook his head, "No! No, Madam Liu, you flatter me."

With that, Hai Shengyang stamped his foot and went into the house in the direction Cui pointed. The maid behind him had no choice but to follow him in, even though she looked disgusted.

Meng Zhan originally wanted to go in, but Lin Feiyun stopped him.

"We're men, why don't we find a place to talk privately?"

Since Lin Feiyun had spoken, Meng Zhan naturally couldn't refuse. However, Meng Zhan didn't seem to mind the place, having experienced hardship himself.

Inside the room, Cui poured Hai Shengyang a glass of water in a chipped, broken bowl.

Hai Shengyang smiled and reluctantly accepted the bowl of water with both hands.

"Drink up! You must be thirsty after walking all this way!" Cui Shi greeted them warmly.

Hai Shengyang took a small sip. "Thank you, Madam Lin. Please have a seat. You don't need to bother."

Watching Hai Shengyang drink water in agony, Cui felt a surge of pleasure. Having teased him enough, Cui found a place to sit down and looked at Hai Shengyang with an air of dignity.

Hai Shengyang had previously thought that Cui was just a country woman, and she was hesitating about how to bring up her desire to join the Lin family. But when she turned around, she saw Cui sitting there with an air of authority, just like the ladies of the inner quarters in the capital.

Seeing Cui Shi like this, Hai Shengyang breathed a sigh of relief.

That's more like it. Although the Lin family has run into trouble, they are still an old and prestigious family. How could they really be like country bumpkins?

"Mrs. Lin, I brought you some things this time. They should all be useful to you. Please don't find them too expensive."

As Hai Shengyang spoke, he glanced at the maids behind him. The maids quickly ran out and carried the items from the carriage into the thatched shed one by one.

When Cui saw the fine silks and satins and the various gold and silver ornaments in front of her, she couldn't help but squint her eyes and smile from ear to ear.

"Miss Hai, you've come all this way, and you've brought so many things. You're too kind."

Hai Shengyang felt extremely satisfied seeing Cui Shi happy. "You see? You see? No matter how wealthy a family was before, when they fall on hard times, they will still be tempted by good things."

If she were to marry into the Lin family, wouldn't she have as many things as she wanted? Cui Shi should be able to see that clearly.

"Madam Lin, I have a favor to ask of you today," Hai Shengyang said shyly, bowing his head.

Cui turned her gaze away from the gifts and looked at Hai Shengyang in surprise. "Miss Hai, as the daughter of the Governor-General of the Three Norths, Lord Hai will surely be able to satisfy you if there is anything you need. I wonder if there is anything our Lin family can help with!"

Hai Shengyang pursed her lips. Even if she was very shrewd, this was the first time she had ever had someone else arrange a marriage for her, and she was still very nervous.

"Madam Lin, I...I admire Young Master Lin, and I wish...to be with Young Master Lin for a hundred years." Hai Shengyang finally said the words, his face flushed.

Not only did Hai Shengyang blush, but even the maids following behind her blushed as well. They knew that their young lady was always a model of being well-educated, virtuous, and kind; she would never say such a bold thing.

Cui was taken aback; she hadn't expected Hai Shengyang to have such intentions.

“Miss Hai, Yun Che is already married. Doesn’t Miss Hai know that?” Cui asked.

Hai Shengyang suppressed his nervousness and said, "I know! But Shengyang doesn't care. As long as I can be with Young Master Lin, I'm willing to be his concubine."

Now Cui was even more surprised. What was Hai Shengyang's status? Why would she condescend to be a concubine for her son?

"Miss Hai, you must be joking."

"What kind of lady of your status would become someone else's concubine?"

"Our Lin family is afraid we cannot accept this." This was Cui's way of politely declining.

Hai Shengyang, however, said calmly and without anger, "Madam, please don't be in such a hurry to refuse."

"Status is just an external thing. A woman marries for a comfortable life. I admire Mr. Lin's character and his talent."

"As long as I can be with Young Master Lin for a hundred years, I don't care about my reputation. I only hope to be Young Master Lin's helper and stay by his side forever."

Hai Shengyang adopted an extremely humble attitude, which surprised Cui Shi.

"Even willing to become a concubine?" Cui asked.

Hai Shengyang nodded. "So what if I'm a concubine? I'm willing."

Hai Shengyang was confident that once she said those words, Madam Lin would have no reason to refuse her. So he confidently raised his chin and looked at Madam Cui with composure.

Cui couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Now it was Hai Shengyang's turn to be confused. The maid behind Hai Shengyang felt a little indignant for her mistress when she saw Cui Shi laughing like that.

Their young lady has already humbled herself and is willing to come to your Lin family as a concubine, so how has it become a joke?

Cui laughed for a while before stopping.

She said to Hai Shengyang, "Miss Hai, I appreciate your kind gesture."

"But our Lin family has no tradition of taking concubines. Didn't you ask around before you came?"

There is no tradition of taking concubines in the Lin family. When did the Lin family start having this tradition?

Hai Shengyang really didn't know. "Madam Lin, when did this tradition start? I've never heard of it."

Madam Cui laughed and said, "Ever since the women of our Cui family entered the Lin family, the Lin family has stopped taking concubines. My husband is no good, so naturally my son is no good either."

Cui's words were domineering, but while they sounded nice, weren't they actually a way of rejecting Hai Shengyang?

Hai Shengyang could no longer sit still. "Madam Lin, do you know that if I enter the Lin family, I will bring more than just a concubine to the Lin family?"

Madam Cui naturally knew, and she pointed to the things they had brought, "I know, there are also these mundane items!"

Hai Shengyang's face turned red with anger. Sure enough, a country bumpkin is a country bumpkin; she has no knowledge or foresight whatsoever.

When Chunru saw her young mistress being humiliated, she could no longer bear it and stood up to speak out.

“Madam, my young lady came with sincerity. Why must you reject her good intentions?”

Madam Cui slowly stood up, her expression arrogant and aloof. "So, according to Miss's meaning, does that mean that if Hai Shengyang wants to become a concubine in my Lin family, then our Lin family should accept her?"

"So, just as Miss Hai said, if every woman in the world wanted to come to our Lin family, would our Lin family accept them all?"

Hai Shengyang never expected that Madam Cui would compare her to those other women. "You... how come you don't act like an elder at all?"

Hai Shengyang was so angry that he became incoherent. Just then, Chen Shi arrived at the front of the house with Bai Qinglian and witnessed the scene before her.

Bai Qinglian was taken aback when she saw the woman in gorgeous clothes, but then she recognized her as the woman she had been with yesterday who was wearing Shu brocade.

What were they arguing about? Was this woman trying to force Cui to become a concubine in the Lin family?

"Hahahaha!" Bai Qinglian laughed so hard she bent over at the door.

"I thought you were so much more noble than me, weren't you the daughter of a high-ranking official?"

"Isn't it the same as eagerly becoming someone's concubine?"

"But you're even worse off than me. You wanted to be a concubine, but they didn't want you. It's so embarrassing, hahaha!"

Bai Qinglian got more and more excited as she talked, and laughed even louder.

Chen tugged at Bai Qinglian's sleeve, trying to get her to calm down, but Bai Qinglian was still angry and couldn't control her temper.