Zhao Damei looked Lin Lan up and down. Lin Lan was dressed in a fine silk robe, and her demeanor was something that her two children could never match.

Who are you?

Zhao Damei was momentarily blinded by her beauty. She looked Lin Lan up and down, but didn't say that Baili Wanwan lived here, nor did she say that he had come to the wrong house. Instead, she deliberately asked him in an ambiguous way.

Lin Lan was not pleased with the way Zhao Damei looked at him.

He took a closer look at Zhao Damei. Although she was thin, she had a long face, prominent cheekbones, thin lips, and slanted eyes, which gave her a somewhat mercenary appearance.

Moreover, she didn't resemble the woman who led Wanwan to sell pearls that day.

Lin Lan realized she had gone to the wrong place, so she apologized and continued to inquire.

Zhao Damei could tell from Lin Lan's clothes that he was from a wealthy family.

With such a huge windfall right in front of her, how could she possibly let it slip away?

So he quickly called out to the man, "Young master, don't go! Our two families are relatives. I'll take you there..."

Lin Lan didn't think much of what she said, just glanced at her and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you..."

So Lin Lan took Lin Yang'er's hand and followed behind Zhao Damei to find where Baili Wanwan lived.

This favor wasn't done for nothing. Along the way, Zhao Damei chattered on and on without mentioning money, but every word she uttered was about money.

Lin Lan knew what she meant, and only promised that once he found where Wanwan lived, he would give her some reward.

The Wan family lives at the southernmost part of Lanhai Village, but they are very close to the sea.

Lin Lan followed the salty, fishy smell of the sea until she finally found the place.

In the courtyard, Wanwan was helping Zhang Xiu dry her nets.

Lin Yang'er, who was following behind Lin Lan, spotted her at a glance, quickly let go of her hand, and rushed towards Baili Wanwan.

"Fairy Sister!"

As soon as Wanwan heard that familiar voice, before she could even see clearly, she was embraced tightly.

"You're hugging me so tightly I can't breathe!" Baili Wanwan is shorter than Lin Yang'er, and with most of her face covered by Lin Yang'er's embrace, she was having a hard time breathing.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yang'er, though extremely unwilling, still let go of her and instead hugged her arm.

Two more children suddenly appeared in the house, and everyone in the Wan family went out to see them.

Apart from Baili Wanwan and Zhang Xiu, none of the others had ever seen Lin Lan.

After being surprised, Zhang Xiu gave a brief explanation to his family.

"These are the young master and young lady of the Lin family."

Zhang Damei had previously only guessed that Lin Lan was from a wealthy family, but now that she heard that he was from the Lin family in this town, she was not only surprised but also envious.

I envy how Wan Suizhou's family was able to climb up to the Lin family's level of relationship.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but my sister insisted on seeing Wanwan, so I had no choice but to bring her along..."

Lin Lan bowed respectfully to the elders and then explained her purpose.

Before Zhang Xiu and the others could speak, Zhao Damei let out a jealous snort.

"I was wondering why this rich family's young master would come to this poor village looking for your family. It's not like we picked up a burden; it's more like we picked up a little lucky charm..."

Zhao Damei made sarcastic remarks from the side, and Zhang Xiu's expression turned very unpleasant.

Although it was Lin Lan's first time here, he could tell that the woman who brought him here did not get along with Zhang Xiu's family.

So he took out a silver ingot from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Damei.

As soon as Zhao Damei saw the silver, her expression changed immediately, and her sharp and mean face instantly turned into a beaming smile.

"This is the payment we agreed on before. If there's nothing else, you can leave now."

Holding the money, Zhao Damei, no longer making sarcastic remarks, hurriedly agreed and walked out.

As she walked to the outside of the courtyard wall, Zhao Damei suddenly came to her senses.

Hearing the cheerful laughter coming from the courtyard, Zhao Damei's expression turned somber again.

"Hmph, the Wan family has really risen to prominence now. Having gotten acquainted with the Lin family, won't money just be flowing in like water from now on..."

She muttered to herself, imagining Zhang Xiu and the others enjoying a life of luxury.

The more she thought about it, the more jealous she became, and it was at this moment that she made up her mind.

"Just you wait and see! Since you're having such a good time, don't even think about leaving me, Zhao Damei, out!"

But that's a story for another time.

In the courtyard, Wan Suizhou brewed tea for Lin Lan and Lin Yang'er, and also brought some sunflower seeds that he had roasted himself.

Although it was just a snack for country kids to satisfy their cravings, Lin Lan didn't find it offensive.

This was something he had never eaten before, and it had a unique flavor.

Lin Lan's original intention in coming here was simply to let Lin Yang'er see Wanwan, spend some time with her, and then take her back once she had calmed down.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yang'er refused to leave Baili Wanwan the moment she saw her, which put Lin Lan in a difficult position.

"I'm not leaving! I want to stay with the fairy sister!"

Lin Yang'er held onto Wanwan's arm tightly with both hands, refusing to let go no matter what.

Her eyes were brimming with tears, almost overflowing.

She didn't want to go back to the Lin residence, nor did she want to go back to her own courtyard.

That place is terrifying...

Thinking of this, Lin Yang'er's expression became even more pitiful.

"I'm so sorry, my sister is young and doesn't understand things very well."

Lin Lan felt somewhat helpless.

"It's alright, kids will be kids, they all like to stick together." Zhang Xiu's smile also carried a hint of embarrassment.

"Why don't we let her stay a little longer? She can go back later..."

It was just an ordinary sentence, but somehow it touched a nerve with Lin Yang'er.

Her tears suddenly became uncontrollable. Between sobs, she said to Zhang Xiu, "Auntie, please let me stay here. I can do the laundry, I can clean the room, and I rarely eat..."

Lin Yang'er's words stunned everyone present.

But apart from Baili Wanwan having seen Lin Yang'er washing clothes, Zhang Xiu and the others only treated her as a joke.

Lin Yang'er is from a wealthy family, so how could someone so young know how to do laundry?

Although Zhang Xiu didn't take her words to heart, seeing her crying so pitifully, he finally softened and said, "If you don't mind, let her stay with us for a couple of days..."

Although Lin Lan was helpless, he had no choice but to reluctantly agree when he saw that Lin Yang'er was really unwilling to go back with him.

It was getting late, and he needed to go home.

Wan Suizhou then went to see him off.

He took Lin Yang'er's words seriously, even though others didn't care.

When he was young, he lived in the capital and knew a lot about how matriarchs of families did not tolerate their illegitimate sons and daughters.

Many of the concubine's daughters were married off by the mistress to peddlers and laborers, and lived miserable lives.

Upon seeing Lin Yang'er today, he knew that her background must not be very good, so she was likely having a difficult time in the Lin family.

"Please wait a moment, sir, I'll be heading back now..." Lin Lan walked to the carriage and cupped his hands in greeting to Wan Suizhou.