Qiupu Town

Qiupu Town is a small town within Longgu City, comprising 16 villages. Xujia Village is the easternmost village in Qiupu Town, surrounded by mountains on all sides. Its remote location, however, is blessed with numerous peaks, beautiful scenery, and abundant spiritual energy. Xujia Village is one of the ancestral homes of the Xu clan. Apart from women who married into the village and their servants and maids, most people in Xujia Village share the surname Xu.

There were several wealthy families in Xujia Village, one of which was the Xu family's eldest branch, which was also the head family of the Xu clan. The head of the Xu family's eldest branch, besides the old lady Xu, was the Xu family patriarch and his wife, along with their children. The Xu family patriarch and his wife had two sons and a daughter. Their eldest son, Xu Xingran, traveled away from home most of the year, while their eldest daughter, Xu Yushu, married into another village in the town when she was 16. Their youngest son, Xu Xinghao, was only 14 years old at the time and was still at home studying and practicing martial arts.

Lin Shi was the head maid of the Xu family patriarch, and was only 13 years old at the time. Born into a family of servants, her grandparents, parents, and siblings were all born into servitude. Lin Shi's original name was Lin Cuihuan. When she was one year old, her parents and siblings tragically died while helping the Xu family avoid disaster. Grateful for their help, the Xu family promoted her to head maid of Xu Yuxian, the eldest daughter of the Xu family, effectively making her a secondary daughter or an adopted daughter. After Xu Yuxian's marriage, she remained in the Xu family, becoming the head maid of the Xu family matriarch.

The Xu family had several households with servants and maids. Besides Lin Shi's family, there was her second uncle and aunt's family, as well as her cousin Lin Fu, her younger cousin Lin Song, her older cousin Lin Cuihua, her younger cousin Lin Cuiping, and three other households with servants.

This day was market day. Following the arrangements of the Xu family matriarch and Madam Xu, Lin Shi carried gifts through the town to the village on the other side of the town to visit Xu Yuxian, and was required to stay at the estate that was part of Xu Yuxian's dowry for a period of time.

Lin Shi got up early, packed her bags, prepared gifts, and visited Old Madam Xu and Madam Xu to hear some important instructions. Before leaving, Lin Shi took some silver and copper coins to the small courtyard where her second uncle and aunt lived. Before even entering, Lin Shi heard various sounds of things being smashed and broken, as well as low-pitched insults and quarrels.

Lin Shi approached the courtyard gate with light steps and heard the voices of her second uncle, second aunt, and cousins ​​coming from inside.

"Who does she think she is? A little maid who lost both her parents and all her brothers and sisters, dares to dream of becoming the young mistress of the Xu family? Does she deserve it? She's not even worthy of being a concubine. She just relies on her foxy face to hang around in front of the young master all day long, seducing him so much that he's obsessed with her and insists on marrying her, and she's even caused trouble for the Xu family."

"She shamelessly claims to be a relative, saying we should look after each other, but all she ever gives me is a few coins to get rid of me. She never thinks of her uncles, aunts, cousins, or other relatives, and never offers them any help. What a piece of trash!"

"She lives a good life herself, but she doesn't help her cousins ​​find good wives or husbands from wealthy families so they can get married and escape slavery."

"Shameless little hussy! 'Miss Shi'? Does she deserve that title? She's even abandoned her original name, Lin Cuihuan, and insisted on taking this utterly nonsensical name, Lin Shi. I think she's rotten dog shit..."

Lin Shi listened for a while to the foul language and insults directed at her in the courtyard. Almost every member of her second uncle's family was cursing and complaining, their tone so hateful that they wished she were dead.

Lin Shi clutched the loose silver and copper coins in her sleeve pocket, her brows furrowed tightly. She knew her second uncle's family disliked her, but she hadn't expected their hatred and malice to be so overflowing.

Lin Shi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, but still quietly approached the courtyard gate and knocked. The moment the knock sounded, the insults from inside the courtyard stopped instantly. Then, a series of hurried footsteps began, heading towards the courtyard's central area.

When Lin Shi's beautiful face appeared at the courtyard gate, Aunt Lin, along with Lin Cuihua and Lin Cuiping, rolled their eyes in front of everyone. Uncle Lin, mindful of the last remaining ties of family, didn't roll his eyes or utter any harsh words. Instead, he put on a forced smile and asked, "Niece, what brings you to your uncle's courtyard?"

"Second Uncle, I'm going to stay at Miss's estate for a few days later, so I came to let you know." Lin Shi pretended not to see the sarcastic and disdainful looks on her second aunt and cousins' faces, and spoke softly to her second uncle, while also smiling slightly at her cousins.

"Then I'll trouble you to come all the way to my second uncle's house to inform him. The news has spread throughout the Xu family these past few days that you're going to stay at the eldest young lady's estate for a few days. When you come back, you might become our young mistress or concubine. At that time, you must remember to help your second uncle's family out." Uncle Lin continued with a forced smile.

"Second Uncle, you jest. How could I possibly be worthy of the young master? I'm just visiting the young lady for a few days to keep her company and relieve her boredom. I'll be back in a few days. We're relatives, so naturally we should look out for each other. I would never forget the love and care you, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, and my cousins ​​have shown me over the years." Lin Shi spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, a polite smile on her face. However, the slight smile on her beautiful face immediately aroused a strong sense of disgust in her Second Aunt and cousins, so strong that Lin Shi sensed it instantly.

"Do you have anything for your second uncle and aunt's family?" Uncle Lin asked impatiently, his eyes constantly glancing at her sleeve.

"I'm a bit short on cash lately and don't have any spare change. I just came to visit my second uncle and aunt and say goodbye. I don't know when we'll see each other again. I'll be going now and visit you again another day!" Lin Shi gave up on taking out money as usual and simply said goodbye with an apologetic expression. A chill ran through her, and she couldn't help but want to sneer, but she didn't show the slightest hint of her displeasure on her face.

"Then take care, your second uncle and aunt won't see you off."

"Alright, then I'll be going now!"

As soon as Lin Shi walked out of the courtyard, she clearly heard "Pah!" and "Pah!" sounds coming from inside, regardless of age or gender. It was obviously the sound of many people spitting on the ground at the same time, along with continuous low-pitched insults.

Lin Shi didn't turn around or stop, pretending not to hear the noise behind her, and strode back to her room.

As Lin Shi left the Xu family's gate carrying a small bundle and a basket of gifts for the young lady, she was suddenly pulled into a nearby alley. Lin Shi wanted to scream, but the familiar scent of her clothes made her swallow her words.

"Young Master, is something the matter?" Lin Shi leaned against the gray wall, looking into the eyes of the rich young master in front of him, whose eyes were red and who was dressed in expensive clothes, and asked softly.

The person before her was Xu Xinghao, the 14-year-old young master of the Xu family. The boy was still thin and about to grow taller, only about half a head taller than Lin Shi. His still-childish, delicate face was filled with grievance and reluctance. His eyes were long, narrow, phoenix-shaped, and his deep brown pupils reflected Lin Shi's beautiful face, which almost outshone flowers. His eyes held a gentle kindness, yet his gaze towards Lin Shi was both passionate and direct.

"Lin Shi, wait for me. I will soon persuade my parents and grandmother to let you be my wife. Then I will bring an eight-bearer bridge to welcome you back to the Xu family through the main gate. If my parents and grandmother do not agree to let you be my wife, I will compromise and let you be a concubine. After you give birth to my children, I will make you my wife." Xu Xinghao held Lin Shi's thin shoulders and looked earnestly into her eyes as he spoke.

Lin Shi's expression changed instantly, but she didn't dare to cover Xu Xinghao's mouth. She simply looked back into Xu Xinghao's eyes, with a submissive look on her face, and said in a low voice, "Young Master, you can't say that. If the head of the family, the madam, and the old lady heard this, they would think that I had incited you to talk nonsense. The matter of marriage still depends on the head of the family and the madam's plans."

“My grandmother wants to marry you off to the son of a wealthy family in the next village as his principal wife, but I don’t want to. I’ve talked to my parents, and it’s definitely no problem for you to be a concubine, but as a wife, that’s not possible for now. Don’t be afraid, just wait for me. When I’m older and come of age, I’ll be able to make more decisions. You should stay at my sister’s estate and don’t wander off. The world outside is chaotic and dangerous, so just stay here and wait for me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Xinghao tried to hug Lin Shi. Lin Shi was holding a basket in her right hand and had a bundle on her shoulder, so she could only use her left hand to try to stop Xu Xinghao from getting closer.

Although Xu Xinghao was still a boy, he was much stronger than Lin Shi. He simply grasped Lin Shi's smooth, alabaster left hand, caressed it lingeringly with his fingers, and then pulled her into a tight embrace, resting his head on her neck. The scent of incense from the boy's silk clothes rushed into Lin Shi's nose, making her nose sting with a bittersweet feeling.

Lin Shi felt the warm breath of the young man on her neck, making her frown uncomfortably. She continued to try to push him away, but felt a warm, wet liquid flow onto her neck, causing her to stop struggling instantly.

After Xu Xinghao had hugged her enough, he let go of Lin Shi. But when he looked at Lin Shi face to face again, his eyes were as red as a rabbit's. He just stared at Lin Shi, feeling wronged and reluctant.

"Young Master, I'll be going now. Take care!" Lin Shi was a little reluctant, but still firmly said goodbye. As she was about to walk past Xu Xinghao, she noticed a strong gaze coming from the Xu family's gate.

Lin Shi turned her head and saw that Madam Xu, dressed in luxurious clothes, was standing alone at the gate of the Xu family's residence, looking at them with a complicated expression. It seemed that she had been watching them for quite some time.

"Madam, Lin Shi has gone to the eldest young lady's estate first!" Lin Shi was only stunned for a moment before naturally bowing to Madam Xu and preparing to continue out the door.

"Mother, I'll see Lin Shi off and then go see how my sister is doing." Xu Xinghao was overjoyed when he saw his mother's figure and quickly went up to her, pleading with her.

Unable to resist his coquettishness, Madam Xu agreed to his request and allowed him to follow Lin Shi with two servants.

Lin Shi then switched from walking to riding in a carriage. She, Xu Xinghao, and two servants—a group of four—passed through the town market and headed to the other side of town. Inside the carriage, Lin Shi and Xu Xinghao sat, letting Xu Xinghao chatter on and on, occasionally offering a perfunctory reply. Outside, on the wooden planks, two servants silently held the horse's reins, steadily guiding the carriage towards their destination.

Along the way, Lin Shi listened to Xu Xinghao's youthful and innocent declarations of love and promises while opening the car window slightly to occasionally glance at the bustling crowds outside and listen to the calls of various vendors and shopkeepers.