Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Leaving the house.
As Steward Huang finished speaking, Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang were both stunned. Before Steward Huang could even begin to wonder, Lin Sen's eyes gradually reddened, and he couldn't help sobbing, "It's hard for the Master to think so carefully about me... It's me, the Master, who feels so ashamed of his cultivation..."
Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang knelt on the ground, crying and saying that they wanted to go to the master to kowtow and express their gratitude.
Steward Huang hurriedly tried to persuade them, "What time is it now? The Master has been worrying about you for half a day, and he had just rested when I came out."
After Manager Huang said this, Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang kowtowed and cried a few more times.
Lin Zhi sat on the couch in the inner room, staring blankly at the three of them. Her eyes were blank, unfocused, so Steward Huang took no notice, unaware that Lin Zhi was secretly grimacing at the spectacle before her.
Lin Zhi watched this scene unfold, secretly feeling relieved. She had long known that as a slave, she couldn't make her own decisions, but seeing Xi Zhizhou arrange her marriage with just a few words, without even giving her a chance to meet him, she felt even more uneasy.
Fortunately... Fortunately...
Fortunately, my parents are both determined people and they can decisively choose to leave with me.
Fortunately, the third girl was reckless and impulsive, giving her the opportunity to escape. Otherwise, if she had been married far away and her bond was held, she would not know how difficult it would have been to redeem herself.
Lin Zhi cleared her mind and continued to listen to the three people's conversation. After several rounds of tug-of-war, Manager Huang gradually became exhausted. Seeing this, Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang saw Manager Huang out, stuffed a purse into his pocket, and asked to meet the idle man. Their reason was quite simple: "...otherwise, it would be awkward if the father-in-law didn't recognize the son-in-law, and the son-in-law didn't recognize his parents-in-law."
Manager Huang also understood that this matter was done in a hurry. Even if the mansion was appointing someone to a servant, they would most likely give a hint first and let the person take a look at each other to avoid causing resentment.
But he also knew his master's intentions and wanted to get this matter settled as quickly as possible. Manager Huang squeezed his purse and, despite the pain in his heart, stuffed it back into Lin Sen's hands. He smiled and said, "Brother Sen, you're confused. What's there to worry about? When your son-in-law brings the betrothal gifts, you can just take a look at them."
Lin Sen's heart sank, but he forced a smile on his face: "That's true, I was confused."
After Manager Huang left, Song Jiaoniang was in a low mood: "I'm afraid this guy has other problems..."
He was so unwilling to even let them see each other that he asked someone to send the betrothal gifts directly.
Seeing Song Jiaoniang looking depressed, Lin Sen glanced at her from the corner of his eye and quickly said, "What are you afraid of? We've already thought about it."
Song Jiaoniang had just cheered up and started thinking about her daughter again. She glanced at Lin Zhi out of the corner of her eye and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there was nothing unusual on her face.
She walked forward and embraced Lin Zhi, secretly making up her mind: "Don't worry, sister Zhi, your mother and your father will definitely teach you to live a good life."
Lin Zhi knew that her parents were worried, so she pretended to be ignorant and said with a smile, "What are you afraid of? Even if we get married, we can still get divorced." Upon hearing this, Song Jiaoniang smiled and agreed. She thought to herself that her daughter was young and cute after all, and she only saw the surface and didn't understand the inner problems.
Men are naturally stronger than women, so domestic violence is common. However, even though there are divorce regulations in this dynasty's criminal code, very few people file for divorce.
Apart from the fact that women find it difficult to support their families after divorce, or are reluctant to leave their children, many men will use their families as a threat, and there are even cases of men devouring their own children.
Song Jiaoniang stroked Linzhi's braids with tenderness in her eyes, but her own sister Zhi didn't have to worry. She and her father would pave a smooth path for her even if it cost them their lives.
In the courtyard of Selling Fish Alley, Chen Yan sneezed twice. He rubbed his nose and continued to listen to Tao Yingce: "I just heard that the governor's office manager said that you should send the betrothal gifts directly?"
"Ah, yes."
"Tsk tsk." Tao Yingce clicked his tongue and couldn't help but secretly complain about Xi Zhizhou's inhumanity.
If he were to say, since this matter had already caused such a stir, it would be better to do it in a more dignified way. He could simply prepare more dowry and send someone to marry the maid off in a grand manner. This would also make the people say good things about it, and it might even become a good story.
But he was so anxious and hurried, and he looked like he wanted to throw the package away immediately, which was really unbearable to watch.
"I've heard people say that Xi Zhizhou has a good reputation, but his behavior doesn't seem to be the case." Tao Yingce said casually, then looked at Chen Yan: "Have you thought about what to do?"
"Just give it as per the standard for an ordinary family." Chen Yan hadn't expected things to develop so quickly. Even Xi Zhizhou hadn't conducted a thorough investigation, nor had he met the real person. So he quickly made a decision: "After we leave the city, I will apologize to the parents of that Miss Lin."
"Maybe they will just pester you!" Tao Yingheng, who was sitting next to him, spat out two melon seed shells and glanced at Chen Yan.
"You're the only one who talks too much."
"Brother Heng is probably just worried about me." Chen Yan smiled, not taking it to heart. After all, he wasn't really an escort, and once he completed his mission and left, his interactions with Miss Lin's family would probably come to an end.
Moreover, he recalled what several people had inquired about, and felt that since the Lin family could voluntarily ask to leave Xi Zhizhou's mansion, they must be people with ulterior motives, and might have no interest in this marriage at all.
The next day, Chen Yan sent someone to invite a low-ranking matchmaker, who prepared a load of rice wine, a pair of large geese, two pieces of silk, a set of clothes bought from a ready-made clothing shop, and two silver-gilt hairpins, and sent them all to Xi Zhizhou's mansion.
This thing wouldn't be considered too little if placed in someone else's house, but it looked extremely shabby in Xi Zhizhou's mansion.
When Aunt Qian and the others saw the betrothal gifts that Steward Huang had sent into the courtyard, they couldn't help but shake their heads: "The last time Steward Huang's daughter got married, she had two sets of silver head ornaments."
"Don't even mention Steward Huang. Even Ma Ma from the needlework shop gave more than that when they got married."
Mother Ma was originally a servant of Mother Song, and her wife was a second-class maid in the third lady's room.
They looked at each other with confusion in their eyes. They thought that since their daughter was sick, she should stay in the house to recuperate. Life would probably be even more difficult if she went out.
However, the three members of the Lin family were quite satisfied. Song Jiaoniang frowned at the gossip of the people around her and pulled Lin Zhi aside to explain in detail, "Manager Huang just told Mr. Shen about this the day before yesterday, and he's already made all the necessary preparations today, even inviting a matchmaker to come. It's clear he treats you like a young lady from a respectable family and respects you."
"As for what Aunt Qian said, don't take it to heart." Song Jiaoniang had grown up in the Xi family and was well-informed. "Don't listen to their nice words. Most of the marriages in the mansion are just two pieces of cloth, a silver hairpin, and some wine and food. That's a good deal."
Regardless of whether this marriage is finally successful or not, at least the other party has done nothing wrong so far.
Lin Zhi understood the implication of Song Jiaoniang's words and nodded with a smile.
The betrothal gifts have been delivered, and the return gifts are presented.
Seeing that the marriage was about to be decided, the old lady returned the deeds of the three of them, and also asked someone to send another thirty strings of cash as Linzhi's dowry.
After getting the indenture, Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang went back to the house and began packing their luggage, preparing to leave the house in two days and follow the caravan to Bian Jing.
The family decided to move to Bian Jing after discussing it. It was not because Chen Lang was from Bian Jing, but because Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang grew up in Bian Jing and were more familiar with the environment there.
Furthermore, the family also wanted to stay away from the Xi family.
That night, Song Jiaoniang placed all the things, big and small, on the bed and carefully counted the silver and money in her hands with the father and daughter. In addition to the two hundred strings of silver she had saved from serving in the mansion for many years, there was also the one hundred strings of silver rewarded by the old lady last time, a box of pearls, two top-grade ginsengs, dozens of pieces of fine silk, gold and silver hairpins, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings, nearly fifty items. The remaining medicinal materials, clothes, daily necessities and furniture could not be put into ten boxes.
The three of them gathered in the house and spent most of the night sorting things out. The next day, Song Jiaoniang gave away the belongings she couldn't take with her, starting with Aunt Qian next door and the maids she had interacted with. She also picked out some jackets and shirts to give to Sister Hu in the kitchen.
Similarly, many people also sent identification gifts, which included common silk and satin fabrics, as well as various foods, including cakes, pickles, pickled duck, and pickled fish that could be used on the road.
Even Sister Hu's family couldn't afford anything else, so they simply packed a big bag of vegetables, fruits and homemade dried vegetables and sent it over.
On the day of departure, the three members of the Lin family did not say hello to anyone, but left the house early in the morning.
Several donkey carts were parked at the back door of Xi Zhizhou's mansion. Seeing the three men coming out, Chen Yan and two other men hurried forward to help Lin Sen load the boxes and cages onto the carts one by one.
In fact, it stands to reason that a man and a woman cannot meet each other after they are engaged. If there is something important, they have to ask a matchmaker or an elder to come forward to pass on the message.
But the situation at Linzhi's family was different, and both sides had their own thoughts, so they ignored this rule.
Linzhi glanced at the prefectural government building behind her. The small door was half-open, and the interior was gloomy. She seemed to see several dark figures moving back and forth. She feigned ignorance, fiddling with her fingers, watching the four people's movements with curiosity.
"Moving, things?"
"Daddy is moving things, you have to be good, Zhijie." Song Jiaoniang's face was full of love. She took out some snacks from her small bag and put them to Linzhi's mouth: "Here, have some sour plum candy."
Linzhi opened her mouth, put the food in her mouth, and stood obediently to continue watching people move things.
Seeing that the things were almost moved, Chen Yan glanced at Song Jiaoniang and Lin Zhi and whispered, "Uncle Lin, Aunt Song, and Miss Lin, it's time to get in the car."
Song Jiaoniang responded and hurriedly helped the naive Lin Zhi onto the cart. Then she and Lin Sen boarded the donkey cart one after the other. Chen Yan sat next to the driver, yelled for everyone to sit tight, and then told the driver to set off.
With the sudden sound of hoofbeats, the donkey cart slowly drove away from the prefectural government. Chen Yan's eyes glimpsed several figures in the shadows, then he averted his gaze and looked calmly ahead.
The carriage was quiet.
Lin Sen, Song Jiaoniang and Lin Zhi all held their breath until the noises around them gradually became louder, then they let out a long sigh.
However, the three of them did not relax until the donkey cart drove to the main road and met up with the caravan, and then passed through the city gate and drove out of Taipingzhou City, then the three of them smiled.
The three of them exchanged glances, their emotions agitated. They pricked up their ears to listen to the sounds outside, then, after a long pause, couldn't help but reach out and lift the curtains, gazing out at the wide road, then at the Taipingzhou city, now a dark dot behind them, their emotions tangled.
Or rather, the Xi Mansion that made them feel complicated.
As Taipingzhou City completely disappeared from sight, the scenery around them changed from endless farmland to rivers, forests and mountains. Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang finally relaxed completely.
"Brother Sen, we're out."
"Well, we're out!"
Song Jiaoniang blinked, sniffed, and couldn't help but whisper, "I used to think that I would be like my parents...living out my old age in the mansion."
Lin Sen was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Yes."
Before this, he had never thought that he would actually leave the Xi family. Lin Sen subconsciously grabbed Song Jiaoniang's hand and whispered softly, "I don't know what will happen in the future."
Even though the three of them had been trying hard to leave the Xi Mansion for more than half a month, now that they had actually left, Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang couldn't help feeling melancholy and worried about the uncertain future.
Lin Zhi heard the uneasiness between their words. She turned and looked at Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang. After a moment's thought, she placed her hand on the backs of their folded hands and said softly, "As long as our family is together, we can overcome any difficulties."
Lin Sen and Song Jiaoniang were stunned at first, then chuckled: "Our sister Zhi is right."
Yes, their family is still together!
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