Chapter 331 Mother's Double Standards
Xiao Chenggui handed the duck leg to Lin Yuesha and said, "Yuesha, the duck leg is cold, so it may not taste as good as when it was freshly roasted."
After buying it, Xiao Chenggui had a way to keep it warm, but he was worried that the hot smell would overpower the duck legs, so he made sure to let them cool down.
Lin Yuesha twitched her lips. She hadn't expected her father to be so shrewd. She hadn't even thought of this little detail. Maybe her father had experience with it.
"Big brother, what brings you here too?"
Lin Yuesha was overjoyed to see her stepbrother. Her only regret was that neither Qingxing nor Qi'er came; it was just the three of them.
The girls' school only allowed a maximum of three visitors. Lin Yuesha had anticipated that her parents would come, but she didn't expect that her stepbrother would take up the spot meant for a maid.
"I took a day off at the academy and came to see you."
Xiao Qi did use the silver Lin Yuesha gave him to buy a book, but the difference was that the book wasn't worth seven hundred taels, but three thousand taels; he had underreported it by more than two thousand taels.
If my younger sister asks about it in the future, I'll have to have something to show for it, otherwise I won't be able to give her a straight answer.
"Mother, how's our business?"
With a debt of three hundred taels, Lin Yuesha had to take care of the family's business and had to supply goods to her uncle's shop in town every now and then.
"You little rascal, still worrying about things at home."
Helpless, Mrs. Chen felt sorry for her daughter, who had suddenly become very capable, earning money and managing everything in the household.
"The shop is doing very well, and Mother is able to manage. The account books are all here. We'll calculate the profit when you get home."
Lin Yuesha was concerned about business, but Madam Chen was concerned about her daughter's situation at the girls' school. She was genuinely shocked to hear that the rules at the girls' school were strict.
If it weren't for Lin Shusheng coming to pick her up, Chen would have taken her daughter back long ago, instead of continuing to suffer here.
There's nothing wrong with marrying an ordinary person. The couple can live in harmony, with the husband and wife always in sync. There are no concubines causing trouble in the house, and life can be peaceful and smooth. Although the social status is low, there are fewer worries.
My daughter is coming to the capital to marry into a wealthy family. The relationship between her and her mother-in-law is complicated, and her own family can't offer any help.
Madam Chen deeply regretted marrying Lin Shusheng. Sometimes, she cruelly thought that it would have been better if he had just died than if he were now a high-ranking official. Although she was his mother, she could not stop Lin Yuesha from going to the capital to reunite with her biological father.
“Mother, I am doing very well at the girls’ school. The young ladies are friendly, and the governesses take good care of me.”
The young ladies were friendly, that's for sure. Lin Yuesha made a lot of money from Zhao Fendie and the Li twins. As for the nannies, they took even better care of her, and she was taken out for individual training every night.
"Cough cough."
Xiao Qi coughed twice. His younger sister was lying through her teeth, without even blushing or panting. Her skin had gotten thicker and thicker. She was supposed to be learning manners at the girls' school, but instead, she had developed a talent for lying.
In that case, he discussed with Granny Fang about increasing the intensity for his younger sister.
"Little girl, it's the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Does the girls' school have a three-day break?"
Remembering something else, Chen pulled Lin Yuesha aside and asked her.
Visiting hours at the girls' school were very short. To make it easier for Granny Fang to monitor everyone, they would chat in the courtyard to prevent the young ladies from sneaking in.
Xiao Chenggui stuffing a duck leg into Lin Yuesha's hand couldn't escape Fang Mama's sharp eyes, but since the master had no objection, she pretended not to see it.
"That's right, I'm going home to celebrate my older brother's birthday."
Reminded by Chen, Lin Yuesha said she definitely couldn't forget; it was a big day for the family, and she had to cook a big feast to celebrate.
“I know your older brother’s birthday, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”
Madam Chen's expression turned serious as she continued, "Your cousin Xiaohua is getting married on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The date has already been set."
"Marriage, with whom?"
Chen's words were ambiguous, and Lin Yuesha didn't quite catch them.
"Your second cousin, Chen Xiaohua."
Madam Chen spoke more slowly, repeating herself: as Chen Xiaohua's aunt, she wanted to add to Chen Xiaohua's dowry and had already commissioned a jewelry shop to make some ornaments. Before, when she didn't have much money, she could only give some inexpensive purses and handkerchiefs at most, but now that she had some savings, she had to give a more substantial gift.
"How is that possible?"
Lin Yuesha stared wide-eyed. She had just sent the despicable Wang Pozi and her family to jail a while ago. How come she didn't know that Chen Xiaohua was getting married? Wasn't that too hasty?
Lin Yuesha was shocked. After arriving in the prefectural city, she had less contact with her cousin and hadn't received any news from her.
"What are you shouting about!"
Chen said matter-of-factly, "Your second cousin has already come of age and is a grown woman. What's the big deal about her getting married? Do you want her to stay at home and be an old maid?"
In the village, girls get married at fifteen or sixteen. If they get older, it's harder to find a husband, and they'll be looked down upon.
"Mother, I'm fourteen this year, and I'll be fifteen next year when I come of age. Does that mean I can get married?"
Lin Yuesha was scolded by Chen Shi for a couple of sentences, and she said it reluctantly.
"Why are you in such a hurry to get married? Are you afraid you won't be able to get married?"
Mrs. Chen raised her hand, wanting to give her daughter a flick on the forehead, but then remembered that this was a girls' school, so she held back.
Lin Yuesha: ...Mom, you're so hypocritical!
She and Chen Xiaohua had agreed that if she got married, she would inform her first, and she would try to find out about her cousin's character. Given Chen Dahua's experience, they should have been extremely cautious with Chen Xiaohua. Lin Yuesha never expected her second cousin to set a date so quickly.
"Mother, what family did Cousin Xiaohua agree to marry into?"
Lin Yuesha inquired with her mother, Chen, hoping that the Chen family would pay more attention to Chen Xiaohua's marriage.
"A family that does business."
That family also ran a business in town. Their surname was Xiao, and they owned a blacksmith shop. They had only one son, who was a strong blacksmith who followed in his father's footsteps. He was also honest and hardworking.
"My mother took some time to go back and saw Xiao Dazhuang. He was alright, and he was also good to your second cousin."
In Chen's view, the head of the household should be strong, and carrying water and chopping wood would be no problem. Chen Xiaohua would not have to do heavy work after marrying into the Xiao family.
Furthermore, the Xiao family only has one son, so there are no messy relationships with sisters-in-law, no sisters-in-law stirring up trouble, and he only needs to be filial to his parents-in-law.
"Xiao the blacksmith is a nice man. He enjoys having a few drinks and often comes to the shop to buy peanuts. That's how he got to know your uncle."
The two chatted and found they had something in common. Seeing that Chen Xiaohua was efficient, Xiao the blacksmith had an idea and considered arranging a marriage between their families.
At this point, Xiao the blacksmith sent his son, Xiao Dazhuang, to buy peanuts, and the two of them hit it off.
"Your cousin Xiaohua is also willing."
Chen had mentioned to her sister-in-law Wang Jinhua that Da Hua's death was already a tragedy. Even if it wasn't Chen Da Hua's fault, it still damaged the reputation of Chen family daughters. It would be difficult for Chen Xiao Hua to find a husband in the surrounding villages, so it would be better for her to leave Chen family village and marry someone in town.
Chen Tieniu told the Xiao family everything that had happened to the Chen family without hiding anything.
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