Chapter 332 Stepbrother Repays Kindness with Enmity
According to her mother, Chen, the Xiao family members are all good people, but you can only know a person's face, not their heart, so Lin Yuesha was skeptical.
However, attending the girls' school was practically the same as being in prison, and she couldn't leave the prefectural city to inquire in the town. She had no choice but to trust her family, since her eldest uncle and aunt felt sorry for her second cousin and would definitely be cautious.
With just over a month to go until the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Lin Yuesha touched her empty purse. It seemed that making money was the top priority, and she had to think of a way.
Both the original owner of the body and she herself received Chen Xiaohua's care. Her second cousin was getting married, and as her cousin, she had to do her best to express her feelings.
The woman's dowry was generous, allowing her to marry with greater dignity, and the Xiao family dared not underestimate her.
If there were a way to make money, Lin Yuesha wouldn't want to resort to crooked methods, but since she couldn't leave the girls' school, she could only make do with what she had.
"Little sister, this is a calligraphy practice book for you."
As the visiting hours were about to end, Xiao Qi finally found a chance to speak with Lin Yuesha. He handed her a thick calligraphy copybook, saying, "I asked Granny Fang, and she said you can accept this copybook. I heard that your calligraphy is still not very good. Diligence can make up for lack of talent, and I believe in you."
The little girl gave him books, and as her older brother, he had to show his appreciation in return.
"Little sister, you must know that handwriting is a person's face, even more important than your appearance."
Xiao Qi instructed his younger sister, "Granny Fang just said that you should get up an hour early every day to practice calligraphy. I believe you will be able to write beautiful small regular script in the future."
Lin Yuesha: ...She finally understood what it meant to repay kindness with enmity.
"Miss Lin."
Bai Dingfeng also came to see Bai Youran. When he saw Lin Yuesha, he quickly went up to greet her.
Recently, Lin Yuesha's family opened a shop, and he sent his page to buy some. Although the food tasted good, there were subtle differences, and it was clear that it wasn't made by Lin Yuesha herself.
"Young Master Bai."
Lin Yuesha nodded, wondering why Bai Dingfeng had called her.
"Here's the thing, I saw Tingyun looking for calligraphy copybooks at the academy. I have quite a few. If you don't mind, you can take them."
Bai Dingfeng opened the package, which contained several calligraphy practice books. He introduced them one by one, explaining that these books were suitable for people like Lin Yuesha who had no prior calligraphy experience and could be used for copying.
"Little girl, since it was Young Master Bai who helped you find it, you should accept it."
Mrs. Chen was very happy and hoped that her daughter would develop her skills. Even though she would have to endure some hardship, she was willing to do so.
Lin Yuesha: ...Thank you so much!
"You're welcome."
Bai Dingfeng nodded, looking somewhat relieved. He wanted to build a good relationship with Lin Yuesha so that she would owe him a favor, and then he could find ways to ask Lin Yuesha for food. Everything else was fine, but the spicy peanuts were just too delicious; no one else could make them taste the same.
Lin Yuesha: ...
Not far away, Li Ruoxue stared at Lin Yuesha's retreating figure, a venomous glint in her eyes. She was the daughter of the prefect, of marriageable age, and her family was busy arranging marriages for her.
Just now, a servant from Yingcheng came to tell Li Ruoxue some news.
The Li family wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Bai family, but the Bai family refused to budge and never agreed.
The servants in the house were confused and spent a lot of money to find out the truth. They learned that Bai Youran's mother, Madam Yan, actually favored that wild girl, Lin Yuesha. As a result, Li Ruoxue also learned Lin Yuesha's identity.
So what if he has the governor of the capital as his father? If he were truly valued, how could he have been abandoned and ignored in the north for more than ten years!
"Sister, look how close Young Master Bai is to that wild girl, this is not a good situation!"
Bai Dingfeng is handsome and refined, and an outstanding scholar. He will definitely become an official through his family's connections and pass the imperial examination. If you marry Bai Dingfeng, you will become an official's wife.
"It's alright, we'll think of a way to kick Lin Yuesha out. Once she's lost her reputation and is humiliated, will the Bai family still want to arrange a marriage? They'll be running away like the plague!"
Although Li Ruoxue had a bad temper, she was not stupid; she could see things clearly.
The Bai family's ambiguous attitude stems from Lin Yuesha's identity; if they could get close to Lin Yuesha's biological father in the future, it would be a good marriage.
The reason why the two families have not yet made a decision is that the Bai family is waiting for Lin Yuesha to establish herself in the capital or to assess her position in Lord Lin's heart.
The idea that marriage is a good thing for two families is just a matter of who has more value to them.
"If the person who takes advantage of me is a refined and elegant gentleman like Young Master Bai, I am willing."
Li Ruoxue's face flushed red, and she watched Bai Dingfeng leave with eyes full of spring water.
Here, the visiting time has arrived. The other young ladies receive care from their families, but Lin Yuesha is holding a thick stack of calligraphy practice books, on the verge of tears.
Bai Youran couldn't help but laugh. She didn't want to gloat, but seeing Lin Yuesha's expression, she couldn't resist and could only turn away and chuckle to herself.
"Your older brother has a point."
Bai Youran stabbed Lin Yuesha in the heart again, and Lin Yuesha almost burst into tears.
What kind of life is this? Every day I have to learn manners from Granny Kang until it's dark, I'm never full and I never get enough to sleep. I have to get up an hour early in the morning to practice calligraphy. I might as well just kick her out!
"Sister Bai, you still have to thank your brother for me."
Lin Yuesha gritted her teeth. Now things were really messed up. Starting tomorrow, she would have to practice calligraphy an hour earlier than usual, and Granny Fang said she would come to supervise.
"Sister Yue Sha, my elder brother is doing this for your own good. Your handwriting..."
Bai Youran looked annoyed, but decided to tell the truth anyway, "It's a bit embarrassing to present."
"All right."
Lin Yuesha calmly put away the calligraphy copybook. Thinking of that venomous look in Li Ruoxue's eyes just now, she asked Bai Youran, "Li Ruoxue's eyes were like she wanted to eat me alive. Have I offended her recently?"
Lin Yuesha was conscientious and hardworking, delivering cakes to the Li sisters every day. Although the sisters didn't treat her well, they were relatively peaceful.
"Oh, right."
Bai Youran patted her head, remembering what her mother had told her: recently, the Li family had been frequently visiting their home, proposing a marriage alliance.
Madam Yan didn't know much about the Li sisters, but she was somewhat tempted by the Li family's conditions. Li Ruoxue was to bring at least 100,000 taels of silver as a dowry when she married into the Bai family. That was 100,000 taels! With that kind of money, her husband's official rank could be promoted another level.
Even if my elder brother Bai Dingfeng married a daughter of a high-ranking family in the capital, he wouldn't have such a large dowry.
Therefore, Madam Yan instructed Bai Youran to keep an eye on Li Ruoxue at the girls' school and to thoroughly investigate her character. As long as she didn't have any major flaws, she could be properly taught after her daughter-in-law entered the family.
"Perhaps my elder brother gave you the calligraphy copybook, and Li Ruoxue misunderstood?"
Bai Youran thought about it and realized that there was only one possibility: Li Ruoxue was very satisfied with the marriage and had taken a liking to her elder brother, Bai Dingfeng.
Bai Youran had no say in her elder brother's marriage, which was decided by their parents. However, she didn't want a troublemaker like Li Ruoxue to be her sister-in-law.
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