The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 322

The eldest daughter finally became pregnant, and this child was conceived thanks to Zhong Xiuxiu's consultation with Xiao Chunnuan at Chunshan Women's Medical College.

Madam Zhong became more amiable towards Zhong Xiuxiu's birth mother, Madam Luo.

Luo was originally a respectable woman, and she remained honest and dutiful even as a concubine.

On this Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet, Madam Zhong specially arranged for Madam Luo to sit to her left.

"Thank you ma'am."

The sudden favor made Luo increasingly uneasy.

"Auntie, please sit down."

Zhong Xiuxiu understood that this was a sign of her stepmother's favor.

This favor was related to his hard work in studying and the teacher's appreciation at the academy.

Her aunt could have easily enjoyed this favor.

"Xiuxiu..."

"Go ahead, Auntie, it's alright."

Luo saw a composure and confidence in her daughter's eyes that she herself had never possessed, and suddenly she straightened her back.

Yes, she was not favored by the master in the mansion, nor did she bear a son, but she had a good daughter.

Her daughter has gained the approval of her stepmother, and as long as she doesn't cause trouble, her retirement won't be a problem.

Sure enough, at the family banquet, Madam Zhong specifically inquired about the marriage arrangements of several of her illegitimate daughters.

"Master, are the third, fourth, and fifth sons all of marriageable age?"

"These things can be handled by Madam."

Mr. Zhong had absolutely no interest in caring about his daughter.

He's in a real bind right now; some things at court have gotten to him.

Just then, the gatekeeper came to report that Lord Lin had sent a letter.

Why send an invitation now, even though it's a holiday? Master Zhong hastily left his family behind to go to the Baiwei Restaurant where they had arranged to "discuss business."

When they arrived, they found out that Lord Lin was simply having a drink with his family, and his purpose in bringing him there was quite obvious: to make him pay the bill.

Lord Lin held his own weakness in his hands.

Lord Zhong paid the money willingly, without daring to utter a sound.

"Lord Lin, it's a festive day, how about we have a couple more drinks?"

"Sure, sure, come on, let's have a couple of drinks?"

Lord Lin put his arm around Zhong's shoulder and said, "Lord Zhong, we've been colleagues for many years. Tell me, how is our friendship?"

"Of course, that would be the best. You are both my teacher and my friend."

"That's too much, too much," Lord Lin said with a smile. "I've heard that Lord Zhong has a beautiful young lady in his household, perhaps..."

"No, no, my daughter is not talented enough to presume to marry into the Lin family, nor can she be related to Lord Lin by marriage."

"Who would want to be my daughter's in-law? My third concubine passed away last month, and the household is far too small..."

Upon hearing this, Lord Zhong gasped!
This old bastard is five years older than me, how dare he?

"Lord Zhong, how are you? Don't worry, I'm a little older than your daughter, but that's great! I know how to take care of people, hahaha..."

"Lord Lin, my daughter is a bit unruly..."

Lord Zhong simply couldn't bear to give his daughter to this old man as a concubine; he was practically humiliating himself.

"What's wrong? Lord Zhong is reluctant to part with it? Well then, I have nothing more to say. Please go ahead."

His face changes faster than turning the pages of a book; that's Lin Laogou for you. "Lord Lin, please calm down. I'll go back and tidy up my daughter and then send her to your residence."

"That's pretty much it."

Lord Lin sneered, "I only became interested because I heard your daughter is beautiful. You should know that not just anyone can enter the Lin family mansion."

What can Lord Zhong say?

Who told him to hold his life in his hands?

If we don't send our daughter, our whole family will be doomed!

When Lord Zhong returned to the manor and told Madam Zhong, Madam Zhong thought to herself, "What a terrible thing!"

Although these illegitimate daughters were not born to her, they were still beautiful young girls. It was truly cruel to bring them to the Lin family to be concubines of that nearly fifty-year-old man.

But what can she do?

"I will obey your orders, Master. Whatever you decide, Master will do."

"Is Lord Lin interested in that third daughter?"

The aunt of Zhong Xiuyao, the third daughter, was a woman from Jiangnan. She was a singing girl brought back by Lord Zhong when he went to Jiangnan. The third daughter inherited her mother's good looks and talent, and was quite famous in the capital.

However, because of her aunt's background, she was not favored by the ladies of the capital, and her marriage was delayed again and again. She was already seventeen years old this year and still hadn't been engaged.

Madam Zhong had never tormented her in her room, but when her eldest daughter wanted to choose someone from among them, the third girl acted a bit too much, even seeming to be desperate and wanting to take a gamble, which angered her.

Even so, Madam Zhong simply ignored her and didn't arrange a marriage for her. Who knew that someone surnamed Lin would take a liking to her?

"Go tell Sanya that it will be sent to the Lin residence tomorrow."

"Master, why don't you speak to Madam Qin first?"

Madam Zhong is such a shrewd person. If she were to bring this up herself, Madam Qin and Sanya would hate her.

The master made the trouble himself, so he has to deal with it.

"Sir, is there really no other way?"

When Qin received the news, she wept bitterly. She never imagined that her daughter, who had always been favored by her husband from Jiangnan to the capital, would have to follow this path and serve an old man.

"There's no other way. Third Sister is renowned for her talent, and Lord Lin specifically requested her."

Lord Zhong still felt sorry for her: "Don't worry, I will give Sanya more money to protect herself. You should also teach Sanya your skills so that she can be more clever in the Lin family and establish herself."

"master……"

What could Qin say? Crying to death wouldn't solve the problem.

When Zhong Xiuyao heard the news, it was like a bolt from the blue; her face turned deathly pale!

Fate is cruel; she was born with such beauty and talent, yet she has repeatedly missed out on wealth and status.

She originally thought she could enter the Imperial Study and serve the same husband as her eldest sister, but she never expected that she would end up serving an old man who was over fifty years old!
"Does a father have to be a daughter?"

“Third daughter, Lord Lin admires your talent; you are a clever one.” Lord Zhong was displeased: “You should know how to weigh the pros and cons. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. If you don’t go to the Lin residence, or if you don’t serve him well, neither your aunt nor any of us will have a good life.”

So, is she being threatened with her birth mother?
Zhong Xiuyao sneered inwardly.

When has she ever had a good life?

She's not there when things are going well, but I think of her when things are tough.

“Third daughter, you’re smart. You should know that all these years, the person I’ve favored the most is your aunt…”

Is your aunt the one you dote on the most?

How ironic is that?

She couldn't even protect her own daughter, and instead sent her away to serve a wretched old man. Is this the kind of pampering that the concubine really wanted?
Anyway, she doesn't want it!