New and dark light years

Chapter 426: Divorce plan

“I’m not going.” Li Lin shook his head: “Although the Fang family has a younger sister-in-law, you just had a fight with her, and it would be awkward to go there. Besides, the Fang family doesn’t have much of a relationship with us, and we don’t know what we can do there. Just trying to curry favor will only make people look down on us.”

Huang Qing breathed a sigh of relief: "Then we'll do as you say and not go to the Fang family."

She felt embarrassed to face her younger sister again right away, after all, she had just scolded her not long ago.

And that's how it was settled.

Huang Qing led Hong Luan to inspect the house in various aspects.

For example, matters such as the contents of the storeroom and the treatment of the servants.

These are all things that the old lady should do.

In this era, all a man needs to do is put money at home; most of the household chores are handled by his wife.

I try my best not to let household chores affect my husband, so that he can focus on working outside.

Li Lin then went to the study.

The place has been almost completely emptied, leaving only a few bare shelves.

Even these shelves, judging by the paint finish, are quite valuable.

The previous owner of the house was relatively 'humane', at least he preserved the basic structure of the house.

To avoid Li Lin having to find new people and rearrange things.

After walking around the study, Li Lin returned to the main hall and saw Huang Qing listening to the steward report on matters that should be paid attention to inside and outside the house.

Upon seeing Li Lin approach, the steward cupped his hands in greeting and stepped aside.

Huang Qing stood up and said with a smile, "I've already asked Hongluan to cook, it should be ready soon."

"What do you think of this house?"

“I like it very much.” Huang Qing smiled and said, “It’s better than the one at home… Also, could you let my mother come and stay with us? I can tell she’s not happy living at the Huang’s house.”

Li Lin nodded: "Of course, this place is so big, more people will make it more lively."

"Thank you for your understanding, sir." Huang Qing smiled and said, "Then I will invite my mother over tomorrow."

From childhood to adulthood, although Madam Huang secretly favored her own daughter Huang Ling more, she was still very kind to Huang Qing.

She provides all the necessary resources and treats me like a daughter.

Even among biological children, there is always one who is especially favored, let alone Huang Qing, who is not one's own daughter.

Even so, Huang Qing was truly grateful to Madam Huang; in her heart, Madam Huang was like her own mother.

After all, she was raised and held by Madam Huang.

Li Lin then asked the butler, "Are there any document shops nearby that sell pens, ink, and paper?"

"Of course, sir. We can handle this; you don't need to go yourself."

Li Lin thought for a moment, then took out two large silver notes from his sleeve and handed them over: "Since you are the steward, you will be responsible for the food, clothing, and daily necessities of everyone in the household, as well as the purchase of food."

The steward looked at the face value of the two silver notes and said in surprise, "Master, this is too much."

"More" is relative.

These two denominations were insignificant to Li Lin.

Li Lin smiled and said, "It's alright. Take it and buy some good food for everyone, and make sure everyone dresses nicely."

To be honest, the clothes these servants wore weren't even as good as those worn by Li Lin's servants in Yulin County.

You must understand, that's the southern border region, and this is the capital city.

"But Madam has already set the rules and monthly salary for us."

Huang Qing laughed from the side, "What I set are family rules, and what the master gave is a reward, so just take it."

The butler smiled happily: "Thank you, sir, thank you, madam."

Then the steward went to buy writing brushes, inkstones, paper, and cinnabar for Li Lin.

Before long, Hongluan brought out all the prepared food.

By this time, the servants had already prepared their own meal. They only started eating together in the side hall after seeing Li Lin begin to eat.

Hongluan ate until her mouth was bulging, and said, "Things in the capital are so expensive! Water spinach costs ten coins a pound, bok choy costs twenty coins, and mutton is even more expensive, thirty coins. How are the poor people here supposed to survive?"

Huang Qing said, "People here earn more money, so you can't compare them like that."

"Oh."

Then Hongluan looked at Li Lin expectantly and asked, "My lord, shall we cultivate together tonight?"

Huang Qing glanced around instinctively and tapped Hong Luan's hand with the tip of her chopsticks: "What nonsense are you talking about... This is not like home."

“This is home too,” Hongluan pouted and said, “but I want to be close to my husband, Miss, please don’t tell me you don’t want to.”

Huang Qing blushed slightly.

It's been almost a month since I left Yulin County and arrived here.

Having not been intimate for so long, she naturally missed it.

Li Lin smiled and said, "I will set up a house-protecting formation in the backyard later. After you finish eating, go wash up first."

The two women glanced at each other, then lowered their heads to eat, no longer speaking, but their eating speed noticeably increased.

After Li Lin finished his meal, the steward returned with writing brushes, ink, and paper, along with cinnabar.

After obtaining the tools, Li Lin began to create a chess formation in his study.

The Anzhai Formation is a very useful formation, more effective than many offensive formations. I spent some time making the talisman chess pieces and then set them up in the backyard. As for the formation's core, I chose a Yuhua stone and placed it on the artificial hill, blending it into the scenery.

After the array's core was placed, the air in the entire backyard seemed to ripple slightly.

Luoshuixiang (street) is a bustling area, noisy even in the evening, but the moment the Anzhai Formation was set up, the noise disappeared and the sound became noticeably quieter.

Li Lin clapped his hands and went to wash up.

When they arrived at the bedroom, they saw two women sitting on the edge of the bed.

A few breaths later, the candles were blown out, revealing a red bed and white waves.

The next day, Li Lin got up, and Hong Luan, whose face still held a hint of allure, helped him change. Huang Qing's expression was much better. She came in from outside and said, "My lord, I have sealed two bottles of anti-aging pills and three bottles of body-strengthening pills into a gift box and placed it on the table in the hall. You can go and see it when you visit later."

"Thank you for your help."

"My lord, you must have had a hard night." Huang Qing's face was also slightly flushed.

Hongluan brought breakfast, a bowl of meat porridge.

After finishing his bowl of wine, Li Lin took the gift box and went to his neighbor's house on the left.

They were supposed to be neighbors... because both houses occupied quite a lot of land, so he walked along the white wall for quite a while before arriving at the entrance of the Yu residence.

An old doorman is waiting here.

Upon seeing Li Lin, he immediately stepped forward and asked, "Are you Lord Li, the Garrison Commander of Jin County?"

Li Lin clasped his hands in a fist and smiled, "Indeed! May I ask if the master of the Yu residence is here?"

"Madam has been waiting for you in the front hall for quite some time. Please come in."

The black door opened, and Li Lin walked in.

The interior of this house is similar to the house that Li Linxin acquired, and it seems to have been designed by the same master gardener.

However... the servants here all looked very serious and tense, and the air was somewhat heavy.

The old doorman led the way, and before long they arrived at the front.

Two women were sitting in the room. One had gray hair and looked to be over fifty years old, while the other was a beautiful and dignified woman who looked to be over thirty.

Moreover, the fact that this beautiful woman was present at such a formal occasion for meeting distinguished guests suggests that she is very likely Yu Youqing's legal wife.

Li Lin walked over, handed the gift to the gatekeeper, then clasped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Li Lin, courtesy name Kunge, greets the two elders."

The two women were taken aback; they had never expected that Li Lin would visit them in a 'private' capacity.

Under normal circumstances, he should at least give his official title.

But the more he does this, the more it demonstrates Li Lin's sincerity.

The two women stood up and bowed in return. The older woman smiled and said, "My surname is He, and I am Youqing's mother. The woman next to me is my daughter-in-law, surnamed Zhou."

Li Lin clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Aunt He, Aunt Zhou."

"Good, good, good!" The old man was very happy to see Li Lin address the two of them in such a way.

The beautiful woman surnamed Zhou also breathed a sigh of relief.

Old He sat down and asked, "I dare to call you Kun Ge... Do you know my good-for-nothing son?"

Yu Youqing died too suddenly in battle, so apart from a few people, no one knew that Li Lin had received Yu Youqing's care.

Li Lin then recounted what had happened in the military camp six months prior.

"General Yu greatly appreciates me and even gifted me the Linshan Spear. It is only right and proper that I pay him a visit." Li Lin continued, "I owe General Yu a favor. If the Yu family needs my help in any way, please feel free to ask, and I will do my best to help."

Old Mrs. He wiped her eyes: "Kun Ge, it's good that you have this intention. Our Yu family is not in any trouble for the time being. We may have lost our son, but we still have several grandsons. When they grow up, the Yu family will be as glorious as ever."

“That will certainly be the case,” Li Lin said with a smile.

The Yu family is a renowned military family that existed in the previous dynasty. For over two hundred years, they have maintained a position in the core of the court, both in the previous and present dynasties, demonstrating the family's considerable abilities.

These minor setbacks shouldn't be too difficult for them.

At this moment, the beautiful woman beside her asked, "Kun Ge, I heard that a kind of elixir has recently become popular in the capital. It came from the Southern Frontier. You are also in the Southern Frontier. Do you know anything about it?"

Li Lin laughed and said, "That was made by myself."

"Really?" the beautiful woman asked eagerly, "Could you sell me one or two bottles..."

The old woman next to her said disapprovingly, "What do you need that for? You're already beautiful enough."

“Mother, it’s not like that.” The beautiful woman, Madam Zhou, hurriedly explained, “Madam Liu is secretly trying to buy this thing at a high price. If we can send a bottle over, Ahua’s marriage will be much easier to arrange.”

"That's it..."

Old Mrs. He also looked at Li Lin, but she was obviously shy and moved her mouth a few times but didn't say anything.

Li Lin smiled and said, "In the gift box I brought, there are two bottles of anti-aging pills and three bottles of body-strengthening pills."

Mrs. Zhou stood up happily: "Really?"

"Of course I wouldn't dare to tease my two elders."

At this moment, the doorman standing nearby, with keen insight, opened the gift box and handed it over.

After counting the items, Madam Zhou said happily, "Kun Ge, our Yu family will remember your kindness. As for the matter concerning the military governor, our Yu family will not pursue it."

Li Lin was taken aback: "Pursue?"

“Someone once told us that you said in private that the Yu family, occupying the position of military governor, is like a dog occupying a latrine without doing its business…” Old Mrs. He said with a cold smile, “Now it seems… someone is trying to sow discord between our two families.”

(End of this chapter)