Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 523 It was my sister-in-law in front of me, my apologies~ my apologies~
My darling~

In the main courtyard of the Rongguo Mansion, an old lady with silver hair came up and hugged Lin Daiyu, bursting into tears.

"You're finally back!"

This is the matriarch of the Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia.

As Zhou Shuren once said, "When a woman is in charge, the house collapses."

The current imbalance of power between women and men in the Rongguo Mansion, and even its eventual downfall, are all inextricably linked to her.

The elder sisters also stepped forward to offer words of concern and exchange greetings.

At least on the surface.

"I was overjoyed to receive the letter and learn that my son-in-law was getting better."

After the conversation, everyone took their seats.

A maidservant brought tea.

Grandmother Jia took Lin Daiyu's hand and sat down beside her.

He said earnestly, "He was able to turn the tide thanks to your visit."

"As parents, they will always want their children to get better."

Lin Daiyu, who was standing to the side, responded softly.

What I was really thinking was, 'My father's improvement is indeed because of me.'

If I hadn't met my senior brother, I would be a lost and alone person now.

"What did Lian-ge'er say in his letter?" Grandmother Jia asked, "Did you encounter many things on this trip south?"

"Tell me properly~"

Having already prepared her explanation, Lin Daiyu briefly recounted the events.

Only those related to Lin Dao were modified, simply stating that he was a strange man from the martial arts world who cured his father with miraculous skills.

As for his becoming a disciple of the Bodhi Patriarch at the Xieyue Sanxing Cave on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, he didn't mention it at all.

"He's quite an eccentric."

Grandmother Jia did not mind, saying, "We should give more reward money."

For these noble families, no matter how capable a person is, they are just a tool.

Even if someone is respectful and courteous to scholars, it's just a formality.

Daiyu moved her lips, but in the end she only responded with a "yes".

"It is said that."

Grandmother Jia then asked, "What bandits did you encounter on the road?"

'It's more than just encountering~'

Lin Daiyu pondered her experiences along the way.

Especially on the return trip, Lin Dao would often take her out to do chivalrous deeds.

Along the way, Lin Daiyu witnessed firsthand how many notorious bandits and local tyrants were wiped out by her senior brother.

Moreover, my senior brother even taught me his true martial arts skills!
“It’s nothing serious.” Lin Daiyu slowly shook her head. “If anything happens, Second Brother Lian will handle it.”

"Good sister."

A beautiful woman, resplendent in colorful embroidery and resembling a goddess, asked with a smile, "Where has your Second Brother Lian gone to pay his respects to the old lady?"

Lin Daiyu looked over and indeed it was Sister Feng.

She covered her mouth and chuckled, "Second Brother Lian is treating us to drinks in the courtyard."

"Instead of paying respects to the Ancestor," Wang Xifeng grinned, "she went off to drink."

“Grandmother, you must teach him a good lesson.”

"Good, good." With her grandson and granddaughter returning safely, Grandmother Jia was in high spirits. "Let's eat first, and then we'll discipline him."

Wang Xifeng was eloquent and always had a smile on her face.

Although he was illiterate, he was still able to make the old lady happy.

As the granddaughter-in-law, she nominally holds the power to manage the household.

Yes~
She was, after all, a daughter-in-law.

In ancient times, the wives of wealthy and powerful families actually had a very miserable life.

She was naturally at odds with her mother-in-law. Once she married into the family, she was bound by rules and had to stand and serve her all day long, until her calves swelled up.

Just like at this moment, Grandmother Jia invited everyone to eat together.

A group of girls could all sit at the same table as Grandmother Jia.

But Wang Xifeng, Madam Wang, and Li Wan, who were the daughters-in-law, stood aside and served.

How could they possibly not harbor resentment?!
Over the decades, even the best personality can be driven mad.

As the saying goes, "A daughter-in-law who has endured many years of hardship will eventually become a mother-in-law." When they become mothers-in-law, they will have to pay back all the sins they suffered in their youth!

It was returned to the new brides.

This cycle repeats itself endlessly, with generations tormenting each other.

Some people say that the misery of women in ancient times was the fault of men.

In reality, it's often the women who are truly ruthless.

Wang Xifeng was busy running around, greeting people, making arrangements, and even cracking jokes to warm up the atmosphere.

I'm really exhausted.

The dinner party had finally gotten on track, and she was too lazy to go to the table next to her to eat.

She gave Ping'er, who was helping her, a wink, and left Rongxi Hall, walking through the main hall to the backyard.

Wang Xifeng and her husband Jia Lian lived in the last courtyard of the Rongguo Mansion.

Beyond their courtyard lies the future Grand View Garden.

Wang Xifeng walked quickly, making her way back to the front of the courtyard.

We bypassed the large, pink-painted screen wall and went straight into the courtyard.

This is a typical independent courtyard, with three main rooms and two side rooms with covered corridors.

The main house has three rooms for receiving guests, the west wing is the bedroom of Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng, and the east wing is the bedroom of Ping'er.

The maids and servants in the courtyard all greeted him.

Wang Xifeng waved her hand, lifted the hem of her skirt, and walked all the way to the front of the main room.

"Brother Zihou, I'm suffering so much~~~"

Before even opening the door, one could hear Jia Lian's movements inside.

"You wouldn't believe it, even though I claim to be a direct descendant of the Rongguo Mansion, we're actually quite poor."

"Being short of money, it's not easy for me to meet up with friends on ordinary days."

"To ask for some money, you still have to put up with the old woman's bad temper~"

Wang Xifeng, standing outside the door, was so enraged by what she heard that her teeth were itching to bite back.

When have you ever asked for money and I didn't give it to you?

They actually slandered me like this in front of outsiders.

He's meeting up with his friends and going out to find all sorts of dirty and smelly things, doesn't he find it disgusting?
Just as they were about to push the door open, they heard a strange man's voice coming from inside.

"Okay, how much do you want?"

“Brother Zihou knows me well, eight to eight hundred taels.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng almost burst out laughing.

You really dare to say that!
Eight hundred taels of silver! Eight hundred taels of silver is enough for you to stay at Piaoxiang Courtyard for two months!
Only a fool would give you eight hundred taels.

"Here's what we'll do," a steady male voice came from inside the room again, "I'll round it up to one thousand taels."

"I'll give it to you after dinner." "Brother Zihou~" Jia Lian's voice was full of joy, "I won't say anything more, I'll drink first as a sign of respect!"

Are there really such fools in this world?

Wang Xifeng was dumbfounded.

That's eight hundred taels!

Even the head maid in the Rongguo Mansion only received one tael of silver per month.

She herself only earned five taels of silver a month.

Eight hundred taels is enough to buy dozens of maids to serve you.

'Could he be a con artist from somewhere?'

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng gave Ping'er a wink, retreated to the courtyard, went to the west wing, and called Xing'er and Long'er to ask who the guests in the room were.

Jia Lian's personal servant was mostly just a bystander.

They didn't know the details either.

After all that talk, it's all been vague stuff.

As for the kidnapping, Jia Lian had previously given strict instructions that it must not be leaked, so he didn't dare to say anything at this moment.

Fortunately, there was still some useful information.

"When the Second Master was in Yangzhou, that Young Master Lin often gave him money to spend."

"They give quite a lot, at least several hundred taels each time."

Wang Xifeng was greatly puzzled by these words. "Does that mean you want Second Master to do something for you?"

The servants exchanged a glance, both seeing a barely suppressed smile in each other's eyes.

Young Master Lin kills thieves as easily as slaughtering dogs, and he has more money than he can spend. What could he possibly need from Second Master Lian?

After hesitating for a moment, Long'er responded softly.

"Second Madam, I vaguely remember Second Master Lian mentioning it."

"Yes, yes, it is!"

Wang Xifeng glared at her and said, "Speak!"

"Yes, yes~ Second Master Lian said that Young Master Lin knows alchemy and can conjure up money whenever he needs it."

"Ha~~"

These words made Wang Xifeng laugh in anger.

Why don't you say he's a deity descended to earth?

"Alchemy? It's just a trick used in the martial arts world. Only your Second Master would believe it!"

She got up and rushed straight to the main room.

Ping'er hurriedly followed and shouted before Wang Xifeng could push open the door.

"Second Master Lian, Second Madam is back!"

As soon as the clear, warbling voice of a nightingale faded, Wang Xifeng pushed open the door and entered.

Lin Dao, holding a wine glass, turned his head to look over.

Bright eyes.

Cao Xueqin said that Wang Xifeng was like a fairy princess.

That's absolutely right!

She wore a jeweled bun and a five-phoenix hairpin.

She wore a red-gold dragon-patterned necklace, a gold-embroidered satin jacket, a five-colored silver fox fur coat, and a jade-green crepe skirt.

She had a pair of almond-shaped eyes and two arched eyebrows.

Slender and graceful.

Her fair face held a hint of spring, her power undisguised; her red lips, before they parted, already betrayed her laughter.

"Oh~ Second Master Lian has returned home~"

"I am so sorry I couldn't greet you properly."

Although he spoke with a smile, his face clearly showed anger.

Lin Dao had noticed her eavesdropping outside the door earlier.

Knowing that Feng Lazi loved money the most, she generously agreed to Jia Lian's loan.

Upon seeing the real person, Cao Cao's traitorous nature immediately revived.

When she appeared, Lin Dao smiled but said nothing.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

With a flushed face, Jia Lian stood up and greeted, "This is my sworn brother, Brother Lin, Lin Zihou."

Although Wang Xifeng was known for her shrewishness, she was still quite polite.

He bowed to Lin Dao and said, "Young Master Lin."

"What Young Master Lin?" Jia Lian protested. "This is my brother!"

Wang Xifeng gritted her teeth, about to speak.

Lin Dao put down his wine glass and stood up, saying, "So it was you, sister-in-law, in person. My apologies!"

"Alas."

Jia Lian waved his hand, "We're brothers, no need to stand on ceremony."

Even daughters-in-law from wealthy and powerful families are not allowed to meet men from outside the family.

Although Wang Xifeng was shrewish, she also observed proper etiquette.

The reason they came in was that they believed Lin Dao was a charlatan and wanted to expose him.

Unexpectedly, before she had even exchanged a few words, she had become the sister-in-law.

She rolled her eyes and immediately smiled.

"Now that our brothers have come, how can we not have good wine?"

"Ping'er, go and fetch that jar of Du Kang wine."

Lin Dao's gaze swept over the maid who had received the order.

Even with his discerning eye, which had seen countless beauties, he still recognized the woman's beauty, and a hint of appreciation appeared in his eyes.

The Rongguo Mansion, as depicted by Cao Xueqin, is indeed a treasure trove of the world of Dream of the Red Chamber.

Even though she was just a maid, she had top-notch looks.

Of course, besides her beauty, Ping'er's character and temperament are even more outstanding.

Wang Xifeng, seeing his scrutinizing gaze, felt contempt.

When the drinks arrived, she took the initiative to serve them, pouring wine and serving dishes, and warming up the atmosphere with laughter.

The jar of wine, weighing a full five jin, was empty. Jia Lian was already fast asleep, slumped over the table, while Lin Dao continued drinking as if nothing had happened, his expression unchanged.

"Brother Lin, you really have a good capacity for alcohol."

Wang Xifeng clicked her tongue in amazement, "How much wine can you drink?"

Lin Dao held up one finger.

"One jin?" Wang Xifeng didn't believe it. "This jar weighs a full five jin, and you've eaten most of it!"

"Not a pound."

Lin Dao shook his finger.

“Yes, I drink all the time.”

(End of this chapter)