Lin Sini arrived at the Liang residence just after eight in the morning, well past the household's usual breakfast ti. Accompanying her was her thirteen-year-old cousin, Chang'an, from the second branch of the Lin family.
At that mont, the two of them were waiting sowhat awkwardly in front of the main gate.
In the main house, upon receiving the news, Madam Wu rely gave an almost imperceptible nod, not even putting down the account book in her hand.
"After all, they are Concubine Lin's family. Our household is not so heartless. Just follow the usual procedure and inform her."
It was up to Concubine Lin herself.
Hearing this, the green-clad maid standing by her side imdiately nodded.
Inwardly, however, she couldn't help but sneer. These Lin family people were truly laughable.
A re village boy who had passed the Tong Sheng exam, and he really thought he was soone important! No matter how clever or naturally gifted he was, he still had to first cross the threshold of becoming a Xiucai, or even a provincial graduate, before he had any right to weigh himself against the great households of the county.
One foot hadn't even stepped up yet, but his head was already held high. What kind of attitude was that?
Besides, to be honest, Biyun didn't think this family had much of a future.
Not to ntion how difficult it was for a farming family to raise a provincial graduate master, let alone one who was such a "pure and upright person" that he couldn't even lower his head.
They had all served in the household since childhood. When Concubine Lin was still serving the grandmother earlier, she had spoken with them, the senior maids. Everyone knew roughly how the concubine had been treated by her family before, and how she was sold to the household.
Calling it a living contract was just a nicer way of putting it. The work that needed to be done, the usual punishnts to be endured, weren't they all the sa?
Besides, after all these years, there was no sign this family intended to redeem her.
Pah! They were just good at putting on an act!
Of course, while thinking this, Biyun still turned and quietly gave a few instructions to the maid waiting outside the door.
Looking down on them was one thing, but they were scholars after all. Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of turning things around was still a chance.
She understood the principle of leaving so leeway when dealing with people.
After the news was relayed through several layers, and after waiting at the side gate for nearly half an hour, the Lin siblings were finally invited into the west courtyard.
Due to the regulations of the current dynasty, the Liang residence wasn't actually very large. Not counting the side rooms at the back specifically for servants, the several courtyards altogether only had a dozen or so proper rooms. However, the interior decoration was extrely exquisite.
The main the was one of splendor and magnificence. In the middle sat a beautiful and delicate small garden, and in the center of the garden was a not-too-large pond.
While boating was definitely out of the question, occasionally teasing the small fish was quite nice. It had also beco one of the sisters' favorite places to play recently.
When the two arrived, the three sisters were in the small pavilion by the pond, teasing the newly purchased golden crucian carp.
Upon receiving the news, An Ning was the first to pull a long face, looking displeased as she tossed the bait in her hand into the water, letting the dozens of golden fish in the lake scramble for it...
"Second Sister, aren't you going over?" a little girl in green clothes beside her asked softly.
"No!"
In the pavilion, a six-year-old girl, wearing a rose-colored ruqun skirt, her hair styled in twin buns, with delicate features, suddenly let out a cold snort.
"Even with my eyes closed, I know what these people are coming for. I'm not going to look for trouble!"
"Second Sister is right!" Liang Shuyu, who had an equally fiery temper beside her, also put down the bait in her hand, nodding her little head in strong agreent.
"They're not even proper relatives. Really, we're giving them too much face."
"Besides, Concubine Lin didn't send anyone to call for you either, right? It seems she's co to her senses!"
"That's true!" ntioning this, An Ning's expression finally improved a bit. She shook her little head vigorously, as if trying to shake off those annoying people.
"Alright, let's not talk about those annoying things. Eldest Sister, are you going to class later? If not, why don't we go play pitch-pot?"
Liang Eldest Miss was the most lively and energetic, and naturally had no objections.
Feeling the slightly wrinkled undergarnt inside her sleeve, the youngest Third Young Lady beside them silently lowered her head, a trace of envy flashing imperceptibly in her eyes.
At the sa ti, in the west courtyard.
It was a spring morning, the ti when the sunlight was at its best. On the soft couch, Lin Ting wore a white silk pleated skirt embroidered with plum blossoms in gold thread, over which was a rose-colored brocade jacket with lantern patterns. At the mont, she was looking coldly at the two younger siblings before her.
Sensing their elder sister's attitude, the two Lin siblings below couldn't help but feel sowhat awkward on their faces.
It was different from the "ease" they felt as masters of the house back at the Old Lin Family.
Just now, being led by a maid into the inner courtyard, everything they saw was grand and luxurious. Unconsciously, the actions of the Lin siblings had beco much more restrained.
Her gaze lingered for a mont on the dazzling peony-patterned gold hairpin in the other person's hair. After a long while, it was Lin Sini, also known as Lin Jing, who was the most quick-witted, who first suppressed the complexity in her heart and spoke up with a smiling greeting.
"Elder Sister hasn't sent word ho for a long ti. Father and Mother were inevitably worried, so they specifically asked younger sister and Second Brother to co and see you."
Finally, she deliberately took out a small green jar from the blue bundle she carried and said to the person before her with a smile.
"Oh, right, Sister, this is so pickled vegetables Mother made earlier. She specifically asked to bring them to you."
Only after these words fell did Lin Ting lower her head to look at this biological younger sister.
Lin Sini was already sixteen this year. Although not as beautiful as her elder sister Lin Ting, she was still a fair-skinned young woman with delicate features. As the younger sister of a Tong Sheng, and with her elder sister Lin Ting supporting her from the front, Lin Jing, since childhood, though not exactly living in luxury, never had to work in the fields all day like several of her cousins.
On ordinary days, she just helped her elder brother deliver als and tidy the house. The work was light, so naturally, she was well cared for.
Now, although her clothing was plain, her eyes were quite bright, showing she had a lively personality.
Unlike the twelve-year-old Lin Chang'an beside her, who could only nod dumbly.
However, at this mont, Lin Ting felt not the slightest bit of pleasure. Without even glancing at the green clay jar her younger sister was holding so carefully in her hands, she casually picked up a book from the side, curling her lips into a light smile.
"Is that so? Then I'll trouble Second Sister to thank Mother for ."
As soon as these words fell, the atmosphere in the room instantly beca awkward. The brightness in Lin Jing's eyes also dimd considerably.
But after a mont, it beca lively again, as if sprinkled with an indescribable sense of hope.
"Elder Sister, do you know? After the New Year, Eldest Brother is going to the prefecture city to take the exams..."
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