Chapter 26: Eradicating Evil Slave Lin's Old Grudge (Part 2)

  Fei Yan Tang is located in the core of Lin's mansion, it is a place for discussion and reception. Because the eaves are built with four corners each having a swallow that seems to be about to fly high, so it is named as such.

  The terrain here is vast and open, with a wide road leading to it, and no walls or enclosures blocking the way. In the distance, there are lush forests and bamboo groves, and a small path leads to the Linglong Pavilion in the back. On both sides, during the summer days, they are all blooming with vibrant flowers, standing shyly here.

  In front of the hall is a golden plaque with the three characters "Fei Yan Tang" written on it. The sixteen pairs of red wooden doors are intricately carved with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums.

  The digital butler of the Lin family, Zhuang, sat upright in the hall, but was clearly distinguished. On the left was Lin Ruhai's original old man, and on the right was a loyal servant who had followed Lin Zhixuan for many years.

  Lin Dehuai sat on the left side of the chair, seemingly in a daze, but actually anxious. Since arriving at the old mansion in Suzhou, he and the people beside the master had only seen the young lady and gentleman on New Year's Day to pay their respects, and had not been able to see them again. Despite repeated requests to meet with them, the young master would only say that he was busy and told them to take a break until after the new year before meeting with them. Lin Dehuai wanted to go find Miss, but which part of the rear courtyard could he just walk into? The woman who used to be in charge of the rear courtyard was now also idle, and all the people used by the Lin family were chosen by Young Master Lin.

  Lin Dewai's sons and daughters often complained that they did not return to sell the contract when their father was still alive, or leave with them when dispersing slaves in Yangzhou. Now, there are seven or eight people in the family living in the servant's house in Qingping Lane behind Linfu, and even if they have money, they dare not go out to find another place to live.

  He took another look at the old men following him, their eyes were also dull and staring at the family kneeling on the ground. Lin Dehuai's heart was chilled, he wished to kick the Zhuo family a few times, it really made the master lose face.

  Inside the Feiyan Hall, five people were kneeling. They were Duan Po Zi and her two sons and daughters-in-law. Duan Po Zi looked withered and no longer had the arrogance of her former days. The two daughters-in-law were only softly sobbing, but Duan Po Zi's sons stood up straight, their faces full of righteousness, as if this was their home and someone else had taken over their mansion.

  Lin Dehuai and others sat silently, but they were also sizing up the five people opposite them. They were Luo Xiaokun, the steward of Lin's mansion, Tang Li, the purchasing steward, Zhao Zhong, the manager of the silk shop, Miao Jin, the manager of the grain shop, and Han Sheng, who was responsible for Lin Zhiyuan's travels.

  Lin Dehuai cast a cold glance, these people except for Luo Xiao Kun and Tang Li were the oldest, about forty years old, the others were all young people in their twenties, strong and vigorous, with sharp eyes, not easy to fool. Lin Dehuai had a rough idea in his mind, this young master of the Lin family was not an ordinary person, with the support of the older generation's steward Luo above, and the loyal help of Han Sheng Miao Jin below, no wonder the young master of the Lin family could make a name for himself in Jiangnan at the age of ten or so, and his family business became bigger and bigger.

  At this moment, a servant came in and reported: "All the people in charge, the young master and the young lady have arrived."

  Everyone busied themselves standing up and adjusting their clothes to welcome them.

  The two sons of Dòu's family, although they were tied up, as soon as they heard that Lín Zhìyuǎn had arrived, turned their heads and glared fiercely at the gate.

  Daiyu followed Zhiyan from behind, and as they were both respectable housekeepers in their families, they didn't wear veils either.

  The two of them sat down in the main seats on both sides, and several stewards also quietly took their seats.

  Zhiyuan looked at everyone and said, "Everyone is the most capable person in our Lin family. I know that recently, there have been some minor complaints. After arriving in Suzhou, Zhiyuan was too busy and didn't have time to talk to you all properly. Now, Daiyu is here, so let's speak our minds in front of her, without being shy."

  The several attendants on the left saw Lin Dehuai not speaking up and didn't dare say anything more.

  Daiyu saw that her brother didn't mention the matter of Du Bao's family, but only let those five people kneel down below. In her heart, she couldn't bear it. After all, Nurse Du was their father's wet nurse, and more importantly, if outsiders knew how her brother treated the elderly in their household, Daiyu worried that it would affect his reputation, especially since he would be taking the imperial examination next year.

  Daiyu whispered to Zhiyuan: "Brother, look..."

  She glanced at the family kneeling on the ground, and Zhiyuan knew what his sister meant.

  Zhiyuan smiled wryly and then said to the crowd, "Of course, before that, we still have one more thing to take care of." Zhiyuan looked at the Dou family: "I suppose all of you know each other, in our Suzhou, I don't think there are many people who don't know Master Dou!"

  Daiyu smiled when her brother spoke, but every sentence was laced with hidden malice.

  Lin Dehuai and others listened to the young master's words, their faces full of shame. This was clearly saying that they were not good at managing the household, cheating the superiors and deceiving the inferiors. They couldn't say anything, and thought that it was Duan Pozhen and her family who colluded with Lin Dehuai and others to cheat Lin Ruhai together!

  "Master, the Duan family is deceitful and shameless, they have betrayed Master's trust. They have ruined our Lin family's reputation in Suzhou. I hope you will severely punish them to serve as a warning to others."

  Originally like a dead person, Duan Pozhen suddenly heard Lin Dehuai say this, as if she had come back to life, turned her head to look at Lin Dehuai, and scolded loudly: "Lin Dehuai you little beast, if I hadn't spoken for you in front of the old lady, could you have become a servant by the old master's side? Could you have become the manager of the Lin family? Now you are ungrateful and disloyal, you will not die well."

  She looked at Lin Zhiyuan on the left in front of her: "I know you won't let our family go today. I'm afraid your short-lived mother didn't say anything bad about me and my husband! Hmph, Lin Zhiyuan, do you really think you're a young master? Your grandmother is just a lowly person, a concubine's fate, relying on the old master's doting...

  As soon as she finished speaking, Daiyu slammed the teacup in her hand to the ground with a loud "crack", scaring Aunt Xue.

  The old woman saw the girl sitting next to Zhiyuan, slender in figure and beautiful in face, with a faint resemblance to Lin Ruhai. She knew that this was Lin Daiyu and cried out: "Miss, don't scold me, I know you're afraid of...". She had originally wanted to say "that little beast", but thinking of her four grandchildren still in Lin Zhiyuan's hands, she changed her words: "afraid of your brother. Although I, Old Mother Du, have not served by the young lady's side, I am after all the wet nurse of the young lady's father. You should show some regard for my position, if not for me, then for the sake of your ancestors. Our whole family has been guarding the large mansion in Suzhou, with no merit but much hardship. How can you return home and want to punish us? Isn't this enough to chill everyone's hearts..."

  Daiyu was almost out of breath, no wonder her brother didn't call her over. This group of cunning slaves, with their clever words, actually dared to try and drive a wedge between her and her brother. They were indeed cut from the same cloth as Duan Yunzhuang.

  Daiyu calmed down a bit and said coldly, "There's no need for you to say that, Aunt Duan. I've already understood what your family is capable of." Daiyu then turned to Zhiyuan and said, "Since brother has asked me to take charge of the household, why don't I handle this matter?"

  Although Zhiyan knew Daiyu was soft-hearted, she couldn't very well refuse her sister in front of everyone, so she could only nod and agree.

  Daiyu saw that Zhiyuan agreed, and said: "Aunt Xue also said that there is no merit but hard work, so my brother and I will not pursue it anymore. From now on, we will take care of Aunt Xue ourselves." Looking at the remaining four people, her eyes turned, "The few people in the Duan family rely on Aunt Xue's merits to be arrogant and violate the Lin family rules. Please ask Manager Luo to call the toothless old woman to drive them far away."

  The daughters-in-law of the Duan family heard Daiyu's words and thought that their mistress was showing great mercy, intending to spare them, and they couldn't help but kowtow.

  The two sons of the Duan family, however, remained silent. The eldest son of the Duan family had been taking advantage of Lin Ruhai's reputation to do evil in Suzhou City, and the head of the Lin family had also distanced himself from Lin Ruhai's family because of this matter. As a result, no one informed Lin Ruhai, the Lin Imperial Historian of Yangzhou. The Duke of Dongping had an ordinary relationship with Lin Ruhai, but he went to Yangzhou to help him at first because Lin Zhifan was there. Moreover, he was annoyed by the behavior of the old lady of the Lin family in those days, so when he saw Lin Ruhai, he did not want to mention these things, after all, it was a domestic dispute within the Lin family.

  The two sons of the Dugu family exchanged a glance, and their previous bravery was gone. They had thought that they would be taken to the government office, where they could claim innocence and say that Lin Zhiyuan had framed them by manipulating the old servant of the Lin family. This way, there might still be a glimmer of hope. But now, the young lady said she wanted to keep their mother behind and sell them off. Sell them off... They were all born into slavery, but they grew up wearing fine clothes and eating well. If they left, what would happen to the four children who remained?

  No, absolutely not.

  Dowager lady was also a capable person, just now she was still dignified and self-righteous, but as soon as she heard Daiyu's words, she burst into tears.

  "Miss, please let us go, we'll never dare to be evil again, just let our whole family reunite!"

  Lin Daiyu had thought of sparing their lives and selling them to a good family, so they could start anew. However, it was out of the question for Duan's mother to be let off scot-free, or else people would say that her brother was lacking in virtue. From what Lin Daiyu gathered from her brother's words, many people were aware of the evil deeds of Duan's family, so even if they were sold, no one could say anything about it. But when she thought about them redeeming themselves, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in her heart.

  Zhiyuan said coldly, "You don't know how to appreciate kindness. Miss not sending you to see the official is already a favor, and yet you still dare to ask for ransom? You are all slaves of my Lin family, and it's up to us to decide your fate. Luo Guan Jia," Zhiyuan called out to Luo Xiao Kun who was sitting on the right side.

  "Master." Luo Guan hastily stood up:

  "Go and ask Tian Mama from the dental shop to come, just say that our family wants to buy people." Zhiyuan waved his hand, and five or six robust servant women came up and stuffed the mouths of several people from the Dugu family with cloth.

  Lin Dehuai and others have lived in Yangzhou for a long time, but they also know the great name of this Tian Mama. After listening to Lin Zhiyuan's words, they couldn't help but take a cold breath. The girl didn't know, so she sat there silently, but Lin Dehuai and others were clear about it. This Tian Mama's husband ran the largest dental clinic in Jiangnan. It was called a dental clinic, but actually, it was a human trafficking operation. They only operated two businesses: one was to cultivate beautiful girls into Yangzhou thin horses and sell them to brothels, most of which went to Beijing; the other was that they sold slaves to salt farms, where people mostly died after working for a few years, making it a place with no exit.

  Lindai saw the Dou family members struggling desperately on the ground, but their mouths were completely blocked, and they knew that they had also heard of Tian Mama's great name, which made them afraid. Looking at Lin Zhiyuan again, this young master was calm and composed, as if nothing had happened, and Lindai and others became more and more fearful of this young man, saying that he was a young genius, but unexpectedly his heart was so ruthless...

  PS: I'm so sad~~~~ The click rate hasn't broken 6,000, I'm heartbroken!!!!! Hopefully it'll be successful today~~~ The beautiful editor said that maybe next week (which is tomorrow) she'll recommend me, so I need to work hard and update diligently, striving for two updates every day! ^_^