Chapter 21: Calamity and Fortune (Part One)

  Lin Shen's courage had grown, his true nature was revealed, and with a smile, he quickly bowed to Old Man Lin and the surrounding elders, and then familiarly snuggled into Old Man Lin's arms. Although Old Man Lin was fully focused on listening to Fuquan's whispered conversation, he didn't push him away, and even handed Lin Shen an orange, while also responding to a question from a guest beside him: "He's still young, only five years old, and hasn't started learning yet."

  Lin Shen's eyes sparkled, and he gently pulled on Old Man Lin's sleeve, leaning in to whisper two sentences in his ear. Old Man Lin's eyes lit up, but his face turned extremely stern: "You didn't deceive me?"

  Lin Shen nodded confidently and drew a few strokes on the old man's palm. Fourth sister asked him to find a way to let grandfather know that he could already recognize characters, very well-behaved, finally had the opportunity.

  Mr. Lin stroked his beard and said, "Alright then, write your name for me to see."

  Don't look at Lin Shenzhen's young and spoiled appearance, but after all, he was personally taught by Mr. Tao from a very young age and started learning characters early on. This public display of his skills is indeed impressive! Lin Yizhen's eyes dimmed slightly, and she quietly withdrew her hands, retreating behind Old Master Lin San once again with a dejected expression. However, Old Master Lin San suddenly showed some interest: "Huh? Seventh Son can already recognize and write characters?"

  As soon as the words came out, someone looked at him strangely. Did he not know this as a father? Mr. Lin gave a sharp glance, scaring Mr. Lin San to shrink his neck and dare not speak. On the other side, Lin Shen was modest in a soft voice: "Too poor, can't be seen by people."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  But Lin Jinyong learned from Tao Fengtang that Shoutao had passed through the checkpoint safely, so he let out a light breath and smiled: "Thank you, big brother." As for the information related to Lu Xian, she pretended not to have heard it.

  Tao Fengtang is nineteen years old this year. Because he has been following his uncle Tao to the village, shops and markets for many years, he has grown strong and sturdy, with a healthy wheat-colored complexion, completely unlike the Lin family men who are pale and weak. What's rare is that he is open-minded and meticulous. He said in a low voice: "Even if your grandfather suppresses it here, others will still be dissatisfied in their hearts and will settle accounts with you afterwards, what will you do then?"

  Lin Jin smiled faintly: "Whether it's good fortune or bad, if it's bad, I won't be able to avoid it. As long as it doesn't implicate Little Seventh Brother, I don't care about anything else." The worst outcome of what just happened would be her getting punished, but Lin Sheng might actually get personally taught by Old Master Lin this time! This was what she hoped for the most and needed the most. Even if the Tao family wanted to give the best to Lin Sheng, a boy's upbringing couldn't be separated from excellent male relatives, and as for that god-like father of hers, it was pointless to even hope.

  Tao Fengtang said, "Teeth also have times when they touch the tongue. Living at home and passing days will always have troubles. As long as you don't mind and think openly, it's fine." He fell silent for a moment, then whispered, "I brought new toys for all of you. There is a hidden compartment under your sister's box. Tell her..."

  Lin Jinyong couldn't help but laugh, yet said: "I won't say! Eldest brother is biased and hid good things for sister, if the elders find out, we'll all get punished!"

  Tao Fengtang's ears turned red with shame, and she made a bowing gesture, begging in a low voice: "It's just a pair of crystal hairpins, I bought them myself with the money I earned from running away this time. In the future, brother will have more money, and he can buy better ones for you and Seventh Brother."

  Lin Jinrong smiled slyly: "Big brother! I'm risking my life for this, you'd better remember that you owe me a big favor! Don't push me away when I ask for help next time!" Next year is Aunt Wu's 40th birthday, and he must think of a way to go to Qingzhou, and also take the opportunity to see what's going on with that auction house.

  What could a little girl like you possibly have to ask of me? It's not like it's anything big, just eating and playing. Tao Fengtang didn't think much of it, but teased her little sister by haggling: "Didn't I just help your little brother the other day? How do I owe you a favor again?"

  Lin Jinrong rushed over and said: "Isn't that your seventh brother? You're helping me? Hmph! Big Brother!"

  "Yes, and I'm your seventh younger brother." Tao Fengtang couldn't help but laugh: "Half a year hasn't passed, and you're still sharp-tongued! Alright, I've been away for too long, it's not good. I'll leave now, don't forget what I told you!"

  "Got it! I just forgot that I won't forget about you, Big Brother!" Lin Jien Rong and Tao Feng Tang waved goodbye as he entered the building.

  A gentle breeze blew past her ears, the bamboo forest rustling in response. The sound of music drifted from a nearby stage, accompanied by the singing of performers and the laughter of spectators in the distance. Lin Jing stopped in her tracks, listening intently with a calm expression on her face. She wasn't stupid; if she wanted to do something, all she needed was a bit more courage... This lifetime, she must earn a lot of money, become someone others rely on, and be able to do whatever she wants freely, rather than being controlled by others. Perhaps the journey would be arduous and long, but she had finally found her own life goals.

  Lychee saw her standing still and didn't urge her, so she stopped behind her and stood quietly, looking down at Lin Jianrong's feet.

  It's unknown when it started, but all the girls were in the fashion of wrapping their feet tightly, called "quick horse riding", just to look slender and beautiful. The Lin family's daughters naturally followed the trend, and the fourth daughter had a very pretty pair of feet. But somehow, the shoes on her feet, which were made just last month for today's banquet, seemed a bit tight when she put them on for the first time today. It's true that as people grow up, their feet will also grow, but it's suspicious that they grew so much in just one month. Lychee was hesitant about whether to tell this to Madam Gui.

  The master and servant were both lost in thought, when Guigui rushed up from behind, out of breath: "My good girl, how can you still have the leisure to dawdle here? Do you know how much distress Madam has suffered for your sake and that of Seventh Young Master?" Then she went to pull Lin Jing's sleeve: "Let's go, let them see how distressed you are. Where is Seventh Young Master?"

  Lin Jin glared coldly at Guiyuan, shook off her hand that was grasping his sleeve and said calmly: "What's all the fuss about? You're getting more and more unseemly! Are you trying to get caught and punished? Did my mother send you to look for me?" Lin Jin told her not to bother him, but Guiyuan came over and pulled at him, what was she trying to do?

  Osmanthus didn't notice the discontent in Lin Jianrong's eyes at all, and foolishly said: "It's not, it was the eldest lady who called me over. The third lady has been summoned by the old lady, she must be punished, you don't know how the sixth and seventh ladies are framing you, hurry up and explain the facts clearly, if you go late, I'm afraid something bad will happen."

  In such a situation, what can an old lady who loves to save face do? Besides, aren't Lin Jianyin and Aunt still here? With her temper, wouldn't she make a big fuss if she suffered a loss? She's been standing downstairs for so long, quietly, what could be the big deal? Even afterwards, isn't there still Old Master sitting in charge? Lin Jianyin curled up the corner of his lips, Big Aunt is really bored, randomly grabbing someone to use as a gun, good to replace her to provoke the second house, it's also because she herself has experienced that ordeal and seen through many things, otherwise wouldn't she have rushed upstairs without asking anything?

  Guiyuan saw Lin Jing standing still with a smile that was not quite a smile, and hastily asked in confusion: "Miss?"

  Lin Jinyong covered his mouth with his hand and elegantly yawned: "I'm tired, I'll change my clothes and take a nap. If you go back to the madam, just say that I'm not feeling well and can't hold on, thank her for her kindness." After finishing speaking, he threw away the longan and went in the direction of his own courtyard.

  I've grown up to be so big, when have I ever suffered such humiliation at the hands of Fourth Aunt? Guiyuan watched as Litchi followed Lin Jianrong closely, leaving herself standing alone here, and couldn't help but feel humiliated to the point of her eyes turning red. After standing for a while, she went upstairs to report back to Eldest Aunt and didn't mention anything else.

  Lin Jinrong returned to her room, where Li Zhi was waiting on her and helped her change into a semi-new pale green skirt. Then she sat down on the couch, stretching out her feet for Li Zhi to change her shoes into soft slippers.

  Lychee took out a pair of soft, crimson satin shoes with white plum blossoms and squatted in front of Lin Jingrong. She removed the blue satin shoes with jade orchid embroidery from Lin's feet and touched her feet with her hands. Unconsciously, she pinched the width of Lin's foot with her fingers - indeed, it was a bit different. Since childhood, Lychee had been serving as a personal maid to the young lady, and even knew where every mole on her body was. These subtle changes were all too clear to her, even clearer than those known by Gui Yatou.

  Where did this change come from? Litchi was lost in thought, and at the same time, she quickly put on a pair of red and white plum blossom soft satin shoes for Lin Jiner, which were home-worn and relatively loose. She hesitated, picked up the changed blue hard-soled shoes, and raised her eyes to meet Lin Jiner's gaze.

  Lin Jinyong's face was smiling, but his eyes didn't have a hint of smile: "You just kicked my foot, did you find anything unusual?"

  "This is no trivial matter! Lychee's thoughts changed instantly, and she nodded slightly: 'I think, miss, your feet seem to have gotten a bit fatter than they were the other day.'"

  Lin Jinrong got up from the tea bed on one side, took a Jianzhou rabbit hair cup, and casually poured the cold tea into it. He sipped it lightly: "What's the matter?"

  Her voice had an inexplicable coolness, and Lychee was somewhat at a loss for words, only after a long while did she say: "Did you put it there yourself?"

  Lin Jinrong looked up at the lychee tree and said bluntly, "It's me. I'm not feeling well." When she was a child, her feet were bound, and since she hadn't hurt any tendons or bones, it didn't feel too painful at first, but as time went on, it started to hurt. She shed tears, and Tao Shi and Gui Yatou both advised her, "This is what looks good! Which big family's daughter doesn't have bound feet? Just bear with it, it'll be fine. Do you want to become a girl with big feet?" They also pointed at the maidservants watching from the side, including Gui Yuan, and said, "Look at them, they wish they could bind their feet but don't have the chance!"

  Her mother would never harm her, and besides, everyone else did it too. She endured, and in just over a decade, her feet had become small and dainty, slender and pretty. However, when she walked, she could only take tiny steps, and the more she walked, the more painful it became. Let alone running for her life. Later on, she met girls from other places who were similar to her in background but didn't have bound feet. They could run fast and walk far. Why did she need to suffer just to make those stinky men think she looked good? Who was she being delicate and dainty for? So the first thing she did after waking up was to unbind her feet. Of course, this couldn't be revealed to Gui Yatou or Gui Yuan, but it was different with Lychee. Besides, these changes wouldn't escape Lychee's notice anyway.

  *--------Description--------*

  Well, since it's a native female rebirth article and not from the Tang Dynasty or earlier, I have to mention foot binding. As for foot binding, after checking some relevant information, the earliest origin of foot binding is unclear, but it did start during the Song Dynasty and became popular in later generations. According to my research, during the early Song Dynasty, women's foot binding was done by wrapping their feet straight and not curved, called "fast horse riding", which is different from the so-called three-inch golden lotus of later generations (from archaeological discoveries, shoes were also much larger than the later three-inch golden lotus). Moreover, at that time, women's foot binding was not widely accepted by society and only prevailed among the upper class and ***, ordinary women in rural areas did not follow this beauty trend.

  Due to the heroine's identity background setting, I'll borrow this (mainly because I saw a real three-inch golden lotus photo and couldn't help it). Everyone can imagine a pair of slender and straight, not too big, delicate little white feet, wearing a pair of beautiful small shoes, of course those small shoes are not triangular in shape, hehe... Then again, roughly speaking, not professional archaeology, please forgive the omissions and lack of detail.