Lin Yuzhen exchanged a few pleasantries and said, "Yun'er has been living in Jiangnan since she was a child. In Pingzhou, apart from our family's girls, there aren't any familiar young ladies. I plan to host a warm stove gathering at home and invite several madams from good families in Pingzhou to watch plays and have fun. Third Aunt also asked Fourth Sister to go over and play; she's not young anymore and shouldn't always be cooped up at home."

  Generally, arrogant people don't like those who are more arrogant than them. They also look down on those who fawn and flatter. Lin Yuzhen was such a person. She didn't like the arrogant Tao family, nor did she like the overbearing twins. As for Lin Wu, he seemed okay at first glance, but his eyes would flicker and dodge, and he loved to flatter people, which made her feel uneasy. On the other hand, Lin Jiren was pure, filial, quiet, and good-looking. His parents were not powerful or cunning either. The more Tao family didn't want Lin Jiren to visit their home, the more she wanted him to go.

  Taoshi hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing: "She's a bit shy, let her third sister accompany her." Then he didn't say anything else.

  Everyone could see that Mrs. Tao was not pleased with their visit, so they just sat for a while and then took their leave. Lin Jingrong ran to flatter Mrs. Tao: "Several sisters all love to play small temper, I don't want to mix with them, just want to accompany mother."

  "Are you going to stay cooped up in this house forever, never going out or showing your face, so that others won't even know there's an Eighth Sister in the Lin family, let alone a Fourth Sister? I know you're afraid of strangers, but with your sister by your side, what's the harm?"

  Lin Jianyin also chimed in: "You should go out more, you can't be so reclusive and quiet at such a young age, it's not good."

  Lin Jinyong was full of worries and couldn't express himself, let out a long sigh, but received a houseful of praise: "Fourth Miss is really filial..."

  He said: "She is really filial and should listen to me."

  Lin Jinrong was so sad that she wanted to cry but had no tears.

  The sky was not yet bright, and Lin Jingrong opened her eyes. She sensitively felt that today was very cold, even the eyeballs were several degrees colder than usual, and the quilt near the mouth and nose was a bit damp. She sat up gently, put on the light green small cotton-padded jacket placed beside the pillow, leaned against the head of the bed, and stared blankly at the already extinguished charcoal basin.

  That year, Lin Yuzhen also hosted a warm stove gathering. After careful arrangement, Lu Yun performed the art of tea division in front of everyone, making a big splash and gaining fame in Pingzhou, earning her the reputation as a renowned lady. It had been winter for a long time, and the Lin family had invited guests several times, but she thought she had missed it, only to find that it was still being held.

  The door was gently pushed open, and the osmanthus and lychee came in with a water holder and a charcoal basin. "It's really cold today, gloomy, it's not daylight yet, I'm afraid it's going to snow. Miss is visiting Auntie's house today, you should wear more clothes."

  Lin Jinyong curled up in his quilt, covering his face: "I'm not feeling well."

  "Where are you uncomfortable?" Lychee hurriedly put down the charcoal basin, came forward to touch her forehead, and Longan poured a cup of hot water over: "Shouldn't it be catching a cold?"

  Lin Jinyong closed his eyes and didn't say anything.

  "Miss!" Madame Gui walked in with big strides, smiling: "Uncle and Master are here! They brought a whole cart of things, just arrived at the door. Said they have something to do at home on Winter Solstice, can't come to pay respects, so they came ahead of time to send gifts for the festival." According to the customs of this dynasty, after engagement, every festive occasion, the groom's family would send gifts and pay respects to the bride's family.

  Lin Jiran immediately sat up, his eyes shining brightly: "Really?!" Coming early is not as good as coming at the right time, Uncle came just in time.

  Old Lady Gui smiled: "What's the point of deceiving you? And yet, a certain Dr. Shui was brought along, who claims to be the number one obstetrician in Qingzhou, and was specially invited at a high price to treat the mistress. Amitabha, may the mistress recover soon."

  After all, it's one's own flesh and blood, and it's more considerate than others. Lin Jiran quickly got up, spread out his hands and feet for the maids to dress him, wash his face, and tidy him up, and hurriedly ran to pay respects to Old Lady Lin.

  Just then, Lin Jin-yin was also there. The two sisters explained their intention in a few words, and Old Lady Lin slowly drank a cup of tea with her eyes downcast before saying: "Your uncle rarely comes once, being close relatives by blood, it's right to have a good gathering. However, you had already promised your aunt beforehand, but suddenly didn't go, which is unfaithful... Alright, San Niang can not go, Si Niang will first go and pay respects to your uncle, then go to your aunt's house later, since your uncle won't just come for one day and leave."

  Lin Jinyong heard this and hastily gave Lin Jinyin a signal with her eyes, hinting that she should help her say a few words, but Lin Jinyin just smiled.

  As Lin Wu and the twins were present, Old Lady Lin said again: "This time it's your aunt who specially prepared for you, Yun's younger sister. You must remember to be humble and courteous." The emphasis of this sentence is to instruct the twins, that is, not to steal the host family's thunder.

  Several girls all smiled and agreed, Lin Jinrong lowered his eyes to look at the tip of his shoes, thinking secretly, it's not easy to please people, is it even harder to disgust them? This is what you guys forced me into.

  The two sisters entered the Tao family's courtyard, just as Mrs. Tao was trying her best to dress herself up with the help of Gong Mama and Chun Ya. Lin Jinrong stepped forward and grasped her mother's arm, her eyes reddening: "I don't want to go, Auntie's house is near, but Uncle hasn't been seen for a long time." If she counted the years from her past life, it had been many years since she last saw Tao Shunqin.

  Mrs. Tao scolded with a smile: "You little girl, you're not going to your aunt's house right away. First pay respects to your uncle and then go, what's the hurry?" She also coaxed Lin Jinrong, "Little one, can't always hide at home, it's not good."

  Suddenly, Gong's mother said from outside: "The slave is here to pay respects to the third master." Immediately after, Lin Sanlao wore a light blue cotton robe, hunched over with his waist curved and back bent, with a silly smile all over his face, holding a high-quality folding fan and pretending to be elegant as he peeked out from the doorway: "You're all here, huh?"

  But it was Old Master Lin who once again ordered him to come and make amends with the Tao family, determined to show Big Uncle Tao a harmonious couple, so that the Tao family could rest assured. Although Third Master Lin had long been fed up with the endless quarrels with Mrs. Tao, he did not dare not to come.

  Taoshi's face immediately fell, and a layer of anger quickly accumulated in his eyes. Lin Jianyin and Lin Jianrong naturally knew what Lin Sanlao came to do, so they paid their respects and stood aside.

  Mr. Lin looked at the Tao family's appearance, and he was a little nervous and annoyed, fearing that she would go crazy again, so he pretended to teach his daughter: "Your uncle and older cousin are coming, and they will be here soon, remember to behave properly, don't let people laugh at you, saying that Lin's daughter is unruly. When you see your uncle, do you know what to say and do?"

  Lin Jianyin and Lin Jianrong knew that he wanted the two sisters to help persuade Tao Shi to not speak the truth in front of Tao Shunqin, saying it was his fault. Feeling contemptuous and too lazy to respond, they both hung their heads and remained silent.

  The daughter's resistant intention was too obvious, Lin San Old Master frowned, and was thinking hard about how to say it clearly without hurting his face. Just then, Tao Shi coldly laughed on the side: "Shameless! If you have the ability to do it, don't be afraid! Now you're pretending to be dignified in front of your daughter. If I were you, I'd be so ashamed that I'd rather die by banging my head against the wall."

  Old Master Lin was furious. This woman had truly gone mad, cursing him left and right in front of his daughter! There was no more vicious woman in this world! He immediately spoke in a harsh tone: "Tao Cai Ling! You virtuous and gentle one, what do you have to do with this? Don't think that I owe you for the rest of my life and will tolerate your nonsense forever. Are you going to call your brother and nephew to come beat me up? Come on! Call them! If I'm afraid, I'll write my name 'Lin' upside down!"

  Mrs. Tao was not in a good mood, and she couldn't stand intense exercise, so she rolled her eyes and coldly mocked: "Mr. Lin's knowledge is really profound, but when the character 'Lin' is written upside down, I don't recognize it. When it's written right-side up, I can recognize it - isn't it still just the character 'Lin'? Or perhaps the learned Mr. Lin has a different interpretation? I'd like to hear more about it."

  Lin Jianyin and Lin Jianrong were busy, one holding onto their father and the other supporting their mother, advising: "Let's not say another word."

  Mr. Lin San couldn't take it anymore, his face turned purple with rage: "You're such a shrew! Don't you worry about corrupting your daughter?"

  "You foolish husband! Don't you fear disgracing our family's reputation?"

  "Hmph!" Someone outside couldn't help but chuckle softly. Then, Mrs. Gong, with a stiff face, led in Lin Si Shao Ye, Lin Fan Zhi from the second house.

  Lin San Lao Ye's face, which was already half old and half young, suddenly turned red with anger and shame in front of his nephews. He hated Tao Shi even more for not giving him any face, and he almost stormed off.

  Lin Fan suppressed a smile and bowed deeply to the Tao couple, saying loudly: "Junior Lin pays his respects to Third Uncle and Third Aunt. Eldest Uncle has asked me to come and tell you that he is bringing in Cousin Tao and Master Shui."

  "Thanks for the trouble, Fourth Brother. You must be busy, I won't keep you." Lin Jinrong watched as her mother slapped the maid with a bowl of medicine, and she felt no sympathy for her fourth uncle who was waiting to marry her sister-in-law. She didn't have a good impression of him, and hearing him make fun of her parents' argument made her uncomfortable. She immediately spoke up to chase him away. Just because Lin Sanlang was unfilial didn't mean anyone could disrespect people in front of her.

  Lin Fan originally wanted to greet his two older sisters, but upon hearing this, he was stunned. Looking at Lin Jianrong and Lin Jianyin's faces, which both had a hint of shame and anger, he suddenly understood the situation. He hastily made a vague remark and quickly left.

  When they heard the sound of people talking outside, Mr. Lin finally put away the displeasure on his face and smiled as he ran to the door to welcome Tao Shunqin and others. After Mrs. Tao lay back in bed, Lin Jianyun put down the silk curtains for her and pulled Lin Jianrong behind the screen. The two sisters peeked through the gap in the screen and saw that Mr. Shui was an old man with white hair and beard, a clear face, and a calm expression, looking like someone who could be trusted, filling them with expectation.

  Mr. Shui Lao cut the left pulse and then changed to the right pulse, and asked to lift up the curtain to let him see the complexion and tongue of Mrs. Tao, then stroked his beard and fell into deep thought. Lin San, who was standing by, hastily said: "Sir? What about my wife's illness?"

  "Go and tell them."

  Mr. Lin and Mr. Tao Shunqin asked in unison outside the door, and Lin Jianrong heard him say a lot of profound and incomprehensible words, then summarized that Mr. Tao's illness was not light, he needed to rest quietly, open his heart, could no longer be stimulated, and could not worry about laboring, then ordered someone to prepare ink, paper and brush.

  Before long, Lin San was heard calling out for someone to fetch medicine, and then Lin Dai accompanied Shui Lao to go out. Seeing that there were no outsiders left, Tao Shi spoke in a low voice: "Please ask Uncle to come in and meet."

  **Friendship Book Recommendation**

  Intoxicated Wine Fragrance's Ancient Romance: [bookid=2170378,bookname="The Alluring Doctor"]

  Prevent fire, prevent theft, and prevent brother-in-law; practice medicine, discuss romance, and cultivate a medicinal field.