Lin Jinrong waved the tea whisk seriously, stirring the tea, her eyebrows and eyes gradually disappearing in the swirling steam. At that time, she really wanted to go to Qingzhou, she was crazy to leave that suffocating home, but she didn't dare to make this request, because she thought that with the awkward situation of the Tao family in the Lin family, even if she made a request, it would only be to embarrass Tao Shunqin and give others an opportunity to refuse her and mock her.

  But now she doesn't think so, she doesn't even dare to speak up for her own affairs, who will put her in mind?

  Lin Shiquan trudged back to his room, exhausted and covered in stinky sweat, under the setting sun. He casually fetched a bucket of well water and poured it over his head.

  The cool well water made his skin and nerves shrink, and also calmed his emotions. He stared blankly at the water droplet on his eyelashes, gently blowing it away with a soft breath.

  "Has anyone asked where Third Young Master Lin went?" Lin Jing's first thing to do after waking up from her noon nap was to ask about Lin Shiquan's whereabouts. Earlier, Lin Shiquan had said with a heavy heart that he wanted to go out for a walk, and she didn't dare follow him closely.

  "He went to the fields." Litchi was full of admiration, "Originally thought he would run somewhere to hide and be sad, but unexpectedly went to the fields to work. When everyone asked him, he didn't say anything."

  Lin Jinyong supported his chin and thought for a moment, ordering Liuzhi and Guiguan to prepare the tea set, then went to the West Wing to look for Tao Shunqin.

  Tao Shunqin was flipping through a book when he saw Lin Jirong enter, and put down the book saying: "Whose book is this?"

  Lin Jinrong leaned over to take a look, but it was a book "Qimin Yaoshu". He said: "It's probably my brother's." After another look, he saw a line of small words written on the page header, the pen strokes were familiar, and it was clearly Lu Xian's handwriting. He couldn't help but laugh secretly, and asked: "Uncle, where did you find this?"

  Tao Shunqin pointed at the couch: "Found it in a corner. Your clan brother's handwriting is quite good."

  "Uncle, I'll pour you a cup of tea, okay?" Lin Jinrong didn't bother to correct the misunderstanding, got up to wash his hands, lit incense, boiled water, and poured tea. When the tea flowers bloomed into a longevity character, he presented it with both hands: "Wishing Uncle a long life of one hundred years."

  This horse's ass is really well shot. Tao Shunqin smiled and took over the rabbit hair cup, sniffed the tea fragrance and tasted the tea flavor, and praised: "Really not bad. You actually have some skills."

  "I play the sheng better than before, want to hear me play again?" Lin Jian Rong puffed out his chest and boasted for two sentences before getting to the point: "Uncle, this year is Aunt's birthday, what do you plan to do?"

  Tao Shunqin raised an eyebrow: "What's your idea?"

  Lin Jinyong sat down beside him: "I embroidered a pillow screen, one hundred auspicious characters, planning to give it to my aunt as a birthday gift. What do you think?"

  "Alright. Did you write this?" Tao Shunqin had almost guessed what she would say next, secretly amused but also somewhat pleased. It seemed that letting the Tao family come to the countryside villa to recuperate was indeed the right decision, looking at this child, so much more lively now.

  "Of course I wrote it, although it's not that good, but every stitch is my heart's intention." Lin Jinrong saw Tao Shunqin show a satisfied expression and continued: "Let me go to Qingzhou to pay respects to my aunt this year, okay? I don't like staying at home."

  It's not an out-of-the-way request, Tao Shunqin had already agreed in his heart, but he deliberately teased Lin Jinkang: "Your sister is getting married to your eldest cousin on the 16th of next month, and your mother will be busy with things, I'm afraid she won't have time to take you there?"

  Lin Jinyong had long since calculated: "Sister's dowry has been ready for a long time. Mother mentioned to me the other day that she wanted to go celebrate Auntie's birthday and let Seventh Brother recognize the door. I haven't been there in many years, doesn't Uncle want to help us out?"

  At this point, Tao Shunqin also stopped teasing her: "I do like you to go out and have fun, but it depends on whether your grandparents agree."

  "Mother hasn't been back home for many years, as long as it's not too long, I think she won't refuse." Lin Jiner looked up at Tao Shunqin: "Uncle, do you know my cousin Lin Shiquan? He's very smart, can endure hardship, and has perseverance. Can you take him under your wing? For example, when you go to buy salt alkali land, let him follow you and learn how to negotiate prices and make deals. Okay?"

  She was at her wit's end, and after talking to Tao Shunqin yesterday, she had a deeper understanding of the injustice of this world towards women. Even Tao Shunqin thought that she didn't need to know too much, and that giving her enough dowry would be enough for her to manage well. The freedom and security they could give her were only within a limited scope, and if she wanted what she wanted, she had to take a detour.

  She urgently needed someone outside to help her with things, and this person had to be attached to her but couldn't be a servant. After all, some occasions were not suitable for servants. She didn't have the opportunity to contact capable managers outside, nor could she control those people. She could only look at Lin Shiquan, thinking that although he was inexperienced, he could endure hardship, was down-to-earth and intelligent, and had good character. She didn't know if this choice was right or not, but she had no other way to go, so she could only give it a try.

  "Looks good, young man." Tao Shunqin didn't realize what this meant to Lin Jianrong, thinking it was just a kind gesture from his niece. It was only natural to indulge her, so he continued flipping through the book on Qimin's techniques: "Go get two more cups of good tea for your uncle. Lin Shiquan's handwriting is really not bad..."

  Lin Jianrong stirred the tea with a serious expression, her eyebrows and eyes gradually disappearing into the rising steam. At that time, she had been eager to go to Qingzhou, desperately wanting to escape from that suffocating home, but she didn't dare to make such a request because she thought that given the awkward situation between the Lin and Tao families, even if she asked, it would only be an opportunity for others to refuse her and mock her. But now, she no longer thought so; if she couldn't even speak up for herself, who would care about her? Lin Shiquan trudged back to his room under the setting sun, exhausted and covered in sweat, and poured a bucket of well water over his head. The icy water made his skin contract and also calmed him down; he stared blankly at the water droplet on his eyelashes, blowing it gently with a puff of air.

  Just now, Lin Jinrong's words were still echoing in his ears: "I need someone to help me with something. I don't need him to be perfect, just do his job conscientiously. If one day he doesn't want to help me anymore, I hope we can part on good terms. As a reward, he will definitely have no worries about food and clothing, but being respected by others still depends on himself. But I think that as long as he can really be clear conscience, being respected is just around the corner. Third brother, are you willing to give it a try?"

  He was willing to give it a try. Although he was very skeptical about how this young sister could make him rich, he indeed had no better opportunity - Lin Jianrong was right, he was not reconciled to being a guard for life, nor was he willing to be managed by others for life. He wanted to gain the respect of the world, wanted to rely on his own strength to protect Liu'er, and not let others trample on their heads again, thinking about it made him want to do it.

  Losing just means he'll come back to be in charge again, after all, it won't starve him to death. Having a chance is always better than not having one. One thing people with nothing have plenty of is time.

  "Don't want to live like a dog, then you have to bite like a wolf." Lin Shiquan stared at the sunset with a bloody red glow, revealing his white teeth flashing with red light. In one day, he almost lost everything, but also gained everything. Many years later, Lin Shiquan still couldn't help but feel emotional when thinking about this dramatic day.

  Three days later.

  Mr. Lin Sanlao and Lin Yiyi came to pick up the Tao family and Lin Jinyong early in the morning, and Lin Jinyong bid farewell to Miao Xia and others who were reluctant to part with her, and set foot on the road back to Pingzhou City. When passing through that piece of salt alkali land, she looked at it affectionately from the gap between the car curtains, touching the deed felt completely different from actually seeing this land, she was a little relieved and excited. She seemed to have seen the turbid Tianhe River flowing along the Liu Ye River, flooding this land, leaving behind fine and delicate mud, and on the mud, lush green wheat grew again, until the wheat matured, everyone passing by here would be blinded by that piece of golden yellow.

  Lin Jinyong stroked his slightly flushed cheeks due to joy and smiled with a pursed lip.

  Tao noticed her daughter's expression and said with a hint of excitement, "Nangnang, aren't you thrilled to be going home soon? I am too. Although this place is quiet and nourishing, it's also a bit too lonely." More than half a year of recuperation had not only restored her physical health but also her temperament. She rubbed her fists together, eager to return.

  "Yes." Lin Jianrong easily saw through the brightness in Tao's eyes, but didn't want to disturb her interest.

  The horse carriage drove in from the side gate of the Lin family and stopped at the entrance of the hanging flower door. Lin Jianyin held Lin Shenzhi's hand, with a smile all over his face, and personally lifted the curtain: "Mother, fourth sister, is everything okay on the way?" The excitement and joy in his tone couldn't be hidden.

  "Good, good. Little Seventh has gotten chubby, does he miss his mother?" Mrs. Tao excitedly pinched Lin Shenzhi's white and tender cheek, helped her eldest daughter down from the carriage, glanced at Huang Niangniang who came up to pay respects and ask after their well-being with a humble bow, proudly lifted her chin, and walked steadily inside: "Niangniang, hurry up and follow."

  "Hmm." Lin Jing followed closely behind, getting out of the car and narrowing his eyes to take in the Lin estate. At noon, the intense sunlight filtering through the ancient trees covering the Lin estate cast dappled shadows on the eaves, walls, and ground. As the wind blew, it seemed as if the entire house was swaying along with it.

  She smiled and asked softly, "Auntie, how are you?"

  Huang Yiniang hastily came forward and warmly said: "Fourth Miss, you and the madam have finally returned, my heart is truly joyful."

  Delighted? Is it delighted because of money? Lin Jinrong took a glance at Tao Shi, who was being dragged forward like a goose, and smiled: "Auntie misses me?"

  Aunt Huang's eyes blinked, and she said clearly: "Really thought of it. I heard that Uncle is coming, why can't I see him?"

  "Uncle and Father are outside the courtyard." Lin Jinrong stopped teasing her, saying straightforwardly: "I have to put things in order today and also go to pay respects to a few elders, I'm afraid there's no free time. If Auntie is not in a hurry, she can come over tomorrow afternoon, we'll settle accounts then."

  "Don't worry, don't worry." Huang's aunt had a faint look of sorrow and regret between her eyebrows: "I heard that the price of silver has risen sharply this spring..."

  Lin Jinyong stood still, gave her a cold glance: "Yes, it's really risen a lot. The lady is regretful, but unfortunately there's no medicine for regret. Is the aunt also regretful?"

  Huang Niangniang was just testing Lin Jinyong's tone, seeing her immediately turn hostile, she hastily stopped and smiled brightly: "No regrets, no regrets, thanks to the young lady for giving me the opportunity, otherwise I'm afraid I wouldn't even have made this much."

  "You're welcome." Lin Jin followed Tao's family with a calm and composed demeanor.

  ——*——*——*——

  Went shopping for the New Year's goods over the weekend, and the supermarket was really crowded. Although I didn't buy much, it still took a lot of time. Does everyone have enough delicious rice stored up? You'd better hurry up and go early, otherwise, the more you delay, the more people there will be, and you'll be squeezed like a photo.

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