A young girl's heart is a fragile one. When she was confined at home, Lin Liu and Lin Qi could run to the Lu family with joy.

  Although Lu Yun treated her the same as before after she came out, but she was also very good to Lin Liu and Lin Qi, and there was an inexplicable familiarity and warmth. Lin Liu and Lin Qi often told Lu Yun things she didn't know about, making it impossible for her to join in on the conversation, how could she stand it?

  The most severe blow came when Lu Xian was about to leave for Taoming Prefecture to take the imperial examination, and she bashfully went forward to wish him success, but he just thanked her lightly without looking at her, turned around and left, leaving all the words in her heart unspoken and unable to be relieved, feeling extremely sad.

  The most hateful thing is that Lin Qi came to mock her.

  The simple and unadorned residence in the southeast corner of Lin's estate was where the master of the house lived, because Mr. Lin yearned for a rustic life amidst fields and gardens. Therefore, there were no rare flowers or unusual trees here; only a few old apricot and pear trees that had been around for some years and had grown into strange shapes. In the courtyard, a grape arbor was set up, and next to it, a well was dug, complete with a pulley and bucket.

  Mrs. Zhou, the wife of Lin's family, walked into the courtyard with a group of servant girls under the intense sunlight. Seeing the branches full of green apricots, she thought of her own newborn grandson and suddenly felt much better: "It's still more comfortable in one's own home, and it's much cooler than outside for no reason."

  Everyone laughed and said: "Isn't that right? It's hard for Madam to be so busy, on such a big day she still can't rest."

  "What can be done? The third lady has just returned, and there are guests at home. The old lady ordered to make a good show, how can I let people down? Can't help but take personal action." Mainly to prevent being caught by that crooked-eyed dead old woman and that shameless Luo Shi.

  "When the lady of the house is hardworking." The crowd surrounded Zhou Shi and entered the room, handing her a handkerchief, serving tea, and fanning her. After she wiped away the thin layer of sweat on her body, she waved her hand to dismiss the idle people and asked the nearby pomegranate: "How is it?"

  "Madam, the four young ladies have chosen these four fabrics." Shi Liu hastily took out the four fabrics and handed them over to Madame Zhou for her inspection.

  Zhou's gaze stopped on those two pieces of jade-colored lotus-patterned thin silk and Xiang-colored thin gauze, and she smiled lightly: "Doesn't she know?"

  Before she could finish speaking, Pomegranate understood what she was asking and said in a low voice: "I don't know the specifics, but Lychee did ask me about it."

  Zhou's lips were tightly pursed, her hand unconsciously brushing over the golden honey wax rosary on her wrist, her eyes sunken, lost in thought.

  "Madam, shall I go and remind Lychee?" said Pomegranate cautiously.

  "Ah, no need," said Zhou with a warm smile. "Let the needlework room do its job properly, without cutting corners or being careless. If it's not done well, don't even think about getting paid for the month, and you'll also have to compensate for the wasted fabric."

  Her attitude made Pomegranate slightly surprised, and she replied softly with a "yes".

  "Mother, I heard that there's a banquet tonight, right? I want to eat steamed fish and shrimp paste!" Lin Wu ran in with a smile, rushing to Zhou Shi's side and pulling on her sleeve, making demands. She had loved these two dishes the most since she was young, but nowadays the Lin family wasn't as prosperous as before, so expensive foods like steamed fish and shrimp paste were rarely seen on the dinner table except when Old Master Lin and his wife were present or during holidays.

  Zhou smiled and said lazily, "I've already given the orders. By the time you remember, the dishes will be on the table, where can you still make it?" If there's one good thing about being the host, it's that at times like these, it's most convenient to satisfy the hobbies and tastes of your own family members.

  "I knew Mother loved me the most." Lin Wujiao leaned on Zhou Shi's shoulder and coquettishly said, "Hey, aren't these the fabrics for my two dresses? Why are they still here?"

  Pomegranate knew she was always a bit petty and didn't like to speak clearly, so she just smiled and said nothing.

  Lin Wu suddenly understood and stormed forward, slapping the four pieces of fabric to the ground: "Is this for Lin Si to make clothes? How can she be so shameless, following others in everything! Is there nothing else under heaven besides these two fabrics?" "Shut up!" Zhou Shi slapped the table fiercely, raising her eyebrows: "Haven't you had enough yet? Do you want another slap, and a few more days locked up?"

  Lin Wu's eyes immediately turned red: "Mother, you saw with your own eyes how she harmed me. She went to the villa to soak in the hot spring and live a carefree life, earning a reputation for being virtuous and filial, while I was locked up until my sister-in-law gave birth. Now that I finally have something happy like making new clothes, she's coming to bully me again! I won't stand for it!" She didn't even dare say the words about taking advantage of the opportunity to flirt with Lu Xian.

  Isn't it just Lin Wu being locked up for so long? It's only recently that the stewardship of the Zhou family was snatched back. If not, how would those several thousand taels of silver have been taken over by the Luo family? They are the eldest house, and those silvers should have been theirs in the first place, but now they belong to everyone. Zhou Shi gritted her teeth and scolded: "Nonsense! She is the elder sister, and it's only natural that she gets to choose first before you younger sisters get a turn. Now you've worn one for a month and she just made hers, what do you have to say? Don't tell me she's not allowed to wear it?"

  Lin Wu heard Zhou's angry rebuke and cried, "How dare I have any opinion? Others play the sheng so well, pour tea with such skill, are talented, famous, filial, and kind-hearted. Who wouldn't praise her? I just couldn't bear it in my heart. Why is grandmother so biased?"

  Zhou heard her say that Old Lady Lin was biased, and in her heart she fully agreed, but seeing her still looking confused, she really felt annoyed, so she scolded in a low voice: "Don't you understand yet? This is not just her achievement, but you and her competing, both losing, and giving others an excuse! You've dragged me down!"

  Lin Wu stopped crying after hearing these words, looked up at Zhou Shi and said: "Mother, I also understand that it's not that simple. You teach me what to do? We are all Lin family girls, why is grandmother so biased?"

  The girl's heart is a fragile one. When she was confined, Lin Liu and Lin Qi could run to the Lu family with joy. Although after coming out, Lu Yun treated her similarly as before, but he was also very good to Lin Liu and Lin Qi, and there was an inexplicable familiarity and warmth between them. Lin Liu and Lin Qi often talked about things she didn't know with Lu Yun, making it impossible for her to join in the conversation. How could she bear this? The most severe blow came when Lu Xian was about to leave for Taoming Prefecture to take the imperial examination, and he bid farewell. She shyly went forward to wish him success, but he just thanked her lightly without looking at her, turned around and left, leaving all her words stuck in her stomach, unable to be relieved, and she felt extremely sad. The most hateful thing was that Lin Qi even came to mock her.

  "Days are still long ahead. Remember, last time it was your fault, you embarrassed your fourth sister in public. Next time you see her, be sure to apologize sincerely and treat her as well as before. What's the big deal about two sets of clothes? If she likes wearing them, let her wear them to her heart's content!"

  "What's going on?" Lin Wu asked with wide eyes.

  Zhou said seriously: "It's just to continue being good sisters with her, respect you San Auntie, and treat your Seventh Brother a bit better." Lin Si had already completely lost Lin Yuzhen's favor at the warm furnace meeting, and then again touched Lin Yuzhen's reverse scales at the Zhuangzi. This Lu family daughter-in-law saw that Lin Si was not going to make it, so why not help deal with the second house? Tao's temper is so easy to provoke, hehe...

  Lin Wu thought for a moment, propping up his chin, before nodding and saying, "Alright, just like before, only she can handle the sixth and seventh sisters." He recalled that day when he went to provoke Lin Jianrong, but ended up suffering a loss, causing the good situation to turn around instantly, and Lin Liu and Lin Qi took advantage of it.

  Zhou's expression finally turned into a genuine smile: "You've grown up." The three children of the Lin family, all born to Old Lady Lin, added together equaled two, which was greater than the remaining one. One minus one equaled zero, and they were all smaller than that one. This math problem, she knew how to solve.

  Lin Jinyong was blocked in the house by the wife of the needle and thread shop before going out to take measurements. The unprecedented enthusiasm of the wife of the needle and thread shop made her quite surprised, not only the style, but also the big things like embroidery, even the small details such as the straps and buttons of underwear were seriously discussed and studied.

  Lychee was even more surprised, then passionately enthusiastic, helping to plan and strategize. Lin Jinrong, on the other hand, seemed somewhat disinterested: "Whatever, you guys are used to doing this, it's not like you can make clothes that can't be worn."

  A daughter-in-law smiled and said, "That's what they say, but the young lady doesn't know that the mistress has given orders. If you're not satisfied with what we do, not only will our monthly wages be withheld, but we'll also have to pay for the fabric ourselves."

  Lin Jinyong finally showed some interest: "Is your aunt joking with you guys?"

  Another daughter-in-law said, "Yes, the masters are not demanding people, but we should try our best to satisfy them, shouldn't we? To be honest, the eldest mistress is really considerate of the young lady."

  Lin Jinrong was satisfied with her: "Auntie has always been kind and thoughtful."

  Send off those two wives of different sizes, Li Zhi asked strangely: "Miss, what does the old lady mean? Why is it so grand?"

  "It's boring." It was just a show of her virtuous and gentle nature, Lin Jinrong glanced at the room with closed doors at the end of the corridor: "Let Gui to accompany me to the dinner party, you take them to clean up the things that haven't been cleaned. Uncle will send someone to bring money in, you take good care of it, don't let anyone touch it, including Guiyuan and Douer. If others ask, you know how to answer, right?"

  Litchi cautiously said: "I know."

  Gu Yan walked out, neat and tidy, although she tried her best to put on a good face, it was not hard to see her disappointment and worry, and she didn't even dare look into Lin Jian's eyes.

  "It's easy for people to see through you, Auntie." Lin Jing calmly told her plan to Gui Auntie: "I can only do this much, and it's up to her afterwards. Tonight, you accompany me on this trip, and in the future, she'll go to Madam's place, and no one will ask more questions."

  Madam Gui's tears instantly welled up and she hastily held them back, her voice trembling as she said: "Miss, your kindness..."

  Lin Jian smiled calmly: "Don't mention this, it's not interesting. I only know that Nian is not that kind of person, and she can't bear to see you sad." Flesh and blood, and children raised by her, even if there are differences, not everyone can do it for ten or twenty years, always remembering to cover her with a quilt, add clothes, without despising her uselessness, harming herself, suffering. Having seen enough of the coldness and warmth of human relationships, she cherished this rare point even more.

  Gui's mother took a deep breath and smiled: "Yes, I won't say it." She didn't say it, but she remembered it in her heart.

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