Mrs. Lin patted Lin Yuzhen's hand and said, "Your father is not feeling well, so he didn't come. You tell your uncle later, don't let him feel unhappy." Lin Yuzhen knew the reason, so she sighed softly: "Dad is also like this, our own family, still so particular. I was afraid it would be like this, so I specially invited you to come over and sit earlier. Did he get angry with me after all?" Mrs. Lin's heart was also extremely painful, but her daughter was also her own flesh and blood. Although Lu Xian was not her biological son, he was still her daughter's son, and her daughter would have to rely on him to support her in the future. So she mustered up the spirit to smile: "You silly child, your father wouldn't be angry with you! He's happy for you, just angry at those useless nephews of yours." Not wanting to discuss this matter further with Lin Yuzhen, she looked around and said, "Where is Lu Xian? Your father asked me to bring him a good inkstone, let him come see if he likes it."

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  They had just arrived at the Lin family's gate when Mr. Lu Jianzhong and young master Lu Shao came out to greet them. After paying their respects and inquiring after Mrs. Lin's health, they led Mr. Lin and the other male guests to the outer courtyard for wine and theater, while the women continued inside.

  Compared to the Lin family's lack of energy, the Lu family seemed particularly spirited. Lanterns and streamers were hung everywhere, people came and went, and everyone had a radiant smile on their face. Even the doormen wore new clothes that they only wore during holidays, making the Lin family feel somewhat uncomfortable.

  Lin Yuzhen had been standing at the second gate for a while, and as soon as she saw Old Lady Lin's sedan chair stop, she hurried over to welcome her, personally helping her down from the chair. With a warm smile on her face, she greeted the people behind her: "My old lady asked several times if you'd arrived, and now that you have, the banquet is ready, and we've even hired someone to perform a small opera."

  "Come and watch, they are all our own flesh and blood, we must make sure to have a good time."

  No matter what others think, they all cheer up and come to pay their respects, offer congratulations, and the whole place is filled with joyful voices and laughter.

  Mrs. Lin patted Lin Yuzhen's hand and said, "Your father is not feeling well, so he didn't come. You tell your uncle later, don't let him feel uncomfortable." Lin Yuzhen knew the reason, so she sighed softly: "Dad is also like this, our own family, still so particular. I was afraid it would be like this, so I specially invited you to come over and sit earlier. Did he get angry with me after all?" Mrs. Lin's heart was also extremely painful, but her daughter was also her own flesh and blood. Although Lu Xian was not her biological son, he was still her daughter's son, and her daughter would have to rely on him to support her in the future. So she mustered up the spirit to smile: "You silly child, your father wouldn't be angry with you! He's happy for you, just angry with those useless nephews of yours." Not wanting to discuss this matter further with Lin Yuzhen, she looked around and said: "Where is Lu Xian? Your father asked me to bring him a good inkstone, let him come see if he likes it."

  It wasn't until then that everyone noticed that Lu Jian hadn't gone out to greet the guests with Lin Yuzhen and Lu Yun, so they all started asking questions. Luo's voice was the loudest: "Yes, we came to see him, why didn't he come out? Is he shy?"

  "He hasn't come home yet."

  "Hey, all the other kids have gone home, why hasn't he come back yet?" Tao said strangely.

  Lin Yuzhen's face flashed a hint of displeasure, too lazy to respond to Tao Shi's words.

  Lu Yun hastily said: "Brother is at the Tai Ming Fu, he met some old friends from his past in the south and they invited him to play for a few days and reminisce about old times."

  "Then on the day after tomorrow when we're receiving guests, what are we going to do without him?" Lin Yu Zhen was somewhat annoyed and forced herself to say: "He'll come back by then." Lu Yun's eyes showed a hint of worry as she gently tugged at Lin Yu Zhen's sleeve. Lin Yu Zhen felt stifled for a moment before regaining her composure and asking Old Lady Lin: "Mother, what play do you want to watch? I'll have someone prepare it immediately."

  Lin old lady looked at her expression, slowly said: "You are confused, today is your family's happy event, we are guests who come to congratulate, and must take your mother-in-law as the host."

  Lin Yuzhen's face rarely showed a hint of grievance, and she didn't say a word, tightly supporting Old Lady Lin as they walked inside. The crowd saw that her mood wasn't great, so they didn't dare to speak freely like before.

  "Come on, come on!" The thin and frail Lao Taitai was dressed in a crimson cloud-patterned jacket and a long blue skirt, supported by Er Taitai Song and San Taitai Tu as she walked out with a smile. "Sorry for not coming to greet you earlier! Sorry for not coming to greet you earlier!" Lao Taitai's health wasn't good, so she usually stayed at home and didn't see guests. If it weren't for this joyful occasion, she probably wouldn't have shown her face either. When Lin Lao saw her, he couldn't help but go forward to support her, scolding with a smile: "You're also... not an outsider, why be so polite and walk so far?"

  Mrs. Lu smiled and said, "It's precisely because you're not an outsider that we must come to welcome you. Normally, I'm not in good health, so I've been rather lazy. Can't have the relatives coming to our door and me just sitting there doing nothing? That would be utterly unbecoming!" Mrs. Lu (the second) Song Zai smiled and said, "Mother-in-law is delighted by this happy event, her spirit has been lifted since receiving the good news...

  The illness has gone more than half."

  Mrs. Lu, the birth mother of Lu Jie, was even more delighted: "It's been a long time since we've had such great news at home, it really makes people happy. Since I learned about this matter, I couldn't sleep all night."

  "I finally got some good news and had a good sleep! It wasn't until now that I could finally breathe a sigh of relief, and it's all worth it. All these years of hard work haven't been in vain!" Lin Yuzhen's face was filled with a smile as she gave Mrs. Gao a disdainful glance. Excited to the point of insomnia? Anyone who didn't know would think she was Lu Xuan's mother!

  Mr. Tu's smile on his face suddenly stagnated, revealing a few awkward and sad feelings.

  Lin Yuzhen pretended not to see, went forward and held hands with Mrs. Lu, quietly squeezing Tu Shi to one side without revealing any expression.

  Tu Shi didn't argue, fell behind the crowd a few steps, and stood there in a daze, her eyes already red. Her own son had made a name for himself, but she, his mother, didn't even have the right to be happy, and instead was bullied and oppressed by others, it was simply unjust.

  Everyone knew about the grievances between the two, and seeing this situation, they more or less sympathized with Tu Shi, feeling that Lin Yu Zhen was too petty and overbearing. Although Lu Xian had taken him in as his own, legally and religiously he was still Lin Yu Zhen's son, but this blood tie couldn't be severed either. Snatching someone else's child, some things were done excessively, guarded against too tightly, and would instead provoke a backlash. Why bother?

  It seemed that no one would persuade Lin Yuzhen in such a situation, so they all just pretended to be dizzy and made excuses, or watched the commotion with great interest.

  Lu Yun slightly furrowed her brow, just thinking of going to persuade Tu Shi, when she was suddenly pulled back by Lin Yu Zhen.

  Zhen glared at her daughter with a warning look, and then turned to face Tu Shi with a forced smile, saying: "Third sister, what's wrong?"

  Tu's family sniffed his nose and raised his eyes to look at the crowd with a forced smile: "I'm fine, I just suddenly feel a bit tired."

  Lin Yuzhen sneered: "You probably didn't sleep well last night and got sick! Since you're not feeling well, be careful and take care of yourself. Now that autumn has arrived, you're getting older, and your body isn't good to begin with. Be careful not to turn a small illness into a big one, or it won't be our Lu Xian's fault?" Tu Shi gritted her teeth, glaring at Lin Yuzhen, wanting to say something but unable to find the words, finally squeezing out a sentence after a long pause: "Elder sister is really kind-hearted." Old Lady Lu slightly furrowed her brow, glancing at her two daughters-in-law with displeasure, saying: "If you're not feeling well, go rest. You don't need to come serve later."

  Mrs. Lin glared at Lin Yuzhen with dissatisfaction, secretly pinching her and whispering: "How would you be more generous? This is losing face for everyone." Lin Yuzhen lowered her eyelids, still feeling indignant. Lu Xian had long been her son; she had raised him through hardships, found many famous teachers for him in Jiangnan, stayed up late to supervise his studies, taught him how to be a person, and worked hard for his food, clothing, and shelter. How could this Tu family come out of nowhere and try to take him? Ridiculous!

  Mrs. Lu Er rushed forward to mediate, supporting the grief-stricken Tu Shi, and turned back to smile at the crowd: "Since Third Brother's wife is not feeling well, I'll take care of her. You all can continue playing without worrying."

  Mrs. Lu's eyes flashed with satisfaction, and she nodded slightly, inviting the Lin family members inside.

  Lin Yuzhen glanced at her two sisters-in-law with disdain, held her head high and loudly greeted her natal family.

  After walking for a long time, Lin Jing Rong turned back to look, but saw Song Shi and Tu Shi still standing under that Chinese parasol tree. Tu Shi leaned her head on Song Shi's shoulder, Song Shi gently patted her shoulder, whispering something.

  Lin Jin said in a low voice: "This Mrs. Lu is really a considerate good person." Lin Jin responded with an ambiguous "hmm" and quickly turned her head back around. Is Mrs. Song a considerate good person? She didn't know, all she remembered was the pale but calm face of Mrs. Song after Lu Lun's death, as well as the gentle comfort she offered after Ning'er passed away. But there were also times when Mrs. Song had an exceptional talent for words when advising her to take out her dowry, and the times when she ignored her during their family's frantic escapes.

  Is there anyone who is purely good in this world? Lin Jingrong shook her head slightly. In the past, most people were good in her eyes, and she would think someone was a good person just because of one sentence or one thing, and then believe them. But now, she didn't see it that way anymore.

  The banquet of the Lu family was set up in Haitang Hall. Haitang Hall, as its name suggests, is filled with carefully cultivated autumn begonias, with flowers in red, pink and white, and leaves in light green, dark green, light brown, dark brown and purple-red, making it look like a brocade of flowers, very festive.

  After everyone sat down, the carefully prepared dishes were served in a continuous flow: fruits, vegetables, fish and shrimp, mountain delicacies, game meats, as well as Dongyang wine and lychee wine from Sichuan's Rongzhou. More than ten maidservants each performed their duties quietly and efficiently, serving everyone without making any noise. On the stage in front of the hall, a lively performance was underway, exuding an atmosphere of wealth, nobility, and joy.

  Lin Jianyin looked at him for a moment, and Rong whispered in Lin Jianyin's ear: "It's already so luxurious like this, if he passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, who knows how lively it will be?"

  What's the big deal? The Lu family is a prominent clan in Pingzhou, but they can't be compared to those other powerful clans. What's so special about them? That year when Lu Xian passed the imperial examination, all they did was set up a banquet in this Haitang Hall, and the food and drink were nothing out of the ordinary. They just had a few days of feasting and opera performances. Lin Jinyu smiled faintly, elegantly finishing off the lychee wine in her cup, and urged: "Sister, try some of this lychee wine, it's not often that you get to taste it."

  "You drink less." Jing Yan's voice was low as he took a small sip and smiled softly: "It's pretty good."

  Lu Yun whispered to Lin Liu: "He only ranked second, and he's not very happy. Someone brought back a letter for him, saying that he wants to go out and clear his mind."

  "Grandfather agreed, but Mother disagreed, so they called someone to pick him up. He'll probably be able to return by the day after tomorrow."

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