"Your thirteen, he's sixteen, you're both not young anymore. Although you're close relatives, you still need to be mindful of appearances and not do anything improper..."

  "What do I have to do with him? If you didn't ask me to go see him, I wouldn't bother." Lin Jingrong secretly resented her. When did she and Lu Xian become so close that they no longer avoided suspicion? Tao Shi had asked her to visit Lu Xian just yesterday, but now she was saying this - who was spreading rumors about them?

  Mrs. Tao frowned at her daughter: "You've learned to talk back now? I'm asking you, why did you let Guigui ruin his book? And then scratch it up again? Fortunately, he's a magnanimous child, not only doesn't hold grudges, but also protects you. Originally there was nothing, you were just being naughty, but back and forth like this, when it reaches some people's ears, who knows what they'll say. In the end, you'll be the one to suffer."

  He's a magnanimous person, doesn't care about details, and still protects her? Hypocrite! Look, everyone thinks he's great, just because of his appearance, he can make Guirong look foolish; with just one mouth, he can make Lin Shiquan change his opinion of him; a fishing net and a box of sweets can make Miao Yu pity him; now he frames her, and Taoshi still says he's magnanimous and protective of her. He's really successful, always so successful. Can't even provoke him, can't even avoid him? Lin Jirong took a deep breath, smiled wryly, and replied seriously to Taoshi: "Mother is right, daughter won't do it again. To avoid suspicion, from now on, I'll eat in my own room; when he goes out, I'll come out."

  "It's not necessary to be so deliberate, you're just being too mischievous. A big girl should have the demeanor of a big girl. I'll go back and arrange for your fifth brother to come and propose, then it will be your turn." After speaking for half a day, Mrs. Tao was somewhat tired, and she waved her hand to tell Lin Jinyong to leave: "Go, Guirong stays behind."

  Longyan looked at Lin Jianrong in fear, but Lin Jianrong ignored her and walked out the door. As soon as she got outside, she saw Lin Shiquan accompanying Lu Dian's master and servant walking out of the west wing, with Tie Er Niu standing beside them, wearing a fishing net and fish basket around his waist, grinning from ear to ear. When he saw her, he smiled and bowed: "Hello, miss."

  Why should she, Lin Jianrong, who had worked so hard to get everything she has today, have more than half of it snatched away by Lu Xian just because he showed up? Even though Lin Jianrong knew in her rational mind that Lu Xian's weight in the eyes of people like Lin Shiquan was not necessarily greater than hers, she couldn't help but feel a little resentful. With a scowl on her face, she turned away and went into the east wing.

  Lu Xian glanced at her and turned to ask Lin Shiqi, "Lin San, today we'll first go to the Qingliang Temple to rub the stele, then head to the river to catch peach blossom fish. I want to try it myself." His voice was much higher than usual.

  The swollen-faced Longan returned from the Tao family's house and suddenly developed a high fever, constantly shouting nonsense in her mouth, repeatedly crying out: Madam, I don't dare anymore, Miss, save me, and crying out for her mother.

  Although Litchi despised her for being young and frivolous, not following the rules, and smearing Lin Jianrong's face black, she still cherished their childhood friendship and couldn't help but take good care of her, fearing that she would die like this.

  Lin Jiner already knew that it wasn't a case of rouge-induced madness, but rather that Mrs. Tao had just ordered Gong Mama to slap Gu Yuan several times and ask her if she would continue to be unruly in the future or if she would try to stop herself. Gu Yuan made a guarantee on the spot and was then let off with a warning. This symptom looked fierce, but it was actually because she had a guilty conscience and had scared herself silly. Once she calmed down, she would be fine. However, speaking of which, how did this foolish and timid Gu Yuan have the guts to climb into bed in the first place? Was it because she believed someone would protect her or because she believed nothing bad would happen to her? Lin Jiner said calmly, "As long as Old Master Shui is around, she won't die. She's just feeling guilty." Lychee glanced at Lin Jiner and lowered her eyelids.

  Lin Jin understood what she was thinking, nothing more than that she had spoiled Gu Yuan so much before, but now she was so ruthless. But she didn't want to explain anything, and said to Gu Yuan's ear: "If you don't behave well again, the mistress will drive you out of the house. If you want to come back to me and live a leisurely life, it won't be easy."

  As expected, Longyan's eyeballs rolled rapidly under her eyelids and she stopped talking nonsense. After a while, even her previously urgent breathing became much calmer.

  Lin Jin Rong stood up straight and said in a low voice, "Lychee, whoever truly thinks of me in their heart, I will also think of them. Whoever doesn't have me in their heart, I won't think of them either."

  Lychee immediately forgave her, supporting her and speaking softly: "Good girl, I know that Guiyuan has lost face for you. Keeping her would be too embarrassing for you, don't worry, I will take good care of her in the future."

  Lin Jianrong smiled slightly: "You don't have to look at her. The road is chosen by oneself, and no one can stop those who want to die."

  That night, Lin Jinrong did as she said and didn't go to the Tao's house for dinner. Mrs. Tao knew that she was being stubborn and didn't bother her about it, but instead had someone send over a meal. When Lin Jinrong saw the plate of crispy fried fish with a golden brown color, she thought of who had brought it back and initially wanted to have someone take it out to feed the cat. But then she thought that the person from yesterday had eaten so many of her fish without shame and had also framed her without shame, so she couldn't let this opportunity pass by without eating it herself. With a hateful heart, she ate the entire plate clean.

  Two days later, Lu Xian recovered from his illness and did not mention going back to Mr. Zhu's place to live. Instead, he asked Tao Shi for a horse and went to Mr. Zhu's place every day before dawn to study. After finishing his studies, he would return and go out to play with Lin Shiquan or Tie Erniu. His smile increased a lot, and his appetite improved greatly. He kept saying that the cooking at Tie Hua's house was good, often rewarding them with money and goods, stimulating Tie Hua's family to use all their skills, thinking hard every day to innovate and change their dishes, wishing they could bring all the edible wild vegetables and mountain flowers from the mountains and fields for him to taste.

  The delicious food made Tao and Lin Jinyong both gain weight, Lin Jinyong's originally small chest began to develop in the direction of a small bun, her underwear gradually became tighter, and her mood also changed.

  She tried to avoid meeting Lu Xuan at first, and later she just treated him as air. Anyway, they didn't know each other when they met. She wasn't someone who hadn't done it before, or couldn't do it. Miao Ya said it well: getting angry with others only made oneself suffer, what's the point? Tao Shi criticized her for not looking good, and she replied very seriously: "When a girl grows up, being dignified and gentle is the most important thing."

  Tao's family was also helpless against her and had no choice but to let her go.

  So the days went by as usual, and Lin Jingrong, except for not having the opportunity to climb the wall to play in the mountains and rivers, still went to Qingliang Temple every now and then to burn incense, worship Buddha, recite scriptures, and float water. Before long, more than a month had passed, and the peach blossoms and pear blossoms on Qingliang Mountain had already withered, the temperature was getting higher and higher, Lin Jingrong swam a circle in the pool and then got hot, finally couldn't bear it, climbed ashore to lie on the chair and pant.

  Miao Ya's physical strength was better than hers, and she swam two laps in the pool before stopping. She floated beside her feet and said mysteriously: "Miss, do you know that Young Master Biao is learning to swim with my brother?"

  Lin Jinyong was shocked and immediately sat up: "Really?"

  Miao Ya was very dissatisfied: "Of course it's true. Would I cheat a girl? They swim in the same place where they fell into the water last time. It's much more fun than us."

  "Be content with what you have, having a place like this is already a blessing from the Bodhisattva." Lin Jianrong patted Miao Xia's head and quickly started thinking, humph, who does he think he is? Wanting to learn everything?

  Miao Ya saw her suddenly fall silent, staring at the bright tiles without moving, and hurriedly pushed her gently: "Miss, what are you thinking?"

  Lin Jinyong turned around and smiled warmly at Miao Xia: "Miao Xia, there's something I haven't told you before. Do you know why Young Master Biao is lingering here and won't leave?"

  Miao Ya naturally said: "Of course, he wants to learn from Mr. Zhu, after all. Every time there's an exam, many people come to Mr. Zhu's place to ask for help."

  "Wrong! That's just one of the reasons." Lin Jinrong whispered in her ear, "The main reason is that my aunt is too fierce. One year, a servant from their family couldn't resist his pleas and took him out to play, but when they came back, my aunt beat him half to death and sold him off. Why did I end up here? Why do I hate him so much? It's also because of my aunt. If she knew your second brother taught him how to swim, and with my mother protecting him, he would definitely get a beating..."

  "Ah?!" Miao Ya jumped in fright, "Auntie is so fierce?"

  "Don't believe me? Go ask around. Didn't you see how gloomy Young Master Biao's face was when he came back home last time, and it took him several days to recover?" Lin Jianrong ignored the disapproving look in Lychee's eyes and nodded firmly: "Tell your second brother to be careful. Getting beaten is a small matter, what's scary is being sabotaged from behind."

  Miao Ya sat for a long time, finally made up her mind: "I'll let my second brother return all the things that Shao Ye sent him. Although it's very sorry to Shao Ye, but Auntie is too fierce, we can't afford to offend her..."

  Lin Jinyong said: "He gave your second brother something, I'll have someone give your second brother a share too."

  "It's not that it's expensive, but my second brother likes it, yet it's useless. My parents didn't want to buy it for him." Miao Yu hugged Lin Jianrong and said emotionally: "Miss, you're really a kind person."

  "Hehe......" Lin Jianrong looked up at the sky with both eyes and touched his head: "It's too hot, let's pack up and go back."

  The first thing Miao did after returning was to go find Tie Er Niu.

  Lu Xian and his servant returned with beaming faces, covered in fine sweat. As they approached the door, they saw Tie Er Niu standing there with a large pile of things, his face red as he dared not look at them, stuttering and unable to speak clearly. Although Tie Er Niu still took the things away with a red face afterwards, Lu Xian did not leave the house for the rest of that afternoon, and the west wing of the courtyard was quiet as if no one lived there.

  Lin Jinyong decided to go eat dinner. Taking advantage of the Tao family not being at the table yet, she smiled and looked at Lu Dian who had clearly become darker-skinned and was very quiet, saying: "Second Brother-in-law, why didn't you go out to have fun this afternoon, to cultivate your emotions?"

  She thought Lu Xuan would remain silent, but unexpectedly he just fell silent for a moment before raising his eyes to look at her and say: "Being bitten by a dog makes me feel terrible."

  "Cough!" Lin Shiquan saw a murderous aura in Lin Jirong's eyes and quickly coughed: "Lu Erge, have you heard? Starting from this year's spring tax, we will have to buy silver to pay tribute. Outside, it has already caused a stir, and within two days, the price of silver has risen from 800 coins per tael to 900 coins. It seems that it will continue to rise, and those who don't have silver will be in trouble again."

  "Really?" Lin Jinyong excitedly clenched his fists, even forgetting that he had just been scolded by Lu Xian. He was so overjoyed that he didn't know what to do with himself. Seeing Lu Xian and Lin Shiquan looking at him strangely, he simply stopped eating and happily ran back to his room, dove onto the bed, and rolled around twice.

  Afterwards, Pink added 20 more chapters. Not forcing everyone to give me pink, it's just a motivation. Hehe. Tomorrow will thank you for the reward and add more chapters.

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