Chapter 96: Chapter 96: You Are Proud, You Refuse

“Mother…” Lin Qingqing looked at Mrs. Lin with grievance, “How can you… how can you treat me like this? I am the face of our family!”

Mrs. Lin smiled and patted Lin Qingqing’s cheek, “What face do we have now? Just how blatantly they mocked us, you heard it too.”

“In that case, you don’t need to maintain any face anymore.” Mrs. Lin said disappointedly.

“But what about Xiao Fengxing?” Lin Qingqing said, “I still need to see Xiao Fengxing!”

“Don’t you still have some good clothes?” Mrs. Lin said, “Wear those when you see him.”

“Speaking of Xiao Fengxing, it reminds me.” Mr. Lin said, “Are you sure he will marry you?”

“Of course.” Lin Qingqing said.

“In that case, don’t delay. Have him propose marriage quickly.” Mr. Lin said, “Before, he hadn’t broken off the engagement with Fu Mingzhu, and he had his own plans, so naturally it wasn’t good to disrupt them.”

“But now that he’s broken the engagement, it’s not good to keep you waiting.” Mr. Lin said.

“This…” Lin Qingqing hesitated for a moment.

“What are you hesitating for? Does he still want to get engaged to someone else? Where can he find another like Fu Mingzhu, with low status easy to dispatch but wealthy? If he could, he wouldn’t have gotten engaged to Fu Mingzhu, and after the breakup, wouldn’t still be without a next match.”

It’s because he can’t find someone so suitable that you don’t have to wait any longer.

“You’re not young anymore, do you really want to keep wasting time for him?” Mr. Lin said sternly, “Find a time, have him come to the house, I’ll speak to him personally. Since a next match can’t be found, let’s change the plan, marry you first and then talk.”

Mrs. Lin also remembered something, and said, “I really forgot about Xiao Fengxing. In that case, have Xiao Fengxing buy us some pelts and cotton. This way, it will cost us less.”

“How can that be?” Lin Qingqing’s expression changed, “I never spend his money.”

Even if Xiao Fengxing offered it, she would refuse.

“I was never in it for anything with him.” Lin Qingqing said, “I can’t let our relationship deteriorate.”

Mrs. Lin, angry, pointed at her, “You’re good, you’re lofty, you refuse, and then let the family be in such difficulty?”

“Previously, when you took Fu Mingzhu’s things, why didn’t you show such loftiness?” Mrs. Lin said angrily.

“That was merely a part of my plan. At that time, I endured humiliation to help Xiao Lang stabilize Fu Mingzhu, and had to accept her monetary insults.” Lin Qingqing said, “But I won’t do that with Xiao Lang.”

Mr. Lin chuckled, “Xiao Fengxing better be as willing to marry you as you say.”

Mr. Lin no longer expects Lin Qingqing to go find Xiao Fengxing.

Back at the mansion, he wrote a letter himself and had a servant deliver it to Xiao Fengxing.

Mrs. Lin busied herself by flipping out all the money in the house, fretting over the meager amount.

Fu Shinian returned to the mansion and first went to her room to change clothes.

After changing, she held a hand warmer and took a walk around her courtyard.

Now the purple aura had spread beyond her courtyard walls.

Fu Shinian could see her courtyard already surrounded by a faint purple aura.

Though the range expanded, the purple aura was not as dense as when it only covered one wall before.

But in any case, an expanded range is a good thing.

The direction of the aura’s spread was towards Fu Mingzhu’s courtyard.

The two courtyards were not far apart.

Following the purple aura, Fu Shinian walked over, carefully checking, and found a thread of barely noticeable purple aura extending to Fu Mingzhu’s courtyard wall.

It was faint, just a slight thread.

If Fu Shinian hadn’t looked carefully, it would have been overlooked.

This indicated that Fu Mingzhu’s fortune was now also being influenced by the purple aura.

No wonder Fu Mingzhu was getting better and better, her mind clearer and clearer, with no attachment to Xiao Fengxing at all.

Fu Shinian breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Fu Mingzhu came out.

Fu Mingzhu had also changed her clothes, and upon seeing Fu Shinian, she said, “Why not go inside?”

“I just got here, it’s a coincidence that you came out, sister.” Fu Shinian said.

Thus, the two went to the front together.

Mr. Fu was still musing over how to celebrate their family producing two village lords.

Aunt Cheng, hearing the news, burst into tears.

She always felt that Fu Mingzhu was good in every way, except for the misfortune of being born from her.

Being an illegitimate daughter, she was always at a disadvantage in marital matters.

But now, Fu Mingzhu was also a village lord; who would dare look down on her?

Who would dare bring up her illegitimate status anymore?

Just then, Cheng Yuanshan came with his wife and children to pay New Year’s respects.

He had not yet heard that Fu Mingzhu had been made a village lord.

Upon entering, he saw Aunt Cheng crying heavily, and Madam Fu comforting her, thinking she had been wronged outside.

Cheng Yuanshan quickly paid his respects, before saying, “Sixiu, what’s wrong? Did someone outside bully you?”

“Brother!” Aunt Cheng, upon seeing Cheng Yuanshan, said excitedly, “I’m happy, so very happy.”

“This…” Cheng Yuanshan still didn’t understand what could make someone cry from happiness?

Then Aunt Cheng said, “Today, Mingzhu was also named a village lord. I no longer have to worry about people looking down on Mingzhu during marriage talks.”

“Village lord?” Cheng Yuanshan was truly shocked, “How come?”

Aunt Cheng, laughing and crying, had difficulty saying much more to Cheng Yuanshan.

So Mr. Fu told Cheng Yuanshan about the events at the palace banquet.

“You should also receive a reward, though the emperor didn’t announce it at the time.” Mr. Fu said.

“That’s alright.” Cheng Yuanshan wasn’t bothered.

Merchants are lowly, and even though the Cheng family has grown, their status remains low.

Cheng Yuanshan never aimed for instant success; as long as it benefited the Cheng family, it was enough.

To have left his name in front of the emperor, ensuring no one dared to scheme against his business, was already good enough for Cheng Yuanshan.

That was his initial goal.

Now, with Fu Mingzhu becoming a village lord, it was a delightful surprise for Cheng Yuanshan.

Mrs. Cheng was also quick to congratulate Fu Mingzhu.

Madam Fu held Aunt Cheng and said, “You heard the news and immediately cried; I hadn’t even had the chance to tell you.”

“The previous marriage prospects I gave you were for families with simple backgrounds, but they were still well-educated, official families, just not of high status.” Madam Fu said.

Though not of high status, they were scholarly, official families, just not great clans or noble houses.

“Now, with Mingzhu’s status, joining a marquis or count’s house is acceptable. Though she might not be the primary wife, even the legitimate sons of high families are not out of her reach now.”

“As long as the emperor and empress continue to favor her, even high families wouldn’t dare slight Mingzhu.” Madam Fu said, “Those high families are certainly looking to propose marriages with our Mingzhu now.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep