The Lin Family Rises Again

Lin Su accepted it, his face filled with satisfaction.

"Lin Young Master, do you have any other conditions?" Ding Hai now felt more secure.

Lin Su lowered his head and saw Xiaoyao, the girl with her hands cradling her stomach, leaning back in the chair, seemingly unwilling to move for the time being.

"Xiaoyao, what do you want?"

Xiaoyao stood up straight. "Two roast chickens!"

Everyone's eyes widened...

Xiaoyao looked around, feeling a bit embarrassed as she leaned against Lin Su. "Or, one is fine... Xiaotao hasn't had dinner yet..."

Lin Su knocked her on the head, speechless.

She might be a bit narrow-minded, but remembering her sisters' hunger at this moment, she was praiseworthy.

Ding Hai laughed. "Ten roast chickens, ten barrels of good wine, and ten sheep, deliver them to the Lin residence!"

"Yes!" A beautiful woman smiled and turned to leave.

"All right, Manager Ding, the poem, deliver it within three days!"

Ding Hai's heart finally settled, smiling with joy.

Lin Su turned to Baoshan. "Master Baoshan, about that golden bead... give it to me. After all, this is a gift from someone's daughter..."

Baoshan's eyes widened. "She's a fox demon!"

"She's not an ordinary fox demon..."

"What?"

"She's a mother fox demon!"

Puff! Someone sprayed out the wine in their mouth.

Baoshan raised his hand, and the golden bead was passed into Lin Su's hand.

"Young man, too much affection has always caused much harm; why break your heart in this mortal world? Be cautious and don't play yourself to death..."

Too much affection has always caused much harm; why break your heart in this mortal world? What a great poem! Did you write it yourself? Did it achieve the Five Colors?

Lin Su's eyes shimmered...

At the Lin residence, in the afternoon.

A group of servants carried ten roast sheep, ten chickens, and ten barrels of wine to the door.

The four words "Dingnan Marquis Mansion," once radiant for ten miles, were no longer there. Only two lonely words remained, Lin Mansion.

These two words were personally written by Lin Jialiang. With his talent, he could have written them brilliantly, but these two words were dim, reflecting the gloom in his heart when he wrote them.

No gatekeepers.

What could be inside Lin Mansion now? Even thieves would leave in tears if they entered. Would there be anything left?

Over a dozen people directly pushed open the main door and entered the courtyard, which was overgrown with weeds and in a state of disrepair.

In the east courtyard, Lin Jialiang lay quietly, his eyes tightly closed.

He wasn't asleep, nor had he fainted. His mind had been haunted by a shadow. That night in Yuxiang Tower, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, amidst the lingering fragrance, full of spring, her face appeared after the light smoke, as beautiful as a heavenly being. Her eyes were affectionate, her voice elegant...

Young Master, can I ask you a question?

Go ahead!

"The brothel is not a permanent home; where should this body go?" 

He told her, "My father will return home in March, and when the peach blossoms bloom, I will open the side door for you."

She smiled, "Then my farewell banquet will be held in April." At that moment, the smile on her face was as charming as peach blossoms...

Time passed, flowers fell and flew away. When March arrived, his father did not return home but was sent to the capital for execution. The Marquis's mansion was confiscated, and their family fell from grace.

He watched as the peach blossoms bloomed and withered...

People who were once close had a farewell banquet today, and after the banquet, who would the fallen flowers belong to?

Spring was fading, people were ailing, past events were beautiful, and future events were unseen.

Things in the world were unpredictable, causing only melancholy. The Marquis's mansion today was a complete mess.

Lin's mother and Xiaotao sat by his bedside, not disturbing him, not saying a word for the entire morning...

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Lin's mother was slightly startled. "Someone is coming. Xiaotao, go see..."

Xiaotao walked to the door, opened it, and her eyes were immediately captivated by the golden-roasted lamb and roast chicken. Since the Dingnan Marquis Mansion incident, it had been a long time since she had seen meat. She couldn't help but drool at everything looking like roast lamb. She closed her eyes, shook her head, opened her eyes again, and still saw roast lamb and roast chicken...

"Please inform Madam, I am the manager of Haining Tower. Young Master Lin won the poetry contest today, and Haining Tower is sending a small gift as a token of respect!"

"What?" Lin's mother suddenly bounced up, as if she had been re-energized in an instant. Her complexion also suddenly turned rosy.

Lin Jialiang opened his eyes suddenly, and all he could see was disbelief. Was he dreaming? His third brother won the poetry contest? His third brother? There might be a three percent chance of him winning in a cockfight, but what did the poetry contest have to do with him?

The roasted lamb, roast chicken, and fine wine entered in succession, and Xiaotao couldn't help but salivate...

Lin's mother personally went to the door. "Manager Li, why is it you?"

The person in front of her wasn't an ordinary waiter. He was a middle-aged man with a majestic demeanor. Before the Lin family's decline, Lin's mother had accompanied her husband to a banquet at Haining Tower and had seen him once. This manager was no ordinary character. Why would he personally come to Lin Mansion?

Manager Li gave a slight bow. "Greetings to Madam! The son's poetic talent is extraordinary, blessed by saints and bestowed with literary roots. He will surely become a remarkable figure soaring in the sky. Li has the honor of being from the same hometown as the Lin family and should have come earlier to pay respects. Today is rather belated, and I hope Madam won't mind."

How could this be possible? Lin's mother's lips trembled. "My son... My son... has poetic talent? And he's been bestowed literary roots?"

"More than just poetic talent! He is a peerless genius! With the two seven-color poems recited by the Third Young Master, not only will Haining Tower's name be remembered for eternity, but even the entire Quzhou will add a touch of spring. Congratulations to Madam!"

He bowed and withdrew.

Lin's mother was shocked, her illness seemed to have completely turned around at this moment. She took a few steps to the bedside. "Erlang, what's going on? Did you write a poem for him?"

Lin Jialiang looked dazed. "No, how could I write a seven-color poem?... My poetic attainments can't even touch the Golden Light Poem..."

A call came from outside. "Mother, Second Brother..."

"Third Brother is back..."

Lin's mother suddenly turned around, only to see Lin Su and Xiaoyao. Lin Su, who had left home in the morning with a somewhat lethargic look, now had a rosy complexion. As for Xiaoyao... no, she was glossy-faced...

"Sanlang, you..." Lin's mother blurted out all the questions in one breath and immediately received affirmative answers.

"What exactly is going on?" Lin Su provided an explanation, "Mother, I... perhaps it's a blessing from Father's spirit in heaven. The path of literature suddenly opened up for me, as if aided by a divine force..."

This is the beauty of feudal society; when something inexplicable happens, attributing it to ghosts and gods seems to immediately find an answer. Everyone in the room felt like they had just discovered the solution to a puzzle.

Lin's mother also had a rosy complexion, "Sanlang, let's go worship our Lin ancestors and thank your father's spirit in heaven."

They left, and Lin Jialiang watched them depart. The joy had briefly suppressed the pain, but it resurfaced again now.

There was something he hadn't had a chance to ask, or perhaps, he didn't dare to ask.

He wanted to know how Yulou was doing...

In fact, he already had an answer in his heart, but he didn't dare to confirm it.

The Lin family had fallen to such a state, and he didn't even attend her farewell banquet today. The past promises were now old and withered. Zhang Xiu had already made up her mind, and who in the world could escape her clutches? Especially for someone like her, who had no family or support...

Lin Jialiang suddenly had a violent coughing fit.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at his bedside. "Husband!"

Lin Jialiang raised his head abruptly, standing in front of him with a gentle smile and a soft gaze. Who else could it be but Yulou?

Lin Jialiang stiffened, almost unable to believe his eyes. "Yulou... is it really you?"

"Husband, have you forgotten... on the day of my farewell, you opened the side door for me!"

Her gentle voice reached Lin Jialiang's ears as if in a dream.

Yulou gently placed herself in his embrace. "On the day of my farewell, I dared not inform you. I originally planned to come quietly tonight, but Husband already knew. You even had your third brother bring me such a beautiful poem. Since Husband is like this, why should Yulou care about the opinions of others? From now on, I belong to Husband..."

Lin Jialiang was shaken to his core. A poem? What poem...

...

Lin Su and his mother went through a lengthy and extremely complicated worship ceremony and left the ancestral hall.

As they returned to the east courtyard, the two suddenly stopped.

A person came out of the kitchen, holding a large bowl. Although she was now dressed in plain clothes, she still looked extraordinarily beautiful.

"Sister Yulou!" Lin Su smiled, "You're here!"

"Third Young Master!" Yulou said, "..." Her gaze fell on Lin's mother, her expression changing slightly.

She vaguely guessed the identity of the person in front of her. This was the only obstacle she faced when entering the Lin family. When Lin Jialiang wanted to marry her, the Marquis and Madam did not accept her because of her courtesan background.

Why? In this era, matching social status was crucial. People from prominent families usually only married into other prominent families. Government officials and their children rarely married women from courtesan backgrounds. Courtesans were fine for entertainment, but giving them a legitimate status would be a stain.

Now that the Lin family had fallen, although it was a decline, it was still a prominent family. Would Madam change her perspective? Yulou was uncertain...

"Sister Yulou, this is my mother!" Lin Su made an introduction.

Yulou bowed deeply. "Yulou has seen... Madam!"

Lin's mother's face changed like the wind, nodding reluctantly without speaking.

Yulou saw this expression, and as a woman who had risen to prominence in the courtesan world, how could she not understand? Despite the decline of the Lin family, deep down, how could she not be aware of it? It was a somewhat restless feeling...

"Sister Yulou, take the soup to my brother first."

"Alright!" Yulou got up.

Once inside the room, Yulou helped Lin Jialiang up and fed him the soup with a spoon. Steam rose, and her eyelashes trembled slightly...

"Yulou, what's wrong?"

"Husband... Madam... Madam seems displeased. Yulou is afraid..."

Ah? Lin Jialiang's heart sank suddenly.

...

In the courtyard, Lin's mother's gaze gradually shifted to Lin Su. "Sanlang, this... this won't do!"

"Mother is talking about Sister Yulou and Second Brother? Why not?"

Lin's mother nodded slowly.

"Why not?"

Lin's mother sighed, "Sanlang, you are still young, and there are many things you don't understand..." She explained her thoughts thoroughly.

"Mother, there are indeed many things I don't understand, but I understand one thing. Personal character is paramount in establishing oneself. The Lin family has fallen into such a situation. Even the servants are fleeing. Sister Yulou could have accepted a thousand silver from the Zhang family as a dowry, living a prosperous life. Yet, at this moment, she chooses to return to the Lin family. How valuable is this? If we reject her, who in the world wouldn't feel chilled? As for her influence on Second Brother, Mother, please rest assured. Sister Yulou only wishes to be with Second Brother, regardless of the title."

Lin's mother's eyes brightened. "As long as it doesn't affect your Second Brother, then Mother won't be heartless! Let her come over, Mother will talk to her."

Lin Su entered his brother's room. Lin Jialiang and Yulou, who were nervously watching him, both raised their heads, their eyes showing a mix of fear, understanding, and a hint of resentment...

"Sister Yulou, my mother wants to talk to you."

Yulou trembled slightly. "Okay, I'll go now!"

After a deep look at Lin Jialiang, she bowed and left the room.

"Third Brother, Mother... what does Mother think?"

"Second Brother, rest assured! Mother has agreed!"

Once the words were spoken, Lin Jialiang suddenly felt a rush of energy flowing from his feet to his brain, and all the knots in his heart disappeared instantly. His condition improved by half.

As for Yulou, who had just walked out of the room, her whole body trembled, and her steps became lighter...

She had spent a long time talking with Lin's mother, then came out with a blush on her face and a completely relieved heart...

Lin's mother also felt relieved. Addressing the household affairs, she decided that since Hai Ning Lou sent so much meat today and they couldn't finish it, they would send some to Mei Niang and Lao He. Mei Niang and Lao He were both members of the Lin family. Even though most family members had left, Mei Niang and Lao He were exceptions. When the Lin family had nothing to eat, they left the Lin family, reducing expenses. They worked odd jobs outside, occasionally putting three or two steamed buns at the gate, which greatly moved Lin's old lady.

Lin's old lady, with her grandeur, boldly chose "To live in peace in poverty or to die of hunger, it's better to help the world," much to the consternation of her sons, who didn't see it.