Chapter 099
Chapter 99: Dig a Pit
Reading the changes on everyone’s faces, Xia Meng Yan smiled to herself. [Let the muddy water swirl so the fish will bite, and do not offend anyone.]
[Too many so-called smart people in the Lin family. Do they really take everyone else for fools?]
She said evenly: “Eldest Uncle manages more than half of the Lin family’s businesses. It takes seven days just to read the ledgers. If you cannot even figure out a small matter like a spooked horse, maybe you do not have much ability.”
“Good,” Old Master Lin said with satisfaction, setting down his tea cup. He raised his voice and announced: “Whoever gets to the bottom of Eldest’s injury, I will approve that person as the Lin family’s second-in-command.”
The juniors in the courtyard began to whisper.
They all had their own thoughts. Some were held down by their status, some had been suppressed. Old Master Lin’s words gave them a way forward.
Peeking in with half her head through the doorway, Lin Qing Wan grinned at the elders and asked: “Grandfather, if your granddaughter finds the truth and catches the culprit, will I be the Lin family’s second-in-command?”
“Of course,” Old Master Lin said as he stood and walked slowly to the door. He looked at the four neat rows of people standing outside. They were all of Lin blood, the future hope of the Lin family. He said: “No matter male or female, no matter legitimate or concubine-born. If you have ability, step up.”
Inside, Third Master Zhou’s face shifted. His hand clenched on the armrest, then slowly relaxed. He said: “Godfather is right. We should use this chance to let the younger generation enter the business openly. It will also shut the mouths of those outside.”
Second Master Qian shot to his feet and stared at Old Master Lin, saying: “Third Brother, are you crazy? Godfather, if you want the juniors to take over work, fine. But making them second-in-command right away is too high.”
Madam Jia grew anxious. If a concubine-born child took first place, what would become of her own son later? She said: “I know Father is worried about my husband, but we cannot use the Lin family’s future as a bargaining chip. Saying things like no matter gender or birth will make other noble houses laugh.”
Xia Meng Yan had not expected her eldest maternal aunt to oppose this. Her grandfather’s words were clearly a trap for the person lurking in the dark. [How can she not see something this simple?] No wonder the Huo family had targeted the Lin family first. When the head wife lacks ability, if the head of the house falls, the Lin family becomes loose sand.
Old Master Lin ended the discussion with a final word: “We will do it this way.”
People left the main hall with different thoughts in their hearts. Xia Meng Yan stayed behind to keep the elders company.
Seeing Madam Jia fling her sleeve and leave, Matriarch Lin muttered, “Fool,” and deeply regretted that she had once cared about old ties and ended up harming the eldest branch.
As Xia Meng Yan gently rubbed her grandmother’s back, she thought: [If Madam Jia does not improve, the people in the west wing will revolt. At that time, no one will care that she is the head wife. They will simply get rid of her.]
She said softly: “Aunt is just upset because she cares.”
“What is there to care about? It is plain jealousy,” Matriarch Lin complained as she held Xia Meng Yan’s hand. She said: “I am not only speaking for your Eldest Uncle. Even ordinary households have a wife and a concubine, not to mention a family like ours. Your Eldest Uncle only accepted Nian’er from by my side. The back courtyard is already very clean. Even so, she is still not satisfied. She suppresses Nian’er in daily matters, instructs the household in secret to cut her allowance, and spends her days sour and jealous. She cannot help your Eldest Uncle at all.”
The Nian’er Matriarch Lin spoke of was once a first-class maid in her courtyard. She had grown up with Eldest Master, almost like childhood sweethearts, but her family background was miserable and she had been sold into the Lin family.
Now Nian’er—no, she should be called Concubine Nian—had one son and two daughters. She studied basic texts with the children and sometimes went out to manage a few shops in her hand. Other than paying respects to Matriarch Lin, she rarely appeared before the others.
People in the household had a good impression of Concubine Nian. This was why Matriarch Lin said Madam Jia was not content.
In her past life, Xia Meng Yan had seen too much scheming and deception. [What the eyes see is not always real.] She had not met Concubine Nian yet, so she would not make a rash judgment.
She said: “Aunt is worried about my cousins. I will go talk to her later.”
Listening to the two of them, Old Master Lin felt a bit comforted that Xia Meng Yan spoke up for Madam Jia. For all her flaws, Madam Jia’s heart was with the Lin family, not like some people who only wanted to hollow the Lin family out.
“Let her make a fuss,” he said. “If she does not, how will those people reveal themselves?”
Xia Meng Yan and Matriarch Lin exchanged a look. They understood Old Master Lin meant to fish for the culprit.
“Grandfather, do you suspect the person is in the first branch?” Xia Meng Yan asked. Thinking of Madam Jia’s reaction earlier, she felt that was unlikely.
Matriarch Lin answered: “We will know in a few days.”
“If Second Uncle or Third Uncle catches the culprit, what do you plan to do?” Xia Meng Yan asked. She understood her grandfather. The Lin family was charitable, but would never hand its wealth to outsiders.
Qian Heng and Zhou Yuan had already gained plenty by standing under the Lin family’s protection. As long as they remained loyal to the Lin family, their descendants would never lack food or clothing. The premise, though, was that they were loyal.
Old Master Lin rubbed the jade thumb ring on his hand, a calculating gleam flashing in his sharp eyes, and said: “They will not find it.”
Xia Meng Yan did not understand what he meant. After sending her grandmother back to her courtyard, she led her people away.
On the path, Nanny Sun, who had just seen Madam Jia’s poor mood and gone to the big kitchen for fresh vegetables, ran into Xia Meng Yan and said with a sneer: “Cousin Miss, you have real skill. You just arrived and already set the Lin family into an uproar.”
Xia Meng Yan raised a brow, recognizing her as a servant of the first branch.
Chun Yue stepped in front of her mistress and snapped: “Is this the Lin family’s rule, that a servant dares to shout at the master?”
For years Nanny Sun had been at Madam Jia’s side. Everyone bowed and scraped when they saw her. That an outsider like Chun Yue dared to lecture her infuriated her.
Smack. Without a word, Nanny Sun rushed up and slapped her.
Xia Meng Yan was stunned. No one had expected Nanny Sun to strike first. She said coldly: “Nanny Sun, what boldness. Is this the Lin family’s rule?”
Rubbing her wrist with great satisfaction, Nanny Sun said: “Cousin Miss, remember your place. You came to the Lin family only to bear a child. Mind your own business. For the sake of your treating Eldest Master’s injury, I give you a little face. But if you covet what you should not, even if I risk my life, I will not let you off.”
Xia Meng Yan’s face darkened as she answered: “Something that does not belong to me?”
Nanny Sun knew when to stop. She had already taken advantage of the opening and landed a blow. If the fight dragged on, she would be the one punished. She snorted and turned to leave, but Xia Meng Yan blocked her and raised her hand, striking back.
Nanny Sun stared in disbelief and cried out: “You dare hit me?”
Imitating her, Xia Meng Yan rubbed her wrist and then took the handkerchief from Chun Yue to wipe her hand. She said: “You are an old servant of the Lin family. You struck without reason, so of course I returned it. Whether I am an outsider is not for a servant to decide. This is the Lin family, not the Sun household. If you want to throw your weight around, know where you stand. I am not afraid of bullies. Next time you see me, make a detour.”
Covering her face, Nanny Sun shot her a vicious glare and hurried away.
Chun Yue rubbed her own cheek and whispered: “Miss, on the way here you told us to be careful with our words and not cause trouble. There is no need to offend the first branch because of a maidservant.” [Eldest Master is the big miss’s blood uncle. We cannot offend him.]
Tapping the girl’s forehead, Xia Meng Yan said with a faint smile: “Do not worry. Your miss knows the line.”
Holding her cheek, Nanny Sun half-ran back to the first branch. Before Madam Jia could ask, she fell to her knees and sobbed: “Madam, please give this old servant justice.”
Seeing Nanny Sun return in such a state, Madam Jia frowned and asked: “What happened?”
Adding oil to the fire, Nanny Sun told the story in her own way: “This old servant only advised Cousin Miss not to let others use her. Her maid insulted me, so I slapped her. Who would have thought Cousin Miss, not caring who was right or wrong, would hit a maidservant and even claim that the Lin family follows her word.”