Chapter 109
Chapter 109: Share the Burden
“After Second Aunt pays for the Lin Family’s losses, the Lin Family can help the Qiao Family look for the killer,” Xia Meng Yan said, meeting the Second Madam’s eyes without dodging. The mockery in her gaze was clear. “Qiao Shan was already of age. He should answer for his actions. The moment he betrayed the Lin Family, he should have thought of the cost. Even if he had not been in the Lin Manor last night, he would have been killed to silence him. The Lin Family was soft?hearted and did not hand him to the officials at once. That is the only reason Second Aunt now dares to blame us.”
Her words landed like a slap on the Second Madam’s face.
The Lin Family had spared him for the sake of kinship and had not made a big scene. Now, after trouble came, the Second Madam ignored that kindness and wanted the Lin Family to pay. Xia Meng Yan was calling her ungrateful.
Madam Jia almost laughed out loud when she heard it.
“The Lin Family kept quiet for the sake of family ties,” she added, “yet some people do not know good from bad. They eat the Lin Family’s food and drink the Lin Family’s tea, then try to swallow the Lin Family whole. Ungrateful wolf.”
The Second Madam’s face turned from blue to white. The handkerchief in her hand twisted so tight it looked like rope. “I am not. I only want to say a few words for my brother,” she muttered.
“Shut up,” Second Master Qian snapped. As her husband, he had lost face with her outburst. He glared at her, then turned to Old Master Lin and said: “Adoptive Father, someone used Qiao Shan to stir up trouble between us father and sons. This also shows Qiao Shan had no self?control. He brought this on himself. I am not speaking for the Qiao Family. It is that Qiao Shan was the only male in the Qiao Family. Now that he died in the Lin Manor, the Qiao Family will surely come to demand an answer.”
Hearing this, Xia Meng Yan’s view of Second Master Qian improved. Whether he was sincere or not, at least he was not arguing blindly.
“Second Uncle is right,” she said to Old Master Lin. “At times like this, the Lin Family must not be messy. Second Aunt is too sad to receive guests. If the Qiao Family comes, let Second Uncle handle it.”
Second Master Qian looked a little surprised. He had not expected Xia Meng Yan to speak up for him. This had happened in a shop under his watch. His adoptive father would surely question him. If he could settle the Qiao Family’s side, he might make up for it.
“Second, what do you say?” Old Master Lin asked, his face calm.
Second Master Qian rose and bowed: “Adoptive Father, rest assured. I will handle the Qiao Family.”
Old Master Lin let out a quiet breath, looked around at everyone, and said: “Today’s matter, consider it a pass for you all. The Lin Family is large, and many eyes are watching outside. Any small stir will hurt our name. As Yan’er said, if you push blame and complain, you fall into someone else’s trap. The more this happens, the more the Lin Family must stand together and leave no chance for outsiders.”
Everyone stood and said: “Father, Adoptive Father, your lesson is right.”
“All right. First Branch stays. The rest of you may go,” he said.
“Yes,” they answered.
Third Master Zhou rose. His eyes fell on Xia Meng Yan. Seeing that she did not move, he frowned slightly, then turned and left.
“Thanks to Yan’er’s quick mind this time, the Lin Family lost much less,” Matriarch Lin said when only four people remained in the main hall. She took Xia Meng Yan’s hand, her eyes full of heartache, and said: “I wanted you to rest well here in the Lin Family while pregnant. I did not expect you to worry like this.”
“Grandmother, I am fine,” Xia Meng Yan said as she leaned against her and put a hand on her belly. “The baby also wants to share Great?Grandmother’s worries.”
“You, you are as capable as your mother,” Matriarch Lin said. Then she shot a look at her son in the wheelchair and added: “Do not think that sitting in a chair gives you a reason to slack off. You hurt your legs, not your brain.”
The Eldest Master was sipping tea and did not expect to be scolded. He hurried to please her and said: “It is my fault. I was injured at the wrong time.”
Goosebumps rose on Xia Meng Yan’s arms. What was Eldest Uncle trying to pull with this sweet talk?
“Father promised that whoever found the one who harmed me would serve as the Lin Family’s second?in?command,” the Eldest Master said. “Now Yan’er not only found the culprit but also saved the Lin Family from further loss. No one fits that post better than Yan’er.”
“Me?” Xia Meng Yan pointed at herself in disbelief and said: “Eldest Uncle, you must be joking.”
She was about to give birth. Even caring for the child would be enough to keep her busy, let alone managing the Lin Family’s business. The Lin Family had so many capable people. How could an outsider like her take the role?
Old Master Lin thought it was a good idea. Seeing his granddaughter’s worries, he smiled and said: “Your uncle is right. Many people heard me promise that day. Do not worry. The Lin Family will not trap you. Whenever you want to leave, your Eldest Uncle will take it back.”
“But…” she began.
“I also have a private reason,” the Eldest Master cut in. A hint of worry passed over his gentle face as he said: “No one knows if my legs will heal. Rather than hand my work to someone else, I would rather entrust it to you.”
For a moment, Xia Meng Yan did not know what to say. Eldest Uncle had a point. What he held were the Lin Family’s lifelines. If he handed them to the Second or Third Branch, he might never get them back. She was a married?out niece and would return to the Capital sooner or later. Having her take over was best for Eldest Uncle.
Matriarch Lin was not pleased. “You father and son have a fine plan. Do you take our Yan’er for a fool?” she said. “If she becomes second?in?command, the rest of the Lin Family will hate her. Trying to get something for nothing? No way.”
“Mother, I am your own son, and Yan’er is my own niece. How can you think that of me?” the Eldest Master said, feeling wronged. “When Yan’er wants to leave, I will give her a few shops.”
“That is only right,” Matriarch Lin said, not happy but seeing it as proper.
Watching the two of them fight for her interests, Xia Meng Yan’s eyes grew wet without her noticing.
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In her past life, she died early, and her grandparents no doubt grieved. Now that had not happened. As long as she found the Huo Family’s planted spy inside the Lin Family, they could avoid that disaster.
“It is just that I am pregnant and cannot move around easily,” she said.
“I will arrange people to handle the work below,” the Eldest Master said. “You only need to check the accounts once a month.” He knew it was not ideal to push daily affairs onto Yan’er, but he had no choice. The last time he sent out routine duties, the Third Branch still had not returned them on their own. Right now, the only person he trusted was Xia Meng Yan.
Understanding his difficulty, Xia Meng Yan said: “Eldest Uncle, assign someone to me. If something comes up in business, I can discuss it with him.”
The Eldest Master felt warmed. He understood that asking for a person was only the surface; the real point was placing his man by her side to watch for problems. He said: “Good.”
After they settled the matter, Matriarch Lin took Xia Meng Yan away.
“Father, what about the Qiao Family?” the Eldest Master asked, turning the prayer beads on his wrist. “If someone is really moving behind the scenes, they will not let this go. The Lin Family’s guards are strong. For someone to kill under their eyes, the person behind it is not simple.”
Old Master Lin’s lips held a faint chill. He stood slowly, hands behind his back, and looked at the bright sunlight outside the door as he said: “If the enemy does not move, we do not move. The Lin Family holds something they want. The ones who should be anxious are them.”
When Xia Meng Yan returned to her own courtyard, she saw Duan Yi Chen sitting boldly inside. She frowned at the maid by the door. The maid said with difficulty: “Cousin Miss, we could not stop him.”
Nanny Song took the maids away at once to scold them. Chun Yue did not care for niceties. She stood with hands on her hips in front of Duan Yi Chen and said: “Heir Apparent Duan, this is the Eldest Miss’s boudoir. Do you not know to avoid suspicion? If others in the Lin Family find out, how can the Eldest Miss hold her head high?”
Duan Yi Chen acted as if he had not heard. He reached out to steady Xia Meng Yan and said: “These pastries just came out of the steamer. I know your stomach has been poor, so I brought them to you. Try them.”