A Good Country Wife-Chapter 633 - 627_1

Madam Zhou stepped down from the carriage and even now, she could hardly believe her eyes, so she just stood in front of the grand gate, looking all around. In addition to her astonishment, her face was unable to hide a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Lin Youfu, after all, was more discerning than Madam Zhou. Moreover, as the father of a Scholar, he was a man of status and could not afford to diminish his dignity. Aside from his initial shock and excitement that he had failed to conceal, he had now regained his composure. Hearing Madam Zhou’s crude speech and the disdain for him embedded in her words, he let out a cold snort. Women! They’re all the same! Only greedy for wealth and splendor, unable to restrain themselves at the slightest display of riches. Such ignorance truly embarrassed him. Even if the Zhao Family was wealthy, they were merely merchants. When his son passed the exam and became an official, he would be a venerable elder—that was true status. How shallow-sighted she was.

"Put away that ignorant look off your face. It’s just a slightly larger estate, what’s with all the fuss? Don’t lower yourself," Lin Youfu scolded Madam Zhou with a stern face, holding his waist with authority. He raised his voice deliberately, as if afraid others wouldn’t know, and emphasized the word "Scholar" with a heavy tone.

"Understood, my lord," Madam Zhou, although a bit embarrassed and displeased by Lin Youfu’s reprimand, soon grasped the intent behind her husband’s words. Thinking of her son, who had earned the title of Scholar, she straightened her spine and wore a haughty look on her face, walking forward with her head held high, truly the epitome of "looking down on others."

Liu Aniu, listening to the conversation between Lin Youfu and Madam Zhou, curled his lip. Madam Zhou was greedy but at least straightforward, hiding nothing, saying whatever was on her mind. Lin Youfu’s hypocritical attitude, however, was even more disdainful to him. They thought no one knew their true intentions for coming here. They said they came to seek asylum, but weren’t they actually coveting the Zhao Family’s wealth? Otherwise, why would they have eagerly come to the Zhao Family’s village? If only he hadn’t seen the greedy expression on Lin Youfu’s face when he disembarked from the carriage and saw the mansion, now it was too late to pretend.

"Manager Liu, who are these people?" The gatekeeper boy, having only recently taken the position, had not accompanied them to Shanglin Village before and had not met Lin Qing. Thus, he didn’t know who these people were. He was merely puzzled as to why Manager Liu, who obviously went to deliver grain to Shanglin Village, had brought back several people instead, especially since the journey back shouldn’t have been so quick.

"This is the young mistress’s uncle, her mother’s brother," Liu Aniu, knowing that Lin Yue would not recognize Lin Youfu and Madam Zhou, brushed past them and simply stated Lin Qing’s identity.

Seeing Liu Aniu disregard them like this, Lin Youfu and Madam Zhou’s expressions soured, especially since Liu Aniu had not shown them any respect along the way, let alone deference. Clearly just a servant from their daughter’s home, how could he be so rude to them? Even knowing that Liu Aniu was a trusted manager employed by Lin Yue, Lin Youfu and Madam Zhou didn’t even consider Lin Yue important, let alone Manager Liu. At first, they had thought to ingratiate themselves with the Zhao Family, but now that they were not receiving the expected response, they no longer felt obliged to be courteous and turned frosty toward Liu Aniu.

"What are you standing there for, dazed? Hurry up and report to your mistress. Tell her her parents have arrived and she is to come to the gate to greet us at once!" Lin Youfu, intent on asserting his authority, barked at the gatekeeper. "Really, I don’t know how the second young miss trains her servants, each and every one of them so lacking in manners."

Liu Aniu, seeing Lin Youfu flaunting his connection to Lin Yue to lord over the servants, couldn’t help but furrow his brows in disdain. He couldn’t understand how such a kind person as his mistress ended up with such parents.

The gatekeeper, hearing Lin Youfu and Madam Zhou claim to be the mistress’s parents, felt uncertain. If they really were, why would Manager Liu ignore them, instead of introducing only the uncle’s identity? But since Manager Liu did not refute their claim, was it true or not? What should he do?

The gatekeeper broke into a sweat. After all, the servants of the outer courtyard took orders from Manager Liu, so he did not follow Lin Youfu’s command but instead looked toward Liu Aniu, "Manager Liu, what should I do?"

Liu Aniu was actually somewhat hesitant, too. If it had been just Lin Qing alone, he would have immediately led him in, but Lin Youfu and Madame Zhou were also present, and he knew all too well how much the lady detested them, so he dared not make a decision without authorization. He thus turned to look at Lin Qing.

"Uncle, I must trouble you to wait here for a moment. Your servant will go in first to report to the lady and ask for her instructions."

Lin Qing nodded in understanding, "That is proper, thank you for your efforts, Manager Liu."

Lin Youfu and Madame Zhou were thoroughly ignored to the side, their faces turning dark with anger. It was one thing for Liu Aniu, who, after all, was a manager and held in high regard by Lin Yue, to show some pride—it was normal, but for this little servant who guarded the gate to also disregard them was outrageous, especially since even their own son seemed to think this treatment was only to be expected.

"Qingqing, after all, you are a Scholar, one who has earned academic honors. The female master here is also your sister. Why do you treat a servant with such courtesy? You’re needlessly lowering your status. Is this how I taught you?" Lin Youfu, unable to take out his frustrations on the Zhao Family’s servants, turned his irritation on Lin Qing with a few reprimands.

Were it any other time, he would have been reluctant to do so, for Lin Qing was his only prized son, one with great potential, and their family’s future glory depended on him. However, the dismissive attitude from Liu Aniu and the Zhao Family’s servants had seriously slighted him, making him lose face. He needed to find a way to save face, especially since Liu Aniu treated Lin Qing with much respect.

Madame Zhou was also a bit upset with Lin Qing, but when her husband scolded him, she quickly came to her son’s defense and shifted the blame onto Lin Yue, "Why scold the son for no good reason? He’s just being polite. If you have to blame someone,

it should be that wretched girl for not teaching the servants properly. Later, you should have a word with her about it."

Lin Qing didn’t respond to his father’s outburst, knowing all too well why his parents were upset. He stayed silent, for speaking out would be futile and they would simply invoke filial piety to pressure him; he chose instead to stand there like a block of wood, knowing all too well that his sister was no longer the timid and easily bullied girl of before. This was the Zhao Family’s household, and his parents couldn’t bully her here.

At this moment, Lin Yue was discussing something with Nurse Xu. Upon hearing the maid’s report, she was surprised but hurriedly asked Liu Aniu to come in, her heart filled with concern.

"Hasn’t Manager Liu already set off for Shanglin Village? How has he returned so quickly? Did something happen on the road?"

So you’re telling me they encountered my brother on the way and brought him back?"