After the Scholar Rejected Me, I Married the Rogue and Got Rich - Chapter 42

The Lin family courtyard was bustling with activity early in the morning.

Wang and Lin got up before dawn, cooked a simple pot of millet porridge, steamed some buns, and the family had just finished eating when Aunt Guihua, Sister Chen, and others who were helping arrived one after another.

“Sister Lin, we’re here! Just let us know if there’s anything you need!”

“The weather is really cooperating today!”

“Where’s Sang? She’s the star of the day, she can’t be tired!”

Everyone chattered excitedly, their faces beaming with joy. Madam Wang smiled and greeted them, directing them to place the dried fruits and snacks they had purchased the day before—tea, candy, red dates, peanuts, longans, lotus seeds, and other treats—onto the gleaming octagonal table. She then meticulously wiped and tidied the already clean main room and courtyard once more, ensuring everything was neat and tidy, exuding a solemn and festive atmosphere.

Inside the room, Lin Sang was pressed down in front of the dressing table by Madam Wang: “You’re not allowed to lift a finger today, just get yourself dressed properly!” As Madam Wang spoke, she took out a new outfit that she had rushed to make overnight a few days ago.

She wore a light purple cross-collar cotton-padded jacket with simple intertwined floral patterns embroidered in slightly darker purple silk thread on the collar and cuffs. She paired it with an indigo pleated cotton skirt. Although the fabric was not expensive, the colors were elegant and the cut was well-fitting, making her look particularly spirited.

Lin Sang changed into new clothes and did her hair and makeup in front of the mirror.

She first applied a light layer of delicate egg white powder to her face, making her skin tone appear more even and fair; then she spread a small amount of rouge in her palm and gently patted it onto her cheeks, giving them a natural blush; finally, she picked up the soft peach-pink lip rouge she had carefully selected in town, dabbed a little with her fingertip, and carefully applied it to her lips before gently pressing it together.

In an instant, the girl reflected in the mirror seemed to be infused with vibrant colors. She was not the kind of dazzling beauty, but she had delicate features and a clean temperament.

At this moment, with her new clothes and light makeup, her skin is delicate, her lips are tender, and her eyes are clear and bright. She is like a lotus bud just beginning to bloom, fresh and refined, making people feel happy and comfortable to look at.

“Sister, are you all better?” Lin Miao pulled Chen Xiaoman in and pushed the door open. The two girls froze on the spot as soon as she asked the question.

Lin Miao’s mouth dropped open: “Sis…you’re so beautiful!”

Chen Xiaoman’s eyes widened as she circled Lin Sang, exclaiming in admiration, “My goodness! Sang Sang, I can hardly recognize her! This…this is truly a fairy descended from heaven!”

Without saying a word, the two grabbed the slightly shy Lin Sang from either side and walked out, insisting that everyone see.

Inside the main room, the busy aunties gasped in surprise when they saw Lin Sang being pulled out.

“My goodness! Whose beautiful girl is this? I almost didn’t recognize her!”

“Sang girl looks really beautiful dressed up!”

“Look at her complexion, look at her figure! She really has blossomed into a beautiful young woman!”

Looking at her daughter’s graceful and radiant appearance, Wang felt both proud and bittersweet.

She is proud that her daughter is beautiful, smart, and capable, and is second to none in every way; she is also saddened that her daughter will eventually get married and leave her side.

She thought to herself, “My capable and beautiful daughter is such a lucky break for Zhou Han! I just hope that Sangsang’s taste remains unchanged, that Zhou Han will treat her sincerely, and that the young couple will live happily ever after. Then I, as her mother, will be at ease. My outstanding daughter deserves to be matched with the best man!”

Just as things were getting lively, Old Man Lin, Old Lady Lin, Lin Fu, and several elders from the clan, including Uncle Lin and the clan head, arrived. Wang and Lin the eldest hurriedly went to greet them and warmly invited everyone to sit on the kang (heated brick bed), drink tea, and eat snacks.

Lin Laoda and Lin Fu accompanied the clan elders and their father, and the main room was filled with greetings and laughter.

Grandma Lin took Lin Sang’s hand and led her into the inner room, avoiding the crowd.

Holding her granddaughter’s warm hand, and looking at her granddaughter’s obviously carefully dressed appearance, she recalled the grievance of the broken engagement last time, and her eyes immediately reddened: “Sangsang… last time… it was your grandpa and grandma who were useless and made you suffer… I never thought this time… your father is confused! How could he… how could he find such a family for you? That Zhou Han…” As the old lady spoke, tears fell down her face.

Lin Sang felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that her grandmother truly cared for her. She grasped her grandmother’s rough hand in return, her voice soft yet firm: “Grandma, don’t be sad. What happened last time wasn’t my fault. This time… it was my own choice.”

“You willingly agreed?” Old Mrs. Lin raised her tearful eyes, filled with disbelief. “Zhou Han has such a bad reputation…”

“Grandma, his reputation is all just what outsiders say,” Lin Sang patiently explained. “He’s strong, responsible, knows how to protect his family, and is very good to me. He’s not the kind of unreasonable person.”

Looking into her granddaughter’s clear and determined eyes, Grandma Lin was still somewhat doubtful, but she shook her head and sighed, “You child… you’re just too strong-willed…”

Lin Sang smiled, her tone filled with longing and confidence for the future: “Grandma, you’ll know when you meet him, or after a while. I’m sure that I’ll be happy with him.”

Seeing her insistence, Grandma Lin didn’t say anything more. She just sighed heavily, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and patted her granddaughter’s hand with mixed feelings.

Inside and outside the house, there was a lively atmosphere, and the cheerful sounds of the aunties preparing food came from the kitchen. But a slightly shrill and untimely voice rang out from the courtyard gate:

“Oh! It’s really lively at my second brother’s house today! Such a happy occasion, why didn’t you tell us? If Jiao’er hadn’t heard the commotion, we would still be in the dark!”

Song Jinhua, accompanied by Lin Jiao’er, who was dressed in her finest attire, arrived uninvited and swayed her hips as she entered the courtyard.

Seeing this, Lin Fu immediately lost face and was about to reprimand her when Lin Laoda grabbed him. Lin Laotai also glared at her eldest daughter-in-law.

Wang’s smile remained unchanged as she stepped forward, her tone revealing neither joy nor anger: “Sister-in-law and Jiao’er are here? Please come in. We’re all family, no need to announce your arrival. Since you’re here, sit down together and let’s get to know each other so that we won’t feel awkward when we meet again.”

Song Jinhua was taken aback by Wang’s lukewarm words. She chuckled dryly, pulled Lin Jiao’er to a corner to sit down, and secretly scoffed, “Hmph, what’s with the pretense of magnanimity! I’d like to see how much face that Zhou scoundrel can give you today!”

Lin Jiao’er also raised her chin, her eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny and a sense of superiority as she waited to see her make a fool of herself.

Grandma Lin walked over to Song Jinhua, and as she pulled her to sit down, she pinched her arm hard and warned in a low voice, “You better behave yourself today! Stay put! If you dare to cause trouble, you’ll see what I do to you when we get back!”

Song Jinhua winced in pain, cursing the old woman for being biased, but dared not say anything more and could only sit there resentfully.

After the minor incident, the house and surrounding area returned to their lively atmosphere.