FSC [QT] Chapter 5.3

“Mother, the situation of the second daughter-in-law of the Qiu family is different from that of Ah Wu. She is crazy. Ah Wu is just stupid but not crazy. Moreover, the second daughter-in-law of the Qiu family is not crazy for no reason.”

“Why didn’t you say that the second son of the Qiu family had an affair with the flower girl in the town when his wife was pregnant, saying that he wanted to redeem the flower girl’s life and asked the second daughter-in-law of the Qiu family to make room for the flower girl, which driven the second daughter-in-law crazy?”

Lin Pingchun put down the bowl and chopsticks and said to Lin Xu calmly.

“Tonight, Mother, you make three dishes and one soup. A dish of braised pork with pickled vegetables, a dish of steamed eggs, and this pot of thick millet porridge without sweet potato buds. Can these things be provided by our three acres of land?”

Underneath his glamorous appearance, Lin Pingchun has an extremely pragmatic heart.

“Every month, Uncle Jiang will ask Granny Ding to send five taels of silver, of which three taels are for pens, ink, paper, inkstones, and the cost of tailoring new clothes. The remaining two taels of silver are for the daily expenses of our family.”

“Every month, Mother, you can still save a little money to buy some handkerchiefs and hairpins. The gold-coated silver hairpin you hid in the small box in the closet in your room was bought last year, and you were only willing to wear it during the New Year. If we only relied on our three acres of land, I’m afraid that Mother wouldn’t even be willing to buy a hollow silver hairpin, right?”

What Lin Pingchun talked about were some bloody realities that Lin Xu avoided in daily life but had to face head-on.

Jiang Baozong had already taken the initiative to talk to him about the marriage contract between the Lin and Jiang families. Although Jiang Baozong was a generous man, he was not someone who would spend money all over the place.

If the Lin family is unwilling to accept the marriage contract, Jiang Baozong will definitely not provide the money in the future. By then, Lin Pingchun and his widowed mother will be relying on three acres of barren farmland. Can Lin Pingchun continue to focus on the imperial examination?

Studying has always been the most expensive thing. Even if he is lucky enough to pass the exam this time, he will still need a lot of money before he can pass the exam.

It is said that a poor scholar will make a rich man. The reason why Jiang Baozong, a scholar, lives a carefree life is because of the ancestral property left by his ancestors. Otherwise, the money he had as a teacher would not be enough to spend at the clothes shop all year round to cut beautiful clothes for his daughter.

“Not only that, if the engagement is canceled, we will have to pay back all the money we have spent on the Jiang family over the years.”

Lin Pingchun knew what his mother cared about. The most important thing is him, and the second most important thing is money. If he pinched his mother’s seven inches, she would obey.

“Why? We didn’t ask for this money from him. He gave it willingly.”

When she heard that she wanted to pay back the money, Lin Xu could not help but scream. But at this moment, she was a bit sullen. It was obvious that her confidence was not as firm and fierce as her tone.

“Uncle Jiang’s willingness is based on the fact that I am his favorite son-in-law.”

Lin Pingchun emphasized in a deep voice.

“Actually, there is nothing wrong with Ah Wu. Uncle Jiang is a scholar, and our two families are well-matched. Ah Wu has some shortcomings, and Mother will teach her slowly when she gets married. Uncle Jiang will definitely not treat Ah Wu badly. She doesn’t know how to work, so she can hire a maid to do it. Mother will be able to relax a little bit by then.”

After all, she was his mother, and she had suffered a lot because of her widowhood. After some harsh words, Lin Pingchun slowed down his tone.

“Mother, reputation is the most important thing for a scholar. Everyone in the village knows the Jiang family’s kindness to our mother and son. If I don’t recognize the engagement now, the examiners and classmates will think that my character is flawed, which will be a disaster for my career. I know Mother feels sorry for me, but please consider the overall situation and accept Ah Wu as your daughter-in-law.”

Lin Pingchun revealed the reality of the situation with emotion and reason. No matter how unwilling Lin Xu was, she just licked her lips and stopped saying any words to refute.

“Today Aunt Diao went to Jiang’s house to talk about marrying Huo Lindong. The reason why Uncle Jiang came to see me may have something to do with it.”

Lin Pingchun wanted to remind his mother that although Jiang Wu was stupid, she was not something no one cared about.

Lin Xu did not understand her son’s intention. Her first reaction was that if Jiang Wu married someone else, what would happen to the Jiang family’s property? Those belonged to her son.

She did not want her son to marry Jiang Wu, but she could not bear to part with the Jiang family’s fortune, which she considered extremely rich.

Is there a possibility that her son will marry a daughter-in-law that satisfies her, and at the same time, the Jiang family’s property will fall into her hands?

Lin Xu was stunned for a moment.

*****

Translator’s Comment:

Oh… What a scheming mother and son!

How could such a good thing exist in the world? You want one thing but refuse the other thing.

This Ling Pingchun’s words sound very nice, but what he thinks most about is only himself. His cost until the exam, his fame, his reputation…

In this kind of ancient world, if a man breaks the marriage contract, the one who suffers the most is the woman. Her reputation will be ruined, and it will be difficult for her to find another marriage.

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