GD (QT) Chapter 24

Every gaze in the room fell upon Lin Yu.

Lin Da was the most impatient of all. “Second Brother, tell us, what’s the way? I’m telling you now, I can’t produce a single copper.”

To stand in a house of green bricks and large tiles while saying such a thing was so unfilial that the gathered villagers all knit their brows. They whispered among themselves that Lin Da was shirking his responsibility—he had taken all the benefits of the inheritance but didn’t want to provide for his mother’s old age.

Lin Yu looked at him meaningfully. “Since you don’t want to pay, I can cover the two hundred coppers a month for her medicine.”

“You said it yourself! I didn’t force you!” Lin Da shouted immediately, grabbing a neighbor nearby. “Did you all hear that? If Second Brother refuses to pay in the future, you have to be my witnesses!”

The Clan Leader’s face darkened. “You are the eldest son and primary heir. When the family split, everything was skewed in your favor, and Mother was placed in your care. Are you not ashamed to say this? I’m embarrassed just listening to you.”

Lin Da felt that survival and money were more important than “face,” but he caught a glimpse of Guangzong and Yaozu and refrained from arguing back.

The Clan Leader snorted. “Lin Er, aren’t you losing out too much this way?”

Lin Yu said calmly, “I haven’t finished speaking.”

“I can provide the money, but I can’t provide both the money and the labor. Since Mother chose to stay with Lin Da when we split, now that she’s sick, it’s naturally better for her to stay here and be cared for by Lin Da’s family.”

The crowd murmured in agreement; this made sense.

Lin Da was internally reluctant—caring for a paralyzed patient was grueling work. But before he could speak, the Clan Leader gave him a sharp look. “Lin Er is willing to cover all medical costs. The nursing should be your job. If you’re still not satisfied, then we’ll take this matter outside for the whole village to judge.”

Lin Da looked at his mother on the bed. Seeing her eyes full of tears, he felt a pang of discomfort. But if she stayed, he would have to do the work, and he was still unwilling.

“Second Brother has three daughters; they’re all at home and idle anyway…”

Lin Yu said coldly, “You can’t say that. Mother is sick, and I’m willing to care for her, but there’s no logic in you taking all the benefits and throwing all the hardships onto me.”

He didn’t waste any more breath on Lin Da. He looked directly at his two nephews. “Guangzong, Yaozu, your grandmother doted on you most when she was well. What do you think?”

Lin Yaozu blurted out, “My dad is right! Zhaodi and the others are idle anyway.”

Lin Guangzong, being more cunning, pulled his brother back. “Second Uncle, we also can’t bear to see Grandma suffer. But we have to study; where would we find the time to care for her? Grandma wants nothing more than for us to achieve official titles. If she knew we delayed our studies to care for her, she would be heartbroken.”

The Clan Leader didn’t buy it. He jumped up and cursed, “I think you two have read those books right into a dog’s belly! You haven’t a shred of filial piety. Even if you earn titles in the future, you’ll be useless!”

Lin Guangzong’s heart skipped a beat. Seeing the disapproving looks from the neighbors, he knew he had to yield. If they provided neither money nor labor, their reputations would be ruined.

Lin Yu looked at him with a half-smile. “The two of you have to study, but do your mother and father have to study as well? In a family of four, can you not find a single person to spare for nursing?”

“Grandfather Clan Leader, everyone—if they insist on not providing care, I can take Mother back with me.” Lin Yu cupped his hands and spoke loudly. “However, I ask you all to be my witnesses. If anyone asks in the future, you must tell the truth of today: that Lin Da and his sons were unwilling to provide for Mother, and I was forced to take her in.”

“I don’t want them causing trouble later if something happens to Mother, claiming I wasn’t filial.”

The Clan Leader and the villagers nodded. “Naturally.”

“Lin Er provides both the money and the labor? That’s incredibly filial. But Old Mother Lin always favored Lin Da; she might not even appreciate the Second’s kindness.”

“Brother Lin, rest assured. If anyone speaks ill of you later, we will speak up for you.”

Lin Guangzong’s heart sank. He knew that if they let Second Uncle take Grandma today, everyone who saw them would call them unfilial. His future career would be destroyed—who would promote a scholar known for being unfilial?

He quickly tugged on his father’s sleeve. “Dad, I was wrong just now. I was only thinking about how much I wanted to care for Grandma myself, so I felt it was impossible with my studies. I forgot that you and Mother are here at home.”

“Guangzong?” Lin Da looked at his son, confused.

Guangzong gave him a meaningful look. “Second Uncle provides the money, we provide the labor. This is a reasonable arrangement. Besides, Grandma loves Yaozu and me most; she’ll be happier staying in our house.”

Lin Da finally caught on. He didn’t want to serve his paralyzed mother, but with so many witnesses, his reputation would be ruined if he let her go. His son was destined for the civil service; reputation was everything.

The three of them exchanged looks and reached an agreement. They would keep her and provide the labor. Since Lin Yu was paying for the medicine, they would win a good reputation for “effort” without losing a cent.

Lin Da’s face changed instantly, and he threw himself at his mother’s bedside, wailing, “Mother! Your son is willing to serve you! I will serve you as long as you live, and I won’t let you suffer a single grievance!”

The villagers, however, saw right through him and curled their lips in disdain.

Once Lin Da finished his performance, Lin Yu asked, “So you agree to this division?”

Lin Da wiped his tears. “Second Brother, the house is poor. I’ll rely on you for the medicine money. I’ll take good care of Mother.”

Lin Yu nodded, satisfied. “Good.”

“As for the medicine money, don’t worry. Every seven days, I will go to the pharmacy to buy it and deliver it personally to your door. I’ll make sure Mother never runs out of medicine.”

Lin Da’s expression shifted. “No need to go to all that trouble. Guangzong and Yaozu study in town anyway; you can just send the money to us, and they can bring the medicine back.”

Hearing this, the onlookers’ expressions became even more peculiar. Previously they might not have suspected him, but after today’s display, their opinion of Lin Da had hit rock bottom.

Lin Yu said calmly, “The boys only come home once every ten days or so. Besides, for Mother’s sake, I don’t mind the trouble.”

Lin Da wanted to argue further, but Guangzong saw the looks on the villagers’ faces and silenced him.

…

Back at Lin Yu’s house, the three sisters were anxious.

“Maybe I should go check,” Lin Zhao said, unable to sit still.

Lin Pan stopped her. “Sister, don’t go. Let’s listen to Father.”

Lin Lai agreed. “The three of us going there won’t help; we’ll just be a hindrance.”

With both sisters against it, Lin Zhao gave up the idea. She couldn’t focus on her needlework and kept looking outside. “I hope Grandma doesn’t demand too much…”

“Actually, I feel like Grandma spent her whole life scraping things from our house, yet she never enjoyed much of it herself,” Lin Pan said suddenly.

Lin Lai nodded vigorously. “Exactly! The rice, flour, and meat we brought back over the years—how many bites did she actually get? It all went to Uncle and those two ‘precious phoenix eggs’ of his.”

“Eldest Aunt has grown so fat from eating, but Grandma has always been skin and bones.”

Lin Zhao sighed. “Uncle and those two are the apples of her eye. We can’t compare.”

The three sisters sighed. Old Mother Lin’s favoritism had always been blatant; the girls had long since given up hope and never expected her to treat them well.

“Grandpa!” Xiaohua heard a sound and trotted out. Lin Yu scooped her up.

“Father, is Grandma okay?” The girls were sure she was faking.

Lin Yu replied, “She had a stroke and is paralyzed. She’ll have to stay in bed from now on.”

“What?” The answer was so unexpected that all three were shocked.

Lin Yu sat down and briefly summarized the day’s events. “From now on, I’ll deliver medicine every seven days. We don’t need to worry about the rest; they’ll handle the care.”

Two hundred coppers a month was no small amount. Lin Zhao bit her lip and whispered, “Father, if money is tight, I could actually care for Grandma.” She felt that if she could earn two hundred coppers a month in “wages” for nursing, she wouldn’t feel tired at all.

Lin Yu shook his head. “We can afford it. Besides, she never liked you three. If you rush over to serve her, you won’t get any thanks for it anyway.”

“Should we go visit her?” Lin Pan asked hesitantly.

Lin Yu said indifferently, “When we make something particularly good to eat, pack a bowl and send it over. Just let the villagers see that you are being filial.”

The girls didn’t fully understand, but they sensed their father’s stance.

By settling the matter of Old Mother Lin, Lin Yu felt a weight lift from his shoulders. In a world where filial piety outweighed everything, his mother’s existence had been a sword hanging over their heads. If she had ever truly decided to sue him for being unfilial, it would have been a massive disaster. Now, she had maneuvered herself into paralysis and silence. Two hundred coppers a month to remove that threat was a bargain.

…

Lin Da’s family, however, was in a daze. They were used to being served, not serving others. In the end, it was Lin Da who had to feed his mother. One bowl of rice resulted in half the rice spilled on the bed.

He couldn’t help but show his disgust. “Mother, open your mouth! This is a waste!”

“Err-err-err—” Mother could only make strange noises.

Lin Da said impatiently, “Why did you have to get paralyzed? Now what? You’re just a burden to the house.”

Old Mother Lin’s eyes burned, but no tears came out. Suddenly, a foul smell filled the room. Lin Da immediately covered his nose in disgust.

“Dad, this can’t go on. We have to bring Mother back,” Lin Guangzong said, standing far away.

Lin Da nodded quickly. “Right. Bring your mother back. She knows best how to care for people.” They could no longer care about the drama with the Qian family; bringing his wife back to deal with the mess was more important.

Seeing there were no benefits to be had, Guangzong and Yaozu rushed back to the city that same day, unwilling to help in the slightest. When Eldest Sister-in-Law Lin finally returned, she was faced with a paralyzed mother-in-law, a blaming husband, and a filthy house. She felt as though the world was going black.

…

Lin Yu kept his word. Every seven days, he bought medicine and delivered it. Other than that, he did nothing.

With Old Mother Lin out of the way, life at the Lin house returned to a normal rhythm. Lin Yu paid a skilled embroiderer’s wife to teach his daughters. Lin Zhao and Lin Pan went to learn for an hour every day.

Lin Zhao loved making clothes, so she picked up embroidery quickly and was soon doing quite well. With plenty of cloth and cotton at home, she used them for practice. The winter coats she made were far more exquisite and well-fitted than before. Lin Pan struggled more; she could learn, but it wasn’t as natural for her. Fortunately, she was patient and willing to work at it every day.

Lin Lai, however, had no patience for needlework. Just separating the threads gave her a headache. She claimed that holding a needle made her dizzy and gave up after two days. She preferred squatting next to Lin Yu, helping him with his work.

Lin Zhao was worried and tried to persuade her: “At least be patient and learn for a few more days. Even if you don’t embroider, you have to know how to make clothes. Otherwise, when you marry, who will make clothes for your husband and children?”

Lin Lai pouted. “Why do I have to get married?”

Lin Zhao frowned. “I’ve set a bad example for you, but women must marry. We can’t have all three daughters staying home forever for Father to support.”

“Sister, I didn’t mean that.” Lin Lai tried to comfort her. “I’m just not built for it. Let Second Sister learn; maybe she’ll get it. Even if I work until my fingers bleed, I won’t be good at it.”

Lin Zhao scolded her, “That’s because you aren’t trying! Father paid for a teacher; it’s a waste if you don’t go.”

“Then let Xiaohua go!” Lin Lai joked.

Lin Zhao was helpless. Xiaohua was only two; she’d just be a distraction. As she was about to say more, Lin Pan stepped in. “Sister, if she doesn’t want to learn, let it be. Not everyone needs to do needlework. She’s a great cook, and Father says she has a talent for woodworking.”

This made Lin Zhao even more worried. “What girl does woodworking? Even if you learn it, you can’t go out and work.” Woodworking was a man’s world; no one would hire a woman.

Lin Lai went quiet. Lin Zhao continued, “Embroidery is so good—you can do it at home. You can sell the handkerchiefs and sachets you make.” In her heart, she felt bad about staying home and using her father’s resources. She wanted to earn her own money to support herself and her daughter so she wouldn’t have to rely on her father for everything.

When Lin Yu returned and saw the daughters’ long faces at dinner, he asked, “What’s wrong? Is someone gossiping again?”

Lin Zhao looked at her sisters. “No, I just want the youngest to keep learning embroidery.”

Lin Yu understood immediately. “Embroidery is a craft, but learning woodworking with me is also good. If you’re good at it, it might even pay better than embroidery, or even get you an official award.”

Lin Lai was shocked. “I’m a girl—can I get an official award?”

“If you make something that benefits the country and the people, the court won’t care if you’re a man or a woman,” Lin Yu laughed.

Lin Lai fell into thought, then looked discouraged. “But it looks so easy when you do it, Father, and so hard when I try. I’ll never make anything good.”

Lin Yu comforted her. “No rush. I was thirty before I ‘woke up.’ You’re only twelve; you have plenty of time.”

With her father’s encouragement, Lin Lai felt a surge of ambition. Since she wanted to learn, Lin Yu taught her carefully and even bought a book from the bookstore to act as a primer.

A simple book left all three daughters in awe; they turned the pages with extreme care. “Father, can we read too?” Lin Lai was ecstatic. She remembered the envy she felt as a child watching her cousins learn to read, and the frustration of being a “worthless” girl. In a place like Qingshan Village, most men were illiterate, let alone women.

Lin Yu smiled. “Every time I go to town for medicine, I’ll spend time at the bookstore. I’ll memorize what I can and teach you when I get back. We don’t need to be great scholars, but being literate means no one can cheat you when you go out.”

Lin Pan and Lin Lai nodded vigorously. They didn’t think about how much they could learn; just being able to recognize characters was enough.

“A-Lai, if you want to be a great woodworker, I’ll buy you books about master craftsmen once you can read. You’ll be even better than me one day,” Lin Yu encouraged. Lin Lai’s eyes sparkled.

Lin Zhao, however, hesitated. “Father, I’m too old to join in the fun.”

“Nonsense. I’m teaching them anyway; you should learn too.”

Lin Zhao shook her head. “I have my needlework and the child. I don’t have time. Just teach my sisters.” She thought that if her sisters were busy studying, she would do more of the housework to help them learn faster. As for herself, she was already a mother; literacy didn’t seem important.

Lin Pan and Lin Lai tried to persuade her, but she remained firm. “I have a poor memory; why bother? I’d rather do my needlework.”

Lin Yu didn’t force her. When he taught the younger two, Lin Zhao just sat nearby and embroidered.

…

After a month, Lin Pan and Lin Lai could recognize about a hundred characters. When they first wrote their own names, they jumped for joy.

“Sister, look! This is my name! Father says this is me!”

Lin Zhao walked over and touched the paper. “It’s so well written. The lines are so straight.” Her eyes reddened with envy.

Lin Pan tried again. “Come learn with us! At least you’ll be able to write your name. Your name ‘Zhao’ [昭] is similar to my ‘Pan’ [盼], except yours has the ‘sun’ [日] and mine has the ‘eye’ [目]. Come, I’ll hold your hand and we can write it.”

Lin Zhao recoiled as if burned. “No, I’ll never learn. I’ve gone this long without it; let’s not waste the ink and paper.” She turned and went back to her embroidery.

Lin Lai sighed. “Why does she keep saying that? She’s only twenty!”

Lin Pan comforted her. “Sister is a mother now; her perspective is different. She loves her needlework. You can’t force her.”

“I just think she’s being too narrow-minded,” Lin Lai sighed.

“You can’t blame her. Since we were small, everyone said girls don’t need to read—just cook and sew. And remember, although Father says he’ll support her forever, Xiaohua’s surname is still Sun.”

“So what? The Suns are cowards; they won’t come for her,” Lin Lai snorted.

Lin Pan tapped her sister’s forehead. “If her surname is Sun, she is a member of the Sun family, not the Lin family. Sister can stay here with a clear conscience, but what about Xiaohua? Sister is thinking of the long term. She doesn’t want Xiaohua to be married off randomly like she was. She wants to save a dowry so Xiaohua won’t be looked down upon. That’s why she works so hard at her needlework—so she won’t have to ask Father for everything.”

Lin Lai didn’t fully understand, but she stopped pestering her sister.

…

Lin Zhao was indeed thinking this way. Since she had cursed Sun Erniu, he hadn’t returned. The situation was at a stalemate. She knew that if she went back now, she wouldn’t be treated well. She had seen enough of the Suns’ true faces.

In the past, she feared divorce, but now she felt that divorce was better than being bullied by the Suns—at least she could live a decent life. But what about Xiaohua? With her father’s help, the Suns probably couldn’t take her back, but the girl would have no father, which would affect her reputation and marriage prospects. This anxiety kept Lin Zhao awake at night.

When she started learning embroidery, she heard from the teacher that a skilled worker could sell their items for a good price. She found her goal: she would work hard, earn money, and save a massive dowry for her daughter so no one would ever look down on Xiaohua. She thought this was the best way to support her child without being a burden to her father and sisters.

Lin Yu saw these changes. He was happy she was no longer terrified of divorce, but he felt sad that she was still trapped by traditional burdens—thinking of her family and her daughter, but never herself. Fortunately, there was still plenty of time.

…

Xiaohua, after three months of good food, had transformed from a sallow, thin child into a plump, adorable little girl. Lin Yu doted on her and brought her treats from town every time. Now, whenever he left, the girl would pull a stool to the door and wait for him, refusing to leave. She never even mentioned her biological father.

Every morning, Lin Zhao loved styling her daughter’s hair and dressing her in new cotton clothes. Xiaohua would run out and hug her Second Aunt as she cooked.

“Here, breakfast is almost ready,” Lin Pan laughed, handing her a piece of food.

Lin Zhao saw Xiaohua skillfully peeling an egg and stuffing it into her mouth. “A-Pan, don’t give her so many eggs; she’s becoming a picky eater.” Though she sounded helpless, her voice was full of joy.

“What’s wrong with being picky? It means she’s being raised well,” Lin Pan joked. Actually, Xiaohua wasn’t a picky eater; having been hungry so often as a baby, she cherished food and ate everything in her bowl.

After breakfast, Lin Yu prepared to leave for his weekly medicine run. Xiaohua helped him by bringing his basket. “Thank you, Xiaohua. I’ll bring you back something delicious,” he promised, pinching her cheek.

“Thank you, Grandpa! I love Grandpa most!” The girl’s speech was becoming much more fluent.

Lin Zhao stopped him. “Father, wait.” She brought out a bundle. “These are the handkerchiefs and sachets I’ve made recently. Could you take them and ask the shops if they’ll buy them?”

Lin Yu was surprised. She had been learning for less than two months and already had products. He looked inside and had an idea. “I don’t know much about embroidery. Why don’t you come with me and ask them yourself?”

Lin Zhao recoiled. “I don’t know how to do business! I won’t even dare to speak in town. Father, just sell them for whatever you can get.”

Lin Yu insisted. “No one is born knowing how to do business. Come with me and see the work in the shops; you’ll know where you stand by comparison.” He added, “If you don’t want to talk, just tell me what you’re thinking in private.”

Lin Zhao finally agreed. She left Xiaohua with her sisters and got ready to leave.

It was Lin Zhao’s first time traveling so far. Before she married, she was the eldest daughter with endless chores. After she married, she served a dozen people. She never even had time to gossip, let alone go to town. But looking at her father’s broad back, she felt secure.

Halfway there, Lin Yu called her to get on the cart. “It’s another half hour’s walk. Your health isn’t fully back yet; I’ll push you.”

“No, Father, I can walk.”

“Get on the cart. If you get sick from exhaustion, you’ll have to pay for medicine—that’s a waste of money.” Lin Yu now knew exactly how to communicate with her.

Sure enough, Lin Zhao got on the cart immediately. For the first time in her life, she felt the breeze and had the leisure to look at the flowers and grass along the road. It was a brand new experience.

At the city gate, the guards greeted Lin Yu warmly. Lin Zhao got off the cart and stood shyly behind him, amazed at how familiar her father was with the officials.

“Is this your eldest daughter? First time seeing her,” a guard asked.

“Yes, my eldest. We’re heading in for medicine; talk to you later,” Lin Yu laughed.

As they walked in, Lin Zhao asked, “Father, do you know the guards?”

“I didn’t before, but after the rewards from the Magistrate and Prefect, we became acquainted,” he explained.

They went to the pharmacy first. The assistant greeted them warmly. “Brother Lin! I have your medicine ready; you can take it right away.”

“Thanks for your hard work,” Lin Yu said, paying the fee.

“It’s my job! You’re truly filial, Brother Lin. One dose isn’t much, but paying for it year-round adds up.”

“She’s my mother; it’s only right,” Lin Yu replied with a smile. His reputation in the village had completely changed since he started paying for the medicine. People saw the cold, hard cash he was spending.

Lin Yu then asked, “Is Doctor Bai in? I’d like her to check my daughter’s pulse.”

The assistant was surprised. Doctor Bai was a specialist in women’s health and the only female doctor at the pharmacy.

Lin Zhao waved her hands. “Father, I’m fine! Don’t waste money.”

Lin Yu insisted. “Your health was badly damaged. I’ll feel better if Doctor Bai looks at you. Don’t worry, I have money.”

Lin Zhao entered the room reluctantly, but she froze when she saw the doctor. Doctor Bai was in her early forties, with a clean face and a professional, straightforward manner that made people feel at ease.

The doctor took one look at them and said to Lin Yu, “If you don’t mind, I’ll take her inside for an examination.”

“I’ll wait outside,” Lin Yu said, understanding immediately.

Once he left, Lin Zhao felt nervous. “Doctor, I feel much better already.”

Doctor Bai spoke gently. “Any woman who has given birth has small issues she finds hard to talk about. We’re both women; you can speak freely to me.”

Lin Zhao lowered her head. Doctor Bai added, “Your father brought you all this way; it’s clear he cares for you. If you don’t cooperate, aren’t you wasting his heart?”

Lin Zhao finally told the truth and followed her into the inner room.

Lin Yu waited outside, slightly anxious. He had only asked for the checkup on a whim, but when it took longer than a few minutes, he worried that she had some deep-seated illness. Fortunately, Lin Zhao came out looking relieved.

“Just a few small issues,” Doctor Bai smiled. “She needs rest and shouldn’t overwork. I’ll prescribe some medicine; she’ll be fine once she finishes it.”

Lin Zhao’s face was flushed, but Lin Yu was relieved and thanked the doctor.

As they left, Lin Zhao looked back and whispered, “Father… can women really be doctors?”

“Of course. Doctor Bai comes from a medical family. She’s been learning about herbs since she could walk. Her skills are better than many male doctors. Many people in the county specifically ask for her.”

Lin Zhao was impressed. “She knew exactly what was wrong just by touching my pulse. She knew me better than I knew myself.” She hadn’t known those “small issues” could be treated; she had just assumed it was her bad luck and endured them in silence. “She’s so incredible.”

Lin Yu smiled. “She is indeed remarkable. But A-Zhao, you are not bad yourself.”

“I can’t compare to her,” Lin Zhao laughed.

“Why not? Her medical skills are high, but your embroidery is also excellent. You’ve only been learning for three months, yet you’re already better than your teacher. If you had started as a child, you might have been famous by now.”

Lin Zhao was stunned. “I wouldn’t dare think that! Father, don’t keep praising me just because I’m your daughter, or I’ll lose my head.”

Lin Yu left it at that. Confidence didn’t come from praise alone; it came from results.

They went straight to the embroidery shop. Lin Yu had already asked around; the shop both sold fine items and bought work from the local villages. The shop was busy, and Lin Zhao felt shy again. “Father, why don’t you go in? I’ll wait here.”

“If you want to sell your work, you need to know what people like. You can’t work in a vacuum. Come in and look at the modern patterns; once you learn them, you can sell your work for more.”

Lin Zhao was persuaded and followed him closely. They dressed simply, so the assistant just gave them a casual greeting and left them alone. Lin Zhao looked at the items on display. It was the largest shop in the county, and she was overwhelmed by the variety of handkerchiefs and sachets. Lin Yu even saw dresses with lifelike peonies embroidered on them.

Lin Zhao realized her teacher’s work, which she had thought was perfect, was just the beginning. She stopped feeling shy and started studying the patterns intently, though she didn’t dare touch anything.

“Father… this one isn’t as good as mine,” she whispered, pulling his sleeve. Then she pointed to another. “But those are much better, and the patterns are more modern.”

Lin Yu nodded. “Then your price should be somewhere in between. But remember, the price they pay us will be lower than the price they sell it for.”

He called the assistant over and showed him the bundle. The assistant had a sharp eye and offered a fair price—better than the basic work, but lower than the top tier. He looked at Lin Zhao for her decision.

Lin Zhao was so nervous her fists were clenched. She nodded vigorously. The assistant counted out the coppers. “Your daughter has good skills, but the patterns are old-fashioned. Young women won’t buy them. If she does some modern patterns, the price will be higher.”

“What patterns are in style?” Lin Zhao asked.

The assistant pointed to the display. “These patterns from the capital are the most popular right now.”

Lin Zhao leaned in, trying to memorize them. Lin Yu asked, “Do you sell pattern books? We’d like to take some home.”

“Of course.” The assistant pulled out a stack.

Lin Zhao was worried about the cost. “Father, I can just memorize them! Don’t spend the money.”

Lin Yu let her pick several. “If you memorize them wrong, you’ll waste the cloth. These patterns are an investment in your career; once you embroider them, you’ll make the money back ten times over.”

Lin Zhao didn’t fully understand “investment,” but she understood the part about wasting cloth. She picked a few she liked most. Lin Yu paid the bill and they left.

As they walked away, Lin Zhao clutched the patterns. “I only just earned some money, and I’ve already spent half of it,” she muttered.

Lin Yu heard her and suddenly stopped. “Hold out your hand.”

Lin Zhao was confused but obeyed. Lin Yu placed a string of copper coins in her palm.