GD (QT) Chapter 29

“Father, do we really have to go too?” Lin Zhao asked, her voice trembling with anxiety.

Lin Pan was equally nervous. “Maybe we should just wait outside. We won’t be able to help with anything; we’ll only get in the way.”

Unlike her sisters, Lin Lai was eager, peeking around with curiosity.

Lin Yu laughed. “You all helped build this waterwheel. It’s so heavy and large; it would be a struggle for me to push it alone.”

“Then let Third Sister accompany you inside,” Lin Zhao suggested.

Lin Pan whispered, “We’re afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing and causing trouble for you.”

Understanding his daughters’ deep-seated worries, Lin Yu comforted them: “This is a major event for our family. You are part of this family, so naturally, you should lend a hand. Besides, making yourselves known to the County Magistrate will be beneficial for you.” He paused before adding, “Magistrate Cao will be overjoyed when he sees this; he won’t be angry about anything else.”

Lin Lai chimed in from the side: “Eldest Sister, Second Sister, let’s just go in. Father is trying to show us the world. Others would beg for such a chance and still never get it. If you don’t go, won’t you be wasting a golden opportunity?”

She was thinking of Guangzong and Yaozu—don’t think she didn’t know what they were plotting.

Lin Zhao and Lin Pan felt there was logic in her words and finally plucked up their courage.

The first time they walked into the County Yamen, the three girls were terrified of taking a wrong step or saying a wrong word, following closely behind Lin Yu. Lin Yu didn’t offer much more comfort; words were useless now. After they visited a few more times, they would get used to it.

Since Lin Yu was already well-known at the Yamen, they were welcomed in immediately. The gatekeeper watched, dumbfounded. Last time, he had mocked this “country bumpkin,” but in the blink of an eye, the bumpkin had become the Magistrate’s honored guest while he was still stuck guarding the door.

Lin Lai still remembered her grudge from last time and gave him a deliberate glance as they entered. The gatekeeper immediately broke into a fawning smile. “Please, come in! Magistrate Cao gave orders long ago—the moment you arrive, you’re to be shown straight in.”

Lin Yu didn’t make things difficult for the man and led his daughters inside. Lin Lai winked at her second sister; seeing the gatekeeper’s sycophantic smile made her feel that holding the grudge was almost beneath her.

Soon, the three girls forgot about the gatekeeper as they took in the Yamen. Unlike the countryside, the Yamen was built according to imperial standards. They didn’t understand the architectural details, but they noticed the thresholds were exceptionally high and the beams were intricately carved. Feeling a surge of intimidation, they instinctively looked at their father.

Lin Yu’s expression was perfectly normal. He walked through the Yamen as comfortably as if it were his own home, acting as if the grand surroundings were nothing out of the ordinary. Seeing him so composed, the three daughters stopped shrinking back; they straightened their backs and felt their unease vanish.

“Brother Lin! You’ve finally come!”

Magistrate Cao had heard the news and was waiting. He came forward to greet them.

Lin Yu performed a polite bow. “This humble commoner greets your honor.”

“We greet your honor,” Lin Zhao and the others followed suit.

Magistrate Cao laughed heartily. “No need for such formality! These three must be my elder nieces. Truly, they are as elegant as they are intelligent.”

The three sisters felt their faces flush at the praise. They hadn’t expected the Great Magistrate to be so approachable.

Lin Yu smiled. “Your honor overpraises them.”

“I speak from the bottom of my heart!” Magistrate Cao not only praised them but also produced three “first-meeting” gifts. The sisters looked at their father, only accepting and thanking him after he gave a nod.

After a few pleasantries, Magistrate Cao asked impatiently, “You mentioned earlier that you were researching a new agricultural tool—is this it?” He was already looking at the object on the cart.

Lin Yu nodded. “Indeed, your honor. This is an improved waterwheel. It has been redesigned to be flexible and lightweight. It can be disassembled and reassembled, and requires no human or animal power; one only needs to place it in a flowing current, and it will operate by the force of the water.”

Magistrate Cao was instantly intrigued. “If that is true, it will solve the problem of irrigation for our fields! Brother Lin, let’s go find some water and test it!” With that, he actually grabbed Lin Yu’s hand and led him toward the back garden.

The three sisters looked at each other and hurried to follow. Along the way, Lin Lai whispered, “See? The Great Magistrate is very polite to us.”

“He isn’t being polite to us; he’s being polite to Father,” Lin Pan whispered back, still in a daze. “I can’t believe I met the Magistrate and even got a gift from him.”

…

Magistrate Cao was clearly prepared; a small artificial stream had been built in the back garden.

Once they arrived, Lin Yu wasted no time and got to work. “You girls, come and help.”

Magistrate Cao watched the three girls rush over and said with a smile, “Why let my nieces do the heavy lifting? I have plenty of men here.”

Lin Yu looked up and explained, “Your honor might not know, but when I was improving the waterwheel at home, my three daughters were my assistants. They are more familiar with the structure of this waterwheel than anyone else.”

Hearing this, the Magistrate didn’t object further. He stood by and watched carefully, noticing the three Lin girls moved with practiced efficiency. They clearly understood the mechanics. The youngest was particularly fast—her hands moved almost as quickly as Lin Yu’s. While the Yamen runners he sent were still scratching their heads, the girls had already assembled more than half of it.

Magistrate Cao was surprised. He had thought Lin Yu brought his daughters just to show them off and get them a bit of prestige. He hadn’t expected them to actually have skills. He noted that Lin Yu had no sons; it seemed he was training his daughters instead.

Magistrate Cao kept this in mind. If these three girls were capable, he wouldn’t mind promoting them a bit.

The sisters were unaware of the Magistrate’s thoughts. Once they started working, they focused entirely on the task. Under their joint effort, the waterwheel was soon complete. They moved it into position together.

Lin Yu stepped back. “A-Lai, give it a try.”

“Yes, Father!”

Lin Lai was the strongest. She stepped up and gave the wheel a powerful shove. Magistrate Cao was startled, thinking to himself that this daughter was likely raised as a son—she was quite “sturdy.”

The next moment, he forgot his critique. His eyes were glued to the waterwheel. Under the force of the water, the wheel began to turn slowly, transporting water to the designated spot with ease.

Magistrate Cao stepped closer, clapping his hands in praise. “Good! Excellent! It’s lightweight and convenient, and even more labor-saving than the old models!”

Currently, the waterwheels in the Changhe area required people to tread them or animals to pull them. It was too much trouble, and ordinary people couldn’t afford them. If this model could be distributed, the dry lands of Changhe would be saved, and harvests would increase dramatically.

“Brother Lin, are you willing to donate the design of this waterwheel to the Imperial Court for the benefit of thousands of people?” Magistrate Cao grabbed Lin Yu’s hand.

Lin Yu naturally wouldn’t refuse. He had tinkered with this precisely for a good reputation and a good future.

Magistrate Cao pulled him aside to discuss the details immediately, even taking out a brush and paper to record the construction method. He knew that while the waterwheel wasn’t as immediately transformative as the curved-shaft plow, it was still a magnificent contribution. If he presented this, his official evaluation would be “Superior,” and he might even be noticed by the Emperor.

Who wouldn’t like the person helping them climb the official ladder? Magistrate Cao looked at the Lin family with an increasingly warm expression.

Taking advantage of the Magistrate’s good mood, Lin Yu smiled and said, “Your honor, the improvement of this waterwheel was largely thanks to my three daughters. Without them, I wouldn’t have finished it so quickly.”

Magistrate Cao understood the subtext immediately. He smiled and stroked his beard. “Brother Lin has raised three fine daughters! Not only are they filial, but they are also as bright as snow. I wish I had daughters like them.”

Then, his tone shifted. “It just so happens that my wife and I only have two sons and no daughters. Why don’t we have my wife step forward and take these three girls as her goddaughters? From now on, they shall be addressed as my daughters.”

The three sisters froze. They were just country girls—they were going to be the goddaughters of the Magistrate’s wife? They were ecstatic, but they didn’t speak; they looked to their father first.

Lin Yu weighed the pros and cons. The benefit was that with the Magistrate as their godfather, no one in Changhe would dare bully them again. It would make everything they did in the future easier. The downside was the traditional emphasis on filial piety—godparents were still parents, and they might be controlled by them in the future. However, as long as Lin Yu was alive, that control would be limited. Besides, the Caos were smart people; they wouldn’t do anything that didn’t benefit them.

Lin Yu smiled and nodded, accepting on behalf of his daughters. “A-Zhao, A-Pan, A-Lai—hurry and greet your godfather.”

“Godfather!” the three sisters said, still in a daze, simply following instructions.

Magistrate Cao laughed heartily, arranging for a formal ceremony the next day. He patted Lin Yu’s shoulder and said loudly, “With Brother Lin’s talent, perhaps I will be the one basking in your glory in the future.”

Lin Yu understood: the Magistrate wanted him to keep researching. As long as he produced results, the rewards would be great.

…

Magistrate Cao personally escorted them to the gate. In front of everyone, he announced with a smile, “I have taken Zhao, Pan, and Lai as my goddaughters. From now on, you shall address them as ‘Young Mistress’.”

The gatekeeper was shocked and immediately changed his tune. “Greeting to the three Young Mistresses! Congratulations to your honor on gaining three virtuous and talented daughters!”

The sisters’ faces were flushed red, whether from excitement or embarrassment, they weren’t sure. Even after leaving the Yamen, they hadn’t fully processed it.

“Father… did we really just call the Magistrate ‘Godfather’?” Lin Zhao asked after a long while.

Lin Yu laughed. “You’ve already called him that. After the ceremony tomorrow, you’ll officially have a pair of godparents.”

“It feels like a dream,” Lin Pan muttered.

Lin Lai looked at her father and said, “Father, even if we have the Magistrate as a godfather, you are still the most important person in our hearts. You are our real father—we know that clearly.”

“Naturally. The Magistrate only accepted us because of you, Father. We know our place,” Lin Zhao added.

Lin Pan nodded vigorously. “Without Father, we wouldn’t be anything. People wouldn’t even look at us if we tried to approach them on our own.”

They were clearly afraid that Lin Yu might be unhappy about them gaining new “parents.” Lin Yu laughed. “Don’t worry, I also think this is a good thing. Since you have godparents now, treat them like elders. Magistrate Cao is a high official; this has many benefits for you.”

…

Inside the Yamen, the Magistrate’s wife was surprised when she heard the news. When Magistrate Cao returned, she couldn’t help but ask, “How could you suddenly take three goddaughters without even consulting me?”

Magistrate Cao laughed. “They are Lin Yu’s daughters. They have a clean background and good character. Rest assured.”

The wife was still skeptical. “I’ve asked around. Lin Yu might have some talent, but his family is unconventional. He cut ties with his brother, and his eldest daughter is a divorcee living at home. It doesn’t sound like a ‘proper’ household.”

“Those things don’t matter,” Magistrate Cao waved a hand. “Lin Yu has real ability. Last year he produced the curved-shaft plow, and this year the improved waterwheel. These are substantial contributions.”

“Even so, there was no need to make them goddaughters,” she frowned.

“While he hasn’t reached his peak yet, we can show him favor,” Cao explained. “Once he is famous, it will be hard to find a chance to be so close to him.”

“You speak as if he’s a genius. Even if he has talent, it’s just a minor craft. How can he compare to you, a proper scholar and official?” she argued.

Magistrate Cao shook his head. “The current Emperor values people with practical skills above all else. A man like Lin Yu will achieve great things in the future.”

The wife was shocked he held Lin Yu in such high regard, but she trusted her husband’s judgment. She thought for a moment and added, “Lin Yu might be talented, but his household management is poor. Letting a daughter divorce and come home… once the papers are signed, it’s hard to fix.”

Magistrate Cao laughed. “I think he has a pure heart. Doting on his daughters is a good trait; it shows he has a human touch. So, my dear, I must ask you to properly win over the three Lin girls. It would be best if we were like one family.”

The wife gave him a playful swat. “When have you ever needed to worry about my social skills?”

…

The next day, when Lin Yu brought his daughters, the Magistrate’s wife was exceptionally warm. She not only showed the three girls great affection but even invited the influential ladies of the county to witness the occasion.

Within a single day, everyone of importance in Changhe County knew the Magistrate and his wife had taken three goddaughters. The three sisters were overwhelmed—the “first-meeting” gifts they received that day alone were worth a fortune. They became wealthy women overnight, which left them feeling like they were walking on clouds.

What made them even more uncomfortable was the reaction back at Qingshan Village. Neighbors had already heard the news and rushed over to ask. Upon getting confirmation, they were stunned. “Who knew you three had such luck? From now on, you’re ‘Official Young Mistresses’! The Lin family’s ancestral graves must be smoking with good fortune!”

Lin Zhao’s hand was grabbed by a neighbor, her smile frozen. When did a divorcee like her become someone who brought “glory to the ancestors”?

It got even more extreme. For several days, people came to their door just to look at them as if they were rare flowers. Some even asked privately, “A-Zhao, I have a nephew who is quite handsome and hasn’t married yet. Would you like to meet him?”

Lin Zhao waved her hands in terror. “Auntie, I have no such thoughts! I only want to raise Lele. If you mention this again, I’ll be angry.”

Another person approached Lin Pan even more directly: “You know my son; you grew up together. He’s willing to move in as a matrilocal son-in-law! If you just say the word, no dowry needed—he’ll come over tomorrow.”

Lin Pan suspected that if she so much as nodded, the woman would shove her son into her room right then and there. “No, no, no! I’m still young, I’m not considering it!”

When the woman tried to persist, Lin Lai grabbed a broom. “Go, go! Can’t you see we’re about to eat? Stop lingering and leave, don’t waste our time!”

The woman didn’t even get angry as she was chased out. She shouted back, “If you change your minds, just say the word! We’ll listen to you in everything!”

Lin Lai slammed the gate. She was still shaken. “This is terrifying! How did everything change overnight? We just got godparents; it’s not like we actually changed our surname to Cao! Is this really necessary?”

Lin Zhao sighed. “The villagers have never seen a real official. They hear we have godparents and think our status is suddenly noble. They don’t know the reality of it.”

“They’re so snobbish,” Lin Pan muttered. The three sisters looked at each other and burst into laughter.

…

Life returned to a calm rhythm, but the waterwheel spread from Changhe County to the Prefectural City. The Prefect was delighted, and when he heard it was the same man who designed the plow, he was full of praise. He wrote to Magistrate Cao, calling Lin Yu a man of vision and telling the Magistrate to support him fully.

Magistrate Cao didn’t need to be told. When spring plowing began, Lin Yu was ready to work his few acres of land, but before he could step into the field, Magistrate Cao sent men to do the work for him.

The Magistrate’s message was: “Brother Lin has such talent; how can he waste his time on farming? You shouldn’t worry about such trivial matters.” Lin Yu could only accept the kindness and return to his research.

By now, everyone in Qingshan Village knew the Lins were intimately connected to the Magistrate. Lin Yu, once mocked as a “dead end,” had become the most prestigious person in the village. The Village Chief and Clan Leader were now exceedingly polite, wanting to consult him on everything.

The change was even deeper for the sisters. They were no longer mocked; even Lin Zhao dared to let little Lele out to play alone, because no one called her a “fatherless child” anymore. People praised the girl for being cute and called her the “Magistrate’s granddaughter,” and all the other children wanted to play with her.

…

While the Lin household flourished, the Eldest’s family was miserable.

After the New Year, Widower Qian came to their door again, threatening to sue them at the Yamen if they didn’t pay. He had found out that Lin Yu completely ignored the Eldest’s family.

Lin Da had no choice but to force his wife to go back to her parents’ home. Under pressure from her husband and sons, Eldest Aunt actually tried to trick her niece into coming out so she could deliver her to the widower. Fortunately, the niece was clever; she realized something was wrong and fled home.

When her parents found out, they were furious. They came to the Lin house and smashed everything, beating Lin Da and his two sons. They declared they were cutting ties and that Eldest Aunt was never to return to her family home again.

Instead of taking responsibility, the Eldest blamed his wife. “You’re so stupid! You couldn’t even keep watch over a girl and let her run away!”

Lin Guangzong cursed, “My uncle hit us so hard! How am I supposed to face people now? Mother, it’s your fault for being too hesitant. If you had delivered her sooner and the rice was already cooked, they wouldn’t have been able to do anything even if they were unwilling.”

“Exactly, Mother! How could you fail at such a small task?” Yaozu added his complaints.

Eldest Aunt sat there numbly, accepting the accusations. Now that her family was gone, she had nowhere to go but the Lin house. She didn’t even have the courage to argue; she just wept in silence.

Lin Guangzong touched a bruise on his face and winced. “It’s all Second Uncle’s fault for being heartless. If Pandi had just married out, none of this would have happened.”

“Brother, what do we do? Qian said if we don’t pay within three days, he’s going to the officials,” Yaozu asked.

The Eldest looked miserable. “Erzi is too cruel. He has money but won’t give us a cent. He even hoards the medicine money for Mother like a miser.”

“Exactly! He only cares about those three girls now, making them goddaughters of the Magistrate. They’re just women; what use is a godparent? If you and I could be the Magistrate’s godsons, passing the exams would be a breeze!” Yaozu’s voice was full of jealousy.

They had tried to take advantage of Lin Yu several times but had failed. Now, they were afraid of him and could only seethe in silence.

Suddenly, Lin Guangzong spoke up. “I have a plan.”

The other three looked at him. Lin Guangzong licked his lips and whispered, “If Second Uncle and his whole family were dead… wouldn’t all those benefits fall to us?”