Chapter 411 - Helper
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
" He can really cry' said Lin Chen carrying a sleeping Fang Zimo on his back, his heart welling up with resentment, this guy kept clutching and hugging his second brother crying a river and when he was done crying, he fell unconscious. Like what the hell? He had to dress up like a bad guy, save this guy's rotten ass and now he has to carry him on his back? Really? What was he? His personal servant? " But second brother are you sure you want to save this guy? I mean he isn't trustable, he already betrayed you once .. trusting him again, I don't think its the right choice"
" I know," Lin Yan said lightly. He knew it better than anyone how hard this decision was for him, he knew what Fang Zimo was capable of but he was still willing to save him. It wasn't that he pitied him but he knew of Fang Zimo's sufferings, he knew how ruthless and cruel she can be but Fang Zimo still let him go. It could have been a momentarily lapse of control or guilt, it could have been anything but in the end, Fang Zimo did save him and took the consequences. That was just a part of his reason, the truth was that he couldn't get rid of his angry profile from his mind, he looked so hurt and wounded like a trapped animal, when he ran away he didn't stop to think what would happen to Fang Zimo, his only concern was o save himself. Now that he looked back, he should have taken Fang Zimo with him. He was only twelve much younger than his teenage self, Lin Yan didn't even want to think about what happened to him with him going " I just think that everyone should get a second chance, it's true that he betrayed me first but he was only a child back then, a child who was sold by his family it is not surprising that he was in denial and afraid. Who doesn't like to save themselves? Didn't I run away too without looking back, without caring what might happen to him, knowing that he might suffer in my stead? And I am not saving him because I feel guilty but because it's the right thing to do, he has suffered enough. I think his sufferings till now are enough to repay what he did to me"
Lin Chen said nothing he simply carried Fang Zimo on his back, though he didn't trust Fang Zimo, it wasn't his right to decide what to do with him. Fang Zimo didn't wrong him after all, he wasn't his sinner but his second brother's, only his second brother had the right to decide what he wanted to do with him.
The two didn't know that the sleeping Fang Zimo was no longer asleep, he was lying silently on Lin Chen's back blinking away the tears in his eyes, Yes..he wasn't trustable but he will slowly change himself. Not for him but his Brother Yan who came into his life like a shining sun.
———————
When the three of them returned home, Su Wan was already awake and was collecting the pigweed with Lin Yu to feed the pigs in the pigsty. The pigs were growing up well and soon they can sell them to butchery in the spring. The pigs were weighed at least several jins now, they will be able to earn quite a lot of money after selling them.
Su Wan who was returning from the fields after collecting the pigweeds saw Lin Yan and Lin Chen returning with Lin Jing, when she woke up the three of them were not at home though she knew they must have gone out to deal with somethings she was still surprised to see the three of them returning with a strange man she has never seen before, but from his pale complexion and weak profile, the man looked quite sick. Su Wan hurried forward " what's wrong? what happened who is this man? he doesn't look alright, is he okay?"
Lin Yan can of course not tell Su Wan what they did last night, and he knew what kind of woman Su Wan was she couldn't even withstand a single in her eyes, once she realises that Fang Zimo was the man who tried to kidnap him and was also responsible for traumatising him then she would never let him inside their house. He has to wait for Fang Zimo to get better and gain Su Wan's trust before telling her about him. So, he swallowed the words that were almost on the tip of his tongue and changed his words " We saved him in the town he was being forcefully sold to a brothel, he looks sturdy and I think you can use him as a helper in the house. I don't like seeing you work in the fields, the weather is getting hot, and yet you go outside to collect pigweeds and whatnot, so it is better to have a helper at home"
In just a few words , Fang Zimo was reduced to a mere helper without his consent .
Fang Zimo "..." ????
Lin Chen and Lin Jing who realised how good Lin Yan can flirt when he wanted to "....." very good there was a dark horse hiding among them and they didnt even know!
Su Wan on the other hand was quite pleased with Lin Yan's special care. Though she knew that Lin Yan wasnt being truthful, she didnt push him to tell her the truth she knew that Lin Yan might hide things from her but he will never deliberately lie to her , so she simply nodded " I see, but his injuries are quite severe lets send for Doctor Gu and treat his injuries , if we dontv treat him prperly he might become an extra baggage instead of a helper"
The extra baggage Fang Zimo "....." Dont get angry , Dont get angry this was Brother Yan's wife , he cannot get angry at all or Brother Yan might kick him out .. Just look how doting his brother Yan was he reduced his childhood brother to a helper in mere seconds for his wife.
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Chapter 412 - Take Care Of Him
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
They brought Fang Zimo to Lin Yan's room, their house might have a lot of rooms but in the end, it wasn't a big manor like the ones in the town, with so manly people staying the rooms were completely occupied and the only empty room belonged to the currently absent Lin Rui who was staying in the town but they couldn't just give Fang Zimo, Lin Rui's room without the latter's permission can they? So Lin Yan who was responsible for bringing Fang Zimo told Lin Chen to bring Fang Zimo inside his room. Lin Chen did as he was told, he brought Fang Zimo inside and laid him down on the Kang that was no longer burning, the weather wasn't cold anymore there was no need for them to burn Kang anymore.
Their family was doing better and better so the bedding and mattress have been changed to a softer one, it wasn't the case for Lin Yan alone, everyone else too was using the new and soft beddings. Especially Su Wan whose mattress was extra soft, Fang Zimo sighed in contentment he was worried that if the mattress was hard then he might end up groaning in pain but luckily that wasn't the case, the bed was soft and it didn't even tickle his injuries. A thin quilt was used to cover his body and Fang Zimo's eyelids fluttered, the quilt was sun-dried and smelled of home, warmth and security, mixed with it was Lin Yan's natural scent, it was like hugging his brother Yan to sleep. Fang Zimo only thought of closing his eyes but then a sense of relief washed over him and he fell asleep.
Doctor Gu hasn't left for the town when Lin Chen went to all for him, Doctor Gu was someone who took his profession seriously it didn't matter whether the patient was a slave or a beggar, as long as he was brought to him, Doctor Gu would try his best to save his patient. Thus, even though Lin Chen told him everything about Fang Zimo's injuries Doctor Gu wasn't at all disgusted, he checked Fang Zimo's injuries and even sent Su Wan and Madam Zhu to brew a nutritional soup for Fag Zimo, so as to avoid any kind of awkwardness for Fang Zimo " His injuries are quite severe but they are not life-threatening as long as you keep taking good care of him there is no need for you to worry. Remember don't let him wash himself for a week or two let his skin heal itself before touching the water, but right now it is necessary to clean the residual of whatever was left behind, Ah Chen can you bring me some hot water ?"
Lin Chen nodded to show that he understood before he left to get some hot water, Lin Chen didn't go to the kitchen to avoid Su Wan's and Madam Zhu's questions instead he circled around the house and then entered the spring room where he filled a vat of water with the water from the spring. He mixed it with the water from the well and then brought it to doctor Gu who didn't question him, about how he was able to boil water so quickly. He took the hot water and cleaned Fang Zimo with a clean cloth, then he opened the bag that he carried everywhere and took out a transparent salve, the medicinal salve was cold in nature and applied it on his skin making the latter shiver " apply this salve on his skin for the next three weeks, then once his skin is scabbed, come to me I will give you another medicine that might help in healing his injuries completely" doctor Gu cast a sim pathetic glance before continuing" As for the scars on his body they are too old to heal I am afraid there is nothing that I can do to help him."
Lin Yan winced at doctor Gu's words, though he knew that fang Zimo's injuries were severe he didn't think that they were so bad. The scars on his back and legs most probably came from whipping, he really wished that he could erase those marks to give Fang Zimo a new start where he could forget everything that happened to him but looks like he wouldn't be able to do that. He nodded stiffly "It's alright I understand Doctor Gu just treat his injuries so that they no longer hurt him."
Docter Gu wrote a few prescriptions to nourish Fang Zimo's body and even left a special prescription to soothe Fang Zimo's nerves considerately "Remember to let him drink his medicine on the time it will help with his frayed nerves and soothe his mind."
Lin Yan paid Doctor Gu twenty copper coins as his fees and another silver tael as the price of the salve. Lin Jing took doctor Gu with him and politely sent him off to the place where Luo Sheng parked his ox cart to ferry the villagers to the town.
Lin Chen turned to his second brother and held his hand out "Second brother let me take this prescription to the town's medicinal hall, I will buy these medicines for him. You stay here and keep an eye on him, if he ran away I will not bother searching for him with you."
Lin Yan said nothing and held it, Lin Chen, the prescription, he knew that even though Lin Chen was speaking harshly, he didn't mean anything bad. He was worried about Fang Zimo and sympathised with him too. He just didn't want to show that he cared about Fang Zimo when he was complaining about him just a few hours ago. When Lin Chen left to buy the medicine, Lin Yu limped out of the room as he said over his shoulder "I will tell Wan Wan to leave the nutritional soup on the stove that way he will be able to drink it hot and get better as soon as possible." Then paused and added, "We can't leave Wan Wan alone without a helper.." Then he too left the room.
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Chapter 413 - A Powerful Uncle
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
" He still hasn't woken up?" Su Wan who was brewing the nutritional soup for Fang Zimo was a bit worried, she has of course seen how hurt Fang Zimo was, his pants and shirt both were sullied with blood and dirt, Though she didn't ask what happened to him, she could still understand that he was most probably saved from the clutches of Luo Xin, a victim of a sexual attack where else would Lin Yan find someone like that? She didn't ask anything because she knew that her husbands were kind but they were not fools, they wouldn't bring someone in the house without a proper reason much less a random person. Fang Zimo must be someone who is important to Lin Yan or else he wouldn't have hidden the truth about his trauma from her. He was trying to save face for fang Zimo at the same time trying hard not to lie to her, he can obviously not tell her something about Fang Zimo and he didn't want to lie to her, this was something she understood so she didn't bother herself to ask either. Lin Yan wouldn't act considerately to just anyone, and because he was worried about Fang Zimo she too couldn't help but be worried about the latter too" I will leave this on the stove for him then, let him drink it when he wakes up, there is nothing to worry about this but what did Doctor Gu say? Is he okay ?"
Lin Yu nodded, though he couldn't tell Su Wan the entire thing, he knew that Su Wan wasn't a fool either she understood the gist of the matter " He is fine just his injuries are a bit severe but there is nothing to worry about, Doctor Gu said that he will be fine in a few weeks, as long as he takes good care of himself "
Su Wan sighed in relief, she obviously didn't like seeing someone suffer like Fang Zimo and that too because of someone's weird obsession and perverse habits, " then should I care about anything specific about his diet? "
Lin Yu paused, hesitating a little then he looked at Su Wan's eager and clear eyes before he answered stiffly " Well, Doctor Gu did say to pay attention and to not let him anything spicy"
Umm....
" Okay," said Su Wan she didn't comment, and simply agreed to cook simple and bland dishes for Fang Zimo, there was nothing weird or awkward about it. Fang Zimo was a patient and she was going to treat him as one sickly one instead of worrying about the awkwardness.
—
Lin Chen had missed the oxcart and could only walk all the way to the town because he was on foot he could listen to the idle chatter of the people who were chattering on the road. He wasn't someone who liked to eavesdrop anyway but because he was too bored today he couldn't help but pay attention to the chatter that was happening around him. He lazily walked past by the people when something made him stop right in the middle of the road, the person walking behind him ran headlong in his back, furious he opened his mouth to complain but then Lin Chen glanced at him and the man who opened his mouth to scold him.
This ..was this a man or a tower of muscles? What's with that scary built?
The man Of course didn't dare to stay and fight with Lin Chen after he realised that he wouldn't be able to win, so he simply clamped his mouth shut and turned around to leave unhappily. What a bad day, he was the one who stopped in the middle of the road and yet he glared at him like he was the one who made a mistake! Cheh, there was just no justice in this world.
Lin Chen didn't even care if the man who bumped into him was cursing him in the head, his attention was on the two men who were talking next to a rice shop.
" Did you hear? The Fu family is under a big mess! I just heard it from my brother in law who works on the docks, the Fu family seemed to be involved in the black market of the salt! Can you believe it? We work so hard to earn a decent living every day and these officials, even after having so much meow you and power they are still dying for more! Simply ridiculous!" Said the portly man with a beer belly that was bigger than a pregnant woman tutting his tongue as he said that.
" Really? Are you sure? No wait which Fu family are you talking about?" The man who was standing next to the portly man with eyes wide as saucers.
" which Fu family? There is only one Fu family in the town isn't there? Which Fu family will I be talking about?" The portly man spat on the road, putting a finger in his teeth he pulled out a piece of meat that was stuck in his teeth " Our days are getting harder and harder, its hard to see meat on the table and there are corrupt officials like him, who just won't stop eating the meat of us, common peoples! What kind of officials are they even? I fear that officials like these will only ruin the country "
Lin Chen was shocked, though he knew that Eldest Uncle in law was going to ask for help from the second uncle in law, he didn't think that the efficiency of his second uncle in law would be so fast, they just discussed about it last night and he had already taken action on the Fu Family? If someone found out that they had such a powerful uncle as a family member they would be filled with joy but not Lin Chen, he silently gulped as a chill crawled up on his spine, the Fu family was a problem that even Eldest uncle in law couldn't deal with if Second uncle in law dealt with such a big family so swiftly, how will he deal with them once he arrives here?
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Chapter 414 - Why Do You Need To Hurt Me Like This?
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
Su Wan didn't know what was happening in the town, and she didn't have any idea that her Second Uncle was on his way there to see her but Shen Junxi who was the one who sent the letter knew what kind of storm he had invited in.
He didn't want to meet his second brother but there was nothing else he could do- should he leave?
No, if he left then that weird crazy bastard will have Wan Wan all to himself. Should he call his third brother- no, that one was even worse than the one who will be coming here in a few days.
At least Shen Zizhen was a straightforward businessman who only knew how to be scheming in the business field.
His attacks were similar to his ways of dealing with people - straightforward and ruthless but his third brother, that was one sly fox.
If he found out that he hid Wan Wan and didn't tell him about her accepting them. Then he will straight up rush to their mother who will beat the heck out of him.
Compared to the three brothers, his mother loved Su Wan more- just like she loved Shen Shui her only precious daughter.
"What's wrong with you?" The first thing that Madam Zhu who was working in the kitchen with Su Wan saw upon entering her room was her husband who was pacing around the room with his fingers in the mouth, chewing on his nails.
"Did something happen at the butchery?" Madam Zhu disregarded that possibility, her husband wasn't someone who ran after riches so it made no sense that he would worry about any kind of materialistic losses.
"What did you do?" If it wasn't the matter of money then it could only mean one thing this husband of hers just made some kind of mistake or maybe caused some trouble for himself that he can't handle other than that she couldn't think of anything else.
Shen Junxi wanted to tell her that it was nothing but he knew that his wife knew him better than anyone else so there was no point in hiding it from her.
He hesitated for a moment. "ldidn'ttellsecondbrotheraboutWanWan." Feeling relieved after blurting it all in one go, without taking even a pause.
Madam Zhu of course couldn't understand the gibberish that her husband said just now. She constrained him with a threatening glare before speaking. "What did you just say? Repeat it but this time slowly, I want to hear what kind of trouble you have caused."
Shen Junxi felt his lips twitch. He was such a big man, with his thick and burly built even those husbands of Wan Wan would think twice before speaking.
Yet his little wife was like a tyrant, she didn't even think twice before commanding him like he was a soldier and she was his general.
However, the damage was done so he could only inhale a deep breath before repeating what he just said. "I didn't tell my second brother about Wan Wan." Then he explained all about why he had to do it. "That's what happened."
Madam Zhu looked at him like she staring at a fool and she irritatedly rubbed her temples. "Junxi do you not know how much your brothers want a daughter? Especially second brother? He has been dressing his sons as a girl for so long. How can you keep this matter from him?"
Shen Junxi lowered his head like a guilty child and aggrievedly said. "That's why I didn't want him to know! He will take all of Wan Wan's attention! You know how treacherous that guy is -"
"But you still shouldn't have hid this matter from him!" Madam Zhu sometimes felt like her husband was like a child no wonder he get along with Lin Chen so well.
The two of them are just the same! Made from a very similar mold. If not for the age difference, she would have doubted whether Lin Chen and her husband were long lost brothers.
"I can't even say anything to you. You are just plain stupid .. why do you have to mention the fact that you were staying at Wan Wan's place for a very long time? Couldn't you have just made an excuse and randomly pulled a far fetched story? When you return home from a drinking banquet, you tell me rather fantastic stories despite knowing how much I hate it when you drink in those dodgy places so what happened to your imaginative brain now?"
"I -I couldn't help but boast a little." Even Shen Junxi was regretting it.
Among the three Shen brothers he was the one with the least amount of talent so he was often scolded by his mother and his younger brothers teased him a lot.
So now that he had done something that was faster and smarter than the two of them, he thought he was on up the two.
He was the one whom Wan Wan called 'Uncle' first, she even hugged him first in the family. How can he let go of this opportunity to boast?
He was so excited that he didn't think of the consequences and simply did what he wanted to do absentmindedly. Only after sending the letter did he realise that he just hopped on an axe instead of dropping it on his foot!
Madam Zhu stared at her husband for three whole seconds before she shook her head. "Idiot that's what you are."
"I know, I know. I was wrong but while what should I do?" He bit his lower lip casting a 'wife please help' look pitifully at Madam Zhu.
Madam Zhu thought about it for a while then very seriously spoke. "Dear why don't you go and ask Doctor Gu to give you medicine for healing a butt bite? At least right now you can make an excuse. But once Second brother-in-law arrives I am afraid that it will be quite embarrassing for you to limp all the way to his house and ask for medication."
Shen Junxi: "...." why do you have to hurt me like this?
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Chapter 415 - [Bonus ]
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
"What's with that slow speed are you all turtles riding on a snail?" Shen Zizhen the protagonist of the story was currently in his house ordering a bunch of servants who were responsible for bringing all kinds of things that young girls around Su Wan's age liked.
He and his wife have prepared a long list of all the things that could be given to a young girl like Su Wan. They worked so hard all night because they wanted to leave the first thing in the morning but then the list took the entire night and they couldn't send it to the servants of the manor on time.
The list was sent out late in the morning caused the delay in their departure now Shen Zizhen was upset and couldn't help but scold his servants for being too slow.
The servants who have never faced with something so unprecedented before "..." you are the turtle on a snail, your entire family are turtles in snails! You ruthless capitalist, you sent us to buy more than three hundred and seventy items and yet you have the nerve to call us slow?
Do you have no heart?
Shen Zeyu who witnessed the tyranny of his father gave the workers a sympathetic glance. He can totally understand what these people were feeling because he too was feeling the same.
Last night his father gave such a difficult task to him without even thinking about it! His father had to just run his mouth but they were the ones who suffered the most!
The entire night he worked to gather enough evidence against the Fu family. Then he had to work on spreading the rumours too. Only Shen Zeyu knew how hard it was for him to do both the things simultaneously.
Once the leak got out, the Fu family tried hard to make the pieces of evidence disappear. To manage to get their hands on these documents -was like running in a wildfire and scrounging them out from underneath a burning log.
Shen Zeyu was tired and restless but somehow he managed to get the work done. He approached his father holding out the pile of documents he said. "Father here you go."
Shen Zizhen looked at Shen Zeyu then his gaze dropped to the pile of documents frowning he asked. "What's this rubbish?"
Rubbish? Rubbish?!! His father actually called his entire work that he did last night rubbish!!!
Shen Zeyu wanted to snap at his father but he was a filial son. He cannot scold his father. Nor can he snap at his father..and he sure as hell cannot punch his father.
However ..he could ask the tailor of his family to make him a custom made doll that he can use to release his pent up stress.
Shen Zeyu inhaled a long breath and somehow managed to keep the smile on his face. "Father this is the evidence that you wanted on the Fu family."
Shen Zizhen took the documents but the frown on his face turned even deeper instead of easing up. "You disturbed me just for this unimportant thing? Can't you see I am in a hurry here?"
"Haha I see, then father what should I do with these 'unimportant things'?" Though Shen Zeyu was still smiling, his fingers were tightly clenched.
That custom made doll will be... he opened his eyes and assessed his father's height -it's going to be five nine.
"Just throw them in my trunk. Do l you even have to ask such a simple thing?" said Shen Zizhen waspishly.
"Haha sure, sure." He walked off imagining the doll's face and satisfied with it's uncannily resemblance to his father's face ..by some weird coincidence.
—-
"Her son has some connections with the local thugs of the capital." Fang Zimo who woke up after fully resting couldn't sit still for long.
He wanted to see Luo Xin's fall and wished that she lived a life worse than death. So he didn't waste any time in telling Lin Yan everything he knew. "It's because of this that no one dares to go against the Fu family, they are worried about getting entangled with those thugs."
Lin Yan patiently listened to Fang Zimo. Actually he already knew that the Fu family must have a good backing in the capital or they wouldn't be so haughty.
Luo Xin has never avoided any trouble it was like she knew that there was nothing they could do to her. Even if what she was doing was against the laws.
He scooped a little amount of the nutritional soup and brought it to Fang Zimo's lips, who obediently drank it. "Brother Yan it's too bitter." Complained Fang Zimo coquettishly.
"It's alright the bitter the medicine the more effective it is. So just suck it up and finish it." No matter how much Fang Zimo complained Lin Yan didn't get angry.
He was exceptionally patient with the latter and fed him the medicine bit by bit. "Just finish it up then I will make something sweet for you, that will help you with the bitter taste."
"Okay brother Yan." Fang Zimo no longer looked like the little devil who tried to kidnap Lin Yan.
Now he looked like a sweet young brother who was willing to listen to everything that his big brother had to say. He didn't kick up a fuss and even blushed a little when Lin Yan softly coaxed him.
Seeing the two like this everyone in the room was stunned. Su Wan who came with a warm bowl of porridge suddenly felt a bit awkward what was this? A rival? Was this the beginning of a bl Romance story? What should she make of this?
She wasn't the only one who was shocked even Lin Yu and Lin Jing were surprised. The aura surrounding the two was a bit weird and they didn't know what should they talk about under such a scenario.
Lin Yu turned to his eldest brother and couldn't help but ask "E..Eldest brother did this guy really kidnap second brother?"
Lin Jing pursed his lips in all honesty ...he wanted to ask the same thing! But who should he ask?
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Chapter 416 - I Want Brother Yan
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
"I want to see Brother Yan." complained Fang Zimo. He was slowly getting better at least his injuries were not bleeding anymore.
Now that his health was recovering his vivacious tenacity was finally recovering as well. He was getting bolder with his demands and was no longer shy.
Well at least not in front of the other members of the Lin family. In front of Lin Yan he was still as shy as ever like a sweet boy who didn't know anything better without his elder brother.
Something that the others found quite annoying, Lin Chen went as far as to call Fang Zimo a hypocritical dual face bastard but the latter wasn't bothered at all! Instead he got clingier with Lin Yan.
"As I have already told you many times before brother Yan is not at home. He has something to do and can't stay at home with you. Why don't you read the book that second brother left behind for you to read ?" Lin Chen was having a hard time reining his temper.
He wanted to snap his teeth and bite Fang Zimo's head but he knew that if he tried to so much as scold him the latter will exaggerate everything and complain to his second brother like a bullied little wife.
Even Wan Wan was better than him! Had she ever tried to do something like this? No! And even if she did, he would be willing to indulge her.
She was his wife and she can of course be wilful but who was this guy? Who gave him the right to cling to his second brother like that? "Stop asking me the same question again and again. I am getting a headache because of you!"
Silence.
Fang Zimo said nothing for a few seconds and simply stared at Lin Chen and then asked with mocked indifference.. "With whom did he go outside with?"
'What's with that tone of yours? Why did it sound like a wife questioning the whereabouts of her husband?' Lin Chen roared in his head but he still didn't lose his temper on Fang Zimo though his grip on the bowl tightened so much that a crack formed.
"Who do you think he went with? Of course Second Brother went with Su Wan. His wife ..you know?"
"Oh that shortie." said Fang Zimo with a casual tone.
Lin Chen paused he stared at Fang Zimo and tilted his head not believing what he just heard.
Shorty? Did this guy just call his wife shorty? Really? Did he mishear?!
"What did you just say?"
"What? Shorty?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY???" Shouted Lin Chen but the thing was he wasn't the only one who screamed. There was another voice mixed in together with his and he knew to whom this voice belonged to.
Stiffly he turned to look behind him and sure enough behind him stood Shen Junxi who was glaring at Fang Zimo.
"What did you just say? Did you call my Beautiful, No more like Outrageously Gorgeous, and Extremely Cute Niece a shorty?" Shen Junxi was like a bull who saw red whenever Su Wan was concerned.
It was just Fang Zimo's bad luck that he was caught while bad-mouthing Su wan behind her back.
However Fang Zimo didn't think that he said anything wrong. Although he knew that Su Wan was good, rich, and beautiful enough to match with his brother Yan.. He still couldn't bring himself to like her.
She was a kind woman and treated him really well but her tongue was too sharp and she didn't hold back when she scolded him.
The last time he tried to skip taking his medicine she scolded him until his liver turned green. Ever since then their relationship degraded to that of an evil mother-in-law and a sharp-tongued daughter-in-law.
Now whenever Su Wan was mentioned Fang Zimo wouldn't be able to stop himself just like Su Wan wouldn't hold herself back from riling him up. "I said nothing wrong. She is a shorty isn't she?"
Fang Zimo couldn't find any faults with Su Wan and he was too prideful to call her names that she wasn't so he grabbed the only nerve that hurt Su Wan the most.
Her short physique.
"What do you mean? What do you mean by that she is short? She is still growing! And she is still the cutest! Even that short height of hers she can still give the most beautiful woman in the world a run for their money!" snapped Shen Junxi not wanting to admit that Su Wan had any shortcomings.
"That's right! Wan Wan is the cutest!" Little sidekick Lin Chen echoed.
"Yes the cutest!"
"She is short -just admit it!"
"She isn't."
_
"They are at it again huh?" Madam Zhu who came out hearing the noise. She felt a headache coming things have been like this ever since Su Wan scolded Fang Zimo for not finishing his medicine.
She knew that things won't get better in the future either. Once her second brother-in-law arrived here; things will become even more chaotic.
She can even imagine her husband and second brother-in-law fighting against Fang Zimo and her second sister-in-law and Lin Chen cheering them in the back avidly.
Lin Yu only sighed he was getting tired of these everyday fights but Su Wan was indeed the cutest wife in the entire world!
-
"Achoo." Su Wan who was checking the arrangements for Lord Fei's banquet, frowned after wiping her nose. Who was talking about her behind her back?
The weather was so hot there was no way she could catch a cold. So someone must be bad-mouthing her.
Humph! It must be that overbearing Fang Zimo. Just wait once she returns home she will teach him a good lesson.
"Oh, dear are you sick?" Lord Fei really liked Su Wan this girl who knew how to cook and had a good personality. He had been talking to her for quite a while and he liked her more and more.
She was really a good seedling. He was seventy years old but he had no child his only son died in a battle protecting the emperor.
After that his wife asked him to take in many Concubines but he didn't agree.. He had been childless for years and now he couldn't help but pay more attention to this likeable girl who was pretty and interesting with all those little ideas in her head.
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Chapter 417 - God Granddaughter
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
The Emperor had introduced a lot of children who were distant relatives of the royal family to Lord Fei. The Emperor felt guilty because he was the reason that Lord Fei lost his only son.
The emperor wished for lord Fei's happiness that's he wanted his Uncle to adopt a child and live a peaceful life but Lord Fei didn't like any child that his nephew introduced to him.
Children were too polite and afraid of him either they tried to please him or they were too terrified to even look him in the eye.
Such children -Lord Fei didn't dare to adopt. Both he and his wife were straightforward people they didn't know how to soften their tone and their words were too blunt enough to make a grown-up cry much less a child. He was worried that the child he will adopt might end up crying the entire time.
However he and his wife were childless and they were getting old. At such an age they felt lonely and wished that someone would accompany them.
He didn't have to worry about this family line ending because the emperor was his nephew and he was as good as his son. He raised the emperor as his son when his elder brother was busy in his debauchery so the emperor treated him like a father figure.
Lord Fei had everything because the emperor was generous with him.
Now he wished him nothing but for someone to accompany them. He looked at Su Wan who was neither too humble nor to overbearing.
She was a confident and bold girl who didn't think twice before contradicting him but she wasn't rude.
In just three hours of knowing her, Lord Fei was sold on the idea of taking her as his goddaughter. He thought that Lin Yan was good, but now that he met Su Wan he realised that he set the bar too low!
Su Wan was a lot better compared to Lin Yan, those novel ideas where something that he had never heard of.
"Lord Fei I think that your idea of holding the banquet at the seaside restraint his good but I suggest that you change the location to your house. I am not looking down at you and Madam Fei but the weather is still changing. In such capricious weather holding a banquet at a restaurant that is facing the sea might harm your health. It's easy to catch a chill in such a location."
Su Wan took a glance around the courtyard of the Fei Mansion and added. "Lord Fei this mansion isn't bad either it's spacious and the scenery isn't bad either. You have paid attention to the insulation of the mansion as well I think it will better for your wife to celebrate her birthday here. After all, we want her to enjoy her special day to the fullest."
"Little Wan Wan ah! Do you have a father- no what I mean is that ...is your father is still around?" Lord Fei dug out a lot of information about Su Wan in the past three hours. The girl talked a lot about her husbands, her maternal uncle and aunt, even her in-laws were mentioned a little here and there.
What was even more surprising was that a complete stranger named Fang Zimo was also mentioned.
Of course when he said that Su Wan talked about Fang Zimo he meant that she simply complained about him being rude to her.
She told him that the rude brat called her a shortcake because he thought of her as someone he could easily bully ..and because she was short.
Lord Fei was amused and certain that it was the latter half -that hit her nerve.
Su Wan pursed her lips Su Bai was still around but he cannot be called a father.
A father who sold his daughter for money does not deserve to be called a father. So she didn't even think twice before refusing. "No, I am afraid I do not have one. But Lord Fei why are you are asking me that ?"
Lin Yan who was measuring the area of the main hall to decide whether they should hold banquet inside in the main hall or in the backyard paused and stiffly turned to look at Su Wan and Lord Fei who were sitting on the porch having a discussion about what to do and what not to do.
He was afraid that Su Wan might have offended Lord Fei by her straightforwardness. He stopped whatever he was doing and hurried over to take the blame but before could reach Su Wan he heard Lord Fei exclaim. "Little Wan Wan if that's the case why don't you become my goddaughter? Grandpa Fei would like to have a god granddaughter like you."
Originally Lord Fei wanted to take Su Wan his goddaughter but then he thought about it; looking at Su Wan's youthful face and thought that if he did that he might jumble up the relationship.
His nephew the Emperor was around the age of forty or so and Su Wan was still two months shy from seventeen.
His nephew was practically a middle-aged man, even his eldest daughter was older than Su Wan! Going by seniority it could be said that Su Wan could be taken as his nephew's daughter. If he took Su Wan as his goddaughter then wouldn't it mean that his Nephew and Su Wan would become brother and sister?
A forty-year-old man being a brother to a sixteen-year-old what kind of combination was this! It was better to take her as his god granddaughter!
Wu Dei widened his eyes and felt extremely anxious after hearing his Lord's words. The lord was a first-rank official whom even the emperor respected like an old ancestor. As long as he opened his mouth he could adopt any one in the capital! Even if his Lord was to set his eyes on any children of the Emperor, he would be able to adopt them.
So how could he.... How could he just accept a little girl whose background was unknown .. was it just because she scolded him like madam? Was his master a masochist?
Lin Yan "..." Excuse me, what?
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Chapter 418 - No, I Can't Live Up To That Expectations
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
Lin Yan was even more shocked than Wu Dei. He knew that his wife was really unique arms her smartness knew no bounds.
There were countless ideas in her head that were so novel that many people found her interesting but -This was different!
Lord Fei wasn't someone they could match up to. Despite not knowing how pristine Lord Fei's background was Lin Yan, still thought that this matter couldn't be allowed!
Who were they? And who was Lord Fei? What kind of prank was this? Do all rich people play like this?
Lin Yan was anxious in his heart not only Su Wan was a cause of his worry with her straightforward and blunt attitude but now there were two devils at home as well!
Those two - if Lord Fei became Su Wan's God grandfather then it will be really troublesome. He will be anxious the entire time!
Worrying who exactly might end up offending Lord Fei first. "My Lord.. this I am afraid is not proper. We are nothing but commoners. How can my wife be your god granddaughter? This is something I am afraid might bring troubles for you, so why don't you think about it again?"
When Wu Dei saw that Lin Yan was actually refusing to accept this opportunity. His impression of the husband and wife improved by a lot of degrees.
He strode forward and openly expressed his views as well. "Master Lin is right, My lord....this matter, perhaps why don't you wait for Madam to return from her stay at the old mansion at the capital? Then the two of you can sit down and discuss it together? After that you can make your decision?"
Lord Fei once acted as the strategist for the young Emperor and even led him to throw his father off the throne.
He had seen the storms of the capital while leading the army valiantly!
He was the one who gave the young Emperor the courage to stab his father in the heart when the former hesitated.
Despite his gentle and good personality, Lord Fei was someone whose heart has gone cold long ago.
No one could melt his heart. He could give you the world when you still hold an important position in his heart but once you lost that place, he wouldn't even hesitate to stab you in the heart and have his next meal on your bloody corpse.
A man who could convince the young Emperor to rebel against his father, the former Emperor was someone to be feared.
And this gallant and an imposing man whose name was enough to make his enemies tremble with the mere mention of his name had only one weakness -his wife.
He couldn't be considered as a henpecked husband but he have seen enough of the palace's schemes and resolutely chose that one woman who moved his heart.
In the beginning Lord Fei only treated his wife with courtesy and respected her but once the two of them lost their only son, he became more considerate and his love for her doubled.
Lord Fei glared at his trusted servant and immediately scoffed. "What I want is exactly what my wife wants! She also wanted to adopt a granddaughter long ago but nobody fit in the bar! Is that my fault? Little Wan Wan is smart and she is more sensible than that brat of yours! What did he say? Having a birthday banquet at the seaside restaurant would be nice? Humph! Compared to him little Wan Wan is more clever. I can assure you that my wife will like Wan Wan, who will not like a gentle and considerate child?"
Wu Dei who was scolded felt that he was greatly wronged. His grandson only choose that restaurant because Lord Fei said that his wife likes water lilies.
They only wanted Madam Fei to be happy! Who would have known that their care and consideration would become an evidence of their lack of consideration?
Wu Dei felt his headache with a throbbing pain! He knew his master has set his mind on Su Wan and wouldn't listen to anyone.
Once the emperor finds out about this he would definitely send him to be punished!
The master's faults weren't faults after all. It was the servant's faults who couldn't dissuade his master!
If someone else was sitting in place of Su Wan and found out that a high ranking official wanted to adopt her as his granddaughter, she would have screamed out in glee but who was Su Wan?
She was someone who has seen the worse in her past life. She wasn't someone who would depend on family relationships.
After her experience with her dead beat father she really didn't have any expectations from any relationship that had the word 'father' in it.
Even now she was still getting used to her father-in-law, so she calmly smiled and sincerely said. "Lord Fei thank you for your affections and praises -however I still can't accept your kindness"
Wu Dei who was already imagining his sufferings snapped his head up. 'Haa?' The great uncle of the emperor chose you as his god granddaughter! It's a blessing that someone wouldn't get even in seven lifetimes and yet you dared to refuse my great Lord? Who do you think you are..your just a peasant's wife!
Su Wan didn't pay attention to Wu Dei who was turning purple instead she continued.
"Lord Fei it's really my good luck if I accept your proposal but I am afraid that I cannot live up to the expectations that you have towards me. My father never liked me and sold me away. Alot of villagers call me an 'ill star' Because my mother passed away when I was born." Su Wan glanced at her husband. Unable to hide the bit of sadness and affection in her gaze and continued.
"And now I live as the shared wife, of my husbands and a lot of people look down on me. But it's my greatest fortune, that my husbands treat me really well but -no matter what my existence is; it's not appropriate for me to be your granddaughter." Su Wan still remembered that her father called her a disappointment because she couldn't live up to the expectations.
Everyone might think that she was wise and clever but this was what she feared the most.
With praises came high expectations and she didn't want to live up to anyone's expectations anymore no matter how important the person was.
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Chapter 419 - Not Enough Huh
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
Su Wan didn't want a comfortable life what she wanted was happiness. So, she didn't feel any regrets when she refused Lord Fei's proposal, instead of other was Lin Yan who felt his heart being pierced. He had never paid attention to Su Wan before but now that he heard her so resolutely refuse Lord Fei's proposal he couldn't help but think that maybe Su Wan faced something similar in the world where she came from, at home though she was respectful and cared about his father it took her a very long time to warm up to his father, forget about his father, even them - for a very long time Su Wan kept them at a respectful distance from her, only now she started trusting them. Maybe, there was something that made her resistant to new relationships - when it concerned about being dependent on men. Su Wan subconsciously does not want to depend on a man-
His heart was hurting but at the same time, he felt incredibly proud of her. She wasn't ashamed of accepting her existence, if she wanted she could have asked for a divorce, he and his brothers loved her so much if she asked they would give her everything, the living Lord Fei could give her was something that he or his brothers could never give her, yet she refused at once! They didn't pamper her in vain!
When Lord Fei heard her words he caressed his long beard and hummed, ' no wonder this girl refused him, if he suffered something like she did, he too would have a hard time accepting new relationships no matter how good they were but he didn't want to let go of such a good child either !" You are a good child, I was definitely not wrong about you. Don't worry about me here no one would question you or your relationship with your husbands. It's clear from your tone that you are really happy with your husbands, there is no need for you to overthink things, it's true that I found you really likeable but that doesn't mean that I have some high expectations from you, it's my right to have expectations from you but it is up to you whether or not you want to live up to them. Don't overthink, I don't mean anything. Tonight let's celebrate this good thing and just enjoy it! I will go to your house with you and talk to Junxi, he and I are good colleagues, he will definitely agrees to my decision and accept my decision of making you my granddaughter, tonight when you two get out of work wait for me we will go together and talk with your family. I will also bring the good wine that I got from the emperor, he awarded that wine to me when I did something for him. " he added when Su Wan and Lin Yan showed startled expression at the mention of the emperor "let us have a good drink tonight. Once we are done with the formalities I will introduce to my acquaintance on the day of the banquet "
Lin Yan still had some doubts, he didn't want to offend the great Lord Fei, but he also didn't want Su Wan to feel burdened so he summoned his courage and asked" my Lord are you sure? I mean, it's indeed a great honour for us that you want to take Su Wan as your granddaughter but my lord I don't want my wife to b burdened by this new relationship with you. Forgive me, if you think that I am being too blunt but you heard my wife, she just told you that her existence is not something that many will be able to accept, we might be able to accept our relationships without any problem but that doesn't mean that everyone else will be able to accept it as well, I don't want my wife to be questioned just because they cannot accept our family dynamics, Lord Fei why don't you think about it again?"
" Why are you so worried? Don't you have any trust in me? Even if I were to introduce her to my friends on the day of my wife's banquet no one will be able to say anything about her nor will they dare to, what kind of person do you think I am? Do I look that unreliable to you? Rest assured, I will take responsibility for what I said, I - Fei Juncheng will never turn my back on those whom I have accepted! Your wife not just has a set of new grandparents but also someone to protect her!" Lord Fei was very touched by the love and Care that Lin Yan showed towards his wife, for the sake of protecting his wife, he was willing to even offend him.
Su Wan pursed her lips, as long as the latter didn't mind what was there for her to complain about? She was truthful from the very beginning so she had nothing to fear! She didn't oppose the idea anymore, with Lord Fei's help her family's business wouldn't be confined to capital alone and - most importantly he can be useful for them while dealing with Luo Xin, isn't it because of this very reason that her eldest uncle introduced him to them? This relationship would only prove beneficial for her family, and with Lord Feo's promise, the last bit of worry was also resolved. So, Su Wan nodded and agreed " if Lord Fei thinks that this commoner is worthy of being your granddaughter then I will definitely agree, but in case if someone were to say anything about me or my husbands, how will Lord resolve the matter?"
Lord Fei sneered stroking his beard he said " someone might not be able to understand the common human language when told not to do something and yet proceeds to do it, then what's the point of having ears? It's better to just chop it off, what do you say granddaughter?"
Su Wan didn't refuse his endearment and said" you are right grandfather"
Lin Yan "......" just what kind of luck do I have three uncles weren't enough huh?
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Chapter 420 - Broken Jar
Name：Shrewd wife of Lin brothers Author：fairytail72
Lord Fei was the kind of man who wouldn't listen to anyone once he had his mind set on anything.
Which was why once he decided that he will go to Su Wan's house and become family with her so he immediately followed Lin Yan and Su Wan once the two were done with their work.
The old house where Su Wan and Lin Yan lived together with their family wasn't accommodating enough for this Big Buddha but no matter how much the two tried to stop Lord Fei the latter didn't listen to them and insisted to follow them.
Su Wan and Lin Yan had no choice but to let the old master follow them to the Lin family's new residence.
When the three were returning Lord Fei decided to put on his best clothing because according to him this was an important day.
He couldn't just go to Su Wan's house without any formal clothing that wasn't appropriate according to the situation so Lord Fei had changed into one of those dress robes that he used to wear when he appeared in the court in front of the Emperor.
The dress was as flashy as could be thus, when the three reached the Dong Tong village the villagers who sat under the big banyan tree immediately noticed this high profile official that was following Su Wan and Lin Yan.
Madam Qin moved closer to Aunt Lin who too was sitting under the tree and deliberately exclaimed loudly as if she was afraid that the others might miss what she wanted to say. "Aiya Xiaohui, your nephew is seriously amazing! First he was able to marry a wife with such a big dowry and they are able to live a great life with that money she brought with her. Now, the restaurant that she bought with her is completely under his control. I even heard that they were able to fawn upon the headmaster of the academy in the town where Lin Rui is studying now. I heard it was because of the green vegetables they were selling in the market. Even the Uncle of their Wife who came looking for her looks rather galant and impressive. Did you see the carriage he came in? It was so big and classy. I have never seen something like that. Mhm by the looks of it today they were able to meet this old man. From his clothing alone he looks like someone of great importance! Based on the golden colour and pattern of his gown he looks like he is a first rank official related to the royal family! Not just anyone can wear gold in color. I wonder whether he is a close relative of the Emperor or some distant relative."
The highest-ranking official that Madam Qin had seen was the Yamen's officers when they came to catch someone in their village years ago.
If the short-sighted Madam Qin who hasn't seen the better part of the world could understand something like this, how can Madam Zhang not understand this?
The Yamen officers were some low ranking officials that they rushed to suck up to but even those Yamen officers wouldn't look in their direction.
Forget about sucking up to these officers they can't ever get close to them. Yet Su Wan and Lin Yan these two good for nothing were able to get closer to an official that was several levels higher than the Yamen officers!
Madam Zhang spat on the ground willfully. Her expression twisted as she hatefully glared at the pair of husband and wife the two were really good!
Her days in the Old Lin family were getting worse and worse after Lin Che got beaten up he didn't just lose all the money but he also had his hand broken, for three months Lin Che has been staying at home not once did he mention about returning to the academy.
With her lazy husband and little ancestor of a son she couldn't get a moment of peace! She smirked and hatefully muttered.
"Is that something to be surprised about? Didn't you notice in the past when that girl wasn't here? My nephews were nothing but a bunch of good for nothing but now that they have married this Su girl they are getting better and better isn't that because of her? If she can open her legs for five men what's the problem in opening for a few more? It's nothing but a matter of convenience. After all she is already nothing but a depraved woman. Will it matter to her if she had to sleep with a few more men? At least now she has a comfortable life. What can those good for nothing men give her? The jar was already broken, wasn't it? Breaking it a little more... How does that will make a difference? Humph! This talent I am afraid neither I nor my daughter can have or else we wouldn't be suffering here in poverty. Pei!"
"Aiya is that so? No wonder they are getting rich now that they are married." Madam Qin rolled her eyes at Madam Zhang scolding her for being an uncultured woman.
The jar was already broken? Haha if the jar was already broken why not you try to break it too? Or are afraid that no one will want to break the jar even if it's for free!
These men look so important what kind of beauty would they have not already seen? Just say that you are jealous -why don't you!
"Or else do you think that they have the talent to get to know such important figures? It must be that girl. Her scheming is really good! Didn't you see? Not even a day passed and she was able to turn my filial nephews against their grandmother. I bet that girl has a lot of schemes in that little head of hers. I don't get it how can they sleep at night with something so disgusting!"
"So what are they supposed to do talk bad about others like you?" From behind came a sneering voice when Madam Zhang turned around her sister-in-law was standing behind with a mocking smile.
"Zhang Xiaohui you once again ran away from doing house chores and now instead of doing something useful you are busy making rumors behind others' back?"