Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Compensation (1)_1 Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Compensation (1)_1 “Changting, while your uncle, grandfather, and everyone else is here, tell me why you got into a fight?” This time, Lin Ziyin didn’t make any promises, but simply lowered her head and asked her brother who was both wronged and angry.
“They called our elder sister a slut and said our Lin Family had no face. They claimed we swindled silver from them, the Ma Family, and then they pulled Yanzhi’s ear.” At this point, Lin Changting couldn’t help but cry.
“Ear.” Yanzhi pointed to his own ear, “They cursed.”
“Lou Zheng, you heard the whole process too, don’t you think the blame should rest squarely on them for instigating a fight and causing injuries? How do you suggest they compensate us in silver? Everybody here knows well the circumstances under which our Lin Family owes them money. To be blunt, even if we, the Lin Family, refuse to pay them the two taels of silver, the Ma Family would have nothing to say.” Lin Ziyin said while looking at everyone.
Everyone present nodded in agreement. The Ma Family boy started looking down on the Lin Family girl just because he passed the Tongsheng exam. In rural areas, it is unheard-of for anyone to break off an engagement for no reason and tarnish the reputation of a girl. The girl’s family has every right to return no dowry at all, and can even demand compensation for the loss of reputation. It is only the benevolent Lin Family that has agreed to return everything to the Ma Family.
“You, the Lin Family, promised to return the silver within a year. You can’t go back on your word.” Mrs. Yan got panicky upon hearing this, two taels of silver was not a small amount, it was a farmer family’s annual income.
“We’ve promised to return it, but what has your Ma Family done? Calling someone a slut? Such words were said by a half-grown child. Maybe he heard it too often at home and his sense of smell isn’t working anymore when he goes out. The aunts and sisters-in-law in the village need to be careful not to get smeared with this.” Lin Ziyin responded harshly.
“You…” Upon realizing that Lin Ziyin was indirectly calling her a slut, Mrs. Yan intended to retaliate without thinking.
Lin Ziyin shot her a cold glance, scaring Mrs. Yan into swallowing the words she was about to blurt out.
“So, how do you plan on compensating?” Ma Zhicai quickly changed the subject when he saw his mother defeated. “They’re all children. Didn’t you go too far? Shouldn’t you compensate with silver? And about the original two taels of silver, it was you Lin Family who wanted to return it.”
His intention was clear: he was afraid that Lin Ziyin would not return the silver they owed to his family.
“Don’t worry, we, the Lin Family, always keep our promises. Once we promised to return the two taels of silver, we will definitely return them. However, this unprincipled kid, despite being half-grown, dared to make offensive comments that tarnished my sister’s reputation. I demand that he kneel down and apologize to our Lin Family in front of everyone in the village. And considering they attacked two members of the Lin Family, five hundred coins as compensation is surely not enough. At least it should be one tael of silver. If you request compensation for the injury, we will pay it as you suggested,” Lin Ziyin said.
“I won’t kneel.” Ma Youcai, who was sitting on the ground crying, stared defiantly at Lin Ziyin.
“Well then, sorry, but our Lin Family won’t pay a single copper coin, plus the original two taels of silver will be gone too. Uncle Lou Zheng, what do you think?” Lin Ziyin asked Lou Zheng.
Lou Zheng felt a headache coming on at Lin Ziyin’s suggestion. In his heart, he was cursing at the Ma Family. Honestly, five taels of silver was too much to ask for. He wanted to help the Lin Family reduce some of the payment, but Lin Ziyin had already agreed to pay the amount.
This left him without any chance to intervene. The boy is still too young, Lou thought to himself.
Lin Ziyin asked his opinion, so he glanced at Old Master Lin first and then said, “Ziyin is just a girl, she cannot make final decisions. Old Master, what do you think?”
After considering it carefully, Lou Zheng finally sided with the weaker Lin Family.
The old master gave Lin Ziyin a glance and then replied in a deep voice, “Let’s go by what the young girl says.”