Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Different Thoughts (1)_1 Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Different Thoughts (1)_1 The following day, Lin Ziyin was in the courtyard again, preparing a small patch of ground to plant the potted plants that had already sprouted fruits, complete with their soil and vine shoots. He even built a frame for the plants out of branches.
“They’re already bearing fruit, can they still survive this?” Zige asked worriedly, fearing that in his excitement, Lin Ziyin might have doomed the things they had bought for fifty taels of silver.
“No worries.” Lin Ziyin replied.
Over the next few days, all of Lin Ziyin’s energy seemed to be poured into the seeds. The villagers saw Lin Changshu and Wu Dayou borrowing Lou Zheng’s ox to plough the empty space behind the new house. None of them found it too strange; after all, land is the lifeblood of a farmer. Even a barren land, once bought, nobody would want to waste it.
In their busyness, the Lin family’s house was completed at a steady pace, and every seed Lin Ziyin planted grew robustly.
“Changshu, you’ve done amazing.” Lou Zheng said, a hint of envy in his voice as he looked at the three courtyards that the Lin’s had built. With these buildings made from green bricks, they were considered top-tier in the village. Moreover, the Lin’s had even built a two-story house, which was truly unique.
“Dayou, you’ve got a real stroke of luck.” There were even some who teased Wu Dayou.
Wu Dayou just chuckled, not the least bit annoyed. He knew all to well of the villagers’ envy. Besides, he had been in high spirits for the past few days, his grandfather had spoken. After the house was done, a good date would be chosen for him to marry Zige.
With a house and a wife, what more could he ask for?
“Oh dear, why are you still here?” Aunt Gossiper, the matchmaker, hurried over when she saw the Ma family all huddled up at home, “The feast is about to begin.”
“You go ahead, we’re not interested.” Mrs. Yan retorted with a sour face.
“I’m just saying, your refusing the Lin’s marriage proposal was a bad deal for you. Didn’t you see? The Lin family built a house for Wu Dayou too. If you hadn’t called off the marriage proposal, that house would have belonged to your Zhicai.” As she said this, a regretful expression crossed the matchmaker’s face, “Just look, your Zhicai failed the scholar exam and lost the marriage prospect, how unfortunate.”
“Get lost.” Mrs. Yan immediately picked up a broom to chase her out upon hearing her insult her son.
“Can’t you have a decent conversation? Why are you angry?” Aunt Gossiper, who had been hit by the broom, was not pleased either, “Afraid to face the truth, are you? Your family really messed up. If not for the called-off marriage, you would have a nice house to live in, and someone to support Zhicai’s studies. Now you have nothing. But considering your family’s behavior, it serves you right.”
Aunt Gossiper, who goes from house to house, has a rather sharp tongue.
“Get lost.” Unable to catch up to her, Mrs. Yan, who had to listen to her nonsensical talk, angrily picked up a clump of mud from the ground and threw it at her.
“Pah.” Aunt Gossiped spat in her direction from afar, “I bet your family won’t ever produce a scholar.”
“You old witch, black-hearted…” Mrs. Yan began swearing at her.
“Mother, please calm down.” Ma Zhicai, who had failed his exam, came out with a dark face. He had seen the spring exam list a few days ago and he did not pass it. He was not in a good mood. The matchmaker came to humiliate him, and even worse, his mother was arguing with her. If his peers saw this scene, how could he face them?
“I was just taking it out on her for you.” Mrs. Yan glared at Ma Zhicai with annoyance and a sense of injustice, “The matchmaker’s words hit a nerve. If only we hadn’t called off our marriage proposal with Zige, things would be so much better right now.”
When Mrs. Yan thought of the Lin family’s loft and courtyard, her eyes turned red with envy. “How wonderful it would be if we hadn’t called off the marriage.”