She alighted from the carriage, and Liuzi hurried over to speak with the gatekeeper, "Shopkeeper Liu of Fuman Building is here to visit Old Lady Jin."
Upon hearing that Shopkeeper Liu from Fuman Building had come in person, the young servant dared not neglect him and quickly opened the gate and went inside to report.
Lin Yuan raised her head to look at the glittering characters of "Jin Mansion" and thought back to her first meeting with Jin Yuyu and Jin Lingling; her thoughts couldn’t help but race.
The young servant soon returned, accompanied by a familiar face—it was Mother Feng, who once bought mooncakes at Lin Yuan’s stall. She was Old Lady Jin’s most capable attendant. Having her receive Shopkeeper Liu was not a slight in any sense.
Mother Feng had seen Shopkeeper Liu before. After a glance at Lin Yuan, she felt the young girl looked familiar, but for the moment she couldn’t place where she had seen her. She smiled apologetically at Shopkeeper Liu and bowed deeply, "Shopkeeper Liu, it’s really embarrassing, our Old Lady is unwell and unable to meet guests today. If you don’t mind, would you come in for a cup of tea before you leave?"
The implication of her words couldn’t be clearer: Old Lady Jin was indisposed and couldn’t meet with you today. Please come back another time.
Shopkeeper Liu looked at Lin Yuan, and seeing that she did not move, he understood that they had to meet with Old Lady Jin today.
"Mother Feng," Shopkeeper Liu, an astute man, gestured towards Lin Yuan, "Since the Old Lady isn’t available, we’ll meet with your Family Head instead. Look, Boss of Fuman Building has come in person; you surely can’t let her come here for nothing, right?"
Hearing that the visitor was the Boss of Fuman Building, Mother Feng’s expression changed dramatically, and her gaze upon Lin Yuan was filled with shock. Her attitude also became much more respectful, "So, it is the Boss of Fuman Building! Aiyo, I truly failed to recognize a great figure before me. Miss, Shopkeeper Liu, please come in, please, I’ll go and notify the Old Lady and the eldest son right this moment."
She instructed the young servant to usher them in quickly and then rushed ahead to report to Old Lady Jin.
Lin Yuan took in the opulence of Jin Mansion; indeed, it was the home of the wealthy, with gardens and rockeries aplenty. However, from the gate to the main hall, she did not encounter anyone dressed like a master of the house.
A thought struck Lin Yuan, and after the young servant left, she turned and followed the direction from which Mother Feng had come.
They intercepted a Maid along the way, who, though full of questions upon hearing that they were brought in by Mother Feng, still led them on their way.
The Jin Mansion was vast, and after quite some time walking, Lin Yuan began to faintly hear voices emanating from up ahead—the sounds were chaotic, and there seemed to be many people.
Lin Yuan pricked up her ears and listened intently for a while before she could just barely make out Lin Ershuan’s anxious defense and Jin Yuyu’s calm reprimands.
Turning the corner, before them lay the main hall. The Maid bowed her head, asking them to wait at the corner, as she went in to find Mother Feng and relay the message.
This spot provided a clear view and sound of the events transpiring in the hall, Lin Yuan said nothing but let her proceed.
In the hall at the moment, smoke figuratively filled the air. Seated in the place of honor was Old Lady Jin, leaning to one side with a look of illness on her face. Although she was already in her seventies, with hair turned silver-white, the sharpness in her eyes betrayed no sign of frailty.
To Old Lady Jin’s left sat Jin Lingling’s family of three: father Jin Xucai with a narrow, long face and upturned eyes exuded shrewdness. Beside him was his wife, Lady Ruan, who was not exceedingly beautiful but with high cheekbones and a pointed chin, she was a woman of some beauty.
Lin Yuan narrowed her eyes; no wonder Jin Lingling was so scheming—it turns out neither of her parents were simple characters. Looking at the calculation and schadenfreude in their eyes was genuinely revolting.