Lin Siyu’s cold laughter rang out, "Hah, so you’re here for the Silver after all! I was so naively thinking you might be... But of course, if it weren’t for the Silver, would you tolerate the mockery of those Servants?"
"Enough with the nonsense, hurry up and give me the Silver!" Lin Yongcheng felt extremely uncomfortable, and his patience with Lin Siyu was wearing thin.
"I don’t have any!" Lin Siyu lifted her head and snorted resolutely.
No Silver? Who are you trying to fool?
Lin Yongcheng’s gaze narrowed dangerously, shifting towards the Gold hairpin on Lin Siyu’s head.
Feeling his gaze, Lin Siyu tensely raised her hand to cover the hairpin, "You can’t have this hairpin—it was a reward from Master Magistrate, who even told me to wear it every day. If he finds out I gave it to you, he will kill me!"
Being killed was unlikely, just displeasure. However, Lin Siyu had no intention of giving away such a nice hairpin for nothing. But she also knew her brother’s character, fearing that if she didn’t give him something now, he might indeed prevent her from returning to Li Mansion today.
"I... I don’t have much Silver, as you know. Li Mansion has strict rules, and all allowances are distributed by Madam. I don’t have enough even for my own monthly expenses," Lin Siyu spoke softly, then waved to Panpan behind her, "Panpan, how much of this month’s allowance is left? Take it out, all of it, and give it to uncle master."
Panpan’s eyes flickered as she discerned the deeper meaning in Lin Siyu’s gaze. She pulled out her purse and spilled the mere two Taels of Silver within, speaking with a pained expression, "Auntie, we only have these two Taels of Silver left for this month. If we give it all to uncle master, we will..."
"Give it here!" Lin Yongcheng did not wait for Panpan to finish speaking before snatching the two Taels of Silver pieces from her hand.
A look of disdain flashed through Panpan’s eyes as she silently stood to the side.
As Lin Yongcheng was busy counting the Silver, Lin Siyu quietly took two steps back and, once out of his reach, turned and ran for the back door.
Lin Yongcheng, occupied with counting the Silver, looked up just in time to see her lifting her skirt and running away when he was about to grab the gold hairpin from her head.
"You little slut! How dare you play me!" Lin Yongcheng roared in frustration and gave chase, but he was hindered by the presence of the small Maid, Panpan, who had been standing by all along.
As Lin Siyu fled, she signaled Panpan with her eyes. With an outstretched foot, Panpan tripped Lin Yongcheng, who fell to the ground with a thud, his face and mouth covered in dirt.
Seizing the moment he fell, Panpan also quickly lifted her skirt and ran back, shouting to the maids and old women at the back door, "Stop him, quick, stop him!"
The maids and old women, who had already been laughing at Lin Yongcheng’s fall, got even more fired up by Panpan’s words. They swarmed over, surrounding Lin Yongcheng. As he was about to get up, someone stepped on him, pushing him back down to the ground.
Lin Yongcheng cried out in pain, lying on the ground, unable to get up—not that he couldn’t, but he didn’t dare to. His body, already as weak as an ant, was now being trampled as if by ants, combined with the relentless treading of the inexperienced maids, he was truly subdued.
Yet his resentment towards Lin Siyu deepened. Clutching tightly the two Taels of Silver he had snatched from her, Lin Yongcheng cursed at the "little slut."
Lin Siyu rushed back to Li Mansion in panic. Not seeing Lin Yongcheng following her, she gradually slowed down, covering her chest and gasping for air.
"Auntie." Panpan chased after her, her small face flushed.