"That's for sure. Second Young Master was personally tutored by Master, how could a farmer from the countryside compare? I heard that when Eldest Young Master returned, he also brought a woman from the countryside, calling her his fiancée. Look at our Second Young Mistress, she's from a prestigious family, a true lady, the perfect mistress of the household."
"That's right. How could she manage such a grand mansion? She can't even read a single character. Can she handle it?"
...
The two chattered on, badmouthing themselves and Zhang Dahai. Wu Caiwei listened with keen interest. In fact, she had anticipated this situation. If the real Gao Feixue and Zhang Dahai were here, they would surely be heartbroken. But Wu Caiwei was no ordinary person; she relished scenes of retribution. She and Zhang Dahai had no intention of fighting for the family fortune. This little bit of money was insignificant to them.
When she returned to the main house, she found everyone staring at her with strange eyes. The four girls looked worried, and she had a premonition that something she didn't know had happened. However, she wasn't afraid, believing in facing challenges as they came.
Zhang Dahai immediately walked to Wu Caiwei's side, took her hand, and calmly said to Master Lin, "I've already made my words very clear. I will marry only her in this lifetime. If you think I'm disgracing the Lin family, we can move out immediately."
"Have you thought this through? Are you sure you want to defy me for a village girl?" Master Lin looked at him sharply.
"I see it clearly now. You all look down on me. The first time I met Madam Lin, I said that the reason I revealed my identity wasn't because I wanted to be the so-called Young Master Lin and return to the capital with her. It was to see what my family was truly like, whether they were worthy of my wholehearted love. Now I have my answer." With that, he pulled Wu Caiwei and beckoned the girls to leave.
"Dahai, may I call you that? Can't you stay in the mansion for your mother's sake? What's wrong with your cousin? She's been married before, and Gao Feixue has also been married. Her family has declined, but she's still a lady of status. How is she inferior to the Gao Feixue by your side?" Madam Lin looked at him earnestly, speaking persuasively.
"I'll say this one last time: I will marry only her in this lifetime. No matter how good others are, what does it have to do with me?"
Master Lin watched Zhang Dahai walk away without a backward glance, trembling with anger. Everyone in the room lowered their heads, silently watching the spectacle. Only Xu Yuanyuan, the cousin Madam Lin had just mentioned, was weeping incessantly.
Madam Lin thought for a moment and then quickly chased after him. Although she also had some reservations about her son's rural upbringing, he was her only son. After searching for so many years, she still had feelings for him.
Catching up, she pulled him aside and said earnestly, "You are the eldest son of the family. You were abroad for so many years, and Second Young Master took your place. Concubine Liu wants to fight for the position of patriarch for her son. You've only just returned today, and your father is already rushing to arrange your marriage. It must be her instigating this behind the scenes, aiming to create conflict between you and your father. You cannot fall into her trap. Why should we hand over so much of the Lin family's wealth? Are you willing to do that?"
Zhang Dahai sighed and looked at her sincerely, "I know Mother means well, but I cannot compromise on this matter. Furthermore, I don't believe I'm inferior to Second Young Master, nor do I believe I can never earn the Lin family's fortune in my lifetime."
Madam Lin looked at him speechlessly, wondering if the child was foolish or naive. Did he think money was that easy to earn? Realizing that anything she said would be ignored, she quickly pulled out a few hairpins and a packet of silver from her sleeve, handing it to him. "I didn't bring much money with me. Take this for now to tide you over. Once you're settled, send someone to let me know."
Zhang Dahai quickly refused, "We have money. You keep this for yourself. You don't need to give it to me."
Madam Lin pushed it back into his hand, "I know you have money, but isn't most of it Gao Feixue's? How can a man spend a woman's money? Doesn't that put you at a disadvantage? I come from a noble family; I have a dowry. This is nothing. I'll give you more later. This is just a small token of my motherly affection. Please take it."
Zhang Dahai heard this and smiled, nodding. "Then I shall gratefully accept. Take good care of yourself. We're leaving."
Madam Lin stood at the doorway, watching them leave until their figures were no longer visible. The look of affection on her face immediately vanished, replaced by a somber expression. She twisted the handkerchief in her hand tightly, thinking of Concubine Liu's series of actions, and resentment festered within her.
With the protagonists gone, there was no more excitement to be had, and the people in the room gradually dispersed.
Only when Concubine Liu and Master Lin were left did Concubine Liu walk forward with a guilty look, blaming herself, "I only had good intentions, I never expected things to turn out so badly."
Master Lin quickly comforted her, "This is not your fault. You only made a suggestion, and I approved it."
Master Lin was thoroughly displeased with the status of Gao Feixue and Zhang Dahai. However, regardless of their backgrounds, Zhang Dahai was his eldest son. As for Gao Feixue, who was she? Coincidentally, his sister's daughter, Xu Yuanyuan, was staying at the mansion. She was her sister's only daughter, widowed at a young age, and her family had fallen on hard times. He was reluctant to marry her off. When Concubine Liu mentioned it, he thought it was suitable and wanted to bring them together.
What he didn't expect was that Zhang Dahai was so devoted. He refused no matter what, leaving Master Lin in an awkward position. However, he would never agree to Gao Feixue entering their household. Having a son who grew up in the countryside was embarrassing enough. To have a mistress who had never seen the world and was afraid to socialize would bring shame to the Lin family.
"What should we do now? Eldest Young Master has finally been found, and it's time to foster father-son affection. I see his stance is that he won't compromise easily. Shall we let him have his way?" Concubine Liu looked at him with some concern.
"Absolutely not. If she wants to enter our family, it will never happen in this lifetime." Master Lin refused without hesitation. He had many sons. When he was reinstated, he had sent people to search for his eldest son, but there was no news. Since then, he had kept his second son by his side and educated him well, knowing then that if his eldest son were ever found, he would be useless, and the family would have to be entrusted to his second son.
As expected, over the years, Madam had been very persistent in her search for her son. Her son had been found, but he caused her great distress, making her wish she had never found him.
If he didn't acknowledge him, he was still Lin family blood. If outsiders found out, it would have a negative impact. If he acknowledged him, the son was illiterate, and the Lin family was a scholarly lineage. It would be a disgrace to their family reputation. For a time, he didn't know what to do with Zhang Dahai.