Because of this sense of familiarity, Yun Shuyao inquired with Lin Ruhai about Tian Wenjing’s situation, learning that he was currently the same age as Lin Ruhai and held the position of Prefect—an official rank that wasn’t particularly high.

Moreover, there was something worth mentioning here: he hadn’t entered officialdom through the civil examinations, but rather by purchasing his position.

He initially started as an eighth-rank County Magistrate’s Assistant. Since entering the official career path until now, so many years had passed and he remained at this position.

The path of purchased office was much more difficult to navigate than those who entered through examination success. Unless one had a patron’s appreciation or possessed exceptional competence, it was very difficult to get ahead.

“What’s wrong? Is there some problem with him?”

Lin Ruhai had naturally also investigated the Tang family’s marriage connections. Their family background wasn’t particularly high, but also not very low.

Moreover, although he had no talent for studying, he was someone who got practical things done.

Yun Shuyao replied, “No, it’s just that I seem to have heard this name somewhere before. I must have misheard.”

Lin Ruhai didn’t suspect anything either. The two of them had no points of intersection whatsoever.

The Tang family’s daughter was named Tang Wanxin.

She and Chen Yu were born in the same year. She had already applied for exemption from selection because by the next draft selection she would be overage, and during the previous selection when she was of proper age, she had been in mourning.

This was understandable, so she was free to marry.

The wedding date wasn’t set for this year. Chen Yu also said he hoped to wait until after next year’s autumn provincial examination. He was confident about next year’s examination—he could pass and become a Provincial Graduate. At that time, welcoming his bride with the status of Provincial Graduate would be more glorious and proper, and his age would also be more suitable.

Old Madam wanted to hold her great-grandson and wished she could finalize the betrothal now, complete all the steps at the fastest speed, and have the bride enter the household within the year. If all went smoothly, she could hold her great-grandson next year.

However, not only did her grandson think this way, her son also felt that completing the marriage within this year was too rushed.

Completing the three matchmakers and six betrothal ceremonies properly also required considerable time.

Seeing them all thinking this way, Old Madam could only reluctantly accept it.

“Fine, since that’s the case, we’ll follow your wishes. However, at the very latest, she must enter the household by the end of next year.”

She still wanted to personally witness her great-grandson’s birth.

Her current physical condition—the Imperial Physicians and Doctor Zhou had taken her pulse and all said it was good. She should be able to hold on for a few more years.

Seeing her agreement, Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. “Grandmother, your grandson will definitely study diligently and earn scholarly honors early.”

Old Madam smiled with complete satisfaction. “Good, good, good. Grandmother will wait for your good news.”

Tang Wanxin was sixteen this year. Among young women, those of this age who hadn’t yet settled a betrothal were truly a minority. However, she had her reasons—one was that her grandfather had passed away and she was in mourning, and another was that there had originally been a family in negotiations, but they had climbed to another higher branch, so that marriage naturally fell through and she had to make new selections.

It was just difficult to find someone suitable in terms of age. Just as Grandmother Tang was troubled by this headache, when she heard the Lin family was interested, she agreed almost without thinking and embraced her granddaughter for a good cry.

Her granddaughter’s fortune had finally turned around!

Her eldest son hadn’t spent long with this junior fellow student, but he was someone who cherished old connections. The Lin family had only this one son—whether legitimate or common birth was completely irrelevant.

It was the Tang family who had married above their station.

Her second son was still serving as Prefect in a remote location, who knew how long it would take before he could advance further.

Her third son simply couldn’t study, so she just let him manage the family’s properties. The fourth son had average talent for studying, but fortunately could still teach young people in the family.

Lin Ruhai was already a third-rank official in the capital. Don’t look at how his difference from her son wasn’t great—fourth rank to third rank was a major threshold. Who knew how many people were stuck here, unable to advance an inch their entire lives.

What’s more, her second son had struggled greatly to be promoted to this Prefect position.

Even while happy that her granddaughter would have a good home, Old Madam Tang wasn’t rushing to send her granddaughter out. Old Madam Tang couldn’t bear to part with her—she could keep her one more year, that’s one more year. In any case, they were betrothed. If the other party still wanted their reputation, they wouldn’t easily break their promise.

They were already betrothed.

Having settled the relationship, Chen Yu began cultivating their emotional bond. Feelings developed through interaction, so every so often he would transcribe a line of poetry, share what insights he gained from reading, or describe the weather and his mood… A single sheet of paper could contain all these topics without worrying about awkward silences. Then he would send some pastries from their household or bamboo crafts with rustic charm he saw while out, jewelry and some pearl flowers—none of them too precious, so the Tang family felt no pressure accepting them.

When Old Madam Tang received them, she looked at these things and smiled so widely her mouth wouldn’t close, holding her granddaughter’s hand and laughing directly. “This is someone with a caring heart. Wanxin, Grandmother doesn’t expect your husband to be so talented or so outstanding. If the other party’s character isn’t good, everything else is false.”

Just like Longkodo—what didn’t he have?

But his character was poor. His legitimate wife—how long had it been since she appeared in public?

While he indulged that concubine running rampant through the capital, drawing complaints everywhere.

“These things—at a glance you can tell he personally prepared them. This shows he has heart. This is your good fortune.”

If the other party has heart and you return sincerity, then there’s no fear of living a bad life.

Tang Wanxin blushed and replied softly, “Grandmother, then I should return some needlework, shouldn’t I?”

Old Madam Tang nodded with satisfaction. “Mm, you make your own decisions. When you’ve prepared it, bring it to me.”

She couldn’t let her granddaughter act on her own.

Tang Wanxin held that sheet of paper and looked at it for a long time, reading it over and over, her face growing redder the more she read.

As the saying goes, one’s handwriting reflects one’s character.

Looking at it now, this seemed accurate.

Slowly, she also picked up her brush, and elegant hairpin-style small standard script gradually appeared on the paper…

Before long, the Lin family received a box sent by the Tang family. One was specifically for Chen Yu, while the others were forehead bands, pouches, handkerchiefs and such items sent to Old Madam, Yun Shuyao, and Daiyu.

They were already betrothed, so exchanging gifts back and forth—the adults on both sides could only cooperate and would even deliberately create opportunities for them.

With this betrothal, when Grand Lady Jia heard about it, she just laughed sarcastically. She had thought that Old Madam Lin, picking and choosing for so long, was going to marry some princess or commandery princess back for her grandson. But in the end, he was actually marrying a fatherless orphan girl!

Aside from having a second uncle still in court, she was nothing. Upon further inquiry, it turned out she was a fellow student with Lin Ruhai, but so what about fellow students?

They hadn’t spent much time together back then—how deep could their connection be?

So it was for reputation, for such an illusory reputation—was it worth it?

That would be the future mistress of the Lin household. Coming from such a small, humble family—did she have the capability to be competent in that role?

Just like Madam Xing—unable to appear in proper company.

She would wait and watch the show.

Second Madam Wang was also in a very good mood. Her niece had entered Commandery Prince Ping’s residence, while the Lin family settled on such a ruined household. Her father had already passed away, her second uncle was fourth rank, and most importantly, he was her uncle—he had his own children and daughters. How much could he dote on this niece?

Moreover, the Tang family wasn’t a wealthy household. Their residence in the capital wasn’t large, and their daily life looked simple. What assistance could they provide? In the future, if they didn’t drag down the Lin family, that would already be good!

She deliberately had someone write a detailed letter about the Tang family’s circumstances to tell her niece.

When Wang Xiluan received this letter, she stood up from her stool in shock, simply unable to imagine—where had she lost?!

She actually couldn’t compare to such a person?!

The more Wang Xiluan thought about it, the more wronged and angry she felt. She smashed all the porcelain in her room, startling the serving maids.

When the news reached the Fujin, she calmly placed down a game piece. “If she wants to smash things, let her smash them. However, all these items come from the public accounts. Sister Wang just entered the household recently—she may not know. This time’s expenses will come from my accounts, but when replenishing them, remind her that if there’s a next time, she’ll have to replace them herself. After all, rules cannot be abandoned.”

The maid respectfully acknowledged the order.

Then Wang Xifeng received a letter from her cousin asking her to investigate why the Lin family would form a marriage alliance with the Tang family—did that Tang family daughter do something? Did she use some despicable methods?

When Wang Xifeng heard Ping’er read this letter, her brow twitched.

“What is she thinking? She’s already entered the Prince’s residence—what does the Lin family have to do with her? If the Prince knows about this, what will she do?!” Just treat it as an interesting anecdote—hear it and be done with it. Why pursue it further? Even if she knew, so what?

Was she planning to do something?!

Wang Xifeng couldn’t sit still and returned to her natal family once.

This wouldn’t do—she had to mention this matter to Second Aunt.

Have Second Aunt properly counsel her.

Daiyu was preparing a return gift for her future sister-in-law. She had received a handkerchief the other party sent her. She really liked the orchid grass embroidered on it. Her embroidery skills were excellent, so she prepared to give back an embroidered item in return.

Her needlework progressed slowly, but fortunately handkerchiefs were simple. She had already done half before, and now completing it wouldn’t take too long.

While Daiyu was busy, Wang Xifeng sent over a calling card. After Daiyu inquired and replied with her own card, Wang Xifeng came to visit bringing Ying Chun, Tan Chun, and Xi Chun, the three of them.

When paying respects to Old Madam, Old Madam looked at Wang Xifeng—whose appearance upon entering made the entire room seem brighter—and unconsciously asked aloud, “Are you studying now?” The fate she would meet later certainly had reasons of being caught in a trap of her own making, but also had reasons of not understanding the law and lacking a sense of reverence.

These could all be resolved through studying.

Hearing these words, the smile on Wang Xifeng’s face stiffened. “Replying to Old Madam, I get a headache just looking at those characters—I only recognize a few.” She wasn’t completely illiterate. Looking at account books and such, she could do that, but beyond that she couldn’t.

Old Madam advised with a sentence, “Reading enlightens one to reason. When idle with nothing to do, reading a few more books does no harm.”

Lin Daiyu listening from the side also found this reasonable. “Second Sister-in-law, there is a house of gold in books—if you read, you’ll come to like it too.”

She loved reading very much.

Wang Xifeng’s heart jumped, but her face carried a smile. “Ai yo yo, this is different. You and Uncle Lin both naturally possess literary spirit. This blockhead of mine—looking at those characters for too long makes me dizzy.”

Having her sit there all day without moving just to read a book would be pure torture. So Wang Xifeng couldn’t understand how these young ladies liked reading and painting so much—there was no appeal in it.

Arriving at Daiyu’s courtyard, watching the young ladies gather together chattering about handkerchiefs and pouches, she happened to hear Daiyu mention these were for her future sister-in-law, asking them to advise whether this pattern was good or not.

Wang Xifeng raised her eyebrows. Sending it to the Tang family daughter?

Ying Chun nodded. Tan Chun said, “Suitable.”

Wang Xifeng glanced at it and began praising, “Naturally it’s suitable. This is bamboo—isn’t this representing a gentleman? Nothing could be better.”

Then she asked, “Did Uncle Lin arrange the marriage alliance with the Tang family? In my view, with Cousin Lin’s character and appearance, he could even marry a princess.”

She deliberately flattered them.

Daiyu frowned. “Second Sister-in-law, these words are too much. Our family is just an ordinary household. Elder Sister Tang is also excellent. Second Sister-in-law, I truly think reading is quite good.” This came from her heart. Whether one had studied or not could be seen from one’s manner of speech. Those the Lin family associated with were basically civil officials. Even families that didn’t value their daughters still required them to read the Four Books for Women and such. Those who valued them more, like herself, studied poetry and literary compositions—as long as she was interested, she learned it all. Among those she interacted with, young ladies who studied made up the vast majority. Even Ying Chun and the others studied.

The smile on Wang Xifeng’s face could barely stay in place. “Have I done something improper?”

Just now when Old Madam asked that way, she had felt very embarrassed. Reading enlightens one to reason, so telling her to read more—wasn’t this saying she didn’t understand reason?

She hadn’t done anything!

Wang Xifeng ran through in her mind the things she’d done recently, her heart pounding with alarm. Recently she had sold some cumbersome furniture from the storerooms that no one paid attention to. Could word have leaked out? Had the Lin family heard about it?!