Ch. 56..60: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 56-60

Chapter 56 Repaying the Money (2)_1 “This is some offal made at home. It’s nothing fancy. You can take it back for your children to try.” Lin Ziyin said with a smile, handing over a basket.

Upon looking down, Lou Zheng was taken aback. There were quite a few pieces of offal in the basket. The rest were dishes from his home.

“What are you doing?” He declined, even though he was delighted. But he knew that accepting gifts because of a small matter was not proper. Indeed, Lou Zheng was an upright man. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have held the position of village head for so many years.

“Offal isn’t a big deal, and I made it myself. You can use it as a side dish for your drink.” Lin Ziyin put the basket in his hands, “Are you looking down on my gift, uncle?”

“Alright, I accept your kind thought.” Lou Zheng saw her sincerity. Therefore, he no longer declined and took the basket happily.

Old Master Lin and Lin Changshu followed him out of the door.

“Lou Zheng, what’s that good stuff?” As soon as they left the Lin family’s gate, they saw a crowd of villagers. Some people were pointing at the Lin family.

A brave villager asked Lou Zheng curiously, seeing him come out first with a basket in hand.

“Mind your own business! Look carefully. This is just some offal made by Ziyin for me to go with my drink. You all better not be envious!” Lou Zheng scolded, then explained for the Lin family, “Those masters from the temple took a fancy to the Lin family’s tofu products. That young master came with them out of curiosity about home-cooked food, so he stayed. Now that he’s left, he has rewarded the Lin family with a few ounces of silver. That’s all.”

How much silver the two young masters gave the Lin family, Lou Zheng wasn’t sure. But his guess was a few ounces of silver, after all, rich people wouldn’t eat for free.

A few ounces of silver? Many villagers looked envious.

“Alright, don’t be envious. This kind of good thing won’t happen every day. The Lin family has the silver and wants to pay back the Ma family. Who wants to come with me to witness this?” Lou Zheng shouted.

Upon hearing this, the people realized right. Rich people must have stayed for a meal out of curiosity. Such good luck indeed didn’t happen often. Well, it’s the Lin family’s good fortune.

However, what Lou Zheng said next aroused everyone’s interest.

Everyone in the village knew about the grudge between the Lin family and the Ma family. Today, the Lin family was going to repay the silver. They didn’t know what face the Ma family would show.

So everyone enthusiastically signed up, all willing to go and witness it.

Seeing the excited villagers, Old Master Lin and Lin Changshu could only wryly smile. What was the fuss about the Lin family repaying silver? However, they were grateful to Lou Zheng. After his explanation, fewer people were likely to target the Lin family.

The Ma family members were all resting at home after lunch. When they heard the noisy sounds coming from outside, they didn’t mind.

“Is anyone home?” But soon after, the gate of their courtyard was knocked.

“They’re here.” Yan’s wife croakily yelled back, unenthusiastically. She then opened the gate. Ma Dalong followed her out.

“What’s this?” Seeing a crowd standing outside, the whole Ma family was dumbstruck.

“Today we’ve come to repay the silver. From now on, there will be no connection between our two families.” Lin Changshu took out an ounce of silver and handed it to Lou Zheng.

“Only one ounce?” Yan’s wife shrieked when she heard this.

“Has your family forgotten about the last time someone was hurt?” Lin Changshu coldly responded.

“Yes, it’s just one ounce of silver.” Lou Zheng also solemnly agreed. He was the one who handled the last incident. Did Yan’s wife intend to go back on her word? “Everyone here witnessed the agreement to compensate for the injury. Isn’t that correct?”

“Yes.” Everyone present came to watch the drama. Hearing Lou Zheng’s words, they all agreed in unison. Some even laughed and ridiculed the Ma family’s thick skin.

Ma Zhicai’s face remained stern, and his chest heaved up and down, clearly infuriated by the crowd. “Mother, take the silver.”

Yan’s wife glanced at her son but still seemed reluctant.

“What? You thought you could make a fool out of me as village head? Or do you think everyone here is naive?” Lou Zheng’s reputation was in question, and his tone turned even more unpleasant.

“Woman, just take it.” Ma Dalong felt obliged to reprimand Yan’s wife, with pain in his heart. That prodigal woman, why was she so thoughtless last time? “Uncle, our bond ends here, but we are still neighbors in this village.”

“We, the Lin family, can’t afford to associate with you, the Ma family. From now on, let’s just act like strangers when we see each other.” Old Master Lin declined without courtesy.

Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Heart-to-Heart Conversation (1)_1 Ma Dalang was choked up, furious internally but his face was still grinning, as if he didn’t mind at all, “Old man, you know she has a sharp tongue, don’t let it get to you. I will certainly give her good scolding.”

Mrs. Yan, standing nearby, was so suffocated that she wanted to retort, but held her tongue after receiving a look from her son.

“Zhicai wishes that younger sister Zige could find a better husband in the future.” Seeing that there were many villagers present, Ma Zhicai immediately wanted to showcase his magnanimity.

But the old man didn’t even want to give him that chance, “Lou Zheng, we’ve exchanged the silver, so we’ll be leaving now.”

“Okay.” Lou Zheng nodded.

Without casting another glance at the Lin Family, Lin Changshu and the old man left directly.

With the excitement over, many villagers reveled in Ma Family’s predicament, pointing and gossiping right in front of them, talking about Ma Zhicai and Mrs. Yan.

Ma Dalang and Ma Zhicai were filled with regret, but knew better than to argue with the majority. If they made a scene now, they might end up antagonizing the entire village.

“Since you’re all here, why don’t you come in and have a cup of tea?” Ma Dalang invited everyone.

“Tea? Better not! We’re afraid that after drinking a cup of plain water, your Ma Family might want to charge us silver – an amount we can’t afford to pay!” a villager joked slyly.

The crowd erupted in laughter, then went on their ways in small groups, their laughter echoing in the air.

Ma Zhicai was both ashamed and angered, silently blaming Mrs. Yan in his heart.

“Thanks to your big mouth, now look,” Ma Dalang scolded Mrs. Yan while glaring at her.

Mrs. Yan felt wronged, after all, she was just trying to do what was best for her son.

But she didn’t dare to argue back when scolded by Ma Dalang, so she held her breath and went inside the house.

“Are we really going to make new products?” In Lin Family’s house, Guo Huiniang saw Lin Ziyin’s busy figure and felt apprehensive. To her, having tofu and pig entrails to sell was already very good. If they tried to sell new products, she would always feel a bit anxious.

This was the typical mindset of small farmers, which Lin Ziyin could read plainly on Guo Huiniang’s and Lin Zige’s faces.

Lin Ziyin didn’t worry about these concerns too much; the transition from small farming to big business needed time and action spoke louder than words.

“Grandpa, is everything sorted out?” Lin Ziyin asked as the old man and Lin Changshu entered the house.

Guo Huiniang and Lin Zige also looked over.

“Everything is sorted out, and we’ve made it clear, from now on, our two families have nothing to do with each other,” the old man replied.

Lin Ziyin looked at Lin Zige who was sat down with the two children picking beans, and only let out a sigh of relief when she saw no sadness on her face.

“Here’s some money, go to the small shop and buy some sweets to eat.” Lin Ziyin took out five copper coins and handed them to Lin Changting.

“No need.” Lin Changting shook his head.

Lin Ziyin smiled and asked, “Why?”

“Save it for home.” Lin Changting answered while lowering his head.

Lin Yanzhi, who was originally happy about the offer of sweets, was a good kid. Seeing Lin Changting refuse, he reluctantly gave up as well.

“We won’t lack for this bit of money at home, your sister will earn more for you in the future,” Lin Ziyin said, stuffing the five copper coins into his hand. “Take good care of Yanzhi. From tomorrow, we’ll have guests coming to pick up tofu. We won’t lack silver in the future.”

“Okay.” Knowing that his elder sister was resourceful, Lin Changting agreed. He then hesitantly nodded and left with Yanzhi.

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Heart-to-Heart Conversation (2)_1 “Grandfather, let me measure you. I’ll make you a long robe first.” Guo Huiniang had prepared all the beans and thought of the fabric she had bought before she got busy again.

“Make the children’s clothes first.” The old man waved his hands and said.

“Grandfather, theirs is done. I’ll do yours first. I can’t spoil the children.” Lin Ziyin persuaded with a smile.

“Right, grandfather first.” Lin Changshu also advised. “They are children, it doesn’t matter if they wait a few more days.”

Knowing that the children in the family were very respectful to him, the old man no longer refused and let Guo Huiniang measure him.

“Sister, I want to ask you something. Now, we are all family here, I hope you can answer me honestly.” Lin Ziyin asked seriously.

“What’s the matter?” Lin Zige was frightened by her serious eyes and asked stutteringly.

“What do you think about Brother Dayou?” Lin Ziyin asked directly.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone, including Lin Changshu, stopped what they were doing, and all eyes were fixed on Lin Zige.

Lin Zige’s face blushed, she became flustered and said, “What about him? He’s pretty good, just like my brother.”

Lin Changshu looked a bit disappointed at her words, but Lin Ziyin became even more serious.

“Sister, I’ve said it before, we’re all family here. You need to be honest.” She stared at Lin Zige. “I think you have noticed that Brother Dayou has special feelings for you. Also, our family business will definitely grow in the future. If your feelings for Brother Dayou are only brotherly love, then I need to make other plans.”

“What other plans?” Lin Zige asked nervously.

“In the future, as our soy products increase in quantity and variety, we’ll definitely be short-staffed. But as you’ve seen, if the process of tofu making is observed by others, it can easily be copied. Even if Brother Dayou is good to us, if he is not very close to us, I’m sorry, I won’t let him be involved in the business for the time being,” Lin Ziyin said carefully. “Even though our Lin family owes him a favor, I can find ways to repay him. For example, if he needs to find a wife in the future, we can provide more financial support. But business and personal favors are different things. Even the best relationships can’t withstand the temptation of money. You understand, don’t you?”

“Dayou’s feelings for you are quite special. If your parents hadn’t arranged for you to marry into the Ma family, you two might have gotten together long ago.” Lin Changshu said apologetically. “Don’t blame your mother. Which parent doesn’t want to find a good marriage for their children? Your mother thought Dayou couldn’t even support himself, while the Ma family was too eager to please, so she hastily chose the Ma family for you.”

“I never blamed her.” Lin Zige’s voice was somewhat dejected.

“There’s no need to force yourself if you don’t want to agree. But in the next few days, I need to clarify it with Dayou. We can’t delay him because of our Lin family. I also don’t want to ruin the friendship we’ve had for so many years because of this.” Lin Changshu became a little emotional as he thought of Dayou’s help to the Lin family in the difficult years.

“What use is it if I’m willing? He doesn’t want to!” Lin Zige started to cry.

“I think it’s not that he doesn’t want to, but that he’s afraid he can’t give you happiness.” Lin Ziyin guessed from an outsider’s perspective, “You can’t fake the look he gives you.”

“Happiness doesn’t depend solely on him.” Thinking of her roller-coaster marriage journey, Lin Zige cried even harder.

“It’s different now.” Lin Ziyin comforted her by patting her shoulder, “Your share of the tofu business will make sure you have a good life. I don’t think it’s disgraceful for a man to use a woman’s money, also, Brother Dayou is hardworking and definitely not a freeloader.”

Lin Zige sobbed, not knowing what to say.

“What matters in marriage and life is up to you. No one can replace you. Sister, I hope you can be clear about what you want. Happiness is in your hands.” Lin Ziyin didn’t want to pressure her.

“What did he say?” Lin Zige choked up, asking with blushing cheeks.

“You’re our family, of course we have to ask your opinion first. Since you have feelings for him, I’ll ask Brother Dayou’s opinion later.” Lin Ziyin said with a teasing smile.

“Who has feelings for him?” Lin Zige, noticing everyone was watching, blushed and couldn’t lift her head. She got up and ran into the house.

Chapter 59: Settled(1)_1 “Brother, let’s make a visit to Brother Wu Dayou’s place,” Lin Ziyin said to Lin Changshu with a smile.

Lin Changshu nodded.

The old man’s face was also tinged with a hint of a smile. He felt guilty towards his eldest granddaughter. But there was no way—the Ma Family was not any good. He couldn’t ruin his granddaughter, but after breaking off the marital arrangement, as the girl’s side, their reputation was damaged, which would make it less easy to find a good match again.

Wu Dayou, a man they knew well, was kind and righteous. He had feelings for Zige. If this marriage could be arranged, a weight would be lifted off his heart.

Lin Ziyin and Lin Changshu followed the village path to a thatched house at the foot of the mountain.

Lin Ziyin noticed that Wu Dayou’s residence was incredibly secluded; there were only two neighbors nearby.

“Dayou?” Lin Changshu had already gone and knocked on the door.

“Coming.” Wu Dayou was home. He opened the yard’s gate and was surprised to see Ziyin as well, so he hurriedly invited her in, “Please sit, please don’t mind the mess in the house,” he said nervously.

“It’s fine, carry on with your chores,” Lin Ziyin replied with a smile.

She leisurely looked around the compound of the Wu Family. It was fairly tidy, with some scattered pieces of firewood on the ground. It seemed that Wu Dayou had been chopping wood.

No wonder Lin Family’s deceased parents had initially chosen the Ma Family. This Wu Family only had three thatched rooms, which looked as if they might collapse at any moment. The furnishings inside the house were scant, quite similar to the current scenario at Lin Family’s.

“I’ll go boil some water,” said Wu Dayou, feeling a bit embarrassed. To his memory, this thatched house had only been visited by Lin Changshu, while Zige and Ziyin, being girls, had rarely come.

Recalling the simplicity of his own house made him feel ashamed.

“Brother Wu, there’s no need to fuss about. We came over today because we wanted to ask you about something,” Lin Ziyin said straightforwardly.

Lin Changshu somewhat disapproved of her directness, but since she had already brought it up, he too asked, “What do you think of Zige?”

“She’s wonderful, of course.” Upon the mention of Zige, Wu Dayou blushed and his heart started to flutter. “And Ziyin is nice too.”

He added the last sentence as if to gild the lily.

Lin Ziyin broke into laughter, “Brother Wu, you don’t need to include me when speaking well of my sister.”

This comment made Wu Dayou’s face turn even redder.

“I don’t want to beat about the bush. Brother Wu, do you fancy my sister?” Lin Ziyin asked nonchalantly.

“No,” Wu Dayou responded vehemently.

“What?” Lin Changshu’s face fell.

“I… I only consider her as my younger sister,” Wu Dayou answered stutteringly.

“What a pity,” Lin Ziyin held back the agitated Lin Changshu and looked at Wu Dayou, “In that case, let’s pretend we never came. And Brother Wu, from now on, please don’t trouble yourself with matters of the Lin Family. And oh, brother, let’s find a matchmaker and arrange another marriage proposal for my sister tomorrow. Even though she has been rejected, I think it won’t be hard to find her a family given her looks. Just a pity that we don’t know what the potential matches would be like, in terms of character.”

The last sigh from Lin Ziyin, particularly her mention of the word ‘character,’ made Wu Dayou even more unsettled.

“If we’re searching, we need to find a suitable household. We can’t fall into the trap of something like the Ma Family again.”

“Brother Wu, this is our family’s business and it seems unrelated to you,” Lin Ziyin said, looking at him with a playful smile.

Wu Dayou turned rigid.

“Alright, I see what you mean. You are looking down on Zige. But in my eyes, even if Zige was rejected, she’s still a good girl,” Lin Changshu said through gritted teeth, “This is all my fault. Instead of asking your opinion first, I asked Zige. Sigh, how should I explain this to Zige when I get back?”

Chapter 60: Settled(2)_1 “What did Zige say?” asked Wu Dayou anxiously, grabbing onto Lin Changshu.

“Dayou, since you aren’t interested in my sister, it’s none of your business what she’s thinking. Let’s go home. Also, you don’t need to concern yourself with affairs of the Lin family anymore. We’ll return whatever silver we owe you as soon as possible,” said Lin Ziyin, trying to shake off Dayou’s grip.

“What did Zige say?” Dayou continued to clutch Lin Changshu’s collar.

“Let go,” gasped Lin Changshu, almost unable to breathe.

“Let go of him, Dayou! You’re going to choke my brother to death!” Lin Ziyin shouted.

At this moment, Dayou’s eyes were slightly red, as if he were under some sort of spell and completely oblivious to what Ziyin was saying.

With a narrow glance, Ziyin raised her hand and slapped him across his right cheek.

The loud slap not only snapped Dayou out of his daze but also startled Lin Changshu.

“Brother, are you okay?” asked Ziyin, pulling Changshu free from Dayou’s grip.

“Cough, cough, I’m fine,” replied Changshu after a deep breath. Now, he understood the depth of Dayou’s feelings for Zige. But damn, the guy almost killed him in a fit of passion.

“I’m… sorry,” Dayou stuttered an apology.

“I must ask, are you even a man?” began Ziyin impatiently, “You self-righteous fool. You think that because you’re poor, you can’t provide happiness for my sister, and so you’ve placed your hopes onto some other man. Have you ever thought about who could be better for her than you? Being poor is not a concern. Our family is poor too, yet we manage. If two people truly love each other, shouldn’t they be able to get through tough times? What would you do if my sister ended up with someone terrible? Regret it later?”

It was not that Lin Ziyin wanted to curse herself; it was because Wu Dayou had pushed her to the brink.

Some men can be overly presumptuous.

“You’re too cowardly and foolish to make her happy,” concluded Ziyin, revealing her contempt for Dayou.

“I…” Dayou sat down on the ground, clutching his head.

“Forget him, brother, let’s go,” advised Ziyin, addressing Changshu with a huff.

Changshu glanced at his friend, sighed, and followed Ziyin out.

“Would she really be willing to live a life of hardship with me?” asked Dayou, pain in his voice but hope in his eyes.

“If she wasn’t willing, do you think we’d be standing here?” Ziyin sighed softly, “If you want your beloved to be happy, then go fight for her.”

“Fine, I’ll arrange for someone to propose on my behalf tomorrow,” declared Dayou, standing up suddenly.

“Finally doing something right, you fool,” muttered Changshu, giving Dayou a punch on his shoulder.

Dayou took a step back, nodding enthusiastically with tears in his eyes.

With a faint smile, Ziyin and Changshu headed back home.

“How’s Dayou?” Zige, who had been impatiently waiting at home without any clue of what to do, instantly dragged Ziyin into their house upon her return.

“Who is Dayou?” teased Ziyin.

“Sister, you’ve become so mean,” complained Zige, blushing as she stared at Ziyin.

“Alright, no more teasing. Dayou said he’s getting someone to propose tomorrow,” replied Ziyin seriously, “Zige, Dayou is a good man. You’ll definitely be happy with him.”

Zige glanced at her sister’s stern face and nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

True to his impulsive nature, Dayou arrived at the Lin’s doorstep early the next morning with Lou Zheng and Madame Zhang.

“Happy news, happy news indeed!” Lou Zheng declared cheerfully as soon as he entered.

“Uncle Lou, please come in,” greeted Ziyin, who had just finished preparing tofu. She had made some extra firm tofu skins overnight and was catching her breath. Seeing the village chief and his wife, along with Dayou, she served them some hot soy milk, “It’s warm.”

“You’ve gotten quite skilled, Ziyin,” Madam Zhang complimented after a sip of the sweet, fragrant soy milk.

Ziyin gave them a courteous smile and retreated to a corner.

Dayou was a bundle of nerves and excitement. His hand, clutching the mug of soy milk, was shaking. Zige saw this and gave him an annoyed glance.

Seeing his nephew’s nervousness, Lou Zheng sighed slightly. “The boy will become a henpecked husband. We’re here today to arrange the marriage for Dayou.”