Chapter 35

(Second update, another one in the evening, please support with votes!!!)

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The happiest thing in the world is when you think you've lost something, but the next moment you see it right in front of you...

Wang Xian rubbed his eyes hard, confirming that he wasn't hallucinating. The one standing there, looking as lively as ever, was indeed Lin Qing'er, whom his mother had said was already engaged to someone else.

"Didn't you leave?" Wang Xian pinched himself, feeling the pain, which meant he wasn't dreaming. But if he wasn't dreaming, how could such a dramatic turn of events happen?

"This is my home, where did I go, little brother?" Lin Qing'er covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes still swollen like peaches, but her gaze was joyful.

"My home, where is it...?" Wang Xian's brain took a moment to reboot before he asked, "What did you just call me?"

"Little brother, of course." Lin Qing'er smiled.

"Little brother..." Wang Xian almost choked.

"Yes, you two are long-lost siblings." His mother's voice was filled with unhidden pride, and she finally burst out laughing, "Hahaha..."

"Yes, yes, this is my sister." Yinyin hopped over to Lin Qing'er, hugging her arm, "Look how much we look alike..."

"What a joke." Wang Xian was sweating. This wasn't a Qiong Yao novel, and lovers being long-lost siblings...

"Idiot, come in quickly." His mother glared at him, "You look like a mud monkey!"

Wang Xian entered, looking at Lin Qing'er and then at his mother. "What's going on..."

"Hmph, idiot," his mother said proudly, "Of course, it's because I took action!"

It turned out that after his father came back, his mother felt that Lin Qing'er shouldn't just leave like that. Although she couldn't read, she understood the situation well. In the Ming Dynasty, even in Zhejiang, known for its emphasis on education, literate people were few, and literate women were even rarer.

As for a woman who was both educated and willing to marry a 'rascal' like Wang Xian, there was only one in the entire Ming Dynasty, with no others to be found!

His mother had always dreamed of having a literate person in the Wang family. Her son's generation had no hope, so she pinned her hopes on the grandchildren. Was there anyone more suitable as a daughter-in-law than Lin Qing'er? For this, his mother personally visited the Lin family to discuss the possibility of adopting Lin Qing'er as a foster daughter, promising to treat her like a real daughter...

Foster daughters were different from child brides; they were a way for common people to avoid the mourning period. According to regulations, one had to mourn for 27 months for parents and grandparents, which greatly affected normal life. Since common people weren't officials, they found various ways to get around this. Adopting a foster daughter was one of the more respectable methods.

However, the Lin family's initial agreement to the marriage was just a delaying tactic. They had no intention of marrying Lin Qing'er to the notorious Wang Xian...

Now, facing his mother's 'unreasonable' request, the Lin family matriarch naturally refused. Unfortunately, her opponent was the all-powerful Wang matriarch. With the spirit of perseverance, his mother pestered her for three whole days! The Lin family matriarch was finally driven to the brink and agreed...

In fact, the Lin family matriarch was moved by his mother's sincerity, thinking that her daughter could be fortunate to have such a mother-in-law.

After obtaining the Lin family's consent, his mother finally met Lin Qing'er.

Lin Qing'er was already moved to tears by his mother's efforts, but Wang Xian's cold rejection that day had deeply hurt her, leaving her with no confidence... Did he really just despise her, a woman who had been jilted before?

His mother, hearing the young girl's grievances, laughed and said, "Silly girl, all men are the same. If they have a problem, treat it!" She patted her chest and said, "Listen to me, we'll put on a show to test that boy's true nature!"

"Mother..." Lin Qing'er became shy.

"Oh, my dear..." His mother hugged Lin Qing'er, beaming with joy.

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"So, you played with my feelings?" Wang Xian's eyes widened in anger, "Why did you lie to me about something already decided?!"

"Without this, you'd still be moping around!" His mother sneered.

"..." His mother always found a way to leave Wang Xian speechless.

"Clean up and eat quickly, then go to the yamen!"

"Okay..." Wang Xian touched the mud on his face, feeling a bit embarrassed, and quickly fetched a basin of water to wash up in the courtyard.

A towel was passed to him, and as he reached for it, his fingers touched those of the person. He looked up to see Lin Qing'er.

Lin Qing'er withdrew her hand, blushing, and asked, "Why did you change your mind?"

"Because I realized something. Life is long, and even if you're down and out now, as long as you work hard, you can turn things around..." Wang Xian said, looking deeply into her delicate features, and whispered, "But a good girl won't wait forever. If you miss your chance, it's really gone..."

"Actually, these two things aren't contradictory. Why not marry her first and then work hard together?" Lin Qing'er's voice was soft but firm.

"Right, I was being too sensitive. Fortunately, there's still a chance to make it right." Wang Xian nodded, admitting his mistake sincerely. The clouds drifted by, and the world bore witness to the fact that the happiest thing in the world was having a chance to make amends...

"Where's my chrysanthemum tea..." Lin Qing'er, embarrassed to continue the conversation, changed the topic.

"This..." Wang Xian's mouth opened slightly, knowing that his mother had proudly told her about his actions. "I was planning to dry it as an apology, remembering that you like flower tea."

"..." Lin Qing'er felt a surge of joy; he really did remember.

"But it's already fallen into the Fuchun River." Wang Xian said honestly, "My mother dried some, which is better than mine. You can drink those first."

"I'll wait for next autumn's..." Lin Qing'er smiled softly, nudging his foot with her toe, "And the rose and lotus tea..."

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After lunch, Wang Xian packed his things to move into the yamen. His room, of course, would belong to Lin Qing'er... Before she completed her mourning period, their relationship would be that of siblings.

Wang Xian's belongings were simple: a bedding roll, two sets of clothes, and a few books.

As he was about to leave, Lin Qing'er handed him a copy of "The Analects of Confucius" and whispered, "Read more during your free time. Didn't you say that passing the scholar exam in ten years would be great?"

"Right." Wang Xian nodded, smiling wryly, "But without a teacher, will reading alone do?"

"Memorize the content first," Lin Qing'er said, blushing, "Someone will guide you."

"Who, you?" Wang Xian squinted.

"Are you mocking me?" Lin Qing'er was always irritated by him, huffing, "The county instructor said that if I were a man, I could easily pass the provincial exam!"

"Wow, my sister is a talented woman." Yinyin exclaimed, bouncing in and grabbing Lin Qing'er's sleeve, "Teacher, take me as your female disciple."

"What are you thinking, come help me!" His mother was busy in the courtyard, furious, "What good is literacy? Can you eat it?"

"Why is my sister literate..." Yinyin protested, jumping out.

"Because she's full and has nothing better to do..." Since she had already kept her, his mother had no qualms about speaking her mind.

Lin Qing'er was stunned, as if she didn't recognize his mother.

"You'll get used to it." Wang Xian scratched his head awkwardly, whispering, "But be prepared, it won't be easy for you..."

"Okay..." Lin Qing'er saw him pick up the bamboo basket, quickly pressing the bedding roll on top and securing it.

"Leaving." Wang Xian grinned at her, feeling a sense of stability with a future bride at home.

"Don't forget what I just told you." His mother called out loudly, "If you can't handle it, ask Uncle Zhang to help. Don't let me lose face in front of the neighbors!"

"Okay, okay, okay..." Wang Xian responded helplessly.

As he walked out of the alley, he met Zhang Da, Zhang Aunt's son. Seeing him with so many things, Zhang Da immediately took them without a word.

Wang Xian said he was fine and didn't need help.

"You're a young official now, how can you do manual labor?" Zhang Da said matter-of-factly, "If word gets out, people will laugh."

"What official, just a temporary worker." Wang Xian smiled bitterly, thinking that he was about to face a storm.

"Temporary worker, what a novel term. You really are a young official, so knowledgeable." Zhang Da praised, enviously, "Whatever the job, it's better than ours. Sitting in the yamen, no wind, no rain, no physical labor, and you get paid. Everyone who comes in has to be humble, and wherever you go, you're treated with respect. If you don't like someone, you can just deal with them..."

Wang Xian was sweating. If it were really like that, being a clerk would be a dream job. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple, and his life certainly wouldn't be that easy...

Zhang Da accompanied him to the yamen gate, wanting to go in but was not allowed.

Thanking Zhang Da, Wang Xian carried his bedding back to the clerk's quarters and went straight to the household office without unpacking.

Since it was nap time, the other clerks were chatting together. A long-faced man laughed, "This kid is a real man. He knew the magistrate didn't like him, yet he still left early on the first day and didn't come at all on the second. You should have seen the magistrate's face..."

"He hasn't experienced the magistrate's tricks yet." A sharp-faced man sneered, "He'll regret it when the time comes..."

Just as he finished speaking, Wang Xian walked in, and everyone quickly stopped talking. Wu Wei stood up, complaining, "Where were you? You didn't even say anything?"

"I had some family matters today." Wang Xian smiled.

"Ah, you're doomed." Wu Wei sighed, "The magistrate told us to tell you to see him immediately when you came back."

"Later, it's nap time." Wang Xian sat down, smiling, and continued writing the unfinished text on the table.

Writing the same text today felt completely different from yesterday. The heavy and irritable feeling was gone, replaced by a sense of ease and determination!

Come on, Li, if you want to fight, let's fight!