Chapter 7

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The sudden fall from grace of the Wang family naturally caused them great discomfort, and Wang Xian was the one who found it the hardest to adapt. He was no longer the leader of his gang of friends, and instead of bullying others, he was now the one being bullied. The change from spending money like water to being financially strained made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

He had developed a gambling habit, dreaming of becoming rich overnight and returning to his former life. His desire to marry Lin Qing'er was a delusion of taking control of the Lin family's wealth to return to his former life. Even his attempt to intercept the new county magistrate's sedan chair to plead his case was aimed at getting his father back to the county office so he could resume his life as a young master.

All his actions were driven by a desire to relive the past, yet now he wanted Lin Qing'er to take responsibility for his situation. What else could this be but the behavior of a scoundrel?

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"This is only right..." Lin Qing'er, thinking that his misfortune was all due to her words, nodded solemnly and said, "Before coming, I already inquired. Doctor Wu provides free treatment, but the main cost is the medicine from Mr. Lu's pharmacy, which totals 27 guan. I'll round it up to 30 guan. Is that acceptable?"

"Uh..." Wang Xian was somewhat surprised. This Lin Qing'er was truly generous, so much so that he felt embarrassed to ask for more.

"But," the most terrifying word in the world is 'but,' as it means everything before it is just talk, "I can't come up with this money right now..."

"Ha ha..." Wang Xian sneered. Thirty guan was a lot, but for a wealthy family like the Lin's, it was nothing.

"Don't sneer," Lin Qing'er smiled bitterly, "I'm not lying to you. For the past six months, I've been in Nanjing and Hangzhou appealing my family's case. I've spent money like water, and my home has been looted by evil servants, leaving nothing. This case is known throughout the county."

Wang Xian felt a bit disappointed, wondering why Wang Er, who always succeeded in extortion, couldn't get anything from him.

But then he heard Lin Qing'er say, "Give me some time. By October, I will have the money ready for you."

"Why October?" Wang Xian asked.

"That's the time for the autumn review..." Lin Qing'er said softly.

"Autumn review..." Wang Xian didn't understand. After all, he had only known how to eat, drink, and play.

"Prisoners sentenced to death by hanging are reviewed one last time in the autumn. If there are no issues, they will be executed at the riverbank..." Lin Qing'er thought it was normal that he wouldn't know.

"What does this have to do with the money you owe me?"

"It's related," Lin Qing'er thought for a moment. She didn't want to explain too much to someone like him, as it might leak information. She directly said, "I will appeal the case. If it is overturned, I can borrow money to pay you."

"What if it's not overturned?"

"Then I will have the right to sell our assets..." Lin Qing'er said softly.

"Oh." Wang Xian nodded, "So, you've already found a way in the provincial capital and the capital city?"

Lin Qing'er looked at him with some surprise.

"Cases sentenced to death in the autumn are unlikely to be overturned," Wang Xian analyzed with his limited historical knowledge, "The autumn review is probably just a formality. Unless you can get a high official to promise a retrial."

Lin Qing'er was even more surprised. Although for people in the Ming Dynasty, this was a simple inference based on attempts, Wang Xian's mind had actually turned a corner! It was truly impressive. However, she didn't intend to discuss such matters with him, "Just focus on getting better. By October, I will naturally give the money to Brother Wang." She didn't trust him with the money.

After saying this, she stood up and bowed, "I'll take my leave." She needed to leave quickly after finishing her business, or she might run into Wang's mother and face trouble.

But just as Lin Qing'er was about to open the door, she heard a cold laugh behind her, "Naive."

"Are you talking about me?" Lin Qing'er turned around, her brows furrowed. No one likes to be looked down upon by someone they already despise.

"Who else?" Wang Xian looked at her calmly, "Don't place too much hope in the autumn review, or you'll be devastated."

"Why?" Lin Qing'er couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know who you've found or what guarantees they've given you," Wang Xian said coolly, "I only know one thing: if I were to smooth things over, I would do it discreetly." He glanced at her, "You, on the other hand, went to the provincial capital and the capital city to bribe officials and returned early to wait for the autumn review. Even a deaf person would know what you were up to, and even an idiot like me would know you've received some promise! Not to mention the Zhao family, who can overturn cases like flipping pancakes."

He paused, then said slowly, "Do you think they won't try to counteract you?"

"..." Lin Qing'er had only been listening out of politeness, but halfway through, she was so shocked that her limbs went weak. She quickly sat down and, after a long while, said in fear, "How did you think of that?"

What she really wanted to ask was, "Is what you're saying true?" But she couldn't believe that an idiot like Wang Xian could be smarter than her. She wondered if someone had taught him to say these things.

"It's common sense. Anyone who has been in the world knows this," Wang Xian sighed, "Only a sheltered young lady like you wouldn't think of it."

"You..." Lin Qing'er, too shocked to be angry, asked, "What do you think the Zhao family will do to counteract me?"

"Just react to their moves," Wang Xian said coolly, "For example, they could spread the news that the Lin family is bribing officials to overturn the case, making it known to everyone. Who would still stand up for your family then?"

Lin Qing'er's face turned pale, and she was too shocked to speak.

"There's an even simpler way: just inform the original investigating commissioner. Do you think he wouldn't do everything in his power to prevent the case from being overturned?"

Lin Qing'er was terrified. Yes, if faced with immense pressure from both inside and outside, would the official who promised to overturn the case just go through the motions and back down?

Thinking of the Zhao family's tactics, this was almost certain...

"What, what should I do..." Lin Qing'er's large eyes filled with tears, and she bit her bloodless lower lip, "Does it mean that even if I bankrupt myself, I can't clear my family's name?" Thinking of her father, who died with a grudge, she finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears on the table.

The soft-spoken women of the Jiangnan region, even when crying, did so in a low, melodious voice. Wang Xian found it almost enjoyable to listen to.

The uncle outside, however, didn't feel the same. He suddenly pushed the door open and roared, "What's wrong, young lady? Did he bully you?!" Upon closer inspection, he saw that the two were sitting properly across the table, not as close as he had imagined.

Lin Qing'er, however, paid no attention to him and continued to cry, completely losing control of her emotions.

A thousand-mile dike can collapse from a single hole. Lin Qing'er's family had suffered a great disaster; her brother was sentenced to death, and her father had died of illness in anger. At just sixteen, she had to shoulder the heavy burden of the Lin family. Over the past six months, she had faced countless rejections and endured much ridicule and contempt in the provincial capital and Nanjing. She was already overwhelmed, only holding on by a single belief. Now that Wang Xian had shattered that belief, how could she not break down?

The uncle and Yinxing, however, thought there was a problem with their relationship. They were secretly shocked, "Good grief, could it be that the young lady is pursuing the young man?"

Thinking of this, the uncle's view of Wang Xian changed. What a master! Only a true master can turn a toad into a swan!

Yinxing, being a girl, couldn't bear to see another girl suffer so much. But she couldn't comfort Lin Qing'er, so she walked to Wang Xian's side, pinched him secretly, and whispered, "Aren't you going to comfort her?"

"How can I comfort her?" Wang Xian, not understanding their assumptions, smiled bitterly, "It's not my business."

"Are you a man or not?!" The uncle roared, startling Lin Qing'er, who lifted her head, tears in her eyes, "Uncle Seven, it's not his fault."

"You're still protecting him!" The uncle looked at her with a mix of pity and anger, thinking, "Even if your family is in trouble, you shouldn't degrade yourself like this." He shook his fist, "Boy, do you want a beating?!"

"Alright." Wang Xian, not understanding the situation, but knowing better than to risk a beating, said, "Come back another time, and we'll discuss it. We'll see if there's any way out."

Lin Qing'er, already confused by Wang Xian, nodded obediently, "Okay." Realizing she had cried in front of so many people, she felt embarrassed, quickly stopped crying, and wiped her eyes, still sobbing.

Uncle Seven and Yinxing were so impressed by Wang Xian that they thought he was a god. Uncle Seven sighed, "My girl will be eaten alive by him..."

"Leave quickly, my mother will be back soon," Yinxing, now seeing Lin Qing'er as a future sister-in-law, changed her stance and kindly reminded her, "Even if you want to make things happen... it should be done slowly."

"Okay." Wang Xian nodded, "There's plenty of time, no need to rush."

"I'll take my leave then." Lin Qing'er stood up and bowed, then added anxiously, "The next market day is ten days away, which is too long."

Uncle Seven wished he could find a hole to hide in, "Young lady, please maintain some dignity."

"The day after tomorrow, my mother and brother will return to the countryside to celebrate Uncle Three's birthday," Yinxing, following her mother's principle that "face is worth less than practicality," decided to be a traitor. After all, it was rare to find someone willing to follow her brother so loyally, regardless of their past enmity. "Come back in three days."

"Alright, I'll come back in three days." Lin Qing'er bowed again, put on her veil, and left with Uncle Seven.

Leaving the alley where the Wang family lived, Uncle Seven finally couldn't hold back, "Young lady, don't let that boy deceive you. He's not a good person."

"I know," Lin Qing'er nodded, "But this time, he seems different..."

"I don't see it," Uncle Seven muttered, seeing her distracted state, "It seems that in the eyes of love, not only do beauties appear, but so do handsome men..."

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