Chapter 33: The Three-Month Deadline

Many borrowed, few returned. In time, the treasury’s stock of treasures ran low.

As for the high interest, over three years, Lin Feiyuan collected less than five thousand spirit stones in total.

As for the so-called IOUs, at a drinking party where Lin Feiyuan drank too much, a group of sons from prominent families talked him into burning every receipt to prove their mutual trust.

Lin Feiyuan was a straightforward man. Burned was burned, what was the big deal? They were all friends anyway.

Lin Rufeng was there too, egging him on, saying he should trust his brothers.

Luckily, Baozi was sharp. He had quietly switched the IOUs for decoys.

When the treasury matter came to light, Lin Feiyuan went straight to those people to ask for the treasures back. Not one of them owned up.

Wow.

A textbook pig-butchering scam. Lin Feiyuan had walked right into one.

Lin Yaoyao looked at Lin Feiyuan with sympathy. Third brother really was a fat pig.

“Third brother, wise up. They sold you, and you’re still counting the money.”

With these IOUs, Lin Feiyuan’s theft charge no longer held.

“Elders, uncles, these receipts prove that the treasury items were not lost by my third brother in gambling. They were lent out. Since he lent them, he will take responsibility for getting them back.”

For the moment, recovering the treasures was the only way to calm the family’s anger. Lin Yaoyao had no choice but to grit her teeth and promise.

When borrowing, they behaved like submissive grandsons. When it came to repaying, they acted like arrogant grandfathers.

Those treasures were precious. The other side would hardly return them easily. Lin Yaoyao knew this well, but there was no better way for now.

“Easy to say. What if they return them ten years later? Do we have to wait ten years? I think you’re just trying to protect Lin Feiyuan.”

Lin Rufeng’s face twisted, and he cast aside his usual mask of hypocrisy.

This was a fine chance to get rid of Lin Feiyuan. Without him, Lin Rufeng believed the eldest branch would no longer pose any threat.

Lin Feiyuan looked up at his cousin. The disappointment in his eyes was plain to see.

His eldest brother was busy cultivating, his second brother was simple-minded, and his fourth brother was frail. Among the younger generation of the Lin family, Lin Feiyuan had been closest to Lin Rufeng, even treating him as his own brother.

Now that he was in trouble, the first to leap out and kick him while he was down was Lin Rufeng.

Lin Yaoyao shook her head. Silly third brother, cry if you want. Next time, open your eyes wide and see who really treats you well.

Silly third brother, he didn’t even have as much sense as his own servant. Even Baozi could tell that Lin Rufeng’s friendliness came from ulterior motives.

“Cousin Rufeng, whoever tied the bell must untie it. My third brother lent those things out, so it’s up to him to get them back. Let’s make it three months. If he can’t recover them, the clan can do with him as they see fit.”

Most of the people present had no objection to Lin Yaoyao’s proposal and were willing to give Lin Feiyuan a chance to right his wrong.

But quite a few thought Lin Feiyuan had already erred and gone unpunished. If he acted foolishly again, he might bring greater disaster to the family.

“What if Lin Feiyuan runs away with those treasures?”

The clan members close to the second branch, at Lin Xuanyi’s instigation, kept raising objections.

“If my third brother has not recovered the treasures in three months, then I, Lin Yaoyao, will be cast out of the Lin family along with him.”

Lin Yaoyao had no choice but to take drastic measures to silence the second branch.

Hearing that Lin Yaoyao would also be expelled from the family, Lin Xuanzhong refused to agree no matter what.

“Father, don’t worry. We have a way.”

Seeing Lin Yaoyao so confident, and thinking of the reclusive expert behind her who could offer help, Lin Xuanzhong let her have her way.

After the elders deliberated and Lin Xuanzhong mediated many times, the clan finally agreed.

The terms were set: three months. If Lin Feiyuan recovered the treasures, he would suffer only a minor punishment as a lesson, and the matter would end. If he failed, both Lin Feiyuan and Lin Yaoyao would have their names removed from the family register and be banished from the Lin family.

Baozi helped Lin Feiyuan back to his courtyard.

Once bitten, twice shy. This time, Lin Feiyuan had seen Lin Rufeng’s true face.

Baozi had mentioned it many times before, saying Lin Rufeng was a hypocrite, one thing in front, another behind, and urging Lin Feiyuan to be careful.

Back then, Lin Feiyuan had harshly scolded Baozi. Lin Rufeng was his blood cousin, how could he ever harm him?

Now that he had truly hit hard times, he finally understood who genuinely cared for him.

If not for his sister stepping forward to defend him, his father silently shielding him, and Baozi holding onto the IOUs, he would have already been put to death by the clan.

Having narrowly escaped death, Lin Feiyuan was overcome with grief. He sat on the bed, tears streaming down his face.

Baozi came in with food and was startled at the sight. He had been with Lin Feiyuan since childhood and had never seen him in such a state.

The only time he remembered the Third Young Master crying was when the lady passed away.

No matter how the clan head punished him, whether with a plank or a whip, the young master had never shed a tear.

“Young master, you must be hungry. Have something hot to warm yourself up.”

Lin Feiyuan turned his head away and secretly wiped his face with his sleeve. Then he bowed his head and wolfed down the food. As he ate, the tears flowed once more.

He had been a fool. His father was implicated, blamed by the clan, and his sister had to clean up the mess for him.

“Baozi, do you think I’m a bastard? I’ve achieved nothing in my life, and now I’m still ruining my family.”

Baozi knew that Lin Feiyuan was not a bad man at heart. He had simply been led astray by those idle young masters, which had given him a reckless attitude.

“You really are a scourge.”

A crisp female voice sounded from outside the door. Lin Yaoyao was here.

Lin Feiyuan hurriedly wiped his tears, afraid his sister would see. If Lin Yaoyao caught him crying, she would poke fun at him forever.

“Baozi, this dish is too spicy. It made my eyes water.”

Baozi chimed in, “Spicy, indeed, way too spicy.”

What a clumsy cover-up. The more he tried to hide it, the more obvious it became.

Lin Yaoyao entered and caught the flustered looks of the master and servant. She couldn’t help but laugh behind her hand.

“Scoundrels live long. You’re fine, aren’t you?”

Lin Yaoyao circled around Lin Feiyuan. She had heard from Chunyu that Lin Feiyuan had taken a solid fifty lashes.

“I’m fine.”

His voice was hoarse, with a hint of tears.

A hint of girlish charm had crept onto his handsome face, and Lin Yaoyao found it very amusing.

She looked him up and down. Lin Feiyuan felt uneasy under her gaze, even a sense of foreboding.

“Third brother, the most presentable thing about you is that face of yours.”

Lin Feiyuan had been handsome since he was little. Since he already had two older brothers, Lin Xuanzhong had wanted a daughter badly.

When Lin Feiyuan was born, Lin Xuanzhong had raised him as if he were a girl. He had even braided his hair when he was young.

“This young master is elegant and distinguished. Countless girls in the Tiandu Kingdom were charmed by me.”

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