Chapter 46: Chicks and Schemes

After getting a clear picture of the market, she could just come back when she needed these people.

The ones who had been hired were still very happy. Even just a few days of work would earn enough to support their families for a long time.

On the way back, Lin Qinghuan passed a stall selling chicks. They were all a bright orange-yellow, utterly adorable.

She thought about how big her own yard was. She could easily set aside some space to raise free-range chickens and plant a few vegetables. It would give the children something to do, a way to relax their minds. Otherwise, following Xiao Hanting in his studies every day was too dull.

“How much are these chicks?”

Seeing that she was finally about to make a sale, the old woman with a face full of wrinkles broke into a happy smile.

“Miss, these chicks are ten coppers a pair.”

Chicks this newly hatched weren’t expensive, since they hadn’t eaten much grain yet.

Lin Qinghuan thought for a moment, then bought five pairs in total, that was ten chicks. She paid fifty coppers.

She asked the stall owner to put them in her basket, then leisurely strolled back toward the ox cart.

Just as she was getting close to the cart, Old Madam Lin and Big Aunt returned from their shopping. As they say, enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road. They always ran into each other.

Old Madam Lin immediately lifted her chin in pride, looking down her nose at Lin Qinghuan.

“Hmph, if some people weren’t so arrogant and didn’t know what was good for them, all this generous dowry would be hers alone. What a pity.”

Lin Qinghuan gave her a look like she was an idiot, then walked right past them and climbed onto the ox cart.

Old Madam Lin, feeling slighted, was about to flare up again, but this time Big Aunt held her back.

The reason was simple: Big Aunt felt that the dowry they had prepared for Lin Yanlan was still not enough. To live in a noble household, how could she do it without a decent dowry to support her?

So she thought of Lin Qinghuan’s dragon pattern jade pendant.

Even a woman like her could tell that pendant was priceless. If they pawned it at a pawnshop, it would surely fetch a good sum. Thus, she had a sneaky idea: she wanted Old Madam Lin to use some trick to snatch the dragon pattern jade pendant.

“Mother, our future good days depend on Yanlan, including Jiadong’s marriage prospects. This simple hairpin as dowry is really too shabby. Why don’t we buy that dragon pattern jade pendant from Lin Qinghuan?”

Old Madam Lin had thought of this before, but the moment she brought it up, Lin Qinghuan had shot her down hard.

Now that the subject came up again, she wasn’t very sure the wretched girl would agree.

“Before you just wanted it for free. Now we’ll buy it for one tael of silver. Lin Qinghuan should agree, right? She’s an illiterate, rough country girl. What does she know about jade? If she takes it to a pawnshop, she’ll probably be cheated. It’s better for us to hold onto it.”

Big Aunt’s persuasion sank in, but Old Madam Lin still felt it was a waste.

They had already spent several taels on the dowry. Now to spend another tael to buy the dragon pattern jade pendant? It was like cutting a piece of her flesh.

Most of the people were already on the ox cart. Lin Qinghuan chose a spot near the back, where she could doze off for a while and avoid talking to these people.

“Old Li, swap seats with me,” Old Madam Lin said to the woman beside Lin Qinghuan.

Old Li was displeased. She had come early to get this spot, and now Old Madam Lin wanted to swap just like that.

“Fine, I’ll give you an egg, alright? It’s not like I haven’t swapped with you before.” Remembering she had something to do, Old Madam Lin gritted her teeth and offered a bribe.

Sure enough, as soon as Old Li heard she was getting an egg in exchange, she quickly moved to the back row, leaving the seat open for her.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Love, Like, Hate

AngstChaebolModernDay

Read Now →
Not interested