Chapter 176: Someone in Mind

Chapter 176: Someone in Mind

"Madam, I have no experience in managing a household. When would it not be too early to learn about employing people?"

Lin Yunwan appeared genuinely curious.

Zheng pinched her handkerchief, not replying immediately.

As the legitimate mother, she could arrange such matters as she pleased, but feeling guilty, she couldn’t think of a rebuttal and said with pursed lips, "…Step by step. There’s no shortcut to managing a household."

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly and didn’t pursue the matter further.

Wen's mother, sitting nearby, rolled her eyes... Zheng clearly didn’t care much for this stepdaughter, yet she promised a generous dowry to marry her off. Would Zheng really keep her word?

She then looked at her son, who didn’t even glance at Lin Yunwan, thinking he was really too timid!

"Wen Hai."

"Ah... Mother? Did you call me?"

Wen Hai stood up, keeping his head down.

Wen's mother forced a smile. Her son was good in many ways, but he severely lacked masculine boldness.

Feeling obliged to help her son, she said, "The pastries on your table were specifically given to you by your aunt. But why are you eating alone? Why not share them with your sister?"

These were pastries from the Lin mansion, and which Miss Lin hadn’t tasted them?

Unable to refuse his mother, Wen Hai obediently stood up with the pastries, unsure whom to offer them to first.

Fan Mama entered, bowing, "Madam, the steward from Jin Yin has come to deliver the account books."

These were all matters Fan Mama was experienced in handling. Zheng never worried; she just needed to be informed and occasionally check.

"You go and receive them for me."

"Yes."

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Yunwan stood up, "Madam, I'll go with Fan Mama to see how she handles the account books."

Zheng had just spoken about teaching her stepdaughter household management; here was the opportunity.

Zheng couldn’t really stop her, "Go ahead."

Lin Yunwan left with Fan Mama.

Wen Hai, holding the pastries, had no choice but to approach Lin Yunjiao and said softly, "...Cousin, have some pastries."

"Tsk."

Lin Yunjiao refused to take them and didn't allow her maid to take them either.

Wen Hai's face turned red with embarrassment, silently reminding himself that a good man doesn't quarrel with women.

He placed the pastries in front of Lin Yunjiao and returned to his seat, visibly uncomfortable.

Zheng, annoyed by his behavior, dismissed Wen's mother and Lin Yunjiao. When Fan Mama returned, Zheng asked her, "How did the eldest miss do with the accounts?"

Fan Mama hesitated before replying, "The eldest miss just sat there and listened, she didn’t ask any questions. I don’t know if she understood."

"Of course she didn't understand!"

"If just sitting there meant knowing how to manage accounts, then my decade-plus years of experience as a housekeeper would be for nothing!"

Fan Mama agreed, "Madam is right."

Thinking of Wen Hai, Zheng frowned, "He’s hopeless! He doesn’t even dare to talk to Yunwan. How is he going to marry?"

Fan Mama said, "It’s not the young master’s fault. It’s all about the parents’ decision and the matchmaker's arrangement. If the master agrees, whatever the young master does will be right!"

"Madam, you should focus your efforts on the master."

Zheng's eyes lit up, "That makes sense. She’s just a girl, whether she agrees or not... we must find a way to get the master’s approval."

She worried further, "She can't be allowed to learn household management... she must be married off quickly!"

"About her wanting to choose a maid, you handle that. We don’t want her complaining to the master."

"She’s also very favored by the old madam now, who knows what she’s plotting against me behind my back."

"We must do some face-saving work."

Nurse Fan reassured Madam Zheng, "...The young miss wouldn't dare, and the dowager wouldn't allow her to engage in such improper conduct."

Yet, Madam Zheng remained anxious.

As a stepmother with a tarnished reputation, she feared nothing but the possibility of jeopardizing her stepson's marriage prospects.

After leaving the yamen, Lin Huabin first visited his study before seeing Madam Zheng.

Seizing the opportunity, Madam Zheng hurriedly spoke of Lin Yunwan, "My lord, you are unaware, but the young miss is now quite close to Wen Hai."

Lin Huabin was skeptical.

Yunwan, a girl with her own mind, had already refused once; why would she reconsider Wen Hai?

Perhaps Zhao Jingyi raised the girl to be too proud and lofty, looking down on a mere scholar.

Although he believed Wen Hai was a suitable match for Yunwan.

"My lord, don't be incredulous. Call Nurse Zhao and ask her. Yunwan has been frequently visiting me to pay respects. Do you know why?"

Madam Zheng earnestly tried to persuade her husband.

Lin Huabin chuckled, "Why the suspense? Just tell me everything at once!"

While helping him change, Madam Zheng said with a laugh, "It's because Wen Hai often comes to accompany me and his mother that Yunwan started visiting."

"Earlier, Yunwan didn't realize Wen Hai was so honest, decent, and talented. Girls are shy, and even if she changed her mind, she wouldn't openly admit it. But if she had no such intentions, she wouldn't visit me every day."

"Think about it, after spending a whole day studying with Nurse Fan, she still rushes over to see Wen Hai. Could there really be no other reason?"

Lin Huabin was somewhat swayed by her words.

Madam Zheng playfully scolded, "You're a man after all. You just don't understand a young girl's heart."

"How can we expect a girl to speak up about marriage?"

"It has always been about following the parents' wishes, as it has been since ancient times, and there's good reason for that."

Lin Huabin pondered for a moment, then said, "You're right."

In the end, doesn't it all depend on what Zhao Jingyi decides?

Why not go directly to Zhao Jingyi? Why wait for the girl’s approval?

As long as Zhao Jingyi is satisfied and grateful, that should suffice!

"My lord, our Jiao'er is also not getting any younger. We can’t always delay for Yunwan’s sake... am I right?"

Zheng was midway through her sentence when she paused, stunned.

How did it become about her being right again!

Overjoyed, she laughed loudly, "So, you agree to this marriage?"

Lin Huabin didn’t nod. He stopped dressing and said, "I have to go out. I won’t be home for dinner tonight."

He left briskly.

In truth, Wen Hai was a decent prospective husband, without a single bad trait, truly a suitable match.

Yunwan, after all, was just a sheltered girl. Once married, she would realize his good intentions.

How would Zhao Jingyi thank him later?

"Miss, Fan Mama just came by to say that you're to go to the council hall tomorrow to choose a maid."

Xi Ruo entered to relay the message, but saw Lin Yunwan lost in thought, holding a gold hairpin.

"Miss?"

Lin Yunwan put down the hairpin, pausing for a moment before responding, "I know."

She put away the hairpin, feeling somewhat restless.

In her previous life, she had been the lady of the house for twenty years, managing the household, raising children, and supporting her husband.

She had done everything a woman was supposed to do.

Yet, she had never truly been a wife, nor did she know what it felt like to have someone in her heart.