Chapter 11: How the Second Branch Displeased Her, She Did as She Pleased

Chapter 11: How the Second Branch Displeased Her, She Did as She Pleased

Lin Yufan stayed in all day.

The old lady sent Second Aunt to probe Lin Yufan, asking her which one she preferred, but Lin Yufan gave no reply.

The kitchen went all out to prepare a variety of delicious dishes, even making the braised eel that Gui Xiang had been craving.

In the evening, Gui Xiang brought in a coil of mosquito repellent, struck a match to light it up, and upon looking up, noticed that Lin Yufan, while sorting through old photos, was staring at one of them in a daze.

Moving closer to look, it was just a photo of the young lady with her cousins in the park before her marriage.

Gui Xiang thought Lin Yufan was still pondering whom to marry.

She placed the mosquito repellent under the table and squatted by Lin Yufan's feet, softly sighing, "It's really a tough choice."

Lin Yufan put down the photo, looked at Gui Xiang, and smiled, "Why is it difficult?"

Gui Xiang pulled up a small stool and sat down, speaking earnestly, "Young Master Li Xiang is cultured, good-natured, and always speaks with a smile. Logically, he's the most suitable, but he's just a young master, dependent on his family for a living; unlike his older brother, who is wealthy, influential, and stylish. Marrying him would not only let you, Miss, hold your head high, but even I could rise with you..."

"This is the first time I've heard someone say they'd rise with me," Lin Yufan was amused.

Gui Xiang also laughed, "Anyway, that's the idea. However, Young Master Zhi Ao has three concubines in Hong Kong, three... Could there be five, six, seven, or even more in the future? Everyone says, the more capable a man is, the more fickle he becomes."

Lin Yufan had her own thoughts but still asked, to involve Gui Xiang, "So which one should I choose?"

Gui Xiang sighed; it was really hard to choose.

"If you want a man devoted to you, definitely choose the younger brother; if you want better support, then it's the elder brother."

Putting the photo back into the album, Lin Yufan teased, "You might as well have said nothing."

"How about this..." Gui Xiang pulled out a silver dollar from her pocket, "Miss, let's leave it to fate. You toss it; if it lands on heads, choose the younger brother; if it's tails, then the elder brother."

Lin Yufan didn't want to leave her fate to a coin toss. She put the photo into an envelope, stood up, and accidentally bumped Gui Xiang's hand, causing the silver dollar to fall to the ground and roll to the foot of the wardrobe.

Gui Xiang hurried to pick it up, looked closely, and then excitedly laughed, "Miss, it's tails! Choose the elder brother."

Lin Yufan was slightly startled, perhaps this really was fate?

Opening the drawer, she placed the photo in a corner. She didn't have much to take with her: photos, money, and a change of clothes.

She also remembered the few lines written on the letter Wang Junyao had handed her, the temptation of which far surpassed that of any man.

*

Before Wang Junyao could reply, Sun Jingxi arrived.

After breakfast, Lin Yufan sat by the window in the light, coloring her mother's black-and-white photo. Seeing Xi Gu come in, she put away her brush, stood up with a smile, "I was just about to visit your place."

Yesterday, Lin Yufan had Gui Xiang take a message to the He residence, briefly informing Xi Gu about her situation.

Sun Jingxi brought two packages of candied dates, handed them to Gui Xiang, "Put some on a plate. Take the other package to your old lady."

"Understood."

After sitting down, Sun Jingxi said, "I was going to come yesterday, but something came up at home. I have some good news, I might really be going to Hong Kong with you."

"Really?" Lin Yufan suppressed her surprise, "How so?"

"Your uncle is being transferred to work in Hong Kong, to be the head of a hospital there. He was informed suddenly after work yesterday, and the offer is quite generous."

Lin Yufan didn't expect Zhao Zhiao to act so quickly. "Has my uncle agreed?"

Sun Jingxi sighed helplessly. "Don't you know your uncle's temper? If it were me discussing things with him, eight out of ten times he wouldn't agree. But the British boss wasn't discussing it with him. At his age, finding another job would be nearly impossible. With such a heavy family burden, he had no choice but to agree."

In other words, her uncle had no capital to refuse.

Lin Yufan smiled. "A change of scenery is good."

Gui Xiang brought over the honey dates on a white porcelain plate.

"Try them. They were sent by your uncle's relatives from Tianjin."

Lin Yufan picked up a piece and took a small bite. It was a bit too sweet for her liking.

"Forget about him. Let's talk about your marriage. This time, you must listen to me and choose Zhao Zhiao without a second thought. Don't worry about the concubines. You're marrying Zhao Zhiao; you and he are the couple. No matter how powerful the concubines are, they are still just concubines and can't cause any real trouble. As long as you hold onto Zhao Zhiao, that's enough. As for Zhao Lixiang, he used to visit you often when Zhao Yunjie was alive. If you choose him, people inside and outside might gossip, saying you two had an affair long ago."

As for Zhao Ding, Sun Jingxi didn't even mention his name.

Lin Yufan listened carefully. She didn't mention her conversation and agreement with Zhao Zhiao's stepmother, only saying, "Last night, Gui Xiang helped me flip a silver coin..."

Sun Jingxi was curious. "What was the result?"

"It also landed on Zhao Zhiao."

"You see, it's destiny. No matter what Zhao Zhiao is like, whether he's a womanizer or not, the key is that he has real ability. As a woman, you should definitely choose a capable man." Sun Jingxi lowered her voice. "If you marry Zhao Zhiao, you won't need to sell your shop."

Lin Yufan had a small shop in the former French Concession, the only property she had as part of her dowry.

She had asked Xi Gu to help her sell it a couple of days ago. Xi Gu always thought that although the shop was small, it was in a prime location and generated rental income every year. No matter what, it would guarantee her a basic livelihood.

If sold, it would be lost.

But the future situation was completely beyond Xi Gu's comprehension. Lin Yufan couldn't explain too much, only insisting on selling the shop for cash.

She even tried to persuade Xi Gu in reverse: "It's so chaotic now. If a war breaks out someday, the house could be bombed. If you and uncle have decided to go to Hong Kong, you can also sell the property here."

Sun Jingxi shook her head. "Your uncle won't agree to sell the property. We will eventually return; our roots are here, this is our home."

Knowing it was hard to persuade them, Lin Yufan didn't press further. She got up and took out the gift list Zhao Zhiao had given her from the drawer, handing it to Sun Jingxi.

"What?"

Taking the gift list and looking at it carefully, Sun Jingxi was both surprised and delighted. "It seems Zhao Zhiao really likes you. He's afraid you'll choose his brother. Was it that day when you got into his car after leaving the café, and you happened to sit next to him... Was he already interested in you then?"

No. This dowry was more like a bribe from Zhao Zhiao to shut her up.

Lin Yufan vaguely said, "Probably not, he didn't even talk to me then."

She still remembered the disdainful gesture he made when he dusted his pants.

"Men, you don't understand. Anyway, given his full sincerity, you should choose him." Sun Jingxi observed Lin Yufan's expression and knew she had made up her mind. She volunteered, "Is your thirteenth uncle coming later?"

"He said he would come this afternoon."

"Don't show yourself, I'll talk to him for you." Sun Jingxi thought that at this time, the woman should be more reserved.

Lin Yufan didn't care about being reserved or not. The hardships of the past few years had already thickened her skin. Besides, she was straightforward; it was Zhao Zhiao who was begging to marry her.

Who went to talk didn't matter. From another angle, whatever made the Second Branch unhappy, she would do it.

"Xi Gu, this isn’t your place to speak; it’s the old lady’s."

Sun Jingxi was taken aback at first, then burst into uncontrollable laughter. She laughed until she was gasping for air, and after glancing at the door, she said, "You’re trying to kill that old woman with anger!"

Lin Yufan: "She won’t die from anger—she’s thick-skinned."

Listening to Lin Yufan’s cool sarcasm, Sun Jingxi gently poked her arm, "You’re turning out more and more like your father. Your father was just like this in his youth—sharp as a tack, no one could outwit him."

The aunt and niece talked for a bit, and Gui Xiang, who’d taken honey dates to the old lady, came back, saying the old lady invited the aunt to her room for tea.

Lin Yufan accompanied Sun Jingxi over, and at the east staircase, they met Second Aunt and Huan Jieer coming down.

By etiquette, the younger generation should greet first, but Huan Jieer kept her head down and ignored everyone.

Lin Yufan understood Huan Jieer, after all, the young girl innocently became a joke in others' mouths. She must be feeling wronged and helpless.

In the past, Huan Jieer’s failed matchmaking had left Lin Yufan taking the blame, mainly by the old lady, followed by Second Aunt. The young girl later secretly apologized to her.

"Second Sister, Huan Jieer, heading out?" Lin Yufan spoke first.

Second Aunt smiled awkwardly, "We’re just stepping out for a bit. Is the aunt here?"

Sun Jingxi beamed, "Yes, relatives from Tianjin sent us some honey dates. I brought some for the old lady to taste."

"That’s very thoughtful of you. Huan Jieer, quickly greet the aunt."

Second Aunt pulled her daughter's clothes from behind, and Huan Jieer mumbled, "Aunt, aunt-in-law..."

They didn’t linger, heading upstairs. Just as they sat down in the old lady's room, a servant rushed in to announce that the thirteenth uncle and the wife of the Fifth Branch had arrived together.

They quickly went downstairs, and in the hall, Third Master’s wife, Third Madam, and the others were already there, chatting with the guests.

Wang Junyao saw Sun Jingxi also there and guessed that Lin Yufan already knew her uncle's work in Hong Kong had been arranged, so she just smiled and did not speak much.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the thirteenth uncle asked Lin Yufan how she had considered.

Everyone's eyes turned to Lin Yufan.

Lin Yufan was sitting next to the old lady. She said, "I will listen to mother's arrangement."

Old lady: "!"

The wife of the Third Master glanced at Third Madam, Third Madam looked at Third Master, and everyone helplessly held back their exchanged glances, wishing they could curse in their hearts: "Playing the saint while acting like a whore!"

And they had to kneel and prop up this saintly facade for her.

What could the old lady choose?

They still needed Zhao Zhiao’s help to free the master, and Wang Junyao was sitting next to them. Even if they were unwilling a hundred times, the old lady couldn’t choose someone else.

Given the current relationship between the Second Branch and Lin Yufan, Lin Yufan remarrying was like water thrown out. The lower Lin Yufan’s marriage fell, the better the Second Branch would feel.

But instead of falling, she rose like a golden phoenix, soaring high, destined to tower over them.

They wanted to curse their misfortune but didn’t dare utter a word.

The thirteenth uncle flattered the old lady, "You are so blessed. Look at your daughter-in-law, so filial."

The old lady responded awkwardly, "She’s filial, but alas, I’m not so lucky."

Only Wang Junyao was all smiles, as if saying, "She’s going to be my daughter-in-law from now on."

What could the old lady say? Of course, she had to praise the three clan members inside and out, finally emphasizing how Zhao Zhiao and Lin Yufan were a perfect match in both looks and talent, and how their birth signs were compatible.

"It’s not that the other two aren’t good, but Zhi Ao is a better fit and matches Yufan perfectly."

This was the answer that both the thirteenth uncle and Wang Junyao were happy to hear.

The thirteenth uncle turned to Lin Yufan and asked for her opinion.

Lin Yufan still said, "I’ll go along with Mother’s decision."

The Second Branch members were cursing under their breath, thinking she was so fake.

But they could only smile and praise the match.

Sun Jingxi struggled to keep a straight face, feeling a huge sense of relief.

Wang Junyao was the happiest; not only had she pulled it off, but she had also brought back a beautiful widow daughter-in-law she knew well, who’d be easier to handle than some first-time bride.

After all, she wasn’t a blood daughter-in-law, and being a good mother-in-law in her stepson’s family wasn’t going to be easy.

"Then it’s a done deal," Wang Junyao said with joy.

The Second Branch members stood up to offer their congratulations.

The eldest lady did not forget to add, "We’re still banking on Zhi Ao to help our eldest master."

Wang Junyao reassured the eldest lady, "Zhi Ao’s pulling some strings, and Lijie will be released tonight. You can send someone to the investigation team to get ready for his release."

"Really?"

"Really, Zhi Ao asked me to tell you."

The old lady and the eldest lady, among others, thanked her with tears in their eyes.

This made them even more determined to treat Lin Yufan like royalty.

With the marriage set in stone, they began to discuss the wedding date, which required inviting Lin Yufan's family to join the discussion.

"Zhi Ao has to go to Nanjing, and he will return to Hong Kong on the tenth. There aren’t many dates to choose from."

The old lady asked, "So urgent?"

"There's no other way. He has many things to do, and we don't know when he will return from Hong Kong this time. We have already planned to move the whole family to Hong Kong next month. In these chaotic times, we’ll just have to ask Yufan to bear with us."

Lin Yufan actually didn’t even want a wedding; she didn’t care.

But not having a wedding at all might make some people look down on her, and since Zhao Zhiao was marrying for the first time, he might want one?

Lin Yufan’s eldest cousin was invited, along with a relative who knew about feng shui to help choose an auspicious time.

That afternoon, they decided on the date: the eighth day of this month for the wedding.

With only six days left for preparation, Wang Junyao, as the stepmother, put all her effort into preparing a grand feast despite the tight schedule.

The servants of the Second Branch were buzzing in private. Who would have thought that the usually quiet and reserved Fourth Madam would eventually remarry to Zhao Zhiao, the wealthiest and most powerful man in the Zhao family?

Even for a second marriage, they were going to have both Chinese and Western weddings, which was more impressive than Nan Geer's wedding!