Chapter 225

Chapter 225

The Lin Family in Beijing

While Lin Nannan and the others were heading to Beijing, Zhang Ling in the city grew increasingly agitated.

She had thought dealing with a backcountry girl with no worldly experience could be handled easily.

She had instructed her contacts to inform her immediately of any updates, but so far, there had been nothing—no confirmation of whether they’d even located the girl, let alone whether the plan had succeeded or failed. It was as if her people had vanished, leaving her on edge, convinced something ominous was about to happen.

This unease persisted for days, drawing the Lin family’s attention.

When Lin Shuang expressed concern, thinking Zhang Ling might be unwell, Zhang Ling’s harsh rebuke made Lin Shuang cry from the unfairness.

Her temper threw the household into turmoil, a tension that lingered until her visit to the Lin ancestral home for dinner.

Zhou Cuiwei, married to the Lin family’s eldest son and future matriarch, resided in the ancestral home. Meanwhile, Zhang Ling, who had wed the widowed second son, was forced to move out with him.

Though their home was comfortable, anything less than Zhou Cuiwei’s status gnawed at Zhang Ling. She seethed with jealousy but masked it, watching bitterly as the family doted on Lin Min—the girl she’d secretly swapped in place of their eldest daughter. The irony amused her; once she controlled the Lin family, she’d reveal the truth to Zhou Cuiwei, savoring her helpless rage.

The fantasy soothed her resentment.

But now, her meticulous plans were upended by the wildcard of Lin Nannan, leaving her frantic to eliminate the threat.

With no word on whether her scheme had succeeded, Zhang Ling guarded her emotions carefully during the family dinner, terrified of slipping up.

Yet when she noticed how time had spared Zhou Cuiwei’s beauty, a flicker of envy twisted her expression.

She’d clawed her way from peasant girl to the envied Second Madam Lin—a social leap likened to a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate. They all said she was lucky to know Zhou Cuiwei, unaware Zhou Cuiwei had done nothing for her. Every advantage, she’d schemed for herself.

And she’d let no one destroy what she’d built.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been standing there forever. What’s on your mind?” Noticing Zhang Ling’s darkened expression, Zhou Cuiwei asked softly, “Another quarrel with Second Brother?”

Among the Lin sons, the eldest, Lin Zhaoyou, was the most capable, with considerable achievements of his own. In contrast, Zhang Ling’s husband, Lin Zhengyou, was all in the name—a man with little talent, propped up by his parents’ influence.

Simple, good-natured Lin Zhengyou often yielded to Zhang Ling’s complaints, letting her silver tongue paint her as the victim. The family’s misplaced sympathy only deepened Zhang Ling’s resentment.

She paused, then shook her head. “No, just Lin Shuang’s studies—neither here nor there. I don’t know who she takes after. It’s downright worrying.”