Chapter 8: Jinshi Mountain?

Chapter 8: Goldstone Mountain?

Lin Zhijin, like a child with a new toy, kept going to the Eastern District to furnish her single-courtyard house, and checked out the whole neighborhood while she was at it. She even bought a small yard because she liked a jujube tree there.

It was a really small yard—a bungalow with two and a half rooms: a combined living room and kitchen, a section with two bedrooms, and the half room serving as a woodshed and pigpen. The front yard had not only a jujube tree but also a well, and the back yard had a small vegetable patch of roughly 160 square feet. This was the house Lin Zhijin had prepared for her future—a private, self-contained home that wouldn't make anyone jealous.

"Here, yes, put the toilet right here, this is where the washbasin goes, and this is the bathing area." After giving instructions to the worker installing the toilet, Lin Zhijin went to take a look at the kitchen.

"Ninth Concubine, this house is so small, why are you renovating it?" Xiaohong looked around in confusion—it wasn't even half the size of Wenzhu Courtyard.

"I like the jujube tree in the yard, and I thought I might drop by occasionally. The place was too run-down to even set foot in." Lin Zhijin smiled and led Xiaohong away.

This was going to be her home, so of course she had to renovate it now. Never mind the rest—the toilet and kitchen had to be done right.

Back at the Chen residence, the First Mistress put down her ledger and asked casually, "Has the Ninth Concubine been messing with that house of hers again?"

"Yes, I heard from Old Mrs. Zhang that the Ninth Concubine even bought a house because she liked a jujube tree." Mother Sun said.

The First Mistress gave a slight smile. "Still a child at heart. By the way, how is Siqi's leg? Can he get out of bed yet?"

Li Siqi was the First Mistress's younger brother—a good-for-nothing playboy who drank, gambled, and chased women. Last month, he got into a fight over a hooker and got his leg broken. He was still bedridden.

Thinking of Lin Zhijin's looks, the First Mistress let out a long sigh. "I hope having a wife will settle him down."

"The Ninth Concubine gets prettier every day; the Third Young Master will definitely like her. It's just that... the Ninth Concubine has a lowly background and is marrying for the second time—how could she possibly be worthy of the Third Young Master?" Mother Sun said with a hint of disdain.

The First Mistress sighed deeply. "Siqi doesn't amount to much; what proper young lady would even give him the time of day? The Ninth Concubine may be remarrying, but you and I both know she's still a maiden. She's got a nice chunk of change, she's beautiful, and she's timid and easy to push around—she's barely good enough for Siqi."

Lin Zhijin couldn't care less what the First Mistress thought. She was currently at a café, sitting across from Second Mistress Chen.

"Auntie Pan, you've never been to a coffee shop before, have you? I heard you like Western-style cakes—the pastry chef here is a foreigner, so it's the real deal. You must try it." Second Mistress Chen said with a bright smile.

Lin Zhijin took a tentative sip of coffee, frowned, put it down, and didn't touch it again. She also took one bite of the cake Second Mistress Chen recommended and didn't touch it after—too sweet for her liking.

Second Mistress Chen glanced at her but said nothing, instead shifting the conversation to clothes, shoes, and jewelry.

After a bunch of rambling small talk, she finally got to the point. "I heard from Mother-in-law that Father gave you Goldstone Mountain?"

Lin Zhijin looked at her with confusion. "Goldstone Mountain? I don't know about that, but the Master did give me a mountain."

A flicker of contempt passed through Second Mistress Chen's eyes. Just as I thought, a country bumpkin—gets all confused and flustered by a few sweet words.

"Exactly. Auntie Pan, you should know that before Father died, he had our Second Master sell off all the family's fields. As for the land you have now, we suggest you sell them to avoid bringing disaster on the family." Second Mistress Chen deliberately exaggerated the danger.

Lin Zhijin pretended to be scared and said in a wimpy voice, "I already told the First Mistress to hold onto them for me. Why don't you go talk to the First Mistress?"

Second Mistress Chen sighed. "Seventh Concubine must have told you—the First Mistress's kindness toward you has ulterior motives. She already considers those things hers for the taking. Asking her would be a waste of time."

Lin Zhijin blinked, her tone puzzled. "But the things are in the First Mistress's hands. I can't do anything about it."

"No, you can. Before Father died, he had Shi Qing transfer them to your name. The government has a copy on file. If you want, we can report them as lost and get new ones issued, and then have Second Master sell them for you." Second Mistress Chen acted like she had Lin Zhijin's best interests at heart.

Lin Zhijin looked troubled. "I promised to let the First Mistress keep them."

"Auntie Pan, you're grateful to the First Mistress, but she's been lying to you all along. I won't hide it from you—the reason the First Mistress treats you so well is that she wants you to marry her brother, who indulges in every vice. He's almost fifty years old and has already buried two wives—the first was angered to death, the second beaten to death. Do you want to be the third?" Second Mistress Chen's tone carried a hint of intimidation.

Lin Zhijin shook her head repeatedly, then said in a daze, "Let me think it over for two days before I answer you."

"Fine. Three days from now, same coffee shop. I'll wait for your good news." Second Mistress Chen paid the bill and left.

So the properties were already in her name—that was good news. She could just donate them directly, help the country, and no one would covet them anymore.

What Lin Zhijin didn't expect was that Fourth Master Chen also sent someone to approach her, also after Goldstone Mountain.

What secret did Goldstone Mountain hold that everyone wanted it?

Wait—Goldstone Mountain, a mountain of golden stone... could there actually be gold in it?

Whatever the case, anything that both Second Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen fought over had to be valuable. She'd just stall them—liberation was coming soon anyway.

The next day, when Lin Zhijin went to pay her respects to the First Mistress, she nervously recounted Second Mistress Chen's visit, then looked at the First Mistress timidly, waiting for her response.

"Second Mistress really said that?" The First Mistress narrowed her eyes. How bold—scheming behind her back while her son was abroad. "I see. The fact that you weren't swayed by her troublemaking shows you've grown. I knew you were a good girl. I heard you bought a new courtyard. Chunlan, take the Ninth Concubine to the storeroom later to pick out some furniture and decorations—consider it an early housewarming gift from me."

"Thank you, First Mistress. You've taken care of me ever since I entered the household, so of course I trust you." Lin Zhijin's face was full of trust.

The First Mistress patted her hand approvingly and had Chunlan take her to the storeroom.

Lin Zhijin didn't care how the First Mistress and Second Mistress fought their battle—she was happily picking things out for her new home.

This bed is nice, this wardrobe's craftsmanship is exquisite, this dressing table is beautiful...

Before long, Lin Zhijin had picked out over a dozen pieces of furniture and some decorations. She especially loved a double-sided embroidered screen—the kind that would be national treasures in the future.

She had everything delivered straight to her house in the Eastern District. After all, the First Mistress said it was a housewarming gift. She also moved over a few boxes of the decorations and jewelry she'd received earlier.

With so many things, two and a half rooms were too few. Lin Zhijin planned to add a second floor—a small two-story building. The surrounding houses were all two stories anyway, so one more wouldn't stand out.

At the same coffee shop, Lin Zhijin didn't show her face. Old Mrs. Zhang met Second Mistress Chen on her behalf. Whatever she said, Second Mistress Chen never came looking for her again.

"A peasant is a peasant. I told her the First Mistress means her no good, and she still trusts her." Second Mistress Chen smashed a cup in anger.

Second Master Chen remained expressionless and said calmly, "No rush. The First Mistress doesn't know the inside story of Goldstone Mountain. Lin? Once the First Mistress shows her true colors, she'll come begging to us."

"But Fourth Uncle is after Goldstone Mountain too. We might not outcompete him." Second Mistress Chen said worriedly.

Second Master Chen curved his lips. "No problem. I have a plan."

Lin Zhijin had money, and she threw it around generously, so the renovation progressed quickly. The structural work was nearly done; next came the furnishings.

She'd already planned it out: simple style on the first floor, cozy style on the second. The space under the roof would be sealed with wooden boards, leaving a square opening just big enough for one person to pass through, for storage.

One day, Lin Zhijin was heading to her house in the Eastern District. Since it was far, she usually took the car. She opened the back door and was about to get in when she stepped one foot in and realized someone else was already inside.

"Fifth Master?" Lin Zhijin didn't know whether to get in or back out.

"Ninth Concubine, get in. The servants are watching." Fifth Master Chen nodded at Lin Zhijin.

Lin Zhijin bit her lip, steeled herself, and got in, pressing herself against the door.

"Is the Ninth Concubine going shopping?" Fifth Master Chen broke the silence.

Lin Zhijin shook her head nervously and replied in a small voice, "No, the First Mistress gave me a small courtyard. I wanted to renovate it, and I'm going to check on the progress today."

This wasn't a secret, so Lin Zhijin answered honestly.

"The First Mistress treats you very well—giving away a house just like that." Fifth Master Chen said with a faint smile.

"The First Mistress has been very good to me." Lin Zhijin said earnestly.

If I remember correctly, Fifth Master Chen and Fourth Master Chen are full brothers, so is Fifth Master Chen trying to help Fourth Master Chen get his hands on the Goldstone Mountain?

"I heard that Second Mistress came to see you?" Fifth Master Chen knew that beating around the bush wouldn't work with someone like the Ninth Concubine, who wouldn't get it anyway, so it was better to get straight to the point.

"Yes, not just Second Mistress—Fourth Master also sent someone to talk to me, asking me to sell the land the Old Master gave me. Are you here to persuade me too, Fifth Master?" Lin Zhijin was even more straightforward than Fifth Master Chen.

Fifth Master Chen felt like something was caught in his throat, then smiled lightly and said, "I'm different from them. I'm personally interested in the land that's in your name—it's about a hundred mu of fields and a mountain, right? I'll buy it from you at top market price, how about that?"

Lin Zhijin looked at Fifth Master Chen in surprise. "Why? Is there something precious on that land or the mountain?"

"It's not really a treasure, but Goldstone Mountain has a hot spring. I plan to build a hot spring resort there. Ninth Concubine, once the resort is finished, I can set aside a courtyard for you." Fifth Master Chen said with a smile.

Lin Zhijin twisted her fingers, looking a bit troubled. "To be honest, I don't really understand the land or the mountain. Actually... I'd rather have cold, hard cash, but the First Mistress said these are a goose that lays golden eggs and told me not to sell."

Yes, it's all the First Mistress's fault, so if you want to cause trouble, take it up with her.

Fifth Master Chen frowned. He had thought it would be simple, but unexpectedly, the First Mistress had become an obstacle, and this Ninth Concubine was so stubborn.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Fifth Master Chen had no choice but to get out of the car and leave. Lin Zhijin lowered her head and curled the corner of her mouth. She could be certain that there was something valuable on Goldstone Mountain.

After taking a look around the new house, on her way back to the Chen residence, Lin Zhijin saw many people running around in a panic. Someone shouted loudly, "Hurry home, the soldiers have come!"

"Hurry, hurry, the Red Army is here."

"Ninth Concubine?" Xiaohong pressed close to Lin Zhijin in fear.

The People's Liberation Army had arrived?

Unlike the others, Lin Zhijin wasn't afraid at all. On the contrary, she felt a thrill of excitement, as if she had finally been waiting for this moment.

Author's note:

None