Chapter 471 - 465_1
Opening the carriage window, she gazed at the village that seemed somewhat familiar, unsure if it was some vague memory left by her predecessor that made her feel this familiarity. While Lin Yue’s maternal home was indeed in Shanglin Village, this was actually her first visit.
Shanglin Village seemed poorer than the Zhao Family’s village. In reality, the Zhao Family’s village was about the same in the past, but it became more prosperous after Lin Yue’s family grew wealthy. They were not of the sort to grow rich callously—they thought of giving back appropriately to their hometown, offering higher wages. Moreover, their family’s business brought plenty of work, which stimulated the villagers’ livelihoods. Now, the Zhao Family’s village could be considered a relatively prosperous one, and a good many of the villagers were grateful to Zhao Erhu’s family.
"Mistress, we’ve reached the entrance of the village, just moments away from your grandmother’s house," Lin Yue was still lost in a reverie when the servant driving the carriage reminded her.
As Lin Yue noticed more people around, she lowered the curtain of the carriage window. Shanglin Village was a rather poor place, seldom visited by anyone of status. Lin Yue’s family’s carriage entering the village was particularly conspicuous, and the villagers gathered around to size it up curiously.
"Wow, that carriage looks quite grand. I wonder who’s sitting inside it, and why they’ve come to our village," one villager remarked enviously.
"You don’t know? This is Lin Fuan’s daughter, the one who married into the Zhao Family’s village as a concubine to a widower. Everyone thought she was doomed to a miserable life, but somehow, she ended up quite fortunate. That widower somehow became wealthy. Just look at the display now, truly enviable. She’s probably returning to visit her parental home," another villager replied. He had once gone to Zhao Erhu’s family to work, so he recognized the servant who drove the carriage as belonging to Zhao Erhu’s family. He also caught a glimpse of a woman sitting inside the carriage, leading to his guess.
"I see, she’s quite lucky, then. Speaking of Lin Fuan, he too is blessed, having produced a Scholar son, and now his daughter is living well. Truly a life of good fortune."
"Tsk, what do you all know? It’s not Lin’s lady who is visiting her family home. The wife of Genfa’s house is her elder sister, and I heard she’s fallen seriously ill these past few days. So someone was sent to inform the Zhao Family’s village, and Lin’s lady must have come for that. As for her parental home, only you lot seem in the dark; most villagers know that when Lin’s lady talked of her family, she was actually sold by Uncle Fuan to Zhao Erhu. I heard a contract was signed, severing any relation with her own family forever. Haven’t you noticed that Lin’s lady never returned home after her marriage? That’s the reason behind it."
"How could it be? The Fuan family was never that poor, and they even have a Scholar son. How could they sink so low as to sell their daughter?" One person, upon hearing this, found it hard to believe.