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Last night, it rained, and as Lin Qiaofeng stepped outside, he was greeted by the damp scent of moisture in the air.
Fortunately, the weather was clear today. The sunlight warmed the ground, and rather than being cold, the day grew increasingly pleasant.
Autumn rains bring chill, while spring rains arrive one after another, gradually warming the season, encouraging the growth of new buds.
As he stepped out of the house, a few young maids passed by and greeted him with respectful bows.
Having finished breakfast earlier, Lin Qiaofeng walked for a while before reaching his parents’ quarters.
His father, the county magistrate, was busy with an overwhelming number of cases accumulated after the New Year. Social obligations also kept him occupied, leaving only Lin Qiaofeng’s mother at home.
The servants did not stop him as he entered, indicating that his mother was available to see him.
Inside, he found his younger sister, Lin Xiaoyin, already present.
Lin Xiaoyin was close to her brother, and upon seeing him, she ran up with a smile and asked, “Brother, do you notice anything different about me today?”
Lin Qiaofeng chuckled and pretended to scrutinize her. After a moment, he said, “Hmm… looks like you’ve shrunk a little.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyin’s once cheerful face fell, and she turned away, pouting.
Their mother, witnessing the exchange, gently chided, “Don’t tease your sister so early in the morning.”
Lin Qiaofeng restrained his laughter and said, “I was only joking. I noticed right away that you’re wearing a new outfit today. The design is unfamiliar, but it looks very nice.”
Turning to his mother, he added, “Mother, your outfit is also new. When was it made?”
His mother smoothed her sleeves and replied, “This is the latest fashion in town. Many people are wearing it these days. It came from the Lu family’s fabric shop—your classmate’s family business. The design and tailoring are brand new this spring. I liked it, so I ordered two sets. Their shop wasn’t too busy, so they delivered it quickly.”
“Oh? I must say, it looks quite elegant.” Lin Qiaofeng ran his fingers over the fabric of his mother’s sleeve and praised it.
“Are you heading out today?” his mother asked.
Lin Qiaofeng nodded. “Yes, I’m going to the Lu family’s house. They have two scholars and one who recently passed the county examination. We’ve been studying together lately, and when time allows, we also seek guidance from a teacher.”
“How many children do they have?”
“Four sons. I heard they have a daughter as well, but I don’t pay much attention to that.”
“Are they all married?”
Lin Xiaoyin, listening from the side, perked up slightly, tilting her head to eavesdrop.
“Only one is married. The other three are still unattached. One of them is only fifteen. The second and third sons are of marriageable age, but since they’re focused on their exams this year, I doubt they’re thinking about marriage.”
His mother asked curiously, “The second son of the Lu family—he’s a concubine’s child, isn’t he?”
“Only Lu Ke is from a concubine,” Lin Qiaofeng replied as he took a seat.
“And the second son?”
Before his mother could finish asking about the second son’s character, Lin Qiaofeng interjected, “He’s not a good man. Just the other day, he stirred up trouble over a courtesan.”
“If you ask me, Lu Ke is much better. He’s never been to those indecent places, speaks and acts with composure, and even holds a scholar’s title. He might not be as accomplished as his eldest brother, but he’s certainly better than his second brother.”
His mother nodded in agreement. She had met Lu Ke before. The gentry families in Qinghe County often interacted, and she was also acquainted with the Lu family’s matriarch and eldest son.
Since Lin Qiaofeng and Lu Ke were classmates, they naturally had closer ties.
Lu Ke was polite, fair-skinned, and refined. With his scholarly status, his background was not too different from theirs.
The Lin family patriarch was only a juren (provincial graduate). It had taken countless silver, social maneuvering, and years of effort to secure enough political achievements to become a county magistrate.
Since he was not a jinshi (national graduate), without exceptional political achievements, he was unlikely to advance beyond local governance.
By comparison, the late Lu patriarch was an imperial scholar, surpassing Lin’s father in academic prestige.
However, Lu Ke’s mother came from a less distinguished background, and he himself was born of a concubine.
The Lin family had only one daughter, Lin Xiaoyin, who had come of age last year.
Because of their deep affection for her, Lin’s mother had delayed arranging a marriage. However, she could not delay any longer—if they did not settle the matter within a year or two, she would grow anxious.
There were many gentry families in the county, but it was difficult to find a match that was both socially equal and had a respectable character.
After much deliberation, Lin’s mother felt that Lu Ke was a strong candidate. In terms of looks, character, and family background, he was a good match for her daughter.
She sighed, “If only he were a legitimate son.”
A legitimate daughter marrying a concubine’s son—especially since Lu Ke was not the eldest—meant that if the family did not split in the future, her daughter would have a lower status among the sisters-in-law.
Lin Xiaoyin, still listening, understood what her mother and brother were discussing.
As a young lady, she could not be too proactive about her own marriage. Marriage was dictated by parental arrangements and matchmakers, and if she appeared too interested, it would be frowned upon.
When the topic turned to Lu Ke, Lin Xiaoyin quietly moved to a corner and pretended to be arranging flowers, though she could still faintly hear their conversation.
“Legitimacy doesn’t make much of a difference. If he becomes a juren, then he will be a perfect match for our family,” Lin Qiaofeng said, understanding his mother’s thoughts but avoiding being too direct due to his sister’s presence.
“We’ll wait and see,” his mother said.
But becoming a juren was no simple feat.
It required both ability and luck.
Examiners graded the papers, and even if a candidate’s writing was excellent, they could still fail if the examiner was dissatisfied.
Take Xu Rui, for example. He had passed the county examination at fourteen or fifteen, making headlines throughout the county. Even Lin’s father had personally encouraged him to continue striving.
Yet, despite repeated attempts every three years, nearly a decade had passed without success. Now, his father was gravely ill, unsure if he would live to see his son attain a juren title.
So, passing the provincial exam was far from guaranteed.
Lu Ke was promising, but his birth status remained an issue for Lin’s mother.
Thankfully, her daughter was still young. Waiting a year or two would not hurt.
As for Lin Qiaofeng’s marriage, it depended on his career. The family hoped to arrange a politically beneficial match, but that decision would be made after his provincial exam results.
If he failed this time, he could try again in three years.
After discussing family matters, Lin Qiaofeng departed for the Lu residence with his bookboy.
Wen Ruyu had a long dream last night and woke at dawn, around 5 a.m.
In the dream, a woman who looked just like her was crying.
Upon waking, she realized it was likely the original owner of her body appearing to her in a dream.
She didn’t believe in the supernatural but attributed it to magnetic fields and her struggle to adjust after transmigrating.
However, the woman in the dream had felt so real…
The woman had pleaded with her to properly educate the children, ensuring they didn’t stray from the right path…
Before waking, the woman pressed a jade ruyi into Wen Ruyu’s hand…