"Look, what a lovely young lady!"
Pei Jin took out a small copper mirror from her sleeve and placed it in front of A Lian. A Lian took a careful look and saw that the person in the mirror had a face as warm as jade and charming eyes, exuding the elegance of a young girl of eighteen.
Pei Jin then used her other hand to put a beaded hairpin in A Lian's hair. Instantly, A Lian looked much more spirited.
A Lian was happy and gave a sweet smile. For the first time in a while, a bit of innocence typical of her age appeared on her face. "Thank you so much. I've never dressed myself like this before."
Pei Jin sat down next to her. "Why are you being so polite with me? If there's any little trinket you want, I'll bring it back for you next time I come."
A Lian thought for a moment. "Bring me a sewing kit. Sometimes when I'm mending clothes, I can never find the right needles and thread."
Pei Jin said it was no problem.
The two sisters chatted intimately for a while. Then Pei Jin tentatively asked, "Did your father buy that empty house at the foot of Xiaofeng Mountain?"
A Lian was taken aback. "Yes, that's right. I remember he bought it a few years ago. My stepmother said our house was too small, and we'd need to build a new one when my two younger brothers get married."
Pei Jin's expression froze. "I see. I was thinking of buying that place..."
Mentioning the greedy people in her family made A Lian unhappy. Her eyes filled with hatred as she said, "It would be fine if they were really going to build a new house. They took so much silver from me, but I haven't seen any construction start. They're just like a bottomless pit."
Seeing A Lian sad and angry, Pei Jin comforted her, "Don't be upset. If they come again in the future, I'll lend Lian Lian to you. Just let the dog loose! Don't let them take a single cent from you. You're the steward we hired, so don't let them control you!"
A Lian was completely disheartened with her family and just wished to never have anything to do with them again.
She had hardly ever felt any fatherly love since she was a child. Instead, she had suffered a great deal because of her so - called father.
A Lian had long hardened her heart. Hearing Pei Jin thinking about her like this, she felt warm inside.
A Lian looked at Pei Jin and said, "Don't worry. I'm not stupid. The silver I gave them before was just to repay that man for giving birth to me. Now, it's them who owe me, not the other way around."
She added, "The men in the Chen family are all good - for - nothing. You don't need to consider me. Building the factory is the most important thing. You must buy that land. It's really a waste of resources in their hands."
A Lian gave Pei Jin an idea. "My stepmother hasn't come for a while. They don't do any work at home all day. I'm afraid they've almost spent all that silver. If you go to buy the land now, they'll surely be eager to sell it for silver."
"One thing, though. Try to drive the price down as much as possible!"
...
After discussing like this for a while, Pei Jin gave A Lian a reassuring look. "I won't let them take advantage. I'll definitely avenge you."
A Lian smiled and saw her out of the factory gate.
**
On this side, Pei Jin first sent someone to the Chen family to sound them out.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped into her own small courtyard, she heard bursts of laughter. A strange sense of anticipation suddenly welled up in her heart.
Taking a closer look, the man standing under the corridor was wearing a honey - colored round - collared robe. His peach - blossom eyes were full of charm, and his long eyebrows extended into his temples. The half of his face exposed to the sun was as clear as white jade. Maybe he was telling Tang Guiniang something funny. As his eyebrows and eyes moved, he exuded an indescribable elegance.
Surely, everyone, regardless of age or gender, would like this face.
Pei Jin's heart suddenly felt a bit flustered. She steadied herself a little and then walked forward. She slowly curtsied and said, "Why are you here, Young Master Fu?"
Fu Chengyi turned his face. His affectionate eyes, as if separated by mountains and rivers, lit up with amazement when he saw her, like encountering a gorgeous fireworks display.
Tang Guiniang smiled and explained, "Qi Lang came here specially today to deliver a treasure ship for your elder brother."
She then said to Fu Chengyi, "Oh, you child, you're too polite. You're busier than ever these days. This matter isn't urgent. You could have put it off for a while."
Fu Chengyi, however, said, "The treasure ship ordered by Sister Jiao Niang was the first big - scale business I handled. I should supervise it well both emotionally and rationally."
Pei Jin understood. So he had been busy in the Fu family's shipyard these days.
Tang Guiniang had no idea about her daughter's feelings. She invited Fu Chengyi into the house for tea and told Pei Jin to go to Yuhua Stockade to inform Pei Xia and ask him to take leave and come back when it was convenient.
Pei Jin agreed and turned to go find her elder brother.
Fu Chengyi rushed out. "I'll go with you."
Without waiting for Pei Jin's reply, Fu Chengyi took the first step and walked out.
Yuhua Stockade was neither too far nor too close.
Pei Jin went to the village entrance to take a mule - cart.
Fu Chengyi also shamelessly followed and squeezed into half of the seat.
Being so close to him, Pei Jin's palms were slightly sweaty. She pretended to look out of the window and didn't look at him.
Seeing the young lady he had been thinking about day and night, Fu Chengyi was overjoyed. He had a hundred different thoughts about getting closer to her, but in the end, he didn't dare to be presumptuous. He sat obediently beside her, stealing glances at Pei Jin from time to time and then lowering his head and smiling foolishly.
Pei Jin was speechless. Finally, she couldn't bear it anymore and said, "Why are you coming with me?"
Fu Chengyi said, "I'm not放心 when you go out alone."
Pei Jin turned her face and said nothing, but her heart was fluttering. He had disappeared since the Mid - Autumn Festival. Seeing him again felt like a lifetime had passed. She was both happy and sad.
The wheels rumbled. Pei Jin twisted her fingers. After a while, she said, "You left in a hurry last time. Those things are still in my room. I'll return them to you when we get back."
Fu Chengyi, who had been feeling happy, was immediately enraged when he heard Pei Jin's words.
He was both angry and anxious. "Do you know why I've been so eager to deliver the treasure ship? I worked hard to finish it on schedule and then rushed here non - stop. Who did I do all this for?"
"Do you have any idea how I feel?"
His eyebrows and eyes looked dejected, and his voice choked up.
Pei Jin's heart suddenly ached.
Slowly, tears welled up in her eyes. "But we're not from the same world. How can we be a good match?"
Fu Chengyi suddenly raised his head and looked at her in disbelief.
From this wavering statement, he knew that she had feelings for him.
Fu Chengyi was so happy that he didn't know where to put his hands.
Gathering his courage, he grabbed Pei Jin's hand.
Such a beautiful and delicate hand made his heart instantly burn with passion.
"A Jin... Trust me. I'll definitely marry you. After today, I'll go back and ask someone to propose marriage."
Facing him like this, Pei Jin didn't know how to reply.
She was both shy and anxious. Fortunately, they had arrived at Yuhua Stockade.
Pei Jin pulled her hand back and got off the cart first.
After delivering the message, Pei Xia took leave and rushed out in a hurry. He was also taken aback when he saw Fu Chengyi.
Looking at his younger sister, he understood everything.
A Jin's eyes were still a bit red.
Pei Xia thought Fu Chengyi had bullied her. Immediately, his face darkened, and his cold eyes were like arrows, almost shooting Fu Chengyi full of holes.
Fu Chengyi quickly said, "Brother Pei, don't misunderstand. I'm here to deliver the treasure ship for you."
"Treasure ship?"
Pei Xia raised his eyebrows. Everyone in the family knew about this except him.
Pei Jin smiled. "It's the big gift Sister - in - law prepared for you. The ship was built by the Fu family. Sister - in - law had already planned to give you a ship. Come back with us quickly and take a look."