Chapter 158 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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 Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

 Chapter 158: 

Killing With Someone Else's Knife 

"More money is needed," said Lu Rong, holding his daughter as he made a new demand to the creditor.

Not only did he refuse to repay the original three thousand taels, but he also demanded an additional two thousand taels!

The creditor looked at Lu Rong, feeling extremely hesitant.

Lu Rong held his daughter up to the creditor's face, pinching her cheeks. "Take a good look at my daughter. Your only son was born a simpleton. My wonderful daughter marrying your son, how is that not a bargain?" he said with a smirk. "Let me tell you, you're making a huge profit here!"

Upon realizing the situation, Dong Shuangshuang rushed forward to snatch her daughter back.

Lu Rong turned and delivered a slap, knocking the creditor to the ground. Ignoring the fallen man, he continued speaking, "Two thousand taels. This time, no IOU. I'll write a marriage contract with you."

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

The creditor pondered for a moment, glancing again at the little girl's cheeks. Although her father was unreliable, his son was born a simpleton. Respectable families wouldn't accept her as a bride. 

...A fatherless girl was also easy to control.

"I'll give you another two thousand taels," the creditor conceded.

Without further ado, they wrote up the marriage contract.

With the deed done, Dong Shuangshuang was left with no recourse.

After Lu Rong took the gambling capital to the gambling den, Dong Shuangshuang, holding her child, went straight to Lin Yunwan's place. 

Hearing this, Xiruo felt her anger rise. She brought hot water to assist Dong Shuangshuang in washing her face and asked, "Madam Dong, forgive my impertinence, but doesn't the matriarch of your family intervene in such matters?"

Dong Shuangshuang finished washing her face, sitting beside Lin Yunwan with a pale face. 

She lowered her head and replied, "The matriarch doesn't like my daughter."

To her husband's family, a granddaughter was considered dispensable. 

Moreover, since she hadn't given birth to a son, if not for the fact that there was no news from the concubine in Lu Rong's quarters, she feared she might not even have a place to stay in her in-laws' home.

Lin Yunwan remained silent until Dong Shuang glanced over at her. 

Pausing for a moment, she asked softly, "Have you made up your mind?"

Dong Shuangshuang was slightly taken aback. 

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

With a sigh, Lin Yunwan said, "If you haven't made up your mind yet..." She lowered her head and took a sip of tea. 

Dong Shuangshuang instantly understood her meaning and whispered, "Yunwan, I've made up my mind, I've made up my mind!"

Lin Yunwan closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and calmly asked, "A gambler couldn't have just one creditor; are you familiar with all his creditors?"

"I'm familiar with most of them," Dong Shuangshuang replied. "There are family friends, his former classmates, and... some shady characters from outside."

Lin Yunwan was precisely interested in those "shady characters."

"What kind of people are they?" she inquired.

Afraid of alarming the unmarried girl, Dong Shuangshuang hesitated before saying, "Have you heard of loan sharks?"

Only then did she realize her mistake!

Lin Yunwan hadn't even married yet, how could she expect her to handle such a big problem!

It was truly a desperate move to come here for help.

Lin Yunwan remained calm and said lightly, "Nine out of ten times, trouble comes back around. Your husband really has some nerve."

Dong Shuangshuang's eyes widened. "You've heard of them?" she asked.

Lin Yunwan nodded casually. "Among these creditors, do you know who's particularly ruthless?"

At the mention of this, Dong Shuangshuang felt a chill. She clenched her fists and said, "Once, they stopped our carriage. It was only after the old lady sent someone that they left. My daughter cried for half an hour out of fear."

Lin Yunwan remarked, "Anyone bold enough to act openly must have someone powerful backing them."

Someone who wasn't afraid of the Lu family!

Dong Shuangshuang was puzzled. "Yunwan, why are you asking about this?"

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly. "Shuangshuang, have you heard of the idiom 'using a borrowed knife to kill'?"

This is practically murdering her husband!

Dong Shuangshuang was startled, her heart feeling like it might leap out of her chest... But what could be more important than her daughter's future!

"Yunwan, how do we borrow the knife?"

Lin Yunwan leaned closer and whispered into Dong Shuangshuang's ear.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Xiruo quietly retreated, not out of avoidance but to prevent eavesdropping. She stood outside, watching the maids, and then went to check on Dong Shuangshuang's daughter in the neighboring room.

"She's sleeping soundly."

When Dong Shuangshuang was about to leave, Lin Yunwan went to see the child. Exhausted from crying, the child lay on the bed, breathing weakly.

Lin Yunwan gently touched the child's face and said, "Your daughter must have been scared today."

Dong Shuangshuang's expression turned gloomy.

It wasn't just her daughter; even she herself was terrified. She couldn't believe her husband could stoop so low.

"Yunwan, I'm going back."

Lin Yunwan had Xiruo escort Dong Shuang out. On the way, they ran into Zhao Mama, who gave Dong Shuangshuang another round of scolding.

When Xiruo returned and informed Lin Yunwan, "Zhao Mama doesn't like it when Madam Dong visits."

Lin Yunwan found it understandable. If she were in the steward's position, she might feel the same way.

Xiruo walked over and asked in a low voice, "Miss, why do you care so much about Mrs. Dong?"

Lin Yunwan smiled and replied, "I'm caring for myself."

Xiruo didn't understand.

Lin Yunwan instructed, "Pay more attention to the second gate." She continued, "If I don't care about my own affairs, then Madam will have to care about them for me."

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Xiruo quickly understood.

It was the first time that relatives from the Zheng family had visited the Lin residence since Lin Yunwan arrived. 

After inquiring about it, Xiruo returned puzzled, asking, "Miss, they said Madam's relatives rarely come to the Lin residence. Why is that?"

"They said that in the past, there were unpleasant conflicts between the two households because of Madam's marriage to Master Lin."

"After Madam married Master Lin, the relationship between her and her natal family became distant."

"The eldest Madam from the Zheng family brought a distant relative from the Zheng family over."

Indeed!

Madam Zheng couldn't contain herself.

Lin Yunwan calmly remarked, "Madam is trying to arrange a 'good marriage' for me."

Xiruo frowned, "Master Lin would never agree to Madam doing such a thing."

"Aren't there many things that Madam has done without Master's approval?"

Xiruo wasn't concerned about this, "Although Master Lin tends to favor Madam, when it comes to important matters, Master Lin always makes the final decision."

Lin Yunwan shook her head, "You still don't understand Master Lin."

Her gaze sharpened, "Master Lin has never been able to hold his ground on important matters. He—He only makes decisions when it benefits himself."

Xiruo listened attentively.

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "Sending Miss Lin to the countryside wasn't just Madam Zheng's idea."

"If Master Lin doesn't allow it, even if Madam Zheng gets angry or accuses Miss Lin of causing trouble for her parents, Miss Lin wouldn't be driven away."

"In this household, Master Lin has the final say from top to bottom."

Xiruo understood.

She worried, "I'm afraid that if Madam persuades Master Lin emotionally, he'll listen to whatever Madam says!"

"Ah," 

Lin Yunwan thought for a moment, then asked Xiruo, "How is Miss Lin recently?"

"She's still staying in the courtyard and refuses to come out. She eats only once every two or three days, and Madam often goes to see her."

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Madam still cares for her."

Although Madam nearly harmed the fetus when she was pregnant with Lin Yunjiao, she was still the only flesh and blood she had raised, cherished like the apple of her eye.

Xiruo asked, "Would you like to go see Miss Lin?"

Why would Lin Yunwan care about Lin Yunjiao?

Despite being a spoiled girl, Lin Yunjiao was Madam Zheng's lifeblood.

"I don't want to see her."

"But if Madam ever gives me a hard time, I'll make sure to give her a hard time too."

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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