Lin Family Steward was in high spirits now. He stroked the zitan wood armchair he was sitting on and looked at the room full of antiques and gold artifacts. He thought of the land deeds for a thousand acres of fertile land and this magnificent garden, all of which now belonged to him, and a sweet feeling filled his heart.
Although the silver notes, shipping companies, shops, and the four undamaged sea vessels that had been found, including the sea charts drawn by Lin Shen, had all been given to the Xie Family and the Wu Family, which was a minor regret, he thought of the dangers of sea transport and the background of the Wu Family, and he suppressed his thoughts.
The only remaining flaw now was the estate from his sister-in-law's dowry. If he could acquire that too, then all the best fertile land by the lake in Wu County would belong to Lin Family Steward.
Lin Shen, oh Lin Shen, what good is it no matter how capable you are? Aren't all the assets you worked so hard to earn now mine?
"Are you saying that if I let Lin Huiniang register as an independent household, she'll give me that estate?" Lin Family Steward coughed and slowly said to Zhou Tao, who was opposite him.
"And that ship my brother-in-law used. The children want to keep it as a memento," Zhou Tao said, lowering his head. According to his tiger-mother wife's idea, both mother and daughter should die, so they could take back both the estate and the shops.
But after all, that was his own biological sister and niece. When his brother-in-law was alive, he had given him more than just this small amount of fertile land. How could he cut off his niece's livelihood! Lin Family Steward would not rest until he got that estate.
If it could be exchanged for his niece becoming an independent household, along with the income from the shops, it would also be a way for her to live.
"Haha," Lin Family Steward laughed, "In that case, I'll give her a shipyard as well."
"Father, why did you agree to him?" Looking at Zhou Tao's retreating back, Lin Guoqiang asked in confusion, "If Lin Huiniang registers as an independent household, she will have no relation to our Lin Family, and no one will gossip about us.
That broken ship would cost several thousand guan to repair, and the Wu Family doesn't want it either. Does Third Brother intend to engage in sea transport?" Lin Family Steward smiled as he looked at Lin Guoqiang.
"Of course not," Lin Guoqiang laughed. Why engage in sea transport, like Second Uncle? What if he made millions? He still didn't even know how he died. Now, the Lin Family's ten thousand acres of fertile land already made them the largest household in Wu County, with inexhaustible wealth. Who would take such a risk!
"But why did Father give her that shipyard?"
"Didn't you say that shipyard was completely abandoned? A useless Xiang Dongxi, it's not bad to exchange it for a good reputation."
Ling Qingyu had not expected that after she went to the yamen to complete the procedures for an independent household, changing Lin Huiniang's name back to her original name, Ling Qingyu, and thinking of living a good life with her mother, she returned home with such a joyful mood, only to be met with her mother's cold body.
"Those damn murderers! Those two sluts, Tang Li from the main branch and Lin Zixu, just barged in and told Madam that now that you, Miss, have registered as an independent household, you will sooner or later become a prostitute. Madam argued with them, and they beat Madam and insulted her, and that's how they angered Madam to death!" Mother Zheng cried, pounding the ground.
Ling Qingyu's eyes were bloodshot. Mother, you were not unkind to them back then. Was it not enough that they coveted the wealth of the second branch and therefore seized all the family property? Was it not enough that they killed her father and brother? Did they have to take away the only relative she had left in this world?
A blood feud!