Page 116

"Lao Fan didn’t even glance at her, snorting, "Marry into the Master Magistrate’s family?

That also depends on whom you’re marrying.

The Master Magistrate only has two sons, and I’ve heard that the Boss is already discussing marriage with the legitimate daughter of the Jin family.

Even if that marriage comes to fruition, it’ll have to wait until after the New Year when spring begins.

With no official wife having entered the door, a Little Concubine certainly cannot.

So, put that Boss out of your mind. As for the younger son, he’s just turned ten this year.

Are you intending to become a child bride for the younger one?

Ha ha, that would truly be something, acting as both mother and sister for the first couple of years, then, once the boy comes to his senses, you can be his mother and his wife! Ha ha, what fun that would be!"

Lin Siyu’s face turned green and then white, her hand clutching the handkerchief tightly. How she wished the person she was to marry was the Master Magistrate’s elder son—good family background, and most importantly, someone of a suitable age. But she wasn’t that fortunate.

Lady Ma failed to notice the increasingly ugly expression on her daughter’s face.

With a scornful laugh, looking at Lao Fan as though he were a clueless old fool, she said, "How could the Master Magistrate’s sons compare to the Master Magistrate himself?

Our Siyu is marrying our Zhuma Town’s very own Master Magistrate, the genuine Master Magistrate!

My daughter will be the real Official wife—a far more formidable and illustrious position than any son’s wife could be! "

"Mother, stop talking," Lin Siyu muttered under her breath, sensing that something was amiss and tugging at Lady Ma’s sleeve, warning her quietly not to continue. Lady Ma was unworldly, but Lin Siyu had heard some things. The Master Magistrate already had a wife and children. If the villagers knew she was marrying a middle-aged man, wouldn’t that be. ..

"What, why shouldn’t I speak? My daughter is marrying into such a good family, and you want to keep it from others? We are marrying the Master Magistrate, what about it?"

"Ha ha, ha ha," Lao Fan stroked his beard, laughing so hard his shoulders shook. Lin Yuan, upon hearing that Lin Siyu’s intended was the Master Magistrate, couldn’t help but bite her lip and laugh out loud. There was going to be quite the spectacle.

"What are you laughing at?" Lady Ma demanded, hands on her hips.

Lao Fan smoothed his chest before finally saying, "I laugh at your ignorance, selling off your own daughter and still counting others’ money!"

Li Feng’e saw things taking a turn for the worse, wanted to slip away but found her arm firmly grasped by Lady Yang. Lin Siyu’s marriage arrangements were spoken by her and her aunt; there had to be something fishy they didn’t know about, and she surely couldn’t let this Li Feng’e off the hook.

"What, sell my daughter? I’ve sold no such thing! I am marrying off my daughter, marrying her off!" Lady Ma stuttered, while Lin Jiazhong, who had seen a bit more of the world, was now starting to regret announcing his daughter’s marital affairs too soon. But it was already too late to stop it.

"Of course, it’s selling a daughter!" said Lao Fan. "Don’t you know? That Master Magistrate Lichang has long passed fifty, not only does he have an official wife, but he also remarried and that wife has been married into the family for over ten years. If he already has an official wife at home, how would he marry your daughter? If she really enters Lichang’s household, she can only be a concubine.

Oh, I forgot to tell you, Lichang’s house is full of over a dozen concubines already, not counting his serving maids. "

Lin Siyu’s delicate frame shuddered.

Lady Ma’s mouth hung open, unable to close it.

But Lao Fan had not finished speaking, "Since the old man has told you this much today, I might as well go all the way. Let me remind you, don’t think being a concubine in a wealthy household is so glamorous.

In fact, a concubine can’t enter through the main gate in a bridal sedan chair.

She can only be carried in a small sedan by two young servants through the back door when the night is deep and everyone else is asleep.

Furthermore, a concubine is a concubine, always having to kowtow and serve tea to the official wife, performing morning and evening rituals, paying respects and saying greetings.

The official wife sits while she stands, the official wife eats while she watches.

If the official wife is even slightly displeased, she can find any excuse to dispose of a concubine—either drive her out of the house or sell her to a brothel.

A concubine has no status at all, hardly different from those maids serving tea and water, some are even less regarded than maids. "