So, You’re the Henpecked One? 40

Chapter 40

“Impossible!”

As soon as Chu Xihuan finished her last sentence, Lin Yongchang flatly refused.

Chu Xihuan’s expression didn’t change. She just smiled at him.

Seeing her like this, Lin Yongchang also softened a little. He glanced at Lin Zhao, who was standing to the side, and said in a low voice, “That cloth shop is an important source of income for the clan. It’s impossible to give it to you.”

The reason Lin Yongchang was able to sit firmly in his position as the head of the family, and even have so much say, was naturally not because he had taken the most from Lin Zhao’s family back then, but because he had indeed merged some of the industries into the clan’s assets, so that everyone could benefit from them, and they naturally held him in high regard.

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Chu Xihuan’s eyes. She didn’t speak, just looked at him quietly.

Seeing this, Lin Yongchang sighed softly. “These assets have been part of the clan for so many years, and everyone is used to the income they bring. If they are given to you, not to mention me, the other clansmen will probably rush up and tear you apart.”

Sometimes, these things were enough to turn people into demons.

“Clan Head Lin, you need to know one thing. Since I dare to ask for it, I naturally have a way to keep it,” Chu Xihuan said with a low laugh, not at all intimidated by Lin Yongchang.

Lin Yongchang’s face, which had just softened a little, turned ugly again. He stared at Chu Xihuan, and he also knew that she might have such an ability. But how could he so easily spit out what he had already eaten? Besides, the cloth shop in the north of the city had a considerable monthly income, and the clan’s school was supported by it. It was absolutely impossible to give it to them.

“There’s a piece of land in the suburbs outside the city. That can be given to you. Apart from that, there’s nothing to discuss,” Lin Yongchang said coldly. The reason he was still willing to talk to her here was only because of Chu Xihuan’s status. If they had a falling out, it would not be good for the entire Lin family.

The land in the suburbs outside the city had relatively poor soil and was not of much value. And the location was a bit far, so it was not easy to manage. If he could use this to get Lin Zhao and the others to be completely quiet, it would not be a loss.

Chu Xihuan sneered. “Are you trying to get rid of a beggar?”

Chu Xihuan never fought a battle she was not prepared for. Before confronting Lin Yongchang, she had already investigated all the assets of the Lin clan. She naturally knew about the piece of land outside the city, which was still barren.

Lin Yongchang’s deep-set brow furrowed tightly. “This is already the best solution. Any more, and the other clansmen will have opinions, and then you’ll get nothing,” he said in a deep voice.

“Heh,” Chu Xihuan sneered and said lightly, “Add another hundred liang. You should be very clear about the difficulty of reclaiming that piece of land. Even that much money might not be enough.”

Lin Yongchang’s gaze was fixed on Chu Xihuan, but this time, Chu Xihuan did not back down at all, and the anger in his chest gradually ignited.

He should have stopped their marriage no matter what back then. Because of that one moment of hesitation, Lin Zhao was now completely out of his control.

“Tomorrow at noon, I will have someone send over all the silver and the title deed!” Lin Yongchang said, suppressing his anger. Then, without looking at Lin Zhao again, he turned and left.

“Remember, from now on, Lin Zhao and you will go your separate ways. If anyone dares to come and cause us trouble again, don’t blame me for not keeping my promise.”

Chu Xihuan’s faint voice came from behind.

Lin Yongchang snorted coldly and strode away. “Don’t worry. If you break the agreement first, then don’t blame us for making things ugly.”

With Lin Yongchang’s departure, the Lin family’s small courtyard fell completely silent. Chu Xihuan brushed her sleeves, not at all disappointed that she had only gotten back so little.

She had originally expected Lin Yongchang to deny it and would rather have a falling out and make a big scene than spit out what he had already eaten. Her initial demand for the cloth shop in the north of the city was just to break through Lin Yongchang’s defenses.

At least now, in Lin Yongchang’s mind, a matter that could be resolved with a piece of land and a hundred liang was better than actually arguing with her over the cloth shop, and it might even make the matter of them taking advantage of a family with no male heirs known to the whole city.

While Chu Xihuan and Lin Yongchang were negotiating, Lin Zhao, who had been standing quietly to the side, had been looking at Chu Xihuan with an adoring gaze, her eyes sparkling. She tried to control her breathing so as not to disturb Xihuan’s negotiation. When she heard that Lin Yongchang was willing to give them a piece of land and a hundred liang, she almost jumped up in excitement.

After he left, Lin Zhao quickly ran to Chu Xihuan’s side and squatted down, hugging her leg excitedly. “Xihuan, Xihuan! You’re so amazing! You got back so much with just a few words!”

Not to mention the land, just the silver alone was a hundred liang!

A hundred liang!

Lin Zhao had never seen so much money in her life!

Ever since she had married Chu Xihuan, apart from the money she had secretly hidden away and couldn’t touch, the amount of money she had on her had never exceeded a hundred wen. A hundred liang was an astronomical figure to her!

Chu Xihuan looked at this person hugging her leg without any regard for her image with a mix of helplessness and amusement. This person really did whatever she wanted.

“Are you satisfied with this?”

Lin Zhao nodded frantically. If Chu Xihuan hadn’t come forward, she would have never been able to get anything from the Lin clan in her life, let alone have land and money now.

Chu Xihuan flicked her on the forehead and sighed in her heart. She was so easy to please.

Chu Xihuan had not had high hopes for getting back Lin Zhao’s parents’ inheritance. She was more concerned with drawing a clear line between Lin Zhao and the members of the Lin clan. It was too disgusting how they would buzz around like flies from time to time.

“Alright, get up,” Chu Xihuan said, shaking her leg. This person was still holding on tightly.

Lin Zhao shook her head and held on even tighter, resting her chin on her knee and looking up at Chu Xihuan with a pitiful expression. “Xihuan, you’re so amazing. You won’t abandon me in the future, will you?”

Chu Xihuan was speechless. How was this amazing?

Just saying this, Lin Zhao felt a little sad. She held Chu Xihuan’s leg even tighter, with a hint of gritted teeth. “If Xihuan really doesn’t want me in the future, don’t even think about getting rid of me. I’ll just hold on to Xihuan’s leg like this, and I’ll follow you wherever you go!”

She didn’t believe that a person like Xihuan, who cared so much about her face, would allow such a thing to happen!

Chu Xihuan was speechless.

She didn’t know whether to be happy that this person had learned to threaten people, but the target of the threat was herself.

“What nonsense are you talking about? If you’re really that idle, why don’t you go and cook?” Chu Xihuan said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, pulling at her cheek.

Lin Zhao pouted and gave Chu Xihuan a resentful look. She snorted softly and finally let go of her leg, going into the kitchen to get busy.

Chu Xihuan sighed in relief and leaned back in her chair, slowly feeling the soothing spring breeze.

In the blink of an eye, she had gone from autumn to spring with this person.

“Xihuan, don’t even think about getting rid of me!”

Lin Zhao’s voice suddenly came from the kitchen.

Chu Xihuan, who was startled by the sudden voice, was speechless.

She looked at the kitchen with amusement. They had been living together for so long. Why was this person still so afraid of her leaving her?

As she thought about it, Chu Xihuan’s expression slowly became serious.

Perhaps…

She hadn’t given Lin Zhao enough of a sense of security.

Chu Xihuan rubbed her brow, her heart softening a little at the sound of Lin Zhao’s unwilling shout from the kitchen. The longer she was with Lin Zhao, the more she got used to her, and even…

Being with her was an unprecedented pleasure and comfort. Even if her life now was not as good as before, she didn’t feel that it made any difference.

While she was lost in thought outside, Lin Zhao had finished making dinner in the kitchen and came out to call her to eat with a huff.

Chu Xihuan looked at her little expression with a half-smile. Although she was a little angry, she had still prepared everything and called her to eat. It was a kind of awkward cuteness.

She slowly stood up and walked toward the kitchen. As she passed by, her gaze fell on Lin Zhao. After several months of nourishment, Lin Zhao’s body no longer looked so thin and weak. She had gained a lot of weight, and because she exercised a lot, her body was very well-proportioned. And after her qi and blood were sufficient, the clothes she had altered for her fit even better.

Chu Xihuan suddenly stopped and looked at Lin Zhao up and down again, her brow furrowed. “Lin Zhao, have you grown taller?”

Because they were together every day, she hadn’t really noticed if she didn’t look closely.

Hearing her say this, Lin Zhao, who had been sulking, was also taken aback. She looked down at herself and said with a bit of uncertainty, “Have I?”

She didn’t feel any major difference and hadn’t paid attention.

Chu Xihuan stood in front of Lin Zhao and said with great certainty, “You must have grown taller.”

The clothes Lin Zhao was wearing now were the first set she had altered for her. The hem had been a little long at first, but now it fit perfectly.

Lin Zhao blinked and also carefully observed herself. Then, she hummed softly, and her eyes began to shine.

It seemed to be true! There didn’t seem to be much of a difference between her and Xihuan!

“Xihuan! I’m almost as tall as you!” Lin Zhao was very happy and quickly came up to Chu Xihuan, almost face to face with her, and started to measure their heights with her hand.

This person’s sudden closeness, her scent enveloping her, Chu Xihuan was speechless.

Lin Zhao was immersed in her excitement and didn’t notice. She measured them and finally, her excited brow furrowed slightly. “I’m still a little shorter than Xihuan,” she muttered.

But it was alright. She was already at the level of Xihuan’s forehead. It wouldn’t be long before she was taller than her!

Lin Zhao secretly nodded in her heart. She would definitely be taller than Xihuan in the future!

Chu Xihuan took a step back to create some distance between them and looked at Lin Zhao’s features. After gaining some weight, even her face had become more beautiful.

She smiled, her eyes filled with pleasure. “Then you’ll have to work hard and eat more.”

Lin Zhao immediately looked at her with a resentful expression. “Doesn’t Xihuan want to be close to me!”

Why did she have to back away so quickly!

Chu Xihuan: “?”

Wasn’t this a normal reaction after measuring their heights? What was the point of staying so close after they were done?

“So much nonsense. Aren’t we going to eat?” Chu Xihuan said in annoyance, messing up her hair.

Did she not want to be close to Lin Zhao? Who was the one who had kissed her so much last night that she was almost out of breath?

Did she kick Lin Zhao out of bed?

She did not!

In fact, when this person had taken a mile when given an inch and kissed her neck, did she refuse?

She still did not!

**

Author’s Note:

Zhaozhao: Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss~