CHAPTER 380: CHAPTER 380: SO THIS IS WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE

Seeing Shu’er walking ahead with Lin Fengying, Shu’er carried herself with grace, exuding an air of nobility and elegance.

She instantly felt like she and the spear masters following her behind resembled Shu’er’s underlings.

Lin Mu grew increasingly irritated and walked forward, eventually moving ahead of Shu’er.

Lin Mu intentionally adopted a commanding walk, the residents looked at this seemingly crazy woman and couldn’t help but glance at her more than once.

Lin Mu, however, was completely unaware, and after walking for a long time and hearing no footsteps behind her, she turned her head to find that Shu’er had already stopped at a point on the road earlier.

Seeing Lin Mu looking over, Shu’er smiled.

"Aunt, we’ve already arrived."

So Lin Mu had no choice but to walk over in embarrassment and stand beside Shu’er.

After sitting down, soon a maid brought snacks and pastries, and Shu’er sat beside reading a book, not interrupting their conversation.

Lin Mu was a robust yet cunning woman; she grasped Lin Fengying’s hand.

"Fengying, look, you’re at such an age now, and Zhang Sanhong barely managed to take interest in you. You should take advantage of your youth and marry him quickly. By then, if you give birth to a child, your status in the family would be secure."

After saying this, she glanced at Lin Fengying’s veil.

"You’re a woman, always wearing a black veil, it’s terribly unlucky. In my view, with such serious scars on your face, you should stay in the backyard and not come out. Zhang Sanhong doesn’t mind your looks, so you ought to be content."

"Though he is a bit older, isn’t this just because he couldn’t find a wife? You two can be together just fine."

Upon hearing this, Shu’er couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows at Lin Mu.

"Aunt, may I boldly ask, how old is Zhang Sanhong?"

"He is 50 years old, but he’s still okay."

Shu’er thought Lin Fengying would remain silent, but unexpectedly Lin Fengying spoke up.

"Mother, the person you said is good is clearly a cripple, with nothing at home, loves gambling and drinking, and even drove away two wives before—is this good?"

As she said this, her voice already carried a choke.

Shu’er noticed, this old widower is even more deplorable than described in the original work; isn’t this pushing Lin Fengying into the fire pit?

She frowned involuntarily.

Lin Mu frowned: "You dead girl, looking so ugly, with such a big scar on your face, you’ll scare people sleeping at night!"

"He’s not bothered by your ugliness and willing to marry you, you should really burn a high incense, and seriously, should take a good look at yourself."

"How can someone at twenty still have no self-awareness!"

After saying this, Lin Mu signaled to a few strong men behind her.

"Today, whether you marry or not, you are marrying. Later you will understand your mother is doing this for your good; can you really expect the Lin Family to support you forever?"

Lin Fengying muttered: "I don’t, I’ve already started earning my own money now."

Lin Mu snorted, but didn’t care whether Lin Fengying earned money or not.

"The dowry has been accepted, with your appearance, fifty taels of Silver is already considered a high price, do you want us to return the money?"

"You must marry now whether you want to or not. We are doing this for your own good; if Zhang Sanhong is unreliable, your child will be your support afterwards!"

Lin Fengying wanted to resist, but in the end, she lowered her hand. What could she use to resist?

Just as Lin Mu said, whether she wanted to or not, she had to marry. Isn’t that what women are born for, to marry and then procreate?

If she doesn’t marry, won’t people still gossip about her?

Thinking about this, Lin Fengying only felt increasingly desolate. She felt utterly helpless—why must women marry and have children?

Moreover, the person she had to marry was a cripple and a widower.

She faced her mother, what could she use to resist?

Shu’er sensed Lin Fengying trembling and held her hand, feeling that her fingers were cold.

Shu’er gently asked: "Lin Fengying, do you want to marry?"

Lin Fengying shook her head multiple times, eventually crying silently.

Shu’er felt a bit sorry for this girl and looked over at Lin Mu.

"Aunt, you should leave, Lin Fengying doesn’t want to marry."

Lin Mu frowned, looking at Shu’er with obvious disdain. She eyed Shu’er up and down and then curled her lips.

"This is a family matter. How can an outsider like you interfere?"

Shu’er nodded: "Logically, I shouldn’t interfere in your family affairs."

"However, your daughter has already signed a ten-year contract with me; she must stay with me for ten years, or else your family will have to compensate a thousand taels of Silver."

Lin Mu was enraged: "Why should we compensate, it was she who signed the agreement."

Shu’er shrugged: "Because she doesn’t want to leave, and you are forcing her to go, naturally you must compensate."

After saying this, Shu’er narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Lin Mu.

"Or does Aunt intend to renege on the agreement?"

As soon as these words were out, Lin Mu didn’t reply to Shu’er, instead pulling Lin Fengying, trying to forcibly take her away, looking somewhat disappointed in her.

"You are twenty now, and have scars on your face. How many good years does a woman have? Lin Fengying, don’t blame me for not warning you, if you miss this chance with Zhang Sanhong, who knows if you will be able to marry later."

Lin Fengying’s entire body was full of resistance, but she dared not dare to say a word of dissent.

During this tugging, Lin Fengying’s veil fell to the ground.

In an instant, the air quietly stilled.

Only to see the woman before them, tall and exuding a heroic air, especially her face—an expression of courage yet openness.

Big eyes, arched eyebrows, a delicate nose bridge, even the lips were attractive.

Because she hadn’t seen sunlight for a long time, her skin was fair.

Where there were originally scars, now the skin was smooth and tender as if not healed but naturally so.

After all, it was hard to imagine what kind of scar-removal ointment could erase the scars so cleanly.

Lin Mu was first struck dumb, then said: "Your face, your face, your face!"

Her eyes widened in sheer astonishment.

Due to overwhelming emotion, her voice turned shrill.

Lin Fengying touched her cheek, anxiously trying to put the veil back on.

Shu’er pulled Lin Fengying’s hand, letting the veil fall.

"You look pretty this way, let it be."

Holding the veil in her hand, Lin Fengying hesitated for a long time; ultimately, she did not put it on.

Yet she kept her head bowed.

Shu’er smiled at Lin Fengying.

"Why wear a veil now, with such a pretty face? It would be a shame not to show it. Women are at their most beautiful for those few years; do you want to age quietly?"

After saying that, Shu’er handed a small mirror to Lin Fengying.

Lin Fengying looked at the beautiful woman in front of her, clearer than what she saw in the copper mirror.

It was the first time she realized how she appeared in others’ eyes.