Golden Branch

Wang Lin's thoughts were in turmoil, but on the surface he still looked affectionate and concerned about his wife.

However, while he played the role of a good husband, he did not forget to greet Madam Cui.

He bowed and apologized politely: "Nineth Lady is young, if there is any impoliteness, please forgive me, Madam!"

Mrs. Cui looked at Wang Lin steadily. This was not the first time she met Wang Lin.

When the women of the Lou family just arrived in Hedong, all the officials of Hedong, big and small, came out to greet them at the city gate.

In the carriage, Mrs. Cui saw Magistrate Wang Lin standing in the front wearing official uniform.

To be honest, Wang Lin's appearance, temperament, etc. are all excellent.

Even with her critical eyes, Mrs. Cui found it difficult to find any shortcomings in Wang Lin.

The only shortcoming is probably his second marriage and the fact that he has a legitimate daughter from his first wife.

However, my niece is already married, and marriages between aristocratic families are never based on the individual ideas of the children, but rather on the exchange of interests between the two families.

The Cui family needed the clan name of the Wang family, while the Wang family needed the Cui family's network of in-laws with the nobles of the northern border.

The two families each have their own needs, so it's not a matter of who is trying to get ahead of the other.

Mrs. Cui's so-called "pickiness" was nothing more than the remaining obsession of an elder who doted on her niece - her niece should have married a perfect husband, instead of being someone's concubine or stepmother like her!

What a pity... this is probably the fate of these aunt and niece, neither of them can have a husband to marry.

Mrs. Cui sighed secretly, but her face showed her signature dignity and kindness.

"You said it yourself, the child is still young. It's natural for him to be a little naughty!"

Mrs. Cui's words seemed to be spoken casually in line with Wang Lin's tone.

Wang Lin's heart skipped a beat.

As Wang Heng's biological father, when he said his daughter was "disrespectful", it was just a polite remark.

However, as an outsider, especially the host of the banquet, Mrs. Cui said that Wang Heng was "naughty", which was undoubtedly a false accusation against Wang Heng.

What? Did the aunt and niece have an agreement and insist on accusing Wang Heng of "offending a noble person"?

A cold light flashed quickly in Wang Lin's eyes.

But, more quickly, his eyes returned to being gentle and elegant.

He didn't say anything else, but bowed deeply as an apology.

Seeing Wang Lin being so humble, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Mrs. Cui's eyes.

Fortunately, I am aware of the current situation and know how to choose between family affection and interests.

Mrs. Cui believed that a smart person like Wang Lin would know what to do if he received Cui's "persuasion"!

"It's getting late, and I'm tired. Wang Lang, please go now."

When Mrs. Cui said this, she was not trying to drive him away rudely, but rather she treated Wang Lin as her closest relative and junior.

She neither called Wang Lin the County Magistrate Wang nor called him Mr. Wang Lang, but just called him Wang Lang.

Nowadays, this is a nickname for close people.

Wang Lin also understood the situation and quickly replied, "I will obey your command!"

Although Wang Lin still did not call Madam Cui "Agu", he called himself "er", which in itself was an expression of closeness.

Mrs. Cui became more and more satisfied.

She waved her hand, signaling Wang Lin to leave.

Wang Lin came on horseback, but for the sake of show, he got on Cui's carriage and went home with Cui.

Fu's mother and Bai Zhi hurriedly took Wang Heng and got on the carriage behind.

……

The group drove along the road and entered the city half an hour later.

After walking for another quarter of an hour on the bluestone pavement in the city, they finally arrived at the backyard of the county government office.

The carriage stopped steadily in front of the backyard gate, and the servant following the carriage quickly brought the footrests.

Wang Lin got off the car first. After getting off, he stood beside the car and helped Cui get off.

"Madam, are you sure you're alright? Why don't you call a doctor?"

Wang Lin asked with great concern.

Just now at the Lou family manor, Wang Lin had called a doctor, but was finally rejected by Cui.

Wang Lin certainly knew Cui's concerns: pregnancy was probably still a "secret", and Cui didn't even want to tell him, her partner.

If you don’t consult a doctor, no one will “congratulate” you in person, and the secret will remain a secret!

Wang Lin had already guessed the truth, but he still had to pretend.

After all, for a husband who loves and cares about his wife, he must pay attention to his wife's health, mood and so on.

"My dear, I'm really fine!"

Cui quickly refused.

My aunt also said that women are most vulnerable in the first three months of pregnancy, so it is better to be cautious.

Furthermore, Cui's plan to send Wang Heng away had not been completed yet, and she did not want to reveal her pregnancy at this time, which would cause people to link the two together.

Although Cui was not afraid of others knowing that she could not tolerate Wang Heng, she also listened to the advice of Zhenzhu and her aunt.

She and Wang Lin are husband and wife, and she is the wife, so she cannot be too strong or overbearing.

Unless, she no longer wants love between husband and wife and harmony in the family.

They had been married for only a month, and Wang Lin was so gentle and considerate. Cui certainly didn't want to become so cold to Wang Lin that she and him became as cold as ice.

Be more tactful, just be tactful, the relationship between her and her husband is the most important.

Cui rejected her husband's suggestion to hire a doctor, and then she thought about why he refused - Wang Heng!

"Well, I'm just worried—"

Thinking of Wang Heng, Cui began to pretend to be sad.

Wang Lin's eyes flashed, but his voice remained gentle: "What are you worried about? Madam, if there is anything bothering you, just tell me. I will definitely find a way to relieve your worries!"

"Thank you, my dear. However, this is not for me, but for our Wang family!"

When Cui heard Wang Lin's gentle voice and his words of willingness to relieve her worries, her heart was filled with sweetness again.

"Wang family? Is there something wrong with our Wang family?"

"There's nothing wrong with the Wang family, but today at the Lou family, Jiu Niang, she—"

Cui subconsciously wanted to put the blame on Wang Heng: She offended the little bully of the Lou family!

Wang Lin, however, was quicker to interrupt Cui, "I was a little late when I went there. I saw that Ajiu and Lou Dalang seemed to be getting along well!"

"Da Lang is also a polite child. When Ajiu was leaving, Da Lang came to see her off and gave her a 'gift'!"

Wang Lin mentioned this matter deliberately in the hope that Cui would stop plotting against Ajiu.

Firstly, Ajiu is the child born to Wang Lin and the woman he loves most, and is the thought that A Jiang left for him.

Secondly, A Jiang is now in Yang Chong's backyard. Although there has been no news of him being favored in recent days, as long as he is still there, it proves that there is hope.

Why did Wang Lin offer beauty?

Isn't it just about establishing a relationship with Yang Chong, the contemporary hero?

A Jiang was the bridge between Wang Lin and Yang Chong.

If you want A Jiang to willingly work for the Wang family, A Jiu is the key!

Wang Lin knew that A Jiang loved A Jiu the most. For the sake of her daughter, she would try her best to please Yang Chong and then seek wealth for the Wang family!

A Jiang is an even smarter person. She understands what it means to "prosper together and suffer together."

Therefore, as long as Jiang is still with Yang Chong, Wang Lin will hold Wang Heng as a chess piece.

He would never let Cui's ridiculous jealousy ruin all the previous plans and ruin the future of the Wang family!

Cui wanted to use the Lou family to suppress the Wang family, and Wang Lin would indeed have concerns.

Yang Chong is Lou Jin's boss, but unfortunately A Jiang is not favored enough, so Wang Lin cannot directly use the power of the Yang family.

Lou Jin is the "current manager", and Wang Lin still needs to be under the control of the Lou family.

Even so, Wang Lin did not want to be easily controlled by Cui this time.

Lou Dalang is just a child after all, and the most important point is that Lou Dalang is not really angry or furious because of Jiu Niang.

Wang Lin felt that there was no need to take it too seriously.

Cui didn't expect that Wang Lin would interrupt her.

She never expected that Wang Lin would bring up the "gift".

Snake, that's a green bamboo snake.

I was so scared that I rolled off the sedan chair in public, making a fool of myself!

Wang Heng, who was only six years old, dared to hold the snake and calmly said it was a gift.

This is the calmness, composure and demeanor of a noble lady from aristocratic family.

Cui was the perfect foil for Wang Heng!

"...What a disgusting little bastard!"

Cui had already been thinking about getting rid of the person, and after returning from the Lou family, she became even more anxious.

Perhaps because she was too anxious, Cui Shi actually had a flash of inspiration in her mind. She quickly followed Wang Lin's words and said, "My lord, you are right. Dalang has always been naughty. The only young lady who can still talk and laugh freely in front of him is Jiu Niang."

This... doesn't sound like a compliment!

Wang Lin's eyes fixed, the corners of his mouth kept rising as he listened to Cui continue speaking.

"It's just that, my dear, Dalang is a young man with a reputation for mischief, which is harmless. But our Jiuniang is a little girl. If word gets out that she and the little bully of the Lou family are a perfect match, it will damage Jiuniang's reputation."

"Jiu Niang is already six years old. She's no longer a child. As parents, we should also consider her reputation."

When Cui thought of this, a flash of inspiration came to him.

But she wasn't really stupid, and as she spoke, she felt that what she said made more and more sense.

She even put on a sincere air and said to Wang Lin earnestly, "My dear, you just said that Dalang knew Jiuniang was leaving and came to see her off and gave her a gift!"

"From this, it can be seen that Dalang likes playing with Jiuniang."

"Da Lang is the most willful and capricious. If he wants to play with Jiu Niang again tomorrow, he will definitely run to the Wang family with great fanfare."

"A young lady from our Wang family is naturally noble and reserved. How could she lower herself to coax Dalang?"

"Even if the Wang family values ​​'hospitality' and doesn't want to mistreat the little guest, they'll have to let Jiu Niang accompany him. But, if this gets out, Jiu Niang's reputation will be ruined!"

I have to say that Cui put a lot of thought into what she said.

Some of the words touched Wang Lin's heart.

Yes, Lou Dalang is a little devil. He has only been in Hedong with the Lou family's wife for two or three days, but his reputation as a bastard and domineering person has already spread throughout the Hedong officialdom.

If his own daughter was involved with such a little lunatic... However, Wang Lang was somewhat unwilling to give in to Cui's wishes.

He raised his head and looked at Cui intently.

His eyes were gentle and affectionate, but his heart was filled with the urge for revenge.

Okay, this time, I will follow your wishes and send Ajiu to the farm temporarily.

But, don't think that I, Wang Lin, can be easily controlled.

"My lady is right! Am I inconsiderate, or am I careful and thoughtful?"

"On this matter, I'll listen to my wife!"

……

"Are you going to send Ajiu to Zhuangzi?"

Wang Heng stood obediently in front of Madam Xie. After hearing what Madam Xie said, she tilted her head, and her young face was full of confusion.

She seemed not to understand why her grandmother and father wanted to send her to the village for no reason.

Fu's mother and Bai Zhi, who were standing behind Wang Heng, were extremely anxious.

How could Jiu Niang go to Zhuangzi?

She didn't make any mistakes?!

However, in front of Madam Xie, Fu's mother and other servants did not dare to act rashly.

"...Yes! Let's go to our Wang family's farm in the east of the city..."

Even though Mrs. Xie didn't like Wang Heng, she felt a little sorry for her ignorant granddaughter.

Alas, he is still a child, it’s a pity that Cui family can’t tolerate him.

But now the Wang family still has to rely on the Cui family and the Lou family behind the Cui family.

"Jiu Niang, this matter is ultimately..." The Wang family owed her.

Mrs. Xie's hardened heart finally felt a tinge of guilt. She spoke to Wang Heng in a rare gentle tone, "Nineth Lady, if you have any requests, just tell Grandmother. As long as Grandmother can do it, she will definitely satisfy you!"

Hearing this, Wang Heng's eyes lit up, and she said to Madam Xie seriously, "Grandmother, will I be able to eat enough when I go to the village?"