Making you a son-in-law is not about making you conquer the world.

"What a foolish woman, she's the kind who gets sold out and still helps the seller count the money." Lin Ping felt a pang of self-reproach, but finally said in a low voice, "Let her in."

Ye Liangchen responded and hurriedly opened the door, immediately putting on a fawning smile. This was his future teacher's wife; he had to start currying favor with her from now on.

Approaching them was Zhou Xiyin, dressed in a milky white dress. Upon seeing Lin Ping, she immediately lowered her head and became very tiptoe.

Before parting yesterday, the two had a fight. Lin Ping made it clear that she shouldn't come again, but she still showed up anyway, which made her easy to be looked down upon.

As expected, Lin Ping walked up to Zhou Xiyin in a sarcastic tone, about to launch into a tirade.

Zhou Xiyin was a young lady from a wealthy family, and she had never suffered such grievances before. She wanted to get angry but didn't know where to start, since she was in the wrong. Suddenly, her nose tingled and she almost burst into tears.

"Foolish woman, are you really stupid? Aren't you hot standing in the sun? Why didn't you come in earlier?" Lin Ping said angrily, but then kindly took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Where's the promised sarcasm and irony?

Why does it sound more like a statement of concern?

Zhou Xiyin was completely bewildered. Was this still the lecherous thief she knew? Why was he showing concern for people now?

“My father’s cough is getting really bad again, and he told me to come and brew the medicine,” Zhou Xiyin explained in a low voice, meaning that she was forced to come, not because she wanted to.

"Oh... the medicine is in the backyard, go and brew it yourself," Lin Ping said calmly, deliberately suppressing his wicked thoughts.

He wasn't after Zhou Xiyin's vast wealth, but rather her budding, girlish heart. It was hard not to feel a little reluctant. Besides, Zhou Xiyin despised men who were overly attentive for no reason. You'd better be aloof and only show up when you should, and not when you shouldn't.

Zhou Xiyin walked easily to the backyard, picked up an axe with her still unhealed little hand, and stared at the wooden stick as if her enemy was dead.

She was truly exasperated. Did Xuanji Hall not even have a few pieces of chopped firewood?

She's a delicate woman, yet she always has to do rough and tiring work.

Perhaps remembering Zhou Xiyin's still-healing hand injury, or perhaps seeing the trembling axe, Lin Ping angrily snatched the axe from her hand, shouting, "You're so stupid! I'll do it!"

"Hmph, if you want to come, then come. Why are you being so mean to people?" Zhou Xiyin watched from the side, not particularly angry.

Lin Ping was definitely her nemesis. Every time, he could ignite the anger in her heart, but he could also extinguish that anger without making a sound.

Zhou Xiyin's emotions were completely led by the nose.

Chopping wood, starting a fire, and decocting medicine were all routine actions for Lin Ping, without any hesitation. What followed was a long wait.

"Have you been doing this kind of hard work since you were a child?" Zhou Xiyin asked softly, always feeling that Lin Ping was somewhat mysterious.

In her mind, dirty and hard work was done by servants, who had no opportunity to receive an education. Lin Ping was an exception; he was not only good at working, but also knew how to read and write, and even had superb medical skills.

“When I was a child, my family was poor and we couldn’t afford to go to school. I could only help my parents with some of the burden. During the busy farming season, I worked in the fields, and during the sweltering heat, I carried bricks at the brickyard. Although it was hard work, I felt at peace.” Lin Ping answered softly with his back turned, both as an answer to Zhou Xiyin and as a reflection on himself.

That was Lin Ping's childhood, and also the deepest emotion buried in his heart. Since his transmigration, he had never mentioned it to anyone.

To outsiders, he was a complete spendthrift; if he were to say such a thing, he'd be beaten to death. Only Zhou Xiyin, unaware of his identity in Jiangcheng Prefecture, was somewhat distressed upon hearing it.

"With your abilities, you should be able to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, right?" Zhou Xiyin asked, puzzled, her words full of trust in Lin Ping.

Although scholars were the lowest-ranking literati, they could enjoy subsidies from the state and even live a life free from worries about food and clothing, so they didn't have to do those dirty and tiring jobs.

Lin Ping also knew that Wu Guo valued scholars, and once one obtained the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination), one could live a life free from worries about food and drink. However, this was not the case in the era he lived in. Even with the exemption of tuition and fees for nine years, it was still not enough to make a living.

Lin Ping didn't want to continue the topic, partly because he was afraid he wouldn't be able to control his sadness, and partly because he was afraid of letting something slip.

"Aren't you a rich young lady? Why are you dressed so shabbily?" Lin Ping changed to a tone that seemed designed to provoke a beating, full of sarcasm.

"It's all because of your bullshit rules, Lin Wuqing. If I were wearing fine silk and satin, I probably wouldn't even be able to get through the gate!" Zhou Xiyin pouted, wanting to retort, and even clenched her little fists.

"Don't move! Wait for me!" Just as Zhou Xiyin was about to lose her temper, Lin Ping suddenly stood up and pressed down on her shoulder, his words full of tenderness.

Zhou Xiyin's big eyes kept blinking as she actually squatted down and waited for Lin Ping to return.

"Zhou Xiyin, what's wrong with you? Why are you listening to this lecherous scoundrel?" Zhou Xiyin secretly despised herself, thinking that she would definitely teach Lin Ping a lesson later. Ideally, it would be red, or perhaps green.

When Lin Ping came out again, Zhou Xiyin's attention was not on him at all, but on a white dress in his hand with shining eyes. She couldn't help it; she was a sucker for good looks and had no resistance to such beautiful clothes.

"This dress is so beautiful!" Zhou Xiyin rushed over, but luckily Lin Ping dodged in time, otherwise she might have been captivated.

"This is a chiffon dress, high-end, elegant, and classy. It's one hundred taels of silver. Want to buy it?" Lin Ping deliberately spread out the dress, its graceful movements resembling those of a young girl dancing.

One hundred taels of silver for a dress?

Has this guy gone mad?! Why don't you just rob it yourself?

Therefore, Zhou Xiyin angrily replied, "I'll buy it!"

After speaking, she snatched the skirt from Lin Ping's hands with a righteous air.

"Wear this dress tomorrow, so people won't mistake this for a beggar's shelter," Lin Ping said irritably, his sinister intentions written all over his face.

Isn't it all just to see beautiful women for free? Why are you so self-righteous about it?

Zhou Xiyin glared at him first, then rushed into Lin Ping's bedroom and said sternly, "Don't come in!"

The purpose was obvious: Zhou Xiyin wanted to try on the clothes on the spot, otherwise the hundred taels of silver would be wasted if they didn't fit.

Of course, Zhou Xiyin had another purpose, which was to dazzle Lin Ping and see if he would dare to say that he looked like a beggar again.

This was a dress that Lin Ping instructed Wang Xiao'e to take measurements for Zhou Xiyin. How could it not fit? As for how the measurements were taken, only Lin Ping and heaven know.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhou Xiyin walked out with her head down, her face full of shyness, and softly asked, "Does it look good?"