After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

Gu Hanyue left dejectedly after failing to get any money from the Chen family.

The maidservant in the carriage chimed in with a complaint, "The old lady used to indulge you in everything, but now that you're crying, she remains unmoved."

Gu Hanyue glanced at her: "Who are you to comment?"

"I'm sorry, Madam. I just spoke too quickly. Perhaps it's because the old lady's life here isn't as good as it was before, but she still loves you."

"If only the master were here, he would spoil his wife the most. If she wanted to start a business, he would definitely give her the money directly and even have Master Su mentor her."

Gu Hanyue's eyes flickered, and then, thinking about her second brother's reaction, she asked, "Is that so?"

The young maid, unaware of their complicated relationship, mustered her courage and said, "Of course! Master treats you very well. Back in the manor, he knew you were afraid of the cold, so our courtyard had the largest share of silver charcoal in the entire manor."

"Last year, the old man hunted a bear and even had a cloak made and sent it to your house. The old man is truly good to you."

"is it?"

Gu Hanyue shook her head. No, her mother had always told her that those who were not from the same mother would not treat each other with their whole heart.

Besides, the fact that Su Xiuran gave her the aged tea meant that she was destined not to be able to go to the Minister's residence.

But it doesn't matter, it won't be the Minister's residence for long.

Gu Hanyue thought sinisterly, without the Minister's Mansion, what does Gu Xinyi have to compare with her?

Back at the Lin residence, Lin's mother had already prepared chicken soup and was waiting for them.

"Mother, why are you standing at the gate?"

Lin's mother took Gu Hanyue's hand affectionately and said, "I've made chicken soup. Come and taste it, how does it taste?"

Gu Hanyue sipped the fragrant chicken soup, the chicken meat melting in her mouth.

Lin's mother quickly asked, "How is it? It tastes good, right?"

Gu Hanyue nodded: "The chicken melts in your mouth; Mother must have paused for a long time."

Lin's mother smiled kindly: "It hasn't been long, just since you left the manor. I've been keeping watch over you the whole time."

"so long?"

Lin's mother nodded: "It'll be more nutritious if you cook it a little longer, so drink more."

Gu Hanyue's eyes burned with emotion, she was deeply moved, and she had long forgotten what the little maid had said.

Her mother-in-law was really good to her. Although her husband held a low-ranking official position, she was the only one in the house, unlike other people whose rooms were a mess.

She remembered that Su Xiuran had also made her chicken soup, which tasted so bad that she vomited.

Now, as she drinks Lin's mother's chicken soup, she even suspects that Su Xiuran is deliberately messing with her. How could anyone make such a simple chicken soup taste so bad!

Yes, Su Xiuran must have done it on purpose.

Having just suffered some grievances at Mrs. Chen's, she was now healed by a bowl of chicken soup. Tears welled in her eyes as she said, "Thank you, Mother, you are so good to me."

Lin's mother patted her hand: "I only have one daughter-in-law. If I'm not good to you, who else should I be good to?"

Gu Hanyue lowered her head and smiled.

Lin's mother watched Gu Hanyue lower her head and drink the soup, and suddenly sighed.

"What's wrong, Mother? Why are you sighing?"

Lin's mother sadly wiped her eyes with a handkerchief: "Mother, what's wrong? Has someone bullied you?"

"nothing"

Gu Hanyue grew anxious: "What exactly happened to Mother? If you don't tell me, Hanyue will worry."

Lin's mother sighed, "Today I went to Jinbaozhai and saw a jade bracelet. I took a few more glances at it, and then Old Madam Zhou snatched it away."

They even said that our Lin family couldn't afford such an expensive bracelet.

Gu Hanyue pursed her lips: "How much did that bracelet cost?"

"It's not expensive, only eight hundred taels. I didn't intend to buy it, but that old lady Zhou's words were too rude. She looked down on me, which means she looks down on my son and daughter-in-law, doesn't it?"

"Now that Shaozhong is about to be promoted, we mustn't let any rumors spread."

Gu Hanyue frowned. Isn't eight hundred taels too much?

She tried to please Su Xiuran, but sometimes she wouldn't even earn eight hundred taels a year.

"That……"

Gu Hanyue said with a heavy heart, "I'll give Mother eight hundred taels to buy a similar one. Our Lin family can't lose face."

Lin's mother immediately stopped crying: "This isn't right..."

Gu Hanyue: "It's nothing. My mother treats me so well; consider this my way of showing filial piety to her."

Lin's mother was so moved that she said a lot of nice things before leaving.

The maidservant helped Madam Lin up, saying, "Madam, the young mistress is truly wealthy; she took eight hundred taels of silver so easily."

Lin's mother snorted, "They can't even give birth to a son, what's wrong with taking some money?"

After saying that, she patted the hand of the maid beside her: "Hurry up, as long as you give birth to a son, I'll have the young master make you his concubine. With me backing you up, she won't be able to bully you."

The maid immediately knelt down: "Yes, thank you, Madam."

Lin's mother: "I've invited Shaozhong to my yard for dinner tonight. You'd better put in some effort; I specially made that chicken soup for you."

The maid's ears turned red, and she lowered her head, saying, "Yes, thank you, Madam."

Gu Hanyue closed the door, took out the money box, and counted the silver. With 2,800 taels suddenly taken away, there wasn't much left.

Gu Hanyue counted a few more times, feeling a bit annoyed. Oh well, she'd have money after selling the grain in a while anyway.

In the pawn shop...

The manager asked very respectfully, "Miss, would you like to sell or pawn this gold hairpin?"

"Sell"

Lin Xiaoxiao smoothed her hair: "This gold hairpin should be worth at least five hundred taels, right?"

"This hairpin is quite heavy and beautifully carved. I know a thing or two about hairpins; don't try to fool me."

The manager quickly replied, "Yes, yes, according to the rules, I must take a look."

Lin Xiaoxiao gave the maid a look and continued drinking her tea. What was there to see? Did Su Zihao really think he would try to fool her with inferior goods?

The maidservant went over with the gold hairpin.

The steward examined her carefully, and after a moment, he glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao's clothes and said tactfully, "Miss, the quality of this hairpin is off. Could it have been switched by an ignorant servant?"

Lin Xiaoxiao frowned: "What do you mean by this, Steward? Are you saying that the quality of my hairpin is not good?"

Seeing that she didn't understand, the steward said directly, "Miss, this hairpin is fake."

"Impossible," Lin Xiaoxiao said firmly.

How could Su Zihao, who is so infatuated with her, possibly give her a fake hairpin?

"Does the manager think I'm an easy target because I'm just a woman, and want to try and bargain?"

The manager was also somewhat displeased: "Miss, you're joking. Our pawnshop has been in business for decades, and we would never do such a thing as cheating our customers. We don't accept fakes."

"If you don't believe me, you can go to other pawnshops."

Lin Xiaoxiao assumed the other party was trying to bargain, and stormed off without looking back.

The maid complained from behind, "That manager is awful! He clearly wants to bargain but he's saying our hairpins are fake."

Let's go to the next pawnshop.

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded and sat down in the teahouse to wait. She let the maid take over, as she didn't want to encounter that kind of incompetent manager again.

The maidservant emerged from the pawnshop looking utterly disheveled.

Lin Xiaoxiao: "What's wrong? How much money did you get?"

The maid's eyes were almost red with anger: "Miss, I've been to two pawnshops, but neither of them will accept it!"

Lin Xiaoxiao's fingers curled slightly, and her expression was quite unpleasant.

Su Zihao would never lie to her, would he?

Could it be that the pawnshop saw a maid coming to the pawnshop alone and assumed she had stolen the items, not wanting to get into trouble, so they refused to accept them?

If that's the case, then it makes sense. After all, that gold hairpin is clearly not an ordinary item, and it's normal for those small pawnshops not to want to offend their owners.

"Miss, this hairpin belongs to Jinbaozhai. Why don't we go directly to Jinbaozhai and ask? They certainly won't mistake their own hairpin."

Lin Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded and went with them.

After all, she desperately needed the money.