After returning to the capital to farm, the abandoned concubine made a comeback.

Lin Qin was still excited as she held the lease agreement when she was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water.

The few thin banknotes in his hand trembled in front of the thick budget sheet.

Renovating a yard requires a lot of money!

She stared at the densely packed numbers, her brow furrowed so deeply it could trap a fly.

"This...this will take forever to save up!" Lin Qin rubbed her temples, feeling her head buzzing.

The gazes from those around him shifted from initial admiration to suspicion.

Whispers buzzed in her ears like mosquitoes, "Her? Can she even do it?" "I doubt it, what if we end up wasting our money?" These voices pierced Lin Qin's heart like needles, making her feel suffocated.

"No! I can't give up!" Lin Qin clenched the budget sheet tightly in her hand, her eyes shining with determination.

She refused to believe that, with her 21st-century business acumen, she could be intimidated by such a small difficulty.

Just do it!

Lin Qin began to inquire everywhere, looking for material suppliers with high cost performance.

She searched every street and alley in the capital, almost wearing her lips out, and finally found out about a carpenter named Wang in the suburbs who was skilled and had reasonable prices.

"Master Wang, do you think we can negotiate the price a little more?" Lin Qin stood in Wang the carpenter's workshop, pointing to the numbers on the price list, trying to bargain.

Carpenter Wang stroked his beard, looking troubled. "Young lady, this is already my lowest price. If you lower it any further, I really won't make any profit."

"Master Wang, how about this? I'll pay a deposit first, and the rest after the project is completed. Besides, I can help you promote it and guarantee your business will flourish!" Lin Qin used all her charm, appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him.

At first, Wang the carpenter was skeptical, but seeing Lin Qin's confident eyes, he was eventually moved.

He was amazed by Lin Qin's shrewdness and competence, and even more impressed by her boldness and decisiveness.

"Alright! Girl, I'll trust you this once!"

After signing the contract, Lin Qin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if a huge weight had finally been lifted from her heart.

Just as she was about to leave, a discordant voice came from the doorway: "Oh, isn't this Boss Lin? What, have you found a sucker?"

Before Lin Qin could respond to Sun the craftsman's provocation, the door to the house was pushed open, and Madam Li stormed in, her face full of anger.

She exudes an aura of authority that commands respect without anger, inspiring fear in those around her.

With a gentle flick of his oversized sleeves, a chill seemed to rise from the air.

"Lin Qin! What on earth are you up to!" Madam Li's voice was sharp as a needle, piercing the silence of the room.

Her eyes were like two sharp knives, fixed on Lin Qin as if trying to pierce through her.

Lin Qin frowned slightly, suppressing her unease, and went to greet her: "Madam Li, what do you mean by this?"

"What do you mean? How dare you ask!" Madam Li's tone became even more stern, her finger pointing at Lin Qin's face, almost poking her nose. "I am your elder, how dare you show your face in public! What kind of behavior is this! You are a woman, you should be a good wife and mother, stay at home and take care of your husband!"

Madam Li's words struck Lin Qin like a heavy blow.

She felt a tightness in her chest, but soon, a flame of defiance ignited within her.

She took a deep breath, her eyes resolute, and met Madam Li's fierce gaze, saying each word clearly: "Madam Li, times are changing. Why can't women have their own careers? Why can't they have their own dreams? I am not just Zhu Ling's wife; I am also a person with dreams and aspirations!"

Lin Qin's words were resounding and powerful, like a sharp sword that pierced through Madam Li's preconceived notions.

The air around them seemed to freeze; everyone held their breath, afraid to make a sound.

Madam Li's face flushed red, her lips trembled incessantly, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Just then, a light footstep sound came from outside the door, and Young Master Zhang appeared in the doorway.

He was carrying a small box in one hand and gently touching his chest with the other, clearly having just run there.

He looked at the determined Lin Qin,

"Sister Lin Qin, I'm here." Young Master Zhang's voice was soft, but full of strength.

He opened the small box in his hand, which was filled with various precious items related to folk crafts.

These collections represent the culmination of his years of hard work, and today he resolutely brought them out to support Lin Qin's cause.

Lin Qin raised her head and looked at Young Master Zhang, her eyes glistening with tears.

Her heart was filled with gratitude and warmth. She held Mr. Zhang's hand tightly and whispered, "Thank you, Mr. Zhang."

Young Master Zhang smiled knowingly, his eyes full of encouragement: "Sister Lin Qin, let's work together to pass this craft down!"

Lin Qin's heart was filled with warmth and strength. She took a deep breath and put on a firm smile.

Although Madam Li was still angry, her demeanor was not as imposing as before.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. A sense of unease swept through Lin Qin's heart. She turned to look at the door and saw Zhu Ling's figure appear in the doorway, his eyes filled with worry and determination.

Zhu Ling's appearance instantly eased the tense atmosphere.

He walked straight to Lin Qin, gently pulled her into his arms, and patted her back softly, offering silent comfort.

Then, he took out an exquisite food box from behind him, opened it, and inside was Lin Qin's favorite osmanthus cake, which emitted an enticing aroma.

He picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and gently brought it to Lin Qin's lips, his movements as tender as if he were handling a precious treasure.

"Eat something, don't overwork yourself." His deep voice was full of doting and care, which warmed Lin Qin's heart.

She obediently opened her mouth, took a small bite, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus cake spread in her mouth, as if it could melt away all her fatigue and grievances.

Lin Qin looked up and gazed into Zhu Ling's gentle eyes, her heart filled with emotion and happiness.

At this moment, she felt that she was the happiest woman in the world.

The eye contact between the two spoke volumes.

They nestled together, feeling each other's warmth and love, as if the whole world had shrunk to just the two of them.

Their relationship, after weathering the storms, became even stronger and deeper.

However, fate never seems to let them off easily.

Just as the exhibition was in the crucial stage of preparation, a sudden downpour began, with large raindrops hitting the ground hard and splashing up in bursts.

Lin Qin was extremely anxious. Without even opening her umbrella, she rushed into the yard in the pouring rain.

Rainwater streamed down her hair, blurring her vision, but she didn't bother to wipe it away; all she could see were the facilities that had been soaked by the rain.

She gritted her teeth and, together with the workers, did everything in her power to salvage the hard-won achievements.

The rain relentlessly lashed their bodies, and the cold wind whipped at their faces like knives, but none of them flinched. They held only one belief in their hearts: they must not let this downpour ruin their hard work!

Lin Qin's figure appeared particularly petite in the wind and rain, but she stood tall and firm like a pine tree.

She knew that this rainstorm was just a test, and as long as they didn't give up, they would definitely be able to overcome the difficulties!

Just then, Master Wang pointed to several boxes in the corner and shouted, "Boss Lin, those..."

Master Wang pointed tremblingly to several wooden crates in the corner, completely covered by tarpaulins, "Boss Lin, those...those are Old Wang's precious treasures, they absolutely mustn't get wet!"

Lin Qin's heart tightened, and she immediately rushed over and ripped off the tarpaulin.

The box contained Master Wang's life's work—a set of exquisitely crafted wooden puppets.

Every character is lifelike, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with exquisite makeup, as if they are about to come to life and perform a wonderful play at any moment.

However, due to the long period of preservation, some of the puppets' joints have become stiff, and their costumes have become somewhat worn.

"Master Wang, these puppets..." Lin Qin

Master Wang sighed, "Alas, these are all my precious treasures. It's a pity that I'm getting old now, my eyesight isn't good anymore, and my hands are shaking. I can't repair them even if I wanted to."

"Master Wang, don't worry, I'll give it a try!" Lin Qin's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. She had been skillful since childhood, especially good at handicrafts.

So, under the dim light, the two began their intense restoration work.

Lin Qin's movements were gentle and skillful, like a master embroiderer, giving the puppet new life with her nimble hands.

Master Wang provided guidance from the side, occasionally exclaiming in admiration: "Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Boss Lin, your skills are even better than Old Wang's back in the day!"

Lin Qin used a fine embroidery needle to sew up the fallen sequins one by one, and then used delicate paint to repaint the puppet's makeup.

Every move she made was full of focus and seriousness, as if she were treating a precious work of art.

Master Wang watched from the side.

Time passed by, and with their combined efforts, the puppeteers were transformed. Each character was lifelike, as if they were about to jump out of the box and perform a wonderful show.

Looking at these exquisite works, Lin Qin's face revealed a confident smile.

She gently stroked the smooth surface of the puppet, her heart filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment.

"Now we're much more confident about our presentation!"

The torrential rain gradually subsided, and a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon.

A new day is about to begin, which also heralds the approaching exhibition.

Lin Qin looked up at the sky, took a deep breath,

"Master Wang, let's go." Lin Qin's voice trembled slightly.

"Hmm." Master Wang nodded silently and followed Lin Qin toward the exhibition venue.

The first rays of dawn shone on the earth, illuminating the entrance to the exhibition hall.

Above the main gate hangs a brand-new plaque with several gilded characters: Folk Arts and Crafts Exhibition.

Lin Qin stood at the door, took a deep breath, and slowly pushed the door open...

With a creak, the sound of the door opening was particularly clear in the quiet morning...