The Cannon Fodder in Quick Transmigration Refuses the Usual Path

Chapter 629: The Antagonist Cannon Fodder in the Imperial Examination Story 13

Unfortunately, no one could answer that question for now.

Holding her daughter, whose eyes were dazed and full of exhaustion, Second Aunt Lin felt her entire heart ache. This usually sharp-tongued woman was now at a loss for words: "It's all my fault. I was blinded back then. I shouldn't have failed to stop that biased couple from making you take money from your in-laws' house!"

If it weren't for those things, perhaps her daughter's life would be a bit easier!

Just thinking about how every time she returned home, her daughter had to humble herself and be subservient in front of her mother-in-law for a good while, and also endure the sour, jealous words of her sisters-in-law, Second Aunt Lin wished she could rush to the front room right then and there to curse them out.

That old hag, how could she bully someone like this!

Hearing this, in the narrow room, Lin Er Nier hurriedly lifted her sleeve and wiped the tears from her face clean: "What are you saying, how can this be blamed on you, Mother? What kind of personalities do Grandpa and Grandma have? If I didn't give, how would you, Father, and my younger brother manage your days at home?"

Her cousin brother, he was Grandpa and Grandma's precious life.

Besides, everyone knew that she, Er Nier, was able to marry into the Wang Family thanks to her cousin brother. Without the family's support, her situation would only be worse.

She would inevitably be gossiped about.

"Earlier, because of my situation, Mother's outburst already offended Grandpa and Grandma to the core..."Lin Er Nier hurriedly spoke up.

If her mother hadn't made that scene back then, crying and threatening to hang herself by the neck, even almost putting a knife to her own throat, then the one sold off to be a maid wouldn't have been her eldest sister, but her instead.

A cousin sister being a maid sounds slightly better than a biological sister being a maid.

But in all honesty, she wasn't as pretty as her eldest sister, nor was she as clever. Her eldest sister could catch the eye of a great household's old madam, become a favored concubine, have both sons and daughters, and enjoy a life of wealth and luxury. If it were her turn, she might just be a drab, gray kitchen maid her whole life.

Wait for the family to redeem her? That was even more impossible!

Er Nier thought despondently, even her own biological sister couldn't wait for that, let alone her, a mere cousin sister?

Her parents? Over the years, the family had been drained dry for the sake of her cousin brother. Where would her parents have any spare money?

In short, that night, apart from the second household who hugged each other and wept, the other branches of the Lin family also spent a sleepless night.

However, none of this concerned the Liang family in the county town.

It was the third month of spring, and the weather was about to warm up. Finally, Tutor Yang had given them a holiday, and the young sisters gathered together again to play *chuiwan*.

*Chuiwan*, or hitting a small ball, was a popular pastime that rose during the previous dynasty. The rules were very simple: use a mallet to hit a ball into a hole.

Not only did officials and scholars outside enjoy it, but young ladies from boudoirs loved playing it too, and even An Ning was no exception.

Soon, excited shouts from young girls came from an empty spot beside the bamboo garden!

"Aha, I won again!"

Wearing a neat, honey-colored narrow-sleeved gauze robe with hibiscus and plum blossom patterns, still holding the victorious pose from just hitting the ball into the hole, Liang Eldest Miss at that moment lifted her little head high, shouting quite proudly towards her two younger sisters.

Of course, most of it was directed at An Ning beside her, who had just failed her shot.

Hehe, although she wasn't as smart as Second Sister in her studies, alright, she wasn't as good as Third Sister either. But in other things, facts proved that she, the big sister, was still worthy of the title.

Not far away, An Ning exchanged a look with Xuan Yu beside her, then very cooperatively stood up together and started clapping their little hands:

"Big Sister is amazing!"

"Big Sister is the best!"

A young girl in her teens was precisely at the age where she cared about face.

Seeing the admiring looks in her two younger sisters' eyes, sure enough, Liang Eldest Miss became even more energized. She pulled her two "clumsy" younger sisters who were not used to physical activity and kept playing until noon. Seeing that lunch was about to be served, she finally, urged by the maids nearby, ordered the servants to pack up all the equipment.

Finally, as the three sisters headed back, they couldn't help but sigh regretfully:

Such wonderful spring scenery, why didn't Tutor Yang give a few more days of holiday!

Thinking about studying made their heads ache. Might as well go back and look at account books with Mother instead.

Hearing her elder sister's quiet muttering, An Ning beside her couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. Right, her big sister was definitely a severe case of hyperactivity combined with advanced study-aversion syndrome.

It was Xuan Yu beside her who couldn't help but speak up softly:

"Big Sister, actually, Tutor Yang teaches very well."

Of course, Concubine Lin taught even better. Xuan Yu, who occasionally came to play in the west courtyard, couldn't help but feel yearning.

Unlike Madam, who had a powerful family background and a large dowry to rely on, Concubine Lin was highly learned. Even without powerful fathers or brothers behind her, not to mention Father, even Madam of the main residence treated her with respect.

Compared to Mother who often subsidized her maternal family and relied on others, Liang Third Miss felt that this was something she could rely on in the future, or rather, something she could grasp in her own hands.

Second Sister was so smart, it must definitely be because Concubine Lin was clever and studious!

"I know that too!" Kicking a flower bud nearby, Liang Eldest Miss couldn't help but sigh: "But as soon as I hear the teacher reciting texts, my eyes just can't help but want to close!"

What to do, she was desperate too! Especially compared to her second sister, who could memorize most of any book at a single glance.

But hearing this, Mother actually didn't scold her, although her expression was a bit complicated...

Thinking of this, Liang Eldest Miss couldn't help but perk up again, quickly tossing these thoughts to the back of her mind: "Second Sister, Third Sister, do you know? I heard that those great households in the capital, they even have horse ranches!"

Not only could they ride horses, they could also play polo!

Just thinking about it sounds fun!

It was fun indeed. Thinking of the carefree ease of her previous life, An Ning seriously nodded her little head: "It must be even more fun than *chuiwan*!"

A flash of envy also passed through little Third Miss's eyes.

However, something like a horse ranch, in this dynasty, definitely wasn't something an ordinary merchant family could afford to have.

Amitabha, I hope Mother (and the reportedly very studious Second Brother) can be a bit more impressive!

For once, at this moment, An Ning's thoughts were actually in sync with her big sister's.

Not gonna lie, playing with innocent, lively little sisters was truly joyful!

After feeding the little fish in the pavilion one more time, the three sisters happily went their separate ways.

On the way back, she heard that someone from the Old Lin Family had come, a mother and daughter pair, but they had already been stopped at the gate by the butler. It was said to be on Madam's orders.

What to do, she felt even happier!

With teammates this capable, it seems the horse ranch Big Sister mentioned might not be impossible after all!