During the first three days of Zhao Di’er’s “atonement” at Little Lin Manor, everyone on the estate felt the sincerity of this escort agency heiress.
She took on all the heavy work.
Before dawn, she was already up chopping firewood, stacking the back courtyard’s woodshed so full the door wouldn’t even close.
Then she went to the stable to groom the horses—all three were brushed until their coats gleamed, and even the horseshoes were polished to a shine.
After that, she picked up a broom and swept the entire courtyard, from front to back, all the way to the field ridges—even the corner where A-Gua kept his pigeons didn’t escape her notice.
“Miss—Miss Zhao…” A-Gua clutched his pigeon feed bowl, watching as she wiped down his meticulously arranged pigeon loft until it was spotless, looking like he was about to cry. “You don’t have to scrub the pigeon coop too…”
“It’s no trouble.” Zhao Di’er didn’t even look up. “I said I’d atone, and I mean to show sincerity.”
A-Gua: “But the pigeons have flown away…”
Only then did Zhao Di’er notice that all three carrier pigeons were perched on the eaves, staring warily at this sudden “cleaning demon” who had appeared out of nowhere.
“…I’ll go catch them.” She put down her rag and vaulted onto the roof with practiced agility.
A-Gua watched her chase the pigeons across the rooftop, silently grieving for his precious birds.
Wei Fuyu, meanwhile, was thoroughly entertained.
Leaning against a pillar, munching on an apple Nurse Lin had given her, she said to Lin Shuying: “Shuying, this Zhao Di’er is really efficient at work. If I didn’t know she was here to atone, I’d want to hire her as a laborer.”
Lin Shuying sat under the corridor sipping tea, watching Zhao Di’er engage in a battle of wits with the pigeons on the roof, a faint smile on her lips: “She feels guilty.”
“True.” Wei Fuyu nodded. “If it were me—if I’d attracted bad people who nearly hurt a friend—I’d feel guilty too.”
Lin Shuying glanced at her: “You understand her pretty well.”
“We martial artists are straightforward.” Wei Fuyu took a bite of her apple. “Everything she’s thinking is written all over her face—much easier to deal with than those conniving types.”
On that point, Lin Shuying agreed.
Zhao Di’er was indeed easy to read.
She liked her second brother, so she chased him three thousand li.
She felt guilty, so she worked herself to the bone.
She admitted her mistakes openly and without excuse.
She didn’t hide anything or make excuses.
People like that were rare in this era.
“Oh, by the way,” Wei Fuyu leaned in, “how long are you planning to make her atone?”
Lin Shuying thought for a moment: “Depends on her performance. Anyway, the estate really is short-handed—she’s good at martial arts, so keeping her as a guard works out well.”
“What about me?” Wei Fuyu widened her eyes. “I’m the officially appointed instructor!”
“You never said you were leaving.” Lin Shuying laughed. “You keep being the instructor, she’ll be a guard—no conflict.”
Wei Fuyu was satisfied with that and took another bite of her apple: “That’s true. I handle training, she handles patrols. If we learn her escort agency’s patrol methods, the estate will be even safer.”
Lin Shuying nodded—that was exactly what she had in mind.
The more famous you became, the more eyes watched you.
Relying solely on Wei Fuyu really wasn’t enough.
Zhao Di’er being willing to stay was just right.
Just then, Zhao Di’er came down from the roof.
She had caught all three pigeons one by one, put them back in the loft, and kindly scattered some corn to calm them down.
“Second Miss,” she walked over, a smudge of dust still on her forehead, “anything else to do?”
“Take a break.” Lin Shuying poured her a cup of tea. “Your wounds have just healed—don’t push yourself too hard.”
“My wounds are long healed.” Zhao Di’er rolled her shoulder. “That wound medicine of yours works wonders—the scab formed by the third day.”
Lin Shuying smiled.
That wound medicine was her own improved version, with optimized styptic herbs added—it really was more effective than what was available on the market. But she couldn’t say that, so she just said: “It’s an old family recipe from Auntie Liu’s family—I just added a few extra ingredients.”
Zhao Di’er didn’t press further. She took the tea, drained it in one gulp, wiped her mouth, and said: “Second Miss, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Your estate’s walls are too low.” Zhao Di’er pointed at the outer walls. “Not even a zhang high—climbing over them is like stepping over a threshold. If you ask me, they should be raised to two zhang, and the top should be embedded with broken porcelain shards so anyone trying to climb gets their hands cut.”
Wei Fuyu nodded beside her: “She’s right. I’ve climbed them—too easy.”
Lin Shuying blinked skeptically: “…You—you climb your own walls for what?”
“Training,” Wei Fuyu said matter-of-factly. “My father always said—no matter how good the walls are, nothing beats being good at martial arts yourself. So I practice climbing walls every day.”
Lin Shuying decided not to debate defense tactics with these two martial arts nuts: “Fine—raise the walls, add the porcelain shards on top. Miss Zhao, make a list of materials and labor needed. I’ll have A-Gua handle it.”
“And patrols,” Zhao Di’er continued. “I took a walk around the estate last night and found several blind spots that can’t be seen in the dark. We need to add lanterns or set up fixed guard posts.”
“You’re in charge of patrols.” Lin Shuying set down her teacup with a smile. “From today on, you’re Little Lin Manor’s chief of security. Monthly pay—twenty taels, room and board included—same as Instructor Wei.”
Zhao Di’er was taken aback: “Second Miss, I’m here to atone…”
“Atonement is atonement, work is work.” Lin Shuying’s tone was calm, her eyes carrying a gentle softness rare for her age. “You work for me, I pay you—that’s separate. Otherwise, you’d be eating and living here for free, and I’d feel bad about it.”
Zhao Di’er opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words. After a long moment, she nodded: “Fine. Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
“Don’t. From now on, you’re one of us.”
Zhao Di’er’s eyes suddenly reddened. She turned her face away: “I’ll go measure the walls.” With that, she strode off.
Wei Fuyu watched her go and murmured: “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Giving her a position so she’d feel better.”
Lin Shuying took a sip of tea: “She’s suited for this anyway. Making her chop wood and groom horses was wasting her talent.”
Wei Fuyu gave her a thumbs-up: “Good at managing people. No wonder you’re the boss.”
The two exchanged a smile.
— —
The wall project was quickly settled.
Zhao Di’er moved with lightning speed—by the next day, she’d drawn up the plans and listed all the materials. Lin Shuying had A-Gua handle the purchasing, and also had her eldest brother Lin Moqian find a crew of bricklayers. Within three days, the walls were raised to two zhang, with the tops embedded with porcelain shards and iron spikes.
The estate’s laborers marveled at the new walls: “This wall—can it really keep thieves out?”
Zhao Di’er stood on top and glanced down: “It won’t stop me. But it’s enough for ordinary people.”
Wei Fuyu, unconvinced, climbed up as well.
The two traded a few moves atop the wall, leaving the laborers below watching in terror.
“Come down! Come down!” Forester Chen shouted from below. “That’s a wall, not a training ground!”
The two jumped down and brushed the dust off their hands.
“Not bad,” Zhao Di’er commented, smacking her lips. “But we still need to add more guard posts and set up night patrol shifts.”
“You’re in charge.” Lin Shuying had just watched their sparring match with bated breath, and now had A-Gua call all the household servants together.
“Starting today, Miss Zhao is in charge of the estate’s security. Her shift schedule goes—any objections, come to me.”
The servants exchanged glances.
One bold soul asked: “Miss Zhao, do we have to learn martial arts from you?”
Zhao Di’er looked at him: “You want to learn?”
“Yes!” The servant’s eyes lit up. “I heard you’re the daughter of the Zhao Family Escort Agency—your sword skills are legendary!”
Zhao Di’er nodded: “Alright. Every morning at the fifth watch, gather in the back courtyard. Instructor Wei will teach staff techniques; I’ll teach sword techniques. Anyone who wants to learn, come.”
This sent a wave of excitement through the estate.
“Miss, I want to learn too!” A-Gua raised his hand and pushed to the front row. “If I learn martial arts, I won’t have to worry about bandits when delivering messages!”
Lin Shuying looked at him: “Don’t you have pigeons? Carrier pigeons—no running required.”
“Still need to learn! What if someone shoots the pigeons down?”
“…Fine, learn if you want.”
So starting the next day, the back courtyard of Little Lin Manor became a training ground.
At the fifth watch, just as dawn was breaking, Zhao Di’er and Wei Fuyu each took one side—one teaching sword techniques, the other teaching staff techniques.
The servants split into two groups, following along with the movements. Though their forms were clumsy, their spirits were high.
Lin Shuying stood under the corridor watching for a while, then remarked: “Am I running an estate or a martial arts school?”
A Li brought over breakfast and laughed: “Miss, you’re cultivating both civil and martial pursuits—farming out front, training in the back. Well-rounded development.”
Lin Shuying was amused: “You sure know how to sum things up.”
“Oh, by the way, Miss,” A Li lowered her voice and leaned in closer, “the Gu family sent another gift. Another apology—this time, several bolts of fine silk and a set of scholar’s stationery. The master sent them over and said you should decide what to do with them.”
“Didn’t I say to return the apology gifts?”
“The master said… this time, the Gu family’s patriarch came forward personally, so it wouldn’t be polite to refuse. Keep the gifts for now—use them or not as you please.” A Li paused, then added, “He also said the Gu family has made it known that they no longer acknowledge that descendant.”
Lin Shuying was silent for a moment, then nodded: “Keep the gifts. Use the silk to make Nurse Lin some clothes, and put the stationery in the study. As for the Gu family… let this matter end here.”
“Yes.”
Lin Shuying stood under the corridor, watching the lively training scene in the back courtyard, then looked out at the lush green melon fields in the front. Gradually, her heart settled. She turned and went back to the study.
— —
She had only written the opening of “On the Improvement and Yield Increase of Jiangnan Paddy Fields” last time—she wanted to finish it soon.
Just as she was writing with intense focus, A-Gua knocked and entered to report: “Miss, the Second Young Master is here.”
In the front hall.
Lin Jingshen limped in, his face somewhat pale, but his back still held straight. He lifted the hem of his robe—his waist was covered in purple-black bruises, not yet fully healed.
Lin Jingshen bared his teeth with a wince and slowly settled into the cushioned armchair: “Good thing you weren’t there to watch this time… Father and Eldest Brother really don’t hold back.”
Lin Shuying raised an eyebrow—it seemed the messages from home hadn’t exaggerated.
Her third brother had also come two days ago and stayed for quite a while, describing it in vivid detail.
She understood Father and Eldest Brother’s intentions, but she still felt sorry for her second brother: “If you’re not healed, don’t go running around.”
“Couldn’t stay put.” Lin Jingshen took the tea A Li handed him and had a sip. “Zhao Di’er is here—I was afraid she’d…”
“Afraid she’d what?”
“Afraid she’d bully you.” Lin Jingshen said it with conviction, but his eyes darted.
Lin Shuying saw right through him but didn’t expose it: “Miss Zhao is great—works hard and even took the initiative to set up the estate’s defenses. You can rest easy.”
Lin Jingshen let out an “oh” and glanced toward the courtyard.
In the yard, Zhao Di’er was helping the servants reinforce the pigeon loft—A-Gua had begged her, saying the pigeons had been frightened and needed a more secure coop.
“Second Brother,” Lin Shuying got up and handed him a bowl of ginseng soup, “if you want to talk to her, just go. Don’t be so stiff.”
“Who wants to talk to her?” Lin Jingshen was stubborn, taking a sip of the soup and burning his mouth, wincing.
Just then, Zhao Di’er passed by the window, heard the commotion, and glanced inside.
Their eyes met, and both froze for a moment.
Then Zhao Di’er gave a slight nod and continued on her way.
Lin Jingshen nodded back and lowered his head to drink his soup.
Lin Shuying watched, amused.
These two—both as stubborn as mules—but neither unreasonable.
“Second Brother, how long are you staying?”
“One night, then I’m off.” Lin Jingshen put down the bowl, his brow never relaxing. “My injuries aren’t fully healed—I still need to apply medicine back home.”
“Alright—I’ll have A Li arrange a room for you.”
Leave a Reply