Chapter 53: Jujubes and Osmanthus Seeds

Lin May let out a couple of muffled grunts and began to struggle, but how could his meager strength possibly match Lin Chuyi's? In the end, the two of them simply stood face to face, glaring at each other in a stubborn stalemate.

"Lin Chuyi, can you possibly be any more childish?" Lin July rescued the little fellow and looked at her speechlessly.

She was already a grown-up, yet she was still bickering with a child. Truly, words failed her.

Lin Chuyi let out a soft hrumph, pinched the little fellow's cheek, and turned to sprint away.

She hadn't been running for long when a matronly servant nearby hurriedly chased after her, shouting, "Eldest Miss, you must walk with the ceremonial procession! You cannot disrupt the rules!"

Lin Chuyi turned a deaf ear and simply ran forward at full tilt.

She didn't dare stay a moment longer. If that little rascal accidentally let something slip, wouldn't her father chop her into pieces?

The matron slapped her thigh in exasperation and shouted hastily, "Third Miss, hurry up and catch up! Quickly, quickly, everyone keep up!"

With that, the entire group marched off in a comical, utterly chaotic, and formation-less mob.

Mo Yu the corners of his lips curved upward, watching the slender retreating figure with amusement.

Seeing Lin Chuyi's conspicuously panicked flight, Lin Zhixiang let out a cold snort, though he let her be. How could he not know what kind of things that girl had stuffed in her cloth bag? He simply chose to turn a blind eye.

***

Once Lin Chuyi and the others had left, Mo Yu and Lin July no longer delayed, turning and heading in the opposite direction.

Because the men and women were not allowed to meet before the competition started, the inns they stayed at were naturally miles apart.

When Lin Chuyi and her group arrived at Fuyuan Inn, several maidservants and matrons came forward to greet them.

"Oh my, Eldest Miss Lin, you've finally arrived!"

Lin Chuyi rubbed her nose, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Where are the young ladies?"

The matron immediately, in a bustling flurry, pulled Lin Chuyi toward the stairs, saying, "They're all upstairs, just waiting for Miss to come and escort them."

Lin Chuyi let out an acknowledgment, motioned for Lin September to follow, and rushed upward with an air of excitement.

The matron left behind in the dust was utterly dumbfounded. Weren't they just moving at a snail's pace a moment ago? Why the sudden rush?

Lin Chuyi dashed straight upstairs, kicked open the first guest room, and found three people inside: two young ladies around sixteen or seventeen years of age, and a matron.

Seeing the newcomer, the matron immediately stepped forward with a beaming smile. "Miss Lin."

"Granny," Lin Chuyi walked over with a beaming smile to greet her, then looked toward the two young women inside and asked, "The two of you must be the young ladies participating in this festival. How should I address you?"

***

"This is my young mistress, Lin Zishan."

"Hello." Lin Zishan bowed respectfully to Lin Chuyi.

She appeared to be a gentle and quiet young woman.

Lin Chuyi nodded, but then turned to look at the other young woman and asked, "And you? Where is the matron who looks after you?"

The young woman's body stiffened slightly. "I, my family is poor and cannot afford a servant. Am I unqualified to participate..."

Lin Chuyi was slightly taken aback. Only then did she carefully examine the young woman's attire. Parts of her dress were noticeably faded, showing at a glance that they had been washed countless times, and her hair was completely bare, devoid of any ornaments whatsoever.

"Heroes are never judged by their origins," Lin Chuyi laughed heartily, patted her shoulder reassuringly, and casually removed a hair ornament from her own head. "If you don't mind, I'll give this hairpiece to you."

"This—how could I possibly accept this?"

"It's fine," Lin Chuyi said, leaving no room for argument as she placed the hair ornament onto the young woman's head.