Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 281 Grandmother, I Want to Remarry

Lin Chen came out of Liusheng Xueyuan's courtyard, stretched, and his bones cracked.

The maid sweeping the door looked up, then quickly lowered her head, her face turning red.

Lin Chen didn't pay any attention and strolled out, humming a little tune.

I slept really well last night.

Although I was a bit tired, I felt great.

Lin Chen couldn't help but chuckle when he recalled Liu Shengxue's last look.

That woman, at least she had some humanity left.

She used to have that aloof demeanor, as if someone owed her eight million spirit stones.

Now at least I know how to be moved, I know my eyes are red, I know how to hold him tight and not let go, I know—

cough cough.

Lin Chen coughed twice, trying to banish certain images from his mind.

The maids and servants he encountered along the way all bowed their heads in greeting, but he waved them off and walked with a light step as if he were treading on clouds.

……

In the old lady's courtyard.

As soon as Lin Chen entered the courtyard, he heard laughter coming from inside the house.

Upon entering, one finds the matriarch sitting and talking with her mother, Su Wanqing.

There were steaming hot tea snacks on the table, along with a plate of osmanthus cake, which looked freshly baked.

"Chen'er is here?" The old lady's eyes lit up, and she waved to Lin Chen.

"Come quick, come quick, the osmanthus cake is freshly made and still warm."

Su Wanqing smiled at Lin Chen, her eyes filled with helplessness.

"You must be tired from last night. Sit down and rest."

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat.

Something doesn't quite sound right about what I'm saying.

He walked over with a dry laugh, first bowing to his grandmother, then to his mother, before sitting down and casually popping a piece of osmanthus cake into his mouth.

"Mmm, delicious!"

The old lady smiled and looked Lin Chen up and down for a moment, then suddenly spoke:

"Were you busy again last night?"

Lin Chen almost choked on the osmanthus cake.

"Ahem...Grandmother, what you're saying..."

The old lady waved her hand, her face showing an expression that said, "I understand, I understand everything."

"Alright, alright, stop pretending. Do you think I don't know what's going on with you?"

During the first half of the night, water was called several times at Phoenix Courtyard, and during the second half of the night, water was called several more times at Liu Shengxue's place.

The nanny told me all of this needs to be recorded.

Lin Chen: "…………"

This damned dregs of feudal society.

Su Wanqing smiled silently beside Lin Chen without saying a word.

Even with his thick skin, Lin Chen couldn't hold back any longer. He quickly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said seriously:

"Grandmother, Mother, I have something important to discuss with you."

The old lady slightly raised her eyelids. "Oh? Serious business? Tell me about it."

Lin Chen put down his teacup and organized his thoughts:

"I want to marry several new wives."

The old lady paused for a moment, then smiled:

"How many rooms? How many rooms are there?"

Lin Chen counted on his fingers:

"Yao Yao counts as one branch, and Qing'er, Dai'er, Xi'er, Su'er, and Ling'er are also included, making a total of six branches."

The old lady nodded, her face expressionless.

Lin Chen paused, then added:

"In addition, there are four more from the Jiaofangsi: Qin Xin, Qi Yun, Shu Yu, and Hua Yi. I also want to recruit them."

The old lady was stunned.

Su Wanqing was also stunned.

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

You can even hear the birds chirping in the trees outside the window clearly.

Then the old lady suddenly laughed, her eyes narrowing into slits, and slapped her thigh:

"Ten? Chen'er, are you going to marry ten at once?"

Lin Chen coughed lightly: "Ten...ten."

"Hahahaha!" The old lady laughed so hard she slapped her thigh.

"Great, great! Our family is thriving, this is wonderful! A wonderful thing!"

Su Wanqing gently tugged at the old lady's sleeve and whispered:

"Mother, don't just keep laughing, isn't this...isn't this too much? What if word gets out..."

The old lady waved her hand dismissively.

"What do you mean, 'more'? Our house is so big, can't we even fit a few maids?"

Let me count. There are three empty courtyards next to where Chen'er lives now, two more that can be tidied up in the east wing, and the west wing…”

"Mother," Su Wanqing interrupted her helplessly, "it's not about the location, it's..."

"What is it?" The old lady looked at her. "Wanqing, are you worried about what people are saying outside?"

Su Wanqing nodded and said softly:

"After all, our family's reputation is here. If we suddenly take in ten women of dubious wealth, all those gossipy people..."

The old lady smiled, a smile that was somewhat arrogant:

"Wanqing, remember this: what kind of family is our Lin family now?"

With the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion holding military power, even the sacred lands of Zhongzhou have to defer to Chen'er. Who would dare to utter a word against him?

She paused, her tone tinged with disdain.

"Besides, those gossips have to consider their own identities.

If they're so capable, why don't they produce a descendant like Chen'er?

If they're so capable, why don't they go and swagger around in the Central Plains Holy Land?

If you don't have the ability, then shut up.

Su Wanqing smiled upon hearing this, saying, "Mother-in-law is right."

The old lady looked at Lin Chen again, her eyes filled with a hint of mockery:

"But Chen'er, can your body handle it? Marrying ten at once is no small number."

Grandmother, have you ever heard of those young masters who married too many wives and ended up with kidney deficiency so severe they could barely walk?

Lin Chen said with a serious face: "Grandmother, don't worry, your grandson is in excellent health. I have eight-pack abs, my waist and legs are perfectly coordinated, and I can kill a bull with one punch."

The old lady chuckled: "Alright, that's good enough. But if it doesn't work out, don't blame your grandmother for making you some tonics."

Lin Chen: "...Grandmother, I can't respond to that."

Su Wanqing couldn't stop laughing.

After the old lady finished laughing, she asked again:

"What are the backgrounds of those girls? Although our family doesn't care about social status, we can't just bring them home without knowing their origins."

Lin Chen truthfully replied, "Yao Yao and the others were given to us by Mei Jiu Niang. They are disciples of the Hehuan Sect, but they are all virgins and have never been with a man."

The old lady nodded: "The Hehuan Sect... its reputation isn't very good, but since you like it, your grandmother won't say anything."

Lin Chen continued, "Qin Xin and the other three were the most beautiful courtesans in the Jiaofangsi, but their first time was also with my grandson."

The old lady was silent for a moment, then waved her hand:

"Alright, then I'll marry her. So what if she comes from a brothel? Our family doesn't care about that."

Besides, those who become the most beautiful courtesan are all talented and beautiful, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Marrying one would bring you honor.

Su Wanqing whispered from the side, "I'm just afraid some people will use this as a pretext..."

The old lady smiled:

"What's the matter? What is it? That my grandson married the most popular courtesan in the brothel?"

That's called skill! If they're so capable, why don't they go and marry her themselves? If they can't, they should just keep it to themselves.

Lin Chen gave a thumbs up: "Grandma is awesome!"

The old lady rolled her eyes: "Stop flattering me, has the date been set?"

Lin Chen shook his head: "Not yet, I'd like to ask my grandmother to help me look at the almanac."

The old lady closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then pinched her fingers together:

"Seven days from now will be an auspicious day, suitable for marriage and taking a concubine."

Lin Chen smiled: "Okay, then it'll be in seven days."

The old lady nodded, then suddenly remembered something:

"By the way, have the betrothal gifts and dowries for those girls been prepared?"

Lin Chen paused for a moment: "This... I haven't thought about it yet."

The old lady rolled her eyes at him:

"You silly boy, you're not even preparing a betrothal gift for your wedding? Do you expect the girl to come home empty-handed?"

Lin Chen chuckled twice: "Grandmother, you're going to help me with the arrangements? You're more experienced, you definitely know more than I do."

The old lady chuckled, "Alright, alright, I'll arrange it for you. You're just idling around anyway, might as well stretch your muscles."

She paused, then suddenly lowered her voice:

"Chen'er, tell your grandmother honestly, is there another reason why you married ten women at once?"

Lin Chen was taken aback: "What do you mean by that, Grandmother?"

The old lady looked at Lin Chen with a discerning eye.

"Your grandmother has lived to such an old age, what haven't I seen?"

Even if you fancy them, you don't have to marry them all.

Which other wealthy young master doesn't keep ten or eight mistresses outside? It's much more comfortable keeping them there, why bring them home to watch over them every day?

She stared into Lin Chen's eyes:

"Are you trying to get everything done before things change drastically, so you won't be manipulated by others later?"

Lin Chen remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Nothing can be hidden from Grandmother."

The old lady sighed, a complex look appearing in her eyes:

"Alright, the world is about to change drastically. Who knows what might happen in the future? Let's settle things at home first, and we can deal with the rest later."

She looked at Lin Chen and said seriously:

"Chen'er, remember this: no matter how things change outside, our Lin family must stick together."

If something really happens, we're a family together, what obstacle can't we overcome?

Lin Chen nodded: "Grandson will remember."

Su Wanqing whispered from the side:

"Chen'er, what ranks do you plan to give those girls? This needs to be clarified beforehand to avoid future conflicts."

Lin Chen said truthfully:

"Yao Yao is the wife, and the others are concubines."

But in my eyes, there's no distinction between wives and concubines; they're all treated the same. They receive the respect and dignity they deserve.

Su Wanqing nodded:

"That's good. With wives and concubines living in harmony, the household will be peaceful. I'll talk to them later and explain the rules clearly to avoid any unpleasantness in the future."

The old lady waved her hand.

"Alright, alright, stop with the nonsense."

Wanqing, you go and arrange the betrothal gifts and dowry. Just give the appropriate amount and don't be stingy.

"Chen'er, go do your work, don't just stand there."

The two men rose and took their leave.

As Lin Chen reached the door, he suddenly turned back:

"Grandma, thank you."

The old lady paused for a moment, then smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

"No need to thank me, go quickly. Oh, and have the kitchen prepare some nourishing food for you tonight and send it over."

Lin Chen paused in his steps.

"Grandmother, I really don't need to..."

"It's alright, it's alright, young people shouldn't overexert themselves." The old lady waved her hand, her face kind. "The tenth branch of the family needs to take it easy."

Lin Chen: "..."

Su Wanqing stood to the side, smiling helplessly.