《Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 Rebirth ?1: Chapter 1 Rebirth 1: Chapter 1 Rebirth In a daze, Lin Xia felt as if she could smell the familiar scent of home. With a headache that felt as if it was about to explode, Lin Xia frowned, the voices around her sounded familiar, yet she couldn¡¯t recall who would come to visit her. Completely lacking any strength, her chest and throat painfully dry, she felt as if she was being suffocated and tried opening her eyes, but couldn¡¯t manage to do so. Gradually, she helplessly slipped into unconsciousness... ¡°Second Sister! Why hasn¡¯t Big Sister woken up yet?¡± The distinctive voice of a boy going through puberty suddenly rang out above Lin Xia¡¯s head. Startled, Lin Xia just wanted to jump up from her dream, that voice! My goodness! It was her little brother! Hadn¡¯t they received a letter and come to see her? Lin Xia struggled with herself, desperately trying to get up, when another clear voice sounded, ¡°Little Brother, you hurry off to school. I¡¯ll look after Big Sister here. Otherwise, if Big Sister wakes up and knows you skipped school, she¡¯d be sad again.¡± Go to school? Wasn¡¯t her little brother working? Why was he still in school? What was happening? Lin Xia was suddenly bewildered! ¡°Then I¡¯m off! Second Sister! I will come back at noon to help you with chores, so that old lady doesn¡¯t come back and scold us!¡± The reluctant footsteps faded, and the room quieted down again. Lin Xia was still groggy, wondering what was going on, when a cold hand suddenly touched her forehead. She knew it was her sister¡¯s hand, and she was excited to ask what was happening? Regrettably, she still couldn¡¯t speak or move. She was so anxious that she cried silently, unable to make a sound. ¡°Sister! Sister! Why are you crying? Sister! Please wake up! Sister!¡± Lin Qiu was terrified, pushing hard on her sister who was lying on the bed, tears streaming down her face. With the shove from her sister, Lin Xia¡¯s body slowly began to regain sensation. Finally, Lin Xia gathered all her strength and slowly opened her eyes; in front of her was the worried face of her sister, Lin Qiu. Seeing her wake up, Lin Qiu cried and laughed in shock, ¡°Sister! You¡¯re awake! You nearly scared me to death! Are you hungry? Thirsty? Are you still feeling terrible?¡± In response to Lin Qiu¡¯s barrage of questions, Lin Xia wasn¡¯t really listening; she just stared blankly at the delicate features of her refreshingly beautiful sister! My goodness! How could her sister look so young? Was she dreaming? It must be a dream! Ever since her sister married that drunkard and dealt with a terrible mother-in-law, it was all beatings and scoldings, and she deteriorated horribly within just a few years. Where was the radiance she had when she was still a maiden at home? Seeing her sister staring with wide eyes, not uttering a word, just dead fixed on her, Lin Qiu felt terribly frightened and anxious. She grasped Lin Xia¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°Sister! Sister! What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t scare me! Please talk, Sister!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s hand was painfully squeezed by Lin Qiu; only then she suddenly realized, this definitely wasn¡¯t a dream! How could she feel pain in a dream? Lin Xia tentatively called out, ¡°Xiao, Xiaoqiu!¡± But the voice that emerged was hoarse, and her throat was painfully burning. ¡°Uh-huh!¡± Lin Qiu nodded vigorously, excited, ¡°Sister! You¡¯re all better! Last night you were delirious and talking nonsense; you scared me and Dongzi half to death! If something really happened to you, what would we do?¡± As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks. Lin Xia tried her best to keep calm, listening to her sister talk nonstop, an idea sprang to her mind. Since it wasn¡¯t a dream, could she be like those characters in those strange and peculiar stories, who had returned to the past? But now wasn¡¯t the time to think about these things. Her throat was so dry it was smoking, and she felt swallowing saliva was a struggle. ¡°Is there water?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! Sister, wait a moment, I¡¯ll get it for you! Oh, my fault! I was so busy talking, you must be very thirsty!¡± Lin Qiu responded while wiping her tears with her sleeve and quickly got off the bed to fetch Lin Xia some water. Lin Xia lay there, every joint in her body aching. She moved her head slightly and saw Lin Qiu taking a white iron teapot from the red box. ¡°Sister! Let me help you sit up to drink, it¡¯s hard to drink lying down! ¡± Lin Qiu put the iron teapot on the edge of the kang bed and swiftly helped Lin Xia sit up. With the support of her sister, Lin Xia barely got up and weakly held the teapot, finally drinking water. She gulped it down heartily, finally feeling relief in her throat. ¡°Sister! Drink slowly! If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll pour you more!¡± Lin Qiu said softly, sniffing her reddened nose, her eyes and eyebrows filled with joy. After finishing the water, Lin Xia wiped her mouth with her hand. Lin Qiu immediately took it from her, asking anxiously, ¡°Sister, you must be hungry too! Lie down, I¡¯ll go get you some food! It¡¯s all simmering in the big pot!¡± ¡°Xiaoqiu, what year and month is it now?¡± Lin Xia held her breath, waiting for her sister¡¯s answer, her heart incredibly tense. Lin Qiu was stunned by her sister¡¯s question. She blinked, ¡°Sister! You really are muddled by the sickness! It¡¯s 1981! How could you not know!¡± Lin Xia suppressed the excitement and the sudden settled feeling in her heart, and she exhaled in relief, ¡°Is that so? I really was confused!¡± Lin Qiu laughed softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sister! I¡¯ll go get you some food!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Lin Xia watched as Lin Qiu walked a few steps to the green door, opened it, and went out, which gave her the chance to take another look around the familiar Western House. The room had no other furnishings, just two north-south kang beds, a red box for clothes, a wooden table with wobbly legs on the cement floor, and two long wooden benches. She looked up at the ceiling and the walls plastered with newspapers, all blackened from the constant smoke of burning. Outside the green window frames of the kang was the backyard; it was still daylight, though she didn¡¯t know exactly when, she guessed it might be morning. The old house of her family, she vividly remembered replacing it with her dad¡¯s work unit public housing in autumn of 1984, an end unit of a row of large brick houses. Lin Xia trembled her fingers, fiercely clutching the bedding beneath her. Had she truly returned to the past? Had Providence finally opened its eyes, seen her miserable life, and given her another chance? Thinking this, even the patches on the green checkered mattress and the peony flower quilt cover looked endearing. Past events, like a movie projection, flashed before her eyes. Not a month had passed since their chronically ill mother, Yu Wanhua, died when her father, Lin Aiguo, brought home a widow, Qian Chunli, who became their stepmother. She also brought her son and daughter, Wang Xiaomin and Wang Xiaofeng, who were about her age, and thus began their days of suffering. At first, Qian Chunli pretended to be a good stepmother, but later she dropped the act, explicitly depriving them of food and cursing them openly. If Lin Aiguo was home, she somewhat restrained herself, but as soon as he left for work in the mountains, she reverted back to her true self. It was only when they grew a bit older that she began to restrain herself slightly. Now, having been reborn, she absolutely would not let herself be trampled on like mud again. In the future, she determined to become both fierce and formidable, ensuring that no one would dare to bully her and her siblings again. Chapter 2 - 2 2 The Past ?2: Chapter 2: The Past 2: Chapter 2: The Past Lin Qiu entered with a bowl of Coarse Rice Porridge in her left hand and a plate of pickles in her right. She immediately noticed Lin Xia¡¯s unusually fierce gaze and quickly walked over to the edge of the kang, setting down the bowl and plate. With a concerned expression, she asked, ¡°Sis! What¡¯s wrong with you? That look just now was really scary!¡± Lin Xia regained her usual expression, exhaled, and smiled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing! Xiaoqiu, have you eaten?¡± Embarrassed, Xiaoqiu rubbed her hands together, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten, sis, you eat!¡± Seeing her gesture, Lin Xia knew for sure that she hadn¡¯t eaten¡ªthis bowl of Coarse Rice Porridge was probably something she couldn¡¯t bear to eat herself and had saved it specially for her! The corners of her eyes grew warm, she took a breath, holding back the tears that were about to flow, vowing that she also wouldn¡¯t cry easily in the future! She needed to be strong, to try her hardest no matter how tough or tiring, to ensure her siblings had a good life¡ªnot just enough to eat and warm clothes, but also more money than they could spend! Lin Xia sniffed and clasolped Xiaoqiu¡¯s hand, ¡°Xiaoqiu, let¡¯s eat together!¡± If she really could start over and return to this moment, how could she not know the true nature of her stepmother, Qian Chunli? Her own children made trouble every day, but when it came to her and her siblings, weren¡¯t they always schemed against, barely getting enough food? However, there were exceptions, like when dad came home from the unit; she acted completely differently towards them. Xiaoqiu was clearly also hungry as they shared the bowl of watery Coarse Rice Porridge, taking turns, until it was finished. With food in her stomach, Lin Xia felt energized. She stopped Xiaoqiu, who was about to take the bowl to the kitchen. ¡°Xiaoqiu, what are Qian Chunli and her three up to?¡± She knew that those three must not be at home; otherwise, there would have been noise the moment she woke up. How could it be so quiet? Xiaoqiu disdainfully curled her lip, ¡°They dressed up early this morning and slipped off to her sister¡¯s house to give a wedding gift! Sis! It really makes me angry! How can Dad be so biased? He¡¯s not blind; he can see what we¡¯re wearing! How he treated our mom and how he treats us, always yelling and scolding. You see how he treats those Qians and their brood, almost better than he treats his own kids!¡± Lin Xia bit back the words that rushed to her lips, thinking of just how biased her father, Lin Aiguo, was. Lin Aiguo worked at the lumberyard, a permanent worker. In the future, when it was time to take over, it should have been the eldest brother¡¯s turn, but it was Lin Qiang who took over! If it hadn¡¯t been for Lin Qiang taking over, how could the eldest brother have ended up dead so early from an accident at the plywood factory? At that moment, Lin Xia thought of her eldest brother! She excitedly grasped Xiaoqiu¡¯s hand, her voice trembling a bit as she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the eldest brother?¡± ¡°Big brother went to work! When he left early, he was worried about you. He said he¡¯d come back at noon from work, and if you were still not better, he would take you to the hospital.¡± Xiaoqiu whispered into her ear, ¡°Big brother has secretly saved some money!¡± Lin Xia felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Great! That was wonderful! Her eldest brother was still alive and well! Heaven had granted her a second life, and not only did she need to make something of herself, but she also wanted her elder brother to live a long life and let her younger brothers and sisters have a good life too. In her past life, someone introduced a suitor to Xiaoqiu because his family offered two hundred more in the dowry, and Lin Aiguo insisted on marrying her off. And then there was the younger brother, Lin Dong, who really studied well, but after junior high, he wasn¡¯t allowed to continue, all because they wanted Lin Dong to work and contribute to the family! What kind of days did the siblings finally end up living? As for Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, the sister and brother, the lives they led were probably worlds apart from theirs! ¡°Alas, sister, look how our granny has changed! She used to be so harsh to our mom, scolding her at will, but now in front of Ms. Qian, she doesn¡¯t even dare to fart! It really shows that she picks on the weak but fears the strong.¡± Lin Qiu was truly holding back a lot of frustration; it was rare to hear such words from her. Lin Xia immediately thought of her grandmother, an old lady whom people loathed enough to grind their teeth. Her mom, Yu Wanhua, was from the south, and had followed relatives to Spring City for work opportunities in her early days. Later on, through someone¡¯s introduction, she married Lin Aiguo, but sadly the differences between the north and the south were too great, whether it was the language, lifestyle habits, or customs. Plus, Yu Wanhua having a submissive personality, how could she stand a chance against her fierce mother-in-law and the indifferent Lin Aiguo? She had no choice but to endure, so the kind of life she led at home was imaginable. All the dirty, hard, and tiring jobs were done by her, and yet she still didn¡¯t fare well: she ate poorly and was often scolded and beaten! Lin Xia remembered clearly that her mother had once resisted, when she was bullied harshly and finally resolutely decided to divorce Lin Aiguo. Knowing she couldn¡¯t take her son with her, as he belonged to the Lin family, she negotiated with Lin Aiguo about taking herself and Lin Qiu back to her southern hometown to live. But Lin Aiguo and his mother, side by side, obstructed them uncompromisingly, and at last her mother left crying. But she only went back for three months, because she worried about the children, fearing they wouldn¡¯t do well without a mother. Therefore, she came back! The days that followed, needless to say, were even more miserable. Lin Xia had thought in her previous life that if her mother had stayed in the southern hometown, totally hardened her heart, and not returned to Spring City because of her children¡¯s connection, would she not have become overworked, eventually falling gravely ill and dying? Lin Qiu watched her sister¡¯s face changing constantly, one moment angry, the next sad. Not knowing why, she always felt that since her sister woke up from the illness, she was completely different from before! She timidly called out, ¡°Sister! Do you still feel unwell?¡± ¡°Much better, Xiaoqiu! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m tough enough to handle distress. A fever sweats out soon!¡± Lin Xia quickly comforted her sister, although she was still feeling temporarily confused, not knowing how to make their future life better. But she believed that as long as she was not afraid to endure hardships and was determined, in the early 1980s, at the beginning of the reform and opening up, she would definitely find a way out! Isn¡¯t there an old saying, ¡°Heaven won¡¯t starve a blind sparrow!¡± While Xiaoqiu went to the kitchen to return a bowl, Lin Xia bowed her head and recollected the past. Her home in Spring City was situated in the Lesser Khingan Range, which depends on the mountains for livelihood, so the factories around were all related to the lumber industry, like lumberyards and wood processing factories. But uncontrolled logging eventually became unsustainable. Originally, she worked in a wood processing factory, not as a worker but as a youth, although not earning much, at least she wasn¡¯t starving. However, after stopping the logging completely, the factory went on a long break, and there were already many whispers that the unit might close down. Actually, without others saying anything, they had already privately seen that closure was inevitable, just a matter of time! Lin Xia thought, then so should she knowingly follow the same old path, relying on that meager monthly salary to live? If so, how could she possibly improve life for her brother and sister just with that small salary? But at this time, in her small county town, what could she do to make money? Chapter 3 - 3 3 Big Brother ?3: Chapter 3 Big Brother 3: Chapter 3 Big Brother Lin Xia rubbed her nose in distress. She had always been working, only knowing how to work herself to the bone and was so numb that she had never engaged in trade and understood nothing about it; The more pressing issue was that she was afraid that right now she couldn¡¯t even scrape together a few dollars, where was the start-up money supposed to come from? What small business doesn¡¯t require a bit of capital to start? Who would give her goods on credit? For a moment, she felt stifled and angry at herself. The heavens had given her a chance to start anew, yet she didn¡¯t have a single idea, she was truly useless. However, when she thought about how poorly she, her younger brother, and little sister had lived in the past, and how her eldest brother might even die, Lin Xia bit her teeth and clenched her fists fiercely! She could not let the hardships of her previous life repeat themselves, no matter what she had to ensure that her big brother lived a good life, enable her younger brother to continue his studies, make sure her little sister could run a small business in the future, and as for herself, she wanted to make something of herself. At this moment, Lin Qiu finished cleaning up and came in, seeing Lin Xia stupidly sitting on the kang wearing only thermal underwear, she hurriedly walked to the edge of the kang. ¡°Sister! Why haven¡¯t you lain down? You just got a bit better, don¡¯t catch a chill! Lie down quickly. Sister, sleep a bit more, and big brother and Xiaoqiu will be back by noon!¡± ¡°Xiaoqiu! I¡¯m much better! Nothing¡¯s wrong! I¡¯ll help you make lunch in a little while!¡± Lin Xia felt much better all over, with only a dry, painful throat and a dizzy head, and she did not want her sister to treat her like a patient. Xiaoqiu complained unhappily, ¡°Sister! Why do you always have to be so tough! You finally took a day off because you were sick, you should rest well! If you keep this up, I¡¯ll get angry!¡± ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll listen to you! Isn¡¯t that enough?!¡± Lin Xia smiled happily, letting Xiaoqiu tuck her in while she continued to chatter. Xiaoqiu deftly tucked the blanket around Lin Xia and felt her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s good! The fever has gone down! Sister, you lie down. I¡¯m going to fix the worn cuffs of big brother¡¯s sweater!¡± Lin Xia had no choice but to agree to avoid upsetting her sister, ¡°Okay!¡± Xiaoqiu contentedly picked up a navy blue sweater with three fine knitting needles stuck in the cuff from the quilt pile, seeing Lin Xia looking at her, she smiled and said, ¡°Sister! My knitting skills are better than yours now! I¡¯ll knit all our sweaters from now on!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xia answered with slightly reddened eyes, watching Xiaoqiu¡¯s hands that, despite having calluses, had not yet become rough as they deftly knitted the sweater, she felt a mix of happiness and pain in her heart. Thinking about how Xiaoqiu married into such a family, her once lively spirit had been completely worn down, Lin Xia still remembered the last time she saw her, her hands full of cracked calluses and protruding joints, her face gaunt, her eyes vacant, she was nothing like the vibrant person she was now. But now everything was better. Since she knew the future, she would go to any lengths to ensure Xiaoqiu had a different life. Xiaoqiu continued to knit, all the while keeping an eye on Lin Xia, and when she saw her sister slowly close her eyes, she quietly heaved a sigh of relief. She finally fell asleep. Actually, there was a lot of work she needed to do, and she really did not have the time to sit and knit, but ever since her sister woke up, she had been so worried in her heart. Xiaoqiu quietly set down the sweater, tiptoed down to the floor to put on her shoes, and went out the door. Lin Xia slowly opened her eyes. She hadn¡¯t actually slept; her mind was in turmoil, she had many things she wanted to do, but didn¡¯t know where to start. The thought of possibly facing Qian Chunli that evening made her itch to give her a good beating! But what would a beating solve? At most it would just cause a few days of physical pain, without solving any real problems. Lin Xia sneered, the best revenge against Qian Chunli was for all of them to live better lives than her children! She steeled her heart, determined that before anything else could happen, she would be tough and earn money, a lot of money... ¡°Xiaoqiu! Is your sister awake yet? Is she feeling any better?¡± A man¡¯s deep shout came from outside, and Lin Xia suddenly sat up excitedly, shouting, ¡°Big Brother! Big Brother!¡± Lin Xia frantically scrambled out of bed to put on shoes, hurriedly putting them on the wrong feet, but she didn¡¯t care at all. Dragging her shoes, she ran outside as if she would never see her big brother again if she were any later! How many years had it been since she last heard Big Brother¡¯s voice! Ever since that year when Big Brother was rendered jobless due to a work injury, there was only a black and white photo left of him. Whenever she missed him, she would take it out to look at it. Lin Chun had just parked his 28-inch bar bicycle, and as he turned to enter the house, he was startled by Lin Xia charging out! ¡°Xiaoxia, are you feeling better? Why are you up? Go back and lay down quickly!¡± Lin Chun slightly furrowed his brow, looking at his disheveled sister with red eyes, he quickly stepped forward and softly scolded her. Lin Xia, regardless of anything else, rushed up to Lin Chun, grabbing his arm tightly and looked up at him with barely controlled eyes. Big Brother was 1.75 meters tall, thin and lean, not particularly fair, but his facial features were reminiscent of Yu Wanhua. He had delicate eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose, and rather thick lips. He wore a dark blue Sun Yat-sen suit which was frayed at the collar and cuffs. Lin Xia examined him from top to bottom, crying and laughing simultaneously, shouting excitedly, ¡°Big Brother! Big Brother! It¡¯s so good to be alive! So good!¡± Lin Chun paused for a moment, then smiled and touched her forehead, feeling that it wasn¡¯t hot, and playfully flicked it, ¡°Silly girl! You¡¯re not feverish anymore! What nonsense are you talking about! Of course it¡¯s good to be alive! Come on! Let¡¯s get back inside!¡± Lin Xia grinned, touching the spot on her forehead that her big brother had flicked, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy inside. She wished he would smack her a few more times, hard. ¡°Big Brother! Flick my forehead again!¡± This tangible feeling made Lin Xia want to both cry and laugh, but she knew she couldn¡¯t do that; it would scare her big brother. So she had to find another way. Lin Chun made a ¡°tsk¡± sound and looked at Lin Xia as if she were foolish, ¡°Xiaoxia, have you gone silly from the fever? Usually, if I flicked your forehead, you would be upset. But today, you¡¯re actually asking for it! Fine, but I¡¯ll do it with force this time, and you better not cry if it hurts!¡± Xiaoqiu appeared from the small door beside the backyard at that moment and saw the big brother and sister playing around. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Big Brother! Just flick her already, I¡¯ll testify that it was my sister who asked for it!¡± Lin Xia turned around and saw Xiaoqiu with her sleeves rolled up and her hands all covered in black soil, she knew Xiaoqiu had been working in the back yard. ¡°That¡¯s right! Hurry up, Big Brother! I¡¯m waiting for it!¡± Lin Chun was at a loss due to his two sisters, ¡°Fine! Both of you insist, so how can I not flick!¡± He intentionally curled his finger and warmed it with his breath. Lin Xia tensed her shoulders slightly and squinted her eyes in anticipation, ¡°Alright, here I go!¡± Of course, the buildup was more dramatic than the act itself; Lin Chun gently flicked Lin Xia¡¯s forehead and then pushed her toward the house, ¡°Hurry on now! You silly girl! Don¡¯t go getting sick again!¡± Lin Xia let her big brother guide her back inside the house. She took a deep breath of the outside air, looked up at the blue sky, and felt bubbles of joy rising in her heart. Big Brother was still alive! It was wonderful! Chapter 4 - 4 4 Dream Entrustment ?4: Chapter 4 Dream Entrustment 4: Chapter 4 Dream Entrustment As soon as he entered the room, Lin Qiu looked at the clock on the box lid and asked, ¡°Big brother! It¡¯s not even midday yet, why are you back so soon? I haven¡¯t even started cooking!¡± Lin Chun pushed Lin Xia to the edge of the kang, ¡°Get up there and lie down quickly!¡± Lin Xia obediently smiled as she took off her shoes and climbed up to the head of the kang, but she didn¡¯t lie down. Instead, she sat there watching her big brother and sister talk, feeling truly content. Lin Chun turned back to Lin Qiu and said, ¡°I spoke with the workshop director to leave work early! Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m worried about whether your sister is better or not? If she isn¡¯t better, it¡¯ll be a good time for us to go to the hospital! We can¡¯t delay!¡± ¡°You two might not know about that old Wang Family¡¯s son from the front street, he got a fever so bad it damaged his brain!¡± Lin Qiu and Lin Xia looked at each other, both thinking of the son from that old Wang Family. Sitting sideways on the edge of the kang, Lin Chun looked at Lin Xia and asked, ¡°Xiaoxia! Do you still feel unwell anywhere? If you¡¯re feeling unwell, just let me know, I know those few people aren¡¯t at home, so it¡¯s a good time to go to the hospital! Don¡¯t worry about the money, I¡¯ve secretly saved a bit, it will definitely be enough for treatment!¡± Lin Xia hadn¡¯t stopped smiling since Lin Chun returned, she shook her head vigorously, ¡°I¡¯m all better! Big brother! Xiaoqiu! Once I broke into a sweat from the fever, it was all good! Dongzi will be back by midday too, and I¡¯ll help Xiaoqiu with the cooking!¡± In her heart, she was excitedly thinking, a reunion meal with all her siblings! How many years has it been! Come evening when those people return, there won¡¯t be such a good time anymore! ¡°You might as well pull the other one! With the few of us here, we don¡¯t need a sick person! Get into bed and rest up! If you¡¯re still not feeling well tomorrow, then take another day off!¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xia quickly got up from the kang and gestured to them, ¡°I¡¯m really fine! Look at my complexion, nothing¡¯s wrong with me! I¡¯ll do whatever I need to do, I¡¯m not so delicate. Besides, big brother, don¡¯t you have to go back to work this afternoon? What time is it already!¡± Lin Chun firmly disagreed, ¡°Don¡¯t be a hero! Xiaoxia, last night you were so ill; you almost scared us to death! Now just lie down and rest! You can eat ready-made food later!¡± Lin Xia still wanted to cherish this rare opportunity, knowing that with Qian Chunli and those people at home, there wouldn¡¯t be such a warm moment. ¡°I¡¯m really fine! Besides, Xiaoqiu can cook, and I¡¯ll just help out on the side! It won¡¯t tire me out! Big brother! Please! Okay?¡± Lin Qiu complained to Lin Chun dissatisfiedly, ¡°Big brother! My sister is so stubborn! She kept insisting on getting up earlier; if I hadn¡¯t blocked her every which way, she might have even climbed up onto the roof to remove tiles!¡± This statement made Lin Chun laugh out loud, and Lin Xia looked at her sister speechlessly. When had she ever been like what her sister described! In the end, Lin Xia stopped insisting on the issue of cooking. Watching Lin Qiu head to the kitchen and her big brother sitting at the edge of the kang chatting with her, she felt immensely satisfied. Lin Chun looked at Lin Xia, unable to suppress a chuckle, ¡°Xiaoxia, what¡¯s with you today? Why do you keep staring at me? Do I have flowers growing on my face?¡± Ever since his arrival, his sister¡¯s reaction had been different from usual. Now that he had sat down for a while, Lin Xia¡¯s eyes never left him. He tried to get up several times to go to the courtyard to chop firewood, but his sister, insisting on following, stopped him every time. Lin Xia, feeling a bit embarrassed, lowered her eyes and said softly, ¡°I¡¯m just happy to see you!¡± Nothing could excite and thrill her more than having her living, breathing big brother right before her eyes, visibly and tangibly present. Lin Chun moved in closer, ¡°What did you say? I didn¡¯t hear you clearly!¡± Knowing his older brother hadn¡¯t heard clearly, Lin Xia lifted his head and grinned at Lin Chun, ¡°I said! I¡¯m glad to see you happy! Big brother! We¡¯re all going to live well! Let¡¯s make something of ourselves to show mom!¡± Lin Chun also laughed along, but there was a bitterness in his smile, ¡°Yeah! Let¡¯s all make something of ourselves to show mom!¡± At this point, Lin Chun sighed softly, ¡°In the blink of an eye, mom¡¯s been gone for several years. In a little while, we should burn some extra paper money for mom when we visit her grave! Last night, while taking care of you, I was half asleep and dreamed of mom!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Big brother! What did you dream about mom? Did she talk to you?¡± She felt a little scared inside! Isn¡¯t it said that dreaming of the deceased... But then she thought she might just be scaring herself for no reason, for it wasn¡¯t that time of the year just yet. Lin Chun glanced at the ceiling, thought for a moment, and then, with pursed lips, looked at Lin Xia, ¡°Mom seemed the same as before, unchanged, thin and toiling in the kitchen! It looked like she was steaming buns, exhaling steam! Mom did talk to me! She told me to take good care of you all! I can¡¯t remember what she said after that. But I still remember the dream very clearly!¡± After speaking, Lin Chun fell silent, his fingers digging into the edge of the kang bed. In truth, he¡¯d dreamed of more than that, but facing his younger sister, he didn¡¯t want to say too much. Even though he knew it was just a dream, he couldn¡¯t stop the waves of fear... Detecting his unease, Lin Xia quickly moved closer, ¡°Big brother! This is mom sending us a dream! She wants us all to be well! Mom is definitely watching over us from heaven!¡± Talking about mom, Lin Xia also felt a lump in her throat. Her mom had suffered all her life and had passed away without enjoying a single day of happiness. Lin Chun, looking down, said, ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s what I think too.¡± He paused, then lifted his head to look at Lin Xia, ¡°Xiaoxia, big brother is still useless! I¡¯m already a grown man, yet I still can¡¯t take care of you properly! And I let those old women bully you!¡± Lin Xia grabbed Lin Chun¡¯s hand, looked into his guilt-filled eyes, and said seriously, ¡°Big brother! You¡¯re not the only grown man here, we¡¯re not as young as we used to be years ago! We¡¯ve all grown up! You¡¯re not useless! You¡¯re loyal and kindhearted! You didn¡¯t want to make dad worry!¡± Big brother Lin Chun¡¯s temperament was a bit like their deceased mother¡¯s: kind-hearted and capable, a bit of a pushover. With such a nature, how could he possibly oppose his elders head-on? Lin Xia was surprised that he had secretly saved up a bit of money. In her previous life, she hadn¡¯t been sick this time, so she wasn¡¯t quite sure if big brother had really been able to save any money on the side. Li Chun asked uncertainly, ¡°Really? At first, I did want to stand up to them, but back then you were all so young, I was afraid that if I wasn¡¯t home, those people would make you suffer! Now it¡¯s better, with both you and me working, our younger brother attending school, and Xiaoqiu temporarily taking care of things at home. Once I find her a suitable factory job, she¡¯ll work too. When dad retires and I take over, I¡¯ll find a way to get Xiaoqiu a placement. Once your work is sorted, you can go from being youth to a worker. If our little brother does well in school and gets into university, all of us will surely get better and better...¡± Kneeling on the kang bed, Lin Xia hung her head and quietly listened to her big brother¡¯s beautiful aspirations for the future. Despite the heated kang, made warm by Lin Qiu¡¯s cooking, it couldn¡¯t warm her thoroughly chilled body at all. None of the things big brother talked about came true in the future. Chapter 5 - 5 5 Incoming ?5: Chapter 5 Incoming 5: Chapter 5 Incoming In a previous life, her eldest brother died, and once her younger brother graduated from junior high, her father sent him off to work at the floor tile factory. How about her and her younger sister? Lin Qiu was forced to marry that domestic abuser and had to endure the torment of a wicked mother-in-law. As for herself, what kind of life did she lead? Not a single happy one! Lin Chun, realizing belatedly that something was amiss with his sister, quickly stood up and shoved his motionless sister: ¡°Xiaoxia! What¡¯s wrong with you? Are you still not feeling well?¡± Lin Xia was jolted back to reality by Lin Chun¡¯s shout. She forced herself to smile, but no matter how one looked at it, that smile appeared very fake. ¡°I¡¯m fine! Big brother! From now on, things will definitely get better and better for us!¡± Lin Chun looked at his sister¡¯s light and airy smile with a bit of worry, reproaching himself: ¡°It¡¯s all my fault! You had just gotten a bit better, and I went on talking so much! Are you tired? Xiaoxia! Lie down for a bit! I¡¯ll call you when Xiaoqiu has finished cooking the meal!¡± This time, Lin Xia did not object. She laid down at the head of the bed in the unmade bedding, following her brother¡¯s guidance. Covered by the blanket, she felt much better. Seeing her big brother still alive in front of her eyes, having been given a second chance at life, what could possibly not change? Suddenly, Lin Xia felt a surge of strength throughout her body. Fearing her brother would blame himself too much, she quickly clenched Lin Chun¡¯s large hand and reassured him: ¡°Big brother! Don¡¯t blame yourself! As long as we siblings stay united, there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t overcome...¡± Just then, she suddenly heard someone outside the gate calling: ¡°Is Lin Xia at home?¡± Because those past days were indeed too long ago, Lin Xia really couldn¡¯t recognize who the voice belonged to! But Lin Qiu in the kitchen, busy cooking, immediately smiled. Her eyes lit up as she called out loudly: ¡°We¡¯re home! Auntie Jin, come inside quickly!¡± Auntie Jin?! Lin Xia remembered this auntie, a warm-hearted neighbor from next door who had taken good care of them more than once. But back then, because she was of a timid nature, and after being scolded and beaten by Qian Chunli several times, she was afraid of causing trouble for others, so she gradually stopped visiting. Lin Chun walked outside, and Lin Xia also planned to follow and go out to see, only hearing footsteps and voices getting closer until someone pushed the door and entered. The first to come in was Auntie Jin! With short hair brushing past her ears, a wire headband with teeth neatly combed her bangs and stray hair behind her ears; her round face was adorned with a friendly smile. She was dressed in a blue polyester cardigan, a white shirt collar underneath, black trousers, and black cloth shoes. Surprised to see Lin Chun at the door, she exclaimed: ¡°Oh! Lin Chun, you¡¯re not at work today?¡± Lin Chun hurriedly responded with a smile: ¡°I was at work! I just came back early for a bit because I was worried about Lin Xia! Auntie Jin, please come in!¡± ¡°It really is different with a real brother!¡± Auntie Jin said as she walked to the edge of the bed, affectionately asking: ¡°Is Lin Xia feeling any better?¡± ¡°Auntie Jin! I am much better now! Please, have a seat!¡± Lin Xia quickly tried to get up. Auntie Jin laughed and pressed her down: ¡°You¡¯re sick; what are you doing getting up? I¡¯ll just sit on the edge of the bed!¡± Behind her, Lin Qiu and Lin Chun also wore broad smiles. Lin Chun quickly gave instructions: ¡°Xiaoqiu, pour some water for Auntie Jin!¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± Xiaoqiu happily complied, nimbly grabbing the flask and cup, pouring the water and smilingly brought it to Auntie Jin: ¡°Auntie Jin! Here¡¯s some water for you!¡± Auntie Jin called out cheerfully: ¡°Don¡¯t fuss! Xiaoqiu, dear child, sit down, and you too, Lin Chun. I just heard Lin Xia was sick, so I came over to check on her!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Qiu sat next to Lin Xia. ¡°Okay! Aunt Jin, have some water!¡± Lin Chun didn¡¯t sit on the kang bedstead; instead, he took a seat on the long bench. Aunt Jin casually glanced around the room, seeing nothing more than worn and dilapidated furnishings; a look of sympathy flashed in her eyes as she held Lin Xia¡¯s hand and said gently, ¡°Lin Xia, your illness yesterday really worried your brothers and sisters. You need to be more cunning in the future; don¡¯t be so honest! When will you kids ever be treated like your own by him? Your dad was just muddled for a moment, not seeing the whole picture!¡± To speak of Lin Xia, she was competent, honest, and also quite good-looking, but her luck was not on her side. Burdened by such a family, things were somewhat better when her mother was still alive; at the very least, she could protect the children a bit. But once her mother passed away, it wasn¡¯t long before Lin Aiguo brought home a widow as his new wife, along with a cumbersome son and daughter. Worse still, he treated those stepchildren extraordinarily well, while his own flesh and blood from before were subjected to nothing but beatings and beratings! All the old neighbors from the front street to the back, who didn¡¯t quietly criticize Lin Aiguo? How could he be so foolish! But after all, this was a family matter; as outsiders, they shouldn¡¯t intrude and say too much. Lin Chun listened and nodded in agreement; he thought Aunt Jin made a lot of sense. Lin Qiu turned her face away and stealthily grimaced, not buying it at all. Lin Xia nodded silently, knowing deep down that would never happen. The neighbors around them all thought that ¡®even a tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs,¡¯ and Lin Aiguo was just confused for a moment. Once he got over it, perhaps he would realize that blood ties were strongest in the end. But only she, who had experienced it all, knew that Lin Aiguo wasn¡¯t confused; he was deliberately feigning ignorance. Could all of her and her siblings¡¯ suffering really be concocted solely by Qian Chunli? Since childhood, Lin Xia knew that in Lin Aiguo¡¯s eyes, they were worth less than the cats and dogs. An object of disdain, he¡¯d curse with the slightest provocation and beat them at a moment¡¯s notice; although fathers of that era were often harsh, her family was truly a unique case! Aunt Jin realized that her words were not welcome by Lin Xia and Lin Qiu in front of her, though Lin Chun had taken them to heart, silently sighing within. This wasn¡¯t the fault of the two children! ¡°Since you¡¯re all here, I won¡¯t beat around the bush! The reason I came today is to tell you something. Your Uncle Jin knows someone at a large factory out of town that¡¯s hiring. If you do well, you can become a regular employee, and he thought of sending my son Baoquan there. Your Uncle Jin and I reckon that Lin Chun is also of the right age, and you kids really do have it tough. It¡¯s said that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, living beside us; if we can lend a hand, we will! But Uncle Jin can only help out so much, whether you can ultimately take up this opportunity is not guaranteed! It will all depend on Lin Chun himself!¡± After hearing this, Lin Chun hung his head in silence, his feelings torn. Lin Xia¡¯s heart pounded rapidly several times upon hearing this; she finally remembered¡ªit was in her previous life that she had learned of this matter. But by the time she found out, it was already too late, the moment had well and truly passed. This time, she had to seize this opportunity at all costs! If her older brother could go out of town, would that mean he wouldn¡¯t die? Lin Xia was overwhelmed with excitement. She gripped Aunt Jin¡¯s hand resting on the kang bedstead tightly, expressing her immense gratitude, ¡°Aunt Jin! Thank you so much! I won¡¯t bother with empty words of thanks, but on the day that one of us siblings makes something of ourselves, we will repay your kindness!¡± ¡°My brother could become a worker! Aunt Jin! How can you and Uncle Jin be so kind! Even if it doesn¡¯t work out, we are still grateful to you both!¡± Xiaoqiu was so excited she trembled, barely able to think of the right words of thanks, only able to keep covering her mouth and giggling uncontrollably. Chapter 6 - 6 6 Whats There to Fear ?6: Chapter 6 What¡¯s There to Fear 6: Chapter 6 What¡¯s There to Fear Aunt Jin pursed her lips with a smile, ¡°You see, you kids are so sincere! We¡¯re helping you without expecting anything in return. In the future, just help out more at home!¡± Lin Qiu almost slapped his chest to guarantee, ¡°Aunt Jin, I¡¯ll help you with any task in the future, knitting sweaters and making cotton trousers, I¡¯ll take care of it all!¡± Aunt Jin chuckled as she looked at Lin Qiu, ¡°That would be wonderful! Aunt Jin knows you¡¯re skillful with your hands!¡± Lin Qiu blushed, slightly embarrassed, ¡°Aunt Jin! You¡¯re making me shy! Skilled with my hands? If anyone¡¯s skilled, it¡¯s my sister who does it better than me!¡± Aunt Jin patted Lin Xia¡¯s slim shoulder, ¡°Both you sisters are so talented.¡± Three women, one drama, they spoke animatedly, but the person concerned remained silent. Lin Xia grew anxious, ¡°Big brother! What are you thinking? Just spit it out!¡± If he did well after going there and became a worker, it might be better than being a temporary contract youth in the unit... Suddenly, the path Aunt Jin mentioned when she came to their home seemed really promising! Lin Xia felt that if her big brother didn¡¯t want to go, it was either because he believed he could take over as a worker in the future or he worried about his younger siblings suffering or being bullied after he left. Nevertheless, the thought of her big brother continuing to stay in the factory, uncertain of any prospects and possibly even losing his life, compelled her to push for change, to not follow the old path. Lin Qiu couldn¡¯t contain his urgency, ¡°Big brother! Please say something!¡± Lin Chun looked at Aunt Jin awkwardly, ¡°Aunt Jin! This opportunity is a godsend! I must truly thank you and Uncle Jin for thinking of us! But this isn¡¯t a trivial matter! My father will retire in a few years, and I¡¯m expected to take over... and take care of the family...¡± Lin Chun¡¯s lips moved, and giving Aunt Jin a glance, there were some things he felt too embarrassed to voice in front of her. After all, Aunt Jin was older and had a clear understanding of people and situations, and she was familiar with Lin Chun¡¯s family circumstances. So she rose from the edge of the bed, ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, your Uncle Jin will be off work soon! I should head home to cook. Take your time to think about whether to go or not! There¡¯s no rush!¡± What else could she say as a neighbor? With three young men in the family, and Lin Aiguo showing favoritism¡ªthough not to his own children¡ªthere was no certainty who would take over eventually! Lin Xia put on her shoes, got down to the ground and sincerely, with a smile, clasped Aunt Jin¡¯s arm, ¡°Aunt Jin, whether we go or not, we¡¯ll always remember your kindness!¡± Just a neighboring family sharing some thoughts without any ulterior motive, she was truly grateful. Lin Qiu chimed in, ¡°Right! Aunt Jin, let me see you out!¡± Lin Chun followed them to the door, where Aunt Jin waved them off, ¡°We¡¯re neighbors, no need for sending! Head back now! Glad to see Lin Xia is getting better and didn¡¯t hurt herself again!¡± Nevertheless, all three stubbornly escorted Aunt Jin to the gate, watching as she entered her house before turning around to head back to their own yard. Lin Xia was the last to enter and with eyes opened, she found herself transported years back. Lin Xia still felt as if she were dreaming, everything was so familiar yet strange. At that time, their houses were still made of planks and mud, with wooden fences enclosing each family¡¯s front yard, and large wooden gates. Some of the neighboring families opposite them had started cooking, with smoke rising from their chimneys. She resolved silently to change the fate of her siblings, starting with her big brother... Lin Chun was troubled, not wanting to face his sisters¡¯ persuasion, so he quickly rolled up his sleeves as he walked, ¡°Xiaoxia, you go back and lie down. Xiaoqiu, you work on cooking. I¡¯ll split some firewood!¡± Only then did the sisters look at each other, both with a sparkle in their eyes. Lin Qiu entered the room and whispered, ¡°Sis! If Big Brother really goes to the city, he could become a worker!¡± Lin Xia nodded, ¡°Yeah! But we still need to see if Big Brother can go!¡± Convincing Big Brother was one thing, but they still had to face Lin Aiguo! As for Qian Chunli, Lin Xia scoffed. Perhaps she was even hoping Big Brother would leave. If Big Brother left, that would mean one less person vying for succession with her son Lin Qiang! ¡°Let¡¯s persuade him carefully! We should also talk to our younger brother! Get him to join in the persuasion!¡± Lin Qiu gestured excitedly. Lin Xia wrapped an arm around her shoulder, ¡°Right! Let¡¯s involve our younger brother! Hey, Xiaoqiu, what did you cook for lunch?¡± Lin Qiu gasped, ¡°Oh no, I was so busy with this I forgot to steam the millet rice!¡± Lin Xia smiled at her animated look, ¡°Steam more!¡± Lin Qiu immediately looked timidly at Lin Xia, ¡°Sis! If I make too much, that old woman will come back and make a scene again!¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time that had happened, with the old woman standing at the door, hips akimbo, cursing and scolding for a good while. Lin Xia stared determinedly at her, ¡°So what? They are three people, and we are four. If things get tough, we¡¯ll just fight her! Are you scared?¡± She had made up her mind; if she was to live again, she would no longer live in restraint! Her family had no shortage of people listed on the household registration book. Although now each person was allotted 27 jin of rations, they would run out before the end of the month, and the bags for storing grain in the rack would be empty. Lin Aiguo would return from the mountains only once in ten or fifteen days, and every time Qian Chunli would openly and secretly complain about how much they ate! How could he possibly know that a lot of their food was quietly taken back to Qian Chunli¡¯s mother¡¯s home? It was the first time Lin Qiu saw her sister so unafraid; it was as if she also gained confidence instantly, ¡°Sis! I¡¯m not scared! We have Big Brother and Dongzi! They only have Lin Qiang as a man! I¡¯m just afraid of Dad coming back to punish us!¡± After all, years of beatings and scolding from Lin Aiguo had instilled fear in them. Lin Xia grasped her hands earnestly, ¡°Xiaoqiu! You don¡¯t need to be afraid! We are all grown up now; we can¡¯t let him beat and scold us like when we were kids! If he dares, we will stand up to him! If it comes to it, we¡¯ll leave this house! As long as we have the strength to work, we won¡¯t starve!¡± Lin Qiu nodded vigorously. She felt that ever since her sister woke up today, she was very different; her words and gaze became intense, but she liked this change! Lin Xia saw that her words had sparked some thoughts in Lin Qiu. Although it might not change her instantly, at least she wanted to plant a seed of defiance in her heart. Lin Xia noticed the cut strips of cabbage and potatoes on the chopping board, ¡°Xiaoqiu, I¡¯ll cook later!¡± If Xiaoqiu did it, she likely wouldn¡¯t want to use much oil. Lin Xia didn¡¯t care what Qian Chunli thought. What mattered was to ensure her siblings ate a delicious meal. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Qiu glanced at Lin Xia¡¯s face and didn¡¯t object. When Lin Dong came home from school, he saw his elder sister who still didn¡¯t look too well, but had a spirited look in her eyes. The anxiety that had prevented him from focusing on his studies all morning finally eased. ¡°Elder sister! Are you feeling better?¡± Chapter 7 - 7 7 Shock ?7: Chapter 7 Shock 7: Chapter 7 Shock ¡°I¡¯m all better now! Completely healed! Dongzi, I worried you all!¡± Lin Xia stared unblinkingly at Lin Dong, a slight but lean young boy wearing labor clothes and trousers that had been shortened for him. His hair was cropped short, and he had delicate, handsome features. The ends of his brows were still intact, not yet marred by the scars from the willow switches his father would later use on him. She held back the warm, acidic tears in her eyes, holding Lin Dong¡¯s hand and talking nonstop. Lin Dong always felt that today his elder sister was a bit different than usual, but he didn¡¯t think too much about it. At that moment, Lin Qiu called them to eat, looking at the steaming hot cabbage and potato stew on the kang table. Lin Dong sniffed hard, ¡°It smells so good! Second sister! When did your cooking skills get this good?!¡± ¡°This wasn¡¯t my doing! It¡¯s all elder sister¡¯s skills! She didn¡¯t skimp on the oil at all!¡± Lin Qiu was a bit scared seeing how her elder sister had poured the oil before. Lin Dong frowned, ¡°Elder sister! When that old woman comes back she will surely...¡± Lin Xia slapped him on the head, ¡°Afraid of what? Does she dare to hit us? Tell me. If she dares to hit me, would you step in?¡± Without hesitation, Lin Dong pounded his chest, ¡°I¡¯d definitely step in! No one is allowed to hit my sister!¡± ¡°That settles it. Why should they eat their fill every day and we starve? What right do they have? Besides, she¡¯s often been sneaking grain out to her parent¡¯s house! From now on, remember, our rations are among those she is sending out! If she dares to curse us, we will go out and let the neighbors judge!¡± Lin Xia was really laying it all on the line ¨C what did reputation and face amount to compared to the happiness and life of her siblings? Lin Chun and the others were silenced by Lin Xia¡¯s words, staring at her dumbfounded, speechless for a long time. Lin Xia looked at them and smiled, ¡°Look at you, all dumbfounded! Come on, eat! From now on, we¡¯re doing things my way!¡± She knew that such a sudden change might make them uncomfortable, but she couldn¡¯t afford a slow transition! Whenever she thought about their future, Lin Xia¡¯s heart burned with anguish. The three people in front of her were the dearest to her in this world, the ones she most wanted to protect. She had to speak her true thoughts and make them tough like her, no longer timid and enduring, but knowing how to resist. Help from others is only temporary. To stand strong, they would have to empower themselves! ¡°Alright! Elder sister! We¡¯ll listen to you!¡± Lin Dong picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a big bite of cabbage, finding it exceptionally delicious. Lin Chun and Lin Qiu also set aside their astonishment and began to eat, but their eyes were involuntarily drawn back to the confident and resolute Lin Xia. When Lin Dong heard about the news brought by Aunt Jin, he also joined in urging him. ¡°Big brother! Aunt Jin¡¯s proposal sounds pretty good, think about it!¡± ¡°Dongzi! Eat! Let¡¯s not talk about that now!¡± Lin Chun lifted his head, looking at his brother and sisters all staring at him, ¡°You don¡¯t need to persuade me, let me think about it on my own!¡± ¡°Alright then! Big brother! Take your time! We still have time!¡± Lin Dong exchanged glances with his sisters, pursing his lips. He actually understood what his brother was thinking. His brother might still be considering who would take over in the future, but in his view, with Lin Qiang around, neither of them might be able to take over. Lin Xia knew this wasn¡¯t something to rush, so she dropped the topic, and the siblings chatted about other things. Lin Chun quietly ate his meal, his mind in turmoil as he thought about the matter. He had to consider many things, and first off, his father might not agree to him working out of town. Furthermore, once he left, being far away, he wouldn¡¯t be able to come back often. What about his younger sister and brothers? Especially since his stepmother¡¯s children had grown up, none of them were easy to deal with. Wouldn¡¯t their lives become even more difficult in the future? He thought it would be better to work near home, and eventually take over and become a regular worker. Compared to working in a large factory out of town, it was just a matter of a few more years. After dinner, Lin Chun and Lin Dong took the opportunity before it got late to split firewood in the yard, while Lin Qiu and Lin Xia cleaned up the dishes in the kitchen. Lin Qiu, leaning through the window to look at her brothers busy in the yard, whispered to Lin Xia, ¡°Sis, do you think Xiaoqing can persuade our older brother? I doubt it! If brother becomes stubborn, no one can make him listen!¡± Lin Xia continued washing dishes without pausing, ¡°Xiaoqiu, we can¡¯t rush things. Whether our older brother wants to go or not is one thing, but don¡¯t forget about our parents...¡± Lin Qiu sighed heavily as she scrubbed the pot, ¡°That¡¯s true! Ah, sis, it would be great if we could just live on our own soon!¡± She was truly fed up with living like this! Lin Xia wiped her hands and comforted her, ¡°In the future, our lives will definitely get better! By the way, Xiaoqiu, have you thought about what kind of job you want to do in the future?¡± She felt that her older brother¡¯s situation could wait, but her younger sister¡¯s employment could not be delayed any longer. ¡°Sis! I can do anything as long as I can get a job! I really don¡¯t want to keep working at home!¡± After graduating from junior high, Lin Qiu had still not found a suitable factory job; she always seemed to miss the opportunity, either because the positions were filled or hiring was temporarily halted. ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll see if I can find a job for you when I go to work tomorrow!¡± Lin Xia actually had a vague idea, but everything still depended on the situation. The sisters chatted warmly about daily life, while outside, the brothers kept talking while they split the firewood. Lin Dong wiped the sweat from his forehead, ¡°Big brother! Why do I feel like our big sister is a bit different today?¡± From the moment he came back today, it was as if his big sister had changed into someone else. Although he liked this change, his heart couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. While swinging the axe, Lin Chun didn¡¯t stop his motion and continued splitting the wood, ¡°Why didn¡¯t I notice? I think our big sister might have gotten sick once and it changed her outlook.¡± He had no other thoughts, as long as his big sister was okay, that was all that mattered. All these years, as an older brother, he hadn¡¯t really acted like one, and it was impossible for him to say he didn¡¯t feel guilty about it. ¡°That¡¯s true! She had such a high fever last night, it scared us all!¡± Lin Dong nodded silently. He sneakily glanced at Lin Chun¡¯s stern face, ¡°Big brother! Tell me the truth, do you really want to go?¡± Lin Chun straightened up, looked at Lin Dong, and pursed his lips, ¡°Dongzi! To be honest, my heart is all over the place! I know that waiting to take over dad¡¯s position would mean a few more years, and who knows what might change during that time. But if I really went, what would you guys do at home?¡± He felt so conflicted inside, torn in both directions, unable to make a firm decision. Lin Dong smiled lightly, his tone relaxed, ¡°What would there be to manage? In the future, my big sister and second sister will work, and I¡¯ll focus on my studies! Big brother, I think you should give it a try, don¡¯t leave yourself any regrets. If it doesn¡¯t work out, we¡¯re not afraid, we¡¯ll just honestly work in the factory and be the young workers...¡± Chapter 8 - 8 8 The House ?8: Chapter 8: The House 8: Chapter 8: The House ¡°I¡¯ll think about it some more!¡± Lin Chun spat twice and continued to swing his axe back to work. ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Dong didn¡¯t urge further. He gathered the chopped wood Lin Chun had split and neatly stacked it by the woodpile. Once Lin Chun and Lin Dong left for work and school, Lin Qiu went to the backyard, and Lin Xia returned to her room to sort out all her belongings. When she saw the money wrapped in a floral handkerchief¡ªseven yuan and fifty-six cents¡ªLin Xia sighed lightly. Although the purchasing power of this money was impressive now, and the amount could buy quite a few things, it was not enough for starting the small business she had in mind. However, Lin Xia was only discouraged for a moment before she gathered her spirits. Afraid of having no capital? After all, she had just returned to the past, and there were still people and events to sort out. Besides, business isn¡¯t as simple as just talking about it; she needed to do some research before taking action. So, she could save up the capital slowly. Having understood this, Lin Xia rolled up the handkerchief and tucked it into her pocket, then subconsciously touched her hair. She had sweated profusely the previous night due to a high fever, and now not only her body but also her hair felt uncomfortably sticky. She put on her shoes, stepped out of the house, lifted the lid of the large pot, and found the water inside still warm, perfect for washing. Lin Xia filled nearly half a basin with water and brought it into the Western House. In the bungalow, no one locked the doors during the day, and she didn¡¯t know who might come by. So, Lin Xia turned around, locked the door, and drew the curtains before she began to undress, hoping to wash her hair and clean her body. At that moment, she touched the Peach Wood Sword she used to wear all the time. The Peach Wood Sword was something her mother had somehow obtained for her when she was young. Lin Xia had worn it for many years, until one day it mysteriously disappeared and was never found again. Gently removing it, Lin Xia¡¯s eyes filled with nostalgia as she touched the carvings on the sword. Due to long wear, the Peach Wood Sword had turned dark red and glossy. Thinking of her mother, Lin Xia felt sentimental. Remembering her mother¡¯s tragic life, and since so many years had passed, her image of her mother had blurred, barely recalling her tenderness. Thinking also of their previous lives brought tears to her eyes. By chance, a tear fell on the Peach Wood Sword, and she quickly wiped it off. Suddenly, a strange occurrence happened¡ªan inexplicable force sucked her in, and though Lin Xia¡¯s body didn¡¯t move, her consciousness felt as though it was drawn into a room. Lin Xia was very frightened, not understanding what was happening. She found herself in a vast, empty room. Looking around, she saw nothing but jade-colored walls on all sides. There was mist swirling in front of her, and she cautiously drifted towards it. When she reached through the mist, she still saw a green Jade in front of her. She was confused, wondering why she had entered here? What was the purpose of this vast room? As she pondered how to exit, her consciousness suddenly returned to her body. Lin Xia¡¯s eyes widened, stunned as she looked at the Peach Wood Sword lying in her palm. From its appearance, the sword seemed ordinary, just having more strange and peculiar patterns than others she had seen. But that room in the Jade was too frightening. Could it be that the room was inside this tiny Peach Wood Sword? Lin Xia felt as if her brain wasn¡¯t functioning enough. Revisiting the past was shocking enough, and now this was added. Eager to understand what the Jade and Peach Wood Sword were all about, she began her exploration. She entered the experiment several times and discovered that her body couldn¡¯t enter, only her consciousness could, and the room within the Jade was approximately twice the size of their current house. When she realized this posed no harm to her, she clenched the Peach Wood Sword tightly. Perhaps this was a treasure beyond value, but it had opened because her tears had unintentionally fallen upon it. Lin Xia tried to put items like combs and towels inside using her consciousness and then quickly took them out again. Seeing these items intact, she was ecstatic. Having this room to store things meant she could not only keep her belongings safe but also perhaps start some kind of business, couldn¡¯t it? With this tremendous discovery, Lin Xia felt even more confident about the future. At that moment, a series of footsteps approached. Lin Xia knew it must be Lin Qiu coming back from the backyard, so she quickly hung the Peach Wood Sword back around her neck and casually wiped her eyes. Lin Qiu pushed the door but couldn¡¯t open it, ¡°Sis, why is the door latched?¡± ¡°I was thinking of washing my hair. I¡¯ll open the door for you right now!¡± Lin Xia hurriedly responded and went to open the door for Lin Qiu. Regarding this sudden discovery, she temporarily didn¡¯t want to let her sister know. Not only because of this, but also because her returning this one time was inexplicable. As soon as Lin Qiu entered, she saw that her sister¡¯s face was radiant, yet there were traces of tears in her eyes. She worriedly asked, ¡°Sis! Why were you crying?¡± Wasn¡¯t everything fine before? But looking at her sister¡¯s complexion and eyes, it didn¡¯t seem like she was sad. Lin Xia grabbed Lin Qiu¡¯s hand, ¡°I am happy!¡± Her heart was excited and thrilled, but faced with her sister, there were some things she couldn¡¯t explain, so all she could do in her heart was silently apologize. Lin Qiu was reassured, ¡°Sis, haven¡¯t you washed yet? Is the water too cold? If it is, I¡¯ll go get you some more!¡± She touched the water in the basin; it was no longer hot, ¡°I¡¯ll go swap it out for you!¡± Lin Xia cheerfully acknowledged, ¡°Okay, swap it for me, thanks so much, Xiaoqiu!¡± Lin Qiu turned around with surprise, feeling that her sister at this moment was even more astonishingly different from her behavior at lunch, since it was rare for her sister to speak so lightheartedly. Lin Xia washed her hair and carefully dried her body with a towel. She sniffed, smelling the scent of soap, her body feeling much fresher. She carefully placed the Peach Wood Sword into her underwear; this would be her secret, one she could not share with anyone. Lin Qiu, busy moving back and forth, hadn¡¯t noticed these details. When she came inside, she urged Lin Xia, ¡°Sis, lie down for a while longer!¡± ¡°Okay! Xiaoqiu, you rest too!¡± Lin Xia beckoned Lin Qiu to lie down on the kang with her. Lin Qiu¡¯s hands weren¡¯t idle; she continued to knit the sleeves of Lin Chun¡¯s sweater. Lin Xia lay there, fully unable to sleep, silently watching Lin Qiu¡¯s nimble movements and sank into deep thought. If she remembered correctly, her coworker Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law held a minor official position at the garment factory. In her previous life, she was too shy to ask for a favor, and later Lin Qiu ended up working in the soy sauce factory. The ordeals that Lin Qiu faced, which pained Lin Xia every time she thought about them, made her hate herself for not having the ability to stand up for her sister more effectively. Chapter 9 - 9 9 Judging Right and Wrong ?9: Chapter 9 Judging Right and Wrong 9: Chapter 9 Judging Right and Wrong She wouldn¡¯t care about losing face anymore! Asking for favors by giving gifts and smiling politely at others¡¯ doorsteps was something she had never done before, but for Xiaoqiu¡¯s future, she was willing to take that step. Lin Xia thought of the seven yuan and change in her pocket and realized it probably wasn¡¯t enough! She decided in her heart that as soon as her older brother returned, she would borrow the money he had been secretly saving. Since she had just recovered from her illness and her emotions had been running high since waking up, she slowly drifted back to sleep. Lin Xia was awoken by the sound of banging and cursing, accompanied by the clanging of an iron basin. She blinked, looked at the ceiling and the interior of the room, and then realized she had returned to the past. Lin Qiu wasn¡¯t in the room. Lin Xia calmly sat up, pushed back the covers, and stepped down from the bed, a cold smile playing on her lips. Without thinking, she knew it must be Qian Chunli and her group returning! Separated by just a wall, Qian Chunli, with a hideous expression in the kitchen, was pointing at Lin Qiu, who stood by her side with her head down. Chunli, hands on hips and cursing, said, ¡°What the hell! Are you drinking the oil or what? Just a bottom left in the half bottle! How are we supposed to cook now? Do any of you still want to eat? Wait till your father comes back, I definitely need to tell him, and see how he deals with you! Nobody squanders resources like that...¡± Qian Chunli had returned home in high spirits with her daughter Lin Yu after attending a joyful banquet in the village, bringing back some candies and pastries in a cloth bag. After hiding them away in her room, she went to the kitchen, and upon seeing the oil bottle, she exploded in anger! Lin Yu, glancing at Lin Qiu and her downtrodden demeanor, flickered with disdain and schadenfreude in her eyes, but her words came out gentle, ¡°Lin Qiu, don¡¯t blame my mom for being angry. Our family is struggling, and we can¡¯t be so wasteful!¡± At this moment, Lin Xia came out. Lin Qiu, seeing her sister emerge, just wanted to persuade her to go back inside, but was stopped by Lin Xia. As Lin Yu saw her with a dark expression on her face, her eyes shifted, ¡°Lin Xia! Are you feeling better?¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t make a sound. She sized up Lin Yu, and they were about the same age. Lin Yu was dressed from head to toe so differently from them; one might think she was a girl from the city. But she wasn¡¯t! Qian Chunli was registered in the countryside, and her previous marriage was to someone from the village, so naturally, Lin Yu and Lin Qiang also had rural household registrations. It was later, after marrying Lin Aiguo, that she changed her household registration to that of the city. Qian Chunli, panting and gasping, glared at Lin Xia. Even though she felt the other¡¯s gaze somewhat intimidating, she didn¡¯t take it to heart. It wasn¡¯t like she hadn¡¯t gone out before, leaving these kids at home. But over the years, she realized these kids were particularly proud. After she had complained a few times to Lin Aiguo about their excessive eating and drinking, they naturally wouldn¡¯t overeat. They would eat just as much as she prepared, and never sneak extra. So how come she leaves for merely a day, and everything changes? The thought of the oil, enough to last several days, being squandered on a single meal, set her inner rage crackling! She put her hands on her hips and pointed at Lin Xia and Lin Qiu, shouting, ¡°Are you little brats trying to rebel? Just wait till your father comes back and sees what I tell him! All of you with big mouths running wild, not even stopping to think about our family situation!¡± Lin Qiu timidly tugged at Lin Xia, thinking let her curse as long as she wants, and once the old woman has had her fill of scolding, this will be over! What else could she do? But Lin Xia pulled Lin Qiu¡¯s arm away and gave her a reassuring smile. This must be resisted! This was her first test since going back to the past! If Lin Xia behaved as usual, then she would be useless! How else could she talk about changing the fate of her family? Lin Xia approached Qian Chunli with a cold sneer and glared at her fiercely, ¡°What¡¯s going on at home? Why don¡¯t you tell me? What¡¯s wrong with using a bit of oil when we cook? We eat from our own ration supply, what right do you have to criticize, always moving food to your parents¡¯ house? When my dad gets back, I¡¯m going to tell him as well. It seems the one who joined our family later has really been hiding her intentions! We see the food being moved, what about the things we don¡¯t see? Who knows what good stuff from the house has been taken away!¡± After Lin Xia rattled off this tirade, not only was she taken aback, but Lin Qiu and Lin Yu, who were standing near the water vat, were also stunned! Was this still the Lin Xia they knew? Qian Chunli was completely stupefied by Lin Xia¡¯s piercing gaze and the torrent of words that spilled from her mouth! Ordinarily, this Lin Xia would only bury herself in work; since when could she speak so boldly and articulate her thoughts so clearly? And she even directly pointed out her moving food to her parents¡¯ house! She knew she had been incidentally seen by these kids once, and it had frightened her for a few days, but after noticing they didn¡¯t say anything, she let her guard down. Upon reflection, since Lin Aiguo only returned once every fortnight, if there was no solid proof, she could deny it to her death and they wouldn¡¯t have any evidence against her! With this thought, Qian Chunli immediately felt more confident, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? When have I ever moved food to my parents¡¯ house? Without evidence, don¡¯t blather on! Besides, I¡¯ll see whose side your father takes in the end!¡± In this regard, she was somewhat confident; having shared a bed, Lin Aiguo had indeed been on her side these past years. Furthermore, these kids never received any favor from Lin Aiguo, so when the time came and she shed a few tears and embellished the story with complaints, they would be in for some trouble! Lin Xia retorted, ¡°Then what are you babbling about? Where¡¯s your evidence for us guzzling the oil? I don¡¯t care whether he believes me or not, but I have to let him know!¡± She didn¡¯t believe Qian Chunli could produce any evidence! That would not be easy to prove! Of course, Lin Xia knew that it would be a futile argument without solid evidence, but her purpose in saying this was not to seek an immediate verdict. After all, she had only just returned to the past; there were still many things to sort out. Today, facing Qian Chunli, she couldn¡¯t remain as meek and enduring as before, but it was definitely not the time to completely knock her down either! No matter how bad, this family was still temporarily needed as a place for her and her siblings to live. Qian Chunli, feeling guilty, avoided Lin Xia¡¯s fierce gaze and obstinately argued, ¡°What are you talking about? How can you accuse me of blathering nonsense? No matter what, I am your elder... It really should be made known and judged. You lot always act so high and mighty...¡± She wanted to cling to this point to make Lin Xia submit since as an elder, the younger generation should not speak to her in such a manner. And regarding the wasting of oil, she believed she was in the right no matter where she took her case! But Lin Xia was not afraid of her argument; since she dared to confront the issue, she had thought about how to handle it, ¡°So what if you¡¯re an elder? That doesn¡¯t give you the right to be unreasonable. You accused me of blathering first; I was just following your lead! If you want people to judge, let¡¯s go outside the main gate now. I¡¯ll call out the neighbors to give their judgment... Our mother died early, and now that it¡¯s these times, we still can¡¯t eat our fill. Just putting some oil in the food when cooking normally and you falsely accuse us... It¡¯s also a good time to discuss why the rations are never enough. There are four of us, each with a supply of 27 pounds of rations. How come we never see it when it¡¯s time to collect the food...¡± Chapter 10 - 10 10 Awesome ?10: Chapter 10 Awesome 10: Chapter 10 Awesome Qian Chunli suddenly wilted, she truly hadn¡¯t expected Lin Xia¡¯s mouth to be as sharp as a knife, stabbing right into the sore spot. She knew what the neighbors used to say about them, saying Lin Aiguo was biased, but it was all behind their backs, let them say what they wanted, it wouldn¡¯t cost her a piece of flesh. But if Lin Xia really started making a fuss outside, her reputation as a wicked stepmother was sealed. And the matter of the grain, even if she explained it clearly, there would still be people... What she feared most was Lin Aiguo finding out, it definitely wouldn¡¯t be the same with him as with his first wife. Lin Aiguo controlled the money, only giving her just enough for household expenses every month, her maternal family were rural residents who struggled by farming, at the Lin family, a large family all on rationed grain, calculated per capita, every month was neither too little nor too much, so she could only think of something related to the grain. If she had known it would be like this, she really should have dragged Lin Qiang back, not letting him leave to create a disturbance during the bridal chamber, if Lin Qiang had stood there, that would have kept the situation under control! Would Lin Xia dare to speak like that? But now, saying anything was useless, Qian Chunli could only come out with, ¡°They say a boy of fifteen will eat his father into poverty! If you can eat me out of house and home, what can I do!¡± Lin Xia lifted her chin, trying to sound as confident as possible, ¡°Fine! You¡¯ve got no way out! I do! Next time we go to buy grain, we¡¯ll go together and split out our share, each eat their own!¡± Xiaoqiu looked up to his sister admiringly, his eyes shining. They had never felt this vindicated in the past few years! Seeing Qian Chunli pushed into a corner made her feel incredibly thrilled! ¡°How can that be right! We¡¯re all family!¡± Qian Chunli panicked, if their four people¡¯s rationed grain was taken away, with the three of them plus Lin Aiguo, her son Lin Qiang could still eat, being able to eat was already good, but what would she do in the future? She secretly regretted pushing the issue of oil with Lin Xia and the others, wasn¡¯t this a case of losing more by seeking too much? Lin Yu had been restraining herself from the side, if not for Xiaoqiu holding her back, not letting her get close, she would have gone up to help argue with Lin Xia. Now seeing Lin Xia speak this way, and her mother being pressured so, of course she couldn¡¯t let this become reality. ¡°Lin Xia! We¡¯re all family, why create such a rift! My mom is just straightforward and didn¡¯t mean any harm, she spoke hastily, but isn¡¯t it all for the sake of our family, losing oil hurts, doesn¡¯t it! Moreover, no matter what you say, my mom was legitimately married into this family by my dad! I¡¯m not saying you should call her ¡®mom,¡¯ but calling her ¡®auntie¡¯ is only right and proper...¡± Lin Xia coldly turned to look at Lin Yu, ¡°My mom is lying in South Mountain! Where is your dad lying? Does he know how affectionately you call someone else ¡®dad¡¯? Would he float above your head at night and have a word with you?¡± Lin Yu instinctively shrank back, why did she feel that today¡¯s Lin Xia carried a wicked air! From the moment they had met, she noticed it, Lin Xia was like a different person. Qian Chunli¡¯s face also looked extremely ugly, she didn¡¯t dare continue tangling with Lin Xia, who knew if this kid would shout about it outside the gate, she saw that the situation looked grim! She thought to herself, anyway, there were long days ahead, she had plenty of opportunities to deal with them! Lin Xia¡¯s return marked her first small victory. Qian Chunli didn¡¯t dare utter a sound anymore, she and Lin Yu scooted back to the Eastern House, defeated. Xiaoqiu joyfully gave Lin Xia a thumbs up, silently expressing his happiness and admiration! Lin Xia took Xiaoqiu¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our room too!¡± Once inside the room, Xiaoqiu whispered in praise, ¡°Sis! You were amazing just now!¡± Xiaoqiu still hadn¡¯t recovered from her shock, and couldn¡¯t help but wonder, was that really her sister Lin Xia? Did it all just seem like a dream? Lin Xia deliberately grabbed one of Xiaoqiu¡¯s braids and drew circles on her face with it, ¡°Impressive, right?¡± Xiaoqiu dodged, barely holding back her laughter, ¡°Impressive! After that, the old ladies didn¡¯t dare say a word! And Lin Yu, you scared him so much his face changed colors!¡± Seeing her sister¡¯s smiling face bloom like a flower, a trace of sadness crossed Lin Xia¡¯s eyes. She seized the opportunity to instill in Xiaoqiu, ¡°Xiaoqiu! You also need to become like this, understand? And not just with them!¡± Xiaoqiu nodded vigorously, ¡°Sister! I understand! I will learn from you! I can¡¯t let people bully me anymore!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The sisters¡¯ faces were all smiles! Lin Xia recalled how tough she had been when facing Chunli just now, which was actually because she had been continuously psyching herself up, recalling her past life to stimulate herself. Otherwise, she really couldn¡¯t have done it. Moreover, the words she had spoken weren¡¯t spur of the moment, but things she had wanted to say in her previous life and had thought about all afternoon, summarizing them together. Although Chunli temporarily wouldn¡¯t dare mention anything about oil being costly again, in the days to come, Chunli and her ilk would definitely look for an opportunity to retaliate. But, she was no longer afraid! She had not only been reborn once; she knew many things in advance, and she also had the storage room in Jade, with so many advantages, if she couldn¡¯t make something of herself this time, then it was all for nothing! In the Eastern House, Chunli and Lin Yu also sat by the kang edge, quietly speaking to each other. ¡°Why was Lin Xia acting so possessed today? Mom, she isn¡¯t cursed, is she?¡± Now thinking of Lin Xia saying their dad might float above her head and chat, Lin Yu felt her scalp tingle. Chunli clicked her tongue twice, ¡°Don¡¯t say it! It might be true! When has she ever been so fierce before? It was like she became a different person!¡± ¡°Mom! What should we do? I¡¯m scared!¡± Lin Yu grimaced, almost on the verge of tears, ¡°My dad won¡¯t really come to find me, will he?¡± Having been influenced from childhood, she really believed in these things. Chunli saw that her daughter was truly frightened, and she kept cursing Lin Xia in her heart, but outwardly she had to appear calm and comfort Lin Yu, ¡°Your dad has been gone for so many years, what are you scared of? Don¡¯t listen to that little wretch¡¯s nonsense. Yu, don¡¯t be scared! Your dad has long since been reincarnated!¡± Lin Yu felt somewhat relieved and couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°If only Lin Qiang was home!¡± Chunli also regretted it immensely, ¡°You¡¯re telling me! I should have dragged him home with us! But you know, Yu, we¡¯ve got a long life ahead of us, I refuse to believe we can¡¯t handle those kids! When your dad comes back, we¡¯ll just¡ª¡± Mother and daughter lowered their voices even further, whispering and muttering, and Lin Yu eventually burst into a triumphant laugh... That evening, when cooking dinner, Lin Xia specifically instructed Xiaoqiu to make extra food. This time, Xiaoqiu had no objections and immediately went to work with great vigor! Her excitement persisted until Lin Chun and Lin Dong gradually returned home. When Chunli and Lin Yu came out to eat, seeing such a large pot of rice and glancing at Lin Xia, they didn¡¯t utter a word but took some food and went back to the Eastern House. Chapter 11 - 11 11 I Understand ?11: Chapter 11 I Understand 11: Chapter 11 I Understand Lin Chun and Lin Dong both felt that something was off as soon as they got back home. After serving the meal, Xiaoqiu, with eyes sparkling, quietly mimicked how her sister had left their mother and daughter speechless in defense. The brothers looked at Lin Xia with newfound respect after hearing the story. Like Xiaoqiu, Lin Dong looked up to Lin Xia admiringly, ¡°Big sister! You really do what you say!¡± he said. The words you spoke at lunch were realized immediately. ¡°Of course!¡± Lin Xia ruffled her brother¡¯s short hair. ¡°Hurry up and eat! After eating you need to do your homework!¡± With her there, she wouldn¡¯t let them be bullied again! ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Dong agreed promptly. ¡°After I finish, I¡¯m going to Haizi¡¯s house to do homework. He has some problems he wants me to help explain!¡± ¡°Go ahead! Eat quickly then,¡± Lin Xia remembered the neighbor¡¯s kid, Haizi, who was skinny but a good kid. With many years of endurance behind him, Lin Chun thought things through a bit more. ¡°Xiaoxia, now that you¡¯ve confronted them, what if she complains to dad once he¡¯s back?¡± Xiaoqiu¡¯s hand paused in the act of picking up food with her chopsticks, looking anxiously at Lin Xia. She had forgotten about their father¡¯s reaction upon his return. She thought if her father decided to punish them, she would volunteer to take the beatings, being the robust one who could take a hit! Lin Xia met Lin Chun¡¯s gaze squarely, ¡°Then let her complain! When I didn¡¯t confront them before, did she complain any less?¡± She knew she couldn¡¯t change her brother¡¯s mindset right away, but she was determined to try and gradually influence him. The proverb ¡°A good horse is ridden, a good person is cheated¡± is too accurate. Sometimes when you need to be tough, you have to be! Lin Chun was taken aback by Lin Xia¡¯s response, but upon further thought, he realized she was right. Even when they were submissive, their old mother hadn¡¯t refrained from making complaints and causing trouble! ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± And with that, he stopped talking and focused on his meal. Lin Dong glanced at his brother and sister, pursed his lips slightly, and continued eating the rice in his bowl. Seeing the mood was down, Lin Xia continued to boost their spirits, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, even if dad comes back and she complains, we can file our own complaints. And if dad still only believes what she says, it¡¯s fine, we¡¯ll divide the food and each eats their own! Let¡¯s see what she can do then!¡± She was aware that it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but what did she fear? As someone who had faced death once, she was willing to become the villain for her siblings¡¯ sake! Moreover, Lin Aiguo didn¡¯t mean much to her anymore! If need be, she was ready to break away from this family! After the meal, Xiaoqiu cleaned up the kitchen, Lin Dong went to Haizi¡¯s place, and only Lin Xia and Lin Chun were left in Western House. It was only then that Lin Xia softly spoke to Lin Chun about wanting to give a gift to secure a job for Xiaoqiu, but she didn¡¯t have much money and asked him to lend her the money he had been saving in secret. Without a word, Lin Chun pulled out neatly folded money from his pocket, which Lin Xia counted: twelve yuan and thirty cents. He looked at it, thinking it might be too little, and added, ¡°Xiaoxia, is this enough? If not, I can borrow some from my colleagues!¡± Even though he couldn¡¯t borrow much, Xiaoqiu¡¯s employment was a big deal. If such a grown girl kept staying at home, with their half-brother being so useless, he was worried. ¡°It should be almost enough!¡± Lin Xia thought for a moment; together with her few yuan, it should suffice. Money was tangible at that time¡ªa person¡¯s monthly salary was only a few dozen yuan. In the end, she took eleven yuan, leaving Lin Chun with one yuan and thirty cents. No words were exchanged that night, and the next day Lin Xia had breakfast and then pushed her bicycle out the door, ready to head to work. It took half an hour to ride from the old house to her workplace. She had only been riding for a short while when the crisp sound of a bicycle bell came from behind her. Lin Xia turned her head to look and saw that the cyclist behind her was her aunt¡¯s daughter, Yu Hongmei. Yu Hongmei worked with her at the timber processing factory, and her aunt¡¯s family also lived in the nearby streets, two blocks away. Yu Hongmei was quite pretty, with an oval face, big double-lidded eyes, and a high nose bridge. By the standards of that time, she was considered a real beauty. Even now, dressed in a dark blue labor cloth work uniform with a small three-button collar, it seemed to look better on her than on most people. Lin Xia didn¡¯t feel much about this sister; she just called out flatly, ¡°Sister Hongmei!¡± Yu Hongmei glanced at Lin Xia, observing that her complexion was a bit sallow yet her spirits seemed fine, she casually asked, ¡°Hmm! I heard you were sick, are you better now?¡± She knew about Lin Xia taking a day off the day before, but assumed the fever was nothing serious if she had sweated it out under a heavy quilt¡ªthey hadn¡¯t made a big deal of it. Besides, she had never been close to the children her elder uncle¡¯s wife had left behind. ¡°Much better!¡± Lin Xia intuitively felt there was not much to chat about with her, as they were indifferent toward each other even in her previous life. ¡°Oh,¡± Yu Hongmei was always a bit haughty, and seeing that Lin Xia didn¡¯t seem keen to talk, she was even less inclined to speak herself. After that, the two of them rode on, each silently pedaling their bicycles. Along the way, they encountered a few colleagues, both men and women, and made small talk. Lin Xia successfully rode to her workplace and locked her bicycle in the shed. She looked around the factory area, comparing it to its later decline, it was undoubtedly in its prime during this period for Lin District¡¯s factories. Lin Xia followed everyone to the workshop; at the time, she did all sorts of work in the big workshop ¨C pressing boards, stacking boards and sometimes even working on the circular saw to cut lumber. Wearing cotton gloves, Lin Xia worked quite efficiently. But, having just recovered from illness, she felt weak, so after doing a bit of work, she began to break out in cold sweats. Yet she still persevered, biting her lip. Although she had returned to the past, she couldn¡¯t just quit her job at will. Before she found another way to make money, she had to earn this wage. Finally, at nine o¡¯clock when there was no more material coming down from above, the saws were stopped for a half-hour break. Lin Xia wiped the sweat from her forehead and went to the toilet with her colleagues who were working with her. During this time, she kept looking out for Liu Lanying¡¯s presence. Liu Lanying was a worker on the upper floor; Lin Xia had not been at the factory for long and was not yet familiar with her. She had never done this kind of favor-seeking or gift-giving before, but Lin Xia silently encouraged herself. No matter what, first she had to strike up a conversation and then find out if the garment factory was hiring. If a gift was needed, she would act accordingly. Finally, on the way to the restroom, Lin Xia ran into Liu Lanying, who had another female colleague with her, chatting as they walked. It seemed they had just come out of the restroom. Taking a deep breath, Lin Xia approached with a smile and greeted her, ¡°Sister Liu!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Liu Lanying was taken aback for a moment before she remembered who the other person was, ¡°You¡¯re Xiaolin from the big workshop downstairs, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xia smiled openly, ¡°Sister Liu, I have something I need to talk to you about! Do you have a moment now?¡± As she spoke, she smiled at the person beside her. Chapter 12 - 12 12 Misunderstanding ?12: Chapter 12: Misunderstanding 12: Chapter 12: Misunderstanding Liu Lanying was somewhat curious about what Lin Xia wanted to talk to her about. However, she had always been popular at the factory, and she smiled at her colleague nearby, ¡°Xiaozhang! You go back first! I¡¯ll have a word with Xiaolin!¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Xiaozhang glanced at Lin Xia, then turned and left first. Lin Xia looked around, realizing that this wasn¡¯t a good place to talk. So she suggested, ¡°Sister Liu, let¡¯s go to the material area to talk!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Liu Lanying felt she must have something important to discuss; otherwise, the usually quiet girl wouldn¡¯t have approached her. Once they arrived, Lin Xia got straight to the point and asked if the garment factory was still hiring. Liu Lanying looked around and said, ¡°I¡¯m not really sure, my mother-in-law didn¡¯t mention anything when she went home! How about this, Xiaolin, I¡¯ll ask her for you after work at noon!¡± Seeing her reaction, Lin Xia realized that they were probably hiring. She gratefully said, ¡°Sister Liu! I really appreciate it!¡± ¡°We¡¯re colleagues, it¡¯s nothing!¡± Liu Lanying paused, a worried expression crossing her face, ¡°But, Xiaolin, as you know, there are quite a few people from the mountain areas wanting to transfer down here...¡± Lin Xia quickly grabbed her arm, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°Sister Liu! I understand! Just ask nicely for me, if it works out, I won¡¯t let you down!¡± ¡°Alright! Wait for my message!¡± Liu Lanying instantly beamed, and they returned to the workshop one after the other. Lin Xia felt a huge relief, wanting her sister Lin Qiu to work at the garment factory not only to secure a job but also to learn how to use sewing machines and the like, so that when she had some money, she could help Lin Qiu start a small business. After all, having a skill was essential at any time. Although working in the garment factory might not teach her much, getting some basic knowledge was good enough for now, and later she could find her a proper teacher. In the following time, Lin Xia kept busy at work while also considering what gifts to give when the time came. At noon after work, Lin Xia rode her bike home for half an hour. As soon as she pushed her bike through the gate, she saw Qian Chunli¡¯s son Lin Qiang in the courtyard, wielding a long stick. ¡°Hey! Lin Xia is back!¡± Lin Qiu and Lin Dong inside the house heard it and rushed out. The siblings shouted her name in unison, each holding a thick firewood stick. Lin Xia was relieved to see this scene; it seemed her brother and sister had taken her words to heart, learning to fight back and to protect her! Lin Qiang was not tall, but he was solidly built, dark and stocky. His features might have followed Qian Chunli¡¯s deceased husband, as he didn¡¯t resemble Qian Chunli or Lin Yu at all. A broad face with puffy eyes, not to mention the deep frown lines on his forehead and his buzz cut, made him look unfriendly. But Lin Xia wasn¡¯t afraid of him, as she had already figured out how to handle Lin Qiang last night! Her expression unchanged, she put down the bike and challenged, ¡°What is it? Looking for a fight?¡± Lin Qiang tilted his head, scoffing disdainfully, ¡°With those skinny arms and legs of yours? And you, you! Just try acting tough!¡± Just today, he had come back from his aunt¡¯s house and heard from Lin Yu about what had happened last night, and now they were all acting tough, daring to cause trouble! Lin Dong glared fiercely at Lin Qiang, who had been scolding his older sister when he returned from school. He had wanted to confront him immediately, but his sister had forcefully held him back. He knew his sister was worried he wasn¡¯t strong enough to take Lin Qiang on, and that he might end up getting hurt. But Lin Qiang is really despicable! And there¡¯s Lin Yu, hiding in the Eastern House and enjoying the show, such a heartless lot! Lin Qiang waved his stick and threatened fiercely, ¡°I¡¯ve heard all about it, Lin Xia, you think you¡¯re so capable? I¡¯m telling you, if I had been there last night, I would have definitely slashed you!¡± Lin Xia casually picked up a spade from the yard and sneered, ¡°Now is not too late to slash! Come on! I¡¯m waiting! Let¡¯s see if the three of us can chop you into a sorry mess!¡± Lin Qiang looked at the three siblings glaring at him angrily. He was a bit surprised by their significant change, but living together over these years, he thought he had thoroughly assessed each of them; Moreover, having never seen any of them show any fierceness or cruelty, he genuinely didn¡¯t consider them a threat. Plus, with his large physique here, what is there to fear in dealing with two skinny women and a teenage boy? ¡°Every single one of you, don¡¯t think I underestimate you, but do you really dare to hit me with a stick?¡± He just didn¡¯t believe it! He alone could handle all three of them! Lin Xia moved a few steps closer to Lin Qiang with the spade, taunting, ¡°Lin Qiang! Are you afraid of getting hit? Why don¡¯t you try and find out?¡± She knew there would be a confrontation, so she had prepared herself last night! Today, Lin Qiang returned from his aunt¡¯s place. If he dared to start a fight, she was ready to make him suffer, even at the cost of her life! Let them all know, they siblings are no longer the pushovers they once were! However, she didn¡¯t underestimate Lin Qiang, but he was usually only aggressive at home and merely obsequious outside; he probably didn¡¯t have the guts. Lin Qiu had never fought before, but seeing Lin Xia¡¯s fearless demeanor greatly inspired her. She gripped the firewood stick in her hand, yet her calves trembled uncontrollably. Lin Dong felt incredibly thrilled; as he grew older, he had wanted to rebel more than once. But every time he tried to speak or act, his elder siblings would stop him, advising him for his protection, to protect him as the youngest. Yet, what had their patience and submission brought them? Seeing his elder sister awaken from illness as a changed person, Lin Dong felt a complete affirmation. He swung the firewood stick vigorously, his eyes shining brightly, as he shouted what he had always wanted to say, ¡°Lin Qiang! If you dare to hit my sister, I will fight you!¡± ¡°Stop that useless talk!¡± Lin Qiang retorted defiantly, spitting on the ground, ¡°Am I supposed to be scared of you? If you¡¯re capable, all of you come at once!¡± Lin Xia thought about the hardships in her past life, and her eyes immediately turned cold and fearsome. If Lin Qiang hadn¡¯t taken over, could her elder brother have died? If not for Lin Aiguo insisting on Lin Yu going to school, could her younger brother have not been allowed to finish middle school? All those incidents, though partly due to their own cowardice, weren¡¯t most of them forced upon them by these people? Now, seeing Lin Qiang who disregarded them, Lin Xia truly hated that she couldn¡¯t flatten his head with a spade. Facing Lin Xia, who seemed to hold great animosity towards him, Lin Qiang didn¡¯t know why his back felt chilly and his heart thudded uncomfortably; he lost the fearless composure he had before. But, having spoken big words, it seemed wrong to back off now. In the Eastern House, Lin Yu, who had been sneaking peeks through the window, saw the imminent fight in the courtyard and panicked. Lin Qiu and Lin Dong might be nothing, but Lin Xia had been emanating an ominous vibe since yesterday. If Lin Qiang really gets beaten by Lin Xia and her siblings, once her mother Qian Chunli returns, she would definitely find out that it was her doing. No way! Even if she wanted revenge, she couldn¡¯t let Lin Qiang actually fight them. Chapter 13 - 13 13 Ideas ?13: Chapter 13 Ideas 13: Chapter 13 Ideas Lin Yu rushed out of the house, still shouting, ¡°What are you all doing? Put down the sticks now! We are all family, why resort to weapons?¡± Lin Qiang immediately found a way out, and he retreated to Lin Yu¡¯s side. ¡°We didn¡¯t intend to mess with your brother, it was your brother himself who said he wanted to chop me up!¡± Lin Xia put down the spade and coldly looked towards Lin Yu, sarcastically pointing at her, ¡°Lin Yu, why did you come out just now? Were you enjoying the show inside the house?¡± Seeing Lin Xia speak with such a cold face, Lin Yu felt even more that she was not easy to provoke. She fiddled with her clothes and her response came quickly, ¡°Lin Xia! What are you talking about? Lin Qiang was just impulsive, don¡¯t be like him! Ah! It¡¯s all my fault for speaking too quickly, it¡¯s still about last night¡¯s incident...¡± Lin Xia pretended to suddenly realize, ¡°Lin Yu, what exactly did you tell Lin Qiang? Wasn¡¯t last night¡¯s issue proven to be a misunderstanding in the end? If you guys keep going back and forth like this, why not take advantage of everyone being home for lunch right now, let¡¯s go outside the main gate and have a proper talk? Let¡¯s include your mom¡¯s issue with the grains, how about that?¡± Lin Yu was so angry she gritted her teeth but forcefully held it in, now was not the time to discuss those issues. If Lin Xia started shouting and brought up the issue of her mom getting grains from her grandma¡¯s house, even if it ended up unresolved, it wouldn¡¯t end well. ¡°Yes! It was a misunderstanding!¡± Lin Qiang looked at Lin Yu, ¡°What? A misunderstanding?¡± After all this fuss, it was a misunderstanding! Wasn¡¯t this just making a fool of him? ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later!¡± Lin Yu hastily signaled him with her eyes, a wise man does not eat the loss before his eyes; when dad comes back, there will be plenty of chances to deal with them. ¡°Lin Yu, since it¡¯s a misunderstanding, you need to explain it properly to your brother!¡± Lin Xia said understandingly. ¡°Aye!¡± Lin Yu, with an extremely ugly expression, dragged Lin Qiang back into the house. Lin Qiu and Lin Dong stood on the side, admiringly looking at Lin Xia; their sister was really different now! Especially seeing the sibling duo sulkily retreating back into the Eastern House, they felt extremely pleased. Lin Xia didn¡¯t care what the siblings were plotting inside the house, she asked Lin Qiu, ¡°Xiaoqiu, is lunch ready?¡± With just those two hours for lunchtime, cycling there and back would take an hour, and she had been delayed a while, so she would have to leave immediately after eating. She wanted to go early to see what Liu Lanying had to say! With what just happened, Lin Xia was more eager for Lin Qiu to start working. Lin Qiu grinned, ¡°Sister! It¡¯s ready! Come in and eat!¡± At that moment, the sound of a bicycle came from outside the gate. It turned out their eldest brother Lin Chun had returned. Lin Chun, seeing his siblings standing at the doorway, asked, ¡°Why are all of you standing here? What happened?¡± He had been uneasy all morning at work; with Xiaoqiu alone at home and Lin Qiang coming back and finding out about yesterday¡¯s incident, he feared she might get upset. He had wanted to leave work early and rush home, but just as he feared something might happen, the director suddenly asked him to do some work right before leaving, delaying him past the end of his shift. In the Western House, after listening to Lin Qiu and Lin Dong excitedly speak in subdued voices, taking turns mimicking others, he didn¡¯t laugh, but looked towards a smiling Lin Xia with a slightly stern gaze, ¡°Xiaoxia! Next time something like this happens, you guys shouldn¡¯t act impulsively. Wait for your big brother to come back and settle it! No matter what, we all live in the same family. If it really comes to blows, not only would you suffer, but dad would be angry when he comes back too! You are all grown up, how can you still get into fights? What would it look like? And how would you ever find a family to marry into?¡± He felt that his younger sister¡¯s approach was still too extreme; Lin Qiang at most would just shout a bit, he doubted he would really dare to start a fight. Dongzi said nothing, and these two girls, fighting with a boy, how could it not be an embarrassing matter? If that old woman spread this around, who would want to marry such a daughter-in-law? Lin Qiu hadn¡¯t expected her big brother to say such a thing, just as she was about to speak, Lin Xia grabbed her by the clothes. Under Lin Xia¡¯s meaningful gaze, Lin Qiu clamped his mouth shut. Lin Dong frowned and pursed his lips, glanced at his sister and eldest brother, but said nothing. Lin Xia crisply agreed, ¡°Understood! Big brother! Let¡¯s eat quickly! Need to go to work after eating!¡± She understood what her elder brother thought. Apart from considering Lin Aiguo¡¯s part, he was also worried about them being at a disadvantage, especially since Lin Qiang was quite sturdy. But to deal with someone like Lin Qiang, you had to be tougher than him. Sometimes, reasoning was ineffective, and it was better to take direct action. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Chun continued to dig into his bowl of rice, he sensed the uneasy atmosphere too, but he indeed considered everything for their sake. His two sisters, how many more years could they stay in this house? The road ahead was long, and they definitely needed a good reputation to find a good in-law¡¯s family! Having suffered since they were young, finding a good family was their only chance to have better days... After finishing the noontime meal, Lin Xia and Lin Chun hurried off to work, pushing the cart. As soon as they left their house, they noticed Aunt Jin standing at her door looking their way. Lin Chun and Lin Xia warmly greeted her, ¡°Aunt Jin!¡± Aunt Jin smiled kindly, ¡°Ah! Lin Chun! Lin Xia! Are you going to work?¡± Lin Xia, pushing the cart, stopped near her. Lin Chun also stopped alongside. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xia smiled and asked, ¡°Has Uncle Jin left yet?¡± ¡°He just left!¡± Aunt Jin glanced from the wooden frame toward Lin Xia¡¯s courtyard, then asked in a low voice, ¡°I was just making dinner inside, and I heard you all arguing in the courtyard. What was it about?¡± Lin Xia knew well that with the windows and doors open in the autumn, their half-day commotion in the courtyard was bound to be overheard. Seizing the opportunity, she definitely wanted to spread the word a bit. ¡°Aunt Jin, seeing as we are neighbors, I can¡¯t hide it from you. Just yesterday, they went to the village to attend a wedding, and we, having cooked lunch at noon. When she returned, she saw the oil bottle was less full and started scolding us for stealing the oil! Later, she remembered it was her own mistake! Then today, Lin Qiang came back. As soon as I entered the courtyard from work, he wanted to hit me. My siblings Xiaoxia and Dongzi couldn¡¯t just let it happen, I was really furious by then, so we had a few words...¡± Aunt Jin angrily slapped her thigh, ¡°I thought so! How could there be talk of hitting! Lin Xia, you really need to toughen up in the future!¡± Seeing she had achieved her aim, Lin Xia quickly replied, ¡°Yes! I got it, Aunt Jin! I have to go to work now, we¡¯ll catch up when there¡¯s time!¡± Aunt Jin, smiling, patted Lin Xia¡¯s arm, ¡°Go on! Hurry!¡± Then she turned to Lin Chun, ¡°And Lin Chun, think over that matter carefully!¡± ¡°Yes! I remember, Aunt Jin! I¡¯m off too!¡± Lin Chun laughed, and soon mounted his bicycle and left. Aunt Jin watched their figures disappear into the distance, sighed, then turned to enter her own house. Upon reaching her workplace, Lin Xia got the news from Liu Lanying that the garment factory indeed had plans to hire but had only a few positions available, and many people were quietly making efforts. Lin Xia understood right away that this was an indirect way of asking for a favor. She was pleased, as that was an easy request to fulfill; the trouble would be if they didn¡¯t want anything! She sweetly flattered Liu Lanying a few sentences, and specifically asked for her home address, casually mentioning that she might stop by her place after work. Liu Lanying immediately understood the implication. She was quite amused as she went upstairs, thinking how crafty Xiaolin had become, wondering why she hadn¡¯t noticed it before. Chapter 14 - 14 14 Not Right ?14: Chapter 14 Not Right 14: Chapter 14 Not Right All afternoon, Lin Xia seemed busy with her tasks, yet her mind was actively churning. At this time, if you wanted to use connections and give gifts, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to give money; usually, it was all about giving items. To buy something, you also had to go to the supply and marketing cooperative, and many items still required coupons for purchase. For some popular or big-ticket items, those coupons were especially precious. Of course, there were also some items that didn¡¯t require coupons. Therefore, at this time, if a family had a relative who worked at the supply and marketing cooperative, that was definitely considered a very good job. Because many items were hard to buy and required asking favors, there were quite a few perks. Lin Xia had less than twenty yuan in her pocket, which was not an insignificant amount, but she still had to carefully consider what to buy. She didn¡¯t just have to give Liu Lanying something presentable; she also had to take good care of her mother-in-law so that Xiaoqiu would have someone looking out for him when he actually started working at the clothing factory. After work, Lin Xia hopped on her bicycle and headed straight for the supply and marketing cooperative. Spring City¡¯s supply and marketing cooperative was on North Road, diagonally opposite the Spring City Cinema, now one of the busiest areas. The string of red-brick bungalows was not small in size, with green window frames and doors, appearing different from those in other places. As soon as she entered, Lin Xia sniffed the air, a mixture of various seasonings, food products, and fabric aromas hitting her face. Lin Xia looked around. There were several glass and metal display cases with various goods inside, and shelves against the wall also had items on them, but many spaces were empty, which made her suspect that they were out of stock. Two female sales clerks were chattering together, their hands busy knitting. Noticing Lin Xia looking around aimlessly, one of them asked brusquely, ¡°What do you want to buy?¡± Lin Xia knew that the attitude of the staff at the supply and marketing cooperative was like this, not just towards her, but towards everyone, so she didn¡¯t take it to heart. She counted her money and bought two cans of hawthorn, two cans of meat, and two boxes of sponge cakes. Thinking of the kids in Liu Lanying¡¯s family, she also bought two jin of fruit candy. This cost her quite a bit of money. She walked around the supply and marketing cooperative and finally decided on the last scarf left, which had a white base and purple flowers. Nowadays, scarves were fashionable, but the styles in the county were limited and not particularly attractive. If someone came back from a big city after a business trip, they usually brought back some nice scarves for people. A sudden idea crossed Lin Xia¡¯s mind: What if she went somewhere to buy a batch of scarves to sell back home, could that work? Women¡¯s love for beauty is innate; no matter whether they are young ladies or young wives, they all love to follow the latest trends. Things were now different compared to the seventies. She could tell from the clothes of the people riding bikes on the street that there was a lot more color, but to her eyes, having returned from the future, it still looked quite unsophisticated. This was actually to her advantage! Her eye for goods would definitely be ahead of the curve if she went to stock up! Lin Xia felt waves of excitement, but she quickly calmed down. Her idea was only a fleeting inspiration and not yet fully mature. Where to source goods was one issue, and she didn¡¯t have the initial capital either. This single scarf was now selling for more than a yuan, and the wholesale price would certainly be more than a yuan as well. To make her trip cost-effective, she¡¯d have to bring back more goods, otherwise, the travel expenses would be a waste. Moreover, it was 1981; though trade was allowed, in many people¡¯s eyes, setting up a stall was still seen as speculative and underhanded. Lin Xia shook her head, pushing aside those thoughts. Her most important task at the moment was to secure Lin Qiu¡¯s job. She could always think about other things later. Lin Xia went to Liu Lanying¡¯s home, which was easy to find, located diagonally across from the noodle factory. Gazing at the dark wood door, Lin Xia reached out and hesitated several times. It was her first time doing this kind of thing, and she was not only nervous but also a mess inside, unsure of how to speak once she entered. But, thinking of the events that had happened during noon today, Lin Xia gritted her teeth and knocked on the door. No sooner had she knocked a few times than Liu Lanying came out from inside. ¡°Who is it?¡± Lin Xia hurriedly replied, ¡°Sister Liu! It¡¯s me! Lin Xia!¡± ¡°Ah! You¡¯ve come!¡± Liu Lanying hurried over to open the door, and when she saw Lin Xia holding a net bag filled with various items, her smile grew even broader, but she still had to say the polite words, ¡°Xiaolin, what are you doing? If you come to visit, you don¡¯t need to bring anything! Take it back when you leave!¡± Lin Xia tried to relax and act natural, ¡°Sister Liu! I was just thinking of checking on auntie and your kid! It¡¯s all just some food, nothing much! Let¡¯s not be so formal between us sisters!¡± Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law saw Lin Xia carrying things and received her with polite hospitality. After sitting down and chatting briefly, they got straight to the point. After listening to Lin Xia¡¯s reason for her visit, she asked in detail about Lin Qiu¡¯s situation, then told Lin Qiu to go fill out a form at the unit first thing in the morning. Lin Xia sincerely expressed many words of gratitude. When Lin Qiu got the job at the garment factory, it meant more than just having a job ¨C it also changed a small part of her fate from her previous life. Later, while Liu Lanying was escorting her out of the house, Lin Xia managed to present the scarf to her. From the look in Liu Lanying¡¯s eyes, Lin Xia could tell she liked it, and felt a weight lift off her heart. When Lin Xia left Liu Lanying¡¯s house and got on her bicycle, the wind on her face felt so soothing, as if the air was filled with beautiful scents. Lin Xia really wanted to shout out loud, but with people constantly passing by as they finished their workday rides, she turned her excitement into pedaling her bike hard, feeling as if she had endless energy! ¡°Sister, I¡¯m not dreaming, am I?¡± Lin Qiu covered her mouth excitedly, her eyes shimmering with tears. She was finally going to work, but why did it feel so surreal, as if she was walking on cotton? Ever since she graduated, getting a job had been a long and winding road, never being able to catch the right opportunity. In fact, she was aware that her father wasn¡¯t earnestly looking for her. If he had really tried, wouldn¡¯t he have found something? Her elder brother and sister didn¡¯t know the right people, and they couldn¡¯t count on others even more. Lin Dong teased with a hearty laugh, ¡°Second Sister! Just pinch yourself, and you¡¯ll know!¡± He was genuinely happy for his second sister, who would finally start working and not have to toil at home all day, not getting any recognition, let alone having to put up with people¡¯s nastiness. Lin Qiu pretended to pinch Lin Dong, ¡°You little scamp! If I¡¯m going to pinch anyone, it would be you! Let¡¯s see if you feel pain!¡± Lin Dong ran behind Lin Xia to hide, still daring to poke his head out and make faces at Lin Qiu. Lin Qiu stopped teasing Lin Dong and grabbed Lin Xia¡¯s hand, expressing her feelings, ¡°Sister! I just feel that it¡¯s so unreal! I didn¡¯t expect it to happen so quickly!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s heart was also filled with many emotions. In her past life, she had only learned later on that Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law worked at the garment factory, but by then, Lin Qiu had already taken a job at the soy sauce factory. Back then, who could have imagined all the things that would happen, so it was too late to change anything! Joining the garment factory instead of the soy sauce factory this time, would she avoid meeting that man? Would her destiny start to change from now on? Despite these thoughts, Lin Xia didn¡¯t want to show her concerns on her face. It was a happy occasion, after all, why dwell on those thoughts? She patted Lin Qiu¡¯s shoulder with a chuckle, her tone light, ¡°Silly girl, what¡¯s not real about it? Tomorrow morning you¡¯re going to the garment factory to fill out the form, and then you can start the onboarding process.¡± Lin Qiu nodded resolutely, showing her determination, ¡°Sister! You all just wait and see, I¡¯ll definitely do a good job! I¡¯ll strive to become a regular employee in the future!¡± Chapter 15 - 15 15 Into the Mountains ?15: Chapter 15: Into the Mountains 15: Chapter 15: Into the Mountains Lin Xia thought about Lin Qiu¡¯s temperament and couldn¡¯t help wanting to impart some wisdom she had only realized after working for years, ¡°Work hard! But Xiaoqiu, when you¡¯re at work, you can¡¯t be too naive. You must do your own duties, and when others push tasks onto you, you must learn to refuse!¡± Otherwise, she would surely be overburdened. Lin Qiu listened earnestly and with an open mind, then immediately became a bit timid as she asked, ¡°Sister, will you accompany me tomorrow? I¡¯m a little scared to go alone.¡± Lin Xia knew that Lin Qiu wasn¡¯t much of an adventurer and had poor adaptability to unfamiliar environments. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you there tomorrow morning, even if we arrive at the office a bit late!¡± ¡°Sister! That¡¯s great!¡± Lin Qiu¡¯s face burst into a smile at once. At this time, Lin Dong let down his guard, and she seized the opportunity to grab his arm. The siblings immediately started horsing around together. Lin Chun watched his brother and sister frolicking and laughing, and he couldn¡¯t stop his lips from curling into a smile. When Lin Xia sat down next to him on the long bench, he whispered, ¡°Xiaoxia, I¡¯m really useless! It¡¯s all thanks to you that Xiaoqiu found work! Otherwise, we would still be waiting for some good news.¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t want Lin Chun to feel discouraged or to lose confidence. She chuckled and leaned closer to whisper, ¡°Big brother, what are you talking about? All the money for gifts and buying stuff came from you! I just ran errands. The greatest credit still belongs to you!¡± This incident had made a big impact on Lin Chun. It could be said that ever since his younger sister fell ill and awoke, every event that followed shook him profoundly. He shook his head and said, ¡°Xiaoxia, it¡¯s not like that at all! I¡¯m still burdened by old ways of thinking, too proud to ask for help!¡± He paused before continuing, ¡°But, Xiaoxia, why do I feel that you¡¯ve changed in the way you speak and handle things after your illness? It¡¯s as if you¡¯ve become a completely different person, but no matter how I look at you, I know you are my older sister.¡± How could Lin Xia possibly tell him the truth! But she had to provide a reasonable explanation. ¡°Big brother! After I recovered from the illness, it¡¯s like my mind suddenly became clearer! How should I put it, like I¡¯ve had an epiphany!¡± Lin Chun didn¡¯t doubt her words. Thinking about the incident at noon, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh and advise, ¡°Xiaoxia, now that Xiaoqiu¡¯s job is settled, I don¡¯t have many worries. I just hope that you and Xiaoqiu can find a good husband, and once Dongzi goes to college, we¡¯ll all be fine. So, try to avoid conflicts with those at the Eastern House if possible! When you can bear it, just bear it. You still have to stay in this house for a few more years! Think about what happened at noon. Aunt Jin heard everything, and once the neighbors start gossiping, the story will change. Even if some say that Lin Qiang is a worthless man, others might still blame you for causing trouble. Without a good reputation, how can you and Xiaoqiu ever find a good husband?¡± Lin Chun took the opportunity to speak out the worries he had harbored all afternoon. He couldn¡¯t stand to watch his sisters continue to be reckless! Lin Xia looked at her big brother with wide eyes, feeling waves of discomfort in her heart! She didn¡¯t argue with her brother during lunch because they were in a rush, and secondly, she didn¡¯t want to distract her big brother from work in case something else happened. But now, she had to have a proper talk with him. It wasn¡¯t about whether or not she wanted to conflict with those people, but rather that too many things would gradually happen in the future. If she was to live her life again, could she just let history repeat itself? That would mean she lived in vain, wouldn¡¯t it? ¡°Big brother! If you put it that way, I think you¡¯re wrong! In the past, we tolerated their bullying because we were little and couldn¡¯t talk back, but we¡¯re not young anymore, are we? Do we still have to let others boss us around in the future? With things the way they are, how can anyone have a good life? You say that Xiaoqiu and I need a good reputation to find a good husband, but what counts as good? Why can¡¯t we fight for ourselves instead of depending on others? Can we really rely on them? Lin Xia grew more and more impassioned as she spoke. Since her return, she had kept everything bottled up inside. She understood that her big brother hadn¡¯t lived a second time around, so he still held onto old ways of thinking, and she was willing to understand him! Moreover, her feelings of having regained what was lost made her hate to do anything other than please him and make him happy. But when she heard her eldest brother still persuading them to endure in silence, to place all their hopes in someone else¡¯s hands, she couldn¡¯t bear it! The scenes from her past life passed before her eyes like a movie, and she was determined not to let them suffer like that ever again¡ªno matter what it might take! Lin Qiu and Lin Dong had long since stopped making a fuss, both sitting silently with the corners of their mouths drooping on the edge of the kang, listening to the two of them talk. ¡°Xiaoxia! You shouldn¡¯t say that! You and Xiaoqiu are girls, what need is there for such high aspirations? In the end, you¡¯re going to get married, and finding a good husband¡¯s family is better than anything else¡ªit¡¯s something to rely on for the rest of your life!¡± Lin Chun had never thought otherwise; he had always believed that a woman should ultimately have a good place to belong to. ¡°Something to rely on? Brother, do you really want us to live the kind of life where we have to serve an entire family and then suffer and bear hardship? Is that what¡¯s ¡®good¡¯? Haven¡¯t you seen the kind of life our mother has lived? And how have those old women treated us all these years? Can they really help us find a good husband¡¯s family? When did our father ever consider our futures?¡± Lin Chun, rendered speechless by Lin Xia¡¯s questioning, hugged his head in frustration and sighed. But that was their father! What could he do about it? Lin Xia knew she had been too impulsive, blurting everything out and pushing her eldest brother into a corner like this, but she really couldn¡¯t control herself just a moment ago... Lin Xia stood up and softened her tone, ¡°Big brother, perhaps I was too harsh just now. But think about it, we can¡¯t go on like we did before! I¡¯ll go talk to Sister Hongmei and ask her to help me take some time off when she goes to work tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°Okay! Go ahead!¡± Lin Chun also stood up, ¡°Come back early!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Qiu and Lin Dong hesitated to speak, but Lin Xia winked at them, ¡°You two go on and do whatever you were doing!¡± As Lin Xia left the house, she happened to see Qian Chunli pushing a bicycle in through the gate, with Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, who seemed like her left and right hands, following beside her. Qian Chunli pursed her lips and turned her face away, ignoring Lin Xia. Lin Xia felt this was for the best, to avoid any pointless chatter. Lin Yu pursed her lips and pulled at Lin Qiang, who was glaring, and only after Lin Xia walked out of the gate did they quietly snort. Lin Xia came out partly as an excuse to take a walk and calm herself down. Looking at the row upon row of dilapidated bungalows, her heart gradually settled. It was only 1981; she still had time, so she couldn¡¯t be hasty. Everything had to be done step by step! Walking past two streets, Lin Xia arrived at Yu Hongmei¡¯s house. The gate was wide open, and Lin Xia walked straight in, seeing her uncle Yu Changbai and Yu Hongli spreading hairy hazelnuts with a fresh green skin on a sack in the courtyard. Lin Xia¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight, and she greeted them, ¡°Uncle! Brother Hongli!¡± Yu Changbai smiled warmly at her, ¡°Lin Xia, you came?¡± Lin Xia responded and inquired, ¡°Are there many hazelnuts this year? Yu Hongli scratched the back of his head, ¡°There¡¯s a ton of hairy hazelnuts and fiery hazelnuts up in the mountains, just too difficult to bring down! I hauled two sacks back. Lin Xia, when you leave later, take some with you to dry and roast for eating!¡± ¡°No need! Brother Hongli, if we want some we can just go pick them!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s mind started to race. Right now, in this autumn, the mountains were full of hazelnuts, pine cones, and all sorts of wild goods like mushrooms and tree ears. In her village, these mountain goods were worth little, but in places without them, they could surely be sold for some money. She was wholeheartedly focused on making money¡ªwasn¡¯t this a good way to earn? Gathering goods was easy; the real challenge was carrying them down the mountain. But now, with the convenient existence of the ¡®Jade¡¯ room, what did she have to fear? However, if she wanted to go up the mountain, she needed to make some preparations first. Chapter 16 - 16 16 Harvest ?16: Chapter 16: Harvest 16: Chapter 16: Harvest Lin Aijia was in the kitchen when she heard some noise; she put down the chopsticks and bowls she was washing, wiped her hands on her apron, and came out, just in time to catch Lin Xia at the door. ¡°Lin Xia, what brings you here?¡± Lin Xia explained her purpose, ¡°Auntie, I came to ask Sister Hongmei to help me take a day off tomorrow! Xiaoqiu is going to the clothing factory, and I¡¯m taking her there!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! Did your dad get someone to arrange it for you?¡± Lin Aijia was delighted to hear that Lin Qiu had found a job. Lin Xia hid the sneer in her eyes and smiled, ¡°No, it was a colleague from my workplace who helped out!¡± Lin Aijia pursed her lips, ¡°Ah! Doesn¡¯t matter who found it, as long as there¡¯s a job, that¡¯s good enough!¡± Then she called into the house, ¡°Hongmei, could you come out for a minute? Lin Xia is looking for you!¡± Yu Hongmei was dressed as neatly at home as she was when she was at work, exuding an air of crisp efficiency. She raised an eyebrow, ¡°You want me to ask for a day off for you?¡± Since Lin Xia had just had the idea of going up the mountain to take a look, she naturally changed her plans immediately, ¡°Yes, Sister Hongmei, could you please ask for one day off for me? By the time I¡¯ve done escorting Xiaoqiu to the clothing factory, who knows what time it will be! It¡¯s going to be a delay anyway, so just take the whole day off!¡± Lin Aijia felt somewhat disapproving, thinking whether a morning wouldn¡¯t be enough to get things done? Delaying work meant no pay! But seeing her niece¡¯s thin little frame and slightly sickly appearance, she ultimately held back and did not say anything. Yu Hongmei agreed straightforwardly, ¡°Alright, I got it!¡± Lin Xia, having taken care of her business, was anxious to get back and prepare properly, so she left directly. Before she departed, Yu Hongli ended up filling a small basket with hazelnuts for her. Lin Xia had a pretty good impression of this brother and sincerely thanked him. After dinner at home, and listening to a radio play for a bit, Lin Xia and the others went to bed quite early. Listening to Lin Qiu¡¯s breathing next to her become steady, Lin Xia lifted her head again to glance, by the moonlight from outside, at Lin Dong and Lin Chun who were on the opposite bed, already snoring softly. Only then did she feel reassured to touch the Peach Wood Sword on her chest and she focused her consciousness to enter Jade¡¯s room. The room was still empty, except for the work clothes and rubber shoes she had managed to sneak in when they weren¡¯t paying attention, as well as several large hemp bags, a sickle, and a small ax were piled on the floor; the entire room was shrouded in mist, completely empty. The walls around her glowed with a faint green light, which was lucky she was there in consciousness; if she had physically been there, she certainly would have felt cold. Lin Xia was no longer as scared as she had been when she first discovered the room; she felt certain there was some mystery here that she was yet to discover. After exploring the entire room, Lin Xia still hadn¡¯t found anything useful. She thought perhaps this room was just a large storage space for keeping things. The night passed without incident, and the next morning, Lin Xia and her siblings got up very early. Lin Xia told them she wouldn¡¯t be back for lunch, and Lin Dong, curious, pressed her for details. Lin Xia quietly told them about her plans to gather things in the mountains. Seeing his big sister¡¯s eyes sparkling with excitement, Lin Chun didn¡¯t have the heart to say anything else but reminded her to be careful, just to gather a few things and to come back early. Lin Xia and Lin Qiu each rode a bicycle, arriving at the clothing factory after twenty minutes. Standing at the factory gate, they waited a while and saw Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law arrive for work. Lin Xia sweetly approached her and introduced Lin Qiu. Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law exchanged a few words, then took Lin Qiu inside. Only when Lin Xia could no longer see her silhouette did she confidently leave. Lin Xia headed straight for West Mountain near her home. She had been there before following others, so she had some memory of it. West Mountain wasn¡¯t far from the highway, and she could easily walk there after leaving her bicycle by the roadside. Seeing several bicycles both near and far in Birch Forest, she knew several people had gone into the mountain. Lin Xia observed her nearby surroundings to ensure no one was around, then carefully took out her hemp bag and sickle. After all, she had to keep up appearances. Not far into her walk, she spotted clusters of large mushrooms under the trees. She walked over excitedly and saw it was Rice-cake Mushrooms, which have a smooth and fine texture, akin to eating meat. Lin Xia happily began to pick them, thinking that whether she dried them for her personal consumption or managed to sell them, either would be great. Later, she encountered some Butter Mushrooms, which were very bright in color. Beside them was a cluster of attractive mushrooms with a color similar to red apples and topped with white spots. Lin Xia carefully avoided that area, tempting as it was, you mustn¡¯t pick those, for they were poisonous mushrooms¡ªone touch could be the end. Walking and stopping intermittently, she also picked a variety of wild fruits, such as walnuts and blueberries. Storing them in Jade¡¯s room, she had no worries about anything getting crushed. Back home, Xiaoqiu and the rest would surely be thrilled. Finally, she arrived at a Hazelnut Forest where the Hazelnut Trees were neither too old nor too young, but rather a magnificent sight, and underneath them were clusters of Hazelnut Mushrooms. They say that chicken stewed with mushrooms is best with Hazelnut Mushrooms. Lin Xia thought to herself, distracted, they hadn¡¯t eaten meat for so long; it would be great if she could stumble upon some wild chickens today. She looked around, but for the moment, she hadn¡¯t encountered any wild animals. At the same time, she thought that even if she did encounter some wildlife, she hoped it wouldn¡¯t be wild boars or the like, as her frail arms and legs wouldn¡¯t be able to outrun them. Lin Xia bent down and picked non-stop, and only when she had almost finished picking the Hazelnut Mushrooms did she straighten up to ease her sore back and don her double-layered gloves to start picking hazelnuts. The difference between Fiery Hazelnuts and Hairy Hazelnuts lies not only in whether their skins have hairs or not but also in that Fiery Hazelnuts have thicker skins, smaller kernels, and harder shells. Most of what she was picking now was Fiery Hazelnuts, with only a few Hairy Hazelnuts. Without the worry of carrying them down the hill, Lin Xia picked with ease and joy. Looking at the mountains that seemed like a treasure trove, she felt that even if something was troubling or vexing her, it could be resolved here. Lin Xia was engrossed in picking when suddenly, she saw a wild chicken with beautiful tail feathers strut out not far from her. She was instantly ecstatic¡ªthere really was one! Without a second thought, Lin Xia dashed after the wild chicken, thinking that if she caught it, they would have meat to eat! Lin Xia ran swiftly, but unfortunately, the forest floor was cluttered with dry branches, logs, and other obstacles. As she carefully navigated around these tripping hazards, she soon lost sight of the chicken after a short chase. Not giving up easily, Lin Xia looked around for quite a while, but the wild chicken had vanished without a trace, leaving her utterly frustrated. All that running for nothing! Lin Xia thought to herself that if it had been winter, with the mountains covered in snow, it would have been better, as the chickens wouldn¡¯t be able to run fast. In their panic, they¡¯d sometimes dive headfirst into a snow mound, leaving their rears sticking out. Such carelessness on their part! In her single-minded pursuit of the chicken, she hadn¡¯t paid attention to which direction she was headed. Slightly out of breath, Lin Xia finally sat down and took some time to catch her breath before attempting to determine her direction. Luckily, when she had encountered the wild chicken, she had subconsciously put her sack and sickle into Jade¡¯s room, or else it would have been all for naught if she couldn¡¯t find her way back. Looking around, Lin Xia observed that there were plenty of mushrooms under the trees both near and far; it seemed her trip here wasn¡¯t in vain after all. After resting enough, Lin Xia got up, brushed the dirt off her body, and commenced picking mushrooms nearby while she wandered. Picking mushrooms was indeed addictive; especially now that Lin Xia didn¡¯t have the slightest worry about picking too many to carry, she was even more enthusiastic. Whenever her back ached, she would straighten up to rest, then continue. She wandered unwittingly to the area around a dead tree. After clearing the mushrooms from under that tree, she noticed several big and small crown-like structures resembling large mushrooms growing on a dead tree stump a few meters away! Could it be... Chapter 17 - 17 17 Changes ?17: Chapter 17 Changes 17: Chapter 17 Changes Lin Xia thought she was seeing things! She closed her eyes and opened them again, but the thing was still there! My God! Could it really be what she was thinking? As Lin Xia hurried to the tree stump, she was so thrilled she almost shouted out loud! It was indeed Lingzhi! She had often heard people say that those who went up the mountain to pick mushrooms had found wild Lingzhi! But how could such good fortune befall her? She had never even dared to imagine it! Overexcited and not knowing what to do next, Lin Xia circled the stump, observing several Lingzhi mushrooms, the largest of which was over 20 centimeters in diameter and the smallest was more than 10 centimeters, all brown with a visibly clear texture and distinct ring layers. Lin Xia leaned in and smelled a faint medicinal fragrance. She counted them; there were seven in total, large and small. It¡¯s said that Lingzhi can cure all diseases. Wow, if she took these to sell, she could definitely make some money! She looked at the stump, and since she had space to store it, why not take the tree stump along with it? The stump was already dead. With the sickle and small ax in her hands, Lin Xia managed to remove the stump and the Lingzhi on it without too much effort. She carefully picked off the smallest Lingzhi, planning to tell her elder brother and the others that she had only found one, so they too could be delighted. She would use that one for them to soak in water for their health, and of course, she planned to sell the remaining six! But she definitely couldn¡¯t sell them near her home, otherwise her father and Qian Chunli would find out and surely covet them. Having found the Lingzhi, the frustration of not catching wild chickens earlier vanished, and Lin Xia merrily hummed a tune, continuing to pick mushrooms with vigor. She plopped everything she deemed valuable into Jade¡¯s room. Looking at the position of the sun, it seemed to be getting late, so Lin Xia started walking back the way she had come, dragging her tired legs. With a small half-bag of mushrooms in hand, which she deliberately made to look looser, it wasn¡¯t too heavy. Upon finding her bicycle hidden in Birch Forest and riding it home, none of those who were at work or school had returned yet. Lin Qiang, who didn¡¯t work and just lazed around all day, wasn¡¯t home either. Overjoyed, Lin Xia locked the front door and carried the bag back to Western House, pulling the curtains tight and securing the door behind her. She then began to clean her harvest after entering Jade¡¯s room. As soon as Lin Xia stepped into Jade¡¯s room, she was startled! She hadn¡¯t noticed it while picking! How could there be so much! Mushrooms and hazelnuts were piled up high, along with wild fruits, walnuts, and heaps of blueberries. There was also the dried tree stump with Lingzhi on it; she again got closer to it, unable to get enough of the sight. Today¡¯s haul was enormous! With these Lingzhi, the seed money she wanted for her business dealings had just materialized! However, she still needed to think carefully about where to sell them. And it was best to sell them bit by bit; given how policies could suddenly change, she didn¡¯t want to be labeled as some kind of black market trader. Lin Xia felt it was a pity to sell all six Lingzhi to someone else; she had to keep at least two. It was sheer luck to have stumbled upon them today; how could she always count on such good fortune? People eat grain; who doesn¡¯t get sick? Her elder brother and Xiaoqiu were generally not in the best health; in future, if she needed them, buying from others would not only be prohibitively expensive but might also not be as good as what she had found herself. Although she didn¡¯t understand what diseases Lingzhi could cure, everyone said it was a great medicine that could cure all sorts of illnesses and would definitely become more precious in the future. In that short span of time, Lin Xia changed her mind and planned to sell only four plants, keeping the two biggest ones for herself. Next, Lin Xia used her mind to separate them into piles and picked some wild fruits and such to take outside, only taking out the smallest Lingzhi. Just as Lin Xia had finished setting everything up, the sound of the front door opening came from the yard. She looked through the curtains and saw it was her elder brother Lin Chun coming back. Elated, she flung the curtains open, and dashed out the door, ¡°Big Brother! You¡¯re back!¡± Actually, as soon as Lin Chun entered through the gate and saw his younger sister¡¯s bike in the yard, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried all day at work, afraid that something might happen to her alone in the mountains, encountering a bad person or wild animals, or otherwise getting lost and unable to find her way back. Seeing how happy she was, the heavy stone in his heart finally fell to the ground. ¡°Xiaoxia! When did you come back? What did you find?¡± ¡°Come inside the house! Big Brother! I found quite a few good things!¡± Lin Xia said cheerily, pulling Lin Chun¡¯s arm as they entered the Western House. When Lin Chun saw the piles of wild fruits, walnuts, mushrooms, hazelnuts, and such on the floor, he smiled, ¡°You gathered so much?¡± ¡°Yeah! Big Brother! There are a lot more in the mountains!¡± Lin Xia clasped her hands behind her back and chuckled mischievously. ¡°Big Brother! Guess what else I found?¡± Lin Chun played along, ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Xia picked up the Lingzhi and waved it in front of his eyes, ¡°Big Brother, what do you think this is?¡± Lin Chun opened his eyes wide in surprise, joyfully took it to examine closely, and looked at Lin Xia in disbelief, ¡°This is Lingzhi! Xiaoxia! Well done!¡± After praising Lin Xia for her good fortune, Lin Chun straightened his expression, ¡°Xiaoxia! While Xiaoqiu and Dongzi aren¡¯t back yet, big brother has a few words he wants to say to you!¡± Lin Xia dropped her smile, ¡°Big Brother! Speak!¡± ¡°Next time you think of going up the mountain, wait for me or Dongzi to go with you! I was so worried today, scared something might happen to you up there alone!¡± Lin Chun felt it would be a bit harsh not to allow his younger sister to go, but if she wanted to go again, it would be safer for one of them to accompany her since they were young men. Lin Xia felt a surge of guilt. She had been caught up in her own whims and seemed to have ignored her brothers¡¯ feelings. But, if she were to bring them along next time she ventured into the mountains, how would she utilize the convenience of the Jade Room? For a moment, Lin Xia felt conflicted. However, she quickly reconsidered, thinking that big brother had work, Dongzi had school, and she herself had work. It really wasn¡¯t clear when she could go next. Thus, she cheerfully agreed, ¡°Alright! Big Brother! Next time I go, I¡¯ll definitely take you or Dongzi with me!¡± Lin Chun was quite pleased. He had thought that his sister, who suddenly had a new resolution upon waking up, wouldn¡¯t agree so easily! ¡°Good! Then it¡¯s settled!¡± Just then, Lin Dong came back from school. As soon as he entered the house and saw the pile of wild fruits and mushrooms, he was overjoyed, ¡°Big Sister! How did you gather so much?¡± ¡°I¡¯m capable! And there¡¯s even more variety! Dongzi...¡± Lin Xia was just about to show off the Lingzhi to him. But Lin Dong dropped his backpack and ran straight for the wild pears, picked one up without washing it, wiped it on his shirt, and took a bite, immediately puckering his face, ¡°So sour!¡± Lin Xia couldn¡¯t help but laugh as she watched, her mouth puckering up at the sourness. ¡°You messy kid, not caring about cleanliness, not even washing it before eating! What¡¯s the rush!¡± ¡°The dirt won¡¯t kill me! Big Sister! It¡¯s too sour!¡± But Lin Dong, even as he complained about the sourness, devoured the pear until only the core was left. Lin Xia¡¯s heart sank a little. Right now, they really didn¡¯t have much good food. She resolved to work hard to earn money so they could eat whatever they wanted in the future. ¡°Dongzi! Take a look at what this is?¡± Chapter 18 - 18 18 Fussing ?18: Chapter 18: Fussing 18: Chapter 18: Fussing Lin Dong casually wiped his mouth and stared at the thing Lin Xia was holding. ¡°Big sister, brother, isn¡¯t that the Lingzhi?¡± He remembered seeing Haizi¡¯s dad soaking it in alcohol. Seeing his big sister nod with a smile, he excitedly tried to say something but choked on his own spit, ¡°Cough! Cough! Cough!¡± Lin Chun immediately went over to pat Lin Dong¡¯s back, laughing uncontrollably while he did, ¡°What are you getting so worked up for!¡± Finally, Lin Dong stopped coughing, his face red from holding his breath as he retorted, ¡°I wasn¡¯t getting excited! I choked on my own spit!¡± Lin Xia saw the boy¡¯s eyes were round with excitement and said soothingly, ¡°All right! My Dongzi really did choke!¡± Lin Dong deliberately glanced at Lin Chun with a raised chin, ¡°Good thing my big sister knows me!¡± Lin Chun, still in good spirits, laughed and didn¡¯t continue to argue with him. Seeing Lin Dong relax, Lin Xia gave another smiling instruction, ¡°Dongzi, big sister has a task for you. Later, use the basket I brought back from Aunt¡¯s house yesterday, the one that had the hazelnuts, and take some mushrooms, walnuts, etc., to their family. Oh, and pack some pears too!¡± She wasn¡¯t sure if Hongli had collected mushrooms or anything when he went up the mountain to gather hazelnuts, but she had picked quite a few herself, and since there was an extra basket, she didn¡¯t want to take advantage of his family. Lin Dong fetched the basket from the yard, packed it almost full, and then took off with it. Lin Chun and Lin Xia looked out the window into the yard, shaking their heads with a smile as they watched Dongzi¡¯s bounding silhouette. He really was still a kid at heart! Qian Chunli entered the house right behind Lin Qiu, seeing that not even a fire had been lit in the kitchen stove. She glared at Lin Qiu, but upon catching the teasing gaze of Lin Xia, she ultimately held her tongue and went straight into the Eastern House. Lin Xia pulled Lin Qiu into the room and immediately asked with concern how her first day at work had gone. Even though Lin Qiu had worked all day, she didn¡¯t feel tired and looked spirited, ¡°Sister Zhao had me start by attaching buttons! She said that if I did well, she¡¯d let me learn to sew on a machine later!¡± Lin Xia had no objections to Liu Lanying¡¯s arrangements and encouraged Lin Qiu, ¡°That¡¯s great! Take it slow! Our Xiaoqiu is so skilled, you¡¯ll definitely learn it fast!¡± Dinner that night was prepared by Lin Xia and Lin Qiu together. Lin Qiu tended the fire and cooked the rice, while Lin Xia stir-fried the dishes. Lin Xia took some of the mushrooms she had gathered, tore them into pieces, blanched them in water, and then stir-fried them. Even though it wasn¡¯t meat, the crunchy texture was quite satisfying! Lin Dong returned from their aunt¡¯s house with news that Yu Hongmei¡¯s boyfriend Cao Jianbin had come back from a business trip from the provincial capital and brought back lots of nice things for Hongmei. Lin Xia knew this Cao Jianbin, a man keen on research, but in her previous life, he and Hongmei hadn¡¯t ended up together. She just listened with one ear and didn¡¯t take it to heart. After dinner, washing up, once everyone had fallen asleep, Lin Xia entered the Jade room again. As soon as she stepped in, she felt something was off. Yet, the piles of hazelnuts on the ground looked the same, and it seemed like there was no change to the dead tree stump or the Lingzhi growing on it. It took her a moment to figure out what was different¡ªthe fog in the room had thinned out a bit. Why was that? Lin Xia instinctively felt it had something to do with the things she had put into the room today, but it was hard to say exactly which item was responsible. She could only wait to explore in the future, and she also didn¡¯t know whether the thinning fog was a good or bad thing. Actually, she had once wondered if there was something behind the jade bi. Having inadvertently opened this Jade room, she wasn¡¯t afraid anymore but still harbored a profound reverence, and since her entry was a matter of consciousness, she currently couldn¡¯t do anything to the jade bi itself. The next day, Lin Xia got up early for work and, unsurprisingly, bumped into Yu Hongmei on the road she had to take to get to work. Yu Hongmei had a white scarf with gold threads wrapped around her neck, making her look even more beautiful, with rosy lips and white teeth. Lin Xia greeted her and then rode off on her bicycle with her head down. She guessed that the scarf must have been brought back to Yu Hongmei by Cao Jianbin from the provincial city, but she didn¡¯t know where to source such items. If she could bring some back, she could sell them at the gates of each factory area¡ªsurely they would sell. However, she first needed to sell the Lingzhi before she had the capital. Yu Hongmei saw Lin Xia¡¯s cursory greeting and downward gaze, absorbed in thought, and noticed that she didn¡¯t see any change in her nor offer any compliments. She cleared her throat with a cough, ¡°Lin Xia! Do you think my scarf looks nice?¡± Lin Xia glanced at her and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful! Sister Hongmei, you definitely didn¡¯t buy this scarf around here, did you?¡± ¡°Of course not! Cao Jianbin bought it in the provincial city. He said that these gold-threaded ones are very fashionable there now!¡± ¡°Ah! Big cities are really trendy!¡± Lin Xia agreed with her, taking the opportunity to ask, ¡°How much did it cost? Can you buy it anywhere?¡± ... Lin Xia found out from Yu Hongmei that Cao Jianbin bought the scarf at a state-run store. She had an idea¡ªshe wanted to take a trip to the provincial city sometime! In her previous life, she had once visited the provincial city, and the prosperity there was incomparable to her small county town. If she wanted to sell the few stalks of Lingzhi she had to someone else, it would not only be difficult to do in her home county, she was also afraid her father and the others would find out! And in the city, because it was not far from her home, it would probably be difficult to sell there as well. So, why not go to the provincial city to sell the Lingzhi, get the money, and then see if she could bring something back to sell? Even just making a profit on the markup would do! With the Jade Room, she didn¡¯t have to worry about transportation! Yu Hongmei reached the factory, and as expected, she was surrounded by young women and wives, who complimented her on how nice the scarf looked and asked where she bought it. When they heard that it was her significant other who had brought it back from the provincial city, they expressed regret that it wasn¡¯t available for sale in their area. Lin Xia listened and watched silently from the sidelines, and she felt even more that this was a good avenue for making money. Even if she brought them back, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem if she couldn¡¯t sell them within her own factory! There were many factories in the Lin District, and women loved beauty, none wanting to fall behind others when it came to wearing attractive garments. Lin Xia was a woman of action; taking advantage of the midday break, she rode her bicycle to the forestry shop to look around and noticed that their state-run store indeed didn¡¯t have the kind of gold-threaded scarves that Yu Hongmei wore. They only had nylon scarves, which looked really unattractive in terms of design and color. Lin Xia also took the time to visit the train station to check out the train schedules and fares to the provincial city. There was an evening train that would arrive in the provincial city overnight; the fare was three yuan and fifty cents. It was indeed cheaper compared to later, but after spending money on Lin Qiu¡¯s job and purchases, Lin Xia only had eight yuan, two dimes and three cents left in her pocket. With unexpected situations possible when traveling, she had to reserve enough money for the return trip. So, subtracting seven yuan for the journey, she only had one yuan, two dimes, and three cents left. What if she couldn¡¯t sell the items in her Jade Room? Lin Xia had originally wanted everything to proceed clandestinely, without alerting anyone, and she hadn¡¯t even let Lin Chun and the others catch a hint of her plans. Now it seemed impossible; she would need to be away for at least a day and two nights, and she couldn¡¯t keep it secret. What kind of excuse could she find to stay out for two nights? Lin Xia was not ignorant of her elder brother Lin Chun¡¯s staunch conservatism, but with things having come to this point, she had no choice but to muster her energy and try to get him to understand. Chapter 19 - 19 19 Provincial Capital ?19: Chapter 19 Provincial Capital 19: Chapter 19 Provincial Capital When Lin Chun heard that his younger sister had not just picked one Lingzhi mushroom but had found five in total, and was planning to sell them in the provincial city, he was extremely shocked. ¡°Xiaoxia! Why didn¡¯t you tell us the truth when you came back that day?¡± He found that he really couldn¡¯t understand what his eldest sister was thinking every day. Lin Xia patiently explained, ¡°Big brother! Wasn¡¯t I just afraid of attracting unwanted attention? Let¡¯s not talk about others, you know what the people at Eastern House are like. Once I¡¯ve sold these things, I¡¯ll bring back some scarves to sell! Big brother, you didn¡¯t see the scarf that Sister Hongmei was wearing, everyone at our factory wants to buy one!¡± Lin Chun was about to let his eldest sister¡¯s words get the better of him with frustration, but he also knew that he had to speak slowly about serious matters, in case he irritated her and she ran off. What then? So he calmed down and spoke more gently, ¡°Alright! Xiaoxia! Being cautious is good! But how can I feel at ease with you, a young lady, going to the provincial city by yourself? We may not have money now, but that doesn¡¯t mean you have to run so far away, to a place where nobody knows you, to sell things! And then to bring back goods to sell, isn¡¯t that just being a middleman? Why ever since you recovered from your illness have you stopped thinking about properly going to work, and instead keep thinking of these odd jobs? Xiaoxia, you¡¯ve already taken two days off this month, if you ask for leave again, the leaders at your workplace will have something to say! Do you still want your job or not?¡± In Lin Chun¡¯s eyes, not going to work and messing around with this stuff was all nonsense! Lin Xia didn¡¯t want to tell her big brother before, because she guessed he would say these things. And his views weren¡¯t wrong, it¡¯s just that he hadn¡¯t experienced the changes of later times, and didn¡¯t understand that her job wasn¡¯t all that important! Moreover, the first bucket of gold for those wealthy people who had lived through that era was often made by buying and selling goods during this period. ¡°Big brother! I¡¯m not getting into mischief with this, you¡¯ll understand later!¡± Lin Xia couldn¡¯t explain what the future would be like to him just yet, so she changed tack, ¡°I¡¯m doing all this for the good of us all! I want us to have a better life, to have a little more money in our pockets!¡± Lin Chun frowned, ¡°Xiaoxia! Maybe I¡¯m outdated, but don¡¯t we all have jobs? Now that Xiaoqiu is in school, why are you still causing trouble?¡± Lin Chun felt that he really couldn¡¯t understand her, but as the elder brother, he thought he had to try to persuade her, ¡°Listen to your big brother¡¯s advice. Keep the Lingzhi aside for now, we can sell it later when someone wants it, right? Xiaoxia, focus on your job, and stop thinking about those other things.¡± Lin Xia wore a helpless wry smile, ¡°Big brother, like you, I have a job, but who gets to keep their salary? We haven¡¯t received our wages yet, and I¡¯m sure dad is coming down from the mountain soon!¡± Furthermore, even if the salary stayed in her own hands, Lin Xia didn¡¯t think it was enough. She had too many things to do, and where would the few tens of yuan she earned every month be enough? Lin Chun suddenly had nothing to say; his dad, Lin Aiguo, was indeed like that. Lin Xia continued, ¡°Dongzi is going to high school next year. Haven¡¯t you ever considered whether dad will let him go? How can he take the college entrance exam if he doesn¡¯t go to high school?¡± Her little brother would be going to high school next year, and that time would arrive in the blink of an eye, wouldn¡¯t it? Even if the school fees were low, boarding and meals would still cost money. After being brought back to life, she had already arranged Xiaoqiu¡¯s job, and she couldn¡¯t bear to watch her brother suffer when the time came. Depending on others simply wouldn¡¯t work! Relying on anyone else is not as good as relying on oneself! Lin Chun looked up to argue, ¡°How could dad not let Dongzi go to high school? He¡¯s such a good student!¡± Nowadays, college graduates get job placements right away. If a family has something decent going on and their child is good at studying, who wouldn¡¯t let them continue with their education? Lin Xia calmly looked at him, ¡°That¡¯s not certain! There¡¯s someone at Eastern House who is still in high school! So, big brother, think about it. If there really comes a day when we don¡¯t have the money, are we going to just stand by and watch as our little brother finishes junior high and not continue to school, ending up like us working in the factory?¡± The more she reminisced about the past, the stronger her desire to make money became! Lin Chun moved his lips, and after struggling to swallow his saliva, he finally spoke, ¡°Xiaoxia, actually, Dad is not like what you imagine. I think our little brother... Dad can¡¯t...¡± He was aware of how their father treated them, but still, he refused to believe it. Lin Xia scoffed with irony, ¡°Big brother! Over the years, you¡¯ve been aware of what Dad is like; you just don¡¯t want to believe it. But if what I¡¯ve said about our little brother really happens one day, I don¡¯t want us to be unable to help because we have no money and then be guilty and regretful for the rest of our lives!¡± In the end, Lin Chun was persuaded by Lin Xia, and he even pulled out a one yuan and ten-cent bill from his pocket. The next day, Lin Xia boarded the train to the provincial city... Listening to the ¡°clang, clang¡± of the train, Lin Xia endured a whole night and finally arrived at the provincial city in the morning. Carrying her large bag and following the flow of people off the train, the bag was not heavy as it was just filled with mushrooms for show, while her Lingzhi was kept in the Jade room at home. All along the trip, she stayed low-key and quiet. When fellow passengers tried to strike up a conversation, she simply said she was here to visit relatives. Lin Xia looked back at the green train that would stop at each station for more than ten minutes. Thinking about having to ride it all night on her return journey, she truly longed for the long-distance buses of the future. But for now, she had no choice. Lin Xia, hungry, left the train station and asked around for the nearest farm products market. Identifying the direction, she headed that way. What she had to do first was to find a way to sell the Lingzhi mushrooms. If she couldn¡¯t sell them, she wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything else, as the money in her pocket was only enough for some food and a train ticket back home. Then, if she thought about leaving again next time, her big brother Lin Chun would definitely not agree, and there were still many things waiting for her at home. As Lin Xia walked, she observed the buildings along the street and the clothes of the passersby. The big city indeed had a lot of people on the streets. At this time, it must have been the rush hour for work. People were riding bicycles; men in crew cuts and Zhongshan suits, some of them wearing forward caps. While many women had short hair or wore braids, there were already quite a few with perms, wearing clothes that were much more fashionable than what she saw in her home county. Finally, Lin Xia found the farm products market. Before she even reached the place, she saw quite a few people. Unable to resist her rumbling stomach, she bought two flaky pastries, eight cents each, spending a total of sixteen cents. Lin Xia consumed them quickly, then found a secluded corner to take out the four Lingzhi mushrooms from the bottom of her large bag and covered them with the mushrooms. After searching for a while, she finally found a fairly large empty space next to an old lady selling chickens. Lin Xia opened her large bag, took out the plastic sheet she had prepared at home, spread it on the ground, then put a pile of mushrooms on it, carefully placing a Lingzhi mushroom next to it. But watching the bustling crowd, having never sold anything before, she really didn¡¯t know what to do next. She didn¡¯t have anything to weigh the mushrooms with, so she used her hands to separate them into several small piles. A short-haired middle-aged woman carrying a cloth bag passed in front of her, ¡°How much are you selling these mushrooms for?¡± Lin Xia quickly stood up and replied with a cheerful smile, ¡°Auntie, three mao for a pile!¡± Actually, the price she set was just a guess, not knowing if it was too high or too low, making her feel somewhat uneasy. Chapter 20 - 20 20 Competing ?20: Chapter 20: Competing 20: Chapter 20: Competing The middle-aged woman squatted down, grabbed a handful of mushrooms, and examined them carefully, satisfaction flickering in her eyes, ¡°How much for this pile? So expensive! Twenty cents, I¡¯ll take a pile for twenty cents!¡± Lin Xia felt that twenty cents a pile was acceptable, since they were picked from the mountain anyway. ¡°Deal!¡± Since that woman made her purchase, others followed one after another, and Lin Xia had already transferred quite a few from Jade¡¯s room to the large bag, but the Lingzhi mushrooms remained unsold. There were inquiries, yet as soon as they heard the price of several tens of yuan, they all shook their heads. Gradually, Lin Xia became anxious¡ªshe hadn¡¯t come all this way and toiled through the night just to sell a few mushrooms. How much money could she possibly make from these twenty cent sales? She couldn¡¯t help doubting herself¡ªhad she priced them too high? But this wild Lingzhi was truly a treasure, large and covered in spore powder. It should sell for at least twenty or thirty yuan. In the future, even non-wild Lingzhi per pound would sell for hundreds or thousands. At that moment, a middle-aged woman dressed neatly and exuding a refined and dignified air came to the stall of an old lady selling chickens nearby. Lin Xia noticed her simply because her demeanor seemed out of place in the environment, and there seemed to be a slight worry in her expression. The middle-aged woman bought an old hen. As she was paying, her gaze inadvertently met with that of the young girl who was observing her, and their eyes locked. Lin Xia quickly looked away, thinking how rude she had been to stare at someone like that. The middle-aged woman gave Lin Xia a cursory glance, then looked at the mushrooms piled by her feet. She seemed about to walk away but suddenly her eyes widened and she stopped dead in her tracks. She approached Lin Xia¡¯s stall, squatted down, picked up a Lingzhi, and examined it closely before bringing it near her nose to smell. ¡°Young lady! How much are you selling this for?¡± Lin Xia felt a surge of excitement¡ªshe had encountered someone who knew her stuff! Looking at the woman¡¯s attire, she didn¡¯t seem poor, so could it be that Lin Xia would manage to make a sale? ¡°Thirty yuan!¡± Lin Xia said softly. The middle-aged woman sniffed it again. Glancing around, she leaned in closer to Lin Xia and asked in a low voice, ¡°Young lady, do you have more of these?¡± Lin Xia was taken aback and nodded gently, ¡°Yes!¡± She didn¡¯t think the woman looked like a bad person¡ªcould it be that she wanted to buy more? A flash of excitement crossed the woman¡¯s eyes, and she whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s do this, young lady. I¡¯ll have someone check out your goods, and if they¡¯re really good, how about I buy them all?¡± Lin Xia hesitated. She didn¡¯t know this woman; what if she was a fraud? People nowadays are indeed quite simple, but that doesn¡¯t exclude the possibility of bad actors around. The middle-aged woman must have sensed the hesitation of the young girl before her, and she explained softly, ¡°With so many people coming and going, that much money would surely attract attention, which would be bad for both you and me!¡± Lin Xia gritted her teeth¡ªfortune favors the bold! She would take a gamble! If she let this woman go, she might never find another suitable buyer. Then, her trip to the provincial city would have been for nothing! Still, she discretely felt for the small knife in her pocket. She had brought it with her when she left home, ready to defend herself in an emergency. If something unexpected happened, she was prepared to fight! Lin Xia efficiently packed up the mushrooms into the large bag with a plastic sheet on top, then picked up the bag and followed behind the middle-aged woman. The middle-aged woman, still carrying her chicken, didn¡¯t attract much attention as they walked together on the street. They hadn¡¯t gone far when they saw a hospital in the distance. The middle-aged woman took Lin Xia straight inside. Lin Xia guessed in her heart that perhaps someone in the woman¡¯s family was sick and had been hospitalized. Looking at it that way, she probably wasn¡¯t a bad person. The middle-aged woman asked Lin Xia to wait for her on the wooden chair in the corridor while she went to the office to make a phone call. Lin Xia sat down, tightly clutching the large bag next to her, curiously examining the hospital from the eighties. The dimly lit corridor, both ends hung with red banners reading ¡°Quiet,¡± the green marble floor, the blue walls showing many mottled and old traces. Everything seemed so backward through her eyes; the occasional medical staff in white coats strode by, giving her curious glances. Lin Xia swallowed, wondering why that woman hadn¡¯t come out yet. Her mind was racing with worry. Who was that woman calling? Surely she wasn¡¯t calling the people who catch those involved in illicit trading? The mushrooms and Lingzhi she had were all foraged by herself, so she shouldn¡¯t count as a middleman, right? As Lin Xia hesitated, the middle-aged woman appeared. She came up to Lin Xia politely and whispered, ¡°Young lady, please wait a little longer. The person I called will be here soon!¡± Seeing her say this, Lin Xia weighed her options and bit her lip, finally deciding to stay and observe the situation. If there really was some unexpected problem, it wouldn¡¯t be too late to run away. She really couldn¡¯t find a buyer, so she had to take the risk. After all the trouble of coming here, she couldn¡¯t just go back empty-handed, could she? After about ten minutes, a spirited old man with white hair and beard quickly walked down the corridor. He was dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit with black leather shoes, long eyebrows, and wise and bright eyes, appearing to be a man of integrity. Lin Xia¡¯s heart, which had been in her throat, settled down by half. At the same time, she guessed that maybe this old man was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine because as he walked up, she smelled a hint of Chinese herbs. The middle-aged woman hurriedly greeted him warmly and respectfully, ¡°Uncle Liao! I¡¯m really sorry to have trouble you to make this special trip!¡± Uncle Liao waved off the formality with indifference, ¡°Meifang! We don¡¯t need to stand on ceremony with each other!¡± Then he looked towards the silent young lady holding the large bag, ¡°So, is it this child who has the stuff?¡± Meifang smiled faintly, ¡°Yes! Uncle Liao, let¡¯s talk in the office, shall we?¡± ¡°Sure! Yes!¡± the old man surnamed Liao readily agreed. Lin Xia pressed her lips together, her mind calculating. It seemed that their desire to purchase was quite strong! When Lin Xia followed them into the office, she casually glanced around the room. The office wasn¡¯t large, everything was in plain view. Two white desks facing each other, two file cabinets, and an iron washbasin stand with a white basin on top. ¡°Young lady! Take out your stuff!¡± Meifang called out. Lin Xia opened the big bag and first took out a Lingzhi mushroom. Old man Liao took it in hand, carefully examined it, smelled it, and finally nodded in confirmation, ¡°Yes! This indeed is Lingzhi! Meifang, look at this spore powder. When Lingzhi is immature, there¡¯s a ring of tender yellow-white growth on the rim of the mushroom cap, which disappears and releases spore powder as it matures. This one¡¯s really not bad...¡± Lin Xia listened to the old man¡¯s long explanation, not quite understanding all he said, but she realized her Lingzhi must be good and could certainly sell for a good price! Meifang couldn¡¯t hide her excited smile, but seeing Lin Xia silent beside her, she quickly suppressed her smile and softly said, ¡°Young lady, didn¡¯t you say you had more? How many do you have? Bring them all out!¡± Chapter 21 - 21 21 Procurement ?21: Chapter 21 Procurement 21: Chapter 21 Procurement Lin Xia made it clear in advance, ¡°Among those three, two are bigger than this one and will be a bit more expensive!¡± ¡°How much more expensive?¡± asked Meifang, the middle-aged woman, with her arms crossed and a displeased look on her face. ¡°The big ones are forty!¡± Lin Xia replied softly. The middle-aged woman waved her hand impatiently, ¡°Just bring them out for a look first!¡± Lin Xia silently brought out the other three and placed them on the office desk; two of these were even better than the one the old man had seen earlier. In her Jade room, there were actually two better and bigger specimens, but she was reluctant to sell them all at once. And she estimated that they probably wouldn¡¯t offer a high price either. Even if one was thirty yuan, these four would total one hundred and twenty yuan. Now, a month¡¯s wages were only a few dozen yuan, and ten yuan was the highest denomination of paper money. Liao Laotou picked up each one to examine it, continuously saying, ¡°Not bad! Not bad! So fresh!¡± while casually inquiring, ¡°Young lady, these were just picked recently, weren¡¯t they?¡± Lin Xia, keeping her composure, answered, ¡°Yes! I picked them yesterday!¡± This wasn¡¯t really a lie; she had taken the opportunity to pick these Lingzhi she wanted to sell from the dead tree stumps before boarding the train. Liao Laotou continued to probe, ¡°From your accent, you aren¡¯t a local, are you?¡± ¡°Mhm! My home is in the mountainous area!¡± Lin Xia knew she couldn¡¯t completely hide it from them, but by not specifying exactly where, it would be harder for them to find her later. Meifang seemed a bit anxious, apparently impatient with these preliminaries, ¡°Young lady! Let¡¯s talk about the price! If I were to buy all of them, how much of a discount could you give?¡± Lin Xia was straightforward as she crisply stated the price, ¡°The two big ones are forty yuan each, and the two smaller ones are thirty each! If you take them all, I¡¯ll make it one hundred and thirty for you!¡± The middle-aged woman frowned unexpectedly, displeasure flashing in her eyes, ¡°Young girl! Didn¡¯t you tell me earlier they were thirty yuan each? Are you bumping up the price because you see we really want to buy? Do you believe I can make a phone call and have you detained before you even leave this office?¡± If she didn¡¯t particularly need this Lingzhi, she would have already shown her a thing or two. Lin Xia looked at her neither humbly nor haughtily, gently explaining, ¡°I¡¯m not bumping up the price! Different sizes, different prices! I am selling the smaller ones for thirty yuan each and I didn¡¯t ask for more for the bigger ones! I even knocked ten yuan off. These wild Lingzhi from the deep mountains can cure hundreds of ailments; they aren¡¯t easy to come by!¡± She in fact could have sold them all for thirty yuan each, but the middle-aged woman¡¯s inconsistent demeanor and statements made her uncomfortable, prompting her stubbornness. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just take the two smaller ones!¡± The middle-aged woman didn¡¯t believe Lin Xia didn¡¯t want to sell them all to her; she probably had never carried so much money in her pocket before, had she? ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xia agreed briskly, reaching out to pack up the two bigger ones. She had already planned that even if she only made sixty yuan, it was enough; she could try to sell to others, and if she really couldn¡¯t sell them, sixty yuan could still buy several dozen scarves in time. After all, even if she spent all the money on scarves, she was not entirely confident about it. Liao Laotou saw that the two women were at odds, noticing that this young girl, though thin and petite, had quite a temper. He coughed softly, ¡°Meifang! Why are you competing with a child!¡± The middle-aged woman looked indignantly at Lin Xia, surprised at how stubborn the young girl was. He continued to persuade Lin Xia, ¡°Young lady, as an old man, I will speak fairly out of respect for my age. Your Lingzhi mushrooms do have some value, but it also depends on who you sell them to. How about this, thirty a plant, I¡¯ll give you one hundred and twenty dollars! What do you think?¡± Lin Xia knew that now was not the time to be impulsive. Selling for one hundred and twenty was still a profit for her. Could she, an outsider, really get the better of someone with status and position? Besides, she was here for the money. So, being aware of the situation, she asked, ¡°Okay, but can you give me all the money right now?¡± This was crucial; if he could pay immediately, she would sell the mushrooms and then quickly leave. ¡°Meifang...¡± Liao, the old man, gave her a meaningful look, hinting something with his eyes. Taking a deep breath, although reluctantly, Meifang pulled out a stack of money from the right pocket of her trousers, counted it, left a ten-dollar note and a few smaller bills, and handed the rest to Lin Xia, saying coldly, ¡°One hundred and twenty dollars! Count it!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xia eagerly received it and counted on the spot, ¡°It¡¯s correct!¡± Lin Xia took the money, left the Lingzhi mushrooms behind, and, not caring about the reaction of the middle-aged woman and the old man after she left, hurried out of the hospital. Not far out, she looked around the environment, headed into a secluded alley at the corner, made sure no one was around, and stashed her large bag in Jade¡¯s room. She then changed into a red cover shirt and transformed her hair from two braids into one big braided ponytail... Having changed her clothes and hairstyle, Lin Xia casually strolled to the nearby bus stop, all the while secretly observing to see if anyone was following her. Fortunately, she did not notice anything suspicious for now. Just then, a bus arrived, and Lin Xia got on with the other passengers, paying five cents for the fare. While on the bus, she inquired about the locations of the state-run department stores and where she should get off. The people were very helpful, with two of them suggesting three or four places. Lin Xia had already decided that if she came across those scarves with gold threads, she would buy several dozen, but naturally, she couldn¡¯t purchase them all at the same department store. Otherwise, setting aside whether they would sell them to her, it was too risky and could lead to unwanted attention. She sold Lingzhi mushrooms and had some confidence. If caught, she could argue that they were mountain goods. But buying so many scarves was truly akin to being a black-market dealer. After visiting four state-run department stores, Lin Xia managed to buy thirty scarves, both white and red with gold threads, all purchased at two dollars and fifty cents each, costing her seventy-five dollars in total. She secretly did the math; if she could sell each for three dollars, she would make a fifty-cent profit per scarf, totaling a fifteen-dollar profit if she sold all thirty. Deducting the seven dollars for the round-trip train ticket, she could still clear eight dollars. Although eight dollars didn¡¯t seem like much, earning that amount would usually require her to work exhaustingly for days. As for why she didn¡¯t spend all of the one hundred and twenty dollars she made from selling Lingzhi mushrooms on scarves, Lin Xia thought about whether she could successfully sell them all¡ªit was uncertain at present. She also could not afford to invest all her money in this venture; she needed to keep some cash for other purposes. It wasn¡¯t easy for her to come to the provincial city; she had to buy some gifts for her siblings to take back. She bought a pair of rubber shoes for Lin Chun, a butterfly knot hair clip for Lin Qiu, and a fountain pen for Lin Dong. Of course, she also needed to buy some food, such as crispy twists, canned meat, preserved fruits, assorted candies, etc. If pork tickets weren¡¯t required, she really wanted to buy some to take back, but unfortunately, meat coupons had not yet been abolished. On her way, not knowing what might happen, she couldn¡¯t leave the items she bought exposed. Lin Xia repeated her trick, storing everything in Jade¡¯s room. Seeing it was getting late, Lin Xia ate some crispy twists for dinner. Carrying the big bag full of mushrooms, she headed to the train station. Chapter 22 - 22 22 Work ?22: Chapter 22 Work 22: Chapter 22 Work Only when the train slowly started to leave the station did Lin Xia finally breathe a sigh of relief. She was really afraid someone would trouble her! She feared that Meifang, the middle-aged woman, would feel disgruntled, considering one hundred and twenty yuan wasn¡¯t a small sum. There¡¯s a saying that even a mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake, let alone her being just a tiny shrimp. On her way to Spring City, she kept a low profile on the train, not interacting with anyone, and she had planned to do the same on her return. But things didn¡¯t go as she wished. She was seated in a pair seat, next to her was a woman in her thirties who, once the train had started moving, kept talking incessantly, initially trying to strike up a conversation with a young man sitting opposite them. The young man looked to be in his early twenties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, a crew cut, and although his clothes were plain, they were neat and clean, which made Lin Xia notice his eyes were particularly bright and expressive. The man coldly replied a few times. Lin Xia gazed out of the window, maintaining her silence. Seeing that the young man was not really interested in talking, the woman next to Lin Xia turned to her and started asking about this and that. ¡°Young lady, where are you heading? Why are you traveling alone? What did you buy that filled such a big bag?¡± Lin Xia was very cautious, really afraid of encountering bad people, so she tried her best not to make a sound or reveal anything about herself. Faced with the woman¡¯s questions, she naturally lied. On the train from the provincial city to Spring City, there were not many passengers and plenty of empty seats. The woman probably found it boring, as her two companions were as silent as clay figurines, and she got up and went to the diagonally opposite three-seat row to find someone else to chat with. Lin Xia exhaled softly; she wasn¡¯t much of a talker, and when it came to such fleeting acquaintances with strangers, she was even less sure what to say. Moreover, because she was traveling alone and carried a secret, she was also afraid of attracting unnecessary trouble, so she was very careful and cautious. The young man opposite must have felt the same, for he smiled kindly at Lin Xia¡¯s reaction. Lin Xia returned the smile faintly and then averted her gaze, avoiding any further eye contact with him. So it went, enduring another night, until in the morning the train entered Spring City Station. When Lin Xia prepared to disembark, the young man also got off, and he even took the initiative to help her take her large bag down from the rack. Lin Xia hastily thanked him, ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°No trouble at all! You¡¯re welcome,¡± the man said, his voice low. He followed Lin Xia, stepping off the train one after the other with the stream of disembarking passengers. Having just stepped a few paces from the train, Lin Xia saw her eldest brother, Lin Chun, anxiously scanning the disembarking crowd from the door of the adjacent carriage. ¡°Big brother!¡± Lin Chun turned at her voice and, seeing his sister returned safely, his face lit up with excitement as he jogged over, taking Lin Xia¡¯s large bag from her hands, ¡°Xiaoxia! Was your journey smooth?¡± He had been worried all along; in fact, since the day his elder sister left, he had been regretting agreeing to this fearless girl¡¯s idea. But there was no use regretting once she had left. It was good enough that she came back safe and sound! But thinking of home, his joy diminished somewhat. ¡°Hmm! It was pretty smooth!¡± Lin Xia stepped onto her hometown soil and truly felt at ease, especially upon seeing her big brother, like a swallow returning to its nest. However, she felt something was off about her big brother¡¯s complexion; there were faint dark circles under his eyes, and she tentatively asked, ¡°Big brother! Why did you come to pick me up? Did you take leave from your job?¡± ¡°I took some time off! I¡¯ll drop you home and then head back to the office,¡± Lin Chun¡¯s expression darkened for a moment, but aware that the platform wasn¡¯t the right place to talk, ¡°Xiaoxia! Let¡¯s go home first, I¡¯ll explain everything on the way!¡± Could it be that something happened at home after she left? Seeing his reaction, Lin Xia nervously grabbed Lin Chun¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Big brother! What happened to someone at home?¡± But she thought it couldn¡¯t be, the people in the Eastern House were all waiting for Lin Aiguo to come back to back them up in their complaints, and things had been quiet lately. Could it be that Lin Aiguo came back early? ¡°Don¡¯t panic! Nothing serious!¡± Lin Chun said soothingly. Still, Lin Xia had no peace of mind, ¡°Did dad come back from the mountain?¡± ¡°Yeah! Xiaoxia, I¡¯ll tell you on the way in a bit!¡± Lin Chun was caught between a rock and a hard place, not quite sure what to do. The return of his elder sister lifted a weight off his heart, but seemed to give him a backbone as well. Once Lin Xia was seated on the rear of Lin Chun¡¯s bicycle, listening to him pedal and recount last night¡¯s events, she almost cursed out loud... Lin Aiguo had suddenly come back from the mountain yesterday, and it turned out that the job he had arranged for Xiaoqiu had some news. Upon returning home, he found out that Xiaoqiu already went to the garment factory and had worked there for several days. This made Lin Aiguo very uncomfortable. He got angry, thinking they had grown too independent and no longer respected his authority as their father; He was upset that they didn¡¯t consult him about such an important decision as finding a job. They were making decisions on their own; where would that lead! He kept insisting that since the gifts had been given and the connections were made, Xiaoqiu must work at the soy sauce factory. So, he made a fuss, not allowing Xiaoqiu to go to the garment factory and wait at home for two days before reporting to the soy sauce factory. Only Lin Chun and Lin Xia knew how Xiaoqiu¡¯s job at the garment factory came to be. If Lin Chun directly said that they also spent money on gifts to get into the garment factory, then without a doubt, his father would demand to know where the money for the gifts came from. Lin Chun could only hold back and not mention this matter! But by not mentioning it, Xiaoqiu would have to go to the soy sauce factory! Lin Chun felt conflicted. A girl working at the garment factory was, after all, cleaner than the soy sauce factory. Xiaoqiu didn¡¯t want to trouble her big brother or provoke Lin Aiguo to violence, so she agreed to his demands and did not go to the garment factory today! After hearing Lin Chun recount the events, Lin Xia was livid, but what puzzled her even more was how this life¡¯s job opportunity at the soy sauce factory had come about so quickly. Could it be because she had been given a second chance at life? But regardless of the reason, she couldn¡¯t let Xiaoqiu start at the soy sauce factory. Who knew if meeting that man would also happen sooner? She had gone through the trouble of asking for favors and giving gifts to get Xiaoqiu into the garment factory, all to ensure she wouldn¡¯t retrace that harrowing path of her previous life! But these events were from a past life. Lin Chun and Xiaoqiu couldn¡¯t possibly know! And she couldn¡¯t explain it, so she had to think of another way. Lin Xia thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Big brother! What do you think?¡± She needed to understand what her big brother thought before devising a strategy. It wouldn¡¯t do any good if her big brother sided with Lin Aiguo while she struggled in vain. Lin Chun, cycling ahead, sighed, ¡°I think it would be easier for Xiaoqiu to work at the garment factory, but dad has already given gifts and made connections. It seems wrong to insist on Xiaoqiu not going.¡± In fact, he hardly slept last night, worried for his elder sister¡¯s safety on one hand, and agonizing over his younger sister¡¯s job on the other. ¡°What¡¯s so wrong about it! What¡¯s more important, that small gift or Xiaoqiu¡¯s future, huh? Big brother, think about it, there are many women working at the garment factory; it makes finding a match much easier, with plenty of people to introduce her to! But working in the soy sauce factory, what kind of person would Xiaoqiu end up with?¡± In short, Lin Xia had a thousand and one reasons; she just didn¡¯t want Xiaoqiu to work at the soy sauce factory! Chapter 23 - 23 23 Selling the Scarves ?23: Chapter 23: Selling the Scarves 23: Chapter 23: Selling the Scarves Lin Chun realized that it was indeed so; now, when looking for a match, handling it oneself was a laughing matter. It was generally through the introduction of relatives, friends, colleagues, and such. ¡°Xiaoxia, what you said makes sense! But Dad spent money, he definitely doesn¡¯t want to waste it! When Dad left early this morning, he said he would take leave to come back and deal with this in two days!¡± Lin Xia reminded, ¡°Big brother! Wouldn¡¯t the money we spent be wasted then?¡± In fact, Lin Xia didn¡¯t care about the more than ten yuan, but she had to persuade her older brother first. As for Lin Qiu, the reason she obediently stopped going to the garment factory was definitely to avoid causing them trouble. But Lin Xia couldn¡¯t afford to be concerned about trouble, because it directly related to whether Lin Qiu¡¯s fate would change in the future. Would she, returning to the past, just watch Lin Qiu make the same old mistakes? As Lin Chun neared home, he lowered his voice, ¡°How can we not waste it! I didn¡¯t dare bring it up! If I do, Dad will definitely ask where this money came from. If I were to lie and say I borrowed it from someone, what if Dad insists on confronting that person, what would we do then!¡± Lin Xia gave a helpless wry smile; they indeed couldn¡¯t even mention the matter of spending money to give gifts. This was also why that day when she went to her aunt¡¯s house, and her aunt asked who found her the garment factory job, she simply said a colleague from her unit helped. As the two talked, they arrived at the gate. Lin Xia, agile as ever, hopped off the back of the bicycle. She gripped the large bag in her hand and followed Lin Chun into the yard. Perhaps having heard the noise from inside the house, Lin Qiu ran out. Seeing Lin Xia, her face was instantly full of excitement, and her eyes reddened in a moment, ¡°Sis! You came back!¡± in her voice was an unmistakable reliance and grievance. Seeing her sister like this, Lin Xia¡¯s heart ached, and she silently swore that even if it meant fighting with Lin Aiguo to the end, she would not let Lin Qiu go to the soy sauce factory! Lin Xia took a deep breath, and with a smile teased Lin Qiu, ¡°Look at how old you are! Still crying! Are you by yourself at home?¡± ¡°Yep! Just me!¡± Lin Qiu wanted to take the large bag from Lin Xia¡¯s hand, but Lin Xia skillfully dodged her. Lin Xia said softly, ¡°Then let¡¯s go inside quick! I¡¯ve brought you guys some great stuff!¡± ¡°Really!¡± Lin Qiu¡¯s eyes shone with surprise. Lin Xia glanced back to see Lin Chun fiddling with the bicycle¡¯s wheel, ¡°Big brother! What are you up to?¡± ¡°You two go ahead inside; I think the tire might be low on air!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xia responded. As Lin Qiu followed Lin Xia into the house, Lin Xia naturally asked upon seeing the large pot in the kitchen, ¡°Xiaoqiu, is there rice in the pot? What did everyone have for breakfast at home?!¡± ¡°Sis! It¡¯s all warming up in the pot! You go into the room first, take off your shoes and rest on the Kang! I¡¯ll bring it to you!¡± Lin Qiu cheerfully nudged Lin Xia along. Lin Xia entered the Western House by herself, quickly removing the things from Jade¡¯s room from the big bag and placing some of the mushrooms into Jade¡¯s room. By the time Lin Qiu carried the food into the room, Lin Xia had already laid out all the things she had bought for them, including the food, neatly on the Kang. Lin Qiu only knew that Lin Xia went to the provincial capital, but they were unclear as to what specifically she did. She exclaimed, ¡°Sis! Did you buy all this? Canned food! Crispy twists! Sugar cubes! Dongzi will be so happy when she comes back from school!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Xia took the bowl from Lin Qiu¡¯s hand, pointing out, ¡°Xiaoqiu, look! Apart from the snacks, I bought you a hair clip!¡± Lin Qiu delightedly picked it up to look, her eyes filled with joyful light, ¡°Sis! It¡¯s so pretty! What¡¯s this butterfly knot made of? Why is the color so nice, all bright and sparkling!¡± Lin Xia glanced at it and explained, ¡°I don¡¯t know either, probably resin or something, or maybe acrylic! Want to try it on?¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Lin Qiu beamed as she went over to the red box to look at herself in the mirror. Lin Chun had also just come in from outside, and when he saw the food and other things laid out on the edge of the kang bed, he looked a little surprised. ¡°Xiaoxia! Why did you buy so much stuff?¡± On the way back home, he had been preoccupied with learning about the family affairs from his older sister and had completely forgotten to ask how her trip to the provincial city went. It seemed that the Lingzhi had been sold, but in front of Xiaoqiu, he didn¡¯t ask directly, thinking he would wait until it was just the two of them so he could listen properly. Lin Xia didn¡¯t mention how the Lingzhi sale went in the provincial city either. ¡°Well, I figured it¡¯s not every day we go there, so I bought you a pair of rubber shoes, big brother. I guessed the size, try them on to see if they fit!¡± Lin Xia vaguely remembered that her big brother wore size 41, but she wasn¡¯t too sure. Lin Chun waved his hand, refusing to take them. ¡°Why did you buy this for me? I already have shoes to wear. What did you buy for yourself?¡± ¡°Exactly! Sister, you went all the way out there; what did you get for yourself?¡± Lin Qiu stopped braiding her hair and quickly followed up with the question. In fact, Lin Xia hadn¡¯t bought anything for herself, but she didn¡¯t want to make her brother and sister feel uncomfortable, so she said with a smile, ¡°I got myself some food!¡± She urged Lin Chun, ¡°Big brother, please try them on quickly to see if they fit. Don¡¯t you still have to go to work in a bit?¡± There were some things she wanted to discuss with Lin Qiu alone. Later, she was also thinking of taking the day off work to go and sell scarves; time was tight, so naturally, her big brother had to be sent off to work first. Lin Chun suppressed the words he wanted to say and reached out to take the shoes. ¡°Alright then! I¡¯ll try them on!¡± No matter what, this was his older sister¡¯s gesture of kindness, and he couldn¡¯t say anything to hurt her feelings. The shoes ended up fitting perfectly. ¡°Xiaoxia! They fit really well!¡± Lin Xia smiled and said, ¡°Great! If they fit, that¡¯s good enough!¡± After trying them on, Lin Chun gently took them off, but he did not wear them to work; instead, he put them away. ¡°Alright Xiaoxia, you all stay home. I¡¯m off to work now!¡± Once Lin Chun had gone, only Lin Xia and Lin Qiu were left at home. Lin Xia then asked Lin Qiu, ¡°Xiaoqiu, what are you thinking? Do you want to work at the bedding factory or the soy sauce factory?¡± Lin Qiu caressed the hairpin at the end of her thick braid and said with her head down, ¡°Sister... honestly, I¡¯m okay with either!¡± Although she had only worked at the bedding factory for a few days, her coworkers were very nice, especially Auntie Zhao, who had taken good care of her. She didn¡¯t really want to go to the soy sauce factory as her father suggested, but she was afraid that refusing would cause a family argument. Seeing her like this, Lin Xia understood perfectly and didn¡¯t pressure Lin Qiu to make a decision. ¡°Xiaoqiu, I still think the bedding factory is a good place for you, but let¡¯s put this aside for a while. You stay home for a couple of days!¡± She had just returned home and needed time to give this matter more thought. Lin Qiu nodded and smiled, ¡°Mm! Sister, don¡¯t worry about me. It¡¯s really not a big deal!¡± ¡°We can talk about that later!¡± Lin Xia continued, ¡°When dad came back, did he say anything about me not being home?¡± She had only told the truth to her big brother Lin Chun about going to the provincial city to sell Lingzhi, but Lin Qiu didn¡¯t know, thinking she had gone out of town for a wedding. ¡°I heard dad asking big brother a couple of questions, but after that, he didn¡¯t say much... Dad came back last night wanting to sort out my job situation, right? So as soon as he found out I was working at the bedding factory, he lost his temper, and didn¡¯t bother with anything else!¡± Chapter 24 - 24 24 Setting the Mood ?24: Chapter 24 Setting the Mood 24: Chapter 24 Setting the Mood Lin Xia asked again, ¡°What about the Eastern House? Did they have anything to say?¡± Qian Chunli and the others had been itching to complain, but now with Lin Aiguo returning home unexpectedly, how could they not take the chance to speak up? Lin Qiu curled her lip, ¡°Would those old ladies ever be left out? On the surface, they were advising Dad, but they didn¡¯t hold back in adding fuel to the fire. If I hadn¡¯t directly said I¡¯d listen to Dad and go to the soy sauce factory, he definitely would have gotten furious and lashed out!¡± She had learned to be more cunning now, knowing to read people and act accordingly. After gauging the reactions of everyone, Lin Xia had a clear picture in her mind. Seeing her sister¡¯s exhausted face, with dark circles under her eyes, Lin Qiu understood that the journey hadn¡¯t been easy. Feeling sympathetic, she said, ¡°Sis! You should lie down and sleep for a bit! We can chat after you¡¯ve woken up!¡± ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll take a nap!¡± Lin Xia, after all, hadn¡¯t slept well on the bus, dozing off and on throughout the night. A good rest would do her good, especially since she was still planning to go out and sell scarves later on. How could she manage without being well-rested? Selling for the first time, she had absolutely no confidence in her heart! With a jumble of feelings, Lin Xia closed her eyes. Seeing her sister asleep, Lin Qiu tiptoed around and placed all the food inside the red box, covering it with clothes, and then quietly left the room. Lin Xia felt like she had barely dozed off when she suddenly woke up in a daze. Glancing around the empty room and sitting up to look at the clock on the box, she saw it was nearly ten. She hadn¡¯t expected to sleep this late, initially only intending to rest her eyes for a moment! Lin Xia hurriedly got up, changed into clean clothes, washed her face, and braided her hair into a long plait. She greeted Xiaoqiu with a burst of energy and left the house. Lin Xia rode her bicycle, carrying a large handmade cross-body bag to go sell scarves. In fact, on the train, she had thought things through extensively. She obviously couldn¡¯t sell near her own workplace or in the neighborhood; she still had to go to her job for the time being. After scouting several locations, she marked a few factories. The first stop, the Chopstick Factory One. She chose this place because, firstly, there were many female workers at the chopstick factory, and secondly, she didn¡¯t know anyone there. At eleven o¡¯clock, when the chopstick factory ended their shift, a little while later, male and female workers poured out of the wide-open factory gates, many pushing bicycles. Looking around, there were more women than men! Lin Xia had already secured a strong position, standing by the entrance of the chopstick factory with four scarves¡ªwhite and red with golden threads¡ªdraped over her arm, highly noticeable. Young women and brides saw Lin Xia standing out like a sore thumb, the red and white scarves shimmering in the sunlight with their golden threads, catching the eyes of passersby, who instinctively glanced over or stopped to look. At this time, people typically shopped at supply and marketing cooperatives or state-run department stores, so while they found it strange, they still took a closer look in secret. Lin Xia cleared her throat and began her pitch, ¡°Scarves for sale!¡± At first, her voice was small and shaky, but after calling out twice, she felt much better and could shout with more ease, ¡°Scarves for sale!¡± ¡°How much?¡± asked a few women who stopped in front of Lin Xia, one of whom, a woman in her thirties, was the first to inquire. ¡°Three yuan!¡± The woman smirked, ¡°That¡¯s way too expensive!¡± While she complained about the price, she didn¡¯t move away, her eyes still fixed on the scarves draped over Lin Xia¡¯s arm. Lin Xia immediately understood that she was interested and hurriedly smiled and explained, for her benefit but also for everyone else to hear, ¡°Sis! These scarves sell for three yuan and twenty cents in the provincial capital! Look at the gold thread shimmering in the sunlight, they¡¯re really eye-catching! You can¡¯t find these for sale in our city!¡± One of the young women, clearly very concerned with her appearance, immediately set down her bike stand and approached Lin Xia, ¡°You know what? These are actually really pretty!¡± Another echoed, ¡°That¡¯s true! The red one is so beautiful!¡± ¡°The white ones look good, too! They match the complexion!¡± ... Everyone then surrounded Lin Xia, chattering and asking questions, and of course, there were those who wanted to haggle. Lin Xia rebuffed them all by saying that in the provincial city they sell for three yuan and twenty cents each. Once the first person took out money to buy, Lin Xia made her first sale, and then others followed suit. Among the onlookers, there were those who hesitated and those who wanted to buy but hadn¡¯t brought enough money. Lin Xia made an appointment with them to come back tonight after work. When Lin Xia left the entrance of the chopsticks factory, she couldn¡¯t count how many scarves she had sold or how many were left. By this point, it was definitely too late to go home and check. Lin Xia rode to a secluded corner, where she finally felt safe enough to park her bike and crouch down to check how many scarves were left and how much money she had made. And boy, she almost jumped for joy! Only 12 scarves left! Lin Xia had bought a total of 30 scarves back, which meant she had sold 18 in just that short time over lunch! Lin Xia checked the money nervously to see if there were any discrepancies. After subtracting the change in her pocket, it was exactly the amount for 18 scarves¡ª54 yuan! If she made a profit of five mao per scarf, she had earned 9 yuan! Of course, that was gross profit¡ªshe hadn¡¯t deducted the cost of her train ticket yet. But this was more than enough to make her heart thump wildly with excitement. She realized that doing business could indeed make money quickly! Her first thought was that she had brought too little! Could she sell all 12 remaining scarves that evening? But she didn¡¯t have anything to regret, after all, it was like feeling the stones to cross the river¡ªshe didn¡¯t know if she could really sell them once she got back. What if she had brought too many and couldn¡¯t sell them? Wouldn¡¯t she look foolish? Moreover, the scarves were highly seasonal. It gets cold early in Lin District, turning chilly at the drop of a hat, which was why she was so anxious to rush to the provincial city. If she missed this window of time, in a little while, she¡¯d be moving on to selling knitted scarves directly. With immense joy in her heart, Lin Xia hummed a tune and happily rode back home. Lin Qiu had prepared dinner; spotting Lin Xia¡¯s return, she came out of the house with a beaming smile, ¡°Sis! Where have you been? Why are you back so late! Come inside and eat after you wash your hands!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t do much! Just wandered around for a bit!¡± Lin Xia definitely couldn¡¯t tell Lin Qiu about it yet. She silently gestured towards the closed door of the Eastern House. Lin Qiu nodded, showing two fingers. Lin Xia then understood that two people had come back: Qian Chunli worked at the food factory and usually didn¡¯t come home for lunch, so it must have been Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, the siblings, who took their meals into their room to eat. Having figured out the situation at home, Lin Xia cheerfully washed up and then entered the Western House, where Lin Chun and Lin Dong were eating. ¡°Why are you just getting back! Come and sit down to eat!¡± Lin Chun called Lin Xia over. Lin Xia sat down with a giggly smile, looking at the two of them and felt ridiculously happy. She really wanted to share her excitement with someone, but with two annoying people in the Eastern House, and Lin Dong being the kind who takes things seriously, once she told him, she was afraid he¡¯d get distracted from his studies. So she had to contain her excitement and wait for a chance to talk to her elder brother Lin Chun alone. Lin Chun glanced over, guessing in his mind but not asking due to the presence of his younger brother. Lin Dong leaned in close to Lin Xia and chuckled softly, ¡°Big sis! Thank you for the pen! I really love it! How did you know I was just wishing for a new pen?¡± He had come back from school today to find his second sister secretly giving him a new pen, saying it was from their eldest sister. At that moment, he was thrilled! Chapter 25 - 25 25 How many ?25: Chapter 25 How many 25: Chapter 25 How many Lin Xia looked at him with a smile, warmth in her eyes, ¡°How could I not know?¡± She took the opportunity to rub his prickly head and whispered, ¡°I also know you want to eat meat!¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Lin Dong felt like she had read his mind as he scratched the back of his head with a silly laugh, but he was really curious, glanced toward the doorway, and muttered softly, ¡°Big sister! What on earth did you go and do?¡± How did she come back with so many good things! Lin Xia patted his forehead, ¡°It¡¯s a secret for now! I¡¯ll tell you later!¡± Lin Dong uttered a sound of agreement, thinking that it would be fine if she told him later. Lin Xia glanced at the table, which only had a dish of cabbage stewed with vermicelli and a small pot of cornmeal pancakes. She didn¡¯t see the canned meat she bought. She whispered, ¡°Big brother, why don¡¯t we open that can of meat?¡± ¡°I was waiting for you to come back so we could eat it together!¡± Lin Chun put down his chopsticks and hesitated before saying quietly, ¡°Xiaoxia, you bought four cans, so why don¡¯t we keep two for Dad?¡± Keep two cans for Lin Aiguo? In your dreams! Lin Xia suppressed the surge of anger in her heart and concealed the fury in her eyes as she spoke softly, ¡°Does Dad lack this can of meat? I bought four cans so each of us could have one to satisfy our craving! Besides, how do we leave some for Dad, and how do we explain where this canned meat came from?¡± She knew she shouldn¡¯t speak like this to her older brother, who was just such a person, kind-hearted and filial. But she just couldn¡¯t control her temper. Lin Chun, confronted with Lin Xia¡¯s rapid-fire words, moved his lips but didn¡¯t say anything. He had noticed that since the day Big Sister woke up from that fever, she had become filled with dissatisfaction toward their dad, speaking with a tone of resentment whenever she brought him up. Although Xiaoxia had complained before, it had never been this intense. Seeing his brother and sister like this, Lin Dong hurriedly asked Lin Xia in a whisper, ¡°Big sister, where is it? I¡¯ll get it!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xia looked around the room; their room had only one red box that could be used for storage. And it turned out, Xiaoqiu had indeed hidden everything in there. Lin Dong went to the kitchen to get a kitchen knife. Lin Xia called Xiaoqiu to come in to eat, ¡°Xiaoqiu, what are you still fussing with? Come eat!¡± Xiaoqiu was tidying up around the stove, ¡°Sister! You guys eat first! I¡¯ll come as soon as I¡¯m done!¡± She was more cautious; by staying in the kitchen, the two in the Eastern House wouldn¡¯t be able to eavesdrop even if they wanted to. Lin Xia instantly understood Xiaoqiu¡¯s intention and couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional, thinking how great it would be if it were just the few of them living together, where they could speak of what they wanted to eat without having to tread so carefully! ¡°Alright then! We¡¯ll save some food for you!¡± Lin Xia entered the room and closed the door, Lin Dong had just opened a can and put down the kitchen knife. ¡°Dongzi! Open them all!¡± Lin Xia sat down and whispered to him, ¡°What¡¯s there to save? We¡¯ll finish them all right now to avoid trouble!¡± What she really meant was to avoid them ending up in someone else¡¯s stomach. Lin Chun at this moment bowed his head to eat his cornmeal pancakes in silence, not saying a word. Lin Dong looked at Lin Xia, then at the bowed head of Lin Chun, and in the end, heeded his big sister¡¯s advice, opening all four cans of the canned meat. Actually, he also felt that what Big Sister said made sense, it was better to eat everything now and avoid hassle than to save some for Dad, who would then interrogate and curse about it! Lin Xia saw Lin Chun chewing mouthfuls of cornmeal pancakes; she knew her behavior had made her big brother uncomfortable, and she herself felt uneasy about it. But that was the reality¡ªif her brother gave Lin Aiguo two cans of the meat, she could guarantee Lin Aiguo wouldn¡¯t be grateful for the filial piety but would immediately make a fuss, demanding to know where the canned meat came from and what money was used to buy it! Then, it¡¯s quite likely that part of those two cans of preserved meat ended up in the stomachs of Lin Qiang and the others. Lin Xia encouraged Lin Dong to start eating, and she pushed one of the cans toward Lin Chun. ¡°Big brother! You eat!¡± Lin Chun didn¡¯t look up, and he pushed the can back toward Lin Xia¡¯s direction. ¡°Xiaoxia! Big brother is full, you guys eat!¡± Sitting next to Lin Chun, Lin Xia spoke in a low voice, ¡°Big brother! Don¡¯t be mad at me! I know that right now nothing I say will get through to you, but in time you¡¯ll understand... If you don¡¯t eat, I won¡¯t eat either!¡± Lin Chun looked up, helplessly gazing at the stubborn Lin Xia. When his big sister got obstinate, there was really no managing her. He sighed, ¡°Alright! Big brother will eat, is that okay?¡± He picked up a large piece of braised pork with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, immediately oozing with grease. So delicious! Lin Dong, seeing big brother eat, happily gobbled down his own food. Lin Chun, watching Lin Xia quietly eating the meat, whispered an explanation, ¡°Xiaoxia! I¡¯m not mad at you, I¡¯m mad at myself! I just feel that I¡¯m indecisive, not as decisive and straightforward as you are!¡± These past few days, he was increasingly feeling that he was no match for his big sister¡¯s ability to get things done. Lin Xia smiled, seizing the moment to say, ¡°Big brother! That¡¯s nothing, once you go work in another place, toughen up a bit, you¡¯ll definitely become different!¡± Lin Chun nodded earnestly, ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll think about it carefully!¡± Perhaps, it was time for him to make some changes too. ¡°Big brother! It¡¯s great that you can think this way!¡± Lin Xia heard a different tone in Lin Chun¡¯s agreement this time. ¡°Yeah! Big brother!¡± Lin Dong also noticed, and their sibling eyes brightened as they exchanged looks, both brimming with excitement. But no one continued to speak too much, afraid it might backfire. Lin Xia whispered with a laugh, ¡°You guys eat fast! Is it delicious or not?¡± Lin Dong swallowed the braised pork in his mouth, his face split with happiness. He nodded vigorously, whispering, ¡°Delicious! Big sister! It¡¯s so delicious! This is the best thing I¡¯ve ever eaten in my life! When I start working and have money, I¡¯ll buy a bunch for you all to have your fill!¡± Lin Xia took a piece of meat from her own can and gave it to Lin Dong, softly laughing, ¡°Alright! We¡¯ll wait for you to make money and buy us a bunch! But Dongzi, you need to study well and get into university first!¡± Lin Dong nodded with determination, ¡°Big sister, big brother, don¡¯t worry! I will definitely study hard and get into a university!¡± Lin Chun also gave Lin Dong a piece of meat, ¡°Okay! Dongzi, as long as you study hard and get into high school next year, big brother will give you something as a reward too!¡± Lin Dong became even more excited, patting his chest with a slap, ¡°Big brother! You have to keep your promise!¡± Lin Chun laughed, ¡°Is there any doubt?¡± Lin Dong turned to Lin Xia, ¡°Big sister, you be our witness!¡± Lin Xia grinned, ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll be the witness!¡± As the three of them talked and laughed, their faces were all adorned with brilliant smiles. Lin Xia watched this scene with both joy and delight. She took a piece of meat and placed it on top of the can for Lin Qiu, then quickly finished her meal, got up, and went out to call Lin Qiu in for dinner. Lin Xia didn¡¯t want to stay idle in the kitchen either, so she picked up a small hatchet and began to chop up some pine kindling. Just after a few chops, the door of the Eastern House opened, and Lin Yu walked out carrying two sets of bowls and chopsticks. Seeing Lin Xia squatting there working, she raised an eyebrow, and left the bowls and chopsticks by the stove, ¡°Did Lin Xia come back today? Did she bring back any wedding candy or anything from the wedding she attended?¡± Just now, she and Lin Qiang were whispering in their room about how there was always some noise from the Western House, wondering if they might be sneaking some tasty treats. But with Lin Qiu busy working in the kitchen, they didn¡¯t feel it was right to come out and look. Chapter 26 - 26 26 Conspiracy ?26: Chapter 26 Conspiracy 26: Chapter 26 Conspiracy Lin Xia glanced at her dismissively, ¡°Took them! But ate them all on the way!¡± What good food could there be that she wouldn¡¯t have to share with her brothers and sisters? Was there anything left for her? Dreaming in broad daylight, huh? Lin Yu¡¯s eyes snapped, ¡°Really!¡± Cursing under her breath, who¡¯d believe that! Definitely a lie, hiding to indulge herself, no good intentions! But the current Lin Xia had become so eerie, and the ferocity with which she wielded the small axe while splitting Mingzi made Lin Yu inexplicably panicked, so she no longer dared to speak her mind like before, quietly washed her hands, and left. Lin Xia watched her leave and sneered, ¡°People really do bully the weak and fear the strong, always squeezing the softies.¡± In the past, they¡¯d all endured silently, only to end up spoiling Qian Chunli and Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, making them completely disregard them. Now that she acted tough and decisive, they dared not say anything in front of her. After working for a while, Lin Dong came out from the Western House, ¡°Big sister! I¡¯m off to school!¡± Lin Xia stopped him, ¡°Dongzi! Wait a moment!¡± This cheeky boy, his mouth all greasy and he doesn¡¯t even bother to wipe it. Lin Dong blinked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lin Xia took out a handkerchief, wet it with water from the dipper, and silently gestured for Lin Dong to wipe his mouth. Lin Dong took the hint, grinned, and after wiping his mouth, handed it back to Lin Xia, ¡°Big sister! You wash it yourself! I¡¯m off!¡± Lin Xia ruffled his head, ¡°Alright! Hurry off to school! Study hard!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big sister!¡± Lin Dong left cheerfully. Lin Qiu had just finished eating and was taking his dishes out when Lin Xia finally entered the Western House. She stuffed the four cans into her satchel, claiming to find a place to throw them away to destroy the evidence; But actually, she planned to hide them in Jade¡¯s room first and discard them whenever convenient. Lin Chun didn¡¯t leave and was sitting on the edge of the platform. He looked at Lin Xia¡¯s actions and smiled, ¡°Xiaoxia! Everything went smoothly?¡± ¡°Smoothly!¡± Lin Xia sat next to Lin Chun and whispered, ¡°Big brother! I won¡¯t go into details now, just know that your sister has made some money!¡± The whole process couldn¡¯t be explained in a word or two, and with Lin Qiang at home and although Lin Qiu was in the kitchen, there was a chance he might overhear something. Lin Chun¡¯s voice dropped to an even lower whisper, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Hmm! Over a hundred!¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t reveal the exact amount. ¡°That much?¡± Lin Chun¡¯s mouth dropped open in astonishment, it took him a while to recover. He truly had not dared to imagine such an amount! Lin Xia patted Lin Chun¡¯s arm and chuckled softly, ¡°Hehe! Big brother! You¡¯ve got to hold steady!¡± She then pulled two ten-yuan notes out of her pocket and handed them to Lin Chun, ¡°Big brother, keep this money!¡± Lin Chun firmly refused, ¡°Xiaoxia! Big brother doesn¡¯t want it! You earned this money with great difficulty! Keep it for yourself! Moreover, you¡¯ve already bought so much, why give me money? ¡°Big brother! Have you forgotten the money you gave me? Without that, how could I have traveled so far? Keep it, and buy something you want!¡± Lin Xia sincerely wanted to give it, and Lin Chun sincerely didn¡¯t want to accept. After a silent struggle for a while, Lin Chun finally took one ten-yuan note, but absolutely refused the other. Lin Xia didn¡¯t insist too much, her heart could barely contain her excitement, ¡°Big brother, this is just the beginning, I will earn more later, and eventually, I¡¯ll give each of you more money than you can spend!¡± Lin Chun sat up straight, with a stern face and a low voice, ¡°Xiaoxia! Big brother doesn¡¯t want you to do it this way, can¡¯t we just have a normal job?¡± In his eyes, having a stable job had to be better than being a petty trader, right? Lin Xia chuckled lightly. She knew she couldn¡¯t get through to her older brother right away, so she went along with his words, ¡°Sure! I¡¯m just making a little extra cash in my free time! I¡¯ll still do my main job properly!¡± Lin Chun felt somewhat relieved. Now that his younger sister had responded in this way, he didn¡¯t feel it was right to say anything more. He glanced at the time, ¡°Okay! As long as you know what you¡¯re doing! Xiaoxia, I¡¯m almost late for work! We can talk more about this in the evening!¡± ¡°Okay, big brother! Slow down on your bike!¡± ¡°Alright! You rest well!¡± After Lin Chun left, Lin Qiu finished tidying up the kitchen and entered the room. The sisters chatted for a while, and Lin Xia lay on the kang and drifted off. When she woke up, she saw it was about time, so she slung her homemade crossbody bag again and left the house. She rode her bicycle to the entrance of Chopstick Factory No. 1. At five o¡¯clock, when the factory ended its shift, the workers flowed out like water released from a sluice, just as they had at noon. Lin Xia quickly sold the remaining twelve scarves, but the crowd around her didn¡¯t disperse; those who hadn¡¯t managed to buy asked her if she was coming back tomorrow. Lin Xia was busy talking with them, so she didn¡¯t notice a man across the street staring at her... This man was none other than Lin Qiang, who had been secretly following Lin Xia! During lunch, he and Lin Yu were in the Eastern House. Although they couldn¡¯t hear clearly what was happening in the Western House, they could vaguely sense that the group there was up to no good. Why else would Lin Qiu dilly-dally in the kitchen and not go in? Plus, Lin Xia had just come back from a wedding out of town. Not to mention other things, she should have brought back some wedding candies. So he whispered a few things to Lin Yu. When he woke up from a nap, he saw Lin Xia leaving the house with a crossbody bag. Curiosity got the better of him, and he quietly followed her, wanting to see what she was up to. He had not expected to end up here at the chopstick factory and, hiding nearby, waited a long time only to see Lin Xia selling scarves! Lin Qiang stood to one side, looking dazed for a long time, his face filled with disbelief. He had never thought that Lin Xia, who usually didn¡¯t say much, could speak so well, selling a simple white and red scarf for three yuan each? What a bold asking price! How much money was she earning per scarf? Where had she gotten those scarves from? Surely no one just gave them to her for free? And where did the money for the scarves come from? A whole slew of questions ran through Lin Qiang¡¯s mind. When he saw Lin Xia smoothly pocketing stacks of money, Lin Qiang felt unbearably dry-mouthed and itchy with desire. How wonderful it would be if all that money were his, and he could buy whatever he wanted? All he ever had in his pocket were a few cents, rarely more than a yuan, and his mother gave him nothing. All his friends wore bell-bottom trousers, but he couldn¡¯t afford them and always felt embarrassed about it! If that money were his, he could get himself a pair of trousers too, and with the leftover money, buy cigarettes, alcohol, and meat! But with so many people around, how could he dare to just go up and snatch it? Lin Xia was different now; if he dared to rob her, she would definitely scream. Taking advantage of the fact that Lin Xia hadn¡¯t noticed him yet, Lin Qiang quickly slipped away. He needed to discuss this with someone. After all, although Lin Xia could escape for now, she couldn¡¯t escape forever¡ªhe would wait for her at home! Chapter 27 - 27 27 Making Money ?27: Chapter 27: Making Money 27: Chapter 27: Making Money Lin Xia did not know that Lin Qiang had seen her selling the scarves. She chatted for a bit with the people who wanted to buy scarves, told them to come back in a few days, and then rode off on her bicycle. She returned to the same secluded corner she had found earlier, checked her cash, and counted: 12 scarves, 36 dollars! Together with the previously earned 54 dollars, the 30 scarves had totaled 90 dollars, giving her a gross profit of 15 dollars! After deducting the round-trip train ticket of 7 dollars, she still made a profit of 8 dollars! 8 dollars! Considering the hardship endured on the train, earning these 8 dollars really wasn¡¯t too difficult! Previously in the provincial city after buying the scarves, Lin Xia had calculated how much money she could make, but those 8 dollars were just theoretical and didn¡¯t feel real; now, the money was genuinely in her hands! Lin Xia was thrilled and excited for quite some time! Once she calmed down a bit, she couldn¡¯t help thinking that there were still so many people at Chopstick Factory No. 1 who wanted to buy her scarves, not to mention other factories filled with female workers she hadn¡¯t yet visited! It seemed she would need to make another trip to the provincial city soon! While the weather was still warm, she could continue selling scarves for a while longer and earn more money! Lin Xia combined all her money, tucked it all into Jade¡¯s room, and only kept a dollar in her trouser pocket for pocket change. With a joyous flick of her long braid, she hopped on her bicycle and hurried home! At the same time, Lin Yu was also on her way home from school and happened to run into Lin Qiang, who was running towards her. Lin Qiang looked hurried, with a forehead full of sweat and panting heavily! Lin Yu quickly got off her bicycle and asked, ¡°Lin Qiang, what happened to you? Who were you fighting with?¡± She thought Lin Qiang had gotten into another fight and was coming to her for help. But Lin Qiang shook his head, caught his breath by bending over and supporting his knees, then pulled Lin Yu, who was pushing her bicycle, to a secluded area. He made sure no one was around, then whispered about seeing Lin Xia selling scarves in front of Chopstick Factory No. 1, emphasizing that the scarves were three dollars each. ¡°...Three dollars each! Those people didn¡¯t even think it was expensive, they just kept pulling out money... Lin Yu, you should have seen it, Lin Xia¡¯s pockets were bulging. I reckon there must have been dozens of dollars! I don¡¯t know where she got those scarves from...¡± Lin Yu was completely stunned by what Lin Qiang told her, and it took her a while to regain her composure. She believed Lin Qiang must have witnessed it himself, but she couldn¡¯t imagine Lin Xia managing such a feat! At the same time, she felt inexplicably uneasy; she had never worn a three-dollar scarf herself, nor had she ever had so much money in her pocket! ¡°Was she selling them for someone else?¡± Lin Qiang recalled Lin Xia¡¯s demeanor at the time, ¡°I don¡¯t think so! Anyway, it looked like she was calling the shots!¡± Lin Yu analyzed with him, ¡°If it really was her doing, her trip out of town a few days ago when she said she was attending a wedding, was just a lie! But where did she get those scarves? Three dollars each, even ten or so would cost over thirty dollars! Where did she get the money?¡± Lin Yu racked her brain but couldn¡¯t figure out how Lin Xia had undergone such a drastic change in such a short time. Seeing Lin Yu constantly babbling about this, Lin Qiang impatiently waved his hand, ¡°Why do we care where her money came from? There¡¯s no name on the money or the scarves. I came to you to discuss how we can get our hands on that money and those scarves!¡± His goal wasn¡¯t to speculate about the origin of Lin Xia¡¯s money; he wanted Lin Xia¡¯s money and belongings to become his! ¡°Sure!¡± Lin Yu¡¯s heart leaped with joy. If they could really pull this off, she would have both money to spend and scarves to wear. And, ideally, they should think of some trick to make Lin Xia suffer a loss without daring to complain. With that thought, the sullenness she felt at Lin Xia¡¯s house a few days ago was completely swept away. Seeing her agree, Lin Qiang eagerly said, ¡°When this works out, we¡¯ll split the money and scarves: eight for me, two for you!¡± Lin Yu immediately objected to Lin Qiang¡¯s proposed distribution, ¡°Why do you get eight and I only get two?¡± Lin Qiang raised his chin, ¡°Because I discovered this! If I hadn¡¯t told you, would you have known?¡± He wouldn¡¯t have wanted to share a penny if he wasn¡¯t worried about failing on his own! Lin Yu argued with him, ¡°You can¡¯t give me so little! I should at least get forty percent!¡± Lin Qiang sneered with a grimace, ¡°Lin Yu, you wish!¡± Lin Yu raised the corner of her eyes, ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, then I¡¯ll tell mom, and since dad will probably be back from the mountain the day after tomorrow, I¡¯ll tell him too! Think about how this will be settled then!¡± Lin Qiang knew very well that if their dad, Lin Aiguo, found out about this, he wouldn¡¯t get a penny, and he gritted his teeth in agony, ¡°Then the most I can give you is thirty percent! Take it or leave it, I¡¯ll talk to mom!¡± ¡°Deal! Let¡¯s discuss this properly and plan our next move!¡± The two huddled together and murmured for a long time. It was definitely not feasible to do anything tonight, as Lin Xia and the others usually stayed in the Western House after school and work. If there was a chance, it could only be tomorrow! Tomorrow Lin Xia had to go to work, and she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to bring the money and scarf to work, so it must be hidden somewhere in their house. By then, Lin Chun would be at work, and Lin Dong would be at school, only Lin Qiu would be at home. The two secretly agreed that Lin Yu would keep watch while Lin Qiang would search the Western House... How could Lin Xia and the others possibly know that siblings Lin Yu and Lin Qiang had already secretly planned everything. When Lin Xia returned home, Lin Chun had not yet come back from work; only Lin Qiu and Lin Dong were there. Lin Qiu was originally in the kitchen cooking, and Lin Dong was lying on the table in the Western House doing his homework. As soon as they saw Lin Xia return, they both dropped what they were doing and gathered around her. Lin Dong looked Lin Xia up and down, noticing joy in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows, ¡°Big sister! Where were you?¡± Lin Xia took off her crossbody bag, placed it on the lid of the red box, and smiled, ¡°I went out for a stroll!¡± Lin Qiu inquired curiously, ¡°Sis, what exactly are you up to? Why so secretive?¡± Since getting off the train that morning, her big sister had gone out twice. And judging by the expression on her face, she came back happier each time! Lin Xia looked at her brother and sister, ¡°Is anyone home at Eastern House?¡± ¡°No one¡¯s home,¡± Lin Qiu answered quickly. Lin Dong specifically glanced towards the courtyard gate from the window, ¡°No one!¡± Lin Xia put her arms around their shoulders, ¡°I am thinking of ways to make money!¡± Lin Qiu¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°Make money?¡± Lin Dong eagerly asked, ¡°Big sister! How are you going to make it?¡± Lin Xia was just about to divulge a few details when she sharply spotted Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, the sibling duo, appearing at the front door, ¡°They¡¯re back, let¡¯s keep this between us for now! I¡¯ll tell you more when I get a chance in the future!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Qiu knew they needed to keep it a secret, ¡°I¡¯ll go fix dinner!¡± and meanwhile keep an eye on people from the Eastern House. As Lin Qiu left the Western House, Lin Dong sat back down on the long bench to do his homework. But he kept glancing at Lin Xia, who noticed his distractedness and sat next to him, whispering, ¡°Dongzi! Do you have something you want to tell me?¡± Lin Dong moved his lips and finally voiced his thoughts, though very softly; had Lin Xia not been close to him, she wouldn¡¯t have heard him clearly, ¡°Big sister! I was thinking of taking some candy treats for Haizi!¡± Over the years, as he tutored Haizi, Haizi¡¯s parents had been very kind to him, often giving him food. Given his family¡¯s special circumstances and limited means, he had scarcely enough to fill his own stomach, let alone give something back; he could only be more diligent and responsible in tutoring Haizi. Taking advantage of the excitement during lunch when they ate the canned meat, he hadn¡¯t thought of that; it was only when he saw Haizi going to school that he thought about giving Haizi something to eat. Chapter 28 - 28 The 28th The Thief ?28: The 28th Chapter: The Thief 28: The 28th Chapter: The Thief Lin Xia immediately nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay!¡± she whispered her instructions, ¡°Are you going to tutor Haizi later? Take some snacks over in your backpack!¡± She knew Haizi¡¯s family was nice, and in their previous life, they had always treated Lin Dong kindly. So she fully understood Dongzi¡¯s feelings at the moment, having something decent to share with Haizi, his good friend, was not an easy feat. Once Lin Dong heard this, his eyes lit up, ¡°Big sister!¡± He thought his elder sister wouldn¡¯t agree so easily! Eating those snacks now felt even better than the food during the New Year celebrations. Lin Xia couldn¡¯t help but ruffle his hair, ¡°But remember one thing, if anyone finds out, just say I brought them back from a wedding I attended!¡± Lin Dong nodded like he was pounding garlic, softly assuring her, ¡°Big sister, don¡¯t worry! I know what to say!¡± Lin Xia patted his shoulder, ¡°Alright, focus on your homework! I¡¯m going to go out and help your second sister!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Dong replied promptly! When Lin Chun came back, dinner was ready. After eating, Lin Dong put on his backpack, which Lin Xia had filled with lots of goodies. Trying to stay calm, he cautiously made his way to Haizi¡¯s house. From the look on Lin Dong¡¯s face when he returned, Lin Xia could tell the boy was thrilled! A quiet night passed, and the next morning, Lin Xia rode her bicycle to work. During the break, Liu Lanying came to find her. The two had gotten along well since the previous incident with the gift, and their conversations had grown warmer. ¡°Xiaolin, are you feeling better?¡± Lin Xia smiled, ¡°Much better, Sister Liu!¡± Her excuse for taking time off was illness, though only Yu Hongmei knew the real reason. Liu Lanying also smiled, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear! If you¡¯re feeling unwell though, don¡¯t push through it, take the time off if you need to!¡± ¡°I will, Sister Liu,¡± Lin Xia smiled and pursed her lips. She might have to take another ¡°sick leave¡± in a few days. Liu Lanying glanced around, then asked, ¡°Xiaolin, why didn¡¯t your sister come to work yesterday? My mother-in-law even asked me about it when she got home!¡± Lin Xia couldn¡¯t possibly tell her the truth, so she quickly made up an excuse, ¡°Sister Liu, I¡¯ve been sick these past few days, and my sister caught it from me. I didn¡¯t come to work yesterday either, so I didn¡¯t get a chance to ask you to help me inform the office for a leave of absence! ¡°When you get home, please tell Aunt Zhao that we might need a few more days off until we¡¯re feeling better and ready to return!¡± Liu Lanying didn¡¯t suspect a thing and readily agreed, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s no problem! My mother-in-law is there. Anything for us sisters!¡± Lin Qiu, who they were discussing, had just finished tidying the house when Aunt Jin from next door came to borrow a cotton glove pattern. Aunt Jin was ushered into the Western House, and looking around at the humble yet neatly-kept place, her eyes filled with even more warmth when she looked at Lin Qiu. ¡°Lin Qiu, didn¡¯t you start working at the quilt factory a few days ago? Why have I seen you at home these past couple of days?¡± Lin Qiu always had a good relationship with Aunt Jin, and she didn¡¯t want to hide the truth from her,¡± I did start working at the quilt factory, but then, my dad came back and said he got a job at the soy paste factory through some connections, so he told me not to go back to the quilt factory...¡± Aunt Jin sighed inwardly, Lin Aiguo really didn¡¯t know how to care for or cherish his children. But after all, she was just a neighbor, what could she say? All she could do was comfort Lin Qiu with her words, ¡°The soy paste factory is also good! If the contract position turns into a full-time job later, that would be nice too!¡± Lin Qiu didn¡¯t respond, just smiled. Aunt Jin asked, ¡°Are you home alone?¡± Lin Qiu shook her head, ¡°No! Someone¡¯s in the Eastern House!¡± After she said this, she felt a bit strange in her heart. It was common for Lin Qiang to be at home, but why hadn¡¯t Lin Yu gone to school? Jin Auntie lowered her voice and asked, ¡°By the way! About that big factory that will start accepting applications after a while, has your older brother made up his mind yet?¡± Lin Qiu hurriedly said, ¡°My older brother is still considering it, Jin Auntie. When the time comes, we¡¯ll have to trouble you and Uncle Jin to take care...¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing! We¡¯re just neighbors after all!¡± Jin Auntie stood up from the edge of the kang, ¡°Alright then! I¡¯ll take this back with me... Ah, look at how skilled you sisters¡¯ hands are... I¡¯ll deliver it back as soon as I¡¯m done cutting according to the pattern. We¡¯re buried in tasks day by day, still have to stuff cotton trousers...¡± Lin Qiu thought she should take the opportunity to make a good impression for her brother, ¡°Jin Auntie, let me help you with that! I¡¯ve just finished all the chores at home, and it¡¯s not yet time to make lunch...¡± Jin Auntie slapped her thigh, ¡°Well, that would be great!¡± The two of them laughed and talked as they left through the main gate and headed to Jin Auntie¡¯s home. At this time, the door of the Eastern House quietly opened. To carry out today¡¯s plan, Lin Yu had gone to a female classmate¡¯s home the night before to ask for a favor in taking the morning off, so she hadn¡¯t gone to school in the morning. After having eaten, Lin Qiang had holed up in the house and didn¡¯t leave. Before that, the two had quietly discussed how to lure Lin Qiu out. Just then, Jin Auntie came over next door¡ªit was as if heaven was helping them! Lin Yu stood by the kitchen window, keeping an eye on the main entrance, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Who knew how long Lin Qiu would stay at Jin Auntie¡¯s house? If she came back and saw them, it would be over! ¡°I know! Keep a lookout!¡± Lin Qiang pushed the door and entered the Western House. Once Lin Qiang was inside the Western House, he glanced around the room¡ªtwo kangs, north and south, seemed to be the only places other than the piled-up quilts where things could be stored, except for that mahogany box. With time being of the essence and Lin Qiu liable to return at any moment, he couldn¡¯t afford to think too much. He walked swiftly to the mahogany box, lifted the lid, and saw that the topmost item was the cross-body bag Lin Xia had carried the day before, empty inside. Lin Qiang dug deeper, finding the interior packed full of clothes and pants. He searched for a while but only managed to find some candies wrapped in clothes and crispy twists in yellow paper¡ªno sign of the scarf or money. Lin Qiang thought to himself, Lin Xia couldn¡¯t possibly take the scarf and money to work, could she? Even if she could pocket the money and take it with her, she couldn¡¯t do the same with the scarf, right? He had clearly heard Lin Xia tell those people that she would sell more scarves in a couple of days. If she could say so, she definitely must have some stock on hand! But he just couldn¡¯t find it, no matter how hard he looked! Lin Qiang started to panic. He got onto the kang with quick movements, wearing his shoes, and began to search through the pile of quilts. Standing outside, Lin Yu had been watching the main entrance, but gradually she started to feel something was off. Though Lin Qiang had agreed with her that they would split the money and scarf, thirty to seventy, the scarf was difficult to hide but the money was too easy to conceal! What if Lin Qiang found the money and sneakily pocketed it? She couldn¡¯t trust that rascal Lin Qiang! Pretending nonchalance, Lin Yu pushed open the door of the Western House. Seeing Lin Qiang rifling through the quilts, she asked softly, ¡°All this time, have you found it?¡± Seeing Lin Yu enter the Western House, Lin Qiang growled at her irritably, ¡°What are you doing here? Can¡¯t you see I haven¡¯t found it yet? It¡¯s not that easy to find! Go back and keep watch!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush? I can see the main entrance from this window too!¡± Lin Yu spotted the candies and crispy twists on the kang side and immediately began stashing them in her pockets, ¡°Why have you only found food?¡± As she stuffed her pockets and munched on the crispy twists, she muttered indistinctly with her mouth full, ¡°Lin Xia said they had all been eaten, what¡¯s all this? Such ill-intent! We shouldn¡¯t leave them a crumb!¡± Chapter 29 - 29 29 Injured ?29: Chapter 29 Injured 29: Chapter 29 Injured Lin Qiang wiped the sweat off his face irritably, ¡°Lin Yu! You just think about eating, how much are these things worth? Watch them closely!¡± Even if he found a few scarves, and each sold for three yuan, that wasn¡¯t a small amount of money. What couldn¡¯t he buy then? Seeing Lin Qiang so agitated, Lin Yu got angry too, ¡°Lin Qiang! Who the hell are you swearing at, we...¡± She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when Lin Qiang saw Lin Qiu entering through the main gate from the window, ¡°Quickly stall her!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Panic-stricken, Lin Yu dashed outside the house. Lin Qiang fumbled in a frantic attempt to restore the pile of quilts to how it was, but the more he hurried, the worse it got. As Lin Qiu walked into the center of the courtyard, she saw Lin Yu hurriedly running out from the house, her face full of panic. Lin Qiu felt certain something had happened! She was helping to stuff cotton pants on Aunt Jin¡¯s kang, and after only working for a little while, it suddenly occurred to her that the sugar cubes and other items her elder sister had brought back were all stored in the mahogany box, and those two from the Eastern House hadn¡¯t left. Could they have sneaked in to search? She hadn¡¯t thought about this before because there was nothing worth searching for in their Western House! But now things were different! What about the money-making ideas her sister mentioned, could they involve selling something? Could it all be hidden somewhere in the house? That¡¯s why she had rushed back home. Now, seeing Lin Yu like this, Lin Qiu¡¯s heart started pounding, where was Lin Qiang? Had they found something? Lin Qiu¡¯s expression changed, and she stepped past Lin Yu, planning to enter the house, but Lin Yu forcefully grabbed Lin Qiu¡¯s arm with an unnatural smile, ¡°Lin Qiu! Let¡¯s have a word!¡± ¡°I have nothing to say to you!¡± Lin Qiu strove to shake off Lin Yu. ¡°Why not!¡± Lin Yu didn¡¯t know what Lin Qiang had done inside the house, but she could only try her best to delay Lin Qiu. Impatient, Lin Qiu suddenly noticed Lin Yu¡¯s two pockets were bulging. She glared and asked, ¡°What¡¯s in your pockets?¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± Lin Yu still had some sense of shame at this point. If Lin Qiu hadn¡¯t caught her red-handed, she wouldn¡¯t have thought much about it. They were sure even if later they found out something was missing, they wouldn¡¯t dare to make a fuss. But being directly confronted by Lin Qiu, Lin Yu couldn¡¯t help but dodge her gaze and her face turned red with guilt. Lin Qiu wanted to search her pockets, but Lin Yu held out her hands to stop her from doing so. The two struggled briefly, and Lin Yu, who usually did not do much physical work, was no match for the strong Lin Qiu. In no time, Lin Qiu turned out the sugar cubes and crispy twists from Lin Yu¡¯s pockets. ¡°You¡¯re stealing!¡± Lin Qiu dashed towards the house, and Lin Yu didn¡¯t even have a chance to stop her. Overwhelmed with panic, Lin Yu only managed to shout a warning, ¡°Lin Qiu is going into the house!¡± As soon as Lin Qiu entered the house, she caught Lin Qiang red-handed rushing out from the Western House! Lin Qiu clenched her fists, her voice quivering with anger as she confronted him, ¡°Lin Qiang! What were you doing in our house? Did you steal something?¡± Her sisters weren¡¯t home, and she had failed to guard the house. If Lin Qiang had found and stolen something, how could she explain it to her sister? At first, Lin Qiang felt a bit guilty, but realizing he hadn¡¯t found anything, he roughly shoved Lin Qiu aside as she tried to block him, ¡°What stuff? What valuable things do you have that are worth stealing? I just went to have a look in your house!¡± Lin Yu also entered from outside at this moment, helping Lin Qiang to hold back Lin Qiu, ¡°Lin Qiu! What are you doing! How can you wrongly accuse someone like that!¡± ¡°Who is falsely accusing someone? The sugar cubes and whatever else in your pocket were stolen from our house! Hand them over immediately! What else have you taken!¡± Lin Qiu rarely showed such courage, all she had in her mind was to not let Lin Qiang get away, fearing he would refuse to acknowledge it if indeed something was lost. But how could she alone be a match for the physically strong Lin Qiang, and on top of that, there was Lin Yu constantly pulling at her. Amidst the scuffle, Lin Qiu felt her arm being particularly pained from Lin Qiang¡¯s strong grip before she was suddenly toppled to the ground, not knowing whether it was Lin Qiang or Lin Yu who pushed her. Lin Qiang didn¡¯t even go back to the Eastern House, but slipped away directly. Lin Yu looked at Lin Qiu lying on the ground and made a pretense of helping her up, which the red-eyed Lin Qiu pushed away, ¡°There¡¯s no need for your false kindness! Thief!¡± Lin Qiu felt her right arm in particular pain. She propped herself up with her less painful arm, grimacing with the effort, intending to go back inside the Western House to see how everything had been turned upside down, Seeing Lin Qiang leave, Lin Yu gained confidence, ¡°Lin Qiu! Who are you calling a thief? You¡¯re the thieves! Sneaking around, hiding food, harboring ill intentions!¡± Hearing Lin Yu try to turn the tables, Lin Qiu was infuriated, ¡°Lin Yu! You dare say you haven¡¯t hidden anything? Who among us went to your house to steal?¡± She never had a good impression of Lin Yu and the others, and now she felt even more that they had ulterior motives. ¡°I¡¯m not going to argue with you! We didn¡¯t steal anyway,¡± Lin Yu said defensively before heading back to the Eastern House. When Lin Qiu saw the Western House¡¯s piled-up mess and the mahogany box turned upside down, and big shoe prints on the bedstead, the tears she had been holding back finally started to flow. She thought to herself, her sister must definitely keep the valuable things with her, otherwise if Lin Qiang and the others really stole them, she would die of guilt! Why did she foolishly agree to help at Aunt Jin¡¯s today? If she hadn¡¯t gone, would this situation have been avoided? She cried while slowly picking things up, enduring the pain in her arm... Lin Qiang left the house without filching anything valuable, terribly sullen. Wandering aimlessly on the road, he just so happened to bump into two buddies he hung out with, Mangzi and Dahai. The three unemployed men went to the riverside and sat by the big green stone, shooting the breeze, with Dahai noticing Lin Qiang¡¯s distraction and irritability. He nudged Lin Qiang¡¯s shoulder and asked, ¡°Qiangzi! What¡¯s up with you?¡± Lin Qiang waved it off, ¡°Ah! It¡¯s nothing!¡± Dahai tilted his head, looking at him and thumped his chest, ¡°If there¡¯s anything, just spit it out, we¡¯re brothers, after all!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Mangzi chimed in on the side, showing a sense of loyalty. Lin Qiang was somewhat tempted, thinking that Lin Xia kept everything either at work or home. Since it wasn¡¯t at home, and definitely not at work, she must carry those things on her. So, if he had these two pals pretend to rob her, what could she, a woman, do? Then the money and scarf would be theirs, wouldn¡¯t they? But still, he needed to think this through... Lin Xia was just off work and hadn¡¯t reached home when she encountered Lin Qiu and Lin Chun walking side by side on the main street near their home. Approaching them, she saw Lin Qiu¡¯s face streaked with tears, her large almond-shaped eyes swollen from crying, while Lin Chun also looked very upset. Feeling a lurch in her heart, Lin Xia hurriedly got off her bike and asked anxiously, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Big brother! What happened?¡± What could have happened in just this morning¡¯s time? Seeing Lin Xia seemed to bring the grievance in Lin Qiu¡¯s heart to the surface again. She had already cried once when her big brother came home, and now, sobbing, she said, ¡°Sister! Lin Yu and Lin Qiang went into our house to steal things...¡± Lin Xia immediately became livid, ¡°Where are they now?¡± Lin Chun frowned deeply, ¡°When I arrived home, neither of them was there!¡± He was really furious this time, and if either of them had been home, he would have had to have a serious talk with them. How could they just waltz into someone¡¯s house and rummage through things, as if they had any right? Chapter 30 - 30 30 Mind Your Own Business ?30: Chapter 30 Mind Your Own Business 30: Chapter 30 Mind Your Own Business ¡°They¡¯ll be back!¡± Lin Xia determinedly decided to teach them a lesson, confident they would return that night, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Are you all right?¡± Her primary concern was whether her sister was injured. Xiaoqiu showed Lin Xia her arm, ¡°Sis! I¡¯m all right! It¡¯s just that my arm hurts and I can¡¯t straighten it! Big Brother said he¡¯d take me to Old Man Wang¡¯s place to have it looked at!¡± There was an Old Man Wang on Front Street who knew how to treat bruises and sprains. Lin Xia carefully pulled at Xiaoqiu¡¯s right arm to see it, but as soon as she touched her arm, Xiaoqiu winced in pain. Lin Xia¡¯s expression immediately grew somber, ¡°Then we really can¡¯t take this lightly! Let¡¯s hurry over and have it checked out!¡± As an outsider to medical issues, she was certainly not going to spot the problem; it could only get worse. ¡°Sis, Big Brother going with me is enough, you go home and have dinner with Dongzi first!¡± Lin Dong was left at home to watch the house, and Xiaoqiu didn¡¯t want to keep Lin Xia from eating. ¡°What dinner are you talking about! Let¡¯s wait until after the visit and then go home to eat together!¡± Lin Xia quickly pushed her bicycle, following closely beside Xiaoqiu and Lin Chun. Xiaoqiu walked beside Lin Xia, whispering into her ear, ¡°Sis! You didn¡¯t leave anything at home, did you?¡± The food and such being gone didn¡¯t matter much to Xiaoqiu; what she feared most was that Lin Xia might have had something valuable hidden in the house that Lin Qiang could have stolen. Lin Xia saw that her sister was crying so heartbrokenly for more than just losing some food, and she quickly shook her head, ¡°No!¡± This response greatly relieved Xiaoqiu, ¡°That¡¯s good! Sis! You don¡¯t know, I felt so guilty! I shouldn¡¯t have gone to help Gold Aunt with padding her trousers; then none of this would have happened...¡± Lin Xia consoled her, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Don¡¯t think like that, even if you hadn¡¯t gone to Gold Aunt¡¯s house, if they wanted to sneak into our house, they would have thought of another way to send you off!¡± What she pondered now was whether Lin Yu and Lin Qiang had done this because they heard there was food in their house, or if they knew about her selling scarves. ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Xiaoqiu continued, noting details as they walked, ¡°Sis! You should have seen it, they turned our house upside down... when I came back from Gold Aunt¡¯s house, Lin Yu was still in the courtyard, blocking me from entering the house... Both of her pockets were stuffed with sugar pieces and other stuff stolen from our house, which I found out when I frisked her, and just as I entered the house, I caught Lin Qiang right at the door...¡± Lin Xia was both angry and anxious but still managed to advise softly, ¡°Xiaoqiu, if something like this happens again, don¡¯t confront them directly; remember, nothing is more important than you!¡± If something had happened to Xiaoqiu because of this, she would have regretted it forever. Xiaoqiu glanced around the empty street and whispered, ¡°Sis! I know! But I was really scared at the time, you said you were making money, and I thought you might have hidden something at home. I was afraid they might find it...¡± Guilty feelings rose in Lin Xia¡¯s heart; she should have told Xiaoqiu sooner about selling the scarves, but there were some things she couldn¡¯t tell them everything about. Lin Xia whispered to her, ¡°Xiaoqiu! I¡¯ve been selling some scarves! But they were all sold out yesterday!¡± ¡°Sis! Really? You¡¯re amazing!¡± Xiaoqiu¡¯s eyes filled with admiration as she asked in a hushed voice, ¡°Sis, are you going to sell them again?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll get some more in a few days!¡± Lin Xia quietly responded while glancing at Lin Chun, who was walking with a tense face beside them. When they arrived at Old Man Wang¡¯s house, they caught him just after dinner; Mrs. Wang was washing dishes in the kitchen. Old Man Wang was a kind man; he let the three siblings into the inner room and examined Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm, saying it was a dislocation, and fixed it with a couple of moves. However, Xiaoqiu still grimaced in pain, and Lin Xia hurried to comfort her. Lin Chun quickly asked, ¡°Old Man Wang, what should we do after this?¡± The Old Man, wiping his hands, instructed them, ¡°Take care of it. Rest it for about ten days to half a month, don¡¯t strain it, and avoid heavy work. ¡°This is the first time, so you must take it seriously and heal it properly; otherwise, if the dislocation recurs, it won¡¯t be easy to deal with. If it hurts a lot, buy some painkillers to take...¡± ¡°Thank you, Old Man Wang!¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to thank! We are neighbors, after all!¡± As Lin Xia left, she tried to give Old Wang one yuan for the consultation fee, but he pushed it back, ¡°Lin Xia! What are you doing? I don¡¯t want it!¡± The two argued their way outside, and Lin Xia forcefully stuffed the money into his hand, then turned to leave, ¡°Old Wang! This is for you to buy a drink!¡± Times were tough for everyone then, and she knew the old man enjoyed drinking. Old Wang had no choice but to accept, as he waved goodbye, ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll keep it then. If there¡¯s anything else, come over!¡± Upon returning home, Lin Dong had just seen them walk through the gate from the front door, and he ran out from the house. ¡°How¡¯s my second sister? What did Old Wang say?¡± Lin Qiu shook her head, ¡°Nothing serious!¡± She didn¡¯t want to worry them because of her. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Everyone inside! We¡¯ll talk inside!¡± Lin Xia knew they all had things to discuss, but the yard was clearly not the place. Once inside the Western House, none of them felt like touching the food laid out on the table. ¡°They have gone too far!¡± Lin Dong clenched his fists, ¡°Stealing and even injuring my second sister, big brother, big sister, we can¡¯t just let this slide!¡± If they let this go lightly this time, they would surely become more aggressive. ¡°Of course!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s eyes showed determination. She calmly looked at Lin Chun and said, ¡°Big brother! After you finish your meal, go to Sister Hongmei¡¯s house and tell her on my behalf to ask for a leave; I¡¯ll stay home with Xiaoxia!¡± ¡°Sis! It¡¯s not necessary! I¡¯ll be fine at home by myself!¡± Lin Qiu quickly said. ¡°No need for ¡®it¡¯s not necessary¡¯! Big brother! Just go later! If Sister Hongmei leaves for work again...¡± Lin Chun was also worried about Lin Qiu staying at home alone, but he thought Lin Xia¡¯s decision was unwise, so he made a suggestion to her, ¡°Xiaoxia! Why don¡¯t I take the leave instead? You just started work today!¡± The big sister had already taken quite a few leaves this month, continuing this way, her supervisors at work would definitely have concerns. Besides, what if Lin Qiang came back, and she impulsively got herself into trouble again? ¡°It¡¯s okay! Big brother! I¡¯ll stay home!¡± Lin Xia was unusually resolute, knowing her big brother¡¯s presence at home wouldn¡¯t help! With the situation as it was, merely exchanging insults made no sense; she needed to make them suffer! Lin Chun still disagreed, ¡°Xiaoxia ah! Why are you so stubborn? Can¡¯t you just listen to me once? If Lin Qiang comes back, what can you and Xiaoxia, two women, do to him? If he starts acting tough again, who can match him?¡± He felt more and more that he couldn¡¯t handle his big sister! Lin Xia lied without changing her expression, ¡°Big brother! You are mistaken! I¡¯m not staying home to fight with Lin Qiang! Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm got twisted but is fine now, although she still needs to heal properly! She can¡¯t do much; I¡¯ll help her with the chores, and later I¡¯ll go buy her some medicine!¡± Lin Chun finally couldn¡¯t override Lin Xia, he hastily swallowed a bite of his meal, and rushed to Yu Hongmei¡¯s house. After Lin Chun left, Lin Dong, who had been silent on the side, asked Lin Xia, ¡°Big sister, will you and second sister be alright staying at home? Otherwise, I won¡¯t go to school this afternoon either.¡± He didn¡¯t know whether his big brother believed all that, but he certainly hadn¡¯t fully believed it. If his big sister before the illness, he¡¯d believe; but this big sister who had changed after being ill, he definitely didn¡¯t believe she would do nothing. Just in case, if she really fought with Lin Qiang, after all, he was a man with quite a bit of strength! Chapter 31 - 31 31 Retaliation ?31: Chapter 31 Retaliation 31: Chapter 31 Retaliation How could Lin Xia possibly agree with him not going to school? ¡°Dongzi, why are you trying to stir things up? Just go to school like you¡¯re supposed to, your second sister and I will be fine at home.¡± Full of curiosity, Lin Dong asked, ¡°Big sister, then how are we going to get revenge for second sister?¡± Lin Xia smacked him on the head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this matter. I¡¯ll tell you when we need you! Hurry up and eat, then head to school quick after you finish.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Lin Dong helplessly picked up his bowl and began to eat in silence. Lin Qiu felt extremely embarrassed, ¡°Big sister, you really don¡¯t need to stay home for me; I can manage on my own.¡± ¡°Xiaoqiu! Stop overthinking! Hurry up and eat!¡± Lin Xia saw that Lin Qiu¡¯s injury was on her right arm, and guessed that using chopsticks might be uncomfortable for her, so she stood up, went to the kitchen, and got her a spoon to eat with her left hand. After Lin Dong had eaten, he left for school reluctantly. When Lin Chun arrived, he was followed by Lin Aijia and her daughter Yu Hongmei. Lin Xia, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, put down what she was doing and invited them into the Western House. As soon as Lin Aijia entered the room and saw Lin Qiu sitting on the kang, she asked, ¡°Lin Qiu! Your elder brother didn¡¯t learn much at home! How did this happen? How could you mess up with the arm rings?¡± Lin Qiu roughly explained the course of events, naturally omitting the concern over valuable items in Lin Xia¡¯s possession in the room. Angered, Lin Aijia slapped Lin Qiu on the shoulder, ¡°You child! Are you crazy? If he comes into your room to mess things up, let him mess up. What valuables could possibly be in that shabby place? You, a grown girl, and him, a young man¡ªhis hands were neither light nor careful. What if something had happened? Every day, why don¡¯t you think things through...¡± Lin Qiu pursed her lips and didn¡¯t argue back. Lin Xia couldn¡¯t stand by, knowing her aunt meant no harm, but still feeling the words were harsh. ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t you and Sister Hongmei have to go to work this afternoon? You go about your business!¡± Her aunt, Lin Aijia, worked at a plywood factory not far from home. However, Lin Aijia sat down on the edge of the kang, glancing at the clock on top of the mahogany box, ¡°It¡¯s not time yet! It¡¯s different now compared to the past, you all should know better! Your mom passed away early, and no one¡¯s been there to tell you these things!¡± At this, Lin Aijia looked at Lin Chun, ¡°Lin Chun, you should go to work!¡± Lin Chun knew his aunt had something to say to his sisters, so he replied, ¡°Aunt, you sit down, I¡¯ll be off then!¡± Then he whispered a couple of instructions to Lin Xia before he left the house. Yu Hongmei, noting her mother¡¯s posture, raised an eyebrow, ¡°Lin Xia! Then I¡¯ll be off too. How should I say you¡¯re asking for leave at work?¡± She had already taken leave on Lin Xia¡¯s behalf this month, and with one person for each job, their workshop manager had not looked too pleased. But with things having come to this point, what else could be done? ¡°Sister Hongmei! Don¡¯t mention Xiaoqiu¡¯s situation, just say I¡¯m sick. Thank you for the trouble, Sister Hongmei!¡± Chagrined at the frequent inconveniences, Lin Xia considered giving Yu Hongmei a little something as a token of gratitude the next time she went to the provincial city for supplies. ¡°Alright then! Got it!¡± And with that, Yu Hongmei also left. Now, only the three of them were left in the Western House. Lin Aijia looked around the room with a helpless sigh, ¡°Lin Qiu, it¡¯s not that your aunt wants to speak unpleasantly! But look at what happened today. If Lin Yu hadn¡¯t been there, just you and Lin Qiang alone, you two aren¡¯t close, and if he had any bad intentions toward you, wouldn¡¯t your life be ruined?¡± As her aunt, she truly cared for these children, but every household had its own issues to deal with, and her elder brother was a stubborn man who was set in his ways, so she couldn¡¯t say much. Lin Xia had previously harbored such concerns, but some things she felt too awkward to voice out loud. With a wronged expression and teary eyes, Lin Qiu wiped her eyes and said, ¡°Aunt! I understand! I¡¯ll definitely be smarter from now on!¡± At the time, she hadn¡¯t thought that far; all she was concerned about was the chance that her sister might have something valuable in the room that Lin Qiang could steal. ¡°That¡¯s good! But this is just my wishful thinking, as long as you two know what you¡¯re doing!¡± Lin Aijia could only say this much. She glanced at Lin Xia next to her, ¡°Lin Xia, you and your sister should avoid Lin Qiang for the next few years. Once you¡¯ve found a husband and married off, this will all blow over...¡± Lin Aijia gave a few more warnings, then she left. When they got home, and it was just Lin Xia and Lin Qiu, Lin Qiu covered her mouth and started to cry, ¡°Sister! I really...¡± Lin Xia sat next to Lin Qiu and hugged her to offer comfort, ¡°Xiaoqiu! I know! Our aunt said those things for our good, but she doesn¡¯t understand the situation! It¡¯s not just about avoiding Lin Qiang now! ¡°Let me be frank with you, if we let this slide easily this time, who knows how he¡¯ll bully us in the future!¡± With a tear-streaked face, Lin Qiu asked, ¡°Then what do you think we should do, sister?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t worry about it! I need to think this through!¡± Lin Xia had a plan in mind, but she didn¡¯t want to share it just yet. Suddenly, Lin Qiu remembered, ¡°Sister, with my condition now, what should I do if dad comes back and wants me to go work in the soy sauce factory?¡± Lin Xia consoled her, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? When dad comes back, we¡¯ll just tell him to wait a while before you go, you need to get better before working at the soy sauce factory. Otherwise, what will we do if this causes a lasting issue with your health?¡± Lin Qiu silently nodded, but she still felt uneasy inside. Actually, because Lin Qiu was injured and couldn¡¯t go to the soy sauce factory right away, Lin Xia felt it was a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, when Lin Aiguo returned and ordered Lin Qiu to work at the soy sauce factory, she really had no idea how to stop it. If they had to force it, Lin Qiu herself would not agree. Lin Xia told Lin Qiu to lie down and take a rest inside the house while she continued washing the dishes. After tidying up and entering the room, she saw Lin Qiu sitting blankly on the kang bed, not sleeping. ¡°Xiaoqiu, what¡¯s wrong? Are you still in pain? Wait for a while, and I¡¯ll buy some painkillers for you.¡± Lin Qiu¡¯s eyes reddened again, ¡°Sister, I feel so useless.¡± The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. ¡°Why do you keep pondering over these things? Just lie down and get some sleep, you¡¯ll feel better once you wake up.¡± After being coaxed by Lin Xia, Lin Qiu finally lay down. She had been physically and mentally exhausted all day and soon fell asleep. Seeing that Lin Qiu was asleep, Lin Xia quietly left the Western House. She stood in the kitchen for a while, her emotions roiling inside her. In fact, before Aunt Lin Aijia came over, Lin Xia had already thought of some terrible consequences. She wasn¡¯t as calm as she appeared on the outside, with waves of guilt and fear raging in her heart. If something bad happened to Lin Qiu due to some changes after her resolution, Lin Xia felt like she could die of regret. So, she thought a lot. In the evening, Lin Aiguo would probably come back from the mountains. How would he deal with Lin Qiu¡¯s injury? How would Lin Yu and Lin Qiang defend themselves? Would they try to turn the tables? And what about Qian Chunli? Did she and her brother act on their own, or did they have her permission or silent approval? Based on her understanding of Lin Aiguo, he might side with that brother and sister duo, it¡¯s not certain. All these years, what had the few of them amounted to in his eyes? Not to mention Lin Qiu¡¯s dislocated arm, even if it were broken, he probably wouldn¡¯t consider it very serious, right? But, no matter how Lin Aiguo dealt with it, Lin Xia felt that maybe it was time to leave this home. This time Lin Qiu only got injured, but what about next time? Chapter 32 - 32 32 Lin Aiguo ?32: Chapter 32: Lin Aiguo 32: Chapter 32: Lin Aiguo Day and night you guard, but against a thief within the house, guard is hard! Must they be constantly on guard, unable to live peacefully even for a moment? If they really moved out, Lin Xia had confidence that Lin Qiu and Lin Dong would definitely listen to her, they would go wherever she went. But what about the eldest brother? He was so filial, could he agree to leave this home with them? Additionally, she wanted her eldest brother to go to a different place, although he hadn¡¯t given an answer yet, she could see that he really was considering it! After her big brother left, whether he could change the fate of his previous life, she couldn¡¯t guarantee either! But, as long as one tries their best in everything, there would be nothing to regret! However, if they really went to try, and in the end, didn¡¯t succeed, that would be another problem. It seemed she needed to think things over carefully, she fell into deep thought... Qian Chunli finished work at the food factory and just as she walked out the main entrance, she saw her daughter Lin Yu beside a tree, with a bicycle. Upon seeing Qian Chunli, Lin Yu happily pushed the bike up to meet her, ¡°Mom! You¡¯re finally off work! I¡¯ve been waiting for such a long time!¡± Qian Chunli felt something was amiss and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this about? Why didn¡¯t you go straight home today and instead, come here to find me?¡± Lin Yu had thought it through all afternoon, she dared not go home by herself after school. In case Lin Xia got home and found out they had sneaked into the Western House to rummage through things and had even pushed Lin Qiu over, she would definitely seek to settle accounts with them. If this were before, she wouldn¡¯t have been afraid at all! But ever since Lin Xia recovered from her illness, she had become quite malevolent, and Lin Yu felt a bit scared. However, facing her mother¡¯s question, she certainly couldn¡¯t tell the truth. ¡°Mom! Isn¡¯t it just that I wanted to meet you after work? What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t like it?¡± Qian Chunli smiled, ¡°How could I not like it! Let¡¯s get on the bikes and talk while we ride.¡± Although she tended to favor her son Lin Qiang in many things, she had always doted on her daughter Lin Yu. Lin Yu responded and followed Qian Chunli, hopping onto the bike. Neither of them needed to rush home to cook, as they would eat what was ready, so they were not riding quickly. Lin Yu talked about school for a while, but halfway through the ride, remembering the situation she might face when they got home, she felt she needed to give her mother a heads-up. ¡°Mom! Today, Lin Qiang and I, we got into a fight with Lin Qiu!¡± ¡°What?¡± Qian Chunli frowned at her, ¡°Your brother didn¡¯t hurt anyone too badly, did he? Why would he start a fight now, especially now that your dad¡¯s returning? Is he trying to make a statement?¡± She wasn¡¯t worried about her own son, since he was a strong, capable young man, not likely to come out worse off. Today, Lin Aiguo was supposed to come down from the mountain to handle some work-related matters for Lin Qiu. It would be fine normally, but it would not look good for him to see such things. No matter how much he looked down on those children, they were still his own. Lin Yu shook her head, ¡°Mom! It¡¯s just that Lin Qiu was pushed over, she should be okay!¡± At the time, it seemed to her that Lin Qiu just bruised her arms and hands a bit¡ªnothing serious, otherwise she couldn¡¯t have gotten up by herself. ¡°As long as it¡¯s nothing serious, that¡¯s okay!¡± Qian Chunli was somewhat relieved to hear that nothing serious happened and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°But what on earth were you fighting about?¡± Lin Yu hesitated, not knowing if Lin Qiang had any other plans to get back at Lin Xia, after all, they had not yet gotten hold of the scarf and money. So, it¡¯s better not to tell Mom for now, otherwise if she finds out and tells Dad, and it gets extracted from Lin Xia under pressure, wouldn¡¯t they have been busy for nothing and end up without any benefits? Lin Yu¡¯s eyes shifted as she began to exaggerate, ¡°Mom! You don¡¯t come home for lunch every day, so you wouldn¡¯t know! That Lin Xia brought back some tasty treats from a wedding out of town and sneakily hid them, eating with the others without sharing a bit with us.¡± ¡°Lin Qiang and I discovered it by accident, then Lin Qiang thought he¡¯d check what else they had in their room, but Lin Qiu caught us, and then she had to falsely accuse us of stealing, calling us thieves...¡± She said this deliberately to exonerate themselves. Qian Chunli was fuming with rage, how could her children, whom she had raised through hardship, be wronged like this! Clenching her teeth, she roared, ¡°Those brats! They¡¯re getting insolent, lawless even! That Lin Qiu really dares to speak, what does she mean by thieves? What valuable things do they have! Just wait, we¡¯ll see about that! Just as Lin Aiguo returned home, I must have a proper talk with him! How dare they label you as thieves! How much further will they bully? Once this reputation spreads, how will you ever get by?¡± Having raged her heart out, Qian Chunli began to pedal her bicycle furiously, wishing she were already home to deal with Lin Qiu, completely forgetting that her own children had pushed someone over! Lin Yu didn¡¯t expect such a vehement reaction from her mom Qian Chunli after what she had said; stunned for a moment, she quickly pedaled to catch up. ¡°Mom! Wait for me!¡± Was it wrong for her to have said that? Could it backfire? Qian Chunli arrived home furiously, like Zhang Fei charging into battle, pushed her bicycle into the yard, kicked the stand down, and stormed into the house. On her way, her mind wasn¡¯t preoccupied with anything else but how to settle the score with that little wretch Lin Qiu once she saw her! However, the person cooking in the kitchen wasn¡¯t Lin Qiu but a grim-faced Lin Xia. Lin Xia was chopping cabbage with a kitchen knife. When she saw Qian Chunli, she gave a cold smile. Qian Chunli felt suffocated, as if she couldn¡¯t breathe; she swallowed her saliva, thinking that she must remain assertive¡ªshe was in the right, so what did she have to fear? With one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Lin Xia, Qian Chunli shouted, ¡°Lin Xia! Where¡¯s your sister Lin Qiu? Huh! Call her out, you¡¯re bullying too much! Accusing my Xiaoyu and Qiangzi of being thieves! Why would you say that about us! What could we possibly steal from you?¡± It¡¯s not that she looked down on them, but what valuables could there be in that house? Lin Xia slammed the knife onto the cutting board with a clang and began to confront Qian Chunli, ¡°Who¡¯s bullying whom? Your lovely children have twisted my Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm out of socket! What are you blustering about? What false accusation! They clearly were stealing, messing our room into chaos, and they think they¡¯re in the right to beat people too?¡± She didn¡¯t know if Qian Chunli was practicing the thief shouting to catch the thief, or if Lin Yu and Lin Qiang had given her a distorted version of the events, but righteousness doesn¡¯t rely on loudness. She wasn¡¯t afraid to argue back, and if pushed too far, she was prepared to fight. At this moment, Lin Qiu heard the commotion from the Western House and came out, seeing Qian Chunli at the threshold and her sister Lin Xia standing by the large pot, the two in a standoff. Qian Chunli took the opportunity to scrutinize Lin Qiu up and down and scoffed with mockery, ¡°Yeah right! I just don¡¯t believe it! Just fell over, and now there¡¯s a dislocation? Trying to scam us, is that it?¡± Her initial reaction was to think that Lin Xia was exaggerating and lying, and now seeing Lin Qiu only solidified that thought. These kids have grown up, sprouted wings, and now they think they can defy her one by one! ¡°What are you squabbling about in there? It¡¯s loud enough to hear outside! What¡¯s all the fuss about!¡± A burly man with a buzzcut, round face, thick brows, small single-lidded eyes, thick lips, and a mouth full of yellow teeth barged in¡ªnot Lin Aiguo, who else could it be! The moment Lin Xia saw Lin Aiguo, she felt as if blood rushed to her head. Before her eyes flashed scenes from a past life: Lin Aiguo forcing Lin Qiu to marry that man and endure humiliation; Lin Aiguo adamantly refusing to let Lin Dong go to school and forcing her to work after junior high; Lin Aiguo brandishing a willow switch, lashing Lin Dong¡¯s face till it bled, and finally disfiguring her... Seeing Lin Aiguo, Lin Qiu shivered involuntarily, for he was who she feared the most; even now as an adult, those memories of being beaten and scolded were all too vivid. Chapter 33 - 33 33 The Guilty Conscience ?33: Chapter 33: The Guilty Conscience 33: Chapter 33: The Guilty Conscience As soon as Qian Chunli saw Lin Aiguo, she seemed to find support all at once, her tears instantly flowing from her eyes, ¡°Aiguo! You¡¯re finally back! If you didn¡¯t come back, we would have been bullied to death!¡± ¡°What happened now? Haven¡¯t I just been gone for two days?¡± Lin Aiguo was a bit confused; everything was fine when he came back the previous night, wasn¡¯t it? Qian Chunli cried very sadly, sobbing, ¡°Lin Qiu accused Xiaoyu and Qiangzi of being thieves! It¡¯s like gouging my heart out! What do they have that¡¯s worth stealing? They even said their arm was twisted wrongly by them! They want to force us out! Aiguo! You must stand up for the three of us!¡± ¡°What exactly is going on? Lin Qiu, isn¡¯t your arm fine? Why accuse others falsely? Are you asking for it? Spoiled, every single one of you! Today I¡¯m going to discipline you all!¡± As Lin Aiguo spoke, he looked around for something handy to use for a beating. Lin Qiu shrank back and said in a low voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t falsely accuse them! I...¡± Lin Aiguo¡¯s barrage of curses unexpectedly released Lin Xia from the grief and rage of her previous life, from which she was struggling to break free. Lin Xia looked at Lin Aiguo with a cold gaze. The current Lin Aiguo appeared much younger compared to her last memory of him, but in her heart, he was no longer worthy of being her dad. ¡°Whether it was twisted wrongly or not, Old Wang from the front street treated it. If none of you believe it, go ask him! They say if you steal needles when you¡¯re little, you¡¯ll steal gold when you¡¯re grown...¡± Qian Chunli started to believe a little. Old Wang was indeed very stubborn and not one to lie for others, but she couldn¡¯t appear weak. She directly interrupted Lin Xia, retorting, ¡°I¡¯ll of course go ask later! Lin Xia! Don¡¯t just throw around accusations of stealing! Evidence is needed for matters like these!¡± Lin Aiguo turned to Lin Xia with a glare, ¡°Lin Xia, how dare you speak to your aunt like that? I haven¡¯t even settled the scores with you yet! You¡¯ve got some nerve! Did you run off to other places after getting my approval? You dared to take leave from work without asking me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve missed several days of work; how much money did that cost? And isn¡¯t the travel expense also money? Where did you get that money? Did you perhaps sneak some from your salary? I¡¯m telling you, when you get paid this month, you¡¯re not allowed to keep a single cent. If I find out you dare to set aside any money secretly, I won¡¯t stop until I beat you dead!¡± ¡°How could I tell you when you weren¡¯t at home?¡± Lin Xia answered calmly. Her hand touched the wooden handle of the kitchen knife. She really had the urge, if Lin Aiguo dared to hit them without distinguishing right from wrong, she would fight him with her life! But thinking about how she finally had another chance at life, she shouldn¡¯t throw it away because of such a person, so she forcibly controlled herself. Qian Chunli felt uneasy as she looked at Lin Xia; for some reason, she felt as if Lin Xia truly dared to take a kitchen knife and hack at someone. But with the broad and sturdy Lin Aiguo by her side, she thought she must be overthinking it; even if Lin Xia was malicious or excessively domineering, would she dare to confront her own father? Besides, her small frame was no match in a fight. Lin Aiguo also sensed something was off with his eldest daughter, who would usually not show her smoke without fire; the look in her eyes was completely strange and cold, as if she had become a different person. Normally, at this point after his tirade, she would have scampered off to do whatever she was supposed to do. Just then, Lin Yu came into the house, gasping for air. She was taken aback when she saw the people standing in the kitchen. Qian Chunli grabbed Lin Yu¡¯s hand, ¡°Xiaoyu ah! Just in time for your dad¡¯s return, tell him how Lin Qiu framed you guys!¡± Lin Yu hesitated, not daring to make eye contact with her sisters Lin Qiu; she looked towards the stove, ¡°Lin Qiu, she...she accused us of being thieves! Qiangzi just went in to have a look; he didn¡¯t take anything! And what¡¯s there to take from their place anyway?¡± Facing the current scene, Lin Yu truly regretted her words until her guts almost turned green. After speaking those words and seeing her mother¡¯s fierce reaction, she felt things were not going well. Then she kept chasing after them, thinking of saying something to smooth things over. Who would have thought, halfway through, her bike chain fell off. She had no choice but to find a stick to fix it herself. By the time she had fixed it and arrived at the front gate, just catching her breath, she heard the arguing coming from inside the house. Qian Chunli raised her chin triumphantly, ¡°Aiguo, you heard it, right? This is how Lin Qiu slanders Xiaoyu and the others! If the reputation of being thieves spreads, how are we supposed to face anyone?¡± Now it¡¯s my turn to ask you, Lin Qiu! Why are you framing my Qiangzi and the others as thieves! What valuable things could possibly be stolen from your house?¡± Lin Xia replied coldly, ¡°What do you mean by slander? If you did nothing, then how did Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm get dislocated? Could she have done it to herself on purpose? Lin Yu! Do you dare say you didn¡¯t enter the Western House, didn¡¯t rummage through things? Well then, let the one lying be struck by lightning!¡± Lin Yu didn¡¯t dare say she hadn¡¯t done those things, she could only try to defend herself, ¡°Qiangzi just went into the house to look around, he didn¡¯t do anything! Lin Qiu insisted on blocking Qiangzi¡¯s way and wouldn¡¯t let him go, so of course, I had to try and persuade. Then who knew how Lin Qiu ended up dislocating her arm...¡± By the end of it, she felt truly wronged. She hadn¡¯t applied much force at all, just a push and it dislocated? That¡¯s pretty unbelievable! However, her and Lin Qiang¡¯s intent to search the house for the scarves and money that Lin Xia sold, she was secretly glad right now that she hadn¡¯t told her mom, otherwise, based on her dad¡¯s temperament, he would have already been pressing Lin Xia for answers. In that case, what would she and Lin Qiang stand to gain? Lin Qiu stood beside Lin Xia, angry at the words Lin Yu had said, but faced with Qian Chunli¡¯s harsh questioning and her father Lin Aiguo¡¯s dark expression, some things she just couldn¡¯t say. She couldn¡¯t possibly say that she was worried that her sister had left something valuable in the house, which Lin Qiang might find and steal, could she? How could Lin Xia not know what Lin Qiu was thinking, she encouraged her, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Just talk about what happened! We just need to clear up what happened at that time, so no one can make mistakes and still have the audacity to complain!¡± As for Lin Qiu¡¯s worries, they could be left unsaid. Lin Qiu understood Lin Xia¡¯s intention and felt immediately relieved. Just as she was about to speak, Qian Chunli beat her to it. ¡°Lin Xia! What are you trying to say? If we have no grounds to complain, then why are we scared? If we are right, why should we fear?¡± Qian Chunli was truly furious. Clearly, her children were being wronged, and yet Lin Xia dared to speak like that! She began to wipe tears, tugging on Lin Aiguo¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Aiguo! Listen to this! This is your good daughter, she is so audacious when you¡¯re not at home...¡± Lin Qiu was extremely angry. How could this old woman so blatantly distort the truth? Lin Xia looked coldly at Qian Chunli¡¯s performance. She really dared! This time, without waiting for the dark-faced Lin Aiguo to say anything, Lin Xia¡¯s question came sharply, ¡°What audacity do I have? Let¡¯s speak with reason! If you¡¯re right, why won¡¯t you let others speak? Are you afraid that Xiaoqiu will reveal the truth, feeling guilty?¡± Qian Chunli shouted back fiercely, ¡°Who says we¡¯re guilty? Go on, Lin Qiu! I want to hear what you have to say!¡± She was determined to have Lin Aiguo severely discipline these few brats today, to teach them a lesson they wouldn¡¯t forget. Chapter 34 - 34 34 Why ?34: Chapter 34 Why 34: Chapter 34 Why Lin Yu clutched her sleeves in distress, wondering when Lin Qiang would return¡ªthey hadn¡¯t even seen each other¡¯s faces, and things could go terribly wrong soon. Just as this thought flashed through her mind, Lin Qiang returned. Upon seeing Lin Qiang, Qian Chunli grabbed his arm and urgently said, ¡°Qiangzi! You¡¯ve come back just in time. You have to hear how Lin Qiu falsely accused us, learn from your father!¡± Lin Qiang could hear the noisy arguments from afar, and when he caught the sounds made by his mom, he instinctively thought Lin Xia was fighting with her so he grabbed a stick in the yard before heading inside. Now, upon entering the house, this was the scene that greeted him. He was confused. What was all this about? Lin Yu quickly gave him a look, ¡°Qiangzi! At that time, Lin Qiu falsely accused the two of us of being thieves! Now she¡¯s even saying we twisted her arm around...¡± Understanding the hint from Lin Yu, Lin Qiang was surprised and hurriedly explained, ¡°How could it get twisted? Dad, I only pushed her a bit; it couldn¡¯t have been that serious!¡± He really didn¡¯t think he had used much force. Lin Aiguo looked at them, then at Lin Qiu, and impatiently waved his hand, ¡°Lin Qiu, you tell us, what exactly happened?¡± Lin Xia looked at Lin Qiu and nodded gently, ¡°Xiaoqiu! You say it!¡± Facing her dad, Lin Qiu instinctively shrank her shoulders. Even if she was scared, she had to stand firm now, ¡°Lin... Lin Yu and Lin Qiang took advantage of my trip to Aunt Jin¡¯s to stuff cotton pants, and they sneaked into our room to rummage through things. When I returned from Aunt Jin¡¯s place, Lin Yu wouldn¡¯t let me into the house and insisted on blocking me. Then I found sugar cubes and crunchy twists in Lin Yu¡¯s pocket... When I ran inside, I just happened to catch Lin Qiang at the door of the Western House... Then they both fought with me... They pushed me to the ground, and my arm hurt so much I couldn¡¯t bend it... Later, I went to Old Wang¡¯s house and found out it was dislocated...¡± Qian Chunli looked at Lin Yu and Lin Qiang and noticed their guilty expressions, so what Lin Qiu said must be the truth! She was furious inside, how could they be so greedy! But now, in front of Lin Aiguo, even if they had to be shameless, they absolutely couldn¡¯t admit it! What angered her even more was Lin Qiu and her siblings¡ªwas it just for some food, and they had gone as far as to call someone a thief? ¡°Aiguo! You listen! Did you hear all that? Aren¡¯t we one family? Do we even have to say mine and yours when it comes to eating a bit of food? How can you call it stealing?¡± Lin Xia scoffed, ¡°How can it not count? Then we might as well go into your room and take whatever we find!¡± She thought of her cut-up clothes and a smile flickered across her lips. Qian Chunli blurted out, ¡°How could that work! That¡¯s not the same thing at all!¡± Realizing what she had said, she quickly shifted her gaze, trying to cover up, ¡°Aiguo, look, there¡¯s still money in Lin Xia¡¯s pocket. She even gives money when visiting others out of town, those sugar cubes, and crunchy twists aren¡¯t cheap either!¡± She latched onto the issue of Lin Xia hiding money, hoping it would result in a punishment for her. ¡°Sis! I...¡± Lin Qiu immediately tensed and bit her lip hard. It was her fault for her inability to articulate well, and now Chunli had caught onto a point that could get her sister in trouble with their father! Unperturbed, Lin Xia patted Lin Qiu on the shoulder, calmly reassuring her, ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± She had anticipated that Chunli might zero in on this issue. Lin Aiguo, not caring about Lin Qiu¡¯s injuries at all, was now only focused on one thing¡ªexactly how much money Lin Xia had hidden. He stormed up to Lin Xia, his face full of rage, pointed at her, and shouted, ¡°Lin Xia, how much money have you hidden? Hand it all over now! Otherwise, I¡¯ll tell you, you won¡¯t escape a beating today!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s hand gripped the handle of the kitchen knife as she sneered, ¡°Not a single cent! What I ate was given to me by a friend!¡± Qian Chunli pursed her lips at the side, ¡°Wow! Lin Xia! You¡¯re making up such nonsense, who would believe that your friends just hand you sugar lumps and crunchy twists like that!¡± Lin Xia responded quickly, ¡°You might not believe it, but others might! Besides, those sugar lumps and stuff aren¡¯t worth much. We hand over our entire salaries to the family each month, leaving us with only a little change. Not like you, who can still save up quite a bit from your salary each month!¡± The valuable canned meat had been eaten, she had nothing else to worry about. Lin Qiang and Lin Yu glared at Lin Xia for blatantly lying, but they ultimately held back, not openly bringing up how she had sold a scarf for three yuan. At this point, resisting the urge to argue wasn¡¯t just about not gaining anything from it; it would also make it easy for Lin Xia to confirm their true intentions for going into the Western House! They would truly be seen as thieves then! Qian Chunli was so angry she could almost see smoke coming from her head, she had a belly full of grievances about this issue. With Lin Aiguo, who had come into the picture later, not all of his salary was handed over to her; he only gave her just enough for the household expenses. What was wrong with her saving her own money? Would she not need money when she gets her daughter married off or finds a bride for her son? Upon reflection, Lin Aiguo realized there was truth to it. Lin Chun and Lin Xia kept a small amount of money from their salaries, handing over the rest each month to him, while Qian Chunli, apart from her own earnings, also received household money from him every month. Thinking about this made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. After all, Lin Aiguo was a rather petty man. But he was still a proud man, could he really bring himself to say these things aloud? Seeing a change in Lin Aiguo¡¯s expression, Qian Chunli quickly made a pitiful face, ¡°Aiguo! Look... Lin Xia doesn¡¯t respect me as her elder at all! These past years of washing and cleaning are like serving for nothing...¡± She dared not continue hammering on about the money issue; she was also afraid that if things escalated, Lin Aiguo might get upset and reduce the household money later! ¡°What have you done for us? It¡¯s more like we¡¯ve been serving you!¡± Lin Xia found it utterly ridiculous, ¡°In the few years since you entered this house, haven¡¯t we done all the chores? Have you done any chores like chopping firewood, making fires, or tending to the fields? Don¡¯t you just eat what¡¯s ready, then leave dishes without even washing them? We¡¯ve only stopped short of washing your underwear for you.¡± Qian Chunli couldn¡¯t refute Lin Xia¡¯s accusations, but she wasn¡¯t the type to easily run out of moves; She slapped her thigh and called out to Lin Aiguo passionately, ¡°Aiguo! I married into your Lin family, these years I may not have contributed much but I¡¯ve endured a lot. Now why do I get treated like this by Lin Xia, and Xiaoyu and Qiangzi are being called thieves by Lin Qiu, if we can¡¯t stay in this house, then I¡¯ll just take Qiangzi and Xiaoyu and leave, that¡¯ll be fine!¡± Lin Qiang and Lin Yu hurriedly supported Qian Chunli from each side, showing a united front. Lin Aiguo quickly held back Qian Chunli, ¡°What are you doing?¡± His face tense as he pointed at Lin Xia and scolded, ¡°Lin Xia! Have you no respect for elders and juniors? Apologize to your aunt right now!¡± He obviously couldn¡¯t let Lin Xia keep causing trouble. Qian Chunli smirked triumphantly, she knew that this tactic would compel Lin Aiguo to rein them in. Lin Xia kept a cold face, ¡°Why should I apologize? I¡¯m telling the truth! Besides, it was clearly them who rummaged through the house and even injured Xiaoqiu! And they think they are in the right?¡± She would die before she apologized to Qian Chunli! Qian Chunli glared at Lin Xia angrily, this kid being sharp-tongued, she really wanted to smack her hard. She then feigned a demure expression at the side, ¡°Aiguo! There¡¯s no need to insist, we don¡¯t need an apology from them! We¡¯re all family, let¡¯s just forget about it...¡± Then she added with a pout, ¡°But what do you mean by getting injured? It wasn¡¯t on purpose, who told Lin Qiu to tussle with Qiangzi and the others like that? Besides, was that mistake even a big deal? Once it¡¯s fixed, there¡¯s no harm done...¡± Chapter 35 - 35 35 Shameless ?35: Chapter 35 Shameless 35: Chapter 35 Shameless Lin Xia¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with anger as she spoke through clenched teeth, ¡°If a dislocated bone is not a big deal, then I should just dislocate the arms of Lin Yu and Lin Qiang and reattach them!¡± She actually harbored such thoughts, wanting them to experience the same pain! Lin Qiang and Lin Yu glared at Lin Xia furiously, while Qian Chunli was so angry that veins bulged on her forehead as she slapped her thigh, ¡°Oh my goodness! Aiguo! Look at what your daughter is saying! How cruel is her heart... We really can¡¯t stay in this house any longer...¡± In Lin Aiguo¡¯s heart, Lin Qiu¡¯s bone dislocation was not a big deal. From the moment he entered, he had taken a dislike to Lin Xia, and now seeing her unyielding and sharp-tongued, he immediately turned hostile, ¡°Have you gone mad! I am not dead yet! Do my words no longer carry weight? Hurry up and apologize to your aunt and the others! Don¡¯t go looking for trouble day by day, and a dislocated bone is now a big deal? And you, Lin Qiu, you better quickly apologize to your aunt and Lin Yu and Lin Qiang! Tomorrow, you are going to work at the soybean paste factory!¡± He felt extremely agitated; why did his rare visit home have to include settling their disputes! Not one of them was making his life easier! Seeing Qian Chunli and her daughters smirking across from her, Lin Qiu bit her lower lip, unable to bring herself to apologize... Lin Xia also stared fiercely at Qian Chunli and her group; she was resolutely not going to apologize! Why should they be the ones to apologize? If they apologized, wouldn¡¯t Lin Qiu¡¯s suffering be in vain? But what she needed to say now was something else, ¡°Xiaoqiu can¡¯t go to work now! Doctor Wang said her arm needs to recover! It will take at least ten to fifteen days!¡± Lin Xia would under no circumstances let Lin Qiu start working at the soybean paste factory immediately! Lin Qiu anxiously tugged at Lin Xia¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Sis! Don¡¯t... I can go.¡± She didn¡¯t want to anger her father because of this. If he wanted her to go, she would, even if it meant working with one arm! Right now, both her older and younger brothers were not back home, and Qian Chunli and her daughters would love to see them blamed; could they still hold out? She was worried it would end badly for them. ¡°Don¡¯t say a word!¡± Lin Xia commanded Lin Qiu, determined not to let her apologize or go to the soybean paste factory, even if it meant causing a scene. ¡°Lin Xia! Who are you trying to forcefully argue with! I can still handle you!¡± Lin Aiguo was beside himself with rage, moving to hit Lin Xia as he spoke. Lin Xia tilted her head back, staring at Lin Aiguo, her hand already touching the kitchen knife. She had decided, if Lin Aiguo dared to hit her, she would dare to chop him! Lin Qiu quickly stepped in front of Lin Xia, ¡°Dad! If you¡¯re going to hit someone, hit me!¡± She couldn¡¯t let her sister be hit. The whole incident had started because of her. If she hadn¡¯t accused Lin Qiang and Lin Yu of stealing, things wouldn¡¯t have escalated to this point! Lin Xia pushed her, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Get out of the way!¡± Just then, Lin Chun and Lin Dong, the brothers, ran inside. They heard the arguing in their home before they even entered the yard. Neighbors from nearby, including two other households, stood outside the front gate peering into their yard. Seeing that their dad was at home and about to hit someone, Lin Chun hurriedly made his way to Lin Xia and Lin Qiu, attempting to stop Lin Aiguo with his arms. ¡°Dad! Let¡¯s talk this out calmly! Don¡¯t resort to violence!¡± Lin Dong, carrying his backpack, also ran up to the Lin sisters, not speaking, but glaring angrily at Qian Chunli and her daughters. Lin Aiguo¡¯s arm was tightly gripped by Lin Chun, who furiously retorted, ¡°Lin Chun! You better back off! Do you have a say when I¡¯m disciplining Lin Xia? Otherwise, I¡¯ll beat you too!¡± Why was everyone opposing him now? They truly didn¡¯t regard him as a father. Lin Chun, usually obedient and respectful, couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, a chill running through his heart, Actually, all afternoon at his unit, he hadn¡¯t thought of anything else, just worried about what might happen to Lin Xia and Lin Qiu at home. After work, he hurried home, only to arrive just in time to witness the fight. Lin Aiguo, with his neck stiff, cursed, ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I hit them? It¡¯s just some food, does that even count as stealing? Why keep nagging about this? Couldn¡¯t the problem just be solved by going to old Wang? Is it even a big deal? I went through so much trouble and spent money to secure that job, and so many people are waiting. Who are you to delay? Lin Chun, move aside!¡± These brats think jobs are easy to come by like cabbages and turnips? He painstakingly secured a quota, and they still don¡¯t appreciate it! They really deserve a beating; their hides are too thick!¡± Lin Chun forcefully grabbed Lin Aiguo¡¯s arm, ¡°I won¡¯t move! Dad! If you need to hit someone, hit me! Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm needs to heal before she can work. Dad! Please just talk things over nicely!¡± ¡°You¡¯re all so spoiled...¡± Lin Aiguo, infuriated, lifted his foot to kick Lin Chun, he was really beside himself with anger! ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hit my big brother!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, she rushed forward, but was held back by Lin Qiu and Lin Dong... Outside the Lin family¡¯s front door, four or five neighbors gathered around to watch the commotion, including Jin Auntie and her husband from next door. Someone asked, ¡°What¡¯s the Lin family fighting about now?¡± ¡°Who knows! But all I can hear aside from old Lin yelling, is that stepmom¡¯s noise, and isn¡¯t that Lin Xia¡¯s voice? That girl has become quite sharp-tongued... Hey Jin Auntie, you live closer, do you know what¡¯s happening?¡± the neighbor asked earnestly. Jin Auntie peered towards the house, ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure what¡¯s happening, but earlier today Lin Qiu came to my house to help, and when she went back home, I heard something about those two brought by the stepmom stealing something! Maybe they were caught red-handed... Later, Lin Qiu¡¯s arm got hurt, so she had to go to old Wang¡¯s in the front street...¡± The neighbor slapped his thigh, ¡°Oh my God! How could this happen!¡± ¡°Exactly! What kind of people are they? Stealing and then hitting someone when caught?¡± While they were all talking, it sounded like the fighting inside the house intensified. Jin Auntie quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s help break up the fight!¡± Jin Uncle nodded, ¡°Right!¡± ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s prevent any serious harm!¡± The curious neighbors were eager to help, following them into the courtyard. Inside the house, Lin Aiguo¡¯s arm was grabbed by Lin Chun as he kicked at Lin Chun. Lin Xia, furious enough to take on Lin Aiguo, broke free from Lin Qiu and Lin Dong to grab a kitchen knife, but Lin Dong forcefully held her around the waist. Lin Xia struggled angrily, bellowing, ¡°Lin Dong! Let me go!¡± ¡°Big sister! I won¡¯t let go!¡± Lin Dong managed to drag Lin Xia out into the yard, Lin Xia, eyes full of rage, said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see big brother is getting beaten? Let me go!¡± She would rather take the blows herself than see her big brother hurt! ¡°Could you, a woman, not step forward, please?¡± He was terrified the moment his big sister went for the kitchen knife! Fortunately, he and his second sister quickly intervened. If she really grabbed the kitchen knife and fought their father, how would they continue to live in this house? How could they face people with such a bad reputation? Jin Auntie and the others hurried over, ¡°Lin Xia! Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine! Jin Auntie!¡± Lin Xia replied, turning her head fiercely to rebuke Lin Dong, ¡°Let me go! You let me...¡± Ultimately, she was a frail woman and no match for Lin Dong, a robust young man. Chapter 36 - 36 36 Leaving ?36: Chapter 36 Leaving 36: Chapter 36 Leaving ¡°I won¡¯t let go! Big sister, can you just listen to me this once?¡± Lin Dong had decided, especially in front of the neighbors, he couldn¡¯t allow his elder sister to do anything out of line, lest the spit from the neighbors¡¯ gossip could drown her. Their stalemate continued, and Lin Qiu, still in the kitchen, reached out her arms trying to hold back Lin Aiguo and Lin Chun, but she couldn¡¯t get close enough. She sobbed, ¡°Dad! Isn¡¯t it enough that I¡¯ll obey? I¡¯ll apologize to them; I¡¯ll go to the soy sauce factory tomorrow, please don¡¯t beat up my big brother and sister!¡± The words of Lin Qiu, at that moment, how could Lin Aiguo listen? His head was filled with only one thought¡ªhe had to subdue that brat Lin Xia! ¡°Get the hell out of my way!¡± Lin Aiguo glared, kicking Lin Chun several times, but he stubbornly refused to let go. Seeing Lin Xia and the others leave the house, with a twist of his body, he tried to follow, but Lin Chun grabbed him again. Lin Chun shouted loudly, ¡°Dad!¡± At the same time, he took another harsh kick to his leg. Gasping for breath, Lin Aiguo pointed directly at Lin Chun¡¯s nose and scolded, ¡°So, you think you¡¯ve grown strong, Lin Chun? Now you dare to defy me like this?¡± His eldest son was full of strength, resisting him so that it was no small conflict! Seizing the moment when Lin Chun let go, trying to explain, Lin Aiguo managed to get outside, and he shouted at Lin Xia, ¡°I don¡¯t care what it takes; I must beat some sense into you today!¡± After cursing, Lin Aiguo noticed that there were still outsiders in the courtyard. In front of the neighbors, he somewhat reined in his furious rage, ¡°Every single one of you is a damn headache!¡± Qian Chunli and her daughters had followed outside as well, standing under the eaves like spectators. Lin Qiang and Lin Yu exchanged gleeful looks and small gestures, to the delight of the disaster at hand. Qian Chunli, noticing there were still neighbors by the door, hesitated about whether she should go up and pull them apart. Aunt Jin approached Lin Chun and shielded him behind her, ¡°Old Lin, what in the world are you doing? The kids are already so big. If they make mistakes, they should be criticized and taught, not beaten!¡± ¡°Aunt Jin, it really isn¡¯t about beating for the sake of it, but just look at this situation,¡± spat Lin Aiguo on the ground, ¡°I told them to apologize to their aunt and everyone, but does any of them listen to me?¡± ¡°This is clearly... how can we...¡± Lin Chun found himself at a loss for words, how did all the wrongs end up being their fault? Lin Xia glared at Lin Aiguo with anger, ¡°We did nothing wrong! Why should we apologize? It was clearly they who stole things, and it was they who caused Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm injury! Why should we be the ones to apologize in the end! Is there no justice?¡± If it weren¡¯t for Lin Dong holding onto her waist tightly, refusing to let go, she would have truly wanted to fight Lin Aiguo. Seeing Lin Xia outspokenly declare the entire incident in front of all the neighbors present, allowing them to hear everything firsthand which might affect how they talk behind their backs, Lin Aiguo became even more infuriated. Pointing at Lin Xia, he burst into a tirade, ¡°Look at you, still calling it ¡®stealing¡¯ at every turn. We¡¯re all family; does borrowing some food count as stealing? Is it not right for me to ask you to apologize? You think you¡¯re tough now? Do you defy me, the law of the land?¡± Lin Xia stood defiantly, her eyes full of resistance. Lin Dong held onto her waist tightly, not daring to relax for a second. It was only then that Qian Chunli stepped forward to mediate, ¡°Aiguo, please calm down. Why not let it go, we¡¯re all family here. Since I am the eldest, I should not be petty with these younger ones... after all, Xiaoyu and Qiangzi are also very generous kids...¡± Lin Aiguo¡¯s demeanor softened a bit but remained resolute, ¡°That¡¯s not acceptable! You must apologize to them! Otherwise, don¡¯t even think about staying in this house! Day by day, you don¡¯t even know the first thing about respect, you clueless good-for-nothings!¡± Qian Chunli dabbed the corners of her eyes, sighing with self-pity, ¡°Alas! Who made me the stepmother, not the real mother, it¡¯s never enough! If it were their real mother, this definitely wouldn¡¯t happen...¡± The neighbors like Aunt Jin sneered disdainfully; Qian Chunli was indeed quite the actress. They lived nearby, everyone knew everyone! Lin Aiguo couldn¡¯t help but seethe with anger at the mention of Yu Wanhua, ¡°Don¡¯t talk about that damn old woman! Bad luck!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s mind was no longer capable of staying calm; the memories that made her teeth grind in hatred were swirling before her eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare speak ill of my mom! What right do you have to talk about her! She passed away less than a month ago, and you two were already together! You must have been fooling around even before! You think we don¡¯t know?¡± Hearing the words his older sister blurted out, Lin Chun¡¯s eyes filled with sorrow; he was older than Lin Xia and the others, so he understood some things even more clearly. ¡°Who are you calling shameless! What do you know! I¡¯m going to beat you today, you unfilial thing!¡± Lin Aiguo was truly enraged. The accusations Lin Xia hurled in front of strangers completely stripped away his dignity; he looked around for something handy to hit her with. Lin Chun hurriedly held him back, preventing him from finding the chance to strike! Lin Xia showed no sign of backing down, ¡°Go ahead! Beat me to death...¡± Lin Dong hurried to cover Lin Xia¡¯s mouth, but once he let go, Lin Xia broke free, ¡°Then don¡¯t expect to have it easy afterward!¡± Lin Aiguo, infuriated to the point of wishing he could kill her, could do nothing because Lin Chun was holding him back. All he could do was yell hoarsely, ¡°Get the hell out of here! This family has no room for you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave, you think I even want to stay in this broken home!¡± Lin Xia was indeed determined, she had deliberately confronted Lin Aiguo! No matter how the incident unfolded, Lin Aiguo didn¡¯t even discuss it with Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, yet he demanded that they apologize to him. Why should they? She really didn¡¯t want Lin Qiu and the others to stay in this family any longer; this was the perfect opportunity to break off and leave. Otherwise, the end result might very well be Lin Qiu compromising and going to work at the soy sauce factory tomorrow, and the rest of them subsequently having to live with their tails between their legs. Neither option was what she wanted! ¡°Good riddance! Get the fuck out! If you starve to death, don¡¯t even think about stepping foot in my house again!¡± While Lin Chun held back the enraged Lin Aiguo, he shouted at Lin Xia, ¡°Lin Xia! What are you trying to do? Dad is just speaking out of anger, why are you being so stubborn!¡± Even if their dad told them to leave, they couldn¡¯t just go. If they left, where would they go? Aunt Jin also hurried to advise, ¡°Lin Xia, you can¡¯t talk back to your dad like that! Say something soft and smooth things over, apologize to your dad!¡± Although she knew that old man Lin was unfair and that stepmother wasn¡¯t any easy character, where could they go after leaving their home late at night? But Lin Xia didn¡¯t care what anyone else said; she was determined to stick to her decision, she said vehemently, ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s not that I want to be stubborn. Can¡¯t you see it now? He considers those few his family now. What are we in his eyes? Mom was with him for so many years, and after her death, not a single good word...¡± ¡°Let her get the hell out of here! Quick! Who¡¯s going to stop her? Whoever does can leave with her; getting a bit too cocky, all of you, I raised you for nothing...¡± Lin Aiguo cursed while trying to hit Lin Xia. Seeing this, Lin Chun had no choice but to shout, ¡°Lin Xia! Can you stop talking for a moment! What¡¯s gotten into you today?¡± He really couldn¡¯t understand why his older sister had become like this! Chapter 37 - 37 37 Fooling Around ?37: Chapter 37: Fooling Around 37: Chapter 37: Fooling Around Lin Xia called to Lin Chun, ¡°Big brother! This family can no longer accommodate us! Let¡¯s leave together!¡± Lin Chun tightly embraced the angrily throbbing Lin Aiguo, ¡°If you want to leave then go! I can¡¯t!¡± He had to stay to properly console their father. What if they all left like this, how could they ever come back? Lin Qiu and Lin Dong looked at each other, with the big brother not leaving, they had to stand by their eldest sister¡¯s side. Lin Dong took Lin Xia¡¯s hand, ¡°Big sister, we¡¯ll go with you!¡± This family, void of fairness, filled only with fights and scolding, he truly didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. Lin Qiu also wiped her tears and echoed, ¡°Yes! Sister! We will follow you!¡± Since things had escalated to this point, it was impossible for them to back down. Although she was bewildered about what to do after leaving home, she knew, as long as her elder sister, brother, and younger brother were with her, wherever they went, that place would be home! ¡°Alright! Then let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Xia decisively led Lin Qiu and Lin Dong toward the front door. Jin Auntie and the others, seeing the situation escalate to this, didn¡¯t even know how to start persuading them. Lin Aiguo¡¯s eyes bulged, watching his three children turn and leave, he cursed angrily, ¡°If you walk out of this door, don¡¯t ever think of coming back!¡± Lin Xia, gripping her sister and brother¡¯s hands, didn¡¯t look back at all. Lin Qiu and Lin Dong looked back at the people in the yard, then at Lin Aiguo who Lin Chun had let go, and quickly turned their heads not to look at him again. Qian Chunli and her daughters were shocked at everything unfolding, none of them could have predicted it would end up like this! But they also felt relieved at the same time, with three gone only one remained, now the home would truly become theirs! It would be best if once they left, they never came back at all! Even if Qian Chunli was jubilant inside, she couldn¡¯t show it outwardly; her eyes reddened as she stepped forward a few paces, ¡°Aiguo! It¡¯s all our fault! Shall I go and chase them back? They are just children after all, speaking in the heat of the moment. It¡¯s already so dark, where will they stay?¡± ¡°Let them stay wherever they like, would be good if they froze to death under the open sky!¡± Lin Aiguo grabbed Lin Chun¡¯s arm, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Lin Chun! You¡¯re the eldest! Don¡¯t be like those pathetic losers! Hurry up and get inside! No one is allowed to go out and look for them!¡± Lin Chun, worried, watched towards the front gate, but their figures were no longer visible. Jin Auntie and their neighbors also silently left with Lin Xia and her siblings when they decided to move out. Lin Xia walked slowly along the main street with Lin Qiu and Lin Dong, having just politely refused Jin Auntie¡¯s offer to stay at her place. After a silent walk, Lin Qiu softly asked Lin Xia, ¡°Big sister, are we never going back home?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going back! Tonight we¡¯ll just find a place to make do, and first thing in the morning we will look for a house!¡± Lin Xia had already thought it through. After the injury to Lin Qiu, that home was no place to stay anymore, but she truly hadn¡¯t anticipated that things would escalate to the point of leaving now. However, this was also good. If they had continued to stay, not only would they have to humiliate themselves by apologizing, but tomorrow Lin Aiguo would definitely take Lin Qiu to work at the soy sauce factory. Still, she was a bit worried, unsure if her big brother would be bullied after they left! But she also understood that her big brother wouldn¡¯t easily leave with them, something she had mentally prepared for beforehand. ¡°Looking for a house?¡± Lin Dong¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, ¡°Big sister! Will we finally have our own home?¡± Over the years, even in their own house, he never felt a sense of belonging. He always felt like an outsider, never full from meals and always bullied. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xia, full of hope for the future, linked arms with her siblings, ¡°Once we settle down, we¡¯ll eventually pull our big brother out too! Then we¡¯ll live our own peaceful life!¡± Later, when she earned money, they could buy good food without having to hide it, and they could speak freely and joyfully. ¡°Sister! But where will we get that much money from?¡± Lin Qiu, more considerate, knew her sister talked about earning money, but was it that easy to earn? ¡°I have some!¡± Lin Xia blinked, facing two pairs of eyes suddenly brightening, and added, ¡°But we need to spend it sparingly!¡± Both people said in unison, ¡°Definitely!¡± While listening to the barking of dogs from nearby houses, Lin Dong looked at the deserted street, leaned closer to Lin Xia, and whispered, ¡°Big sister, how did you earn that money?¡± Last time, because Lin Yu and Lin Qiang interrupted, his big sister hadn¡¯t told them yet. Lin Xia put her arm around his shoulder and whispered, ¡°By selling scarves! Once I¡¯ve settled you all, I¡¯ll go and restock to sell again!¡± Lin Dong¡¯s eyes shone with admiration, ¡°Big sister, you¡¯re amazing!¡± he said, glancing at Lin Qiu who didn¡¯t show much reaction, ¡°Hey, second sister, why aren¡¯t you reacting? Did you know about this already?¡± ¡°Yeah! Big sister told me before!¡± ¡°No wonder!¡± Lin Qiu kicked at the pebbles under her feet, pursed her lips and asked, ¡°Sis, where are we staying tonight?¡± Lin Xia looked at Lin Dong, ¡°Dongzi, it¡¯s up to you now. I remember Haizi¡¯s Western House is empty, right? Given your relationship with them, do you think his parents would let us stay for the night?¡± Lin Dong scratched his head and smiled, ¡°Should be no problem!¡± He felt that he had a pretty good relationship with Haizi¡¯s family. ¡°Then let¡¯s go to Haizi¡¯s house first to check, and if we can¡¯t stay, no worries, we¡¯ll find another place!¡± When they arrived at Haizi¡¯s house, his parents did not hesitate at all and warmly ushered them into the Eastern House to stay for a while, one of them even went to tidy up the kang. Of course, Lin Xia and her siblings couldn¡¯t just watch others do the work, they helped tidy, clean the kang, and lay out the bedding. Only after Haizi¡¯s family returned to their room did Lin Xia and her siblings feel hungry. Lin Dong, lying in the bedding doing his homework, rubbed his stomach and said softly, ¡°Big sister, we forgot to get some food!¡± Lin Qiu got up to get off the kang, ¡°How about drinking some water?¡± Lin Xia said, ¡°Okay, Xiaoqiu, go pour some hot water!¡± She discreetly avoided their attention, and from Jade¡¯s room, she managed to get some snacks, pretending to take out a bunch of crispy twists, sugar cubes, and some candied fruits from two pockets at the end of the kang covered with clothes. Lin Dong and Lin Qiu were both surprised when they saw the snacks in Lin Xia¡¯s hands, ¡°Sister, when did you put those in your pockets?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Xia casually said, ¡°I put them there this afternoon, I didn¡¯t take all the candied fruits out at the time, I kept some...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat! Just a bite will tide us over until morning light, and then we can buy something to eat if we want.¡± Lin Dong chewed on the crispy twist, ¡°Mmm, delicious!¡± ¡°Sister, you eat too!¡± Lin Qiu opened a sugar cube and stuffed it into Lin Xia¡¯s mouth. ... Meanwhile, Lin Chun, having eaten the dinner prepared by Qian Chunli in the Eastern House, returned alone to the Western House. The sounds of conversation from the Eastern House faintly reached him, making the home without his siblings feel all the more empty. He worried about where his eldest sister could have taken the other two so late, but his father had just sternly warned him at dinner not to go looking for them. If he found out, he wouldn¡¯t be allowed to return either. He kept thinking of all the places his eldest sister might have gone, feeling that maybe they were staying at his aunt¡¯s house, as both families were really close relatives and lived nearby. Chapter 38 - 38 38 Knowing It Well ?38: Chapter 38: Knowing It Well 38: Chapter 38: Knowing It Well Lin Chun hardly slept that night, tossing and turning with worries on his mind. Early in the morning, without waiting for Chunli to finish cooking, he took two cornmeal pancakes and left the house. As he was nearing his aunt¡¯s house, he unexpectedly ran into Lin Xia and the others. Lin Chun asked in surprise, ¡°You three didn¡¯t stay at aunt¡¯s house last night?¡± Seeing smiles on his sisters¡¯ faces and realizing they hadn¡¯t suffered any hardship, the heavy stone in his heart temporarily settled. All three of them came up, beaming and calling out ¡°big brother¡± in unison. Lin Xia looked him over and noticed the poor state he was in, with dark circles under his eyes. She asked with concern, ¡°Big brother! We left afterwards! He didn¡¯t hit you, did he?¡± Lin Chun then steadied his bicycle and replied, ¡°No! Later I wanted to come find you, but dad wouldn¡¯t allow it! So where did you stay? Have you had breakfast?¡± Lin Dong cheerfully answered, ¡°We stayed at Haizi¡¯s place! We ate! Haizi¡¯s mom cooked for us!¡± ¡°Why did you go stay at someone else¡¯s place?¡± Lin Chun asked, ¡°What are you doing at aunt¡¯s now?¡± Lin Xia spoke the truth, ¡°I want Sister Hongmei to help me take leave so I and Xiaoqiu can go look for a house!¡± Just relying on Xiaoqiu alone definitely wouldn¡¯t work, and she also wanted to find a place with good location for business convenience¡ªthese she must check out herself. Lin Chun immediately frowned, ¡°Such nonsense! All of you hurry back home and apologize to dad! We are all family, and there shouldn¡¯t be any overnight grudges! Besides, what dad said was out of anger! How could you take it seriously?¡± He never expected his eldest sister to want to go house hunting! Not yet married, and moving out on her own? What would become of her? All three Lin Xia siblings lost their smiles, with Lin Dong and Lin Qiu even subconsciously hiding behind Lin Xia. Their big brother was usually temperate and rarely lost his temper, but when he did, it was indeed quite frightening. Lin Xia turned to look at them, then stepped forward and grabbed Lin Chun¡¯s arm, ¡°Big brother! Calm down first, let me explain slowly!¡± Lin Chun angrily pulled away from Lin Xia¡¯s grasp, ¡°How can I calm down?¡± He knew it all had to be his eldest sister¡¯s idea, and the other two just went along with it. He couldn¡¯t help but scold Lin Xia, ¡°Lin Xia! This was all your idea, wasn¡¯t it? What are you thinking? Yesterday, I was trying so hard to stop you, but you insisted on being so stubborn! And you dragged up all those old grievances, wasn¡¯t that just to oppose dad intentionally? What were you thinking?¡± ¡°My thoughts are simple! I just want to break away from that home!¡± Lin Xia, seeing her big brother was about to lose his temper, spoke calmly, ¡°Big brother! Don¡¯t rush to get angry with me! Let me analyze the situation for you, then you can scold me afterward if you want!¡± Lin Chun took a deep breath, pointed at Lin Xia and gritted his teeth, ¡°Fine! Then speak quickly. I want to hear what reasons you could possibly have!¡± ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s talk about you wanting us all to go back and apologize, have you thought about what happens after we bow our heads and admit our wrong?¡± ¡°What would happen? Dad might hit you a couple of times just to vent his anger, what else!¡± Lin Chun was really angry, so his tone was harsh. Lin Xia couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°Him hitting me isn¡¯t the issue, why don¡¯t you think about Xiaoqiu? Why did he come back? He¡¯s planning to send Xiaoqiu to the large soy sauce factory. We all said yesterday that Xiaoqiu should rest for ten days to half a month before working again! What did he say?¡± Lin Chun fell silent, realizing that indeed was a problem. Although a dislocated arm wasn¡¯t a major injury, Dongzi couldn¡¯t do heavy work or stretch it anymore. In this condition, what kind of work could he do at his job? In the end, wouldn¡¯t Xiaoqiu suffer the most? Lin Xia continued, ¡°Also, you know why we fought yesterday! If we think about going back, it¡¯s not just about apologizing to him, but also to those three!¡± Putting aside whether we can swallow that grievance, how could we even live our days afterward? You know what kind of person Lin Qiang is; what if he did something to Xiaoqiu while we weren¡¯t home? We would regret it too late!¡± Since things had reached this point, Lin Xia had nothing to hide or avoid anymore. Tears streamed down Xiaoqiu¡¯s face; she wasn¡¯t a child and understood some things. Seeing her siblings quarreling over her, she blamed herself while a sense of fear arose inside her. Lin Chun was rendered speechless by Lin Xia¡¯s words, feeling both ashamed and embarrassed. He really hadn¡¯t thought things through. He had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, thinking about bringing Lin Xia and the others back at dawn and how to apologize to their dad. Lin Chun bitterly regretted his lack of thorough consideration and guiltily spoke, ¡°Xiaoxia! Xiaoqiu! Dongzi! Big Brother really didn¡¯t think this through! Don¡¯t blame Big Brother! But when you talk about finding a place to live, where do we start? And maintaining our own household isn¡¯t easy! How do we live with nothing at all?¡± In Lin Chun¡¯s view, the difficulty wasn¡¯t trivial, but now, to convince his siblings to go back no matter what, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say those words. If Xiaoqiu really encountered something, he felt like he could kill himself. Lin Xia sensed her elder brother¡¯s concession in his words, pleased that he always considered others. ¡°No worries! Big Brother! As long as we¡¯re together, our days will surely get better!¡± She didn¡¯t dare promise riches and luxury, but at least they could live comfortably and with peace of mind. Lin Dong also urged, ¡°Big Brother! Come with us! It¡¯d be great for the four of us to stick together!¡± That home, in his eyes, had no reason to stay any longer. Lin Chun quickly made up his mind; he indeed couldn¡¯t let his siblings go back like this, especially since Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm needed more time to heal. Plus, their father was still furious, and that anger wouldn¡¯t subside any time soon. Although he knew his father would still be furious to find out that Lin Xia and the others weren¡¯t coming back, weighing the pros and cons, he still wanted to consider his siblings more. ¡°I can¡¯t join you for now, Big Brother. If we all leave, it really becomes their world.¡± He pulled out ten yuan from his pocket and handed it to Lin Xia, ¡°Take this money, Xiaoxia!¡± Lin Xia hesitated before accepting, ¡°Okay! Big Brother, then I¡¯ll hold onto the money for now!¡± She put it straight into her pocket. She wanted the money because she thought if Lin Aiguo went crazy and found it, it would end up benefitting them. Seeing that Lin Xia didn¡¯t refuse and accepted it, Lin Chun felt somewhat relieved. He continued, ¡°How about this? Dongzi, hurry and go to school; stay there at noon; Then I¡¯ll also skip work today and help you find a place to live!¡± ¡°That works! Big Brother! You can even ride your bike and carry me and Xiaoqiu!¡± It definitely would be inefficient to just walk. After the siblings had agreed, Lin Xia gave Lin Dong fifty cents, worried they might not arrive at his school in time, allowing him to buy something to eat. After seeing Lin Dong off to school, they arrived outside Yu Hongmei¡¯s house. Lin Xia asked Lin Chun and Xiaoqiu to wait outside while she entered her aunt¡¯s house alone. Chapter 39 - 39 39 Looking for a House ?39: Chapter 39 Looking for a House 39: Chapter 39 Looking for a House The Lin Aijia family was sitting by the kang table eating when they still had no idea about the incident at Lin Xia¡¯s house the night before. Hearing Lin Xia mention taking leave again, Yu Hongmei put down her chopsticks, her face turning sour, ¡°Lin Xia! How many times have you had me request leave for you this month?¡± She was almost driven insane by the irritation! Lin Xia knew she was making things difficult for Yu Hongmei, but there was no other choice at the moment. ¡°Sister Hongmei! I¡¯m really sorry to trouble you! This is the last time! Please help me ask for a long leave!¡± She needed to settle things for her younger brothers and sisters before immediately heading to the provincial city to restock. The round trips would take up time, so she wanted to ask for extended leave. The reason she was still holding onto this job was to prepare for a rainy day. She didn¡¯t know if she could turn anything into a selling point after winter came; they needed some source of income by then. At least she had the salary from her job each month to keep them alive. Lin Aijia couldn¡¯t help but scold Lin Xia, ¡°Lin Xia, this won¡¯t do if you keep going like this! That job needs to be taken seriously! Besides, didn¡¯t Lin Qiu just dislocate his arm, with nothing else seriously wrong? You should go to work when it¡¯s time to work! If your dad found out, he would beat you senseless!¡± Lin Xia suppressed the sneer in her heart and looked at her aunt with an impassive expression, ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t worry! I know what I¡¯m doing!¡± Lin Xia then turned to Yu Hongmei, ¡°Sister Hongmei, let¡¯s settle on this then! I¡¯ll properly thank you later on!¡± Yu Hongmei gave Lin Xia a dismissive glance, ¡°Ha! I¡¯m not counting on your thanks! If you could just stop making me ask for leave in the future, that¡¯d be great!¡± In her eyes, how could Lin Xia possibly thank her? The salary she earned wasn¡¯t even in her own hands, so what could she give in gratitude? ¡°Still, thank you! Sister Hongmei! Aunt! I¡¯ll be going now!¡± After Lin Xia left Yu Hongmei¡¯s house, she stood at the doorway where Lin Chun and Lin Qiu anxiously asked, ¡°How did it go?¡± Lin Xia collected her emotions; she didn¡¯t want to tell them about what had just happened, ¡°Nothing much! Sister Hongmei agreed to help with the leave! Big brother, let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s check out near Paradise Street first!¡± Lin Xia knew that place was going to become a central area in the future, and even now, it was quite good, easy to get to and from. ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Chun, pushing the tricycle, arranged for his sisters, ¡°Xiaoxia, you sit on the front beam; Xiaoqiu, with your arm, it¡¯s safer for you to sit on the back rack to avoid any bumps!¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Xiaoxia obediently sidled up and sat on the beam, while Lin Chun mounted the tricycle and Xiaoqiu straddled the seat on the rear rack. The three siblings headed straight for their intended destination. Meanwhile, at the Lin Family home, Lin Aiguo hadn¡¯t moved from his spot since breakfast because he had taken leave from work. He picked up his tobacco pipe and started puffing away. As for Lin Yu and Lin Qiang, they left the house together right after finishing their meal. Qian Chunli seriously considered taking a day off work to keep Lin Aiguo company at home, but noticed that ever since waking up that morning, Lin Aiguo had been in a bad mood. Hearing that Lin Chun had left with only two buns in his pocket, Lin Aiguo cursed furiously several times. Although she was tempted to wait for Lin Xia and the others to come back to enjoy the drama, who knew when they¡¯d return? If it ended up being just her and Lin Aiguo at home, and they got into an altercation over something, how unjust would that be? So, Qian Chunli too tidied up and went to work. With Lin Aiguo left alone at home, he took a trip to the Western House and saw that everything inside was in a state of disrepair, which only fueled his anger! Each of them was growing more defiant, and he had thought that this morning they would come back and meekly apologize, but he had heard nothing from them so far! However, considering Lin Dong had to go to school and Lin Xia might be at work, only Lin Qiu would have nowhere to go. Lin Aiguo thought, if they still wanted to return to this home, he definitely couldn¡¯t let them off lightly this time! By the time they all returned, he was determined to give each of them a severe lashing with the oversized belt, to flay their skins! Let¡¯s see if they dared defy him again! Once out of the house, Lin Yu and Lin Qiang rode a bicycle together to a quiet spot not far from home to talk things over. Lin Qiang picked at his teeth, ¡°Lin Yu! Do you think that since Lin Xia and them left empty-handed yesterday, the scarves might be hidden in their room?¡± He had thought about it half the night before; no one expected things to turn out the way they did during the fight. Lin Xia certainly wouldn¡¯t have anticipated her dad telling her to get lost, so her scarves and money¡ªmoney could be hidden in the pockets of clothes, but those scarves couldn¡¯t. He had wanted to take the opportunity to search the Western House again after Lin Chun left in the morning, but since his mom was busy in the kitchen and his dad might come out of the Eastern House at any time, he hadn¡¯t made a move. Lin Yu fiddled with her schoolbag strap, ¡°Hard to say! But it¡¯s quite possible! Everything happened so abruptly; if Lin Xia didn¡¯t leave her stuff at work, she could only have left it at home! What, are you thinking of going in to search again? Lin Qiang! Let me tell you, I have to attend school seriously today...¡± She had no intention of keeping watch for Lin Qiang again; besides, if her dad Lin Aiguo was home, what would happen if she got caught red-handed? Lin Qiang looked at her with contempt, taking the opportunity to scoff at her, ¡°You just go and be your good student! I don¡¯t need you! I wouldn¡¯t dare use you! Look at what you did yesterday! If it weren¡¯t for your gluttony, would all that have happened afterward?¡± Just thinking about it made him furious! Angered, Lin Yu¡¯s face tightened, ¡°Fine! Lin Qiang, these are your words! Don¡¯t come to me to talk over your business from now on!¡± She understood that, no matter how much she insisted, if she didn¡¯t join Lin Qiang in the search, she couldn¡¯t expect to get a thing. Although she felt resentful, she didn¡¯t want to lower her head to Lin Qiang at that moment. If she wanted to figure out Lin Qiang, there were other ways to handle him after he succeeded... so wait and see... Lin Xia and her two siblings were searching for a house on Paradise Street; at this time of the day, most people were at work, and many doors were securely locked. Whenever they came across an open door, they inquired within, but they hadn¡¯t found anything suitable even after half a morning¡¯s search. Back then, each family had many children, and when the kids grew up and married, they still lived together, eating from the same pot, sleeping on northern and southern kang bed-stoves, with a curtain for privacy while sleeping. So, it was not easy for Lin Xia and her two siblings to rent a separate house for themselves. They did come across families willing to rent out part of their house, but they only wanted to rent out the kang, which was not suitable for Lin Xia and her siblings¡ªwith both boys and girls, how could they live together? If they were actual siblings, it would have been fine, but as strangers, who knew what inappropriate things could happen? Lin Qiu was losing heart, ¡°Sis, it¡¯s so hard to find a house!¡± Lin Chun was also scratching his head, ¡°Xiaoxia! Why don¡¯t we try looking somewhere else?¡± He didn¡¯t understand why his older sister insisted on this place, but thinking about its proximity to Lin Xia¡¯s workplace and Lin Dong¡¯s school, he didn¡¯t say much. Lin Xia was anxious too, but seeing her brother and sister getting worked up, she couldn¡¯t show it. She reassured them with an easy smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! We¡¯ve only tried a few houses! There are many more we haven¡¯t asked yet! Maybe we¡¯ll find something soon!¡± ¡°Alright! Then let¡¯s keep looking!¡± Lin Chun followed behind the two sisters, pushing the bicycle. They tried three or four more houses but still didn¡¯t find anyone willing to rent out their place. Lin Xia maintained a cheerful demeanor, smiling before speaking, since they were intruding into people¡¯s homes uninvited; not getting kicked out was already a plus. Fortunately, people back then were simple, and nobody would refuse a stranger a drink of water. That might not be the case in the future, though. Chapter 40 - 40 40 Discuss ?40: Chapter 40 Discuss 40: Chapter 40 Discuss They entered a household where there was only a granny with her grandson playing on the heated brick bed. Seeing Lin Xia enter the room and after she explained her intentions, the granny was quite enthusiastic. She said that in the front street there was the Xu Family, where Old Xu had passed away a few years ago, leaving behind his widow with four children. Now the eldest daughter was married, the two sons worked out of town, and the widow of Old Xu lived there with the youngest daughter; they might have an empty room. However, whether they would rent it out or not, she couldn¡¯t say. Lin Xia was overjoyed and thanked the granny. ¡°Granny! Thank you so much! We¡¯ve really met a benefactor today!¡± The granny couldn¡¯t stop smiling at being praised. ¡°You girl, you really have a way with words! What benefactor, not benefactor, I¡¯m just someone who loves to talk and laugh with a warm heart! You go and ask them, it¡¯s right on our street up front!¡± ¡°Granny, you have such a kind heart! You¡¯ll definitely have good fortune! This is your grandson, right? He looks very sturdy and handsome too!¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t just hand out pleasing words for free, she also generously gave the granny¡¯s grandson a handful of sugar cubes. She was truly grateful! She had been to more than one or two households on this street and yet none had told her about this Xu Family. Sometimes, a person¡¯s kind thought, or a few words, might not seem much to themselves, yet it could solve another person¡¯s urgent need. ¡°Look at you! Just me saying a few more words, and you give so many sugar cubes, why so much!¡± Lin Xia made the granny feel quite embarrassed, ¡°All right! No need to keep thanking me, I¡¯ll just come with you and help ask!¡± At that time, a sugar cube was nearly a penny, a handful cost several cents; although it wasn¡¯t that nobody could afford it, the way the girl spoke and acted showed a generous and decisive nature that made her quite likable. She also didn¡¯t mind giving a hand, thinking that if they really could stay in the Old Xu¡¯s house in the future, it would be creating a good karma. ¡°That would be wonderful, Granny! I don¡¯t even know what else to say to thank you!¡± Lin Xia couldn¡¯t ask for more! If they had gone to knock on the door rashly, the other party would definitely have their guards up, but with a neighbor like this granny, they would likely be more at ease. ¡°What¡¯s there to say! This is fate! My surname is Zhao, you can just call me Granny Zhao!¡± So, the granny, holding her grandson, went with Lin Xia and the others to the Xu Family in the front street. Upon their arrival, they saw a middle-aged woman coming out to pour water with a big iron ladle in hand. ¡°Gui Qin! What brings you here today?¡± Granny Zhao smiled, ¡°Shuxiang, I¡¯m bringing people to ask about something at your place!¡± The woman addressed as Shuxiang looked back at Lin Xia and the rest following Granny Zhao, ¡°Then let¡¯s talk inside the house!¡± Lin Xia observed this Granny Shuxiang, who seemed neat and efficient, with hair combed tidily, wrinkles on her face but a clear twinkle in her eyes. One could vaguely tell she would have been quite a beauty in her youth. She exchanged glances with Lin Qiu and Lin Chun, quietly following Granny Zhao into the courtyard. Once inside the Eastern House, Granny Zhao without ceremony put her grandson on the bed and got straight to the point, ¡°Shuxiang, these three kids are looking to rent a room, and they just happened to come to my place. It hit me that your Western House has been empty, so I brought them here. Take a look, see if you are interested in renting it out.¡± Shuxiang looked at Lin Xia and the others, focusing on Lin Chun for a moment, ¡°Renting is fine! But I have to understand the situation clearly. What is the relationship between the three of you?¡± She couldn¡¯t just let anyone move in; although there wasn¡¯t anything valuable in the house, she still harbored some worry and fear with a young man around when she had a daughter herself. Lin Xia smiled, ¡°Granny! He¡¯s our eldest brother; we are actual siblings!¡± Shuxiang nodded, ¡°Ah! Then how many of you will be living here altogether?¡± Lin Xia answered warmly, ¡°Three of us! My eldest brother won¡¯t be staying here, and we have a younger brother, he¡¯s in high school!¡± It was normal for her to ask these questions. Shuxiang continued to inquire, ¡°Any other family members? What about your parents?¡± Lin Xia put away her smile, speaking half truths, ¡°Auntie! I won¡¯t hide it from you; my mom passed away a few years ago, and less than a month after her death, my dad brought home a woman who had a son and a daughter. Now, they bully us even more ruthlessly, and my dad doesn¡¯t want us to stay at home anymore. So, we thought about holding our heads up high and renting a place to live by ourselves. Don¡¯t worry, Auntie, I work at a processing factory, and my sister works at a quilt factory. We both have jobs, we¡¯re not bad people!¡± Zhao Auntie clapped her hands, ¡°Quilt factory? Shuxiang, doesn¡¯t your eldest daughter work at the quilt factory?!¡± Lin Xia, Lin Qiu, and the others all lit up with hope. After all the roundabout talk, they had finally bumped into a connection like this. They should be able to rent the place now, right? Upon hearing Lin Xia¡¯s words, Shuxiang actually felt quite sympathetic, ¡°Yes! My Haihua works at the quilt factory! How long have you been working there?¡± Lin Qiu, being addressed, first glanced at Lin Xia before answering, ¡°I¡¯ve only started at the factory not long ago!¡± She was embarrassed to say that she had only gone for a few days before stopping. She feared that if she said the wrong thing by mistake and they couldn¡¯t rent the house, then what? Lin Xia hurriedly added, ¡°That¡¯s right, Auntie! My sister dislocated her arm yesterday, so she didn¡¯t go to work!¡± After all, if they managed to rent the place, Xiaoqiu would need to stay at home to recover for a while. Some things were better said upfront. Zhao Auntie could see Shuxiang was inclined to help and spoke up, ¡°Shuxiang, you¡¯ve seen for yourself, these kids are all honest and decent. They¡¯ve told you their situation and are sincerely looking to rent. Think about what you feel, and let¡¯s hear it out!¡± Shuxiang pressed her lips together, ¡°Gui Qin, as you know, my eldest has married off, and the second and third are out of town. It¡¯s just me and my old girl at home. With half-grown children coming in and out... It¡¯s different because you brought them here. If they had come on their own, I really wouldn¡¯t want to rent.¡± Zhao Auntie bluntly said, ¡°Shuxiang! We¡¯re all family here. I truly see that these young girls are sincere, or else I wouldn¡¯t have brought them to you. How about this, first show them the Western House. If they think it¡¯s suitable, you two can discuss the price!¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Auntie Xu stood up, ¡°Come with me to take a look.¡± Lin Xia and the others followed behind her, trying to contain their excitement as they went to see the Western House. The layout of the Western House was similar to the one they were living in, with beds at both the southern and northern ends. However, this house¡¯s beds had a cabinet at the southern end and were configured at a corner on the northern end to sleep two, offering considerably more space. Several winnowing baskets placed on the beds contained dried beans, dried potatoes, and such, while the floor was laid with red bricks, showing cleanliness and tidiness. Lin Xia and the others were very satisfied; they hadn¡¯t expected the room to be so nice. After coming out of the Western House, Lin Xia took a special look at the kitchen range and large pot adjacent to it, nodding in approval. With some additional supplies like food and seasonings, they could start cooking for themselves. When they returned to the Eastern House, Zhao Auntie asked Lin Xia, ¡°Girl, what do you think?¡± Lin Xia smiled and said, ¡°Auntie Zhao! It¡¯s quite nice!¡± Zhao Auntie again helped out by asking, ¡°Shuxiang, so what do you say? How much do you want to rent it for? This is for you two to discuss. If everyone finds it acceptable, then we¡¯ll rent it. If not, we¡¯ll hurry out to inquire at other houses. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Lin Xia and the others watched as the two aunties sat on the kang bed, conversing back and forth without interrupting. After a moment of silence, Shuxiang finally spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s make it three yuan! I¡¯m not asking for much.¡± Chapter 41 - 41 41 New Home ?41: Chapter 41 New Home 41: Chapter 41 New Home Zhao Danni¡¯s expression changed slightly. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Xia leaned in close, smiled at her, and gestured for her to keep calm. Lin Xia looked at Shuxiang, ¡°Danni, three yuan a month, and you have to let us use your big pot! As for pots, bowls, ladles, and the like, we¡¯ll buy our own!¡± Lin Xia had somewhat figured out what kind of person Danni was, so she made sure to clarify things with her beforehand. ¡°Alright! My big pot is really handy for cooking!¡± Danni immediately agreed, this time quite readily. ¡°Good! I¡¯ll just call you Danni then! By the way, do you have any spare quilts, mattresses, or pillows at home? If you do, could you find three sets for us? I¡¯ll give you one yuan as rent for a month. What do you think?¡± Lin Xia thought it through clearly. If she went home now to fetch them, Lin Aiguo would see her, and it would trigger another battle, and she might not even be able to bring them back. She could wait until the day after tomorrow when Lin Aiguo went back to work on the mountain, then she could sneak back and move her luggage. But what about tonight? It was autumn, and even if they warmed the kang bed up, they couldn¡¯t just sleep without covering anything. Moreover, their luggage was in a tattered and shabby condition. Yet, if they went shopping now, they would have to spend a significant amount of money, likely without finding all the suitable items they needed. Besides, she was in a situation where she had to stretch every penny, and having extra money meant she could bring back more goods to sell. Hence, she cleverly thought of the idea to rent the bedding. Danni paused, and Zhao Danni looked a bit stunned too; she hadn¡¯t expected the young woman to make such a request. However, considering that the luggage was just for their use and would bring in one yuan every month, it seemed like a fair deal. Danni could easily do the math, a smile forming on her face, ¡°Yes! Although it¡¯s what my sons used, don¡¯t worry, I wash them every year, so they¡¯re quite clean!¡± Lin Xia smiled as well, ¡°Then let¡¯s agree on that. Zhao Danni, you can be our witness here. The monthly rent is three yuan, and the rent for the luggage is one yuan.¡± ¡°Danni, I¡¯ll give you four yuan now, which covers this month¡¯s room rent. Let¡¯s start counting from today!¡± she said as she pulled out a few bills from her pocket, counted out four, and handed them to Danni. ¡°Alright! Then it starts from today!¡± Danni hadn¡¯t expected the girl to handle things so smoothly and crisply. It was impossible for her not to feel a sense of fondness. Having received the money, Danni didn¡¯t hesitate. She went straight into the Western House and began moving her family¡¯s belongings to the Eastern House, with Lin Chun and Lin Xia helping. Lin Xia walked Zhao Danni and her grandson home. On the way, Zhao Danni looked at Lin Xia, who was helping carry her grandson, and couldn¡¯t help commenting, ¡°You, girl! Whatever amount she asked, you just gave her. You should have bargained! Indeed, she¡¯s a bit peculiar, but that doesn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t have gone a bit lower!¡± She really wanted to speak up earlier but was stopped by the young woman, so she didn¡¯t say much more. Actually, if it came to familiarity, she had just met the girl and should have sided with Shuxiang. But Zhao Danni was just like that, fair-minded over familial ties. ¡°Zhao Danni! I also see that Danni is having a tough time by herself. I¡¯m still young and will have many chances to make money. Arguing over a small amount, I always feel it¡¯s not kind-hearted!¡± What Lin Xia said was half true, half false. She did indeed see Danni struggling, but a bigger reason was that she did not want to miss out on this house. They had to move in today; otherwise, it¡¯s not like they could keep staying at Haizi¡¯s place. If, because of haggling, Danni refused to rent explicitly or wouldn¡¯t rent them the luggage, they would face one problem after another. Money¡ªshe could earn it by working hard later, selling goods to make the amount, but missing out on this house would be a real pity. So, she would rather spend a bit more money to please the others, thinking it could help them all get through this tough time smoothly. Zhao Danni happily said, ¡°Okay! You girl! Generous and kind, I like that about you. If you ever have any trouble, just come to Danni¡¯s place!¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure! From now on, we¡¯ll be like real relatives! My name is Lin Xia! Zhao Danni, you can call me Xiaolin or Xiaoxia!¡± Lin Xia felt grateful to Zhao Danni. It was not easy to find such kindness from a stranger. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you Xiaolin!¡± Zhao Danni laughed and said, ¡°Speaking of which, we mother-daughters are really fated. I liked you the moment I saw you!¡± ¡°I like you too, Zhao Danni! I can¡¯t quite explain why, but you just feel so familiar to me!¡± ¡°From now on, Auntie will buy you delicious things!¡± Lin Xia kissed her grandson¡¯s cheek, causing him to giggle. Children know who truly cares for them. Zhao Danni¡¯s impression of Lin Xia improved even more. She felt this young lady was not only genuine but also generous. She spontaneously started looking out for Lin Xia. ¡°Xiaolin, don¡¯t be reckless with your spending! You guys have been split from your family, and there will be many expenses in the future! If you¡¯re lacking anything, just come over to my place. If I have anything extra, you can take it first!¡± ¡°Thank you, Danni! Then I¡¯ll really take you up on that offer!¡± Although Lin Xia did not want to take advantage of anyone¡¯s kindness, she didn¡¯t outright refuse either. After sending Zhao Danni and her grandson home, Lin Xia returned to the house she had just rented. Lin Qiu was inside cleaning the stove, but Lin Chun was not around. Lin Xia asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Big Brother?¡± Lin Qiu stood up, ¡°Sister, Big Brother went to gather some firewood!¡± Lin Xia slapped her forehead, realizing she had completely forgotten about setting up the fire. Since her brother had gone to collect firewood, she too needed to hurry and buy whatever was necessary. ¡°Xiaoqiu! Stop cleaning! Let¡¯s go out and buy some things! We need to buy pots, pans, utensils, spices, and all sorts of other stuff for the house!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Qiu happily put down the rag, washed his hands, and followed Lin Xia out the door. The forest products store wasn¡¯t far from where they were. Lin Xia, although having the money, was cautious with her purchasing, only buying essentials. She bought a washbasin, a towel, a bar of soap, then a few pairs of bowls and a small basin, a spatula, some spices, matches, candles, and other miscellaneous small items. Although each item cost just a few cents and dimes, the total wasn¡¯t small. Lin Xia felt a pang of heartache, but as everything was needed for the new house, she had no choice. However, she didn¡¯t buy items like a small mirror or comb, thinking that she could quietly go back home in the next day or two to get clothes and such things. As for food, they couldn¡¯t buy supply grain since their grain ration was not under their control. They could, however, buy grain at a higher price. Lin Xia bought a few fewer pounds of flour. If it had been just her, she could find an opportunity to stash the things in Jade¡¯s room; but with Xiaoqiu around, and her hands full, and with Xiaoqiu¡¯s right arm not functioning, they couldn¡¯t carry much. Passing by a vegetable cart, they also bought three potatoes. By the time the two of them got back home, they saw Lin Chun had gathered some branches and was borrowing Old Lady Xu¡¯s ax to chop them. Seeing them enter the yard, Lin Chun put down his ax and came over to help, ¡°You two bought so much!¡± Chapter 42 - 42 42 Clichés ?42: Chapter 42 Cliche?s 42: Chapter 42 Cliche?s Lin Xia explained in one sentence, ¡°These are all necessities!¡± She glanced at the small pile of branches on the ground and asked, ¡°Big brother! Where did you get these branches from?¡± She pondered to herself that she should make time to go there, gather some more wood to store in Jade¡¯s room, and then find an opportunity to take some out when needed. Lin Chun wiped the sweat from his forehead, ¡°There¡¯s plenty around South Mountain, I¡¯ll make a few more trips this afternoon to haul some back for you. We¡¯ll need even more for burning during winter, and by then, Dongzi can join me!¡± Even though they now had a place to live, they were still missing quite a bit. Lin Xia agreed readily, ¡°Okay! Big brother! Don¡¯t worry about that now, it¡¯s getting close to noon. Take a break, and let¡¯s fix something to eat. How about dough drop soup? We can add some potato strips!¡± Having their own home made deciding what to eat so much more convenient. Lin Chun shook his head, ¡°You and Xiaoqiu eat! I¡¯ll eat back at home, take a look at the situation there, and bring back some small items that I can carry.¡± How much money would all this cost? He knew his older sister had some money, but wasn¡¯t it true that the more they spent, the less they had? He hadn¡¯t gone to work today, and his family didn¡¯t know yet. So, it was probably best that he went back for lunch. It was also a good time for him to check on the house. Lin Xia hesitated for a moment, knowing what her elder brother was thinking, she didn¡¯t try to stop him, ¡°That¡¯s fine then! Go ahead, big brother! But be careful on your own, okay? And when you take the stuff, make sure no one discovers you... Actually, big brother, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t take anything. We can make do for a couple of days. You have to go back to work in the mountains the day after tomorrow anyway...¡± She wasn¡¯t worried about anything else; she was most concerned about Lin Aiguo being at home and taking out his anger on her elder brother. Lin Chun agreed, washed his face, and after checking with Mrs. Xu, seeing that it wasn¡¯t too late, he said to Lin Xia, ¡°Then you two start the fire and cook. I¡¯ll go pick up Dongzi from school, so he knows the way. This way, he can come straight home after school this afternoon!¡± Once Lin Chun left, Lin Xia didn¡¯t let Lin Qiu do anything. She efficiently peeled and sliced the potatoes, scrubbed the pot, and boiled water. Knowing that the dough drop soup would thicken if not eaten soon after being made, she just heated the water, and while at it, warmed the kang bed, without adding the dough drops yet. Lin Chun was quick. Dongzi¡¯s middle school wasn¡¯t too far from here. In less than ten minutes, he had brought Lin Dong back with him. Lin Chun didn¡¯t enter the yard; he mounted the vehicle and left immediately. Lin Dong entered the room with excited jumps. He looked at his elder sister and second sister standing around the stove with a shining light in his eyes and scanned the room, ¡°Is this our new home? It¡¯s so close to my school!¡± He hadn¡¯t expected to find a house so quickly. Today, Haizi had even asked him if he would still stay over at his house tonight, and if so, Haizi would go home at noon and tell his parents to warm up the kang bed. Lin Xia smiled and tousled his cropped hair, ¡°Go with your second sister and have a look inside.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Dong happily followed Lin Qiu into the Western House. After taking a good look at their new home inside and out, Lin Dong, having heard about the landlord family¡¯s situation from Lin Qiu, greeted Mrs. Xu politely with a smile as she emerged from the Eastern House and went into the kitchen to start cooking. Mrs. Xu asked Lin Dong a couple of questions about what grade he was in, then there seemed to be not much else to talk about. Just then, Lin Xia had finished cooking their meal, and they were about to carry a basin of dough drop soup into the Western House. At this moment, Mrs. Xu called out to Lin Xia, ¡°Uh, Lin Xia, don¡¯t put the food on the kang bed; There¡¯s a table in my storage room. It hasn¡¯t been used in a long time and has a few issues with its hinges, but you can use it after cleaning and fixing it a bit.¡± Lin Xia thanked her happily, ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Xu!¡± Having a table would be even better, not only for eating but also for when Lin Dong needed somewhere to do his homework. ¡°What¡¯s there to thank for! We¡¯re neighbors now!¡± Mrs. Xu could see that this girl was straightforward. They were going to be living together for a while, and she wanted to get along well. Lin Xia called Lin Dong to follow Aunt Xu to fetch the table. Lin Dong had been handy since he was young, and he quickly tidied up the table that stood to the side. After Lin Xia wiped it down well with a cloth twice, they delightedly ate their first meal in their new home on this table. On the other hand, when Lin Chun returned home, he wasn¡¯t blessed with the happy mood of Lin Xia and the others. Qian Chunli was busy with the meal in the kitchen, and Lin Yu, who sometimes was and sometimes wasn¡¯t responsive, was also helping on the side, but both of their faces looked rather ugly. His father, Lin Aiguo, with drooping eyelids, called him into the Eastern House as soon as he entered the door, and without another word, started searching his pockets. ¡°Dad! What are you doing?¡± Lin Chun let him search, feeling secretly relieved in his heart. Thank goodness he had given the ten yuan to Xiaoxia for safekeeping; otherwise, if it had been found, there would have been an uproar. As Lin Aiguo searched, he scoffed coldly, ¡°What am I doing? I¡¯m checking if you lot have been hiding money in your pockets, hiding all sorts of things from me every day!¡± One by one, they were all not giving him peace of mind. He really had his eyes opened this morning at home! Yet, after rummaging around, Lin Chun¡¯s pockets were cleaner than his face! Not a single coin to be found! With an embarrassed look, Lin Aiguo sat back down on the edge of the kang, lit his tobacco pipe, and started to puff away. ¡°Dad! What¡¯s actually going on?¡± Lin Chun felt that something was amiss. Surely something had happened while he wasn¡¯t there. Lin Aiguo glanced sideways at Lin Chun, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, Lin Chun! Where did Lin Xia and the others go?¡± Lin Chun played dumb, with an aggrieved face, ¡°Dad! How would I know? Didn¡¯t you tell me not to look for them? All morning, I¡¯ve been wondering where they slept last night!¡± It was the first time he had lied to his father, and his heart felt uneasy. But as the eldest brother, he had to stand firm for his younger siblings. But Lin Aiguo didn¡¯t buy it. This eldest son of his was not one to lie. ¡°Don¡¯t try to pull the wool over my eyes! If I told you not to look for them, then why did you go out so early this morning? Spit it out and tell me the truth! Otherwise, I¡¯ll deal with you too!¡± He really couldn¡¯t understand when his stubborn oldest daughter got so orderly, and had the nerve to defy him openly, lose his face, and even dare to take an extended leave from her job without his approval! She was getting too bold! Seeing that he couldn¡¯t keep it hidden, Lin Chun immediately changed his tactic and said with a pained expression, ¡°Dad! I¡¯ll tell you the truth! I did go out early to look for them, but I went around and couldn¡¯t find them!¡± Lin Aiguo¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Then I¡¯m telling you, that brat Lin Xia went to your aunt¡¯s house and got Yu Hongmei to help her ask for extended leave! Your aunt came by the house before going to work, thinking of seeing Lin Qiu, but she saw me at home then, and only then did I find out what had happened!¡± ¡°What on earth does Lin Xia want to do! Jobs don¡¯t just fall from the sky! She talks about taking leave as if it¡¯s nothing! And an extended leave at that! Who does she think she is? I, her father, am still alive and breathing. It¡¯s not her turn to make waves yet! Once I get my hands on her, I¡¯m going to give her a good beating to teach her a lesson!¡± It was enough to drive him to his death! And what he had blasted out from Lin Yu, he didn¡¯t know if it was true or not. Could it be that his daughter had really come into her own and knew how to turn things around to make money? Lin Chun¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. He knew that Lin Xia had asked Yu Hongmei to help her ask for leave, but she hadn¡¯t said it was an extended leave! What exactly did she want to do? In his heart, he already had a guess, but he didn¡¯t dare to let on a thing in front of his father. Chapter 43 - 43 43 Why is he still managing me ?43: Chapter 43: Why is he still managing me? 43: Chapter 43: Why is he still managing me? Lin Aiguo looked at Lin Chun¡¯s expression and it didn¡¯t seem to be fake; he also knew his eldest son well, who was naive and honest. This meant that even Lin Chun didn¡¯t know about Lin Xia taking extended leave! Lin Aiguo decided to soften his approach, ¡°Lin Chun! You are the eldest! You need to act like it, you can¡¯t just let them run around outside. If something happens, what are we going to do, right?¡± Lin Chun nodded vigorously, fully agreeing, ¡°Yes! Dad, I¡¯m also worried about this! Don¡¯t worry, as soon as I get off work, I¡¯ll go look for them, and if I find them, I¡¯ll drag them back!¡± He was thinking to himself that this was a good chance to help Xiaoxia and the others gather some firewood to burn. ¡°Right! That¡¯s more like it!¡± Lin Aiguo was very satisfied with his answer, his impatience showing as he waved his hand, ¡°Alright, ask your aunt why the meal isn¡¯t ready yet. What¡¯s taking so long!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Chun exited the Eastern House with a forced smile on his face, his back slick with cold sweat¡ªlying was really not his thing. But, for the sake of his younger brothers and sisters, he had to do it temporarily. In the kitchen, Qian Chunli and Lin Yu both eyed Lin Chun as he exited the Eastern House. Seeing his strange expression as he directly entered the Western House made them exchange a glance, both feeling somewhat uneasy. They didn¡¯t know what Lin Aiguo had really said to Lin Chun. Lin Yu cautiously tugged at Qian Chunli¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Mom! I don¡¯t know what happened!¡± That morning, she had been abruptly dragged away by Lin Qiang and had left in such a hurry that she had not even brought food. So, when school let out at noon, she had come straight home, assuming her mother could take the day off to prepare food. However, upon entering, she saw that even the stove in the kitchen wasn¡¯t lit, and her father was in the Eastern House by himself. When Lin Aiguo saw her, he immediately accused her and Lin Qiang of sneaking into the Western House to rummage through things. He knew about it because he had caught Lin Qiang red-handed that morning, who claimed he was acting under her orders. Lin Yu panicked immediately. The whole thing had been discovered by Lin Qiang, who then discussed it with her, and at most, she was just keeping watch. How could she end up being blamed for everything? So, she outright explained what really happened. After speaking, and seeing Lin Aiguo¡¯s expression of shock and disbelief, she knew she had been tricked, but it was too late for regrets. Fortunately, her mother Qian Chunli came back just in time, listened to what Lin Aiguo said, and defended them. She quickly adapted her explanation accordingly. But in the end, whether Lin Aiguo believed her, she didn¡¯t know! Lin Yu was worried about whether Lin Aiguo would treat them as well as he had before. And about Lin Qiang, had he really been caught and confessed everything, or had he said nothing at all? Given Lin Qiang¡¯s character, if he hadn¡¯t said anything, and it turned out she was the one who had spilled the beans, he would definitely be furious. Qian Chunli gave her a stern look and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t say anything now! Just keep quiet!¡± Lin Yu nodded silently, not daring to speak. Qian Chunli, her hands busy, felt her mind in a mess. Who would have thought that the children she had struggled so hard to raise would actually become thieves? Only yesterday, she had been flatteringly scheming with someone, moving her lips here and there, thinking they were just being greedy, never expecting it was for money and goods. Now that it had happened, she would definitely have to find a way to remedy it. Luckily, that rascal Lin Qiang had some sense¡ªbeing caught by Lin Aiguo, he hadn¡¯t told the truth. But as for her daughter... Qian Chunli watched Lin Yu, who was looking down with furrowed brows, and sighed inwardly. Normally sharp and clever, how could she be so foolish at such a critical moment? And to let Lin Aiguo intimidate and trick her into talking? Lin Chun, unaware of what was going through the minds of the mother and daughter in the kitchen, had entered the Western House and closed the door behind him, immediately starting to look for small items. Items like the small mirror and comb on top of the mahogany box, and the needles, threads, awls, and scissors¡ªhe gathered them all together. Thinking that when he left, he could conceal them in his cuffs and tucked inside his clothes. Lin Chun felt something was off when he opened the mahogany box; the clothes inside were a complete mess. He knew how tidy Xiaoqiu was, and whenever she opened it, wasn¡¯t everything neatly folded? Lin Chun began to wonder, could it be that his dad had rifled through it? He checked thoroughly, but it seemed nothing was missing, not that there was much to begin with¡ªjust some old tattered clothes. In their whole house, the most valuable thing was that broken radio, which he thought about but decided not to touch for the time being. Below the mahogany box, he also packed up some dried mushrooms, but the other clothes couldn¡¯t be taken today since his dad was home. After dinner, Lin Chun stayed in the Western House for a while longer. Hearing no more noise from the kitchen, he quickly left and headed straight to the courtyard, pushing the cart out of the house. By the time he arrived at the new house, Lin Dong had not yet gone to school and was messing around with branches in the yard with Lin Xia. ¡°Big brother is back!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Seeing that Lin Dong hadn¡¯t left, Lin Chun said nothing. He didn¡¯t want to ask his older sister what she was up to in front of his younger brother. Lin Chun brought the items into the house for Lin Qiu to put away, then he too left the house to start working. Lin Xia, noticing her older brother¡¯s troubled expression, asked, ¡°Big brother! What¡¯s going on at home?¡± Why did she feel that the glance her big brother gave her just now was a bit strange? Lin Chun shook his head, ¡°Nothing much! Just that those old ladies seem a bit off! Also, our room looks like someone has rummaged through it!¡± As for his dad rummaging through their things, he instinctively didn¡¯t want to discuss it in front of his younger siblings. Lin Xia frowned, ¡°Then who could have searched it? Lin Qiang?¡± Her first thought was Lin Qiang; she wasn¡¯t really convinced it could be Lin Aiguo. Lin Dong was surprised, ¡°Big sister! What would Lin Qiang want to search for?¡± Lin Xia sneered, ¡°If it really was him, then he must have somehow found out about my scarf selling and was searching for money!¡± Lin Chun said worriedly, ¡°Then what do we do? If he tells dad, wouldn¡¯t that be...¡± ¡°So what! We¡¯ve moved out now; we¡¯ll live our own lives from now on. Why should he interfere with what I do!¡± she actually wanted to say, why should he have any right to manage her! Lin Dong chimed in, ¡°Exactly! From now on, we won¡¯t even be part of the same household!¡± Lin Chun remained silent and didn¡¯t speak further, feeling that his thoughts differed from those of his younger siblings. He had thought of letting them stay outside temporarily until Xiaoqiu¡¯s arm healed and their dad¡¯s anger subsided, then they could find an opportunity to return. But they were thinking of permanently residing there, never to return to that home! He felt conflicted inside but also knew that now wasn¡¯t the time for persuasive words¡ªperhaps letting things take their course was currently the best approach! After Lin Dong went to school, Lin Chun took Lin Xia to South Mountain to gather firewood. On the way, Lin Chun voiced his question, ¡°Xiaoxia! You applied for a long leave from your job, are you still planning to go to the provincial city?¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t think to hide it from Lin Chun, ¡°Yes! Big brother! I plan to take advantage of the current opportunity to sell more scarves and bring back some to sell! You know, since we¡¯ve moved out, we need money for everything... Just relying on that salary definitely won¡¯t cut it, and it¡¯s even uncertain if I can keep that job...¡± She had thought it through clearly; Lin Aiguo didn¡¯t know they had already moved out on their own. If he comes to his senses, who knows what he might do! So she needed to make more money to save up for emergencies; In case she lost her job, she¡¯d still have money to support her brother and sister! Chapter 44 - 44 44 Second Brother ?44: Chapter 44: Second Brother 44: Chapter 44: Second Brother Lin Chun gripped the handlebars tightly, his nose souring and heart aching. He was still the eldest brother, but day by day, he amounted to nothing. Yet his younger sister, a girl, was the one thinking about supporting the family. What right did he have to criticize or educate? How could he have the face to say anything? ¡°Xiaoxia! Big brother is useless, can¡¯t help you with anything!¡± Lin Xia heard the bleakness in her big brother¡¯s tone and laughed as she patted Lin Chun¡¯s back, ¡°Big brother! How can you not be helping us? Gathering this firewood, dealing with matters at home, it¡¯s all on you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Her big brother didn¡¯t say it, but she could guess. Lin Aiguo would definitely inquire about their affairs. And her big brother, he certainly hadn¡¯t revealed a single thing about them renting a place outside to Lin Aiguo; otherwise, could it be so peaceful? Knowing Lin Aiguo¡¯s temper, he would have stormed over long ago! In fact, since her return, her big brother had been constantly changing! From many things, it was apparent that if it were the old big brother who hadn¡¯t changed, faced with the current situation, he would have stubbornly dragged them back home, not skipping work today to help them find a house. In this era, some entrenched old notions are deep in the bones, and change doesn¡¯t happen overnight. Seeing such a big brother made Lin Xia feel very comforted. Lin Chun felt a little better, ¡°Xiaoxia! Be careful out there on your own! Don¡¯t worry about home, I am here!¡± Lin Xia crisply acknowledged, ¡°Mm! Big brother! I got it!¡± She had wanted to talk to her big brother about working out of town, but with the current situation at home as it was, she guessed he wouldn¡¯t be in the mood to consider it, so she didn¡¯t bring it up. The siblings chatted all the way to the foot of South Mountain where branches and chopped logs were scattered everywhere. Lin Xia thought the branches looked awkward and thin, not lasting long when burnt. The logs were more substantial; the thicker ones produced plenty of good firewood that burned longer; however, after getting them home, they would need to be sawed into sections and then split into smaller pieces. Lin Xia helped Lin Chun load up a full rear carrier, securing it with hemp ropes and belts. She told Lin Chun to shuttle back and forth to their home with the wood while she stayed behind to pick up more. Lin Xia checked to ensure no one was around before she started moving the logs into Jade¡¯s room, stopping frequently. Whatever area she went to, little remained but the scraps she didn¡¯t want. It felt satisfyingly swift. Guessing that her big brother was about to return, Lin Xia went back to where they started, making it look like she¡¯d been gathering the wood she had picked up. She had a plan; letting her big brother make three or four trips would be enough due to the time constraints. Once back home, they needed to divide tasks, with her big brother buying food while she sawed the logs at home. On Lin Chun¡¯s last trip, he carried Lin Xia on the beam of his bicycle, with the wood stacked on the rear carrier, back home. Lin Chun came inside, washed his hands, took a sip of water, and then took the money Lin Xia gave him to buy food. Lin Xia, meanwhile, borrowed a handsaw from Aunt Xu to start sawing the wood. Aunt Xu¡¯s house had a homemade wooden stand, but it was a hassle to put the thicker logs on it. Lin Qiu didn¡¯t want to sit idle even though her right arm was injured. Lin Xia had her sit on the logs to hold them steady, which also served as a way for her to chat. ¡°Sis, what shall we make for dinner tonight? Big brother should be able to eat with us, right?¡± Now that she was running her own household, Lin Qiu acted with renewed vigor. Lin Xia¡¯s hands continued working as she smiled, ¡°He should be able to eat. Just eat a little less! I saw big brother brought back those dried mushrooms, we can make a dish with a whole cabbage and some potatoes, and then cook more rice...¡± ¡°Okay! Sis!¡± Lin Qiu then thought of Xu Haihua, whom she saw at noon, and she glanced towards the direction of the house, whispering to Lin Xia, ¡°Sis, that person named Haihua seems not so easy to approach!¡± Lin Qiu hadn¡¯t worked at the clothing factory for long, so she barely knew anyone and had no impression of Xu Haihua. When she came back at noon, Aunt Xu introduced them briefly. Haihua looked at them coldly for a moment and then seemed to say something quite reluctantly to Aunt Xu when she entered the house. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter! We each live our lives; we are just renting a room from their family. Once your arm is better and you go to work, even though it¡¯s the same company, you don¡¯t need to care too much!¡± Lin Xia never planned on settling down here permanently, as every change was temporary. ¡°Sis! Can Dad let me work at the quilt factory?¡± Xiaoqiu was still very timid around Lin Aiguo. Lin Xia looked at her and laughed, ¡°Does it matter if he lets you? Xiaoqiu, remember this! From now on, we make our own decisions! No matter when, a person can only stand on their own two feet!¡± ¡°I understand, Sis!¡± Xiaoqiu said thoughtfully. When Lin Chun came back, Lin Xia saw he had bought rice, white flour, cornmeal, millet, and some other coarse grains. Lin Xia instructed Xiaoqiu, ¡°Xiaoqiu, when Big Brother returns, go inside, start soaking the rice...¡± Lin Chun came out of the house and smiled at his younger sister¡¯s achievements, ¡°Xiaoxia, not a bad haul!¡± ¡°I was waiting for you, Big Brother! Get the big saw ready!¡± Lin Xia joked with him. The siblings laughed and worked together, their efficiency increased when they did. But Xu Dame¡¯s two handsaws weren¡¯t very sharp, and there was no file to sharpen them with. Lin Xia wiped the sweat from her forehead, ¡°Big Brother! I¡¯ll go ask at Zhao Dame¡¯s house, see if they have a better handsaw to borrow!¡± With inadequate tools, it was tiring work without much to show for it! ¡°That could work! If her house has a file, borrow that too, I¡¯ll sharpen it!¡± Lin Chun¡¯s hands didn¡¯t stop working. Lin Xia brushed the sawdust off her body and headed to Zhao Dame¡¯s house. When she reached Zhao Dame¡¯s house and entered, she saw it wasn¡¯t just Zhao Dame and her grandson at home, but also a young man. Lin Xia was a bit puzzled. Wasn¡¯t this the man from the train? After a whole night on the train, facing him, she had a deep impression of his face. How come he was here? The man was also startled to see Lin Xia enter, but he quickly recovered, a knowing smile on his lips. Zhao Dame looked at her son and Lin Xia smiling, ¡°Xiaolin is here! Let me introduce you, this is my second son, Jiang Mingyuan. You can just call him Second Brother!¡± Lin Xia called out ¡°Second Brother¡± and then got straight to the point, ¡°Zhao Dame! Do you have a handsaw I could borrow?¡± In that era, young men and women were expected to maintain a certain distance from each other. She didn¡¯t want to bring up the fact that they had met before, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. Zhao Dame was very hospitable, ¡°Yes, of course! It works well! I¡¯ll take you to get it!¡± Lin Xia happily followed Zhao Dame and managed to also borrow a file. ¡°Xiaolin, do you know how to file saws? If not, should I send my second son to help?¡± Zhao Dame asked. Lin Xia quickly gestured with her hands, ¡°Thank you, Zhao Dame! My big brother knows how!¡± ¡°Ah, well then! If you need anything else, just come back to us!¡± ¡°Sure will!¡± Zhao Dame escorted Lin Xia to the gate before returning to her house. Chapter 45 - 45 45 Hold Back for Now ?45: Chapter 45: Hold Back for Now 45: Chapter 45: Hold Back for Now ¡°Mom! Is this the person you said rented the Xu Family¡¯s house?¡± Jiang Mingyuan asked. Granny Zhao sat by the Kang, holding her grandson, ¡°Yes! This girl is straightforward and capable, really impressive! But her life is quite tough. She told me her mom died, and not long after, her dad let a stepmom move in with her two kids, and now her dad has split them off...¡± ¡°She¡¯s renting a house without anything, life must be tough...¡± ¡°Then we should help out as much as we can!¡± Jiang Mingyuan felt sympathy. He had a good impression of this person named Xiaolin; they had sat face to face in a hard seat on the train overnight, which made him pay more attention. ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s what I thought too!¡± Granny Zhao nodded with a smile. She had a very good impression of Lin Xia and was also willing to keep in touch with her frequently. Suddenly Granny Zhao remembered, when her second son had just met the girl, their reactions were a bit unusual, ¡°Second son, have you met this girl before?¡± Jiang Mingyuan countered, ¡°Mom! Why would you say that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t you tell your mom everything?¡± Granny Zhao grew even more curious. Could it be that her second son and this girl... Seeing the change in his mom¡¯s expression, Jiang Mingyuan guessed what she was thinking, the last thing he wanted was her misunderstanding something, so he hurriedly explained, ¡°I met her on the train!¡± Granny Zhao slapped her thigh excitedly, ¡°What a coincidence!¡± ¡°Yes! It really is a bit of a coincidence!¡± Jiang Mingyuan laughed, ¡°But we didn¡¯t talk!¡± Lin Xia and Lin Chun now had proper tools, their work efficiency improved significantly. After sawing some wood, Lin Chun put down the handsaw and started splitting logs with a large axe. Lin Xia went inside to drink water, seeing Granny Xu squatting by the stove peeling potatoes. She casually asked the time, knowing it was almost dinner time, she rode Lin Chun¡¯s bicycle to buy cabbage. Previously, their older brother was supposed to buy grains, but they had forgotten to mention buying vegetables. Now in Spring City, there were several places to buy vegetables. Near Paradise Street where she lived, there was a spontaneously formed small market, where people sold vegetables they grew and couldn¡¯t eat themselves. Lin Xia bought a large cabbage and five or six potatoes, greeted her older brother, and went inside to prepare dinner. When Lin Dong returned from school, not only was dinner ready, but Lin Chun had also chopped a pile of firewood in the yard. The four siblings sat together, enjoying their delicious dinner happily. Granny Xu¡¯s daughter, Xu Haihua, came back from work and saw a pile of firewood in the yard, and she pouted unhappily, clearly, this was the work of the newcomers. Xu Haihua wasn¡¯t tall, dressed in a dark blue work uniform with a white shirt collar, her figure slim. Her two black braids and small round face with thin bangs made her look very young; her willow-leaf arched eyebrows, phoenix eyes, low bridge nose, and slightly buck teeth gave her a youthful appearance. Seeing her daughter return, Granny Xu hurriedly called her to wash her hands and eat. As Xu Haihua was washing her hands, she could hear bursts of laughter from the Western House, filling her with displeasure. Once in the Eastern House, as mother and daughter sat down to eat, Xu Haihua whispered, ¡°Mom! Let¡¯s just rent to them for a month, and no more when it¡¯s up! It¡¯s so inconvenient having outsiders coming and going. What about me going to the bathroom at night? Plus, they also have a teen with them, I really don¡¯t know what you were thinking!¡± From now on, even going to the bathroom at night would have to be inside the house, which was quite unpleasant! It used to be just the two of them, and she always went in the kitchen bucket. Xu Daniao hadn¡¯t thought it through at the time. When her daughter returned at noon, she went along with her antics. But the money had already been accepted, and the guests had even rented luggage. She couldn¡¯t just kick them out right away, could she? What would that make her? She couldn¡¯t do that! Xu Daniao spoke softly, trying to persuade, ¡°Haihua! It¡¯s all mom¡¯s fault! You just have to bear with it for a while! When Zhao Daniao brought them over, seeing them kicked out of their homes, it wasn¡¯t easy; I felt sorry for them. Moreover, our house¡¯s Western House had been empty, so I thought maybe we could make some money from renting it out to have a little extra spending cash! By winter, with people living in the Western House, not only would the kang be heated, keeping us warm, but it would also save us a lot of trouble, so I just...¡± The mother and daughter struggled to pick up firewood and chop it into pieces. It wasn¡¯t easy. Usually, the older son-in-law would come over and help with the chores sometimes, but he had his own job and household chores to attend to, so they couldn¡¯t always rely on him. Xu Haihua took a bite of shredded potato, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear about a little cold? It¡¯s better than feeling awkward like this! Alright, Mom! I can only bear it for a month at most! When it¡¯s close to the deadline, we don¡¯t even need to discuss it with them. Just say we¡¯re not renting it out anymore and tell them to find a place quickly. By the way, did Zhao Daniao ask about me? Is Brother Mingyuan at home?¡± Xu Daniao knew her daughter¡¯s temperament, and now she wasn¡¯t in a position to say much. She started eating her meal, ¡°He should be at home. He doesn¡¯t have a job, where else would be be.¡± In the Western House, Lin Xia and the others had no idea what the mother and daughter in the Eastern House had discussed. They polished off a pot of dry rice and two small bowls of cabbage, mushroom, and potato strips, leaving just a bit of soup. Lin Dong stood up, rubbing his round, bulging stomach, ¡°Big Sis! It would¡¯ve been better with some pickled vegetables!¡± ¡°These next few days, if we come across those radishes and shepherd¡¯s purse, let¡¯s buy some and pickle it! Right, we also need to ferment some sauerkraut for winter, or else what will we eat!¡± Lin Xia mentioned this and realized they still had to buy a jar for pickling, truly, to be broke is to lack everything. Lin Chun agreed, ¡°Yeah! We also need to stock up on potatoes and cabbage! Xiaoxia, this is going to cost money!¡± He had always handed over his salary without thinking too much about it, but since his older sister and the others started living on their own, he began to deeply understand the importance of money. Upon mention of money, Lin Qiu reflected, ¡°We really haven¡¯t stopped spending money today! Sis! Let¡¯s eat less from now on, save some money. It¡¯ll be better once I start work and get my salary!¡± Between the rent for the room and their luggage, it was four dollars, and then they bought so many other things, including grains and vegetables¡ªit all added up. Lin Xia, not wanting them to worry about the money issue, smiled, ¡°I still have money! What¡¯s there to fear? We must eat our fill! Besides, there¡¯s no rush for those; buying them before October 1st will be just in time!¡± She calculated in her mind that if Lin Aiguo returned to the mountains tomorrow, she¡¯d quickly move their clothes over, and then the day after go to the provincial city; if she didn¡¯t act fast, earning the money from the scarves would be difficult. After the meal, Lin Qiu helped collect the bowls, while Lin Xia washed them. Lin Chun continued to work, Lin Dong had finished his homework at school, and he joined Lin Chun in their tasks. The two brothers found a spot to stack a small pile of firewood. Only when they saw it was getting late did Lin Chun tidy up and head home. Lin Chun pushed his bike into the courtyard from the front gate, just as Lin Dong came out. Seeing Lin Chun return alone, Lin Aiguo, with his hands on his hips and a stern expression, demanded, ¡°Where are the others?¡± Lin Chun parked his bike, slowly walking towards Lin Aiguo, his face marred by distress, ¡°Dad! I couldn¡¯t find them! I rushed to Lin Dong¡¯s school right after work, but when I arrived, the school was nearly empty. I searched all over the streets afterward, but didn¡¯t find them...¡± All these excuses were ones he had come up with on his way home. He suddenly realized that, since telling a lie to his father at noon, lying had become somewhat easier. Chapter 46 - 46 46 This Isnt Over Between Us ?46: Chapter 46: This Isn¡¯t Over Between Us 46: Chapter 46: This Isn¡¯t Over Between Us Lin Aiguo¡¯s chest heaved with anger as he cursed, ¡°It would be better if they all died out there!¡± He thought that by speaking to Lin Chun at noon, given his understanding of his eldest son, Lin Chun would definitely find those kids and bring them back to apologize to him. But he was prepared for everything, yet no one was found, how could he not be angry? However, he was the one who had driven them out, and he, as their father, surely couldn¡¯t go out to find them himself, could he? What would that look like? That would really spoil them! Lin Chun timidly followed Lin Aiguo into the house, pretending to check the large pot to see what was for dinner, but Lin Aiguo, without even asking, went straight into the Eastern House. In the large pot, there was nothing but half a pot of water, and Lin Chun turned over the bowl rack, finding only half a bowl of cornmeal porridge. Lin Chun picked up the bowl and drank it clean, then scooped some water from the water jar to wash the bowl, before returning to the Western House. He sighed quietly, relieved that he had eaten his fill at his eldest sister¡¯s place; otherwise, the thin cornmeal porridge wouldn¡¯t have been satisfactory. In the Eastern House, Lin Aiguo was sitting on the edge of the southern kang, puffing on his tobacco pipe. Qian Chunli sat on the neatly made mattress, yet her eyes were constantly on Lin Aiguo¡¯s expression. ¡°Aiguo, perhaps I should go look for the kids tomorrow! Where does that eldest girl think she¡¯s staying? What if something happens? As parents...¡± She was just saying this, although deep down she did not think so. Lin Aiguo hummed, ¡°No need! They¡¯re all spoiled! Just watch, they¡¯ll slink back here themselves in no more than two days! See how I¡¯ll deal with them when I come back from the mountain!¡± After speaking, he took off his shoes and climbed onto the kang, ¡°Let¡¯s sleep! What¡¯s the matter with Lin Qiang? What¡¯s he doing? Why hasn¡¯t he come back yet?¡± Qian Chunli chuckled nervously as she explained for Lin Qiang, ¡°He said a friend needed him for something. Let¡¯s just go to sleep!¡± Lin Aiguo crawled under the quilt at the head of the kang, and Qian Chunli hurriedly pulled the lamp cord. Lin Yu had lain down early on the northern kang; in fact, she wasn¡¯t asleep at all, yet she didn¡¯t dare make a sound. When Lin Qiang came home for dinner, his gaze turned strange upon hearing that she had spilled the beans. After dinner, he ran out, and no one knew what he was up to. Thinking about it, she still felt wronged. Could all that really be blamed on her? Lin Qiang returned home very late; he entered the house quietly, and Qian Chunli, hearing noise, called out softly, ¡°Qiangzi! You sleep at the end of the kang!¡± Normally, when Lin Aiguo wasn¡¯t home, Lin Qiang would sleep on the northern kang, and Qian Chunli and Lin Yu, the mother and daughter, would sleep on the southern kang. Lin Qiang, in the dark, climbed into the neatly made quilt on the southern kang and, before lying down, glared fiercely at Lin Yu on the northern kang, having never seen someone as foolish as her. In the same room, Lin Yu also woke up when she heard noise, biting her lower lip in resentment. The next day, Lin Aiguo got up early at half past four and left the house, while Qian Chunli got up early to make him breakfast. As soon as Lin Aiguo left, Lin Chun felt a huge relief. He thought of telling his eldest sister to come back to collect her clothes while it was still early before work. Lin Chun quickly ate some breakfast and then also left the house, leaving only Qian Chunli and the others. While Qian Chunli was washing dishes in the kitchen, in the Eastern House, Lin Qiang pointed at Lin Yu¡¯s nose and started scolding, ¡°Lin Yu! Are you an idiot? Even if I was seen yesterday, I didn¡¯t say anything! And you, you just had to blurt it all out! Did your brain become foolish from all the studying...¡± She could really drive him crazy! Had he known Lin Yu was so useless, he never would have involved her in the first place! Now what would Lin Aiguo think of them? ¡°You¡¯re the idiot! If you¡¯re so smart, how come you got caught?¡± Lin Yu retorted sharply. She initially felt guilty and embarrassed inside about Lin Qiang, but his scolding left her with nothing but greater grievance and anger. Lin Qiang, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, bristled, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Lin Yu, just wait! We¡¯re not done yet!¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting! What are you going to do about it?¡± Lin Yu sneered, not that she looked down on Lin Qiang, but mainly because he was all bark and no bite. Qian Chunli, hearing the noise, entered the room and angrily pointed at them, scolding, ¡°What are you arguing about so early in the morning! It¡¯s no use blaming anyone now that things have come to this! Get on with what you need to do! Lin Yu, aren¡¯t you going to school?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m going!¡± Lin Yu glared at Lin Qiang, ¡°I¡¯ll just finish in the bathroom and then leave!¡± Lin Qiang, more infuriated by her demeanor, pointed at Lin Yu¡¯s retreating figure with a flick of her braid and complained to Qian Chunli, ¡°Mom! Look at her! She¡¯s clearly in the wrong, yet she still has the nerve to gloat in front of me!¡± Qian Chunli¡¯s expression hardened, ¡°Qiangzi! Why can¡¯t you let it go? I didn¡¯t even get a chance to ask you yesterday, but how could you still stoop to thievery?¡± Even if you saw that Lin Xia was selling scarves, couldn¡¯t you have come back and talked to me about it, huh? Is it not shameful to sneak into their house and rummage around?¡± Lin Qiang tried to find an excuse, ¡°What! Mom! That¡¯s not what happened at all! I went there thinking of getting back at them, who knew Dad would suddenly barge in with a stick. Then, with what Lin Yu said, I really ended up looking like a thief!¡± Qian Chunli was half-convinced but as a mother, she never wanted to think too poorly of her own child, so she rather hypnotized herself, ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re already so grown up, learn something good. Don¡¯t keep getting involved in bad things. If you really anger your dad, do you ever want to take over from him?¡± Lin Qiang managed to coax Qian Chunli out of the Eastern House, and only then did his ears get some rest. Meanwhile, Lin Xia, after finding out from Lin Chun that Lin Aiguo had returned to the mountain, did not rush back to get her belongings. Instead, she took advantage of the good weather to air out the quilts and mattresses. She had been busy yesterday with firewood and shopping, and the sun wasn¡¯t very good, so she hadn¡¯t thought of airing them out. Lin Qiu followed behind Lin Xia like a sidekick, asking, ¡°Sister! Do you need me to go back with you?¡± She was worried her sister wouldn¡¯t be able to carry everything on her own. ¡°Sure! It¡¯s a good chance to bring our bicycles back! But can your arm handle it? Otherwise, we wait for Dongzi after school!¡± Lin Xia was worried about Lin Qiu straining her right arm again. ¡°No worries! Sister! I can manage!¡± Lin Qiu didn¡¯t want to appear useless, especially since her left arm was still strong, able to grip the bicycle handle with one hand. So Lin Xia and Lin Qiu walked back to the Lin Family¡¯s house. Seeing the gate tightly locked, they looked at each other and laughed, better that nobody was home! On the way, they had even mentioned that if Lin Qiang were home, he might have caused trouble. Upon entering, Lin Xia opened the gate and started to pack up with Lin Qiu. Lin Xia told Lin Qiu to pack the clothes and small items while she went out to check around. She first visited the kitchen and found a canning jar to pack some of last year¡¯s pickled mustard and salted vegetables. She then visited the storage room and sorted through various items; among the clutter, she picked up a chopping block from a pile on a sideboard. She packed two large chunks of pine fire starters; such materials were available in the mountains, but collecting them would be time-consuming, and who had the time for that? It made more sense to take some ready-made ones, and later she would just say she found them in South Mountain. Noticing useful items, she quietly placed them in Jade¡¯s room. She took another trip to the backyard and picked some leeks, radishes, and cabbages, also stashing them in Jade¡¯s room¡ªgrown by Xiaoqiu herself! When Lin Xia got back to the Western House, she saw Lin Qiu spreading clothes from the mahogany box onto the green checkered cloth on the bed; she hurriedly lent a hand. Both sisters quickly packed two large cloth bags, after all their eldest brother still had to stay here temporarily, and they did not take everything he might need. Once outside, however, Lin Xia couldn¡¯t find her bicycle. ¡°Hey! Where did my bike go?¡± Lin Qiu also looked around the yard, bewildered by its absence. ¡°It¡¯s not here, sis! What do we do?¡± Lin Xia knew it must have been Lin Qiang who took it, but they couldn¡¯t wait, so they had to ride the other bicycle home. Lin Qiu sat on the rear rack hugging a large cloth bag, with Lin Xia tying another in front of her. The two of them then left the Lin family. Lin Xia expected to meet some neighbors on the street near their home, but it was strangely deserted. Once home, the sisters began to settle in. Chapter 47 - 47 47 Selling Hazelnuts ?47: Chapter 47 Selling Hazelnuts 47: Chapter 47 Selling Hazelnuts Lin Xia and Lin Qiu had tidied up their home, and when Lin Xia found herself with some free time, she couldn¡¯t help but muse over her eager desire to restock goods from the provincial capital. However, she now had less than a hundred yuan left in her pocket. The amount of goods she could stock up on with that money was limited! And she didn¡¯t know when she would be able to go next! A silk scarf would cost two yuan and fifty cents. She calculated the money in her pocket and, after deducting the round-trip train fare, could only buy thirty scarves. If she were to make a profit of fifty cents per scarf, she would earn fifteen yuan. After subtracting the seven yuan train fare, she would only make eight yuan. Lin Xia wondered what else she could take to the provincial city to sell so she could afford more goods. There was definitely no time to acquire anything new; she decided to check the stock in Jade¡¯s room instead. Lin Xia took the opportunity while Lin Qiu was out of the room and sneaked a look around Jade¡¯s room. Besides the two Lingzhi mushrooms on the dead tree stump, the most abundant items in Jade¡¯s room were mushrooms and hazelnuts. She was surprised to find that the mushrooms she had gathered from the mountain on her previous trip were still very fresh. The skin of the hazelnuts had turned a yellow-green color, as though they had been drained of water. Lin Xia couldn¡¯t help thinking, did Jade¡¯s room also have a drying function? But why hadn¡¯t the Lingzhi and mushrooms changed? She thought and thought, and then it struck her¡ªcould it be because of the color? But that seemed a bit too mystical, right? Yet the reality was right before her eyes! Seeing the heaps of hazelnuts on the floor, Lin Xia thought how convenient it would be if they could shed their husks by themselves. No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than the hazelnuts magically fell out of their yellow-green husks. Lin Xia was overjoyed! Oh my God! This was simply miraculous! Initially, she had been wondering how to deal with so many hazelnuts, how to lay them out to dry and dehusk them, but this made things so much easier. Although she didn¡¯t know whether the mountain goods would be recognized or purchased in the provincial city, at least she had something to sell now, didn¡¯t she? Lin Xia packed all the dehusked hazelnuts into the adjacent sacks using her mind, filling two large sacks and more than half of another. The mushrooms, still fresh as last time, could sell for two cents per bunch and make some money. Lin Xia suddenly felt filled with strength. She pretended to ride a bike to South Mountain, where she took the vegetable chopping board and the pine tree Mingzi from Jade¡¯s room, and also brought back some wood for the fire. ¡°Xiaoqiu, I¡¯m leaving you fifty cents for household expenses. I¡¯m catching the train tonight!¡± Lin Xia instructed Lin Qiu, while also telling her to take the money. Lin Qiu knew her sister was going to restock. She hesitated to take it, ¡°Sister! Take all the money! We¡¯ve got enough grain and vegetables at home, no need to spend money!¡± Being out and about, there were many places to spend money. An extra dime could still buy something to eat. ¡°Better to leave some just in case there¡¯s something to buy! I¡¯m leaving tonight, and at the earliest, I won¡¯t be back until the morning after tomorrow!¡± Lin Xia insisted, knowing all too well the feeling of an empty pocket. Now that her stocking money was getting low, she would have insisted on leaving more if possible. Lin Qiu quietly accepted it, thinking of her little brother, in case he needed to buy a notebook or something, he would need some money too. After eating a bit, Lin Xia stuffed a few big flatbreads and some pickles into her bag, carried a metal tea caddy for getting hot water, and boarded the train to the provincial city that evening. Compared to her first trip filled with confusion and anxiety, Lin Xia had a clear goal this time, and so she felt very calm. Having endured a night on the green train, Lin Xia got off at her station feeling a bit swollen in her hands and feet, but she bit her lip and vigorously stamped her feet and clenched her fists, which made her feel much better instantly. After leaving the train station, Lin Xia found out the bus route to the agricultural market and squeezed onto the bus with people heading to work. This time, she definitely couldn¡¯t go to the market where she had encountered Meifang, as she vividly remembered that woman called Meifang and had to be cautious. What if she was seen by her again, and, out of dislike, Meifang made things difficult for her? As an outsider, she wasn¡¯t even a small shrimp; she needed to remain very careful. The market she found was indeed crowded. Lin Xia carefully avoided the crowd, entered the public restroom, and waited until there was no one inside and no noise outside. She then carefully took out most of a sack of hazelnuts from the Jade room and placed the bag of mushrooms inside it, along with the plastic sheet she had used last time, tying up the opening and switching hands as she left the restroom. She scanned the vendors around, most of whom were dressed as old farmers, clearly honest and simple folks. All they had on offer this season were vegetables like cabbages and potatoes. Ultimately, Lin Xia chose to set up near an old, thin man selling potatoes. With her previous experience in setting up a stall, Lin Xia was much more composed. She quickly spread out the plastic sheet on the ground, took out some mushrooms, and divided them into several small piles, doing the same with the hazelnuts. Mushrooms were two cents per small pile, hazelnuts five cents per small pile, because she didn¡¯t have a scale; that was the only way she could sell them. The mushrooms sold quickly as they were cheap and fresh, good for two meals at home even for a small family. Latterly, as people realized that hazelnuts were a type of nut with varied nutrition, there was still a lack of recognition and most just inquired without buying. After thinking it over, Lin Xia decided she couldn¡¯t waste her efforts, no matter how much money she made in the end, as long as she could sell the goods. So she encouraged the people at her stall to try them. That really drew a crowd! In a short time, many people gathered, old and young, men and women, all eager to have a taste. Lin Xia wiped the sweat from her forehead, grateful that these were wild-foraged with no cost. If they were from her own cultivation, giving them away as samples would have pained her. Yet among those trying, there were not only those looking for a freebie but also some genuinely interested in buying them to cook at home. After all, these were rare compared to sunflower seeds and not easily found; some had never even seen such things before. After being persuaded by Lin Xia, they all seemed to think these were great products. The half sack of hazelnuts sold out quickly, even faster than the mushrooms, with people still waiting to buy. Lin Xia grabbed two handfuls for an old man beside her, letting him eat them while asking him to watch her things, claiming she needed to fetch more goods from a relative¡¯s house nearby. Some kindly offered to go with her to help, but Lin Xia pleasantly declined. How could she let people help? That would give it all away! Lin Xia staggered back with another whole bag, and as for the remaining, she decided to tamper with them while waiting for a moment when no one was around. The sales were booming, and then a not-so-tall middle-aged man, who had been observing for a while, asked, ¡°Young lady! These are all foraged from the mountains, right?¡± ¡°Yes! My brother and others collected them from the mountains!¡± Lin Xia said, observing him. He had a scruffy beard, wore an old combat cap with frayed edges, but his eyes were particularly sharp. The middle-aged man simply smiled and continued to watch. Lin Xia blinked, not saying anything more. She always felt that this man had something to say to her, probably waiting for a private moment due to the crowd at the stall. Once the crowd had dispersed, indeed, the man shared his intentions. He usually sold roasted sunflower seeds and other items with his wife in a movie theater. Today, having seen her selling hazelnuts and having tried roasted hazelnuts before, he recognized their taste and nutritional value and thought about buying more to roast and sell at the theater. Chapter 48 - 48 48 The Big Customer ?48: Chapter 48 The Big Customer 48: Chapter 48 The Big Customer Lin Xia was delighted to hear this; what a big customer! Should they start buying, it wouldn¡¯t just be a pile or so, it was highly likely that they¡¯d purchase entire sacks. But how should she sell them? She obviously couldn¡¯t produce them out of thin air in front of the man. The middle-aged man perhaps noticed her distress, ¡°Young lady, what do you mean by that?¡± Lin Xia quickly made up an excuse, ¡°Uncle, you¡¯ve seen for yourself, I don¡¯t have a scale, so I don¡¯t know how to price them!¡± The middle-aged man couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°My home has a large scale, let¡¯s just discuss how much per pound, shall we?¡± ¡°Then uncle, how much do you think is appropriate per pound?¡± Lin Xia wanted to hear his offer. Hazelnuts, being a type of nut, could sell for ten or twenty yuan per pound in the future, but she wasn¡¯t sure what the right price was now. The middle-aged man grabbed a handful of hazelnuts and weighed them in his hand, ¡°These things are quite heavy; there isn¡¯t much to a pound, how about two dimes per pound, is that okay?¡± Lin Xia shook her head vigorously, ¡°Uncle, the price you¡¯re offering is too low. Just carrying them down from the mountain after picking them is pretty tough. We have to dry them in the courtyard at home, then manually beat them with sticks to remove the husks, and then transport them from quite a distance. It¡¯s a huge effort! Moreover, these hazelnuts are quality goods! Thirty cents, if you agree, I¡¯ll find someone to deliver them to your house!¡± Given the current price levels, Lin Xia felt that the price was reasonable, plus she obtained the nuts quite easily, and she had the Jade room which automatically dried and shelled the nuts, saving a lot of labor. She even thought that if this deal went through, she would head to the mountains for a major harvest when she returned. The middle-aged man insisted, ¡°Two dimes and five, we still have to roast them when we get back!¡± He felt the price he offered was reasonable. ¡°Two dimes and eight, I definitely wouldn¡¯t be selling at this price if they were roasted! You¡¯re certainly not gonna sell them by the pound at the cinema...¡± Lin Xia knew very well that his profits would multiply several times after roasting them. The price she was offering was definitely low; she would not be able to sell them so cheaply if it weren¡¯t for the ease of harvesting in the mountains and the extraordinary way she transported them. The two settled on the final price at two dimes and seven; Lin Xia thought that even one extra cent per pound was a cent gained. The middle-aged man asked, ¡°How much more does your relative¡¯s family have?¡± Lin Xia lied, ¡°There¡¯s one more sack!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this, I¡¯ll take this big half sack as well. My house is near the cinema, it¡¯s perfect to drop it off first, and you can find out where I live. Then I can accompany you to your relative¡¯s place to pick them up, or you can have someone deliver them to my house if you prefer!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have someone deliver them to you,¡± Lin Xia¡¯s heart leaped with joy; she had no relatives, it was all a bluff. ¡°All right!¡± Lin Xia followed the middle-aged man, pushing the sack full of hazelnuts on a bicycle to his home first. On the way, Lin Xia felt the sharp little knife in her pocket, thinking if this guy tried anything fishy, she¡¯d make him bleed. When they entered, his wife was at home and quickly went to get the large scale. This big half sack when weighed came to a total of over 82 pounds, costing 22 yuan, 1 dime, and 4 cents. Lin Xia generously rounded down the four cents, accepting 22 yuan and 1 dime. After leaving their house, Lin Xia found a secluded corner nearby, rested for quite a while, and made sure no one was around when it was about time, before she produced another sack of hazelnuts. By the time she got to the man¡¯s front door, caught her breath, and knocked on the door. This sack weighed over 113 pounds, amounting to 30 yuan, 5 dimes, and 1 cent. The man simply handed her 30 yuan and 5 dimes. The middle-aged man looked at Lin Xia collecting the money and asked with a smile, ¡°Little girl, when will you come again next time?¡± Both him and his wife had looked before, and the hazelnuts were indeed excellent, with few shriveled or bad ones. Lin Xia didn¡¯t dare to give him a definite answer, ¡°Uncle! You go ahead and sell them, and if we come next time, we will definitely stop by your place!¡± ¡°Alright! Just come straight to our house!¡± Lin Xia returned to that remote corner and checked her money; she made a total of 52 yuan and 60 cents from the two times, which could be considered a bountiful harvest. Together with the 16 yuan and 80 cents she made from selling odds and ends, she made a total of 69 yuan and 40 cents from selling the mountain goods, just 60 cents shy of 70 yuan! Lin Xia hopped excitedly on the spot, now she would have quite a bit more money to invest in goods. And maybe, when she came to the provincial city next time, she could sell some hazelnuts too, and at this thought, Lin Xia felt as if she had unwittingly stumbled upon a path to riches. Next, Lin Xia went to buy scarves in a few places, just like the last time. However, Lin Xia¡¯s attention was quickly drawn to some hair clips of various beautiful designs. Ever since she started selling scarves, she had been paying closer attention to these items. The forestry shop at home, along with the supply and sales and the ¡°200¡± store, she had looked at all of them, and none had such lovely and unique hair clips. Actually, when she bought one for Lin Qiu last time, she was already a bit tempted. But because she did not know what the situation would be upon her return, she did not dare to make a move rashly. Now, with some experience under her belt, she could tell that as long as something was fashionable and innovative, it would definitely sell well back home. Moreover, the hair clips were really inexpensive, and she could totally mark them up back home to make a profit of 30 cents each. Lin Xia kept aside the train fare and some small change, and spent all other money on scarves and hair clips. With limited funds in hand and wanting to bring back as much as possible to sell, this time she didn¡¯t bring anything for her elder brother and the others. Once again taking the night train was a hard ordeal; the carriage was filled with various smells, including that of the toilets, and the train would stop at every station along its journey in the dead of night. As they were nearing Spring City Station, Lin Xia moved early to the junction between carriages, and she could feel herself almost sick to death, especially wanting to vomit, but she clenched her teeth and persevered. She kept telling herself, ¡°How can you make money without suffering a little?¡± When the train arrived at the station, Lin Xia got off with shaky steps, carrying a large bag along with the crowd. Just as she stepped onto the platform, a crisp call of ¡°Sister¡± lifted Lin Xia¡¯s spirits. Lin Xia saw Lin Qiu had come to pick her up and smiled broadly, ¡°Xiaoqiu, when did you get here?¡± She originally thought about walking home, but it was great that Xiaoqiu could come! Having a sister is truly wonderful! ¡°I¡¯ve only been waiting for a short while! Sister, you must be exhausted, right? Let¡¯s hurry home!¡± Lin Qiu knew Lin Xia would be arriving in the morning, so she had prepared the meal and kept it warm in the pot before riding her bicycle to pick her up. Now, seeing the pale complexion and red veins in her sister¡¯s eyes, Lin Qiu felt especially bad. If it weren¡¯t for their burden, how good would it be for her sister to just work a regular job? Lin Xia shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m fine! Just hungry! Everything¡¯s good at home, right?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s good! Sister, just hang in there, you¡¯ll be able to eat as soon as we¡¯re home, it¡¯s all ready! It¡¯s being kept warm in the pot.¡± Lin Xia let Lin Qiu hold the bag while she rode the bicycle with her sister; the duo chatted and laughed on their way home. Having just gotten off the train, Lin Xia really couldn¡¯t eat much, feeling bloated and uncomfortable in her stomach, so she just had a bit of porridge and a few strips of pickled vegetable. Chapter 49 - 49 49 Checking Money ?49: Chapter 49: Checking Money 49: Chapter 49: Checking Money Lin Qiu curiously looked at the goods her sister brought back last time, feeling that the products from the provincial city were indeed attractive. Lin Xia washed her hands and face and then crawled into bed to catch up on some sleep. Before closing her eyes, she told Lin Qiu to call her at ten o¡¯clock. Lin Qiu felt a bit heartbroken, ¡°Sister! Just get a good sleep! Isn¡¯t it the same if you go sell tomorrow?¡± Lin Xia looked at her and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Xiaoqiu. I¡¯ll rest for a while and then I¡¯ll be revived. Selling these will bring in money to buy things for the family!¡± The goods in her hands had to be quickly turned into money. After that, she would go up the mountain for a big sweep. If she went too late, she feared there wouldn¡¯t be many hazelnuts left. Then she would make a few more trips back and forth to earn more money. With money in hand, she wouldn¡¯t panic or fear even if unforeseen events happened in the future. Lin Qiu also knew the family¡¯s situation, so she didn¡¯t persuade her further... Lin Xia felt much better after her sleep, called awake by Lin Qiu, no longer feeling as uncomfortable as she had right after getting off the bus. She couldn¡¯t help but reflect that a young body was indeed more resilient. A few years from now, the same exertion would definitely be unsustainable. By then, Lin Xia felt hungry. She had some porridge and got herself tidied up. Because she wanted to sell hair clips, she found a plywood sheet at home, covered it with a red cloth, slung her bag over her shoulder, and rode her bicycle to Chopstick Factory No. 1. That day, when she had sold all the scarves, some female workers had immediately asked her when she would come next, so she thought of hitting Factory No. 1 first, then moving on to Factory No. 2 when sales at the first one slowed down. At lunchtime, when the factory gates opened, people came out, some riding and others pushing their bicycles. Those who had sharp eyes and had bought Lin Xia¡¯s scarves spotted her. Seeing that she was selling more than just scarves, they gathered around. Lin Xia was selling hair clips this time. She placed the plywood she had brought from home on the back rack of her bike and spread the red cloth over it, then displayed several different hair clips, making it quite eye-catching. ¡°Girl! You finally came?¡± ¡°These hair clips look really nice, how much are they?¡± Everyone crowded around, bombarding Lin Xia with questions. Lin Xia greeted everyone with a smile first and softly told them the prices. During the lunch break, Lin Xia sold a good number of scarves and even more hair clips, which went faster than the scarves. This time, having her own home, she didn¡¯t have to squat in a hidden corner to count her money stealthily. Lin Xia rode her bike home feeling delightful. When she arrived, Lin Dong and Lin Qiu had just finished eating. The two of them saw the smile on Lin Xia¡¯s face and knew she must have sold a lot. The two of them huddled around Lin Xia quietly inquiring. Lin Xia didn¡¯t even know exactly how much she had made. ¡°Let¡¯s count it together then!¡± So, they locked the door and the three of them quietly counted the money inside the house. Counting the large and small bills, even the coins, they found the task exceptionally joyful. Seeing the happy, excited, red-cheeked faces of her brother and sister, their eyes gleaming with excitement yet trying not to laugh aloud, Lin Xia¡¯s smile grew even wider. Previously, she would hide in a hidden corner to count the money¡ªnone of the shared joy she felt now. She had decided to sell everything first and then go pick hazelnuts in the mountain. After gathering enough, she would head to the provincial city, ensuring that none of her trips were wasted. Was there ever going to be a fear of not having money to make? After dinner, Lin Qiu wouldn¡¯t let Lin Xia wash the dishes, insisting she rest in the quilt on the kang. Lin Xia noticed that her sister would feel uncomfortable both physically and mentally if she didn¡¯t work, so even though it was only a few bowls, she didn¡¯t argue with her about it. After selling some goods and making some money, Lin Xia felt a sense of satisfaction and slept soundly. When she woke up around four o¡¯clock, she was fully rested and set out to sell scarves. This time, she didn¡¯t go to Chopstick Factory No. 1 but instead went to Chopsticks Factory No. 2. Perhaps because some people between the two factories knew each other, they gathered around Lin Xia when they saw her selling items, asking for prices and noting that they finally saw her coming to sell at their factory¡¯s entrance, which made it quite lively. Although it took a bit more conversation, she really sold quite a lot. As Lin Xia left Chopsticks Factory No. 2, she figured she would come back for another day and probably sell most of her stock. Business was really good now! No wonder many people said that at this time, as long as you dare to think, dare to act, and endure hardships, you could generally make money! After Lin Xia returned home, she found her eldest brother Lin Chun was there. Lin Xia set down her cross-body bag and smiled as she asked, ¡°You¡¯re here, Big Brother! Have you eaten yet?¡± Lin Chun, seeing his younger sister return, had a joyful expression. He knew in his heart that she must have sold a lot. Before Lin Xia had returned, Xiaoqiu and Lin Dong had already excitedly recounted the events in a whisper. ¡°Not yet! I was thinking of waiting a bit to eat with you! Xiaoxia, you must be exhausted from these past few days, I see your cheeks have even sunken,¡± Lin Chun observed carefully, feeling a bit of heartache for his older sister. The back-and-forth journeys and the hard seats for two nights must have been tough. Lin Xia smiled at him, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Big Brother! I¡¯m still healthy!¡± She then asked, ¡°You haven¡¯t been mistreated at home, have you?¡± ¡°No, Xiaoxia! You eat first.¡± Lin Chun thought it was better to say whatever he wanted to discuss after his older sister had eaten. Lin Xia compliantly sat down to eat. After the meal, Xiaoqiu and Lin Dong together started clearing the table and washing the dishes. Lin Chun, with a deep look in his eyes, asked Lin Xia, ¡°Xiaoxia, when do you plan to go back to work? You can¡¯t always be on leave, can you?¡± Lin Xia lowered her eyes, ¡°I at least need to save enough money for our living expenses. Otherwise, relying on that meager salary, who knows if we can even get it in hand? What would we eat and drink then?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s also true,¡± Lin Chun understood that since they had rented a place, they needed money every day for basic needs. He wasn¡¯t capable, and it was all on his little sister to support and take care of Xiaoqiu and Lin Dong. Lin Chun soon brought up the incident from the other day when Lin Xia had a confrontation with Lin Aiguo, earnestly advising her not to be so impulsive in the future, ¡°...after all, you are a young woman. If this gets out, it won¡¯t be good for your reputation; how will you find a good marital home then? What mother-in-law would want a daughter-in-law who doesn¡¯t recognize her own kin?¡± What worried him the most was how the incident with their father might affect her prospects of finding a partner. Besides, he was also worried that her temper might lead to serious trouble if she were married and any conflicts arose. Living together day by day, when isn¡¯t there a time when words don¡¯t slip? In case of a conflict, with her fierce character, he feared it would end badly! Lin Xia remained unconvinced, knowing she was severe by nature, but she didn¡¯t want to change for the time being. ¡°What of it? Even if I get married, am I sold to their family? Why should I endure everything? Just like our mother, always enduring¡ªwhat did she get at the end? Big Brother, I¡¯m aware, don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Lin Xia scornfully thought to herself, what would finding a marital home change? Could she just endure and concede? Living for the second time, she had no interest in humbling herself. Especially for a man with whom she had no blood relation, not to mention having to bear his children and take care of a whole family; If he treated her well, it would be fine, but if he bullied her, she would have to endure endlessly, was she worthless? After her rebirth, she had decided, she would live alone this lifetime, and once she had ensured her brother and sister were settled, with money and leisure, what couldn¡¯t she do? Chapter 50 - 50 50 Discovery ?50: Chapter 50: Discovery 50: Chapter 50: Discovery Lin Chun had never imagined that his eldest sister would talk to him with such a strong attitude, and he felt especially bad inside. Lin Chun softened his tone, ¡°Xiaoxia, your big brother knows that you¡¯ve become really opinionated and you can endure hardship and earn money, but you don¡¯t like to listen to what I say. However, there are still things I must say, because I am your eldest brother, our mother passed away early, and if you do something wrong in the future, it would be because I didn¡¯t take good care of you! You¡¯re also an elder sister, what kind of example are you setting for Xiaoqiu and Dongzi? If they follow your example, wouldn¡¯t that be...¡± Lin Xia looked over at the well-behaved Lin Qiu and Lin Dong sitting on the opposite kang edge, and realized that her big brother¡¯s words indeed highlighted areas where she had lacked consideration. She pursed her lips, ¡°You two better not learn from me!¡± Thinking back on it now, perhaps her thoughts at the time were too extreme. But just the thought of the future made her unable to help feeling resentment. She didn¡¯t want to see her days, which should be getting happier, to be weighed down by other people¡¯s business, so she was willing to say some soft words to mollify her big brother. Lin Dong spoke up, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big sis!¡± Lin Qiu echoed, ¡°Got it, sis!¡± Lin Chun felt slightly better inside, ¡°Alright!¡± Seeing Lin Chun¡¯s expressions ease up, Lin Xia suggested, ¡°Big brother! Why don¡¯t you move out too?¡± This way of living just wasn¡¯t quite right. It would be fine for them; they had all left that home, but she always felt uneasy about her big brother staying there alone. Lin Chun waved his hand, ¡°You live your lives, I don¡¯t want to move for now! If I move out too, our dad would certainly...¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but they all understood what he meant. Lin Xia signaled Lin Dong and Lin Qiu to draw the curtains and fasten the door properly before starting the accounting. Since the money had already been counted at noon, Lin Dong and Lin Qiu¡¯s excitement was slightly less than before. But seeing the handful of big and small bills, they still felt quite pleased. Lin Chun, on the other hand, was seeing the change from his sister¡¯s sales for the first time, and while he was helping to sort it, he felt reassured yet somewhat ashamed that, as the eldest brother, he seemed to do nothing but lecture. In the end, Lin Xia tidied up the earnings from the day¡¯s sales, gathering a total of one hundred and thirty-two yuan; they estimated that they could probably sell out the rest tomorrow. Lin Chun stayed a while longer before leaving. When he got home, there was indeed dinner left for him in the big pot¡ªa bowl of Coarse Rice Porridge. He had eaten quite a bit at his sister¡¯s place, so he did not eat it. After washing his face, he returned to the Western House. In the Eastern House, Qian Chunli and her daughters had been listening to the sounds outside. It wasn¡¯t until Lin Chun entered the Western House that Qian Chunli came out of the Eastern House. She quietly lifted the lid of the pot to look inside, then pursed her lips and went back to her room. Lin Yu muttered softly, ¡°Mom! He definitely went to look for Lin Xia and the others!¡± They had originally planned to wait for Lin Xia and the rest to come back to give them a good scolding, but nobody expected that none of them would return. Currently, only Lin Chun was leaving and returning home on time for work. Yet he had come back so late tonight, it was obvious, even without guessing, that he must have gone to see those few. Qian Chunli snorted, ¡°Of course! And he¡¯s even had dinner already, otherwise why wouldn¡¯t he have the Coarse Rice Porridge we deliberately left for him in the pot?¡± Just thinking about Lin Xia and those kids made her angry. The day before yesterday, they definitely came back to pick up some stuff, a good amount of vegetables from the backyard garden was missing. Dongzi scratched the back of his head, ¡°Mom! Who do you think they are staying with? I¡¯ve snooped around both Yu Hongmei¡¯s place and Haizi¡¯s, who¡¯s quite close to Lin Dong, and they are simply not there! I even went to Lin Dong¡¯s school, but that wily Xiaoxia managed to evade me!¡± Without a trace of them, he couldn¡¯t even find a target for his revenge. ¡°Qiangzi! Like this, go to Lin Dong¡¯s school again tomorrow and look for him. Lin Xia and Lin Qiu aren¡¯t at work, so we can¡¯t find a trace of them, but Lin Dong definitely has to go to school; You might run away from the monk, but not from the temple. Let¡¯s pin down where they are, then think of a plan! A bunch of brats think they can just hide and everything will be fine? Dream on!¡± Qian Chunli would never let things go easily, if they dared to stir trouble on the first, she¡¯d hit them back on the fifteenth. ¡°Alright! Then I¡¯ll go to Lin Dong¡¯s school tomorrow and block him!¡± Lin Dong agreed promptly. He could just ask them where exactly they were staying! Lin Yu glanced disdainfully at him and whispered, ¡°Why block him? Sneakily follow him and see where they actually are! And you, don¡¯t always wait at the front door; have you ever gone to the back one?¡± Sometimes she really felt that her brother was just a big frame with nothing inside his head. Lin Qiang saw the contempt in Lin Yu¡¯s eyes and stiffened his neck angrily whispering, ¡°That¡¯s what I meant! What did you think I said? How could I not have gone there? But as soon as school is out, whoosh, everyone comes out. How could it be easy to find someone?¡± He couldn¡¯t just barge into his classroom, could he? The two were on the verge of clashing again when Qian Chunli sharply stopped them, ¡°You both cut it out! You¡¯re both so grown up and still always fighting!¡± Lin Yu gave Lin Qiang a contemptuous glance, and Lin Qiang glared back, but neither said anything more. ... Lin Xia slept in the next day and only when she got up did she really feel completely rested. When Lin Qiu saw Lin Xia wake up, she asked anxiously, ¡°Sis! Are you fully rested now? Are you hungry? Go wash your face, and I¡¯ll bring the food up to you!¡± Lin Xia rubbed her eyes and put on her clothes, ¡°Sure! What¡¯s for breakfast?¡± Lin Qiu smiled with pursed lips, ¡°Steamed bread, cornmeal porridge, and potato slices!¡± The previous day she borrowed some yeast from Mrs. Xu, made the dough last night, and this morning Lin Dong helped her make cornmeal steamed bread, cornmeal porridge, and fried potato slices. ¡°Not bad! I¡¯ll go wash up!¡± Lin Xia felt it was truly good to be living just with her family. While Lin Xia was washing up, Lin Qiu brought the meal into the room. After Lin Xia ate, she checked the time and saw it was about right, so she went to the Chopsticks Factory No. 2 to sell her goods. Sales were smooth that afternoon; by the time Lin Xia packed up, she pondered coming back in the evening to sell more, guessing that nothing would be left then. By the time Lin Xia got home, Lin Dong had just finished eating, and Lin Qiu was sitting on the edge of the kang, both with somewhat troubled expressions. Lin Xia asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Dong¡¯s face was solemn, ¡°Sis! At noon when school let out, I found Lin Qiang sneakily following me. I realized it and lost him by making a few turns!¡± Lin Qiu asked worriedly, ¡°Sis! What if they find out we¡¯re living here, what will we do?¡± Lin Xia had already anticipated such a day. Currently, she and Xiaoqiu weren¡¯t working, so those people looking to catch their trail could only rely on following Lin Dong. She reassured them, ¡°What can we do? If they find out, they find out. We¡¯ve already moved out! Lin Xia then instructed Lin Dong, ¡°But still, Dongzi, be as careful as you can be!¡± Chapter 51 - 51 51 Quick Money ?51: Chapter 51 Quick Money 51: Chapter 51 Quick Money Lin Dong murmured softly, ¡°Thank goodness the day after tomorrow is a holiday, or else I would have considered taking a day off myself!¡± Lin Xia rubbed his head, ¡°Silly child, don¡¯t say such foolish things, you should go to school! Even if they knew, they wouldn¡¯t dare to come to our door, unless our father comes back, so the most important thing right now is to be cautious about our own safety.¡± If Lin Aiguo decides to come and make trouble, then it might become a problem whether we can continue to live here or not. Lin Xia was planning in her mind; she needed to focus even more on making money now. As Lin Xia had expected, by the time she finished work that evening, she had sold all the scarves and hairpins in her hands. It seemed that doing business was indeed feasible at this time. This was mainly because there were only a few places to buy things, and the variety and styles were too scarce, and many people still hadn¡¯t mustered the courage to give up their formal, respectable jobs to become small traders; If a few more years passed, doing this kind of business wouldn¡¯t be so simple, competition would also be fierce. As Lin Xia was packing up, she suddenly slapped her forehead. She had mistakenly sold the one she had reserved for Yu Hongmei. She had wanted to give it to Yu Hongmei, but she felt that now was not a good time, firstly because she had taken a long leave from work; it wouldn¡¯t be good to go there. She definitely couldn¡¯t face her aunt¡¯s house, otherwise, given her aunt¡¯s temperament, she would surely drag them all back. But on second thought, if it¡¯s sold, it¡¯s sold. Anyway, she was going to restock in a few days. She could buy something nice then and keep it as a thank-you gift for her later. After returning home, Lin Xia added up the money she had made today with that of yesterday, which totaled two hundred and nine yuan! In those days, that was considered a large sum of money! Not to mention that her brother and sister were ecstatic, even she couldn¡¯t contain her euphoria. With this money, she could stock up even more goods in the future. And those hazelnuts, if she went to the provincial capital again this time, she could sell some more. With money turning over like this, their lives would surely get better and better. Lin Dong and Lin Qiu had never seen so much money before. Seeing their big sister stashing the money away, their inner excitement and fervor did not subside at all. ¡°Big sister! I want to trade with you in the future! It makes money quickly! It¡¯s more profitable than working a job!¡± Lin Dong was significantly influenced and blurted out the idea. Lin Xia slapped his head, ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m telling you, Lin Dong, you should study hard and get into university. Don¡¯t think that doing business is so easy.¡± She was working this hard, not wanting her little brother to endure the same. Only by getting into university would he have the chance to leap over the dragon gate. It was because of the existence of the Jade room that she could take advantage of certain opportunities to make some money. If it was just up to her alone, even if she was more formidable and could endure more hardships, she doubted she could make that much. Lin Qiu watched Lin Dong, her eyes starting to redden, ¡°Dongzi! You didn¡¯t see the state our sister was in when she got off the train. The round trip on the hard seats for two nights, it was so hard on anyone. If it wasn¡¯t for us, it would be better for our sister to just work a regular job. How can you even say such a thing?¡± She could understand her sister¡¯s feelings best. In their family, all the siblings had dropped out after junior high school. Just like how the eldest brother and sister had gone to work at the Youth Station in the mountains after graduating. When it came her turn, she didn¡¯t need to go to the Youth Station, but she didn¡¯t continue to high school either. Now, only the youngest brother still had the chance to continue his studies, so all of them were hoping and looking forward to him having the opportunity to go to college. Lin Dong rubbed his head, ¡°I understand! Big sister! Second sister! I was just talking! I will definitely go to college in the future!¡± ¡°Good! As long as you have the ambition, that¡¯s fine! Dongzi, as long as you study hard, your big sister will support your education!¡± Lin Xia decided that next time she wouldn¡¯t let the two of them help check the money. Initially, she just felt sorry for her brother and sister, who hadn¡¯t seen much money from a young age. She wanted to make them happy, but she didn¡¯t anticipate that it would backfire. Early the next morning, Lin Xia made breakfast, which included fried dough pancakes and shredded potatoes. Lin Qiu watched her sister cook with a heavy heart, knowing that if she were cooking, she definitely couldn¡¯t use oil as lavishly as her sister did. Lin Dong, however, was happily waiting by the side. The moment the first pancake came off the pan, he tore off a small piece without fearing the heat, blew on it, and popped it directly into his mouth. While chewing, he kept saying how delicious and wonderful it tasted! Lin Xia smiled and tore off a piece for Lin Qiu, ¡°Xiaoqiu, stop pouting and try some! You feel sorry, don¡¯t you?¡± She knew her sister must be feeling sorry! Lin Qiu embarrassedly accepted it with a laugh, ¡°Sister! I¡¯m just not used to this...¡± Back in that house, when would they ever dare to use so much oil in cooking? ¡°It¡¯s okay! You¡¯ll get used to it eventually!¡± Lin Xia said with a smile, thinking she would definitely earn more in the future so they could eat whatever they wanted. So why did she make pancakes today? Firstly, she wanted to improve the meals for her brother and sister, and secondly, it would be easier to take food with her when she went up the mountain. Xu Haihua¡¯s mother had finished cooking earlier, and the pair were eating in the Eastern House. Xu Haihua, smelling the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen, and looking at the watery porridge and pickles in front of her, suddenly felt very uncomfortable. The fact that they, mere tenants, were eating better than the landlords themselves was unthinkable. She whispered, ¡°Mom! They must be quite rich! Their food looks better than ours! Didn¡¯t you say that Lin Xia worked at the processing plant? I¡¯ve noticed that since she moved in, she hasn¡¯t gone to work at all. And that Lin Qiu, I asked people at the factory, and she took leave after just two days! What¡¯s really going on with them? They better not be deceiving us!¡± Xu Haihua¡¯s mother was also wondering, but being of an advanced age and experienced with people, she knew that these three kids were decent and honest. They had paid the rent and even rented a room from her; was it her business what they ate or did? She sipped her porridge and quietly said, ¡°Haihua! Didn¡¯t you say we¡¯d rent to them for just a month? Just let them know in advance when it¡¯s time to move out! We shouldn¡¯t meddle in what¡¯s actually going on with them!¡± Xu Haihua was embarrassed to admit that she had somewhat changed her mind now. Since they had moved in, the water tank was always full, and someone was always there to empty the bucket. She thought about when their firewood shed ran out of firewood, and estimated that if she mentioned it, Lin Dong would help out with chores. No need to keep asking her brother-in-law, who was clearly reluctant to help. ¡°Mom! Make me some pancakes for lunch too!¡± Xu Haihua¡¯s mother couldn¡¯t bear to let her daughter feel deprived, and agreed without hesitation, ¡°All right! I¡¯ll make them for lunch!¡± With only her and her eldest daughter at home, and her sons sending money home, and her daughter contributing part of her salary too, they actually weren¡¯t short of money. But her thrifty habits prevented her from cooking anything too lavish. Chapter 52 - 52 52 Regret ?52: Chapter 52 Regret 52: Chapter 52 Regret Dongzi finished his meal and wiped his mouth before heading to school. As he left, Lin Xia specifically instructed him that if he were blocked or followed by Lin Qiang, he should avoid a direct confrontation. Lin Xia took the remaining oil pancakes, rolled up two with shredded potatoes and pickled vegetables, and quietly placed a jar of water in Jade¡¯s room. Lin Qiu knew that Lin Xia was going up the mountain to forage for items, and she wanted to accompany her. ¡°Xiaoqiu, you still need to rest your arm. If you come with me and it gets strained, not to mention, how would I carry you back home?¡± Lin Xia naturally didn¡¯t want Xiaoqiu to follow her, and her reasoning was very sound. Obediently, Xiaoqiu stayed at home while Lin Xia rode her bicycle to West Mountain. Lin Xia, familiar with the path, parked her bicycle properly and started walking towards the Hazelnut Forest. She had a clear objective today; mushrooms and the like were not her priority¡ªshe was mainly there to gather hazelnuts. At this time of year, the mountain was full of hazelnut trees. Those who came to forage usually did so just to take enough back for their own families to eat; it was quite tiring to carry them down the mountain. That¡¯s why there were very few people like Lin Xia who harvested in such large quantities. Lin Xia happily spent a whole day on the mountain. She had even hoped to stumble upon Lingzhi mushrooms or wild ginseng, but later realized she was being overly optimistic. Could she always be so lucky to encounter such fortune? Nevertheless, Lin Xia was content. If she managed to sell these hazelnuts in the provincial city, wouldn¡¯t that be a profitable business for her at no cost? She only hoped that the family who bought them would have good sales and keep some of the hazelnuts she provided. ... Lin Qiang changed his strategy and finally managed to follow Dongzi discreetly when school let out in the afternoon. Watching from a distance as Dongzi entered a large doorway, Lin Qiang waited a long time to ensure he wouldn¡¯t come out, then stealthily approached and peered through the gaps in the screen door into the yard. Lin Qiang couldn¡¯t quite understand what relationship this household had with Lin Xia and the others or why they would let them stay there. After all, since his mother remarried Lin Aiguo, Lin Qiang thought he was pretty familiar with all the relatives and friends of the Lin family. He hadn¡¯t heard of any relatives living here! In the end, Lin Qiang went home full of doubts, just in time to see Qian Chunli returning from work, about to start cooking. Ever since Lin Xia and the others left, Qian Chunli had taken on the responsibility of cooking. With just a few people in the house, who else could she count on? She couldn¡¯t bear to put her own children to work, and with Lin Chun getting off work so late, surely they couldn¡¯t just starve while waiting for Lin Chun to cook, could they? ¡°Qiangzi, how did it go?¡± Lin Qiang relayed his findings to Qian Chunli, ¡°...Mom, I just looked from the outside, I don¡¯t know whose house it really is.¡± Qian Chunli tilted her head in thought, ¡°Paradise Street! I really don¡¯t know of any relatives living there! Are you sure you saw clearly, Dongzi went in and didn¡¯t come out?¡± Mimicking, Lin Qiang gestured, ¡°I waited a long time, and later when I saw him come out with a big metal scoop to pour water, I quickly hid. I even saw Lin Qiu cooking... they must be living there...¡± ¡°Then that must be it! These kids are clever; they left home and started their lives out on their own!¡± Qian Chunli snorted in disdain, ¡°They definitely have money on hand...¡± The situation had not unfolded the way she had imagined, which made her particularly angry and frustrated. Lin Qiang¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°They definitely have money! Didn¡¯t I tell you? I saw Lin Xia selling scarves, three yuan each, and her pockets were stuffed full of money!¡± Upon hearing this, Qian Chunli became even angrier and smacked him on the head, ¡°You have the cheek to say that! Why didn¡¯t you tell me when you saw it? Eh? If you had told me, I would¡¯ve mentioned it to your father, and they wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to run. We could¡¯ve searched them and found the money and scarves...¡± Thinking about this, Qian Chunli felt even more irritated. If they had found it, not to mention the money, just the thought of having those three yuan scarves, she and Xiaoyu could have had one each. Lin Qiang also deeply regretted it. At the time, he was solely focused on sneakily taking the money and scarf from Lin Xia¡¯s hands for himself. With the money, he could buy whatever he wanted, but he never anticipated it would end up like this. ¡°Mom! Didn¡¯t I just not think too much about it at the time? But now we know where they live, we can go to their place and find them!¡± Qian Chunli, frustrated with his incompetence, hit his head again, causing Lin Qiang to shout, ¡°Mom! Why do you keep hitting me?¡± ¡°Are you dumb? I¡¯m the stepmother, and now that I know where they live, if I go looking for them, do you think Lin Xia will just quietly come back with me? She¡¯s formidable. Things could blow up in my face and leave me without any dignity!¡± Qian Chunli knew Lin Xia too well now. Lin Xia had already dared to declare in front of the neighbors that she and Lin Aiguo had been involved long ago. If she could say that in public, how would she behave when we¡¯re alone? Lin Qiang, holding his head, asked, ¡°Mom! What should we do then? We know where they live now; can¡¯t we do anything about it?¡± Qian Chunli smiled smugly, ¡°How can we do nothing? It¡¯s almost payday, and your father will definitely come down from the mountain to get his wages. Just wait and see, when he comes back and finds that none of his kids have returned, he¡¯s sure to be frantic. Then, we¡¯ll just quietly tell him where those kids are staying, and with your dad¡¯s temper, do you think he¡¯ll let them off easily? He might just storm in there and drag them all back home...¡± Lin Qiang knew his mother was right, but it still bothered him. The longer they stayed out, the more Lin Xia¡¯s money would be spent! What if, after a while, they came back, but the money was gone? What would he have to do with it then? Lin Qiang suddenly had an idea. He hated Lin Xia to death anyway, so why not... Lin Xia didn¡¯t get home until six o¡¯clock in the evening. On the surface, she had a sack of hazelnuts and some wild walnuts and other fruits on her bike rack, but in fact, she had a rich harvest, all of which was in Jade¡¯s room. If it hadn¡¯t been so late, she would¡¯ve been afraid of getting lost in the mountains and would have liked to pick more. But it truly was exhausting; although she didn¡¯t have to worry about carrying her load down the mountain, she had to keep her arms raised to pick; and whenever she came across a tall hazelnut tree, she had to shake it vigorously. It was a hassle to pick up the nuts that fell to the ground. Her legs were also tired; she had walked a long distance and had even climbed over a mountain. Lin Dong quickly helped Lin Xia unload the bike. ¡°Big sister! You must be exhausted, hurry inside to wash up, eat, and rest. I¡¯ll take care of the bag!¡± ¡°Okay, Dongzi! Take care of it! Lay down some plastic sheeting on the ground!¡± ¡°Alright, I got it, big sister! You go ahead!¡± Lin Dong efficiently set to work. Lin Xia leaned on her knees and caught her breath for a moment before entering the house. Lin Qiu had already poured warm water into the washbasin and handed a towel to Lin Xia. Lin Xia washed her hands and face thoroughly, took off her work clothes she wore outside, and started to eat. She had been so hungry on the way back from the mountain after a long day. After eating, Lin Xia sat on the edge of the kang and without saying a few words to her brother and sister, she was overcome with fatigue, yawning constantly. Lin Dong quickly spread out her bedding and pillow, and Lin Xia, feeling sore all over, lay down and fell asleep immediately. Lin Dong and Lin Qiu looked at their snoring big sister, feeling pity for her in their hearts. But they also didn¡¯t quite understand why their big sister had gone into the mountain to end up with just a sack of hazelnuts. Looking at the big sister lying on the kang, Lin Dong whispered, ¡°Second sister! Since I have the day off tomorrow, if big sister wants to go again, I¡¯ll go with her!¡± Chapter 53 - 53 53 Robbery ?53: Chapter 53 Robbery 53: Chapter 53 Robbery ¡°If you follow me, at least you can carry things back down! But our family only has one bicycle right now,¡± Lin Qiu mimicked him, ¡°I wanted to go with you today, but sis wouldn¡¯t let me!¡± ¡°So what do we do? Lin Qiang is eyeing us right now; we definitely can¡¯t go back home to get the bicycle! How about we borrow a bike from someone?¡± Lin Dong also found it a bit of a dilemma. He really wanted to go with his eldest sister into the mountains; he was a young man and certainly had more strength than a woman. But two people riding one bicycle into the mountains wouldn¡¯t work either. What would they do when coming back? Lin Qiu did think of Zhao Da Nainai who was always eager to help them out, ¡°If we¡¯re going to borrow, it has to be sis who asks. We¡¯ll talk about it when she wakes up tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°That works!¡± Lin Xia slept through the night, and didn¡¯t dream at all. It felt like the moment she closed her eyes and opened them again, the night had passed. When she got up in the morning, she was aware that Lin Dong also wanted to go up the mountain and help her pick hazelnuts and carry sacks. Lin Qiu also mentioned that they wanted Lin Xia to try to borrow a bicycle from Zhao Da Nainai. No matter what, Lin Xia couldn¡¯t possibly agree. ¡°Even if Zhao Da Nainai is warm-hearted, it wouldn¡¯t be right for us to ask for such a favor. Besides, borrowing someone¡¯s bicycle, and if it gets lost or broken, what then?¡± Lin Dong and Lin Qiu knew their sister made sense, but they really didn¡¯t want Lin Xia to be so exhausted. ¡°Big sis! How about we two ride one bike there, and then I¡¯ll push it back on the way home?¡± Lin Xia smiled. Her brother and sister genuinely cared for her, and her care for them wasn¡¯t in vain. If it were just about picking hazelnuts, without the matter of Jade¡¯s room, she would definitely not prevent her brother from going to help. But with such a secret to keep, she could only try her best to find excuses to refuse. ¡°Dongzi! You chop the firewood at home today. Finish chopping it all and cover it with something. If it rains one of these days, we won¡¯t be able to burn it...¡± Although Lin Dong was reluctant, he obediently agreed. Lin Qiu had prepared the dough yesterday, and this morning, she made leavened flatbreads. Lin Xia brought a few extra, along with some strips of cabbage, potatoes, and pickles. While picking hazelnuts, she thought that after this day, she might as well stop picking, letting Jade¡¯s room air-dry them. Then, she planned to buy some jars to pickle vegetables. Lin Xia was truly fatigued; she had picked so many hazelnuts over the past few days. This was different from her first time picking hazelnuts in the mountains, when she mostly gathered mushrooms. Afterward, when she found Lingzhi, she focused entirely on mushrooms. It wasn¡¯t like these two days, which were spent entirely picking hazelnuts. She estimated that the hazelnuts she had picked would amount to quite a lot once dried in Jade¡¯s room. Maybe not a thousand pounds, but there definitely would be several hundred. And then there was the seller of sunflower seeds in the provincial city who might not take all that much at once. So Lin Xia returned home a bit earlier today, slowly descending from the mountain. Just to keep up appearances, she still loaded a sack of hazelnuts onto the bike¡¯s rear rack as she cycled home. After these two days, she distinctly felt she had overexerted herself, barely having any strength left to pedal. Fortunately, she wasn¡¯t in any hurry, so she cycled slowly. Just as she was about to reach Paradise Street and was passing by the White Restroom, two young men, one tall and one short, suddenly ran into the road and blocked Lin Xia¡¯s way. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Lin Xia wanted to forcefully bike past them, but one of them roughly grabbed the handlebars of her bicycle. ¡°What do you want?¡± Lin Xia got off the bike and laid it down. When going up the mountain, she was afraid of running into bad people or large wild animals, so she carried a sharp knife in her pocket. The blade wasn¡¯t long enough to be fatal if stabbed in the stomach, but if aimed at the neck, it could cause bleeding. However, if it hit an inch deep, life or death would be uncertain. One of the tall lads pointed at Lin Xia and snorted coldly, ¡°Yeah! You¡¯re quite bold! Quickly hand over all the money in your pocket!¡± The short one chimed in, ¡°Right! Not a cent shall be left! If you don¡¯t hand it over, we¡¯ll do it ourselves!¡± As they spoke, they also glanced over at the White Restroom. Lin Xia felt there was a problem¡ªthere might be a third person at the White Restroom. ¡°I have no money! You saw me going up the mountain to pick hazelnuts, how could I possibly have money on me!¡± Lin Xia really didn¡¯t have a single penny in her pocket; all her money was in Jade¡¯s room. The tall one glared fiercely, ¡°Quit your damn babbling! If you don¡¯t have money, then brace yourself for a beating!¡± Lin Xia psyched herself up, reminding herself this place wasn¡¯t too remote, and it was the time people get off work. If she could just drag this out a little longer, someone was bound to come by. She couldn¡¯t reveal her small knife too easily¡ªdealing with the two boys was hard enough for her, not to mention there might be another person at the White Restroom. So she had to surprise them, strike when they least expected it. ¡°What¡¯s the point of wasting words! Let¡¯s just do it!¡± the short one yelled as he pretended to rush over and hit Lin Xia. Indeed, this person was one of Lin Qiang¡¯s bad influences. Lin Xia reached into her pocket¡ªworse comes to worst, she¡¯d fight for her life! But in the heat of the moment, a voice rang out, ¡°What are you doing?¡± A young man appeared, not yet close but already shouting at the top of his lungs. Lin Xia recognized him at a glance¡ªhe was Zhao Damei¡¯s second son, Jiang Mingyuan! Relief flooded her heart; meeting an acquaintance made things much easier to handle! ¡°Second brother! They¡¯re trying to rob me!¡± The two boys didn¡¯t expect to be recognized and their faces instantly turned pale with fear! But remembering that Lin Qiang was nearby, and that he had promised them rewards if they were successful, they thought: could three of them not take down this man and woman? The two exchanged glances¡ªone charged at Lin Xia, and the other at Jiang Mingyuan. Seeing the short one coming at her, Lin Xia took out her pocket knife, ready to fight for her life. The short boy didn¡¯t expect this frail-looking girl to be carrying a knife, and the look in her eyes was eerily unnerving¡ªas if she truly could spill his blood. He hesitated for a moment, instantly losing his previous bravado. Lin Xia didn¡¯t really want to harm anyone, but if they were truly out to hurt her, she would show no mercy. At this point, the tall boy was already clashing with Jiang Mingyuan and quickly found himself at a disadvantage, getting kicked to the ground by Jiang Mingyuan. ¡°You just wait!¡± He feared getting hit again, so he threw down a threat and scrambled away with the short boy. Lin Xia had no time to worry about anything else. She told Jiang Mingyuan, ¡°Second brother! There seems to be someone else by the White Restroom!¡± Jiang Mingyuan nodded and ran towards the White Restroom. Lin Xia, worried he might get the short end of the stick, followed him cautiously. But they checked around the corners of the men¡¯s and women¡¯s restrooms¡ªnobody was there! ¡°They must have run off early! Xiaolin, are you alright?¡± Jiang Mingyuan asked as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Seeing the knife in Lin Xia¡¯s hand, a smile crossed his lips. ¡°I¡¯m fine! Thank you, second brother! I don¡¯t know what I would have done if you hadn¡¯t shown up just in time!¡± Lin Xia was genuinely grateful, and Jiang Mingyuan¡¯s image in her mind grew significantly taller. ¡°No need for thanks! We¡¯re neighbors! Were you up the mountain gathering things?¡± Jiang Mingyuan didn¡¯t see his intervention as a big deal. He followed Lin Xia to help her lift her bicycle, ¡°Xiaolin, you push my bike! I¡¯ll help you push this one!¡± Lin Xia quickly objected, ¡°No need, second brother! I can do it!¡± She felt too embarrassed to cause him any more trouble. ¡°No more niceties, let¡¯s hurry! I still have things to do at home!¡± When Jiang Mingyuan insisted, Lin Xia couldn¡¯t refuse anymore. She went over to his heavy-duty bicycle and lifted it up. The two didn¡¯t mount their bikes but walked slowly instead. ¡°Still, thank you! Second brother!¡± ¡°No need for thanks! But why were those people trying to rob you?¡± Chapter 54 - 54 54 Fear Afterwards ?54: Chapter 54: Fear Afterwards 54: Chapter 54: Fear Afterwards Lin Xia also couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on. Logically speaking, she had gone up the mountain wearing work clothes, making her look untidy and not at all like someone with money. Why did they specifically target her? She couldn¡¯t help but mumble in her heart, could it be that someone had noticed her when she was selling scarves? It was really hard to say! ¡°I don¡¯t know, when I rode over, they just stopped me and wanted me to hand over all the money!¡± ¡°That must have been premeditated! Did you offend someone or does someone know you have money?¡± Jiang Mingyuan helped her analyze. Lin Xia¡¯s mind was racing, recalling every detail to find some clues. ¡°Right, one of them seemed to be called Mangzi.¡± She suddenly remembered, Lin Qiang had a buddy named Mangzi, but she wasn¡¯t sure if it was the same person from earlier. But thinking it over, the person hiding in the White Restroom and not showing himself must have been someone she knew, and that person was most likely Lin Qiang! Jiang Mingyuan understood the situation just by looking at her expression and did not say anything else. The two of them arrived at the entrance of Auntie Xu¡¯s home, where Jiang Mingyuan directly helped Lin Xia push her bike into the yard, and Lin Xia thanked Jiang Mingyuan again. Lin Xia called Lin Dong out to help. Lin Qiu ran out with Lin Dong, and the sight of a man bringing their older sister home startled them both. Both asked in unison, ¡°Older sister, what happened?¡± ¡°Yeah! Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Lin Xia hurriedly introduced, ¡°This is Auntie Zhao¡¯s son, you can call him Second Brother! I just encountered a robbery, and thankfully Second Brother helped me! Second Brother, this is my brother Lin Dong! My sister Lin Qiu!¡± Lin Dong, excited, grabbed Jiang Mingyuan¡¯s arm and wouldn¡¯t let go, ¡°Second Brother! Thank you so much! Come in for some water!¡± Lin Qiu also urged, ¡°Right! Come inside and have a seat!¡± He truly was their lifesaver! ¡°No need! Your sister has already thanked me!¡± Jiang Mingyuan was about to politely refuse with a few words when someone came back to the door. It was none other than Auntie Xu¡¯s daughter, Xu Haihua. When Xu Haihua saw Jiang Mingyuan in their yard, her eyes immediately lit up, and her tone softened a few notches, ¡°Brother Mingyuan! What brings you here?¡± She then noticed Lin Xia and the others, and it seemed like they were trying to get Jiang Mingyuan to come inside. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± She focused on Lin Xia, who looked disheveled with her dust-covered hair. ¡°I encountered a robbery, and Second Brother happened to help me out!¡± Lin Xia noticed Xu Haihua¡¯s concern for Jiang Mingyuan and quickly explained. ¡°Brother Mingyuan, you aren¡¯t hurt, are you?¡± Xu Haihua swiftly put down her bike and rushed to Jiang Mingyuan¡¯s side, examining him with concern. Jiang Mingyuan instinctively took a step back, waved his hands, ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± then smiled at Lin Xia and the others, ¡°I won¡¯t go inside! I¡¯ve got things to do at home! Maybe some other time!¡± Since he had helped them with such a big favor, Lin Dong and Lin Qiu didn¡¯t want Jiang Mingyuan to leave; they wished to offer more hospitality. Seeing Jiang Mingyuan¡¯s intentions, Lin Xia said with a smile, ¡°Then, next time! Second Brother! Still, thank you!¡± She had taken note of the kindness he had shown, and would definitely repay it when the right opportunity came. ¡°No problem! Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Jiang Mingyuan waved it off nonchalantly; to him, what he did was nothing special. If any man had encountered such a situation, he should step up and help. As he was about to leave, Xu Haihua, who was not far from him, stretched out her arm to block him, ¡°Wait, Brother Mingyuan! You¡¯ve helped Xiaolin out so much; even if you won¡¯t accept other thanks, you should at least have some water!¡± After speaking, she turned to Lin Xia, ¡°Xiaolin, I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? He should at least come inside for a bit!¡± ¡°Second Brother has something going on, so let¡¯s wait for next time!¡± Lin Xia inwardly found Xu Haihua quite amusing. It was obvious that she genuinely didn¡¯t want to enter the house, yet she insisted on making a fuss. ¡°Yes, next time!¡± Jiang Mingyuan moved a step to the side, intending to walk past Xu Haihua. Xu Haihua was very dissatisfied with what Lin Xia said, ¡°Xiaolin! How can you be like this? Brother Mingyuan helped you, you should earnestly try to keep him here even if he wants to leave...¡± Earlier, Aunt Xu was cooking inside the house and had observed the situation in the yard but had not come out. However, when she saw her daughter return, intent on stopping Jiang Mingyuan from leaving, she felt she had to intervene. Aunt Xu walked out into the yard and shouted, ¡°Haihua! What are you doing?¡± What does Jiang Mingyuan helping Lin Xia have to do with her? Xu Haihua awkwardly lowered her hand, ¡°I was just thinking...¡± Taking advantage of the moment, Jiang Mingyuan greeted Aunt Xu and Lin Xia before pushing his bicycle away and leaving. Aunt Xu glared at Xu Haihua, who seemed distracted, ¡°You, come inside with me!¡± Xu Haihua grunted in acknowledgment and glanced sideways at Lin Xia and the others, but with her mother beside her, she held back from saying anything. ¡°Let¡¯s also go inside! I¡¯m out of energy!¡± Lin Xia had no intention of dealing with Aunt Xu and her daughter. If not for sheer willpower, she would have collapsed by now. After all, climbing up the mountain nonstop for the past two days had already taken its toll on her body; and, on top of that, the incident she had just experienced initially hadn¡¯t scared her much, but now, thinking back, she was overwhelmed with fear, and her calves were cramping from the stress. Lin Qiu and Lin Dong of course were only concerned about their sister. They quickly helped Lin Xia into the house. Lin Qiu went to get some hot water while Lin Dong helped Lin Xia sit down on the edge of the heated brick bed. ¡°Sis! You must be exhausted, right? Wash your face, have some food, and then get a good rest!¡± ¡°Yeah! Sure!¡± Lin Xia replied weakly. She really was exhausted. Lin Dong asked anxiously and curiously, ¡°Sis! How could you even encounter a robbery? Where did it happen, on the mountain?¡± He secretly regretted not insisting on accompanying his big sister. ¡°No, it was right in front of the White Restroom! I think there were three of them in total. Luckily, Second Brother was there, or things would have been troublesome!¡± Lin Xia wasn¡¯t sure if the third person was indeed Lin Qiang, so she couldn¡¯t tell her brother and sister about it yet. ¡°How could someone rob you?¡± Lin Dong was filled with retrospective fear, ¡°Big sis, you shouldn¡¯t go to the mountains or anything for a while. It¡¯s too scary! What if something happens?¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t go for a while!¡± Lin Xia agreed readily. She had harvested quite a lot of hazelnuts, so she could afford to stay away for some time; besides, having just experienced that incident, she, too, was feeling quite frightened, a feeling anyone would have in her place. But at the same time, she couldn¡¯t help but ponder who the person hiding near the White Restroom was. Was it really Lin Qiang? If it was Lin Qiang, then it meant he knew where they lived now... Where was Lin Qiang now? He was at the riverside, holding his breath, washing his shoes with a small stick. While the bullies, Mangzi and Dahai, were running away, he found he couldn¡¯t escape in time. He knew that if Lin Xia caught him, given her nature, he was likely to face severe consequences, even possibly being turned over to the police! So, in desperation, he leapt into the courtyard adjacent to the White Restroom. Who would have thought that he¡¯d land in a pile of dung, ruining his shoes. He couldn¡¯t afford to make any noise at the time, so he just gritted his teeth and bore it. After Lin Xia and the man had left, he vomited from disgust... Chapter 55 - 55 55 Sick ?55: Chapter 55 Sick 55: Chapter 55 Sick Lin Qiang ended up in such a state, he didn¡¯t dare to go home like that. If Lin Chun saw him and drew the same conclusion as Lin Xia by putting two and two together, he would surely guess that the robbery was related to him. So he had no choice but to clean up by the riverside. The river water was very cold in autumn, especially when the sun was about to set, he endured the chill and foul smell as he vigorously washed his shoes. He washed them many times, but because he had no soap, he still smelled that disgusting odor. It wasn¡¯t until long after dark that Lin Qiang, braving the cold, walked home in his soaked shoes, barefoot inside. Qian Chunli, seeing her son return in such a sorry state, would definitely ask what had happened. But that stench was truly so strong it went straight up one¡¯s nose. ¡°Qiangzi! What happened to you?¡± ¡°I accidentally stepped in shit!¡± Even though Lin Qiang hated Lin Xia to the bone and wished he could kill her; he didn¡¯t dare repeat to his mother that he had stepped in it while fleeing a botched robbery. ¡°Oh my, you child! How old are you! Can¡¯t you watch your step? Quickly take off those shoes, I¡¯ll heat up some water in the big pot and give them a good scrub!¡± Qian Chunli, covering her nose and mouth, mumbled, ¡°Thank goodness your sister isn¡¯t home...¡± If Lin Yu were home, she would undoubtedly have a lot of sarcastic remarks to make. Lin Qiang fell ill that night, suffering from both diarrhea and vomiting, and he also had a high fever that wouldn¡¯t subside. After a night of this back and forth, Qian Chunli was so anxious she was at a loss, and even Lin Yu was somewhat worried; despite their usual quarrels, this was still her younger brother. The next day early in the morning, seeing her son looking unwell, Qian Chunli and Lin Yu couldn¡¯t move Lin Qiang on their own. With no other option, Qian Chunli tearfully begged Lin Chun, pleading for his help to take Lin Qiang to the hospital on a bicycle. Because of things they had done in the past, Lin Chun really didn¡¯t want to help, ¡°I still have to go to work!¡± Qian Chunli grabbed onto Lin Chun¡¯s sleeve and wouldn¡¯t let go, crying as she said, ¡°Lin Chun, I beg you! It was all my fault before! It¡¯s all on me! But for the sake of your father, could you please help us? The way Lin Qiang¡¯s illness hit him is really terrifying, Lin Yu and I truly can¡¯t move him!¡± At first, Lin Chun really didn¡¯t think Lin Qiang¡¯s illness was that serious, the boy had a stout physique like a small calf, and his health was good! But when Lin Chun saw how listless Lin Qiang was, and Qian Chunli¡¯s eyes were red again as she begged him, he ultimately showed his kindheartedness and couldn¡¯t bear to not lend a hand, so he helped Qian Chunli to get him to the hospital. Lin Xia woke up very late, her whole body aching, her legs felt as though they were not her own, and she felt unbearably uncomfortable. Lin Qiu didn¡¯t let Lin Xia do anything except for going to the White Restroom, and at other times, she let her lie down on the kang to rest. Lin Xia was willing to follow her sister¡¯s advice, besides, standing on her feet really was painful. But while Lin Xia lay there with her eyes closed, she was neither sleeping nor idle. She entered Jade¡¯s room to check on the fruits of her labor. She had seen it on the mountain yesterday; the ground was covered with hazelnuts. Coming back in today, Lin Xia noticed a change. The mist in Jade¡¯s room had dissipated even more, and the entire space had become noticeably clearer. The green outer husks on the ground around the hazelnuts had turned yellow, she hadn¡¯t expected the drying technique here to be so rapid and excellent. The thought of all of these eventually turning into money brought a blissful smile to Lin Xia¡¯s mind. As long as she could earn money, she wasn¡¯t afraid of the exhaustion or hardship. At noon, Lin Chun came by. He had helped Qian Chunli and Lin Yu take Lin Qiang to the hospital in the morning and ended up being late for work. Thinking of Qian Chunli and the others taking care of Lin Qiang in the hospital, he was sure they couldn¡¯t go back to make meals, so he was also happy to come to his eldest sister¡¯s place. When Lin Xia saw her eldest brother arriving, she was quite delighted. They had originally made lunch, but she specially added a bit of firewood to the fire pit and fried five eggs. She gave Lin Chun two and herself, Lin Qiu, and Lin Dong one each. Lin Chun, refusing the offer, tried to give them away, ¡°I can eat just one, you guys have these!¡± But Lin Xia and the others took their bowls and left, none of them wanting any. Lin Xia laughed, ¡°Big brother! Just eat! We¡¯ve been eating really well every day!¡± Lin Dong, with brightly animated expressions, imitated her, ¡°Yeah! Big brother! We also ate potato shreds rolled in fried pancakes!¡± ¡°Right! Big Brother! We¡¯ll make some for you another day!¡± Lin Qiu said, laughing in agreement. Lin Chun, seeing his younger siblings¡¯ faces no longer pallid or gaunt, but instead glowing with health and radiating happiness, felt a sense of joy and contentment that he couldn¡¯t hide. He was happy inside. ¡°Alright! Then I¡¯ll eat!¡± After everyone had finished their meal and had time to digest while chatting, Lin Chun then learned about Lin Qiang¡¯s sickness and hospitalization. Lin Xia was a bit unsettled inside, wondering if the person who had hidden in the White Restroom yesterday was really Lin Qiang. ¡°How did he get sick?¡± Lin Chun didn¡¯t know much either, ¡°I¡¯m not quite clear myself, I heard it was a rough night.¡± But he was too embarrassed to tell his sisters that he had helped take Lin Qiang to the hospital this morning. And as for Lin Xia and the other two, none of them wanted to bring up those people, so after a few words, the topic was dropped. Lin Xia had previously instructed Lin Qiu and Lin Dong not to tell their eldest brother about her near robbery experience. So neither Lin Qiu nor Lin Dong mentioned it, and Lin Chun was unlikely to find out for the time being. ¡°Big brother!¡± Lin Xia cheerfully suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you come over for dinner tonight too? Let¡¯s improve our diet a bit!¡± She thought it would be a good opportunity to make something special, and they could enjoy it together! Otherwise, if only they got to eat something good, and her big brother didn¡¯t eat well, she would feel quite uneasy about it. ¡°Then I¡¯ve got to see what¡¯s for dinner!¡± Lin Chun knew his sister had earned some money, and he was happy to go along with the plan. ¡°How about dumplings?¡± Lin Xia thought about whether they could buy some meat. If so, they would have meat-filled dumplings; otherwise, they could have dumplings with chive and egg. Lin Dong was incredibly excited, ¡°Dumplings would be great! Big brother! You must come after work! I want to eat dumplings!¡± Since moving out, he could clearly feel that the quality of their life had improved significantly, yet they had not had dumplings even once! ¡°Big brother! If you don¡¯t come, my sister won¡¯t let us have dumplings!¡± Lin Qiu said with a smirk, now getting accustomed to their day-to-day abundance of good food. Lin Xia teased them, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right! Without big brother, we won¡¯t be having dumplings for this meal!¡± Lin Chun nodded happily in agreement, ¡°Alright! Then you guys start preparing, and after work, I¡¯ll head to South Mountain to fetch some firewood!¡± ¡°Okay! But, big brother, don¡¯t get too much! We have enough firewood at home!¡± Lin Xia knew her brother was like this, so she didn¡¯t try to stop him. Even if there was a pile of wood in the Jade room, she couldn¡¯t produce so much firewood all at once. Lin Dong went to school in high spirits, and Lin Chun, seeing that the time was approaching, left for work as well. Lin Xia, after lying down for a good part of the day, was feeling a bit better; she really couldn¡¯t stay in bed any longer. She called on Lin Qiu to go with her to buy jars for pickling vegetables and to check if they could buy some meat. Previously, when in the provincial city, she wanted to buy meat, but the place she visited required ration tickets, which she didn¡¯t have, and even if she had bought the meat, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to cook it back at that house. Now things were better. They had their own home, it was convenient to cook whatever they wanted, and her local policies had loosened; if you had the money, you could buy meat, though it was still a matter of luck. Chapter 56 - 56 56 Eating Dumplings ?56: Chapter 56 Eating Dumplings 56: Chapter 56 Eating Dumplings Lin Xia and her sister Dongzi pushed their bikes out for a shopping trip. Besides buying two jars of pickled vegetables and a few cabbages, they actually managed to find some meat. Pork was only one yuan and twenty-nine cents per jin now, but because she was with Lin Qiu, it wouldn¡¯t be good to buy too much, so she didn¡¯t dare to buy more and only got two jin. Moreover, the season wasn¡¯t right, if it were winter, they could buy more and freeze it. They didn¡¯t know if it would keep fresh in Jade¡¯s room; So, even though Lin Xia finally encountered meat, she could only reluctantly hold back for now. Lin Xia also bought some pork fatback, thinking that when she got home, it would render some lard for cooking, which would add a nice fragrance, and they could also eat the crispy bits. Even though Lin Qiu knew her sister was a big spender, she was surprised once again. But thinking of the money her sister had and that everything they bought was useful, she didn¡¯t say much. Wanting to render the lard, Lin Xia asked Lin Qiu to watch the bikes while she went to buy a small jar. When Lin Xia and Lin Qiu returned home with their loaded bike, Auntie Xu happened to come out of the house. Seeing how many things the two sisters had bought, she too came over to lend a hand. Auntie Xu looked at all their purchases and casually said, ¡°Why did you buy so much stuff!¡± Lin Xia had a better impression of Auntie Xu than Xu Haihua, so she smiled warmly and explained, ¡°We happened to find it, and thought of stocking up on some oil! Buying soybean oil is too expensive!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true! You have to be frugal and shrewd to get by these days!¡± Auntie Xu knew they had no grain ration and had to buy grain and oil at high prices. With several people in the family, they would run out of their savings if they constantly ate like that. ¡°And you bought such a big piece of meat?¡± Auntie Xu really thought these kids knew how to spend money; she couldn¡¯t bear to buy it herself. Even though Lin Xia knew Auntie Xu didn¡¯t mean any harm, it still made her somewhat uncomfortable. But since they lived in the Eastern House, and since it was only a few words, Lin Xia held back her feelings and explained, ¡°Ah! I was just thinking, since we rarely come across it?¡± After moving the jars and stuff into the house, Lin Xia washed her hands. Looking at all the purchases and considering the early hour, she thought of rendering the lard first. Lin Xia had bought quite a bit of pork fatback. She washed, cut it into chunks, and Lin Qiu helped by tending the fire. Lin Xia then started chopping meat and cabbage, planning to make pork and cabbage dumplings. In the midst of all the bustle, Lin Dong returned home from school just as the crispy bits were ready. Lin Xia scooped up a bowl overflowing with them for Lin Dong and Lin Qiu to eat, while she herself had only a couple of bites before feeling greasy. However, for Lin Dong and Lin Qiu, this was an especially delicious treat, and they ate joyfully, taking turns with each bite. Having prepared the dumpling filling and brought out the well-kneaded dough, the three of them sat down inside to make dumplings together. Their rolling board was actually just a flat wooden board they placed on the table, and the small rolling pin was something Lin Xia had brought back from her last trip home. Lin Dong rolled the skins, while Lin Xia and Lin Qiu wrapped the dumplings. Lin Dong happily watched his big sister shape perfectly round dumplings. He recalled the previous day¡¯s events and asked, ¡°Big sister, since we¡¯re having dumplings, should we send a plate over to Second Brother¡¯s house? After all, he helped you yesterday!¡± Lin Xia had actually thought about it before, but people were particularly conservative nowadays. By the time their dumplings were cooked, the Zhao family would surely be at home, and if she went over with a plate of dumplings, it might not look good and could easily lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. ¡°I think we¡¯d better not send any. Let¡¯s just buy him something quietly later and give it to him privately. Besides, our big brother will be back soon, and when the dumplings are ready, how would you explain going out to give someone dumplings?¡± She hadn¡¯t told her big brother a thing about her near robbery. If something went wrong and they had to spill the beans, wouldn¡¯t that make their secrecy in vain? Lin Dong and Lin Qiu exchanged glances, realizing there was indeed truth in that. Also, if it led people to misunderstand that their big sister had feelings for Second Brother, that would be impossible to clarify. ¡°Then let¡¯s not send them for now! We¡¯ll wait for another opportunity!¡± Lin Dong¡¯s voice had just dropped when Lin Chun¡¯s shout came from the courtyard, ¡°Dongzi! Come out and help!¡± ¡°Ai!¡± Lin Dong stuck out his tongue at Lin Xia, ¡°This is really a case of speak of the devil and he shall appear.¡± Lin Xia and Lin Qiu couldn¡¯t help but laugh. After washing his hands, Lin Chun entered the house, and seeing that the dumplings were still not wrapped, he too started to help wrap them. Many hands make light work, and with the four of them chatting and laughing, the dumplings were done in no time. A big pot of water had already been boiling on the stove, and now it was bubbling furiously, ready for Lin Xia to start cooking the dumplings. Lin Xia had borrowed a strainer basket from Dame Xu and, as they served the dumplings, they found they didn¡¯t have enough utensils, so they used every small bowl and dish they had to hold them. Lin Xia asked Dame Xu for a big bowl and also served her some dumplings. Dame Xu felt a bit embarrassed but then thought that since they lived in the Eastern House, they might just reciprocate the gesture in the future. She carried the bowl of dumplings into the house, where there was a plate of cabbage stew with glass noodles on the table, and Xu Haihua was busy picking up noodles one by one to eat. Seeing the dumplings in Dame Xu¡¯s hand, she asked, ¡°Did they give those?¡± ¡°Yes! That girl Lin Xia served them! Haihua, eat up! I saw that they didn¡¯t skimp on the meat at all!¡± Dame Xu placed the big bowl right in front of Xu Haihua. Xu Haihua pursed her lips, ¡°Pretty generous!¡± She grabbed a dumpling and put it in her mouth. The moment it touched her taste buds, they were filled with a delightful fragrance, and the seasoning was just right. After swallowing, Xu Haihua suddenly asked in a low voice, ¡°Mom! Did you see if they sent any to Brother Mingyuan¡¯s family?¡± After Mingyuan had helped Lin Xia the other day, she felt uncomfortably jealous. Why should he help her? Seeing them wrapping dumplings today, she thought they might take the opportunity to send some to Mingyuan and felt even more upset about it. ¡°They haven¡¯t! Haihua, why do you care about what others do?¡± Dame Xu was a bit annoyed. Xu Haihua huffed, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with asking? Yesterday Brother Mingyuan helped Lin Xia, and didn¡¯t even get a drink in return. Today we have such good food, shouldn¡¯t they at least send over a plate to show some gratitude?¡± ¡°Whether they send it or not is their business! Why are you so concerned about that?¡± Dame Xu thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Haihua, Mom knows what you¡¯re thinking! But I really haven¡¯t seen anything good about the second Jiang son! After he came back from his youth assignment, he never went to find a job, just loiters around every day without any real business!¡± Xu Haihua slammed her chopsticks on the table with a ¡°pa¡± sound, ¡°Mom! You just don¡¯t understand! Brother Mingyuan is the best! I¡¯m not eating anymore!¡± ¡°Where are you going? You¡¯ve hardly eaten anything!¡± ¡°I feel stifled! I¡¯m going out for a walk, okay?¡± Xu Haihua muttered as she headed straight out the door. Dame Xu let out a long sigh. Had she spoiled her daughter too much, leading to this behavior? In the Western House, Lin Xia and the others were oblivious to what the mother and daughter duo were up to in the Eastern House. They were munching on the fragrant dumplings, filling their little bellies until they were round and taut. After belching contentedly, Lin Dong exclaimed, ¡°Big sister! It¡¯s like the New Year¡¯s feast today! The meal is too good!¡± It had been such a long time since he had dumplings! Since moving out, he felt like life outside was like heaven! ¡°We never had this much meat even during the New Year!¡± said Lin Qiu as she tidied up the dishes, ¡°Sister used up all two pounds of meat we bought!¡± Lin Dong stood to pick up bowls, ¡°No wonder it tastes so good! Sister, after this meal, I could go without eating tomorrow!¡± Lin Xia teased Lin Dong, ¡°Silly boy! If you say that, then you better not eat the meaty rice tomorrow morning!¡± Lin Dong lamented, ¡°How could I not! Big sister! I¡¯ve been longing to eat meaty rice!¡± ¡°Just teasing you! Now, go help your second sister with work!¡± ¡°I will work hard!¡± Chapter 57 - 57 57 Disgrace ?57: Chapter 57 Disgrace 57: Chapter 57 Disgrace Lin Chun looked at his younger brothers and sisters laughing and joking with a big smile, feeling that at this moment, their house finally had the warmth, relaxation, and joy of a home. After leaving Lin Xia¡¯s place, Lin Chun passed by Zhao Da Nainai¡¯s house while riding his bike and unexpectedly saw Xu Haihua talking to a man at the side of the gate. He adhered to the principle of ¡°mind one¡¯s own business,¡± pretending not to see anything and rode straight past them. But he couldn¡¯t help wondering, who was that man at Zhao Da Nainai¡¯s house? Jiang Mingyuan asked impatiently, ¡°What do you want from me by calling me out here?¡± Xu Haihua bit her lower lip and asked, ¡°Brother Mingyuan, did Lin Xia and the others send you any dumplings?¡± Jiang Mingyuan shook his head, ¡°No, why would they send me dumplings?¡± He was puzzled. Xu Haihua looked indignant on his behalf, ¡°Brother Mingyuan, look, you helped Lin Xia yesterday; they¡¯re eating dumplings today, how could they not send you some? How can they be so heartless! They don¡¯t know how to repay a kindness!¡± ¡°Xu Haihua! If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m heading inside, I have things to do at home!¡± Jiang Mingyuan didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with Lin Xia¡¯s family not sending him dumplings; on the contrary, it would be problematic if they did. Without talking about others, his mother and sister-in-law would definitely dig deep, wanting to know what was going on. After he explained, it might even cause misunderstandings from them. Xu Haihua couldn¡¯t understand why Jiang Mingyuan was suddenly so cold towards her; he wasn¡¯t like that when they were kids, ¡°Brother Mingyuan, why have you become like this now? I came with good intentions just to remind you so your kindness won¡¯t be taken for granted!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to worry about my business!¡± Jiang Mingyuan left her with that sentence and entered the gate. Xu Haihua was so angry her eyes reddened, and she stamped her foot in frustration, ¡°If I had known you were like this, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered telling you! If it weren¡¯t for your good relationship with my brother, I wouldn¡¯t even care about you...¡± Her response was only the sound of Jiang Mingyuan opening the door and entering the house. ... When Lin Chun got home, the lights in the Eastern House were on. He went straight back to the Western House; he was not in the mood to inquire about Lin Qiang¡¯s condition anymore. He had helped Qian Chunli¡¯s mother get to the hospital that morning; that was a significant favor, which he considered his moral and ethical duty fulfilled. In the Eastern House, Lin Qiang lay weakly on the north kang bed, his eyes closed in deep sleep. Qian Chunli was sitting on the south kang bed, looking haggard, while Lin Yu lay in bed, also not asleep. Both of them heard the noise of Lin Chun returning to the Western House, but neither had the heart to say anything. After a while, Lin Yu asked softly, ¡°Mom, is what you told me really true? Did Lin Qiang say how it happened?¡± She had gone to a classmate¡¯s house to do homework last night and came back a bit late. Just after she lay down, Lin Qiang began to retch, vomiting profusely, followed by diarrhea, which eventually turned watery, and then he developed a high fever. However, when she entered the room, she indeed smelled something foul; she thought it was Lin Qiang¡¯s smelly feet unwashed, not realizing he had stepped in poop. It was only now that her mother had whispered the truth to her, making her feel nauseous. Qian Chunli wiped tears with a sigh, ¡°I asked him yesterday, and he just said he accidentally stepped on it and then washed it off at the riverside! When I asked him more, he became angry with me. Now with him being this way, I dare not ask anymore! I¡¯m afraid his illness is because he got chilled; the night was not warm, and coming back wearing his wet shoes and socks guaranteed he¡¯d fall ill.¡± ¡°Mom, stop crying! And don¡¯t ask anymore! Lin Qiang cares a lot about his image! To him, this is a humiliating matter!¡± Lin Yu felt disgusted just thinking about it. ¡°I reckon it¡¯s not just a chill he¡¯s caught, but probably some fright as well! Otherwise, with his strong physique, he shouldn¡¯t be this sick!¡± Qian Chunli always believed in these things, so whenever something happened, she would think along those lines. ¡°So what do we do, Mom? Shall we go see Old Widow Huang and have her take a look at it?¡± Lin Yu knew there was an Old Widow Huang who specialized in dealing with such matters, and she and Lin Qiang had often sought her aid since they were young. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take a day off tomorrow and go to her place to ask! If it really is some bad luck, medicines and injections won¡¯t do the trick!¡± Qian Chunli wiped away her tears, the corners of her mouth, anxious and distressed, had developed a shiny blister within a single day. ¡°Xiaoyu, I am really afraid he might be getting picked on outside and then comes home and is afraid to tell us the truth!¡± Lin Yu thought it unlikely, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry about it! Who would bully him for no reason?¡± At this moment, outside the gate, in the night, two men¡¯s figures were sneaking around, peeking into the yard. These two were none other than Lin Qiang¡¯s bad influences, Mangzi and Dahai. The pair had attempted to rob Lin Xia with Lin Qiang yesterday, and Mangzi even got beaten up by a guy Lin Xia knew, Brother Mingyuan, which left them both feeling unsettled. However, they hadn¡¯t seen Lin Qiang at all today, so they figured they¡¯d come over to his house to check on him. After all, he had been beaten up because of them, so they thought they should at least give him some money to spend. ¡°Dahai, the lit room over there, it¡¯s Lin Qiang¡¯s, isn¡¯t it?¡± Mangzi asked while holding his stomach, which still hurt from the kick he received from that guy yesterday. He could hardly straighten his back with the pain. Dahai looked over at the yard again, ¡°I think so. He said he lives in the same room as his stepfather, and usually, if there are elders in the house, they live in the Eastern House!¡± ¡°So what should we do? Just knock on the door and look for him?¡± Mangzi hesitated. It was quite late, and he wasn¡¯t sure if Lin Qiang¡¯s stepfather had come back home. Dahai glanced at the moon, ¡°I think we should wait until tomorrow morning to confront him.¡± ¡°Okay! Then we¡¯ll come back tomorrow morning!¡± Mangzi whispered. ¡°Everyone in his family goes to work or school, so once they¡¯re all gone, if he¡¯s home, we can just go in and find him!¡± After all, there are some things that aren¡¯t appropriate to discuss in front of others. ... The group, including Lin Xia, had eaten their fill, and because they had been frying and boiling dumplings in the afternoon, the kang was piping hot. Lying on the heated kang, Lin Xia felt both comfortable and refreshed, and she peacefully slept until dawn. Early in the morning, Lin Xia made a meal with meat and oil for Lin Dong and Lin Qiu. She placed green onions, soy sauce, and salt at the bottom of the bowl, adding freshly steamed rice while it was still hot, and scooped a small spoonful of solidified white pork fat from a small jar, mixing it all together. The dish was so fragrant that Lin Qiu and Lin Dong each devoured a big bowl of it. Lin Xia managed only a few bites before she started feeling a bit sickened by the grease. In the end, Lin Dong polished off what she left behind, and then happily went off to school. Lin Xia rode her bike to the market, where she bought some small radishes and mustard greens. Seeing the cabbages were fresh and solid, she also purchased a couple. With home-grown carrots and rutabagas available, she picked up a few of those as well. Lin Xia thought it over; if she were to make pickled veggies, she needed to have chilies and celery to make it tasty. Buying a bit of this and a bit of that, she filled the rear rack and the cloth pouches hanging on the handlebars of her bike. Just as Lin Xia was about to get on her bike, she spotted Jiang Mingyuan two meters ahead, holding a vegetable basket. The two of them seemed to notice each other at the same time and exchanged smiles. Lin Xia asked with a smile, ¡°Brother Mingyuan, you¡¯re buying groceries as well?¡± Living in the same nearby area, it was natural to run into each other. However, a question flickered through Lin Xia¡¯s mind. At this time of day, he was out shopping for groceries; didn¡¯t he have work? Chapter 58 - 58 58 Its Him ?58: Chapter 58: It¡¯s Him 58: Chapter 58: It¡¯s Him ¡°Yes! It looks like you didn¡¯t buy just a few!¡± Jiang Mingyuan looked over Lin Xia¡¯s purchase. ¡°That¡¯s right! I wanted to pickle some vegetables!¡± Lin Xia explained, ¡°Well then, big brother! I¡¯ll be leaving now!¡± Jiang Mingyuan instructed, ¡°Okay! Ride slowly!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xia replied and then she got on her bike. Jiang Mingyuan watched Lin Xia ride off on her bicycle, her slender figure fading into the distance, and quietly smiled. This girl named Lin Xia was genuinely interesting. Usually appearing so thin and seemingly frail, who would have thought she carried a knife and dared to fight vigorously when she encountered bad guys. Truly, appearances could be deceiving. Lin Xia went to buy more coarse salt and chili powder before heading home. Once home, she started washing and cutting vegetables with Lin Qiu, pickling them. She wanted to pickle the cabbage into spicy cabbage, and after pressing it down with something, it would quickly absorb the flavors and could be eaten as pickles. As for those small radishes and such, it would take a while for them to get salty. Lin Xia and Lin Qiu were busy working when Lin Chun came in with a stern face. ¡°Big brother! Why aren¡¯t you at work?¡± Lin Xia asked, surprised. Lin Chun pulled Lin Xia and Lin Qiu into the Western House to talk, and the three of them sat down separately. Lin Chun asked Lin Xia, ¡°Xiaoxia! Are you hiding something from me?¡± ¡°Not at all! Big brother! Why would you ask that?¡± Lin Xia¡¯s heart stirred, thinking that there seemed to be quite a few things she was keeping from her brother. Lin Chun looked at Lin Xia with concern and reproach in his eyes, ¡°Xiaoxia! Why didn¡¯t you tell me at all about the near robbery?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to worry you!¡± Her brother had a lot on his mind, so she didn¡¯t want to trouble him with any bad news, ¡°But luckily, Second Brother from Auntie Zhao¡¯s family encountered and helped me!¡± ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! Big brother! Do you?¡± Lin Chun angrily clenched his teeth, ¡°Lin Qiang and his two wily friends!¡± ¡°If I had known earlier that Lin Qiang had people rob you, even if he was dying of illness, I wouldn¡¯t have lifted a finger to help him!¡± ¡°But he got his karma. No wonder he was sick and couldn¡¯t get out of bed that night!¡± Having her suspicions confirmed, Lin Xia asked, ¡°Big brother! How did you know?¡± ¡°Yeah, big brother!¡± Lin Qiu also asked. Lin Chun began to tell them the story. Last night, after Lin Chun had eaten meat dumplings at their place, he went home. His stomach, not having had so much greasy food for a long time, couldn¡¯t handle it and he began having diarrhea in the middle of the night. Lin Chun felt so uncomfortable in the morning that he didn¡¯t go to work. He planned to lie in bed at home for the morning and go to the office in the afternoon if he felt better. Otherwise, with his frequent trips to the toilet, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to work anyway. But since nobody had requested leave for him, he could only wait to go to work and then explain to his director. So Lin Yu went off to school, Qian Chunli also left, leaving just him and Lin Qiang at home, one in the Eastern House and the other in the Western House. Lin Chun lay on his bed hoping to catch some more sleep when he heard someone enter the Eastern House. At first, he vaguely heard the voices of two men, but didn¡¯t pay much attention. Later, when he got up to use the toilet, he heard from the Eastern House, just as he opened the door, some commotion about coercing Lin Xia. Lin Chun grew suspicious, didn¡¯t close the door, and sneaked closer to the Eastern House to listen carefully. He heard someone inside saying that it was Lin Qiang¡¯s idea to rob Lin Xia and that now he had been beaten up, he was injured, so Lin Qiang had to take responsibility. Even if not giving him money, they needed to buy him something nice to compensate. Lin Qiang¡¯s body was still not recovered, and his voice was very weak. Lin Chun listened and only caught him saying how he didn¡¯t have any money right now but would not treat them poorly once he recovered. Moved with real fury, Lin Chun grabbed a firewood stick beside the stove and stormed into the Eastern House. He stormed in through the door, startling Lin Qiang and the other two. ¡°Lin Qiang! You actually sent someone to rob Lin Xia! How could you be so cruel!¡± Lin Chun challenged Lin Qiang and glanced at the other two boys. Lin Qiang¡¯s face shifted uncomfortably. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Chun to be home, let alone overhear their conversation. But he absolutely couldn¡¯t admit it! ¡°Lin Chun! What are you doing here? There¡¯s no such thing!¡± Dahai, sensing the direction of the wind, immediately chimed in with a carefree demeanor, ¡°Exactly! We don¡¯t even know who Lin Xia is! Why don¡¯t you just leave, we were just chatting here, what¡¯s it to you?¡± Mangzi, seeing the firewood stick in Lin Chun¡¯s hand, said nothing. Lin Chun gripped the firewood stick tighter. He really wanted to beat them up but he knew he couldn¡¯t take on both of them alone. At that moment, Qian Chunli pushed a cart through the gate and into the yard. ¡°Lin Qiang¡¯s mom is back!¡± Mangzi, with sharp eyes, spotted her through the window and shouted, prompting Lin Chun to look instinctively. ¡°Lin Qiang, we¡¯re leaving!¡± Dahai and Mangzi took the opportunity to hurriedly slip out. Lin Chun wanted to stop them but ultimately didn¡¯t move, clenching his fists, frustrated at his own helplessness. Seeing his mom about to enter the room, Lin Qiang got his courage back, ¡°Lin Chun! What are you up to? You want to hit me or what?¡± Lin Chun, pointing at Lin Qiang, said through clenched teeth, ¡°Lin Qiang! I¡¯m telling you! If you dare plot against Lin Xia again, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Lin Qiang was taken aback by Lin Chun¡¯s fierce look, seeing him always as a useless, honest person. But sometimes honest people can be really scary when they get tough! At this moment, Qian Chunli entered the room and seeing Lin Chun in their house, still pointing a stick at her son, she shouted angrily, ¡°Lin Chun! What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Ask your son! Ask him what good deeds he has done! He actually sent someone to rob Lin Xia! If you don¡¯t take care of him, just wait for him to end up behind bars!¡± Lin Chun said icily as he stormed out of the Eastern House! Qian Chunli, with a stern face, quietly asked Lin Qiang, ¡°What actually happened?¡± Lin Qiang, with a stiff neck, replied, ¡°Nothing happened! Lin Chun is talking nonsense!¡± Qian Chunli didn¡¯t believe it; having lived with Lin Chun for years, she knew him well enough to know he wouldn¡¯t create trouble without a reason. ¡°What were those two boys here for? Lin Qiang, you better not be involved in anything illegal!¡± ¡°Nothing! Mom! They just came to ask me out to play, but then saw I was sick and we just chatted!¡± Lin Qiang argued desperately, surely he couldn¡¯t admit he had done something wrong. Seeing Lin Qiang adamantly deny everything, Qian Chunli, still worried about him being sick, didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. Lin Qiang was relieved his mother didn¡¯t press him further, but he was more worried about something else; Mangzi and Dahai had gotten beaten up helping him, and he felt obliged to compensate them somehow. But he didn¡¯t have the money! Even if he asked his mom, he could at best ask for a small sum¡ªwhat could he possibly do with that? From where could he scrape together some money? Lin Chun returned to the Western House feeling extremely angry. On one hand, he was angry that his sisters kept things from him and didn¡¯t tell him; on the other, he was angry at himself, Lin Qiang had nearly gotten Lin Xia robbed, and he had still helped him! And if he knew how to fight, could he have beaten those two boys and Lin Qiang and knocked their teeth out just now? The more Lin Chun thought about it, the angrier he got, and the stronger his resolve to become stronger grew. If he went away for a few years and trained, he would surely be different upon his return. But the thought of leaving his three sisters weighed on his mind. If he left and something happened, what would they do? Frustrated, Lin Chun went to the bathroom; after coming out, he rode straight to find Lin Xia and the others. After listening, Lin Xia coldly snorted in anger, ¡°Lin Qiang! I had my suspicions about him before, but after hearing he was sick, and without evidence, I didn¡¯t mention it to anyone!¡± ¡°I might not have caught his shadow, but if I had, I would¡¯ve taken him straight to the police station!¡± And she wasn¡¯t just speaking out of turn¡ªshe really was contemplating it. Chapter 59 - 59 59 There is a Thief ?59: Chapter 59: There is a Thief 59: Chapter 59: There is a Thief Lin Qiu was also furious, ¡°Lin Qiang is too harmful! If he keeps this up, he¡¯s definitely going to end up squatting behind bars and eating prison food!¡± After the three of them vented their anger for a while, Lin Chun couldn¡¯t help but instruct with concern, ¡°Xiaoxia, from now on, you all need to be careful when you go out and about!¡± ¡°Mhm! Got it!¡± Lin Xia had already made some plans in mind, but she knew her eldest brother wouldn¡¯t agree with her approach, so she¡¯d rather not share and feel uneasy about it. With concern, she asked, ¡°Big brother, is your upset stomach feeling any better? Let me go get you some medicine!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious! I still have to go to work this afternoon. I didn¡¯t go to work this morning and didn¡¯t even ask for leave!¡± Lin Chun felt much better after having lunch there with Lin Xia and the others, carefully avoiding greasy food and only having some watery porridge, pickles, and boiled eggs before heading off to work. Lin Dong, upon learning that his eldest brother got a stomachache from eating meat dumplings, couldn¡¯t help but gloat to Lin Xia with amusement, ¡°Big sis! Our big brother¡¯s stomach is really something, isn¡¯t it? I had so much greasy rice with meat this morning, and I¡¯m totally fine!¡± Lin Xia gave his head a pat, ¡°Look at you, all pleased with yourself!¡± The three of them really didn¡¯t have any issues with upset stomachs. It seemed like her big brother¡¯s stomach was rather weak, Lin Xia thought, and remembered she needed to remind him to drink the Lingzhi-infused water. After Lin Dong went off to school, Lin Xia and Xiaoqiu finished pickling the vegetables in the morning, and with nothing else pressing, they decided to take a nap. Upon waking up from her nap, Lin Xia felt completely rested, and though her legs and feet were still a bit sore, her spirits were high. While Xiaoqiu was still asleep, she slipped into Jade¡¯s room to check on the drying status of the hazelnuts. The result was truly a pleasant surprise; she hadn¡¯t expected such a large batch to dry out so quickly in Jade¡¯s room. Just like last time, she used her consciousness to make them automatically dehusk, and soon enough, there were piles of husks and dehusked hazelnuts on the floor. In Lin Xia¡¯s room, there were only four sacks left, which she had scrounged from the storage room at home from last time. She had no choice but to fill the four sacks first, thinking about where to get more sacks later on. The quantity of hazelnuts, after dehusking, seemed to be even more than she had anticipated. However, considering the man who sold seeds, it was unlikely he had the capacity to take the entire batch at once. But she figured even if he took two sacks at a time, that would be fine. Each delivery could earn her several dozen yuan¡ªa business with only profits and no loses. If she sold some more at the market, she would make a good sum with one trip. Once the hazelnuts were ready and her stock sold out again, Lin Xia was itching to make another trip to the provincial city. But the thought of sitting in a hard seat all night made her hesitant. Yet, for the sake of earning money, she was determined to endure the hardship. After all, she would at least have a seat when boarding the train here, and it would be even more torturous if she ended up without a ticket to sit. After waking up, Xiaoqiu saw her big sister packing things and quickly asked, ¡°Sis! What are you up to? You¡¯re not thinking of going back to the provincial city so soon, are you?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m taking the train tonight and will be back early the day after tomorrow! Xiaoqiu, you all take care at home.¡± Xiaoqiu was somewhat reluctant to see Lin Xia leave, ¡°Sis! Why don¡¯t you rest for a couple more days before going? Look at you, ever since you rushed back, you¡¯ve been busy nonstop, selling goods and going up the mountain, and you only had one day to rest yesterday after making those greasy dumplings. Your body can¡¯t take this kind of strain!¡± She really felt useless; once in the provincial city, she wouldn¡¯t know her way around, or else she would¡¯ve gladly taken her sister¡¯s place in stocking up on goods. Lin Xia sat on the edge of the kang, gently rubbing Xiaoqiu¡¯s cheek, ¡°Xiaoqiu, sis is fine! Look, it¡¯s getting cold now, and the scarves might not sell anymore out of the blue;¡± ¡°So I was thinking, while we can still sell, let¡¯s hustle a few more times. That way, when winter comes around, even if we can¡¯t sell anything, the several of us will have money to spend!¡± She definitely couldn¡¯t tell Xiaoqiu about selling the hazelnuts; that had to be kept a secret. ¡°Sister! I don¡¯t want you to work so hard! We can spend less and save more money!¡± Lin Qiu¡¯s eyes grew moist. She truly felt utterly useless, unable to help with anything, always just a burden. Lin Xia understood her sister¡¯s sensitivity. She laughed and said, ¡°Silly girl! Money isn¡¯t just saved, it¡¯s earned! How much can you really scrape together by squeezing it out from between your teeth? Besides, I¡¯ve only been working hard lately. Once you get a job and I go back to the factory, we¡¯ll be able to live comfortably on our salaries...¡± Convinced by Lin Xia¡¯s words, Lin Qiu went to make pancakes with eggs for her to take along. Lin Xia didn¡¯t stop her, knowing that the train food was terrible, and she¡¯d need to eat once she got off the train in the morning. At home, it was okay, but outside, she¡¯d need food coupons, and she didn¡¯t have any of those. Before leaving, Lin Xia left two yuan for Lin Qiu to use for household expenses, then reminded her to eat the leftover cooking oil residue with Lin Dong. Whether they made buns or stir-fry, they shouldn¡¯t let it sit too long and spoil. Most importantly, Lin Xia was still somewhat worried about Lin Qiang causing trouble. She told Lin Qiu and Lin Dong to be careful at home, lock the doors and windows at night, and not to go out too late. Having given her family instructions, Lin Xia rode her bicycle with Lin Qiu to the train station. Once there, she bought a ticket to wait for her train. Lin Qiu wanted to wait until she boarded the train before leaving, but Lin Xia, using the excuse that she should start making dinner early, persuaded her to go. Lin Qiu had no choice but to cycle back on her own. On the train again, Lin Xia felt a much calmer sense of mind. With plenty of money in her pocket for buying goods, the prospect of selling hazelnuts in the market, and a chance to see if the sunflower seed vendour would buy some too, she boarded lightly without any psychological burden. Some things seem different when you approach them with optimism; the feedback you get can vary accordingly. Having slept during the day, Lin Xia wasn¡¯t tired that night. She sat in a window seat for two, watching as the night scenery flew past outside the window. It wasn¡¯t like the future, with various lights everywhere, so there was only so much she could see in the darkness¡ªthe occasional reflection of her own face against the window as well. Lin Xia felt she had changed greatly from the sallow and emaciated person she had been when she had first returned. Her gaze had become brighter and more focused, and her expressions reflected newfound confidence. She believed her future would be even better! A fire burned within her; she wanted not only to live well herself but also to ensure the happiness of her brothers and sister. The road ahead wouldn¡¯t be without its bumps and challenges, but she was certain she could overcome each and every obstacle. In the middle of the night, Lin Xia, like the others in the carriage, dozed off with her head resting on the little table. In a half-asleep state, she heard cries in the carriage¡ªa thief! Money stolen! Lin Xia was instantly wide awake, and she noticed that many others jolted awake as well. Everyone either sat up or stood to look towards the source of the commotion. An old man dressed like a farmer stood not far ahead in the aisle, lamenting to the others. He said he had hidden his money carefully in the inner pocket of his jacket, holding his arms tightly around it to be cautious. Who would¡¯ve thought that just dozing off for a moment would result in the money from that pocket disappearing? It was money his family had saved up for a long time, money they needed for an emergency. Since Lin Xia had left her money with Jade, she wasn¡¯t worried about losing it. However, she still instinctively glanced at her luggage on the rack. Inside the big bag were the pancakes and eggs that Xiaoqiu had made for her. At that time, people were still pretty honest and compassionate. Everyone started chipping in¡ªtwo mao from one person, three mao from another, five mao from someone else¡ªto help the old man out. Chapter 60 - 60 60 Lu Zheng ?60: Chapter 60 Lu Zheng 60: Chapter 60 Lu Zheng Lin Xia thought for a moment, and then took out fifty cents from the change in her coat pocket to give to the person organizing a collection to help out. When you are out and about, you help where you can. However, she was even more aware of the principle of not flashing your wealth in public, so even though she wanted to give the old man one or two yuan, she dared not to do so. Because of the incident with the thief, no one dared to sleep too soundly afterwards, who knew if a thief would strike while they slept. The train had arrived at a small station and would stop for ten minutes. Lin Xia had wanted to get off to get some fresh air, but seeing that the person across from her stayed put, she decided to endure it and stay put as well. At this point, several passengers boarded, sitting in whatever seats were still available. One of them, a tall and strapping man, sat on the outer side of the three-seat row next to Lin Xia. He sat upright, radiating a powerful energy. Lin Xia glanced over subconsciously and saw that the man was in his twenties, with a dark complexion, thick brows, and deep-set eyes framing a tall nose; he was very handsome. He noticed Lin Xia¡¯s gaze, and his eyes shot over sharply, the sternness in his expression frightened Lin Xia so much that she dared not look again and quickly turned her gaze out the window. But she could still see the man from the reflection in the window. Lin Xia didn¡¯t want him to think that she was particularly interested in him, so she turned her eyes back down and fiddled with her clothes, her mind pondering how to deliver the hazelnuts to the sunflower seed seller after she arrived in the provincial capital. However, as time passed, Lin Xia¡¯s eyelids started to fight against each other, after all, the latter half of the night is when people are most sleepy. Finally, she could not resist the overwhelming urge to sleep and leaned her head against the back of the hard seat and drifted off. When she woke up again, it was already early morning, with only one more hour to the provincial capital. She looked around in confusion to see where she was, the seat beside her empty, probably because the occupant had gotten off or gone to the restroom. Lin Xia shook her numb feet and saw that the man was still there. She didn¡¯t pay much attention to him as she was about to take off her shoes to climb up to the hard seat to reach her big bag, and then she would go to the sink to wash up. Someone behind her beat her to it, with a voice cool and detached, ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡± Lin Xia softly said her thanks, thinking that no matter how indifferent his attitude might be, he was still a kind-hearted good person. After she finished lining up to take care of her personal hygiene, she returned to her seat and took out an iron teacup from her bag to fill with hot water to drink. In the morning, she had decided to take advantage of the hot water to eat her fill right on the train. By afternoon, she¡¯d see where she could eat, and if that wouldn¡¯t work out, she still had pancakes and eggs ¨C there was no way she¡¯d go hungry. The man saw Lin Xia taking out food from her bag, glanced at it indifferently, and then continued looking out the window. Lin Xia blinked her eyes, thinking that maybe in the future she might offer the man who just helped her a pancake, but right now, it was better not to be so presumptuous. Having eaten her fill and sipping on hot water, Lin Xia felt that this train journey wasn¡¯t as difficult as the last time. When it was almost time to arrive, she prepared to get off following the flow of people. The man was also getting off at this stop, following behind Lin Xia. The two of them silently didn¡¯t speak to each other, standing at the junction between train cars, waiting for the train to stop at the station. When the train finally stopped, there were people bustling to get out on Lin Xia¡¯s right, eager to leave. She didn¡¯t want to jostle with the crowd, so she fell back by two steps. By the time she disembarked, the train had already been stopped for quite a while. The moment she stood on the platform, she felt the fresh air fill her nostrils, a different scent than the suffocating, unpleasant smell inside the train, and it perked up her spirit. Lin Xia took a deep breath of the fresh air and then discerned the direction to exit the station and started walking. Suddenly, Lin Xia saw two elegantly dressed middle-aged women approaching, and she recognized one of them! This woman was none other than Meifang, the one she had sold the Lingzhi to! What was she doing here? Lin Xia¡¯s heart skipped a beat; she never expected to see the very person she had been avoiding the moment she stepped off the train. Thankfully, Meifang and another middle-aged woman were both looking towards the carriage, probably searching for someone, so they hadn¡¯t noticed her. Lin Xia quickly lowered her head and moved to the right, quickening her pace as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything. It wasn¡¯t until she had walked some distance that she dared to cautiously look back. She saw the man from the train talking with Meifang and the others. Fearing being discovered, Lin Xia quickly turned her head and hurried away. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but mutter to herself that Meifang actually knew that man with the stern face. The world really is small! The man talking with Meifang sensed the panicked figure of the young girl on the train and couldn¡¯t help but take another glance. ¡°Son! What are you looking at?¡± The woman with Meifang followed his gaze. Meifang, too, turned around curiously, ¡°Yeah, Lu Zheng! Is someone else coming to pick you up?¡± The man withdrew his gaze, ¡°Nothing, Mom, Aunt! How is Grandpa recovering?¡± ¡°Pretty well! Thankfully your aunt found Lingzhi! And with the attentive care of your Grandpa Liao...¡± ¡°Mhm! Let¡¯s walk and talk about it!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Meanwhile, Lin Xia left the train station and took a bus. She was worried that Meifang might notice her and make trouble for her. Nervously boarding a bus that came along, Lin Xia finally felt a weight lifted off her chest. She could never have imagined running into Meifang again, let alone sharing a train with someone she knew. But as her anxiety subsided, she began to think she was making a mountain out of a molehill; maybe Meifang had completely forgotten what she looked like. Lin Xia got off at a random stop and asked for directions to the market where she sold hazelnuts the last time. Even though she might be able to sell a good amount to the same sunflower seed seller as before, the stockpiles in Jade¡¯s room were plentiful. Having come all this way to the provincial city, she had to sell as much as possible¡ªevery bit counted. Once she found the market, Lin Xia went to the bathroom just as she had the last time. She carefully took out a sack of hazelnuts and a plastic sheet. Smirking, she found some empty space and began to sell the hazelnuts. It had just been a few days since her last visit here to sell hazelnuts. Today, as soon as she laid out the plastic sheet and divided the hazelnuts into several small piles, people began asking for the price. Lin Xia continued to sell as she did last time, fifty cents for a small pile, letting customers taste them before buying. Hearing that they could try for free, a small crowd quickly gathered around her stall, grabbing handfuls to taste. Fortunately, among the crowd was a middle-aged woman who had bought from her before. Although she grabbed a handful, she said to Lin Xia with a smile, ¡°Young girl, these hazelnuts are just as you said, they are fragrant and nutritious when roasted! Both the kids and adults at home love them! I¡¯ll take two piles!¡± Seeing Lin Xia had nothing to package the nuts in, she squatted down and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll just bag them myself!¡± ¡°Sure thing, ma¡¯am!¡± Lin Xia responded crisply and even gave her an extra large handful. People love a bustling scene when shopping; seeing someone purchase immediately and hearing how tasty they were at home, they started to buy as well. Lin Xia was busy portioning out the nuts and collecting money, ensuring each person got a little extra. Even when a stingy customer insisted on more, she was not miserly. She managed to keep everyone around her stall happy, and the crowd continued to gather. Chapter 61 - 61 61 Selling Goods ?61: Chapter 61 Selling Goods 61: Chapter 61 Selling Goods Lin Xia kept messing with the nuts as she sold them, stealthily pouring hazelnuts from Jade¡¯s space into the bag, ensuring the sack never emptied. None of the customers noticed as they came and went. The old lady selling cabbage next to her couldn¡¯t make out the trickery even after Lin Xia gave her two large handfuls; her vision was too blurry to see the sleight of hand. In the end, Lin Xia didn¡¯t even know how many she had actually sold. Anyway, she carried small denominations like one, two, and five jiao notes in her left pocket for appearances, while nonchalantly slipping other amounts into her right pocket¡ªeven though she was actually transferring them into the Jade room, so there was no worry about losing any money. After closing her stall at the market, Lin Xia found a secluded corner to stash the hemp sack and tarp into the Jade room. She didn¡¯t bother counting the money then, heading straight to the sunflower seed seller¡¯s place instead. Arriving at the door of the sunflower seed seller, she didn¡¯t bring out the hazelnuts immediately but knocked on the door empty-handed. She needed to confirm whether they wanted any and how many before figuring out her next move. The wife of the sunflower seed seller answered the door, recognizing Lin Xia as the hazelnut vendor. With a smile on her face, she ushered Lin Xia into the yard, ¡°Young lady! How much did you bring this time?¡± Lin Xia smiled back, ¡°Quite a lot! Auntie, how many do you want? My brother asked me to check with you first, then we¡¯ll deliver them to you!¡± She had plenty of hazelnuts but feared they may not have enough money to pay for them all at once. Lin Xia would absolutely not engage in any business on credit! ¡°Then let¡¯s start with two sacks!¡± ¡°Alright! Auntie, just wait at home!¡± Leaving their house, Lin Xia went back to her previous resting spot to take a break and slowly count the money. When she included the large notes, small notes, and even coins, she had sold over sixty-three yuan in total. Lin Xia wasn¡¯t as wildly ecstatic as the first time, but she was quite happy, considering the amount was not insignificant. After selling another couple of sacks to the sunflower seed seller, she was sure to have over a hundred yuan! With no cost of goods since she just had to work a bit harder climbing the mountains, the money was earned effortlessly! However, Lin Xia also knew that people were buying for the novelty, and no household would consume them daily. So, selling every day was unrealistic; an occasional visit like hers was much better. After enough rest, Lin Xia glanced at the sun, gauged the time, and casually went to a pile of fodder diagonally across from the sunflower seed seller¡¯s house. With no one around, she covertly took out two sacks of hazelnuts. Then, dragging one sack, she proceeded to their doorstep, intending to bring the other sack later. After catching her breath, Lin Xia knocked on the door. The sunflower seed seller¡¯s wife, seeing her alone again, had to inquire, ¡°Why are you by yourself?¡± Lin Xia coolly spun a tale without changing her expression, ¡°My brother dropped me off here and had to rush back to deliver to another family!¡± The woman, surprised, asked, ¡°Really? You¡¯re not just selling to us?¡± ¡°Of course! There are other families as well, all wanting quite a lot!¡± Lin Xia fibbed smoothly, justifying her claim with her previous sales at the market. ¡°Oh! Are they also in the sunflower seed business?¡± the woman asked with a hint of unease, though she knew they couldn¡¯t stop the young girl from selling to others. ¡°No!¡± The woman¡¯s expression relaxed somewhat, and she called for her husband to come out and start weighing. The two sacks came to a total of over two hundred fifty-three pounds. Lin Xia rounded down the total to sixty-eight yuan and thirty cents. While they were retrieving the money, the couple appeared to have a hushed conversation. The man asked Lin Xia, ¡°Young lady! When will you come again next time?¡± ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s no certainty! Maybe once or twice more! The mountains are almost out of hazelnuts! We won¡¯t come anymore after it gets colder!¡± Lin Xia said, her words a mix of truth and fiction. Indeed, Lin Xia wasn¡¯t sure if she would come to the provincial city when the weather turned cold. Having her go back to her regular job, and with nothing to busy herself with in the winter, what else would bring her here to make trouble? However, if the other party really still wanted them, she was willing to keep supplying them, but in the future, for the constant back and forth, she¡¯d definitely have to think of some other method. ¡°That¡¯s settled then! Young lady, you are earning this hard-earned money, so I can¡¯t just expect you to deliver them to my home without being considerate! In that case, next time you come over, could you bring a bit more for my family? And we¡¯ll also try to scrape together more money to keep more stock, so that we have something to sell in the winter...¡± After they started roasting hazelnuts these past couple of days, the sales were pretty good, and though they were a bit pricier, there were fewer buyers than for sunflower seeds, but with the added markup, they were really making a profit. Lin Xia felt a surge of happiness inside her, but she didn¡¯t show it on her face, ¡°Okay! But Uncle, you also need to tell me an approximate amount, so we can figure out how to deliver it to you!¡± She wondered whether to wait until next time or to sell them directly this time. The man thought for a moment, considering that there was still a long time until New Year¡¯s, and every family would need to buy some then, so maybe they would sell even more. ¡°I think a sack of around a hundred pounds, you could prepare about six or seven hundred pounds for us! But if I¡¯m buying this much, can you give me a discount?¡± Lin Xia pursed her lips, ¡°I really can¡¯t give a discount! Uncle, I¡¯ve told you before, it¡¯s really difficult for us to harvest these hazelnuts. After harvesting, we have to carry them down to dry and shuck them, and then we still have to pick out the good ones to pack! After all that, we have to transport them here. Think about how much effort is involved!¡± The couple exchanged glances, knowing well that the young girl wasn¡¯t lying; her hazelnuts were indeed exceptional. ¡°Alright then! I won¡¯t haggle over the price with you! Let¡¯s keep it at the same rate!¡± Lin Xia thought it over, six or seven hundred pounds, at twenty-seven cents a pound, that would be over a hundred dollars. She wanted to agree and sell this batch to him right now, but after considering it, she realized there would be quite a few sacks to prepare, so she needed to plan properly before delivering the goods; therefore, she really couldn¡¯t deliver it to him right away. ¡°Alright! Then Uncle, I¡¯ll be on my way!¡± After leaving their home, Lin Xia found the bus and went to the store to buy goods. She had nearly two hundred dollars on her to begin with, and with the money from selling the hazelnuts, she had over three hundred dollars in total. This time, Lin Xia didn¡¯t spend all the money on stock. She spent three hundred dollars on goods, including scarves and hair clips, and also bought ten nice-looking hairbands, a few less than usual. She specifically bought a good-looking hairband for Yu Hongmei. Thinking of the assistance she received from Auntie Zhao¡¯s son, Lin Xia pondered long and hard about what would be an appropriate gift. Eventually, she bought a pen for Jiang Mingyuan, and some snacks for her elder brother and the others. Getting back on the train to return home, Lin Xia finally relaxed completely, stretching her legs and feet. Since getting off the train she had been bustling about non-stop, and she¡¯d accomplished quite a bit in a single day. But thinking of what she gained, on the whole, it was still a pleasurable and satisfying thought. After staying up all night, the next day when Lin Xia got off the train, it was Lin Qiu who came to pick her up again. Lin Xia immediately noticed that Lin Qiu¡¯s complexion was off, as if he had something he wanted to say but was holding back. Her heart sank, thinking that in her absence, Lin Qiang might have been up to no good! ¡°Xiaoqiu! What¡¯s the matter? Has something happened?¡± Lin Qiu gripped the handlebars tightly, looking at Lin Xia, ¡°Sister! Yesterday, Aunt Xu asked me why you weren¡¯t at home the night before last. I said you were out! After that, Aunt Xu started to inquire, saying you were supposed to be working at a factory, so why were you still not working there! I explained that you had taken leave from work, and would go back after a while...¡± ¡°Hmm! But that¡¯s nothing to worry about, right? Why do you look so upset?¡± Lin Xia felt it was normal for Aunt Xu to inquire a bit. If she were the landlord, and had tenants renting, especially in the Western House, she would certainly take an interest. Chapter 62 - 62 62 Search Again ?62: Chapter 62 Search Again 62: Chapter 62 Search Again Lin Qiu pursed her lips, ¡°Auntie Xu didn¡¯t say much, it¡¯s just that Xu Haihua, this morning when she found out you didn¡¯t come home last night either, afterwards I heard her muttering to Auntie Xu back in the room... She said when our lease is up, she definitely can¡¯t rent to us anymore, not knowing what kind of people we are, feeling insecure and all... Then I heard Auntie Xu say, she knows what to do, and she¡¯ll let us know when our lease is almost up...¡± Lin Qiu felt extremely unsettled; after moving here with her elder sister and younger brother, she had come to regard this place as home. Finding a house was such a hassle, and she had been there through it all; she had seen the struggle firsthand; So the thought that the landlord might suddenly refuse to rent to them after a month sent waves of panic through her, leaving her utterly distressed. Lin Xia felt some anger, she hadn¡¯t expected Xu Haihua to act this way, nor had she anticipated that Auntie Xu shared the same sentiments. However, not renting anymore isn¡¯t the end of the world, they could just find somewhere else. ¡°Xiaoqiu! If they don¡¯t want to rent to us when the time comes, then so be it! We¡¯ll find another place! Actually, I had already thought about this before I left the house. You see, Lin Qiang must have known we were living here, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been able to intercept me. So, it¡¯s not really safe for us to live here. What if we¡¯re not cautious one day and Lin Qiang messes with us, then we¡¯d be at a loss, right...¡± What Lin Xia didn¡¯t articulate was an even greater worry: if Lin Qiang knew where they lived, it was conceivable that Lin Aiguo might come back from the mountains, learn their location, and cause trouble. If she were at home, she could handle it, but she feared for Lin Qiu, knowing Lin Aiguo¡¯s temper¡ªbeatings and scoldings would be the least of it! Therefore, moving away from here might actually not be such a bad idea, but she was also secretly worried about how easy it would be to find another place. After all, this era was not like the future. But even if it was difficult to find another place, she had to try her best; they couldn¡¯t keep living in constant fear. Lin Qiu realized that her sister made sense. Lin Qiang was not a good person; if he could rob her sister with his despicable friends, what else wouldn¡¯t he do? She couldn¡¯t help voicing her concerns, ¡°Sis! That¡¯s all true, but will it be easy to find another house?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to look and see!¡± Lin Xia placed her large bag on the back rack of the bicycle, ¡°Come on! Xiaoqiu! Push the bike for me, and we can talk as we walk!¡± Some things are better discussed outside, to avoid having to tiptoe around the subject back home. Lin Qiu was worried that Lin Xia might be too exhausted from the train ride, ¡°Sis! You must be tired from getting off the train. Why don¡¯t we ride and talk instead?¡± Lin Xia caressed her cheek, ¡°I¡¯m fine! This trip wasn¡¯t too bad, maybe I¡¯m getting used to it, not so tired. Riding and talking wouldn¡¯t be convenient because we¡¯d be home too quickly...¡± Lin Qiu obediently handed over the bicycle to Lin Xia and walked slowly beside it. ¡°Xiaoqiu, there¡¯s no need to be anxious or upset! I¡¯ll sell the goods in the next couple of days, and then we can start looking for a place! This time, we won¡¯t rent a room in someone else¡¯s house; we¡¯ll see if it¡¯s possible to rent a whole unit. It¡¯d be more convenient for us to eat whatever and talk about anything!¡± Previously, because they hadn¡¯t thought it through and were in a hurry to find a place, they had rented a room from Auntie Xu and at the time, thought it was pretty good. Only after truly settling in and living with another family did they realize there were many inconveniences. Not to mention anything else, they had to whisper when talking to avoid being overheard, and whenever they had something good to eat, they had to endure Auntie Xu¡¯s inquisitive gaze and probing questions. Not giving a taste to others seems like they¡¯re being stingy, but giving it to them doesn¡¯t build any bond, and it just wastes the good food. ¡°Sis! Could it be easy to find? Actually, besides Xu Haihua being a little difficult to get along with, Auntie Xu is quite alright!¡± Lin Qiu voiced her concerns. She pondered whether she could speak nicely to Auntie Xu, hoping there might be a chance they could agree to continue renting to them. Otherwise, in just over half a month, when it gets colder, if they can¡¯t find a suitable house, they surely can¡¯t just live out in the open, can they? Lin Qiu didn¡¯t say it out loud, but her expression clearly showed Lin Xia what she was thinking. Lin Xia said patiently, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Why can¡¯t you see? They really don¡¯t want to rent to us anymore! So there¡¯s no need for us to humble ourselves! Although we¡¯re renting their house, we¡¯re not short of their rent, and look at Dongzi, he¡¯s been back helping a lot too! But what use is that? In the end, if they don¡¯t want to rent, they just won¡¯t rent!¡± The house is theirs, and it¡¯s their right not to rent if they don¡¯t want to, but Lin Xia genuinely felt a bit sentimental. They had finally managed to have some dumplings and had shared with Auntie Xu, all for the sake of living harmoniously. Lin Qiu nodded in agreement, ¡°Right! Sis, I get upset thinking about it too. Look at how since we¡¯ve moved in, we¡¯ve done so many chores! If I had known it¡¯d be like this...¡± Lin Xia cautioned Lin Qiu, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Stop talking about that! Just behave as usual when we get back. If they don¡¯t bring it up, just act ignorant, but I¡¯m going to sell the goods in the next couple of days, and we really need to start looking for a place! Even if they change their minds now and want to keep renting to us, we should move out! Winter is approaching, and we can¡¯t handle the instability! We can¡¯t possibly be moving during the depths of winter, can we?¡± Lin Xia could see that Auntie Xu was soft-hearted and often indulged Xu Haihua; therefore, it would be wiser for them to move out to avoid future troubles. Lin Qiu nodded firmly, ¡°Okay! Sis! We¡¯ll listen to you!¡± In her eyes, as long as her sister was there, there¡¯s nothing they couldn¡¯t do. Lin Xia got on her bike, ¡°Good! I¡¯ve brought you some tasty treats! This time we¡¯re not sharing with anyone else! Just you, big brother, and Dongzi!¡± Xiaoqiu skillfully supported Lin Xia¡¯s waist as she got on the back of the bicycle, ¡°Right! Giving it to them is just a waste, we might as well enjoy it ourselves!¡± She had comprehended thoroughly that some people were not worth befriending. On their way home, they ran into Jiang Mingyuan. Jiang Mingyuan rode his bike with a cloth bundle tied behind it, he greeted them and was ready to pass by. Lin Xia got off her bike to stop him, ¡°Second brother! Wait a moment!¡± Jiang Mingyuan dismounted his bike too, glanced at his wristwatch, and asked, ¡°Xiaolin? What¡¯s up?¡± Lin Xia noticed his gesture and realized that he might be in a hurry to get somewhere. She didn¡¯t dawdle and signalled Lin Qiu to push the bike. She took out the pen from her pocket, which actually came from Jade¡¯s room. ¡°Second brother! I wasn¡¯t sure what would be an appropriate gift to buy, so I chose this pen for you as thanks for helping me out last time!¡± Jiang Mingyuan was taken aback; he thought Xiaolin was calling out to him for help with some task and hadn¡¯t expected a gift. ¡°Xiaolin, you¡¯re too polite! Like I said that day, don¡¯t worry about it, it was just a little effort on my part!¡± As Jiang Mingyuan spoke, he was ready to get back on his bike and leave. Chapter 63 - 63 63 Really Nice People ?63: Chapter 63: Really Nice People 63: Chapter 63: Really Nice People After so much trouble to run into Jiang Mingyuan, and with the street conveniently empty, how could Lin Xia let him leave just like that? She strode forward and slid the fountain pen directly into his coat pocket, ¡°That won¡¯t do! You must accept this, second brother!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t accept it! Xiaolin!¡± Jiang Mingyuan tried to return the fountain pen with one hand, ¡°Take it back for your brother to use!¡± When he helped out at that time, it was just a hand lent, without any other intentions. ¡°My brother has one!¡± But Lin Xia didn¡¯t give him the chance to return it, she quickly coordinated with Lin Qiu, and the two of them rode away on their bikes. ¡°Hey! Xiaolin... listen to me...¡± Jiang Mingyuan wanted to chase after them to give it back to Lin Xia, but looking at the time, he could only smile helplessly. He thought to himself that Lin Xia was really interesting! She handled things with such decisiveness and efficiency! As Lin Qiu sat on the rear rack of the bike and watched Jiang Mingyuan getting farther away, she couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°Sister, I think this second brother is really nice! He has the same kind heart as Aunt Zhao!¡± Lin Xia, riding in front, also laughed and looked back, ¡°We were lucky to run into him when he seemed to be in a hurry, otherwise, you¡¯ll see, he would definitely have chased us down to return it!¡± ¡°Yes! He did seem to be in a hurry!¡± Lin Qiu also noticed. ¡°Anyway, now that it¡¯s given away, we¡¯ve returned the favor!¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t want to owe anyone anything. Although she knew that a fountain pen was no big deal, it was her way of showing gratitude. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Qiu thought for a moment, then cautiously whispered, ¡°But, sister! I feel like Xu Haihua is really concerned about second brother. Have you noticed?¡± That day, when her sister was brought back by second brother, Xu Haihua happened to be going home and saw. Her expression at that moment, as if afraid second brother had hurt something, then she started to target them after. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed too! So let¡¯s not tell Dongzi about giving the fountain pen to second brother,¡± Lin Xia cautioned. She didn¡¯t want an innocent thank-you gift to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. In fact, when she was choosing something for second brother, it had taken her a long while to decide to buy the fountain pen. Anything else would have been even more inappropriate to give. But if she gave nothing at all, she felt as though she owed a huge debt of gratitude. Money is easy to repay, but these debts of gratitude are the hardest. ¡°Okay! I got it!¡± Lin Qiu also understood the intricacies involved, so she quickly agreed. After Lin Xia arrived home, Aunt Xu came out of the house and saw Lin Xia carrying a big bag, asked curiously, ¡°Lin Xia! Where did you tote that big bag back from?¡± She didn¡¯t know that the conversation they had had that morning had been fully overheard by Lin Qiu. So their casual talk was no different from usual. ¡°The provincial capital!¡± Lin Xia responded indifferently. She wasn¡¯t a saint; on the contrary, she was very much of this world, so she found Aunt Xu¡¯s fervent demeanor quite tedious. ¡°You went to the provincial capital? No wonder you were gone for two days!¡± Aunt Xu kept her eyes on the big bag in Lin Xia¡¯s hands. Seeing that Lin Xia offered no response and simply took the bag into the Western House, she pursed her lips and went into the Eastern House. Lin Qiu followed Lin Xia obediently, confused about how to behave after eavesdropping on Aunt Xu¡¯s true intentions, and thus chose to keep quiet. Once inside and with the door securely closed, Lin Xia began to take out food from the bag for Lin Qiu. There were limited choices available to buy, so she had purchased some canned fish, canned meat, bread, and some candy and such. Lin Qiu happily examined each item, then couldn¡¯t bear to eat any. ¡°Save these for Dongzi when he gets back!¡± After thinking, she separated a portion, ¡°These are for our older brother; we should put them away or Dongzi will get envious!¡± Lin Xia watched Lin Qiu hustling about with a smile and a look of laughter on her young face, thinking that as long as she was around, she wouldn¡¯t let her younger brother and sister suffer. After eating, Lin Xia took a nap and then set out to sell her goods. This time she headed to Chopsticks Factory No. 2, where she had sold out the previous evening and there were still some who wanted to buy. In the brief time when the workers went out for lunch, Lin Xia sold quite a few scarves and hair clips, and she even tried selling ten hairbands with polka dots or stripes, all of which were sold out. This gave Lin Xia an idea, it seemed that it was indeed easier to make money off young women and wives; when she had the money in the future, she would open a shop specializing in women¡¯s clothing and accessories, and she was certain the business would be good. But for now, that was definitely out of the question! She still had to work hard to earn and save money! When Lin Xia got home, the door to the Eastern House was open, and Xu Damei was scrubbing dishes by the stove. Lin Xia greeted her and went into the Western House because she still felt somewhat uncomfortable knowing what the two of them had been gossiping about behind her back. ¡°Sister! You¡¯re back! Wash your hands and come eat!¡± Lin Qiu quickly got up to serve the meal from the kitchen. Lin Dong smiled at Lin Xia, he hadn¡¯t seen his eldest sister when he came back from school the night before, and it was only now that he got to see her. He asked quietly, ¡°Sis! Why did you bring us back so much good food?¡± Lin Xia teased him, ¡°You didn¡¯t finish it all, did you?¡± Lin Dong said in a wronged tone, ¡°How could I? When I got back from school and saw the tasty food at home, Second Sister said you brought it from the provincial city. I resisted eating it, waiting to enjoy it with you when you came back.¡± Lin Xia laughed and rubbed his head, ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you!¡± Lin Dong felt helpless; he was already so big, yet his eldest sister still treated him like a child. ¡°Sis! How did the selling go?¡± ¡°Pretty well! We¡¯ll talk about it in a bit!¡± Lin Xia winked at him and put down her bag to wash her hands. Just then she saw Xu Damei wiping her hands and leaving the house; Lin Xia didn¡¯t pay it much attention. While she was bending down to wash her hands, Xu Haihua came out from the Eastern House and leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking at Lin Xia and asking, ¡°Xiaolin, what did you go to the provincial city for? You didn¡¯t stay at home the night before last and last night!¡± Lin Xia paused in her soap rubbing and responded coldly, ¡°Some business!¡± In the past, she might have shared a little, but now she didn¡¯t feel like telling them anything! Xu Haihua covered her mouth and chuckled, ¡°Some business? You see, it¡¯s been a while since you moved in, and I¡¯ve never seen you go to work. ¡°Xiaolin, do you actually have a job or not, what exactly do you do? Staying out for two nights in a row, you aren¡¯t up to no good, are you? Tricking me and my mom, huh!¡± Lin Xia stood up and wiped her hands, her face cold as she looked at Xu Haihua, ¡°What does it matter to you whether or not I have a job? Is it any of your business if I don¡¯t come home at night? We rent a house from you, have we ever been short on rent?¡± Was Xu Haihua implying she was some sort of lowlife? How much more could they disrespect her? Even if the room were given to her for free, she wouldn¡¯t stay! Who behaves like this? Xu Haihua didn¡¯t expect Lin Xia to talk to her that way, and pointing at Lin Xia, she grew angry, ¡°What kind of attitude is that?¡± She initially only wanted to take out her frustration about Jiang Mingyuan on Lin Xia with a few snide remarks, but she didn¡¯t expect Lin Xia to be even more assertive. Chapter 64 - 64 Shelving Speech (30,000 more tomorrow! ?64: Shelving Speech (30,000 more tomorrow! 15 more posts! Please subscribe!) 64: Shelving Speech (30,000 more tomorrow! 15 more posts! Please subscribe!) Hehe, ladies, this book will be listed tomorrow, scatter flowers, scatter flowers~ Yaoyao feels very nervous, excited, and anxious about the listing, not knowing how many people will subscribe, not knowing how many will support me! Actually, looking back, it really hasn¡¯t been easy. Here, I want to especially thank each and every one of you for your support and encouragement¡ªbowing deeply in gratitude to all you beauties! You beauties who have been following Yaoyao all this way know that our rich lady didn¡¯t even have a recommendation before. Later, the dear editor gave us a category push on the web during the week of the listing, but maybe now everyone uses the mobile app to read, so the effect isn¡¯t great, sniffle~my heart aches. Yaoyao has been gritting my teeth and persevering in writing well, which can¡¯t happen without everyone¡¯s support and encouragement. I want to thank each and every one of you here; it¡¯s your collections, votes, comments, and rewards that give me the energy to carry on! Otherwise, it would be really difficult to keep going!! Group hug! There are so many messages from beauties in the book review section, and Yaoyao has read every one, and I reply whenever I have time! Sometimes when I see a certain review, I find it so touching and considerate that I can¡¯t help but smile goofily for a long while. We were strangers who met by chance, but through this book as a medium, we got to know each other, and in the future, we¡¯ll even come to love each other~hehe! Now that it¡¯s listed, I can finally update without any restrictions, so Yaoyao will explode with a 30,000-word update, all to thank you all, to let you have a thrilling and exhilarating read!! Actually, Yaoyao¡¯s typing speed is pretty slow, I can¡¯t write much in an hour, the two thousand words of each chapter sometimes even take two hours, and even after writing, I have to check repeatedly for typos. So these words are the accumulation of many days of work, but for everyone¡¯s happiness, I don¡¯t mind at all! The initial intention behind writing this was because Yaoyao read some novels set in different eras, in villages and county towns, but noticed that no one had written about Lin District. Of course, that might just be because I have a limited reading experience! Since my hometown is here, I really wanted to write about some people and events in Lin District so that more friends could see. In the passionate and bustling eighties, there was such a place, such a group of people with blood and flesh, who had their own dreams, striving for a better life, their stories! Er... of course, it also includes the nitty-gritty of household matters and various clashes between people! I hope everyone will feel a sense of identification when they read it! Hehe! Yaoyao has been writing this story very sincerely, striving to ensure that each character has his or her own personality feature, rather than being stereotyped! Whenever I have free time, the plot is spinning in my head, and sometimes at night in my dreams, I¡¯m still thinking about the people and events of the Lin Family. Hehe, am I a bit obsessed? I really hope to be recognized in this way!! Recognized by all of you!!! Recognized by the editors!!! And that recognition needs to be measured by performance and subscriptions!!!! So, Yaoyao is here pleading for genuine subscriptions. The subscription for each chapter really isn¡¯t much, just a few cents, but it can give me more strength to carry on... (¡î¨Œ¡î) Around ten o¡¯clock tomorrow, once the dear editor opens the listing channel, Yaoyao will start posting, throwing out 30,000 words in one go! Explosive updates, let¡¯s go! Letting you all have a blast!! At that time, I hope you will stretch out your beautiful little hands to support the genuine subscription! (I heard that the first subscription is very important, as it relates to future recommendation spots! Recommendation! Recommendation! You beauties all know Yaoyao¡¯s struggle~) Hehe, about the updates, I¡¯ll release 30,000 words on the 30th when it goes live, and I¡¯ll strive for a 10,000-word update on the 31st! For monthly tickets, as it¡¯s already the 30th, Yaoyao won¡¯t ask for more. Next month, let¡¯s strive for it. I guarantee at least two updates daily, one additional chapter for every 15 monthly tickets, two more chapters for each He¡¯s Bi reward, and one more chapter for every thousand recommendation votes. As long as Yaoyao can type it out, I¡¯ll clear the votes and repay the debt within the month, I promise to pay it all back! Of course, cough, if you crazily smash me with your votes, and I can¡¯t repay it all in one month, I¡¯ll continue to repay it the next month, absolutely no defaults! However, hehe! Would you all give me that chance? You would, right? Also, I wish all you beauties happiness every day! Have a good mood every day! Hehe! There¡¯s one last thing... Lastly, the most important thing to say three times, beg for the subscription! Beg for the subscription! Beg for the subscription!!!!!!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Qin Xiaoyao YY Chapter 65 - 65 64 Refund (First Update! ?65: Chapter 64 Refund (First Update! Please Subscribe!) 65: Chapter 64 Refund (First Update! Please Subscribe!) ¡°Sister! What happened?¡± Lin Dong came out from the house after hearing the noise, his face tense as he stood with Lin Xia and Lin Qiu. ¡°It¡¯s nothing!¡± Lin Xia held back Lin Dong, not letting him get agitated, since he was still just a youngster. At this moment, Mrs. Xu came in from outside. She looked at her daughter¡¯s expression and then at Lin Xia, and hurriedly asked, ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Why did it seem like they started arguing the moment she went out to the toilet? Xu Haihua complained shrilly, ¡°Mom! Look at the kind of people you let in! Since moving into our house, I haven¡¯t seen her go to work. Even going out to pick hazelnuts, she could meet robbers! For a young woman to not come home for two nights, it¡¯s normal for me to ask questions, right? But she even got angry at me! Puffing her beard and glaring her eyes! Who knows what kind of people they are!¡± Mrs. Xu¡¯s face darkened as she looked towards Lin Xia and the others with an unfriendly gaze. Her own dearly pampered daughter, whom she could hardly bear to speak harshly to, how could she let a tenant bully her? ¡°What kind of people are we? Obviously good people!¡± Lin Xia looked at Mrs. Xu, ¡°Mrs. Xu, it¡¯s true we¡¯re renting your house, but tenants have their rights too! What have we done to bother anyone?¡± She really hadn¡¯t intended to clash with Xu Haihua, but the things Xu Haihua said were really harsh, and how could she not hear the insinuations in her words? Mrs. Xu frowned, clearly siding with her own daughter, ¡°Xiaolin, there are some things that I¡¯ve always been too embarrassed to say! Before you moved in, you said you worked at a processing factory, and your sister at a garment factory! But now neither of you are working! If this continues, we can¡¯t feel secure renting to you, living in the Western House... You should look for another place to live as soon as possible!¡± She had been hesitant, but her daughter had been nagging her about this for the past few days. She also feared something might happen, since they weren¡¯t working yet were still eating so well, unlike a proper family ought to. Nowadays, who uses so much oil for cooking, or puts that much meat in dumplings, as if it were blown in by a wind and cost nothing! Now that they even dare speak to her daughter like that, she definitely couldn¡¯t let them stay here any longer! Lin Xia scoffed coldly, even if she was to move out, she had to set things straight first. ¡°Whether my sister works at the garment factory, your daughter can inquire about it¡ªthe assistant director of their garment factory is my colleague Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law. As for me, I recently took leave from my job, and I¡¯ll go back to work in a few days! But now, don¡¯t say you feel uneasy living in the Western House, we feel the same unease too. Who knows how you talk about us behind our backs? We¡¯ll find a place and move out in a couple of days! However, for the rent and the luggage rental fee, you have to return half to us, since we haven¡¯t even lived here half a month yet! It is you who are driving us out!¡± Lin Xia really didn¡¯t care about that little bit of money, but she just needed to persist, even if they left, she wouldn¡¯t let this mother and daughter off cheaply! ¡°You...¡± Mrs. Xu was so taken aback by Lin Xia¡¯s retort that she was at a loss for words, only then realizing Lin Xia¡¯s toughness. Xu Haihua also didn¡¯t expect Lin Xia to be so sharply formidable, ¡°Why should we give it back to you? You paid the rent with no reason for a refund!¡± She also wanted to stand her ground, insisting on facing off against Lin Xia. Lin Xia wouldn¡¯t indulge them, ¡°Fine, no refunds! Then we¡¯ll just take our luggage and leave!¡± If this mother and daughter were really going to be difficult, then she definitely wouldn¡¯t let them walk over her! ¡°That won¡¯t do!¡± Xu Dai Niang simply couldn¡¯t agree, for her luggage consisted of three sets, and even if they were old, they were still decent enough to use. ¡°Then give us two yuan back! Otherwise, we¡¯ll just take the luggage with us!¡± Lin Xia wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll give you two yuan back!¡± In order to get these people to leave without more fuss, Xu Dai Niang had to swallow her distress and take out the money she had pocketed! ¡°Mom! Why give it back to them!¡± Xu Haihua felt it was a huge loss. Why should we give them money back! Once handed over, there¡¯s no reason to return it! Xu Dai Niang gave her a look, signaling to just go along with it. Xu Haihua glared at Lin Xia and was about to say something when Xu Dai Niang pulled her back. Lin Xia didn¡¯t look at Xu Haihua; she only looked at Xu Dai Niang, ¡°Alright! Then it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll look for a house in the next few days, and after you give us the two yuan back, we¡¯ll return the luggage to you!¡± ¡°Fine! Just make it in these two days then!¡± Xu Dai Niang added, ¡°But if it takes more than half a month, we won¡¯t give it back!¡± She figured if they couldn¡¯t find a house in a few more days and it went beyond half a month, those two yuan would still be hers. ¡°Fine!¡± Lin Xia agreed, unwilling to argue further with them. Instead of squabbling, it was better to focus on what needed to be done! Xu Haihua saw that Lin Xia had agreed and smugly lifted her chin, ¡°Remember, this is what you agreed to! If it¡¯s more than half a month, the money won¡¯t be returned!¡± She didn¡¯t believe they could find a house that quickly, and if they didn¡¯t, they could forget about getting the two yuan back! Furthermore, if they couldn¡¯t find one for a while, they might even end up begging her and her mother! But Xu Haihua had decided that even if they begged, she would never agree to let them stay in their house again! Once they moved far away, Lin Xia wouldn¡¯t even think about getting close to Mingyuan, and Xu Haihua returned to the Eastern House with great satisfaction. When Lin Xia and the others returned to the Western House, the food on the table had already gone cold. Lin Dong was so furious he turned beet red; his sister had whispered to him when he came back, and he had been thinking about finding a house and moving recently. Who would have thought Xu Haihua would speak so hurtfully, as if she took his eldest sister for nothing? Lin Qiu was very unsettled inside, but she fully supported her elder sister¡¯s decision. They truly couldn¡¯t live here any longer, considering what Xu Haihua had said. Lin Xia reassured them both, ¡°Both of you cheer up; is this even worth worrying about! I¡¯ll go out and look for a house right after dinner and Xiaoqiu, you stay home to watch the house!¡± ¡°Yes! Sister! I¡¯ll definitely keep a good watch over our home!¡± They had acquired quite a few belongings recently, and she didn¡¯t want to lose anything. Lin Dong quickly asked, ¡°Eldest sister! Should I take the afternoon off to help you look?¡± He was worried about his big sister, who had just been robbed a few days ago. Lin Xia declined, ¡°No need! I can just ride my bike around and search by myself! If I don¡¯t find one today, there¡¯s still tomorrow and the day after! You should attend your classes!¡± She could handle the house-hunting on her own and wouldn¡¯t let Lin Dong disrupt his studies because of it. ¡°Alright then, sister! Just be careful!¡± Lin Dong reluctantly agreed, knowing that studying was the most important thing in his big sister¡¯s eyes. Lin Xia embraced them both, ¡°You two don¡¯t worry! This time I¡¯ll find us a house where we don¡¯t have to live with anyone else, and then I¡¯ll make you braised pork to eat!¡± Because they were living in the Eastern House, doing anything was inconvenient. In fact, that day when she saw the meat on sale, she really wanted to buy a big chunk of pork belly and cook up some delicious braised pork. Chapter 66 - 66 65 The Dog Farts (Second Update) ?66: Chapter 65: The Dog Farts (Second Update) 66: Chapter 65: The Dog Farts (Second Update) ¡°Great! Sis!¡± Lin Dong¡¯s eyes shone like light bulbs, ¡°I¡¯ve only had canned braised pork, but I¡¯ve never had the actual dish. The mere thought makes my mouth water!¡± But how do you know how to make it?¡± In his memory, their family indeed had eaten meat, but never dishes like braised pork. Lin Dong¡¯s question caught Lin Xia off guard, but she had trained herself to be quick-witted, ¡°I learned it from overhearing others on the train! They said it¡¯s quite easy to make!¡± Lin Dong believed her, his lips twitching with excitement, ¡°Sis, even if we don¡¯t make braised pork, just boiling the meat would be fine too!¡± In this day and age, any family that can eat meat twice a month is living the good life! Some classmates in his school, after having meat at home, would deliberately not wipe the grease off their lips, just to show off that they had eaten meat! ¡°Sure, we can just boil it and then dip it in soy sauce with some minced garlic!¡± Lin Xia said with a smile¡ªthe meat smells heavenly at this time, and it¡¯s delicious no matter how you eat it. Lin Dong, spurred on by Lin Xia¡¯s words, drooled uncontrollably, ¡°Sis, stop talking about it! I¡¯m starving here!¡± ¡°Look at you, getting worked up over such small things!¡± Lin Qiu also couldn¡¯t help but laugh, sweeping away her prior gloom and depression. After eating, Lin Xia didn¡¯t even lie down for long; she soon got up and went out to look for a house. She planned to sell their goods during the appropriate time, so not a moment would be wasted. She didn¡¯t find anything in the late afternoon; it¡¯s hard to find a place these days. But Lin Xia was not disheartened; once she set her mind on something, she would go all out to make it happen. She would continue her search the next day, but with a wider scope. Lin Xia went to the hardwood flooring factory in the evening, and since it was her first time, sales were just average¡ªmany there hadn¡¯t brought money. Lin Xia made arrangements with them to come back the following day at noon, after they got off work. When Lin Xia reached home, she saw her eldest brother¡¯s bicycle in the yard. She parked her bike with joy and entered the house. Xu Haihua was rummaging through the kitchen dish rack and hummed when she saw Lin Xia. Lin Xia ignored her and headed straight for the Western House. Lin Chun was sitting with Lin Qiu and Lin Dong on the edge of the kang, cracking seeds and chatting; it looked like they hadn¡¯t eaten yet. Lin Xia put down her bag, ¡°Big brother¡¯s here! Have you guys eaten yet?¡± Lin Chun looked at Lin Xia, ¡°Not yet! We were waiting for you.¡± ¡°Wait for me? You should eat when it¡¯s time to eat!¡± Lin Xia sat down next to Lin Chun. Lin Qiu quickly got Lin Dong to help her serve the rice, bowls, chopsticks, and pickles. Lin Xia noticed her big brother¡¯s complexion seemed off and asked cautiously, ¡°Big brother, nothing¡¯s wrong, right?¡± Lin Chun turned to look at Lin Xia, ¡°What could possibly be wrong? Xiaoxia, why did you go to the provincial city again? You didn¡¯t even mention it to me beforehand!¡± He had visited in the morning to discuss Lin Qiang¡¯s issue and had lunch together, yet his younger sister hadn¡¯t hinted at all about going to the provincial city. Today, he thought to come and check on them, only to find his younger sister had already returned from the provincial city! Lin Xia put on a cheery smile and chuckled sheepishly, ¡°It was a last-minute decision; I figured the earlier I went, the earlier I¡¯d get back! Big brother, I definitely didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you!¡± Honestly, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision for her. Seeing that the hazelnuts in Jade¡¯s room had all been dried, and feeling mostly rested herself, she thought it better to make the trip. Lin Chun gave a helpless smile, ¡°You¡¯re just so impulsive every day, doing whatever you want, and you always think big. Next time something comes up, tell your big brother, got it? Right now, I won¡¯t meddle in your affairs, but at least let me know what you¡¯re up to. It¡¯ll save me the worry...¡± He wasn¡¯t as old-fashioned as before. His dear sister was working so hard for what? It was all for their little family, for their sake. ¡°I got it, Big Brother!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s heart warmed; her big brother had changed so much lately, and she really liked it. At that moment, the dishes were served. Lin Xia pulled Lin Chun to the table to eat, ¡°Let¡¯s talk while we eat!¡± She looked at the shredded potatoes on the table and then had Lin Dong and the others go get the canned food, ¡°Don¡¯t save it anymore! Let¡¯s eat it up! I¡¯ll buy more for you guys later!¡± Lin Dong happily complied and went to the kitchen to fetch the canned food. He was doing it on purpose, to let that mother and daughter in the other room see how well they were eating! He wanted to make them envious to death! Xu Haihua happened to come out to pick up her bowl and saw exactly what Lin Dong was doing. She sneered with disdain, thinking to herself, What¡¯s there to show off about? It¡¯s just canned food. Isn¡¯t it something everyone has eaten before? After returning to her room, she became somewhat distracted. Aunt Xu wiped the table and asked her, ¡°Haihua, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Haihua muttered softly, ¡°Mom! Where do you think they get their money from? They eat so well every day... they couldn¡¯t have stolen it, could they?¡± She wasn¡¯t being overly suspicious; even she, who earned a salary, didn¡¯t dare to splurge on food like that. And here they were, not working, yet eating pancakes and meat dumplings every day. Aunt Xu¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Haihua, you need to change your temperament. Why do you always have to brood over them! What they eat has nothing to do with us! Anyway, they will be moving out soon. Just bear with it...¡± ¡°Oh, Mom! I know! I was just having a private word with you... Our money hasn¡¯t gone missing, right?¡± Xu Haihua leaned in closer to Aunt Xu and asked. Aunt Xu subconsciously touched the waistband of her trousers, ¡°It¡¯s here...¡± In Western House, after dinner, Lin Dong helped Xiaoqiu with the dishes in the kitchen, and it was then that Lin Chun spoke to Lin Xia, ¡°While you weren¡¯t here before, Xiaoqiu has learned a lot from me! Xiaoxia! We are upright and have nothing to fear from our shadows, don¡¯t mind what others say!¡± Lin Chun was furious about what Xu Haihua had said; how could a girl think so poorly of others? If that was the case, he had seen her talking to a young man at Mrs. Zhao¡¯s doorstep the other day, but he didn¡¯t think ill of her. Lin Xia laughed, ¡°I know, Big Brother! I¡¯ll just treat it like a dog farting!¡± She never took Xu Haihua seriously to begin with, and now that things had turned out this way, she didn¡¯t care at all! To live with integrity was all that mattered to her, as long as she could answer to her own conscience! Lin Chun was relieved; he was worried that his big sister might become upset and bothered by what others said. After all, as a young woman, one¡¯s reputation mattered. ¡°Xiaoxia, since you¡¯re not going to stay here, have you thought about where to look for a place? You didn¡¯t find anything suitable before, right?¡± If this were before, Lin Chun might have just advised his big sister to move back home. But with Lin Qiang¡¯s robbery incident, he could never let his brother and sisters return to that home. If anything happened, he would never forgive his own incompetence and folly. ¡°I looked around! Didn¡¯t find anything suitable due to the short time!¡± Lin Xia stroked her fingers and looked up at Lin Chun with determination in her eyes, ¡°Big Brother, this time I plan to look around more. Hopefully, I can rent a separate courtyard, which will also save the trouble of sharing and causing issues!¡± ¡°Right! It would be great if you could find a place like that!¡± Lin Chun consoled Lin Xia, ¡°But Xiaoxia, don¡¯t be too anxious or frustrated if you can¡¯t find it right away; in the worst-case scenario, just forget about those two months¡¯ rent, we can make do here for another half a month. Surely we can find something suitable in half a month...¡± Chapter 67 - 67 66 Moving (Third Update) ?67: Chapter 66 Moving (Third Update) 67: Chapter 66 Moving (Third Update) Lin Xia hummed in agreement but harbored different thoughts in her heart; since she said she wanted to move, she didn¡¯t want to stay here a moment longer. Acting swiftly as there was no reason to search slowly, she planned to expand her search area and ask more people. So, after a busy day, Lin Xia spent the morning and afternoon looking for houses and the noon and evening off-work hours selling goods. Lin Xia not only sold all the goods she had, but she finally found a house that suited her needs. This house was not close to their current residence on Paradise Street, situated near a cinema. But it was near the roadside, conveniently located, with a small interior but a little courtyard. Lin Xia knew that a row of commercial buildings would be built here later, but for now, they were all bungalows. The rent wasn¡¯t cheap, ten yuan a month! Lin Xia wouldn¡¯t have known this house was for rent if she hadn¡¯t asked quite a few people and found out by chance. The landlord was the leader of a car fleet, surnamed Guo, who had a house near his unit, so this place was vacated. After some effort, she found this man who said the house was in good condition, ready to move in with furniture, so the price was not reduced at all, exactly ten yuan. Lin Xia decided to check the house before making a decision and after seeing it, she was truly satisfied. Lin Xia gritted her teeth and rented it, as the place would allow her to start some small business which would be convenient for access. Moreover, having their own independent residence was something she had long desired. Lin Xia acted quickly; once she had found the house, she started moving. As the luggage wasn¡¯t theirs, they didn¡¯t need to move it, only their pots, pans, condiments, grains, pickled vegetable jars, clothes, and other miscellaneous items. Of course, Lin Xia didn¡¯t forget the firewood they had split; all of it had to be moved, and she wouldn¡¯t let others benefit from it. Lin Dong specifically took leave from work, and he joined his older sisters in the move. Since the move came so suddenly and Lin Chun didn¡¯t make it, they decided to move the family first and later visit their eldest brother¡¯s workplace to tell him where they had moved. Mrs. Xu saw Lin Xia and her siblings moving items in and out, and she came out of the house, ¡°So, you¡¯ve found a house?¡± She truly hadn¡¯t expected these kids to find one so quickly, and the thought of pulling two yuan out of her pocket made her heart sink a bit. But being of her advanced age and having spoken out, she couldn¡¯t go back on her word. ¡°Yes, we found it! Mrs. Xu, the luggage is in the house, please check it,¡± Lin Xia said indifferently. Since she didn¡¯t intend to have further dealings with Mrs. Xu, she felt no need to be embarrassed. ¡°Ah, okay!¡± Mrs. Xu went inside and checked the neatly packed three sets of luggage, not missing a single mattress, pillow, or blanket. With pursed lips, Mrs. Xu took out a mix of one and two cent coins from her pocket, counted them, and handed them to Lin Xia, ¡°Xiaolin, here are two yuan!¡± Lin Xia counted them on the spot, ¡°Just right!¡± Mrs. Xu wanted to say something else, but seeing Lin Xia¡¯s indifferent demeanor, she kept her mouth shut. On her last trip, Lin Xia cleaned up the firewood and left the place with her younger brother. Once in the courtyard of their new home, Lin Dong started unloading the firewood while Lin Qiu tidied up inside. Once Lin Dong had finished unloading, Lin Xia asked him to join her in buying luggage. They didn¡¯t have the necessary bedding for the evening, so everything needed to be bought new, but with money in her pocket now, she could afford whatever was needed. They ended up buying ready-made items, as well as an axe and handsaw, and even some needles, threads, and other little bits and pieces. After running back and forth twice, they also bought some grains and vegetables, and were lucky enough to encounter a meat vendor. Lin Xia generously bought a large chunk of meat. Lin Xia checked the time and felt it was about right. She asked Lin Dong to go to Lin Chun¡¯s workplace to find him and have him come over, to avoid any mishaps with visiting the old Xu family later. Lin Xia and Lin Qiu cleaned up together. The layout of the house had a kitchen right by the entrance and two bedrooms on either side, none with the traditional Chinese kang beds but just one large kang. The two of them decided that they would live in the Eastern House and have Lin Dong and their elder brother stay in the Western House. When Lin Chun arrived with Lin Dong, on their way there, Lin Dong had enlightened him about the various merits of their new home. Lin Chun couldn¡¯t help but admire his younger sister¡¯s capability all over again! Upon seeing Lin Chun arrive, Lin Xia asked with a smile, ¡°Big brother! What do you think of our new home?¡± Lin Chun looked around inside and out, ¡°This time, it really does seem like a place to settle down for a good life! Now that we have a storage room and a firewood shed, it¡¯s quite convenient! Xiaoxia! How much is the rent?¡± ¡°Ten yuan!¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t intend to keep it from them. ¡°What? Ten yuan?¡± Lin Chun was astonished, ¡°This house isn¡¯t cheap!¡± How much do they earn in a month anyway? Lin Dong and Lin Qiu had already asked their older sister about this, so they were mentally prepared. ¡°It¡¯s expensive for a reason! Once we close the door, we can live a good and peaceful life! No one will say anything!¡± Lin Xia felt it was okay to pay more, as long as they were comfortable. ¡°That¡¯s true! Xiaoxia! Don¡¯t bother about what others say!¡± Lin Chun advised her further. ¡°I know! Big brother! I really don¡¯t care!¡± Lin Xia looked at them, ¡°You three keep tidying up and working; I¡¯ll go to the kitchen and show off my skills. Let¡¯s have a great meal tonight!¡± She decided that on their first meal in the new home, while her elder brother was also there, they should have a warm and lively gathering. ¡°Okay! Big sister! I¡¯ll definitely do a good job!¡± Lin Dong responded gleefully, knowing his big sister was going to make braised pork. He had grown up without knowing what braised pork even tasted like. But just thinking about it made it seem delicious! Lin Xia ruffled his buzz-cut, ¡°Alright! Work hard!¡± Remembering the last time they had dumplings, Lin Dong teased Lin Chun, ¡°Big brother! Can your stomach handle that braised pork?¡± Lin Chun glared, ¡°What? Thinking if I can¡¯t eat it, you can have my share?¡± Seeing how lively his younger brother had become made him truly happy. Saying what should be said at any given time, that¡¯s exactly how Lin Dong at his age should behave. ¡°Hehe! I¡¯m just asking!¡± Lin Dong scratched the back of his head, ¡°Big brother! Did you drink the Lingzhi water our big sister told you to?¡± Lin Chun nodded with a smile, ¡°Of course I did! When your big sister commands, I hurry to follow! Now, she¡¯s the head of our family!¡± He knew Lin Xia wanted the best for him, and after the last incident, he also realized how poorly he had been managing his health over the years. He needed to take better care of himself to avoid becoming a burden on them ¡ª a scenario he was adamant to prevent. ¡°Hehe! That¡¯s right! My big sister really is amazing!¡± When it came to listening to someone at home, Lin Dong respected Lin Xia the most. In his eyes, ever since his big sister recovered from a fever, she had become even more formidable, filling him with both admiration and awe. As Lin Xia chopped the pork belly into chunks and blanched it in boiling water while listening to their jokes, she felt the beginning of good days. While cooking, Lin Xia mused over their next steps. Chapter 68 - 68 67 Going to Work (Fourth Update) ?68: Chapter 67 Going to Work (Fourth Update) 68: Chapter 67 Going to Work (Fourth Update) Lin Xia pondered that all the goods she had in hand had been sold and turned into money. Her unit was also going to pay their salaries in the next day or two, so she decided she might as well go to work first. This was also a good opportunity to chat with Liu Lanying and her mother-in-law, to talk about Xiaoqiu¡¯s job situation. She guessed that Xu Haihua had definitely inquired about Xiaoqiu¡¯s matter at work, and Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law, Madam Zhao, couldn¡¯t possibly be completely unaware of it. Now that they had moved out, she should discuss this matter to prevent Xiaoqiu from being ostracized and bullied by Xu Haihua when she went to work in the future. Lin Xia prepared a lavish dinner, with braised pork and a cold dish of cabbage with vermicelli, stir-fried eggs, and steamed rice, which felt like celebrating the New Year at this time. The siblings ate their fill, each of them fully satisfied. Lin Xia, along with her younger brother and sister, again persuaded Lin Chun to move in with them, telling him she had already bought his luggage. ¡°Big brother! Just move in and live with us!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to persuade me! As long as you guys are fine, that¡¯s enough! I can¡¯t move out for the time being! If dad comes back one day, at least there should be someone to keep you guys informed, right?¡± Lin Chun wanted to be a support for his younger siblings. After thinking for a while, Lin Xia said, ¡°Big brother! Have you ever thought about what dad¡¯s reaction will be when he comes back from the mountain in a few days and sees that none of us have moved back?¡± She was genuinely afraid for her big brother getting beaten! Lin Aiguo was known for his harsh hands when his temper flared! ¡°He will definitely be angry and furious! But without you guys there, he can¡¯t do much! At most he¡¯ll scold me or slap me a couple of times, but I can take some hits; it¡¯s fine!¡± Lin Xia felt helpless, ¡°Big brother! If you know you¡¯re going to get hit, why stay at home? Just move out and live with me! Anyway, even if Lin Qiang tells him where we live, it¡¯s useless for them to come looking now, we¡¯ve already moved...¡± Lin Qiu and Lin Dong also joined in to persuade him, really wanting all the siblings to live together. Lin Chun kept refusing with a smile, and Lin Xia had no way to convince her big brother. When escorting Lin Chun to the door, she was worried he would get another stomachache when he got home, so she specifically told him not to forget to drink the remaining Lingzhi steeped in water when he got back. The next day, Lin Xia went to work, not only bringing the hairband for Yu Hongmei, but also bringing the hairpin she had specially saved for Liu Lanying. Seeing Lin Xia at work, Yu Hongmei approached with a troubled expression and asked, ¡°Lin Xia! Where have you guys been these past few days? My mom has been asking about it several times! If I had known that you were taking a long leave to run away from home, I wouldn¡¯t have helped!¡± Yu Hongmei felt aggrieved, she only found out about Lin Xia taking long leave when she got home from work that noon; her uncle was completely unaware. Moreover, she heard from her mom that Lin Xia and her siblings had even fought with that stepmother, so they ran away from home. Lin Xia had to make some things clear; she was grateful to Yu Hongmei, but she could not be wronged. ¡°Sister Hongmei! We didn¡¯t run away from home! We were driven out by my dad! The issue with Lin Qiu¡¯s arm being improperly set, you and my aunt are not unaware of it! That night my dad came back from the mountain and, without making any distinctions, demanded that we apologize to those old ladies! If this happened to Sister Hongmei, and your arm was set incorrectly, could you bow your head and apologize to the other party?¡± Yu Hongmei was at a loss for words, being countered by Lin Xia; she knew in her heart how biased her uncle was and what kind of life Lin Xia and her siblings had been living these past years. ¡°Lin Xia! But you can¡¯t just up and leave like that! Without you guys, wouldn¡¯t that home be even less of a place for you?¡± Yu Hongmei¡¯s words made some sense, and Lin Xia felt a little more comfortable in her heart. Lin Xia tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Sister Hongmei! Our family never really had a place for us anyway! After I was kicked out by my dad, I figured I might as well find a place for myself. Can a living person be pissed to death? Besides, we had no choice but to leave! Lin Qiang and Lin Yu were stealing things, and they even caused Lin Qiu¡¯s arm to be dislocated. My dad wouldn¡¯t even let her rest, and the very next day, he wanted her to go work at the soy sauce factory! Sister Hongmei, have you ever seen parents act like that? Even little cats and dogs are treated better than we are!¡± Yu Hongmei had only heard half-truths from her mother, and whatever Lin Aiguo and Lin Aijia said, it was surely biased in their own favor. So, Yu Hongmei was unaware of this part of the story. ¡°Then my uncle is really a bit...¡± Yu Hongmei couldn¡¯t finish her sentence, as she felt her uncle really didn¡¯t care about Lin Qiu and the others. A dislocated arm might not seem like a big deal, but if it wasn¡¯t healed properly, it could be a lifelong issue. Why the rush? Lin Xia said what she wanted to say, and she didn¡¯t want to elaborate further. She handed over the hairband she had specifically brought for Yu Hongmei, ¡°Sister Hongmei, this is specially for you! Thank you for always helping me take leaves these past days!¡± Yu Hongmei was genuinely surprised by Lin Xia¡¯s gesture; she had never expected Lin Xia to buy her anything. ¡°We are relatives, no need for such formality! I don¡¯t want it! You and Lin Qiu keep it and wear it!¡± Yu Hongmei¡¯s words refused the offer, but her eyes remained fixed on the hairband. The red one with white dots was quite pretty. Lin Xia smiled, ¡°Sister Hongmei! I really bought it specially for you! Please accept it! It will look great on you!¡± ¡°Then thank you, Lin Xia!¡± Yu Hongmei eventually accepted it. At nine-thirty, when the sawing stopped, Lin Xia found Liu Lanying. Liu Lanying followed Lin Xia to a secluded spot for a chat. ¡°Sister Liu! This is a hair clip I bought specially for you! I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll like it or not!¡± Liu Lanying thought Lin Xia wanted to discuss something important, but it turned out to be a gift for her. ¡°Xiaolin, look at you, what is this for! I heard about your family situation! How is your sister¡¯s arm, not too serious, is it?¡± From the ramblings of her mother-in-law, she knew that Lin Xia hadn¡¯t been able to come to work because her sister¡¯s arm was dislocated, and they had been kicked out of their home. They were now renting a room from a coworker at the garment factory. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious! Sister Liu! This is a token of my appreciation! Really! Especially to thank you and your mother-in-law! You might be able to wear this hair clip as a young person, but definitely not the elder, so I¡¯ll come to visit her at your place tonight!¡± The underlying meaning in Lin Xia¡¯s words was crystal clear to Liu Lanying, who graciously accepted the hair clip after a few polite refusals. She felt both sympathy and admiration for this girl, Lin Xia. ¡°Xiaolin, don¡¯t worry! Let your sister rest well at home! She can go back to work when her arm is better! I¡¯ll have a word with my mother-in-law, don¡¯t worry!¡± Lin Xia was pleased that Liu Lanying got the hint, and she was glad for her understanding. ¡°Sister Liu! I have to thank you again! Let¡¯s get along well from now on! Having a good relationship with you is even better than with relatives!¡± She seemed to speak from experience. Liu Lanying covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°Xiaolin, you really have a way with words now! Let¡¯s get along well from now on, and you don¡¯t have to be formal with me. Just let me know if you need anything!¡± Chapter 69 - 69 68 Change (Fifth Update) ?69: Chapter 68: Change (Fifth Update) 69: Chapter 68: Change (Fifth Update) Lin Xia briskly responded, ¡°Alright! Sister Liu! I definitely won¡¯t be a stranger! After work tonight, I¡¯ll come over to see your mother-in-law and your kids! These past few days have been hectic with my family¡¯s issues; I couldn¡¯t manage anything else!¡± ¡°Ah! Xiaolin! It really has been tough on you! Dealing with such a family, what can one do! You can come over to sit, but don¡¯t buy anything...¡± Liu Lanying and Lin Xia, arm in arm, chattered and laughed their way back to the workshop. This scene naturally caught the eyes of others, but since Liu Lanying was popular and her family was well-off, more curious glances were directed toward Lin Xia. It just so happened that Lin Xia¡¯s unit was paying salaries today, and she pressed her handprint to receive her wages. Since it was the end of the month and salaries were distributed on the tenth or thereabouts, Lin Xia had only taken two days off last month, with the long leave taken this month. Lin Xia received a little over forty yuan as her salary; because of her leave, she didn¡¯t earn that day¡¯s wage, and also missed the attendance bonus. But, Lin Xia didn¡¯t care about those things anymore. After work that evening, Lin Xia really did buy something and went to visit Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law. Liu Lanying¡¯s mother-in-law, Madam Zhao, after hearing about Lin Xia¡¯s troubles, felt quite sympathetic. How could a parent act like this? Like having a stepmother also means having a stepfather, so she also offered some comforting words; Madam Zhao also said she knew about Xu Haihua¡¯s home that they had moved away from after Lin Xia explained the whole story and the reasons. She even promised to let Lin Qiu rest well at home and only return to work when she recovered, and to see if it was possible to swap her into a better job... Lin Xia left Liu Lanying¡¯s house overjoyed, realizing that once you overcome that first hurdle, the path ahead becomes easier and easier. She still remembered the first time she had come to Liu Lanying¡¯s house bearing gifts, how bashful she was back then, hesitating outside the large gate for a long time, unable to face people or to speak up. But now, she could sense her own transformation. Speaking confidently with everyone, the timidity was gone. Lin Xia grinned, thinking to herself, with more practice like this, maybe she too could become eloquent. Lin Xia got on her bicycle, then furrowed her brow¡ªwas Lin Aiguo about to return? And her elder brother... she estimated the time; his workplace would have closed by now. Maybe she would convince him tomorrow. Ah... just thinking about her elder brother gave her a headache. What could she do to make him move out and live with them? Meanwhile, at the Lin Family¡¯s home, Lin Aiguo came back from the mountain and upon entering, saw Chunli cooking. He questioned with a stern face, ¡°Why are you cooking? Where¡¯s Lin Qiu?¡± He had never imagined that Lin Xia and the others might still not have come back. Chunli wiped the corner of her eye, ¡°Aiguo, they haven¡¯t come back to stay since they left that day! One day though, when I came back from work, more plants from the backyard were missing, and Lin Qiu¡¯s bicycle was gone too; probably they came back secretly to take some stuff!¡± Lin Aiguo glared, ¡°What? They haven¡¯t come back these days! They¡¯ve really grown wings, each one of them! And Lin Chun?¡± ¡°Lin Chun has been living at home! He hasn¡¯t come back from work yet,¡± Chunli said truthfully. Lin Aiguo paced back and forth angrily, ¡°Lin Chun must know where they are! I¡¯ll wait for him to come back! These damned kids, utterly lawless!¡± He directly went into the Eastern House, sat by the Kang edge, and angrily knocked on his tobacco pipe. Earlier in the mountain, he thought, after so many days, those kids must have certainly crept back. This time, in addition to taking away the difference between Lin Chun¡¯s and Lin Xia¡¯s salaries, he had to properly discipline them to make them respect their father¡¯s authority. However, coming back home to this situation was completely unexpected! Soon after, Lin Yu came back from school. She saw her father Lin Aiguo¡¯s bicycle in the yard and knew that he had come back. Last time when Lin Qiang visited the Western House, Lin Aiguo caught him red-handed. Even though Lin Qiang said nothing, Lin Aiguo interrogated her, which made Lin Yu feel conflicted in her heart. Her father had died early, and since her mother remarried Lin Aiguo, he had treated them even better than his own children, Lin Xia¡¯s siblings. So she truly regarded Lin Aiguo as her real father. But who could expect such a day to come? When Qian Chunli saw Lin Yu¡¯s return, she said, ¡°Xiaoyu, you¡¯re back. Your dad has come back! He¡¯s inside the house!¡± Qian Chunli touched her clothes and gave Lin Yu a meaningful look. ¡°Ah! My dad has come back!¡± Lin Yu understood her mother¡¯s gesture; she meant for her to take the opportunity to complain about the damaged clothes. Lin Yu entered the house and called out, ¡°Dad.¡± Lin Aiguo was puffing on his large smoking pipe, lifting his eyelids and grunting in acknowledgment. Lin Yu put down her schoolbag and went to the closet to find the clothes. She did not only take out her own three pieces but also retrieved Lin Qiang¡¯s pants and clothes. Lin Aiguo squinted his eyes while smoking, not understanding what Lin Yu was up to. Tears came quickly to Lin Yu¡¯s eyes; she truly felt heartbroken seeing the condition of the clothes. Since she wanted to keep them as evidence, she had not mended any of the clothes. ¡°Dad! Look at Qiangzi¡¯s and my clothes. Lin Xia and the others have cut them up! Our good clothes are ruined...¡± Lin Yu held them up right in front of Lin Aiguo. Lin Aiguo put down his smoking pipe, looking at the cuts on the clothes, the sight of which shockingly made him furious. ¡°Who did this?¡± Lin Yu sobbed, ¡°Dad! We don¡¯t know! It probably was Lin Xia! None of them has the guts but her! Look, these were the clothes that you bought for us and now they¡¯re ruined...¡± Lin Aiguo stood up in rage, his eyes flashing with urgency; making a piece of clothing these days was not easy at all, who would squander them! ¡°Was it really them?¡± Lin Yu nodded through her blurry tears, ¡°Other than them, there¡¯s no one else!¡± Lin Aiguo felt as if his lungs would burst with anger! That little rascal Lin Xia, such malice in his heart, even if there were conflicts, it shouldn¡¯t have come to ruining clothes... Lin Chun arrived home and saw Lin Aiguo¡¯s bicycle in the yard. The moment he entered the kitchen, he saw Lin Aiguo coming back from the mountains with a gloomy face, stretching his hand toward Lin Chun and asking coldly, ¡°Where¡¯s the salary?¡± Lin Chun hurriedly explained, ¡°The accountant said it will be dispatched tomorrow!¡± Lin Aiguo did not doubt Lin Chun¡¯s words as he knew Lin Chun wouldn¡¯t dare lie about such a matter. ¡°Lin Chun! Where have those rascals Lin Xia and the others been lately? These days, each of them has been living freely outside and not even coming home. What is it they¡¯re thinking?¡± Lin Chun had anticipated this; he knew when their salary was about to be disbursed, his dad would come back. He had thought that when his dad returned and found out Lin Xia and the others hadn¡¯t come back, he would be furious and explode in rage. But he hadn¡¯t expected his dad would change his usual narrative, making it seem like it was his big sister and others who had a home yet chose not to return! But how was he to respond to that? Chapter 70 - 70 69 Getting Beaten Up (Sixth Update) ?70: Chapter 69 Getting Beaten Up (Sixth Update) 70: Chapter 69 Getting Beaten Up (Sixth Update) Lin Aiguo glared at Lin Chun, feeling instantly irritated, just like the boy¡¯s dead mother, distant and unyielding! He bellowed, ¡°Stop hanging your head all day long, say something! Where are they? Hurry up and lead me to them! Without any adults out there, aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll get into trouble?¡± ¡°Dad! I really don¡¯t know!¡± Lin Chun pretended to be helpless; there was no way he would tell Lin Aiguo where they were, letting him terrorize them. Without even thinking, he knew that if his dad found his older sister and the others, it would be a scene of beating and scolding, and he would drag them all back home. Ever since his older sister and the others started living their own lives outside, some of his own thoughts had begun to change as well. Now, it seemed better that they live their quiet lives outside rather than coming back home to a place where everything they wanted to eat or say was controlled and bullied. And with Lin Qiang, who was too malicious, around, he couldn¡¯t be at ease letting them return to this house. Lin Aiguo¡¯s anger surged even more, and he cursed loudly, ¡°If you don¡¯t know, then who does? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know anything just because I¡¯m not at home! Hurry up and take me there, or I¡¯ll beat you too!¡± He certainly didn¡¯t believe that Lin Chun didn¡¯t know! The younger ones did respect Lin Chun, their older brother, quite a bit, and Lin Chun had always acted like a protective older brother. Moreover, Qian Chunli and Lin Yu had hinted in their conversations that Lin Chun was definitely in touch with the others. Lin Chun was stubborn, ¡°Dad! Even if you beat me, it¡¯s no use; I really don¡¯t know!¡± The place they had newly rented was good, it even helped them avoid some of Lin Qiang¡¯s schemes, so how could he possibly reveal it? The anger in Lin Aiguo¡¯s heart rose swiftly; he pointed at Lin Chun¡¯s nose and cursed, ¡°So you¡¯ve grown wings now! You even dare to lie to me! I¡¯m telling you, Lin Chun! I¡¯m not one of those parents who spoil their children! If you tell me nicely, I won¡¯t lower myself to your level! If you keep being this stubborn and saying nothing, let¡¯s see if I don¡¯t thrash you!¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know!¡± Lin Chun bit down on those words and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°I¡¯ll beat you into not knowing!¡± In his anger, Lin Aiguo threw a heavy slap at Lin Chun. Lin Chun didn¡¯t dodge; he stood straight and took the slap! Immediately, a stark red handprint bloomed on his cheek, and since his skin was fair, it looked particularly shocking. Lin Chun, covering his face, tasted the metallic tinge of blood; he knew he was bleeding and he looked coldly at Lin Aiguo, his heart turning even colder. His older sister had advised him to leave this house, yet he still held onto hopes for his father; he always felt that if he left, wouldn¡¯t the house belong to people like Qian Chunli? But at this very moment, facing Lin Aiguo¡¯s beating and scolding, he also wanted to escape this house, this cold place with no fairness or reason. ¡°Will you speak, or not?¡± Lin Aiguo took out all his anger on Lin Chun, looking as though he would cut him down if he didn¡¯t speak. In the end, Lin Aiguo slapped Lin Chun again, and kicked him a few times. But he simply refused to say anything and didn¡¯t lead Lin Aiguo to the others. Lin Aiguo was infuriated, so he didn¡¯t let Lin Chun eat and made him stand in the yard. Lin Qiang returned from outside and, seeing Lin Chun standing stiffly in the yard, immediately took pleasure in his misfortune; it was clear from Lin Chun¡¯s state that he had been beaten! He thought resentfully, good riddance! They all deserve to be beaten! Lin Chun looked at Lin Qiang coldly, knowing that only Lin Qiang knew about the place where his older sister and the others had lived before. Lin Qiang lifted his chin in a taunting manner, ¡°Does getting beaten hurt?¡± Lin Chun muttered under his breath, ¡°Scram, bastard! Let me tell you, Lin Qiang, if you dare to keep messing around, I will fight you to the death!¡± Lin Qiang scoffed disdainfully, ¡°You? Hmph!¡± He strode past Lin Chun, who was shaking his head and swaggering as he entered the house. Lin Chun clenched his fists tightly and bit his teeth in silent hatred, resenting how insignificant he had always appeared, utterly unable to intimidate Lin Qiang. At the dinner table, Lin Aiguo asked Lin Qiang, ¡°Do you know where Lin Xia and the others are?¡± Ever since he saw Lin Qiang sneaking into the Western House to steal things, he knew that his stepson and stepdaughter were not as they appeared on the surface. In the days he was away, Lin Qiang hung around idly every day; he certainly must know something about the whereabouts of Lin Xia and the others. Lin Qiang glanced at Qian Chunli and Lin Yu, pretending as if he wanted to speak but dared not, ¡°How could I know that!¡± Lin Aiguo saw through Lin Qiang, his voice very cold, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know?¡± sensing Lin Aiguo¡¯s suspicion, Lin Qiang hurriedly said, ¡°Dad! I discovered it by chance!¡± Lin Aiguo grunted, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, and after dinner, you will take me there!¡± Today, he had to bring back those little brats one by one; they were completely out of control! Now that they had grown bold, they even dared to live their own lives out there! ¡°Alright then!¡± Lin Qiang agreed, hastily shoveling food into his mouth. He was plotting in his mind the exciting scene that would unfold soon, wondering how Lin Xia and the others would continue to be so arrogant. Based on what he knew about Lin Aiguo, he wouldn¡¯t stop until he had beaten them so badly they couldn¡¯t get out of bed! Lin Yu ate quietly, reveling in the misfortune of others, anticipating the sight of Lin Xia being brutally beaten, yet thinking of the jacket with the cut, she felt punching them herself would be far more satisfying! Qian Chunli intercepted with a grab; she was unwilling to let her son get involved, ¡°Qiangzi, do you know which house specifically it is?¡± This kind of matter was something they, as later additions to the family, shouldn¡¯t meddle in. It would be much better to give Lin Aiguo a rough idea and let him seek out those brats on his own! But Qian Chunli did not know how deep the resentment between Lin Qiang and Lin Xia was! Ignoring Qian Chunli¡¯s hint, Lin Qiang proclaimed, ¡°Mom! I can find the place! Dad, I¡¯ll lead the way for you!¡± He couldn¡¯t wait to watch a good show unfold! However formidable Lin Xia might be, she couldn¡¯t be more so than her own father! Today, he was ready to go all out; they all had to suffer to satisfy his thirst for revenge! Qian Chunli, most worried that something might happen, reluctantly followed them after dinner, gritting her teeth. ¡°Xiaoyu ah! You wash the dishes!¡± Seeing them all leaving, with Lin Chun at home, Lin Yu didn¡¯t dare stay by herself. What if Lin Chun did something to her? ¡°Mom! I¡¯ll come with you! Maybe I can help persuade them or something! We can wash the dishes when we get back!¡± Qian Chunli also realized her daughter¡¯s intention, quickly saying, ¡°Then follow along!¡± And so, Lin Yu also left the house with them. Lin Chun, seeing all four of them emerge from the house, instantly knew that Lin Qiang must be leading his dad to find someone! Lin Chun tried to stop them, ¡°Dad!¡± Lin Aiguo kicked Lin Chun to the side, ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Lin Chun stood upright and glared at Lin Qiang fiercely, who returned him a smug smile. Lin Chun took a few steps to follow them and then stopped, his heart filled with waves of indignation. That Lin Qiang was truly malicious! He vowed to find an opportunity for revenge in the future! On second thought, he couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. Fortunately, his elder sister and the others had moved away. If his dad had come knocking like this, there would have been real trouble... Chapter 71 - 71 70 Visiting (Seventh Update) ?71: Chapter 70: Visiting (Seventh Update) 71: Chapter 70: Visiting (Seventh Update) Lin Qiang led the way, and the four of them, including Lin Aiguo, arrived at the front gate of the Xu Family¡¯s house. The gate was bolted from the inside and wouldn¡¯t budge when pushed. Lin Aiguo, in a fury, banged and kicked at the door, ¡°Lin Xia! You pack of brats! Open the door right now!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t open the door, I¡¯ll jump over the fence! Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t get in...¡± Lin Aiguo, as fierce as Zhang Fei, cursed and shouted, causing such a commotion that would definitely have alerted the neighborhood. People started coming out from their homes. Xu Haihua and her mother from the Eastern House had also hurried into the courtyard early on. But they didn¡¯t dare make a sound for the time being, they were somewhat dumbfounded by the cursing and the sound of the door being kicked outside, ¡°What are they trying to do?¡± Xu Haihua listened closely; she could hear the people outside were shouting and quarreling over Lin Xia¡¯s name. She yelled in exasperation, ¡°What are you doing? Banging on people¡¯s doors in the middle of the night! Lin Xia and the others are not here! They have moved! Go find them wherever you please!¡± Just mentioning Lin Xia set off a firestorm in her! She didn¡¯t even say anything out of line, just asked what was going on, right? Lin Xia wasn¡¯t showing up for work and wasn¡¯t coming home at night, was there a problem with her asking about it? But Lin Xia¡¯s reaction was extreme, she quickly snapped back and stopped staying at their house. If she didn¡¯t want to stay, that was fine by Xu Haihua. She was almost relieved! But why should she have to give them back two yuan? If it were up to her, she would never have refunded the money! But, her mother was too accommodating, fearing that Lin Xia would make a fuss, she had agreed to the refund. Afterward, when they had moved out, Xu Haihua noticed they took all of their belongings, even the firewood, which seemed particularly miserly! ¡°Who are you trying to fool? I saw them living here just a few days ago!¡± Lin Qiang hollered, and then told Lin Aiguo, ¡°Dad! They must be here for sure, probably someone is helping them to cover up!¡± He did not believe that Lin Xia and the others would move away! Where would they go? They must be here! On hearing this, Lin Aiguo continued angrily kicking at the gate, ¡°Hurry up and open the door! If not, I¡¯m going to ram it down!¡± He also subconsciously felt that the other party was covering for Lin Xia and the others, which made him even more suffocated with anger¡ªthese kids were too capable of mischief. Several neighbors approached, among them a man with a broad back, round waist, and a bearded face who called out loudly, ¡°What are you doing? Banging and kicking doors in the middle of the night, are you bullying the Xu Family because they have no one to defend them?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Lin Aiguo, at the height of his fury, glared, ready to confront the man. Chunli quickly tugged at Lin Aiguo¡¯s sleeve, hurriedly explaining, ¡°No! Comrade, we are just looking for someone!¡± She certainly did not want Lin Aiguo to start a fight with bystanders; that would just complicate matters further. ¡°I¡¯m the Security Chief for this street,¡± The bearded man stated, arms crossed. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for someone, just say so. The way you¡¯re acting seems more like you¡¯re out to settle scores! Who exactly are you looking for?¡± With both the Xu sons working out of town and old Xu gone, only the mother and daughter were left at home. He definitely needed to look out for them more. ¡°My girl and the little one had a bit of conflict with their father and ran out of the house!¡± Chunli explained, ¡°We heard that they were staying here, so we came! We thought to come and bring them back home! But we¡¯ve been knocking for a long time, and nobody¡¯s opening the door, then my Old Lin lost his patience!¡± Chunli¡¯s explanation seemed reasonable, and everyone inside and outside the door heard it clearly. Xu Haihua and her mother exchanged glances, instantly realizing they were duped! ¡°Mom! That Lin Xia and others were lying, claiming they were kicked out of their home, but in reality, they ran out on their own!¡± ¡°I was wondering why they were renting our luggage!¡± ¡°Lucky they moved away! Otherwise, they might¡¯ve stolen our stuff!¡± Mrs. Xu had not expected things to turn out this way, and she sighed, ¡°How could I have anticipated this!¡± Back then, those kids had seemed so honest and simple; who could have guessed I misjudged them. Outside, the bearded man said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to kick people¡¯s doors down in such a hurry! I know those kids you¡¯re talking about, they moved away just yesterday!¡± We¡¯re neighbors living close by; we all know what¡¯s going on in each other¡¯s families. He happened to witness them moving in and out! Lin Aiguo pressed for answers, ¡°They moved away?¡± In his mind, he thought those little rascals had become quite slippery, hard to catch. ¡°Impossible!¡± Lin Qiang didn¡¯t believe it and was about to speak again when Qian Chunli and Lin Yu pinched his arm. Lin Yu then spoke up, ¡°Uncle, do you know where they moved to?¡± ¡°That, I don¡¯t know! I just happened to see them moving!¡± Qian Chunli pursed her lips and said, ¡°Comrade, since we¡¯re all here, how about this: we go in and take a look; if we see they¡¯re really not there, we¡¯ll leave and give up, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah! Uncle! My parents are so worried they¡¯re sick, afraid something might have happened to them outside!¡± Lin Yu chimed in as well. The bearded man thought for a moment; what they said wasn¡¯t wrong, and he couldn¡¯t take their word for it without seeing for himself. He called into the house to Mrs. Xu, ¡°Older sister! It¡¯s Old Wang, and a few neighbors from nearby. Open the door for the two of you, let them have a look, and put their minds at ease!¡± Xu Haihua opened the door wide, called out ¡°Uncle Wang,¡± then looked straight at the people knocking, realizing they didn¡¯t resemble Lin Xia and her family at all. Old Wang made arrangements, ¡°Alright! We¡¯ll go in together, have a look, and then you can rest easy; and don¡¯t come disturbing them again in the future! Otherwise, we won¡¯t be so easy to talk to...¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Aiguo and the others followed Old Wang and looked through the Western House, the Eastern House, and indeed, there was no sign of Lin Xia and the others. Lin Aiguo¡¯s face was grave, Lin Qiang in disbelief. Qian Chunli asked Mrs. Xu, ¡°Older sister! Do you know where they moved to?¡± Mrs. Xu shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Xu Haihua bitterly regretted not paying attention to this matter; otherwise, she would have definitely let Lin Xia¡¯s family know, urging them to work together to find them. ¡°Aiguo, let¡¯s go then! We¡¯ll look elsewhere! These kids are really a handful! What¡¯s with arguing with the elderly and not even coming home? You can¡¯t go against your elders like this no matter what...¡± On the surface, Qian Chunli was comforting Lin Aiguo, but she was also criticizing Lin Xia and the others. Xu Haihua suddenly found an outlet for her grievances, ¡°You¡¯re right about that! Older sister, you don¡¯t know, that Lin Xia, she¡¯s a tough one! Since they moved in, she never went to work, and then she wouldn¡¯t come home at night. I just asked her a simple question, and she blew up at me... What kind of young woman behaves like this, not coming home at night and still thinking she¡¯s justified...¡± ¡°Haihua! Stop talking now!¡± Mrs. Xu hurriedly stopped Xu Haihua. Whatever people do is their own business; there¡¯s no need for a young woman to gossip about it and spread it around, what would that turn into? Qian Chunli and Lin Yu exchanged glances with each other; it was as if they had heard some juicy gossip. They babbled, ¡°How could she not come home at night?¡± ¡°Yeah! This child! Really, I hope she hasn¡¯t gone astray!¡± Chapter 72 - 72 71 Not Coming Home at Night (Eighth Update) ?72: Chapter 71: Not Coming Home at Night (Eighth Update) 72: Chapter 71: Not Coming Home at Night (Eighth Update) Old Wang and a few other neighbors listened and each had their own thoughts. A few people came out and the Xu family¡¯s mother and daughter exchanged a few words with Old Wang before closing the big gate. Qian Chunli mounted her bicycle and whispered, ¡°Staying out all night! What on earth is Lin Xia up to! Aiguo, we really need to find them quickly... How can Lin Xia act like this...¡± Her face was full of worried distress, but inside she felt incredibly refreshed because reputation was now more important than anything¡ªshe wondered how Lin Xia would handle having a bad reputation! Lin Yu chimed in, ¡°Yes! Dad! Let¡¯s hurry and look some more, and when we get back, asking eldest brother will definitely give us some clues!¡± Even though Lin Chun never bothered her, she simply disliked Lin Chun. ¡°Let¡¯s get back quickly! I must find out their whereabouts today! Lin Aiguo clenched his teeth, wishing he could immediately find Lin Xia, this disgraceful being! The usually silent Lin Qiang cast a final glance at the Xu family¡¯s big gate, thinking that with only two women at home, their family must have some money? When Lin Aiguo and the others returned home, the gate was slightly ajar. Lin Aiguo pushed open the gate and wheeled his bicycle into the courtyard but didn¡¯t see Lin Chun. Angry, he grabbed a stick and headed toward the house, Qian Chunli along with Lin Yu and Lin Qiang deliberately lagging a bit behind. Lin Aiguo went straight to the Western House, where he kicked open the door with a loud bang. But there was no one inside! Lin Aiguo turned and then went to the Eastern House, which was also empty. Where had Lin Chun run off to? Lin Yu, with her sharp eyes, noticed in the courtyard that Lin Chun¡¯s bicycle was gone! ¡°Mom! Where is Lin Chun¡¯s bicycle?¡± ¡°Oh my goodness! Has he also run away?¡± No sooner had Qian Chunli spoken than Lin Aiguo emerged from the house, furious, ¡°Lin Chun! You wait for old man! He hadn¡¯t expected this kid to have run away too! Seeing him so angry that his face turned red and his veins on his forehead throbbed, Qian Chunli hurriedly consoled, ¡°Aiguo, calm down. Lin Chun will definitely come back! He must have gone to warn Lin Xia and the others!¡± She knew Lin Chun; if he had wanted to leave, he would have left long ago and not waited until now. Lin Aiguo exploded, ¡°I knew he definitely knew where those brats were! Just wait for him to come back! I¡¯ll definitely teach him a good lesson!¡± Indeed, Lin Chun was at Lin Xia and their new house, but not because he didn¡¯t want to come home. Instead, Lin Xia and the others were holding him back, not letting him leave. Originally, after seeing Lin Aiguo and the others leave, Lin Chun thought that when they couldn¡¯t find anyone, they¡¯d definitely come back and press them again for Lin Xia and the others¡¯ whereabouts. By then, it would be too late for him to tip off his sisters! For sure, Lin Aiguo might even cause a scene at Lin Xia¡¯s workplace. So he thought to make a quick trip to inform his eldest sister so they could better hide. Recently, he also decided not to look for them until his dad was back from the mountains. However, upon arriving at Lin Xia¡¯s place, seeing the bruises on Lin Chun¡¯s face, they all grabbed him, refusing to let him go back home. Lin Xia was very clear in her thinking; if her elder brother returned home, Lin Aiguo, having failed to find the others, would definitely vent all his anger on Lin Chun. She absolutely couldn¡¯t lightly hit him, knowing full well what the outcome would be. How could she just watch her elder brother go home to get beaten? So, she encouraged Lin Qiu and Lin Dong to join her in persuading him, and Lin Chun eventually had no choice but to be pushed down at home. At this moment, the siblings were sitting on the heated brick bed chatting and munching on the hazelnuts Lin Xia had just roasted in a large pot. Lin Chun was using pliers to help them clip the nuts, Lin Dong said he didn¡¯t need them, his teeth were strong. Lin Xia noticed her eldest brother¡¯s restless demeanor and reassured him, ¡°Big Brother, just settle down here! There¡¯s nothing to worry about!¡± When she had moved in, she had bought luggage for her brother as well, thinking that someday he would come to live there. How nice it was for them to live their own small lives together, why bother with those other people. Lin Chun sighed, ¡°It¡¯s okay for me to settle down, but I keep thinking about them going to Auntie Xu¡¯s house, just the two of them., let¡¯s hope nothing else happens!¡± Lin Qiu folded her arms and grimaced, her impression of Auntie Xu and her daughter had completely soured by now. Lin Xia knew her big brother too well, he was innately a straightforward and honest man at heart, always putting others before himself, which naturally meant he thought less about himself. Often, people like him are the ones who get taken advantage of and hurt the most, but this kind of big brother is also the most endearing. Lin Xia patiently analyzed for him, ¡°Once they get to Auntie Xu¡¯s and see that we¡¯re not there, they¡¯ll leave too! Speaking of which, don¡¯t you know what kind of person our Dad is? He only acts tough with his wife and kids at home! He wouldn¡¯t dare to pull any stunts with outsiders!¡± It wasn¡¯t that Lin Xia looked down on Lin Aiguo, but the heart of the matter was that he was just that kind of person. If Lin Aiguo were truly tough and capable, would he have lingered so many years at the company being ¡°Big Head Lin¡± up in the mountains? He would have been transferred to the lumberyard down the hill to some minor official position long ago! However, in a previous life, he was indeed transferred down the hill, but he only worked there for a short time before Lin Qiang took over his position soon after the family was assigned a public housing unit. ¡°I know there shouldn¡¯t be any issues, but I always worry about causing trouble for others!¡± Lin Chun clicked the hazelnut shells together, ¡°Although, how they spoke and acted later wasn¡¯t very upright! But we have to admit that! After all, when we first rented their house, we indeed didn¡¯t tell the whole truth!¡± Lin Dong and Lin Qiu didn¡¯t speak, each reflecting on their thoughts. Lin Xia, smiling, took the hazelnut Lin Chun handed to her, ¡°Big Brother! It¡¯s not as if we told outright lies, did Dad not kick us out? I just changed the phrasing, saying Dad divided us out... Alright! You¡¯re so worried, I¡¯ll go sneak and inquire a bit tomorrow, is that okay?¡± She was somewhat worried herself, but she wasn¡¯t as considerate towards the other party as her big brother was. ¡°Okay! But try to avoid facing that mother and daughter; just go to Auntie Zhao¡¯s house to look around and ask!¡± Lin Chun was also worried that Lin Xia might be slighted if she went. After all, if their dad went to their house, he surely wouldn¡¯t be all smiles and kindness. With grievances held, wouldn¡¯t they say something unpleasant upon seeing Lin Xia? Lin Xia laughed and responded, ¡°I understand!¡± After all, when they had found Auntie Xu¡¯s house initially, Auntie Zhao had helped quite a bit; now that they had moved out, it was only reasonable and proper to let her know. If it weren¡¯t for her visiting Liu Lanying¡¯s house today and getting home late, she would have gone today. ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Chun nodded silently, looking up at his sister to discuss with her, ¡°Xiaoxia, I know you all care about me, but I should go back tomorrow; tomorrow our company is issuing salaries, and Dad will surely wait to receive his salary before going back to the mountains...¡± He knew that in this family, his elder sister had the final say, and only by persuading her could it work. Lin Xia strongly disagreed, but she had recently learned to be more diplomatic, not as blunt as before, ¡°Big Brother! The reason we all tried so hard to stop you, isn¡¯t it because we were afraid that he would vent all his anger on you?¡± Chapter 73 - 73 72 Conversation (9th Update) ?73: Chapter 72 Conversation (9th Update) 73: Chapter 72 Conversation (9th Update) ¡°But I can¡¯t just keep not going back, can I? If I don¡¯t, Dad will definitely come to my workplace to find me! He might even start a scene! ¡°What would it look like if my colleagues at the factory saw that?¡± Although Lin Chun grew up in a family with poor conditions, he was simple, honest, hardworking, and loved to learn, which made him very popular with his leaders and colleagues. He cared about his reputation, and if his father really made a scene at his workplace, he would feel extremely embarrassed. Lin Xia let out a sigh, as the current situation was indeed quite tricky. She analyzed for him, ¡°Big brother! Even if you go back tomorrow and obediently hand over your paycheck to him, will he stop questioning where we are? ¡°Isn¡¯t he still going to ask? And if you don¡¯t tell him, he¡¯s still going to beat you! Moreover, he¡¯ll probably beat you viciously! ¡°It¡¯s one thing at home, but at work, won¡¯t that embarrass you?¡± Lin Xia¡¯s words silenced Lin Chun. He seemed to be trapped in a dead end, with no way forward and someone pressing on from behind. ¡°But I can¡¯t just keep hiding, can I?¡± Lin Xia made up her mind, ¡°Then let¡¯s have it out with him, lay everything on the table, and then withdraw our household registration! From then on, the road is wide open, and we¡¯ll each go our own way!¡± That way, from now on, we¡¯ll have nothing to do with each other! Lin Qiu and Lin Dong were shocked by their eldest sister¡¯s idea! They thought about not going back in the future but had never considered having a confrontation and withdrawing household registrations! Lin Chun quickly waved his hands, completely opposed, ¡°No! No! Xiaoxia, if we really did that, the gossip alone would drown us! How can we fight against the elderly like that? ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not so easy to withdraw household registrations. I¡¯m not married, and we don¡¯t have our own house. Where would we move it to?¡± Lin Chun instinctively disagreed; his youngest sister¡¯s idea was too radical, and he had to consider their future. If things really turned out that way, finding a husband for both of his younger sisters would become a problem. And there would likely be trouble for his little brother¡¯s college studies. Lin Xia, frustrated, held her forehead, ¡°Then big brother, what do you suggest? It¡¯s impossible for us to go back to that home! ¡°Besides, he¡¯s pressing you to know where we¡¯ve settled. ¡°So, I say, why don¡¯t you just stay here for a while? Ask for a few days off from work. There are plenty of things happening in the mountains at his workplace; he can¡¯t stay at the foot of it for long! ¡°Once he goes back to the mountains, things will be easier. Although this solution isn¡¯t permanent, and who knows when he might suddenly attack and look for you or me, it¡¯s still better than now, right?¡± Lin Xia understood that there would come a day when they would clash. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they had just moved, they would undoubtedly be fighting it out right now. She wasn¡¯t afraid of going to war with Lin Aiguo, even if it meant fighting him with knives. But not to mention her big brother, even Lin Qiu and Lin Dong wouldn¡¯t agree to that! After all, Lin Xia, for various reasons, had become cold-hearted and ruthless, disowning her kin, but they couldn¡¯t. Deep down, they were still kind and generous children. ¡°Big brother! Haven¡¯t we all grown up? Don¡¯t we have our dignity? To still be beaten and scolded by him, why should we endure that?¡± Lin Chun smiled helplessly. He also wanted to take this opportunity to have an earnest discussion about himself. ¡°Xiaoxia, don¡¯t you know what kind of person your big brother is? I¡¯m the type who overthinks everything and can¡¯t bear to be harsh. ¡°Today, when you saw Dad hit me, I was indeed quite disheartened, and even thought about leaving and living outside just like you guys.¡± ¡°But now that I sit here, I can¡¯t help but think about how furious Dad would be when he finds out I¡¯m not at home. He¡¯d probably be so angry that he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep all night...¡± Lin Xia rolled her eyes internally. It would be great if Lin Aiguo was so angry he couldn¡¯t sleep! What did she care how mad he got? Amongst them all right now, only the eldest brother still harbored any illusions about Lin Aiguo. It was, in fact, easy to understand. After all, in this era, a father was an authoritative figure, akin to ¡®Heaven and Earth¡¯, seemingly beyond revolt. Even many of the marriages for both men and women were arranged by their parents, by the command of the father and the words of the matchmaker. In these cases, when speaking of parents, it was usually the father who had the final say, with the mothers having little standing in the household. Lin Dong pressed his lips tightly. He hadn¡¯t intended to speak up, but now he truly wanted to have a serious talk with his eldest brother. ¡°Eldest brother! You always consider his feelings! But has he ever considered ours? Does he even care about us in his heart? Have you forgotten what just happened to my eldest and second sisters that made us leave?¡± Lin Chun dropped his head, questioned by Lin Dong repeatedly. Lin Dong paused and continued, ¡°He is our father, but has he ever acted like one? Remember how he treated us during the last few years of our mother¡¯s sickness? Even though I¡¯m the youngest, I remember it clearly. It was less than a month after our mother passed away when he brought back that old woman with Lin Yu and Lin Qiang. Back then, they weren¡¯t called by these names, right? Weren¡¯t they Wang Xiaofeng and Wang Xiaomin? After they entered our house, what kind of days did we live? You always told us to endure, that it would pass. But what good did those years of endurance bring us? So now, our eldest sister is leading us, and in these few short days, I feel as if I¡¯ve been living in paradise! I would rather starve or freeze outside than ever return to that home! Eldest brother! You shouldn¡¯t go back either! Wouldn¡¯t it be wonderful for all of us to live together? Lin Qiu silently wiped her tears on the side. She felt the same as Lin Dong; she didn¡¯t want to return to that home even for a single day. Sometimes, she would wake up frightened from dreams of living those days again. Lin Xia¡¯s eyes reddened too. She was immeasurably grateful to the heavens for giving her the chance to go back to the past and change the miseries of her previous life. Otherwise, they would still be living those days of bullying and hunger. But those weren¡¯t even the worst parts¡ªwhat was most frightening lay ahead! Lin Chun broke down, crying and covering his face, ¡°Dongzi! Xiaoxia, Xiaoqiu, I know it¡¯s all my fault! I wasn¡¯t capable enough and made you endure those years. I even feel ashamed of my own incompetence now! Actually, there have been some things I haven¡¯t mentioned, because we haven¡¯t been together lately. That day, when I saw Lin Qiang¡¯s two wicked friends in the Eastern House, discussing robbing Xiaoxia, I went in there with a firewood stick, but I didn¡¯t have the courage to hit them! After I returned to the Western House, I hated myself, wondering why I couldn¡¯t do anything! At that moment, I thought that if I knew some skills... In fact, I¡¯ve also considered going out to train for a few years, but I couldn¡¯t bear to leave you all. I was afraid that my absence of three years would leave you two girls and a young boy unaided in case of any trouble...¡± Lin Chun had indeed been holding back a lot in his heart, and he finally spoke his true thoughts. Lin Xia and Lin Dong¡¯s eyes brightened up. Since they moved out, they hadn¡¯t brought up this matter in front of their eldest brother. Yet now, unexpectedly due to the various stimulations, their eldest brother himself had the idea of going away, but he still couldn¡¯t bear to leave them behind. Chapter 74 - 74 73 Whats Impossible (10th Update) ?74: Chapter 73: What¡¯s Impossible (10th Update) 74: Chapter 73: What¡¯s Impossible (10th Update) Lin Xia dabbed the corners of her eyes, ¡°Big Brother! What is there for us to worry about! We will be just fine here waiting for your return! If you get a formal job there and secure a foothold, wouldn¡¯t it be even better for us to join you later and leave this place behind?¡± Lin Dong quickly agreed, ¡°Yes, Big Brother! Go ahead! I¡¯m old enough now, I¡¯ll take good care of Big Sister and Second Sister!¡± He wasn¡¯t young anymore, and if Big Brother left, he would be the man of the house. ¡°Big Brother! You should go! Aunt Jin¡¯s security guard is going too, so you¡¯ll have company there! Lin Qiu was very excited; she especially hoped that her Big Brother could grow into a man who stands tall and proud, not the easily bullied person he is now. Lin Chun wiped away her tears and took a moment to breathe before saying, ¡°I¡¯m just really worried about you three! For now, Lin Qiang and the others can¡¯t find a place to stay, but what about in the long run? If Dongzi isn¡¯t home, and it¡¯s just the two of you girls...¡± Lin Chun was particularly worried. Seeing Lin Chun express these thoughts seemed to put Lin Xia at ease. She cheerfully said, ¡°Actually, we won¡¯t be staying here for too long either!¡± The three of them looked at Lin Xia in unison, not understanding what she meant by that. Lin Xia explained, ¡°Big Brother! There were some plans I hadn¡¯t shared with you before! I was thinking, if Dongzi gets into the city high school next year, then we¡¯ll move somewhere close to his school. In this way, on one hand, we can take good care of Dongzi and, on the other hand, stay far away from those people!¡± Those people weren¡¯t worth fearing, but they were as annoying as buzzing flies. Actually, she had thought about finding a way for Lin Dong to transfer schools. But now, the first semester of ninth grade had already started, and after the new year, there would only be one semester left before the middle school examination. If he switched to a new environment and couldn¡¯t adjust to everything, wouldn¡¯t that be sabotaging him? None of them had expected Lin Xia to have such a plan. Lin Dong was so excited his face turned bright red; it would be great if they really could move to the city. Some of Lin Chun¡¯s concerns dissipated, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s okay, being far away would mean they can¡¯t always be plotting against us!¡± ¡°Exactly! So Big Brother, go ahead and do what you need to do, don¡¯t miss out because of us! If you pass up this opportunity, who knows if there will be another chance!¡± But Lin Chun then thought about something, ¡°However, what about Xiaoqiu¡¯s job? Moving there, it wouldn¡¯t be convenient for work either!¡± Xiaoqiu was excited, but she also thought about her job at the garment factory, ¡°Yeah! Sister! If we really go to the city, what about my job at the garment factory?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see when the time comes! If it really doesn¡¯t work out, then just leave the job. I¡¯ve been thinking about getting you to learn more skills, so you can open your own tailor shop or something in the future!¡± Lin Xia shared her plan. For the next few years, tailor shops and clothing stores would have good business prospects. Once they stopped making clothes, they could do something else just the same. ¡°Besides, with the trading I¡¯m doing now, I can earn most of a month¡¯s salary in just a few days, so it doesn¡¯t matter whether I go to that job or not!¡± Lin Chun didn¡¯t quite agree, ¡°Xiaoxia, I think you and Xiaoqiu would be better off just sticking with your jobs. You see how tiring it is to keep flitting about like this? It¡¯s so unstable! Where¡¯s the security in that, compared to just working a steady job and collecting a paycheck every day!¡± ¡°Big brother! We¡¯re only just discussing this plan right now. Who knows what could change in the meantime!¡± Lin Xia knew it would be impossible to convince her eldest brother right away. But her thought was to placate him for now and, if he really did go out of town, they¡¯d be out of his reach. Then, no matter what they wanted to do, he wouldn¡¯t be able to interfere! Lin Chun silently nodded, fumbled with his hands, and stepped down to put on his shoes and go to the bathroom. Once Lin Xia heard the sound of the door closing, she quickly turned to Lin Dong and said, ¡°Dongzi, can we move really far away? It all depends on you now!¡± Lin Dong immediately clenched his fist with determination, ¡°Big sister, second sister! Don¡¯t worry, I will study even harder in the future. Next year, when I take the high school entrance exam, I will definitely get into the city high school!¡± Lin Xia¡¯s words gave Lin Dong a new kind of motivation. He knew how high their expectations were, so he never slacked off in his studies. But now, there was another reason to push himself even harder¡ªto help his sisters leave this place. Otherwise, he would feel like he had let his brothers and sisters down! When Lin Chun returned, Lin Xia shared her plan with him: neither she nor Lin Chun would go to work in the next couple of days, and Lin Dong would also stop going to school starting tomorrow. Because Lin Aiguo was relentless and would surely go to those places looking for them, they might as well just spend a couple of days at home. Lin Chun still felt uneasy, ¡°Will that really be okay?¡± Lin Xia dismissed his concerns, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that! Big brother! If you think it¡¯s not okay, then I¡¯ll just go to work as usual tomorrow. You¡¯ll see if he makes a scene at our workplace or not. In front of outsiders, even if we¡¯re in the right, can we really go against our own father? So, it¡¯s better not to see him and let him fret over finding us himself!¡± She was one hundred percent sure that Lin Aiguo would definitely go to their workplaces and the school to look for them, and if these family matters were brought up outside, even if people thought they were right, they would usually advise them to apologize and return home with Lin Aiguo. Why should she give him that chance? Lin Chun knew Lin Xia was making sense, and he didn¡¯t raise any further objections. But he was worried about the many difficulties ahead if he were to leave, ¡°But even if I go, I can¡¯t do it without Dad¡¯s approval!¡± ¡°No worries! Big brother! When it¡¯s time, you just sign up as planned, and I¡¯ll figure out the rest!¡± She had already thought of a strategy, but her big brother hadn¡¯t hinted at such intentions, so she hadn¡¯t shared it before. The siblings talked late into the night before going to sleep, all feeling as if the fog had lifted from their future, each having found a direction for which they were willing to strive and fight. Lin Aiguo did exactly as Lin Xia expected; he sent Lin Qiang to Lin Dong¡¯s school to wait for him and track him, so that he could find out where they all lived. Meanwhile, he first went to Lin Xia¡¯s workplace. When Yu Hongmei heard someone was looking for Lin Xia, and that Lin Xia wasn¡¯t at work today, she rushed out of the workshop, and upon seeing that it was her uncle who came looking for Lin Xia, hesitated briefly before approaching him. ¡°Uncle! What brings you here?¡± Lin Aiguo, facing his niece, still managed a decent expression, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Lin Xia! Why isn¡¯t she out here?¡± ¡°Uncle! She didn¡¯t come to work today!¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± Lin Aiguo was somewhat incredulous. ¡°Why would I lie to you? If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask our supervisor!¡± Lin Aiguo stomped his foot in anger, cursing inwardly that the rascal was surely doing this on purpose! Seeing Lin Aiguo¡¯s displeased face, Yu Hongmei thought for a moment and then advised him, ¡°Uncle! Lin Xia and the others are all grown up now; sometimes you shouldn¡¯t be too biased. When you see her, don¡¯t rush to anger. Can¡¯t you just talk things out properly?¡± Chapter 75 - 75 74 Bitter Fate (Eleven more updates) ?75: Chapter 74 Bitter Fate (Eleven more updates) 75: Chapter 74 Bitter Fate (Eleven more updates) ¡°What?¡± Lin Aiguo¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°Did that brat Lin Xia tell you? What exactly did she tell you?¡± He was so angry. What kind of stories was Lin Xia spreading about him outside! Yu Hongmei felt it was unfair to Lin Xia and the others. It didn¡¯t matter when she didn¡¯t know, but after hearing Lin Xia¡¯s side, she had come to understand what was really going on. ¡°It wasn¡¯t Lin Xia who told me, I was there with my mom the day Lin Qiu¡¯s arm got twisted. It was clearly the children brought by our aunt who were stealing, how can you still make Lin Xia and the others bow their heads and apologize?¡± Lin Aiguo shook his arm in frustration, ¡°She doesn¡¯t even understand basic respect for elders and superiors. It¡¯s belittling her to make her apologize. You don¡¯t get it! Go back to work! I¡¯m leaving!¡± Yu Hongmei saw that her words had only made her uncle even angrier! She couldn¡¯t help but regret, wondering if she had spoken out of turn. She hoped she hadn¡¯t made things worse for Lin Xia! Lin Aiguo left Lin Xia¡¯s workplace in a huff and headed straight for Lin Chun¡¯s. He simply couldn¡¯t believe that this kid could also be skipping work. However, people at Lin Chun¡¯s factory said he hadn¡¯t shown up either. Lin Aiguo wanted to withdraw Lin Chun¡¯s salary, but the factory¡¯s accountant asked for Lin Chun¡¯s seal, which he couldn¡¯t produce, so he couldn¡¯t take out the money. Lin Aiguo¡¯s anger intensified, and after leaving Lin Chun¡¯s workplace, he went to Lin Dong¡¯s school. Outside the school, he saw Lin Qiang with two boys, one tall and one short, but Lin Aiguo didn¡¯t pay attention to them. He asked Lin Qiang, ¡°Is Lin Dong at school?¡± On the way there, Lin Aiguo had decided. He would drag Lin Dong back home from school. He didn¡¯t believe that the brat Lin Xia wouldn¡¯t be worried, and by pressing further, he would surely find out where they were hiding! Lin Qiang frowned and looked distressed, ¡°Dad! His classmates said he didn¡¯t come to school!¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Aiguo was infuriated, ¡°Which classmate did you ask? Don¡¯t be fooled by them! Which class is he in? I¡¯m going to talk to his teacher!¡± Seeing Lin Aiguo react this way, Lin Qiang was quite unhappy, but he thought it better not to anger Lin Aiguo further, so he told him. This was the first time Lin Aiguo stepped onto the campus where Lin Dong studied. He found Lin Dong¡¯s teacher and asked if Lin Dong had gone to school. The teacher told him Lin Dong hadn¡¯t come to school that day, and only then did Lin Aiguo fully believe it. After a morning of hustle without catching anyone and unable to withdraw any salary, Lin Aiguo returned home in a fury. When he arrived at the doorstep of his home, he thought it over and decided to go to his sister Lin Aijia¡¯s place. What were Lin Chun and the others up to? They were honestly napping at home, not going anywhere, and doing chores around the house. When they moved in, there were still some logs that hadn¡¯t been sawed or split. Lin Xia had bought a handsaw and a large axe on the day of the move, as it¡¯s not feasible to always borrow from others for everyday living. Besides, since they had moved to this place, they didn¡¯t know anyone and had nowhere to borrow from. In the morning, Lin Xia had made rice porridge, boiled eggs, and cornmeal pancakes leftover from the previous day. At noon, Lin Xia asked everyone what they wanted to eat. In the end, they fried potato shreds and cooked oil pancakes. After eating and resting for a while, Lin Xia told them to stay home while she went to check on Lady Zhao. Lin Chun, worried, repeatedly instructed her to come back soon, to not go to Lady Xu¡¯s place, and to avoid being seen by them. Lin Xia knew what her older brother was worried about, and although she didn¡¯t feel there was anything to worry about, she didn¡¯t show it and agreed nicely. Lin Xia first bought some canned food and sugar cubes, then went to Lady Zhao¡¯s house. On her way there, Lin Xia wondered about the situation at the Xu family¡¯s mother and daughter¡¯s place, having no idea what kind of scene Lin Aiguo and his family had caused there. Zhao Da Nainai was padding cotton pants on the heated brick bed, and in the room sat a young woman holding a child, whom Lin Xia guessed was Zhao Da Nainai¡¯s daughter-in-law. Zhao Da Nainai, seeing Lin Xia¡¯s arrival, warmly invited her to sit at the edge of the kang. She also introduced the young woman as her daughter-in-law, named Yang Wenliu. Lin Xia politely greeted her, and Yang Wenliu, who was quite demure, smiled and said hello to Lin Xia before taking the sleeping child to the Western House. After her daughter-in-law left, Zhao Da Nainai finally started, ¡°Xiaolin ah! What¡¯s been going on with you all? Why haven¡¯t you stayed at the old Xu¡¯s place? You have no idea, your family went looking for someone at the old Xu¡¯s place last night! What exactly happened?¡± Today, the wife of Old Xu came to my place and complained a whole lot about this and that. But I don¡¯t believe Xiaolin is a swindler. It can only be said that those two women from their family can¡¯t stand others! Lin Xia and they must have their difficulties. As soon as Lin Xia heard Zhao Da Nainai ask like this, she knew Mrs. Xu must have said something, but seeing Zhao Da Nainai¡¯s attitude, she felt a warmth in her heart. ¡°Their mother and daughter are alright, aren¡¯t they?¡± Zhao Da Nainai waved her hand, ¡°No worries! Your family came around quite fiercely, and it just so happened that our neighborhood¡¯s Security Chief was there, along with some neighbors who came to help. You know that old Xu¡¯s two sons are both working out of town, so they all had to lend a little support! Then, later on, they went in with your family to make sure you had moved out, and after that, they left. However, Mrs. Xu came over this morning and had a rant at me, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have known! Xiaolin ah, you and I clicked from the moment we met, and I¡¯ve always thought you were a good kid. What exactly is going on with your family?¡± Lin Xia didn¡¯t hold back or hide anything, and talked about their family¡¯s situation, and how they had been forced to leave home, about Lin Qiu¡¯s arm being fractured and that her father still insisted on sending her to the soy sauce factory, and so on... Zhao Da Nainai was on the verge of tears upon hearing this, ¡°Why are you kids so unlucky! It¡¯s really true that a stepmother comes with a stepfather!¡± Lin Xia had always had a good impression of the newly met Zhao Da Nainai, so she was willing to share these things with her. ¡°Zhao Da Nainai! It¡¯s alright now! All that¡¯s in the past! Now the few of us are together and doing well, which is better than anything!¡± Zhao Da Nainai nodded her head, wiping her eyes as she said, ¡°Xiaolin ah! I always speak my mind straightforwardly, and I say what I think. But I heard from Mrs. Xu that you¡¯ve been staying out all night since leaving!¡± Lin Xia gave a wry smile, ¡°Zhao Da Nainai! I won¡¯t hide it from you, we didn¡¯t have much money when we left, and before that, my wages were always held by my father! My sister can¡¯t work because of her arm, and my brother is still in school, so I thought I¡¯d work hard and go out of town to get some goods to sell, earning a bit here and there; I didn¡¯t want to wait for our unit to pay our salary, there are so many expenses, and we can¡¯t wait around...¡± For some reason, upon meeting Zhao Da Nainai, she truly regarded her as an elder and was willing to talk to her about anything. Not only did Zhao Da Nainai show no disdain, but her words also took Lin Xia by surprise. ¡°Xiaolin ah! You¡¯re really smart! I won¡¯t lie to you, my second son is also hustling and selling things! What¡¯s wrong with that? We haven¡¯t stolen or robbed anyone! We even earn more and have more freedom than regular workers! Just a couple of days ago, he went out to restock... I guess he¡¯ll be back in the next few days...¡± Zhao Da Nainai spoke of her second son, and that was when Lin Xia learned that Jiang Mingyuan, like her, was also selling goods and had traveled for his business. Chapter 76 - 76 75 Discussing (Twelve More) ?76: Chapter 75: Discussing (Twelve More) 76: Chapter 75: Discussing (Twelve More) Lin Xia began to see Zhao¡¯s mother-in-law in a new light. These days, people were competing fiercely for a chance to get a job in government units and become workers. Who would have thought that Jiang Mingyuan would do these things and Zhao¡¯s mother-in-law actually supported him! Lin Xia felt it wasn¡¯t polite to ask Jiang Mingyuan what he sold, so after sitting for a while, she didn¡¯t stay long. Zhao¡¯s mother-in-law walked her to the gate, asking her to come by anytime when she was free. Lin Xia agreed and planned to visit Zhao¡¯s mother-in-law more often in the future. Just as they were waving goodbye, Mrs. Xu walked over from not far away. Seeing Lin Xia standing at the Zhao family¡¯s doorstep, she immediately scowled and quickly approached, ¡°Lin Xia! Your family came to my house looking for you all yesterday!¡± ¡°I heard about it! Mrs. Xu, I¡¯m so sorry for the trouble we caused!¡± Lin Xia said apologetically. ¡°What¡¯s the use of talking about it now! It¡¯s a good thing you¡¯ve moved away, otherwise who knows what kind of trouble could have come knocking...¡± Mrs. Xu grumbled on. After the incident, it was normal for Mrs. Xu to grumble and complain. Lin Xia showed an embarrassed expression, listened for a bit, then quickly bade farewell and left. After Lin Xia had left, Mrs. Xu, still feeling aggrieved, grabbed Zhao¡¯s mother-in-law to talk things through. Zhao¡¯s mother-in-law was impatient and directly asked, ¡°Shuxiang! What brings you to my house? Mrs. Xu slapped her thigh, ¡°Look at me! That Lin Xia got me so worked up, I totally forgot my real business here! I heard your daughter-in-law is good with her hands, and I was thinking of learning to crochet from her, to make a cover for a warm bottle!¡± ¡°That¡¯s all? Then come inside, my grandson just fell asleep!¡± ... Lin Aiguo really wanted to stay longer at the foot of the mountain, but his job wouldn¡¯t allow him to keep taking days off. He went to Lin Aijia¡¯s place, hoping she would help keep an eye on where Lin Xia and her siblings were running off to. In choosing between her niece and her older brother, Lin Aijia naturally decided to side with her older brother. She promised that as soon as Lin Xia went to work, she would have Yu Hongmei stay with her, so they would know where Lin Xia and her family were living. Lin Aiguo also instructed Lin Qiang to make an effort and follow Lin Dong to school to see where they were really living. Lin Aiguo planned a two-pronged approach, adding a surprise move to ensure that he wouldn¡¯t fail to find the whereabouts of those kids. Lin Aiguo returned to work up the mountain. Lin Chun also had to return to work. Fearing that Lin Qiang might secretly follow him and discover Lin Xia¡¯s location, he decided to return directly to the Lin family home after work for the time being. When Lin Dong went to school, he planned to bring his lunch from home in the morning and not return at midday. In the evening, he would go directly to a classmate¡¯s house to do homework, only returning home late, which would make it harder for Lin Qiang to follow him. Lin Xia had already thought of ways to cope with her two brothers. She said she was too tired lately and took the opportunity to rest and wander around, temporarily stopping work, as it would be easy for Lin Qiang to track her if she didn¡¯t. Ever since they left their home, Lin Xia had indeed been spinning like a top without proper rest. Her siblings felt sorry for her and told her to take more days off. Lin Chun went to her workplace to request leave for her. In reality, Lin Xia was thinking of going up the mountain to pick hazelnuts. She had promised the sunflower seed seller to bring six or seven hundred pounds next time, and she estimated that the hazelnuts in Jade¡¯s room might not weigh that much. Besides, even if there were that many, she still needed to hurry and pick some while they were still available on the mountain ¨C they were, after all, money. This time she didn¡¯t even bother making a show of carrying the sacks; she just told Lin Qiu she might have lunch outside after wandering around for the morning. So she spent a good part of the day in the mountains, picking a considerable number of hazelnuts. Later, she found a place to take off the clothes she wore for the heavy work and rode her bicycle back home empty-handed. In this way, no one knew what she had actually been up to! However, she only wanted to go for one day, collecting hazelnuts on the mountain was simply too exhausting! ... Lin Chun went to work on time every day, and Lin Qiang decided to follow Lin Dong, confident he could find out where they all lived. But after following him for two days he was really tired, so that morning he decided to rest at home first, and track Lin Dong later in the evening. After everyone had left for work and school, Lin Qiang slept in late before getting up, when Mangzi and Dahai came looking for him at his home again. Both of them were wary of Lin Qiang¡¯s mother and would only come over after seeing that everyone had left the house for work and school, making sure no one was home. Mangzi came to Lin Qiang with a complaint, ¡°Qiangzi! My stomach still hurts! When are you going to buy something for your buddies?¡± After all, they couldn¡¯t have suffered for nothing, right? Dahai spoke passionately, ¡°Qiangzi! You saw it that day, too. If we hadn¡¯t run fast, that guy would have caught us and we three would have ended up squatting in a cell!¡± ¡°I know! You guys are my good friends! But I¡¯ve really been strapped for cash lately, where would I get any money?¡± Lin Qiang felt extremely frustrated, indeed a penny can stump a hero! Mangzi and Dahai exchanged glances, both a bit disturbed. They casually looked around Lin Qiang¡¯s Eastern House and noticed the locked drawer, exchanging a knowing look. Mangzi shook his head vigorously, he knew what Dahai was thinking! But no matter what, Lin Qiang was their buddy, someone they hung out with. They couldn¡¯t contemplate stealing from his family! However, Lin Qiang was oblivious to all this; he was thinking that since they always hung out together, and not to mention that Mangzi got beaten up trying to help him, it would be inconsiderate if he didn¡¯t reciprocate somehow. But where would he get any money? Suddenly, an idea struck Lin Qiang. He remembered the day he had gone to their house and it was just the mother and daughter at home. It looked like there might be money in the locked cabinet. So, he shared his idea with Mangzi and Dahai. Dahai¡¯s eyes lit up and he immediately suggested a plan: one of them would keep watch while the other two searched the house to see if there was any money. After conspiring together, the three of them left home to scout out the place. Arriving outside Old Xu¡¯s house, Lin Qiang, Mangzi, and Dahai hid in the alley diagonally across, observing and stalking for a while. Old Lady Xu seemed to be home all the time, only coming out once to pour out some water; she stayed indoors the rest of the time. This foiled all their previous plans. Even with their audacity, they didn¡¯t dare to break in and rob the place in broad daylight. The three of them were huddled together, discussing their strategy when a young man on a bicycle passed by. This man was none other than Jiang Mingyuan! He looked suspiciously at the three sneaky lads and suddenly recognized two of them as those who had robbed Lin Xia! He shouted loudly, ¡°What bad deeds are you planning now?¡± Mangzi and Dahai recognized the man, puffing themselves up angrily, while Lin Qiang realized this man knew Lin Xia. Dahai cocked his ear nonchalantly, ¡°This isn¡¯t your house, what right do you have to interfere?¡± Jiang Mingyuan got off his bicycle, ¡°Last time you guys robbed Xiaolin, and you got away! This time it won¡¯t be so easy to escape!¡± He gave Lin Qiang, whom he hadn¡¯t seen before, a pointed look, guessing that the one who had escaped from the White Restroom last time might be him! Chapter 77 - 77 76 Not Recognizing Wrong (Thirteenth Update) ?77: Chapter 76: Not Recognizing Wrong (Thirteenth Update) 77: Chapter 76: Not Recognizing Wrong (Thirteenth Update) Lin Qiang watched Jiang Mingyuan with hatred, for it was this very guy¡¯s sudden appearance last time that disrupted their plans, even forcing him to flee by climbing over walls, leading to... Seeing him again was like enemies meeting, each burning with animosity. Lin Qiang clenched his fists; he wanted revenge! ¡°Let me tell you, mind your own business, or else the three of us will gang up and beat you to a pulp!¡± Mangzi had already learned how formidable this guy was last time and felt hesitant. In a low voice, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s not stoop to his level, let¡¯s get out of here fast!¡± Today was supposed to be just a simple stakeout; how did they run into this scourge? Dahai was not convinced, ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? It¡¯s three against one!¡± They hadn¡¯t done anything bad this time, they were just standing here; what could he do to them? Dahai had been thinking about when he would settle the score with this guy, and today was an opportune moment to sort him out! Dahai and Lin Qiang charged at Jiang Mingyuan together, and Mangzi, seeing them go, couldn¡¯t fall behind, especially considering he¡¯d suffered the most that day. The kick he received from this kid had left his stomach aching for days! Jiang Mingyuan, seeing their moves, was clearly skilled in fighting and unreservedly vicious. Even the three of them, Lin Qiang included, couldn¡¯t gain any advantage for a while. Instead, they got beaten up by Jiang Mingyuan! Just then, someone shouted, ¡°Stop fighting, everyone!¡± A man with a beard suddenly appeared¡ªit was Old Wang! Old Wang had been in his yard when he heard the commotion of a fight near the fence. Coming out to look, he didn¡¯t expect to find Zhao Family¡¯s second son fighting with three guys. Jiang Mingyuan stopped, and Lin Qiang, knowing who the man was, quickly hid behind Mangzi. Jiang Mingyuan spoke up quickly, ¡°Uncle Wang! These guys tried to rob Xiaolin, who was staying at Aunt Xu¡¯s house a few days ago, and I happened to come across them! Today they¡¯re here lurking around... who knows what bad stuff they might be up to!¡± Dahai hurriedly defended, ¡°That¡¯s not true at all, we were just passing by and resting here!¡± Mangzi quickly agreed, ¡°Right! Just wanted to rest!¡± Lin Qiang, behind them, didn¡¯t dare make a sound, afraid of being recognized. But Old Wang looked at Lin Qiang with suspicion, his face stern as he commanded, ¡°You there, behind, come out!¡± Dahai and Mangzi, not understanding what was happening, stepped aside, revealing Lin Qiang. Old Wang pointed at Lin Qiang, exclaiming, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the guy who came to our door the other day, claiming to be a relative of Xiaolin?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jiang Mingyuan also turned to Lin Qiang, ¡°You¡¯re Xiaolin¡¯s family?¡± He immediately understood the trickery at play. Lin Qiang, not wanting to be interrogated like this, whispered to Mangzi and Dahai, ¡°Run!¡± The three of them took off; Jiang Mingyuan and Old Wang gave chase for a few steps but didn¡¯t continue. Jiang Mingyuan asked Old Wang, ¡°Uncle Wang! Is that kid really related to Xiaolin? But a few days ago, he and those two guys tried to rob Xiaolin and I just happened to bump into them and drove them away!¡± He had come back from out of town and heard from his mother about Lin Xia and her family moving out of Old Xu¡¯s house. He had wanted to return her fountain pen but couldn¡¯t find her. Yet he hadn¡¯t expected to encounter those people quite by accident! Old Wang¡¯s expression grew serious, ¡°Second Young Master! Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?¡± If that¡¯s the case, this is getting interesting! Members of her own family teaming up with others to commit robbery¡ªit seems many things aren¡¯t as they appeared to her. ¡°I wasn¡¯t mistaken! I recognized them immediately!¡± Jiang Mingyuan was also pondering, just what sort of people were Xiaolin¡¯s family members. They must have learned it from his stepmom, that son she brought with her. Old Wang heightened his vigilance, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, since Xiaolin has already moved away, why did those three return here? Could they be planning to...¡± They definitely had no good intentions! ¡°It¡¯s hard to say! I just saw them scouting out the Xu Family¡¯s situation! Uncle Wang, this situation...¡± They all felt it should be taken seriously... As the two were talking, Xu Haihua rode up on her bicycle. When she saw Jiang Mingyuan, her eyes lit up, and she dismounted with delight, ¡°Brother Mingyuan! What are you doing here? When did you get back?¡± She had been to his house looking for him the past two days, but heard he was out and he hadn¡¯t returned yet! Jiang Mingyuan didn¡¯t want to deal with Xu Haihua and said to Old Wang, ¡°Uncle Wang! I¡¯m going to head home first!¡± Before, he had never found Xu Haihua quite so annoying. Ever since he helped Lin Xia last time, Xu Haihua had been acting passive-aggressive. She was always stirring up trouble in front of him, and he was no fool¡ªcouldn¡¯t he see for himself what people were like? ¡°Alright! If there¡¯s anything, we can catch up when we¡¯re both free!¡± Old Wang knew they were only suspicious and didn¡¯t have any proof yet, and they certainly couldn¡¯t just tell Xu Haihua like this. What if their suspicions were wrong? That would just unnecessarily scare her and her mother. He could tell that the old maid from the Xu Family had a special feeling towards the Zhao Family¡¯s second son. At his age, he surely couldn¡¯t be someone who couldn¡¯t tell what was going on. However, he definitely had his opinions about the impropriety of this old maid. Xu Haihua stopped Jiang Mingyuan, ¡°Brother Mingyuan, don¡¯t be in such a hurry! I still have things to tell you!¡± About Lin Xia, she had a belly full of words she wanted to tell him! ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about!¡± Jiang Mingyuan pushed his bicycle, ready to ride away, but Xu Haihua grabbed the handlebars. ¡°Brother Mingyuan! Wait a moment! I just want to say a few words!¡± Xu Haihua, disregarding Jiang Mingyuan¡¯s impatience, raised her face to look at him, ¡°Brother Mingyuan! You know what happened, right? That Lin Xia, they moved out of my house! We had no idea she was a scammer! That day, her family came looking for her... They hadn¡¯t been split from the family; they had a dispute with the elderly at home and sneaked out! In the future, if you see her again, don¡¯t let her deceive you... And she didn¡¯t come home for two nights, who knows what she was up to...¡± In her heart, that Lin Xia was definitely no good; otherwise, how could she have money to spend without going to work? Jiang Mingyuan ignored Xu Haihua¡¯s obstruction and mounted the bike, ¡°Xu Haihua! Cut down on spreading rumors behind others¡¯ backs!¡± Xu Haihua, infuriated, shouted after him, ¡°Brother Mingyuan! Why don¡¯t you believe me? I¡¯m telling the truth... If you don¡¯t believe me, ask your mom...¡± Madam Xu heard the shouting outside; it sounded like someone calling out, and by the noise, it seemed to be her daughter. She hurried out of the house and caught her daughter¡¯s shouted words. She yelled out angrily, ¡°Xu Haihua! What the hell are you doing? Get back here immediately!¡± Such a large girl making a scene at the front gate with a man, what does it look like? Moreover, she truly disapproved of that Zhao Family¡¯s second son who didn¡¯t have a proper job and just loitered every day; what kind of future could he have? Seeing her mother was truly upset, Xu Haihua didn¡¯t dare to overstep too much and sheepishly went into the yard. Madam Xu, furious, grabbed her as she put away the bicycle, and dragged her into the house. ¡°What¡¯s all the fuss at the front gate? Do you want the whole neighborhood to laugh at you?¡± Chapter 78 - 78 77 Looking for Someone (14th Update) ?78: Chapter 77: Looking for Someone (14th Update) 78: Chapter 77: Looking for Someone (14th Update) Xu Haihua tugged at the braid over her shoulder, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything! I just thought I should remind Brother Mingyuan about what kind of person Lin Xia is! So he won¡¯t be fooled if he runs into her one day...¡± Madam Xu was incredibly angry, unable to understand how her daughter could be so bewitched by the second son of Zhao Family and why she kept targeting Lin Xia! ¡°Haihua! Why do you keep harping on about Lin Xia? They¡¯ve moved away, so why do you keep talking behind their backs?¡± Xu Haihua threw down the medicine bottle, ¡°It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t let it go! The problem is Brother Mingyuan doesn¡¯t know what Lin Xia is like, and I must remind him! What if he runs into her later and gets deceived? How will we deal with that? Not only were we neighbors, but my brother also had a good relationship with him! As his sister, I must do this...¡± Madam Xu was so exasperated that she clutched her chest in frustration. How had she borne such a troublesome child! On the other side, Jiang Mingyuan returned home and recounted the incident to Madam Zhao. Madam Zhao slapped her thigh with a ¡°Goodness,¡± ¡°Then I understand! It must be the son of Xiaolin¡¯s stepmother! What a mess! That boy conspired with others to rob Xiaolin. That¡¯s too despicable! Luckily, they¡¯ve moved out, or who knows what troubles they might have encountered at home!¡± Madam Zhao truly felt relieved for Lin Xia and the others. If they had continued living under the same roof, who knows what terrible things might have happened! ¡°Yes! If Uncle Wang hadn¡¯t recognized that boy by chance, I wouldn¡¯t even know about it,¡± Jiang Mingyuan also felt deeply for Lin Xia¡¯s troubles. It was a coincidence that he had run into them. What if he hadn¡¯t been there? Xiaolin, being a woman, even armed with a knife, wouldn¡¯t be able to fend off those boys. Madam Zhao paced anxiously around the room, ¡°I wonder if Xiaolin and the others know about this! No way! I must find a way to let her know, so she isn¡¯t left unguarded and harmed by those people again! But where can we find them? It¡¯s my fault too. That day when Xiaolin came to see me with her things, why didn¡¯t I ask where their new home was?¡± She truly liked the child Xiaolin, especially after hearing about the situation at her home, she was overwhelmed with sympathy. Now, hearing that the stepmother¡¯s son was such a lowlife, what could they do if those honest children were bullied again? Jiang Mingyuan comforted his mother, ¡°Mom! Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll go out and ask around after eating, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find them.¡± Spring City was not big, with just a few main streets. Besides, he was sure he had a connection with Xiaolin. If he set his mind to it, he would surely find her. Furthermore, he had other plans in mind. If he couldn¡¯t find Lin Xia, he would go to the high school and find the boy named Lin Dong. There was no reason he couldn¡¯t be found. ¡°Okay! Then I¡¯ll hurry up and get the meal ready!¡± Madam Zhao hurried out to prepare the meal. Jiang Mingyuan took out the pen from his pocket, a smile flickering in his eyes... Meanwhile, Lin Xia, having had lunch, went out with Lin Qiu to buy jars. Previously, they had pickled some radishes and salted vegetables, thinking that the time from winter to early spring was long, and those would be gone before spring arrived. Now, it seemed they couldn¡¯t eat anything without pickled vegetables; not having them was simply not an option. Lin Xia pushed the cart with a small jar tied to the back rack and a cloth bag full of vegetables hanging from the handlebars in the front. Lin Qiu walked beside her, and both were contemplating that it was a bit early to make sauerkraut at this time of the year. However, buying extra to store in the home warehouse was also an option, and they could make spicy pickled cabbage. Jiang Mingyuan suddenly appeared, and upon seeing the Lin sisters, he greeted them, ¡°Xiaolin!¡± ¡°Brother!¡± Lin Xia was taken aback, surprised to encounter him here; after all, this place was a distance from Paradise Street, and by his appearance, it seemed as if he had come specifically to find her. She was just about to say you¡¯ve come back from out of town, but then she changed her mind and asked, ¡°You¡¯re here to buy groceries too?¡± After all, it was the Zhao Family¡¯s matron who had told her about his going out, and asking in such a way seemed a bit inappropriate. ¡°No! I¡¯ve got something to talk to you about!¡± Jiang Mingyuan looked around the environment, ¡°Let¡¯s go up ahead to talk!¡± Lin Xia thought he was referring to the matter of returning her pen, and while pushing her cart in place, she said softly, ¡°Brother! I¡¯m truly grateful to you, and if you won¡¯t accept it, it¡¯s like looking down on my gift! Besides, my brother has pens to use! I¡¯ve already bought some for him!¡± She had just managed to repay a favor; how could there be any logic in taking it back? She did not want to feel indebted to anyone! And besides, though Brother might be a good person, Xu Haihua clearly had designs on him, and Lin Xia really did not want to invite trouble. Jiang Mingyuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°It¡¯s not about the pen!¡± Lin Xia and Lin Qiu both breathed a sigh of relief; last time, Lin Xia had forcibly stuffed the pen into Jiang Mingyuan¡¯s pocket. Taking advantage of the moment, both of them rode away on their bikes, their first instinct had been that it was about this matter. Lin Xia glanced around, ¡°Alright then! Brother! Let¡¯s go up ahead to talk!¡± This was no place to talk, and two young ladies laughing and chatting with a young man would attract disapproving stares and gossip about improper behavior. These days, society is just that conservative. Even couples in love walking together rarely held hands, preferring to walk with one in front and the other behind, or one on each side of the road, keeping a distance from each other. Of course, there were those who were bold and open-minded, but they were the minority and usually found in secluded spots like parks and cinemas. ¡°Alright!¡± Jiang Mingyuan got on his bike first, choosing to leave ahead. Lin Xia and Lin Qiu looked at each other and laughed, both finding the situation quite amusing. Lin Qiu glanced at the receding figure of Jiang Mingyuan and whispered, ¡°Sis! What do you think he wants to talk to you about?¡± ¡°I have no idea!¡± Lin Xia had an ominous hunch, and she said offhandedly, ¡°But I bet it¡¯s not anything good!¡± Upon hearing it might not be something good, Lin Qiu¡¯s brows furrowed immediately. Lin Xia turned to see her reaction and chuckled, ¡°Xiaoqiu! Is it necessary? I was just saying that, you¡¯re too...¡± Her sister was maybe just naturally inclined, or maybe it was due to the environment in which she grew up, to overthink and to worry about things. Lin Qiu blushed, embarrassed, ¡°Sis! I¡¯ve been much better since going outside! I will slowly change!¡± Lin Xia held onto the bike handles, wishing she could reach out and ruffle her sister¡¯s head; this girl, she was growing up! She nudged Lin Qiu with her shoulder, ¡°I know! Our Xiaoqiu will be something else one day!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Qiu nodded vigorously, and the two sisters quickened their pace to catch up with Jiang Mingyuan. Jiang Mingyuan sure knew how to pick a place; he had parked his bicycle in front of someone¡¯s house, near a stacked pile of firewood. As Lin Xia and Lin Qiu approached, they noticed that this place was not too far from their home. Lin Xia got straight to the point, ¡°Brother! What did you want to talk to me about?¡± Chapter 79 - 79 78 Fate (15 more updates completed! ?79: Chapter 78 Fate (15 more updates completed! Please subscribe!) 79: Chapter 78 Fate (15 more updates completed! Please subscribe!) Jiang Mingyuan wasn¡¯t one for beating around the bush. ¡°Today, on my way past the Xu Family¡¯s house, I saw those two kids who robbed you before, hanging out with a kid who had a swollen eye! I...¡± Before he could finish, Lin Xia and Lin Qiu both gasped in unison, their eyes widening. ¡°Lin Qiang?¡± ¡°You already knew?¡± Jiang Mingyuan instantly understood that they must have found out who the person hiding near the White Restroom that day was. Lin Xia hurriedly said, ¡°Big brother! We only found out about it later too! Is that kid not very tall, with prominent forehead lines?¡± She was a bit confused. They had all moved away, so why would Lin Qiang still be taking those two kids near the Xu Family¡¯s place? ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s what he looks like! They were acting all sneaky, probably up to no good!¡± ¡°I just happened to pass by and recognized those two kids...¡± Lin Xia asked anxiously, ¡°Big brother! You were unharmed, right?¡± Given Lin Qiang¡¯s temperament, wouldn¡¯t he have sought revenge on big brother right then and there? Lin Xia felt especially sorry; if it hadn¡¯t been for Jiang Mingyuan¡¯s help with her own trouble, he wouldn¡¯t have encountered this... Jiang Mingyuan waved it off with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine! They are no match for me! ¡°I ended up fighting them, and then our neighborhood¡¯s Security Chief saw us. He recognized the kid, the one who had gone to Aunt Xu¡¯s house a few days ago looking for your family... ¡°My mom got worried when she heard about it,¡± he continued. ¡°She feared you might be unaware and get conned by that kid again!¡± ¡°So she sent me out to look around, just to let you know if I saw anything,¡± Jiang Mingyuan briefly explained. Lin Xia felt even more embarrassed after hearing this. She hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Auntie and her big brother, despite their brief acquaintance, to have such warm hearts. ¡°Big brother, you really went out of your way for us! And thank you to Zhao Auntie and you! I¡¯m at a loss for words to express my thanks...¡± Lin Xia pondered how to repay their kindness. But Jiang Mingyuan simply got on his bicycle, ready to leave. ¡°No need for thanks! Now that you know, we can rest easy. I have to get going! I¡¯ll let mom know right away, so she won¡¯t worry...¡± He had intended to give them a few more words of caution, but he felt embarrassed to linger any longer. As Jiang Mingyuan was about to pedal away, Lin Xia wanted to stop him, but her bicycle was loaded front and back with stuff, so she urgently said, ¡°Big brother! Don¡¯t rush off!¡± Lin Qiu also hurriedly intervened. Jiang Mingyuan looked at Lin Xia, ¡°Xiaolin, is there anything else?¡± ¡°Big brother! Actually, our new place is just up ahead. Come by for a drink of water, and then I have something I¡¯d like you to take to Zhao Auntie!¡± They had already reached the doorstep of their home, and people had been searching for them purposely just to let them know about Lin Qiang, so they wouldn¡¯t come to harm! Even if Lin Xia wasn¡¯t very worldly, she knew she had to respond somehow. She was very grateful for their concern. ¡°No need, Xiaolin! You are too polite! I¡¯ve got to go!¡± Jiang Mingyuan did not want to take anything from them. That pen, he had initially thought about returning it to her, but seeing the sisters¡¯ expressions, he decided to keep it, reasoning that they might otherwise feel uncomfortable. Lin Xia hurriedly wheeled her bicycle to block his way. ¡°Big brother! It¡¯s just ahead, at the Black Gate there!¡± ¡°Yes, big brother! We¡¯re already at our doorstep!¡± Lin Qiu joined in. Jiang Mingyuan glanced in the direction Lin Xia indicated with her eyes, and his expression subtly changed, his initial refusal stuck unvoiced. ¡°All right then!¡± So, Lin Xia and Lin Qiu led Jiang Mingyuan back to their home. They opened the Black Gate, entered the courtyard, and Jiang Mingyuan helped Lin Xia unload the jugs and vegetables. ¡°Big brother! Just set them down on the ground!¡± Mingyuan was holding a jar in one hand and a cloth bag filled with vegetables in the other as he insisted, ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay! I¡¯ll bring them in for you!¡± Lin Xia had no choice but to enter the house empty-handed with Lin Qiu, letting Mingyuan carry the items into the kitchen. After setting down the jar, Lin Xia asked Mingyuan to sit in the Eastern House while Lin Qiu busied herself pouring water. Lin Xia hurried to the Western House to find something, actually retrieving a Lingzhi mushroom from Jade¡¯s room. She didn¡¯t have many impressive items to give, and although these mushrooms were available on their mountain, they weren¡¯t easy to come by. Considering how kind and enthusiastic Zhao and her son were, Lin Xia felt that giving the mushroom was the right decision. However, the Lingzhi taken from Jade¡¯s room was too big, and she figured Mingyuan might not accept it as it was. Lin Xia took out her sharp pocket knife and cut one third of it, thinking of giving these to Aunt Zhao first. She planned to deliver it herself next time, making the gesture less conspicuous by giving just a bit at a time. Indeed, as soon as Mingyuan saw Lin Xia entering with a piece of Lingzhi, he understood her intention and stood up quickly, ¡°Lin Xia, you can¡¯t be so polite! If you keep this up, how are we supposed to keep visiting each other?¡± Lin Xia smiled and explained, ¡°No! Brother! This isn¡¯t anything valuable. I just stumbled upon it while picking hazelnuts. I even gave some to my older brother. It¡¯s really good for making tea! Take it to Aunt Zhao, let her brew it in water for her health when she has a chance!¡± Lin Qiu also chimed in to persuade him, ¡°Brother, please just accept it!¡± Mingyuan refused persistently but finally accepted it reluctantly. Lin Qiu sat on a stool aside while Lin Xia and Mingyuan sat on the edge of the kang bed, though they sat quite far from each other. The three of them sat there, and it felt quite awkward. Mingyuan glanced around the tidy room and then asked, ¡°Lin Xia, where did you find this house?¡± Lin Xia laughed, ¡°I heard about it from someone! It took a lot of effort to find this place!¡± ¡°Actually, this house belongs to my aunt!¡± Mingyuan revealed shockingly! Lin Qiu and Lin Xia were stunned. ¡°Your aunt?¡± Lin Xia asked incredulously. It was just too coincidental. ¡°Who did you rent it from?¡± Mingyuan asked with a smile, hinting that since they were going to keep in touch, he might as well mention it. ¡°A man who works at the motor pool, Team Leader Guo!¡± ¡°That¡¯s my uncle!¡± Mingyuan¡¯s smile grew even wider, ¡°My dad and he are colleagues, also working in the motor pool!¡± It turned out they knew each other after all! Lin Xia and Lin Qiu both laughed, finding the situation incredibly amusing! ¡°If I had known, why would I have gone through so much trouble? I could have just asked Aunt Zhao,¡± Lin Xia reflected, recalling how many people she had asked at the time. Mingyuan asked, ¡°How much did you pay to rent it?¡± ¡°Ten yuan! He wouldn¡¯t go any lower!¡± Lin Xia said lightheartedly. ¡°The house remained unrented because it was too expensive!¡± Mingyuan explained. ¡°But a bit more expensive is okay if it¡¯s comfortable to live in!¡± Lin Xia laughed, ¡°If we had known about this house earlier, we could have just rented it directly. Why bother with the hassle...¡± ¡°My mom didn¡¯t mention it, probably because she thought you would find it too expensive!¡± Mingyuan explained, ¡°Also, at that time you were looking for something like the Eastern and Western Houses...¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s right! We didn¡¯t think too much at the time. We just needed a place to live!¡± Lin Qiu seldom interjected; she sat beside, laughing quietly as she listened to her sister and Mingyuan converse. She felt that their family really had a special connection with Mingyuan¡¯s family... Chapter 80 - 80 79 False Alarm (First Update) ?80: Chapter 79 False Alarm (First Update) 80: Chapter 79 False Alarm (First Update) Jiang Mingyuan returned home and when he told Zhao Dama about it, Zhao Dama also felt it was too coincidental. She knew that her sister-in-law¡¯s house cost ten dollars a month, so expensive, who would rent it! The location of that house was far from here, and when Lin Xia and the others were looking for a house, they only asked about Paradise Street and also wanted to rent a room, so she never thought about that area. Yet, she hadn¡¯t expected that in the end, Lin Xia and the others would rent it! Zhao Dama, looking at the Ganoderma lucidum her son brought back, sighed, ¡°Xiaolin is really a good kid, you show her a little kindness, and she always wants to return tenfold; In the future, we should help them out whenever we can! Ending up in such a family, it really hasn¡¯t been easy for them!¡± Jiang Mingyuan smiled in agreement... After Jiang Mingyuan left, Lin Xia and Lin Qiu also reflected on the house for a long time and on Lin Qiang taking those two ne¡¯er-do-wells sneaking around near Aunt Xu¡¯s house. ¡°Sister! What do you think Lin Qiang is up to? We¡¯ve all moved away, what could they possibly want over there?¡± Lin Qiu felt her brain wasn¡¯t enough, but it was clear that Lin Qiang was up to no good. Lin Xia thought for a moment and said, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s scheming something! But even if we wanted to help, we couldn¡¯t lend a hand since we don¡¯t know what exactly he¡¯s up to!¡± And what if trying to be clever makes things worse? She had seen what Xu Haihua is like! ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth!¡± As the sisters talked, they started cleaning the vegetables they had bought and brushing the jars to pickle the vegetables. Meanwhile, Lin Qiang, Dahai, and Mangzi had just depressedly gathered together to finish drinking. The food was cooked by Mangzi after Lin Yu and Lin Chun had left, and the bulk liquor was procured by Dahai. They had originally planned just to scope out the Xu family¡¯s place, but who would have thought they¡¯d bump into that kid? Mangzi, rubbing his somewhat sore ribs, said, ¡°You two, what exactly does that kid do? How is he so formidable in a fight!¡± He had experienced it before, and thought that three against one, they could have their revenge, but they were still dealt with by that guy. ¡°Hard to say! He must have had training!¡± Lin Qiang sullenly touched the corner of his mouth, that kid was damn vicious! Dahai was somewhat reluctant, ¡°Qiangzi! Mangzi! Are we just going to let this go?¡± Lin Qiang spat on the ground, ¡°If not, what can we do? Didn¡¯t you see that guy with the beard recognized me, if we go again and he sees us, it won¡¯t end well...¡± If they hadn¡¯t run away today, being caught by that old Wang and that kid would have been bad. Dahai made a decision, ¡°How about this, Qiangzi! You just avoid showing up near there, Mangzi and I will check the place out tomorrow, and if we succeed, we¡¯ll treat you to a drink!¡± Mangzi was somewhat apprehensive, ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t go at all! I don¡¯t think that family has much money!¡± ¡°Look at your cowardly manner!¡± Lin Qiang then spoke, ¡°I think for the next few days, it¡¯s best you guys don¡¯t show up! Let them lower their guard, and we¡¯ll go together!¡± Dahai gave a thumbs up, ¡°Perfect! Qiangzi is really bold! Mangzi, learn something!¡± This time, Lin Qiang spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, it¡¯s really because of me, if it weren¡¯t for me being broke, we wouldn¡¯t have to do these things...¡± Lin Qiang really felt quite useless! Dahai¡¯s gaze swept over the locked drawer in the cabinet, Mangzi noticed and gave him another look, he still respected their friendship to some extent... That night, when Lin Dong returned home and heard about the house from his two sisters, he too was amazed, how could it be such a coincidence? The next day, Lin Chun was busy in the workshop when a colleague told him someone was outside looking for him. He was nervous it might be his dad, but even if it was his dad, he had to face him! Lin Chun nervously stepped out of the workplace, and to his surprise, he saw Lin Xia standing beside a bicycle, smiling at him with a bundle of clothes in her arms. Lin Xia wanted to discuss with her elder brother about the house and Lin Qiang, and she also wanted to go out later that day, so she came to his workplace to find him. ¡°Big Brother! I brought dumplings for you! Xiaoqiu and I made them, with chive and egg filling! Find a place to eat later! I¡¯ll leave the lunchbox with you for now!¡± She used an aluminum lunchbox and wrapped it in a layer of clothes to keep it warm. The two of them were worried that their brother might get another upset stomach from meat fillings, so they chose this filling, and Lin Xia could also take some with her when she left, since chive and egg dumplings still taste good even when cold. Lin Chun happily took it, scratching his head, ¡°I thought it was our dad coming to find me! It turned out to be a false alarm!¡± Hearing him mention Lin Aiguo and feeling relieved, Lin Xia sighed internally. They were all anxious about Lin Aiguo¡¯s unresolved issues, but there was nothing they could do about it for the time being. ¡°Big Brother! Have you been doing well these past few days?¡± ¡°Xiaoxia, I¡¯ve been doing well! You all don¡¯t need to worry about me! How have you all been?¡± These past few days, what he was most concerned about was them, but he was afraid of exposing himself and didn¡¯t dare to check on them easily. ¡°We¡¯ve been good!¡± The siblings briefly shared updates about each other¡¯s situations. Lin Xia then hurried to learn more from Lin Chun, ¡°Big Brother! Did you know? The house we rented turns out to belong to our second brother¡¯s aunt!¡± Lin Chun asked in astonishment, ¡°You mean it¡¯s the house of Zhao Dama¡¯s second son?¡± Lin Xia nodded with a smile, ¡°Yes! That¡¯s him! If it hadn¡¯t been for second brother finding me and Xiaoqiu, we wouldn¡¯t have known at all!¡± Lin Chun was so shocked he nearly dropped his jaw, ¡°How can there be such a coincidence?¡± Even after one night, Lin Xia found the coincidence still frightening when she talked about it. ¡°Yeah! Never expected it! By the way, Big Brother, second brother saw Lin Qiang and the others sneaking around at Xu Dama¡¯s place again! Don¡¯t know what they are up to!¡± Lin Chun furrowed his brows, ¡°Lin Qiang and his lot are definitely up to no good! But now that you all have moved out, what else could they want?¡± He was somewhat puzzled. ¡°Who knows! But we¡¯ve already moved out, and because our dad went to find someone, it caused quite a commotion, so there are some things we just can¡¯t say!¡± Lin Xia too was confused, but there wasn¡¯t much they could do. ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Lin Chun felt helpless. Beyond checking on him and discussing these matters, Lin Xia had another reason for visiting Lin Chun. ¡°Big Brother! I want to make another trip to the provincial city, I came to tell you too!¡± Last time she impulsively went to the provincial city, her big brother had later said that she shouldn¡¯t hide things from him. So, she definitely had to inform him this time. ¡°Xiaoxia! Then be careful on the road, go early and return early! If it gets too cold, just focus on your work and don¡¯t stress yourself!¡± Lin Chun was actually reluctant for his younger sister to endure the hardship, but he had said he would support whatever Lin Xia decided to do, so he held back from expressing some of his thoughts. ¡°I know! Big Brother! Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯m only going one last time, I¡¯ll be back the day after tomorrow!¡± She planned to quickly make a trip to the provincial city, sell the hazelnuts, and buy more goods to sell. With the cold weather approaching, she hadn¡¯t yet figured out what else she might deal in, so this trip might very well be her last recent trip. After Lin Xia left, Lin Chun returned to the workshop to work. Later, someone told him someone was looking for him again. Lin Chun¡¯s heart skipped a beat, wondering who it could be this time? Could it be Xiaoxia coming back to find him again?