Mother Lin didn’t want to pay him any attention and simply rolled her eyes, “Ask your wife!”
“Back when we divided the family, you and your second brother insisted on taking a larger share of the items and didn’t want to support
and your father. That was shaless of you. Now that the family has split, you still want to take advantage of us. If you’re so capable, why don’t you ascend to the heavens?!”
She looked at Eldest Brother Lin with a mixture of injustice and disbelief, showing no rcy.
They had treated them, who were supposed to be like parents to them, so poorly. Why should she be polite anymore?
“Let
tell you, if this troublemaker dares to co to the third family and cause trouble again, don’t call
mother anymore. I don’t have a son like you. If you anger , I’ll directly go to the county officials and report you for being unfilial!!”
With that, Mother Lin pushed the shocked eldest daughter-in-law out and slamd the door behind her, holding the vegetables.
It was truly shocking to see a person with such a good temper get angry, especially with the heartless things Mother Lin said.
Both Eldest brother Lin and Second Brother Lin, had gloomy expressions. They used to have no sha and relied on the fact that their parents wouldn’t force them into a dead-end. What made mothers attitude change so drastically?
Looking at this situation, if they truly angered her, she might actually go to the county officials and file a complaint.
The yard fell into a terrifying silence for a while.
The people from the eldest and second households gradually began to wake up, and so stood at the door, but whether they were adults or children, no one dared to speak.
The eldest daughter-in-law walked back to her own yard, looking at her husband’s unpleasant expression, and attempted to explain, “I don’t know why Mother got angry, I just...”
However, Eldest Brother Lin didn’t want to listen to his wife’s explanation at all. With a grim face, he coldly interrupted, “Don’t go to Third Brother’s place anymore. Are you still unsatisfied with how much our parents resent us?”
With that, he turned around and entered the house, not even sparing a glance at his wife.
She could only stand in the yard, watching her own son, daughter-in-law, and even grandson, all lowering their heads and not speaking to her out of fear of Eldest Brother Lin, the head of the eldest family.
In the eldest daughter-in-law’s mind, an inexplicable image of Lin Shiheng helping Li Lanlan carry things flashed, causing her eyes to well up with tears.
They both married into the Lin family so why was there such a stark difference?
Lin Shiheng and Li Lanlan had no idea what had happened in the Lin family.
Although they were from the sa village, the Li family was indeed a bit far from the Lin family. As they walked for a while and were about to arrive, they passed by a bamboo forest when suddenly they heard the sound of a woman sobbing.
It was still early in the morning, and villagers were either having breakfast or on their way to the fields. With few people around, the sudden sound of a woman crying startled Li Lanlan, and she instinctively stood in front of her husband, feeling alert.
Lin Shiheng found it sowhat amusing. His young wife seed to genuinely believe that he was completely powerless.
“Wife, I’ve heard that those unclean things love to appear in places with fewer people. Let’s not go and see, and let’s not listen. Just keep moving forward.”
Li Lanlan didn’t know what her husband was thinking, but she was still pale with fear and continued to analyze the situation seriously.
Lin Shiheng, however, didn’t feel any fear. He looked around in the direction of the sobbing and pointed to the bamboo forest, saying, “Lan Lan, it’s a person crying, not a ghost.”
In the early morning, who would hide in such a secluded place to cry?
Li Lanlan didn’t believe it, but before she could express her opinion, she heard a woman’s voice filled with sorrow and sobbing, saying, “Brother Li, I really have no other choice. Now that my mother-in-law has passed away, we need a lot of money for the funeral...”
She was still wondering who this Brother Li was when Father Li’s voice ca, “Miss, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I can’t borrow any more money. The autumn harvest is still a while away, and I really can’t co up with enough money for you right now.”
As he spoke, the sound of coins jingled. It was obviously him taking out money, “These past few days, I’ve been doing odd jobs in town, exhausting work, and I managed to earn this bit of money. Take it and use it for the funeral.”
The sobbing sound resud, followed by a mournful voice, “This is the money you worked hard for. How can I accept it...”
Father Li was a straightforward person, and seeing her refusal, he could only reluctantly take the money back with a pained expression.
“Ah, Miss, I can’t help you because of my incompetence. How about this, when the day for the funeral cos, call
to help, and you might be able to save so money.”
The sobbing of Widow Zhang, who had been crying softly, paused.
/ was just trying to be polite, but he won't give
anything?
Thinking that the money she had was far from enough to send her son to the best school, and her mother-in-law, who could earn money through sewing, had passed away, she gritted her teeth and leaned her body against Father Li’s shoulder.
“I’ve heard that Scholar Lin’s family is quite wealthy...”
“Isn’t your daughter coming ho for the first visit today? Her husband is a scholar and must be well-off. Since it’s a ‘first visit’ day, Scholar Lin will surely give you so face, as his father-in-law. If you ask for a loan...”
Father Li hesitated, “My son-in-law’s family isn’t doing well either. Their family had split, and his father is bedridden and needs care. My son-in-law is a scholar and can’t do physical work...”
Widow Zhang lowered her head and started sobbing again.
With her crying, Father Li’s heart softened.
“Fine... When my son-in-law cos, I’ll ask him.”
Outside the bamboo forest, Li Lanlan listened, her teeth clenched in anger. Her once beautiful face contorted in fury, and she bent down, picking up a bamboo branch, ready to rush in and fight.
Lin Shiheng held her back, stopping her.
“Husband, don’t stop ... Mmm!”
Concerned that her loud voice would disturb the people inside, Lin Shiheng gently covered his wife’s mouth with one hand and pulled her outside.
Once they were outside, he released his grip, revealing Li Lanlan’s tear-streaked face.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and she was enraged, choking on her words, “How could he do this! How could he!”
“Hush...”
Lin Shiheng gestured for silence, leaned in close to his young wife’s ear, and whispered softly, “Don’t cry for now. I have a plan... When we go to your father’s house, we’ll do this...”
anwhile, Father Li comforted Widow Zhang for a while in the bamboo forest before returning ho with a heavy heart.
Shortly after he sat down upon returning, his daughter and son-in-law arrived.
“Father.”
Li Lanlan called him gently and tenderly, surprising Father Li. When had my daughter ever been so gentle towards ? Could it be that getting married really changes soone?
As Lin Shiheng handed over a basket of things to him, Father Li’s mind turned.
To be able to give
so many good things, it seed that my son-in-law's family wasn't without money
“Cough...”
He cleared his throat, about to speak, when Li Lanlan interrupted, “Husband, go outside and see if the lons I’ve been growing in the yard are ripe.”
Without any hesitation, Lin Shiheng went outside.
Father Li was still a bit puzzled. He hadn’t even discussed borrowing money from his son-in-law yet.
In the next mont, Li Lanlan held his hand, tears streaming down her fair face. She cried so pitifully that it tore at his heartstrings.
She had always been a beauty, and her tears made her look even more pitiable. Especially since Li Lanlan used to hide her sadness even when she felt terrible, but now she openly displayed her sorrow, which left Father Li completely bewildered.
“Father... Your daughter is suffering. Husband is good to , but life in his family is extrely difficult. Father-in-law is ill, and mother-in-law is getting old...”
Blah blah blah, blah blah blah.
After about 15 minutes, when Lin Shiheng returned with the lons, he saw Li Lanlan wiping away her tears with her head bowed.
anwhile, his father-in-law was stuffing money into her hands.
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