Chapter 103: “hmph”
Old Mrs. Liu sprang up from the ground, closing in on her biological daughter, raising her voice: “What?!”
“What happened to the son-in-law?”
“A perfectly good job, how could it suddenly be gone?!”
The son-in-law was her source of pride, Old Mrs. Liu cared about it desperately.
Those rough hands pressed on her daughter’s shoulders, with heavy force, the coarse veins on the back of her hands clearly visible, almost bursting with blood.
“You tell me! A few days ago when I saw the son-in-law, he was perfectly fine, how come in just a few days, he lost his job? Did you cause trouble outside?!”
“Good-for-nothing thing, I’ll beat you to death!”
She angrily swung her arm round to hit her.
The Lin family daughter wasn’t dead, she couldn’t just let her mother hit her, so she retreated a few steps to dodge quickly.
“What does it have to do with me? My man clearly said… it was you, you provoked someone you shouldn’t have, that’s why he was removed from his position.” Her words were full of resentment.
Old Mrs. Liu refused to admit it was her fault, her skinny little body bursting with huge energy, her voice even louder.
“I’m at the brigade every day, who could I provoke? Don’t put a shit basin on my head. I think it’s you who provoked someone. I always said you look down your nose at everyone all day, you’ll have bad luck sooner or later. Look, retribution has come to your family…”
The Lin family daughter was so angry she trembled all over.
“You talk about retribution? You dare talk to me about retribution!”
“How did I end up with a mother like you.” Her voice trembled, with a sobbing tone, “For high betrothal gifts, you married me off to a divorced old man, his kids are only a few years younger than me, how could you bear it, ah, I ask you how could you bear it, I’m your biological daughter, I finally had a few good days, and you stirred it all up again. What do I owe you! You talk about retribution, the one who should suffer retribution is you!”
Old Mrs. Liu had a sharp tongue, her words venomous.
“What did I stir up, what did I stir up!”
“What’s wrong with the son-in-law? He’s a bit older, but he has a job, eats commodity grain. I went to great lengths to find you such a good son-in-law through connections, and instead you resent me, ungrateful wretch! I think you’re just an ungrateful wretch!”
The Lin family daughter was full of resentment, her eyes bloodshot, “Where’s good about him? Where’s good!” She shouted hysterically.
“Your son-in-law is useless, I can’t even have my own child!” As if to shout out all the hatred in her heart, the Lin family daughter stopped pretending and exposed all the family scandals, “You knew he was useless, but for face, for high betrothal gifts, you pushed your own daughter into a fire pit, are you even human?”
“Song Meihua is so good to Lin Zhao, what about you? You don’t treat me like a person, I’m not even as good as the chickens at home. You’re always comparing with Song Meihua, why don’t you learn from her and be nicer to me, your daughter.”
Old Mrs. Liu wouldn’t reflect on herself.
She spat flying spittle high, pointing at her daughter and cursing viciously.
“Am I not good to you? If I wasn’t good to you, I would’ve pressed you into the manure pit and drowned you long ago. You grew this big, you’re just an ungrateful wretch who doesn’t know gratitude!”
The Lin family daughter had been suppressed since childhood, whenever she raised her voice a bit to argue, her whole body shook, and now she was shaking badly.
“Fine, I’m an ungrateful wretch! I’ll just be an ungrateful wretch!” She was so angry she was incoherent, just wanting to hurt Old Mrs. Liu, even blurting out: “You still want to compare with Song Meihua, someone like you will never catch up to her in your lifetime!”
After saying that, she turned and ran out the home door, wiping tears as she headed to the county.
After this incident, she and her maternal family were completely fallen out, but life had to go on, she couldn’t divorce, divorce and she’d have nowhere to go.
Old Mrs. Liu’s scrawny body suddenly straightened, the anger in her eyes almost shooting out.
Wasn’t she stung to the heart by her own biological daughter?
She had been comparing with Song Meihua since she was young, right up to now. The heartbreaking part was, even if she boasted tough with her mouth, she knew deep down that her life, in every aspect, couldn’t compare to the Lin family.
Suddenly pierced by her own biological daughter, Old Mrs. Liu’s vision went black.
She chased out, shouting harshly at that quickly fleeing back: “Who do you think you are, brain as stupid as a pig, looks just average, if not for me planning for you, could you have these good days now?”
“Drop the bowl and curse your mother, rotten thing, get lost, I don’t have a daughter like you, I’ll wait to see you cry!”
The thin figure ahead paused slightly, then instantly straightened her back, leaving even more resolutely.
The women who saw this all shook their heads.
The Lin family daughter was pitiful too. It was said the man she married had a bad temper, beating and scolding her at every turn, the stepson and stepdaughter hard to get along with. Don’t look at her marrying into the city, living in a decent apartment building, but who didn’t know her life in that home was tough.
Did Old Mrs. Liu not know these things? Probably not entirely.
It was just that the working son-in-law really gave her face, she turned a blind eye.
Seeing no more spectacle, the crowd dispersed.
Next, the whole brigade was full of gossip about the Liu family.
Saying the Liu family was heartless, even pitting longtime villager neighbors of decades, saying Old Mrs. Liu hadn’t harmed her own enough, even causing the city son-in-law to lose his job…
The more vicious the better.
The Liu family matter was big, naturally couldn’t escape Lin Shichang, Lin Shisheng and others.
They learned their family had nearly been pitted, and for the Liu family’s downfall, they secretly thought it served them right.
“That family are all venomous scorpions, if they don’t strike, fine, but once they do, they want to knock people down, not leaving even a sliver of chance to turn things around.” Lin Shichang’s brows furrowed enough to pinch a fly to death.
Chen Yu never made enemies, hearing about the Liu family’s plans, her face turned exceptionally ugly.
“The Liu family not only wanted to harm Dad and Mom, harm us, but also harm Da Dan and them.”
She looked at Lin Shichang, “Husband, think about it, once our family is labeled as… Da Dan and them will be pointed at and whispered about, unable to hold their heads up, even bullied by the bad boys in the village.
In such a terrible environment, how can the children grow up well? Da Dan’s dad, the Liu family is really vicious, they want to completely destroy our family!”
The Lin family first branch couple, Lin Shichang was diligent and capable, Chen Yu thoughtful and reserved, always thinking deeply about things.
Hearing his wife’s analysis, Lin Shichang’s breathing became erratic.
“Yeah, really vicious.” His tone was heavy, “Originally I couldn’t figure out why Mom went to hit the Liu family, but hearing you say this, I understand everything.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll go find Second Brother, this matter isn’t over!”
Lin Shichang dropped those words and walked out of the room.
Just stepping towards the second branch, the yard gate creaked.
“Elder Brother?” Lin Shisheng, entering by night, was very surprised his brother wasn’t asleep yet.
Lin Shichang casually asked: “Pitch black out, what are you going out for?”
Lin Shisheng grinned, showing white teeth, “Pitch black is perfect for sacking people.” He lightly shook the sack in his hand, speaking righteously.
Lin Shisheng’s brain was quick, how could he not know the Liu family’s black hearts. Without a word, he took the sack out, sacked two in a row, vented thoroughly, really felt great all over.
“The Liu family’s?” Lin Shichang guessed.
Lin Shisheng didn’t deny it.
The next second, disapproving words squeezed into his ears.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Lin Shisheng jerked his head up, seeing the seriousness on his brother’s face, smiled and said: “Next time, definitely call you next time.”
“Mm.” Lin Shichang walked into the room, saying: “Gotta get up early tomorrow, go sleep quickly.”
Lin Shisheng washed his face and went back to his room to sleep.
The room setup was like a single man’s, and indeed, Qiu Lian’s things had been packed up along with sending her back to her maternal family.
Thinking of the news passed from Wu Guodong, his eyes suddenly darkened.
Not sure why, this time back to maternal family, Qiu Lian was surprisingly well-behaved.
Lin Shisheng wasn’t anxious, this time sending her away, he had no intention of taking her back.
…
The Liu family’s bad luck, Lin Zhao heard from Second Brother the next afternoon.
Her face instantly turned ice-cold, “What grudge what resentment, the Liu family strikes so ruthlessly, this is pushing our family into a fire pit, Second Brother, we absolutely can’t let them off.”
In the original plot, Da Dan and the others were so miserable, never lifted their heads in life, timid as a mouse from trauma, Lin Zhao couldn’t forgive the Liu family.
Lin Shisheng’s gaze turned cold, “Of course not.”
Dare to harm his family, must pay the price.
With this plot segment rewritten from the original book, Lin Zhao was happy again, then asked about another matter, as if casually: “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law hasn’t come back from maternal family yet?”
Lin Shisheng always felt Zhaozhao seemed to know something, his gaze probing, “Zhaozhao, do you…”
Words to his mouth, remembering his dad’s words, he swallowed them back.
“What?” Lin Zhao blinked, pretending not to understand.
“Nothing.” Lin Shisheng shook his head.
…
Foot of the mountain.
Under a lush big tree, several children stood below, divided into two sides, atmosphere tense.
“Mao Dan’er, stand behind me.” Er Zai pulled a skinny black little boy behind him, looking at the big kid opposite, saying righteously: “Wang Yaozu, Mao Dan’er is my brother, I won’t allow you to bully him!”
Wang Yaozu looked seven or eight, his clothes had fewer patches than the other little friends, face slightly rounder than theirs.
Just from his name, one knew he was very pampered at home, the kind with high expectations placed on him.
A boy blindly pampered by the whole family, at seven or eight, was exactly domineering and lawless age.
“Cut the nonsense, Mao Dan’er isn’t your good brother.” Wang Yaozu refuted Er Zai’s words, occasionally swinging the willow branch in his hand, warning: “Today it’s between me and him, none of your business, move aside.”
Er Zai wasn’t scared off, trained by his dad these past days, the little friend was hugely inflated.
He put one foot forward one back, slightly squatting, center of gravity sinking, beckoning to Wang Yaozu.
“Come on!”
“I learned a few moves from my dad, dare to come over, I’ll beat you into a pig head!”
Wang Yaozu dared hit Mao Dan’er, but didn’t dare easily go after the twins. The former had no parents, just a sickly grandmother, easy to pinch; the latter had so many backers, any one coming could knock him down.
He was just tough on the surface.
Thinking of the twins’ dad, his legs trembled uncontrollably.
That person had such fierce eyes!
His grandma said, the twins’ dad absolutely killed people, so scary!!
“I’m not bullying the small with the big!” Wang Yaozu huffed, propping up his own scene.
His two little followers timely wowed.
“Wow!” Full face of the boss being mighty!
Da Zai tilted his head, mercilessly exposing Wang Yaozu, “Mao Dan’er is smaller than you too, you bully him, isn’t that bullying the small with the big?”
Wang Yaozu flew into a rage from shame, lost reason, arm stretched forward, pushing Da Zai’s shoulder.
Heavily.
Da Zai didn’t expect him to be so without martial virtue, striking as soon as said, pushed back half a step, almost sat on his buttocks on the ground.
Er Zai saw brother hit, exploded with anger, bounced up like a little firecracker, rushed over and snatched the willow branch from Wang Yaozu’s hand, tossed it aside, little fist smashing on Wang Yaozu’s nose bridge.
“You dare hit my brother!”
One punch not enough, followed by another.
Instantly, completed a full combo.
“!” Mao Dan’er was stunned, but those eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Er Zai is so awesome, he can even beat big kids!
Wang Yaozu felt his nose aching waves, tears almost flowing, felt nostrils wet, wiped with hand, bright red blood.
“Wah—Grandma—!” Seeing himself bleeding, head dizzy waves, hand covering nose, mouth shouting grandma, ran towards the village.
Soon no shadow left.
The little boss beaten to tears, Wang Yaozu’s two little followers quietly slipped away.
“…”
Er Zai pursed his lips, disdainfully saying: “Wang Yaozu is almost ten, still runs to family to complain, really spineless, hmph.”
Mao Dan’er didn’t speak.
He had no family to rely on, nowhere to complain even if he wanted, sometimes envied those little friends who could complain.
Da Zai serious expression, to Er Zai: “Er Zai, Wang Yaozu’s grandma is fierce, let’s go home quick, don’t get caught.”
Little friends can’t beat adults.
Er Zai was clever, immediately said: “Go home.”
Then pulled his brother and Mao Dan’er quickly running home.
Ran into the Gu family gate, bang shut the big door, looked at each other, three little friends laughed out loud.
The twins ate vegetable box yesterday, said they liked it a lot. Lin Zhao promised the children, today she’d personally make them, got home and started making, just finished now.
Hearing the yard laughter, she walked out of the kitchen.
“Da Zai, Er Zai.” Lin Zhao called.
Gaze swept, saw a skinny little boy between the twins.
Confirmed with eyes, an unfamiliar little friend.
“Mom!” Er Zai called, proactively introducing to his mom, “Mom, this is Mao Dan’er, brother and I made up with Mao Dan’er, now we’re good brothers.”
Full face excited, “Mom, just now brother and I protected Mao Dan’er oh.”
Da Zai added from behind: “Yeah yeah, Wang Yaozu wanted to rob Mao Dan’er’s fished fish, brother and I stopped him, didn’t let him bully Mao Dan’er.”
He kept calling Mao Dan’er, as if super familiar with the little friend, actually they really weren’t that familiar.
“You two are awesome.” Lin Zhao praised, then turned words: “Did you suffer any loss?”
Er Zai eyes dodged, guiltily fiddling with fingers, “We didn’t suffer loss, Wang Yaozu did.”
“Hm?”
Da Zai’s soft little fingers hooked Lin Zhao’s clothes hem, tilting little face up: “Mom, Er Zai hit Wang Yaozu for me.”
Lin Zhao knew Wang Yaozu, the Wang family’s only boy, whole family pampered him, spoiled terribly, domineering temperament, bullied the weak and feared the strong.
“Wang Yaozu hit you?” She touched her eldest son’s head.
“Didn’t hit, he pushed me.” Da Zai saw mom didn’t blame them, corners of mouth curved up.
Little body stuck to Lin Zhao, hot like a little stove, emitting heat.
He continued: “Er Zai avenged me, he used such a big fist… smashed Wang Yaozu’s nose, smashed his nose into a bloody mess!”
Er Zai said: “Serves him right! Let him bully little friends again!”
Lin Zhao was dumbfounded.
Er Zai beat the Wang family’s Jin Dan’s nose to bleed?!
She lightly pinched Er Zai’s little hand, soft like tofu, how such big power, could it be the determination to stand up for brother?
At the moment, Lin Zhao couldn’t say much.
Little friends just did a good deed, were happy, lecturing them now would definitely make them unhappy, talk at night.
She moved her mouth, just about to say something, the big door was knocked.
“Why’s the door shut? Open up, anyone there?”
It was Tie Dan’s voice.
Da Zai hurried to open the door, let Tie Dan and others in, then click locked it again.
Tie Chui asked naively: “Da Zai, broad daylight, why lock the door?”
“I beat Wang Yaozu’s nose to bleed, brother and I gotta lay low for a bit.” Er Zai’s voice loud and clear.
Hearing this, Lin Zhao almost laughed crazy inside.
Lay low, with such a loud mouth.
Tie Chui’s eyes bulged, mouth agape, full face shocked, “Hah…?! Wang Yaozu’s nose bleeding was you who did it?”
