Chapter 112: Don’t Internal Strife Yourself
“Third Sister!” A timid voice sounded behind the little girl, followed by a pair of skinny hands pulling her into an embrace and gently touching her beaten cheek.
“Second Sister.” The little girl rubbed against her in her arms and leaned dependently on her shoulder.
Lin Xin stood coldly at the door, watching the farce put on by this family of seven.
Perhaps even Heaven couldn’t stand their behavior, as small snowflakes began falling from the sky again.
The old madam of that family couldn’t hold back anymore. She stood up and glared hatefully at Lin Xin. “Little bitch, you have a house but won’t let our family live in it. You watch us die without a care, and you’re not afraid of retribution. Let me tell you, our family is determined to live in your house. If you can stop me for one day, fine, but I don’t believe you can stop us forever. Once we get the chance, we’ll move in. Just you wait! Hmph!”
“Let’s go, we’ll smash open that little bitch’s room door at her home right now and see what she can do to us!” After speaking, the old madam picked up a broken bundle from the ground and headed toward Lin Xin’s home.
“Our dynasty has laws. Those who trespass into private homes shall be caned eighty times. If the homeowner kills a trespasser in resistance, there is no fault.” Lin Xin’s voice rose slowly behind them. “If you take one step into my home, I’ll wipe out your entire family on the spot. If you don’t believe me, try it.”
“You! You little bitch, I don’t believe you’d dare to kill!” The old madam paused, then shouted loudly again.
“Try it and you’ll know if I dare.”
“Killing requires paying with your life!”
“Ignorance is truly scary!” Lin Xin said unhurriedly, “Didn’t you hear what I just said? For those who forcibly trespass into private homes, if the homeowner beats them to death, there is no crime. That’s what the law of our dynasty stipulates.”
“Impossible! How could the law say killing someone doesn’t require paying with your life!”
“Don’t believe it?” Lin Xin looked up at the sky. “Easy fix. Find someone who knows and ask. If not, go to the yamen and inquire. Worst case, smash open my room door, let me beat you to death, and see if the officials judge me guilty or not.”
“Pfft!” Gao Yong, who had finished eating and run to hide behind the door to eavesdrop, couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
Beside him, Chu Yu laughed until his shoulders shook. Mo Ziyuan and Meng Yichen’s faces were also full of smiles.
“You! You little bitch!” The old madam was so angry she didn’t know what to say. Though she wanted to achieve her goal by making a scene, she wasn’t bold enough to joke with her own life. Regardless of whether Lin Xin was telling the truth, she truly didn’t dare to smash her room door now.
“Who is the little bitch cursing?” This famous meme was something almost every transmigrator had to reference, and Lin Xin naturally didn’t want to miss it.
“The little bitch is naturally cursing you!” The old madam answered without thinking.
“Right, it’s exactly the little bitch cursing me!”
“Pfft~ Hahaha~” Gao Yong couldn’t hold it anymore and doubled over, laughing heartily while clutching his stomach.
In the end, the old madam’s family failed to get their way. Their son and grandson got beaten, they couldn’t outscold her, so they left dejectedly with a belly full of anger.
“That Xin Yatou, it’s Uncle Feng’s fault for not stopping them and causing you trouble. Tell those young men later—they’re magnanimous and shouldn’t stoop to the level of these mud-legged folks. You probably haven’t finished eating yet, so Uncle Feng won’t disturb you further.” After speaking, Lin Feng didn’t wait for Lin Xin’s reply and walked away quickly.
Lin Xin watched his departing figure, said nothing, and turned back to the courtyard.
As soon as she entered the door, she met four pairs of bright eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing, just thought what you said was too funny. ‘Who is the little bitch cursing?’ Hahaha…” Gao Yong still couldn’t help laughing heartily at the thought.
The other three weren’t as exaggerated as him, but they all laughed out loud too.
“You probably didn’t eat your fill earlier! Want to heat up the food and eat a bit more?” Once everyone had laughed enough, Mo Ziyuan asked Lin Xin.
Lin Xin shook her head. “No need, I’m not that hungry anyway. We’ll eat together tonight!”
“That works. It’s snowing again, so we’ll eat early tonight and rest early.”
By evening, the snow grew heavier, blanketing the ground and reflecting the moonlight, making it not so dark. After finishing dinner, everyone sat at the kitchen door with a cup of red date ginger tea, watching the snow.
“This year’s snow seems bigger than in previous years!” Cui Shi, draped in a fur cloak, sighed while watching the falling snow.
“Indeed, winter snow in past years was rarely this heavy. It’s only the first day of the first lunar month, and winter is far from over!” Chu Yu said.
Everyone’s hearts sank. Such abnormally heavy snow likely meant a snow disaster. The Emperor was obsessed with seeking immortals and the dao, ignoring the people’s suffering. The court was rife with factional strife. Though Grand Tutor Feng was gone, several new factions had emerged. The Crown Prince was already struggling, and even if he wanted to do something, he was powerless.
“Sigh! The common people will suffer!”
“Exactly. If a snow disaster really happens, who knows how many will die.”
“You don’t need to worry like this about something that hasn’t happened yet—it’s a bit early. Besides, even if a snow disaster really comes, what can you do about it?” Lin Xin asked, looking at them.
“Sigh!” Cui Shi was the first to lower his head. Indeed, even if a snow disaster happened, what could they do besides worry?
“So! Don’t wear yourselves out with internal strife. I believe you have reasons for staying far from the capital city. You might as well focus on doing your own things as best as you can first. That way, you’ll have the spare capacity to do other things.”
Mo Ziyuan suddenly looked up at Lin Xin. In that moment, the path ahead seemed much clearer, unlike before when the direction of their efforts was unclear. Yes! What they should do most now was accomplish what the Crown Prince had entrusted them with, not dwell on things that weren’t their concern.
That night, Lin Xin slept soundly. Lin Tao lay beside her like a little heater, sleeping like a piggy, occasionally letting out “giggle” laughs in his dreams from who knows what.
Gao Yong and the others gathered in Mo Ziyuan’s room, discussing future matters.
“The most important things now are two: money and men. Men are easy—we have tens of thousands under us combined, at least thirty to fifty thousand. The key is lacking money. Feeding that many people isn’t a small military expense!” Chu Yu spoke first this time.
“We can do business ourselves. We all have considerable private estates, with decent annual income.” Meng Yichen said.
“Bullshit!” Gao Yong cursed. “I have eight shops and two restaurants under my name, barely breaking even at best. None of us are the money-making type!”
At his words, everyone lowered their heads. Their estates were somewhat better than Gao Yong’s, but not by much. With that income, supporting an army of thirty to fifty thousand was a pipe dream.
“Alright, it’s late. Everyone go back and rest first! We’ll figure this out later.” Mo Ziyuan had a headache too and simply shooed them all away.
Thanks to Mmy Dang, caroletu, Peace-aD, Dan Dan, Ad, Fallen Leaves Know Autumn-Ad, Song of the Goat and Story of the Eyes, Free as the Wind for their votes; thanks to caroletu for the tip, thanks to Free as the Wind for the monthly ticket, thanks everyone for your continued support, many thanks!
