Chapter 67: You’ve Really Come Prepared, Haven’t You!
Lin Xin stood in front of her, looking down at her condescendingly and asking softly, “Are you also here because I injured you and you want me to compensate with money?”
“Older Sister Lin Xin, I······” Lin Zhi wanted to nod, but looking at Lin Xin’s gaze, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“If not, then get up! Isn’t the ground cold?” Lin Xin’s clear, cold, and indifferent voice once again entered Lin Zhi’s brain through her eardrums. At this moment, she understood that no matter what she did, regardless of whether the villagers would speak up for her, her plan wouldn’t succeed, because Lin Xin didn’t care.
She didn’t care what she did, didn’t care what the villagers thought of her, and even if she died right here, Lin Xin wouldn’t spare her a second glance.
Such a Lin Xin had almost no weaknesses—what could she do?
Lin Laosan didn’t perceive the despair in his daughter’s heart and kept squatting in front of her, calling out repeatedly, “Daughter, Zhi’er.” His voice sounded as if Lin Zhi was about to take her last breath the next instant.
“Dad, help me up. I’m fine. I was just a bit dazed from the fall earlier.” Lin Zhi had no choice but to loudly interrupt her dad’s rambling, because Lin Xin’s gaze beside them was growing heavier with mockery, almost directly saying “Have you no shame?” on her face.
Lin Zhi was still young and didn’t understand what frustration was, but she clearly knew that this time she really had no way out and could only be sold to Zheng Tuhu.
However, Lin Laosan didn’t think the same way. Before coming, they had discussed it at home—no matter what method they used, they had to get money from Lin Xin’s hands.
Zhou Shi now lay in bed all day unable to do anything and needed someone to serve her food and drink. Lin Duo’s face was so terrifying that even family members felt scared looking at it; she definitely couldn’t get married. She hid in the room all day and wouldn’t come out, didn’t do any housework, Lin Zhi was young and lacked the strength for many chores, the third household was already in chaos, and they still had to endure Xu Shi’s occasional sarcastic remarks—Lin Laosan was going crazy.
In the end, it was Lin Duo who said that Lin Xin definitely had money, and as long as they could squeeze some out of her hands, the family’s difficulties could be temporarily resolved.
Thus, the farce led by Lin Duo with Lin Zhi and Lin Laosan responsible for execution played out this morning.
“Dad,” looking at Lin Laosan, Lin Zhi called out loudly again.
“Daughter, you’re in so much pain you can’t even get up, all because of that damn girl Lin Xin. Dad will risk this old life today to get the doctor’s money for you.” As Lin Laosan spoke, he wiped at nonexistent tears at the corner of his eyes.
“Dad, I’m fine, really fine, look.” As Lin Zhi spoke, she rolled up from the ground and even turned half a circle left and right to show Lin Laosan, proving she was fine.
However, Lin Laosan was extremely furious at her display and kept giving her meaningful glances, but Lin Zhi acted as if she couldn’t see them, stubbornly opposing him.
All the frustrations he’d endured during this time turned into anger that rushed to Lin Laosan’s head. He raised his hand and slapped a hard palm on Lin Zhi’s left cheek, spinning her like a top. Her body struggled a few times but couldn’t maintain balance and she fell to the ground.
Lin Zhi raised her face and looked at Lin Laosan in confusion. There were starkly five bright red finger marks on her left cheek, but even more terrifying was a trickle of blood flowing from her left ear, dripping down along her ear root onto her clothes.
Lin Laosan didn’t notice at all and kept pointing at Lin Zhi, cursing her vehemently.
Lin Xin hadn’t expected him to be capable of such a vicious hand against his own daughter. Although she didn’t like Lin Zhi, she now disliked Lin Laosan even more.
Hearing his stream of vulgar curses, Lin Xin stepped forward directly, pinched his neck, dragged him in front of Lin Zhi, shoved his face toward her left cheek, pointed at the bloodstain, and said, “Take a good look at what evil you’ve done! You’ve ruined your daughter’s entire life with this one palm.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but Lin Laosan heard it clearly. He looked at Lin Zhi’s swollen red face and the bloodstain, then at her gaze toward him—bewildered yet mixed with fear—and a bad feeling suddenly rose from the depths of his heart. He grabbed Lin Zhi’s shoulders and shook her, saying, “Lin Zhi, daughter, say something to Dad.”
Lin Zhi was shaken until her head spun, but she still instinctively turned her head halfway and said softly, “Dad, what did you say? I didn’t hear clearly.”
I! Didn’t! Hear! Clearly!
These four words hammered like four heavy mallets onto Lin Laosan’s chest. The only thought in his mind now was that it was over again—Lin Zhi was deaf. Would Zheng Tuhu still want her?
He didn’t have a son yet, Zhou Shi was clearly no use anymore, and he was still planning to marry Lin Zhi off to Zheng Tuhu, then get some benefits from her hands, divorce Zhou Shi, marry a new daughter-in-law, and have a son!
Now it was all over!
His son was gone!
Lin Laosan dejectedly held his head and squatted on the ground.
The villagers watching from far away obviously many didn’t understand what had happened. Those who did started explaining to others, but each added a bit of their own spin when telling, so by the end it became that Lin Zhi’s brains had been slapped out by her dad with one palm—she was definitely addled.
If Lin Xin heard it, she’d definitely roll her eyes—who could still be alive with their brains spilled out? A zombie?
At this time, chaotic hoofbeats sounded from afar. Everyone looked toward the village entrance, where Gao Yong and his group of four rode tall horses, followed by two horse carriages entering the village.
“Huh? Why are so many people gathered? What happened?” Coming closer, Gao Yong pulled the horse reins and shouted in his loud voice.
Without waiting for the villagers to answer, he spotted Lin Xin at a glance and said happily, “Miss Lin, so you’re at home! Can you take us into the mountains today?”
Lin Xin glanced at the carriages behind him, and Ling Qing immediately chimed in, “Miss Lin, don’t worry—Old Cui and Yi Chen are both here today, and Nan Nan has someone watching him.”
“Heh, you really came prepared!” Lin Xin said.
“Of course, Miss Lin.” Gao Yong jumped down from his horse and walked to Lin Xin’s side, asking her softly, “Can you still lead us to find ginseng?”
Lin Xin thought for a moment and said, “There is ginseng. I found a small patch before, but the years aren’t very old. I can take you to see if it works.”
“Really?” Gao Yong was extremely happy. “Then trouble the young lady to take us there! We’ve used up all the ginseng from Old Cui, and we’re just a bit short.”
“What do you need so much ginseng for?” Lin Xin was curious.
“You know Yi Chen’s brother, right?” Seeing Lin Xin nod, he continued, “Meng Yixuan was badly injured before and nearly died. Luckily Old Cui’s medical skill is superb and he pulled him back from the gates of hell, but he’s been in a coma all along. Later, Old Cui researched a prescription that has a good chance of curing Meng Yixuan, but it’s missing one ingredient that we can’t find.”
Hearing this, Lin Xin understood—the missing ingredient was probably ginseng. The ginseng she gave to Old Cui must have all been used on Meng Yixuan, and the effect was pretty good, which was why they wanted to follow her into the mountains.
“Alright, no need to say more. I’ll take you there.”
