Chapter 9: Hand Over The Money, Or I’ll Expel Your Siblings From The Clan
Lin Xin was very regretful at this moment that she had awakened a lightning supernatural ability. Otherwise, she could have directly struck Old Madam Lin with a bolt of lightning, and it would have been settled once and for all afterward.
Sigh! What a pity!
Lin Xin’s home was near the back mountain, at the very end of the village. Normally, no one came this way except when passing by to go up the mountain. But today, first Lin Xin came back selling bundles big and small, then Lin Family members came to make trouble. Many villagers gathered to watch the excitement. With Old Madam Lin’s howl, the villagers who hadn’t dared to enter the door earlier all swarmed to the entrance of Lin Xin’s home.
“What exactly happened? Why is she crying out of nowhere?” A sharp, thin-faced old lady happened to be standing next to Zhou Shi and quietly asked her.
Zhou Shi had originally wanted to add fuel to the fire and spread the word, but she inexplicably remembered Lin Xin’s eerie traits and didn’t dare. She could only lower her head and shut her mouth tight. She didn’t want her wrist or fingers broken.
Xu Shi had already suffered a big loss today and was used to being domineering, so she naturally had none of Zhou Shi’s concerns. She immediately imitated her mother-in-law, wiping snot and tears as she began listing all of Lin Xin’s various “unfilial” behaviors.
She was talking happily when suddenly a chill came over her. She saw her clothes visibly getting wet, as if someone was pouring bucket after bucket of water on her. Strangely, the villagers closest to her remained completely dry.
“Ah~ Th-this, what’s going on? My, my cl-clothes, why are they wet?” Seeing that invisible “bucket of water” had already reached her collar, Xu Shi forgot she was badmouthing Lin Xin and screamed in fright.
The people nearby also saw this eerie scene and retreated in unison out of fear. Soon, a no-man’s zone over a meter in diameter formed around Xu Shi.
The water finally stopped pouring, and before Xu Shi could catch her breath, cuts appeared on her outer garment—neat edges, uniform length, exactly like they had been deliberately snipped with scissors. It was enough to embarrass Xu Shi without exposing her.
“Ah~” Sure enough, she let out a super high-decibel scream, covered her chest with both hands, and ran away quickly.
“This······” The watching villagers were all dumbfounded. The timid ones began quietly slipping away from the crowd.
The Lin Family members were all a bit stunned. They had clearly seen that the water on Xu Shi’s clothes and those cuts had appeared out of thin air. Even if Old Madam Lin was shameless, this scene scared her plenty.
At that moment, Lin Xin’s eerie voice appeared again. She said:
“If you want to make trouble, don’t you check what place this is? Does no one remember how you little by little emptied this place back then? And your refusal to save us when we were dying—my parents are watching from heaven! Now you come to me for money—shouldn’t you ask if they agree?”
“Pah! What about your parents? Your dad even crawled out of my belly! I’m not afraid of him! You little wretch, hand over the money quick, or I’ll drive you out of the Lin Family and expel you from the clan. Don’t believe me? Try it!” Hearing about silver, Old Madam Lin forgot her fear and pointed at Lin Xin’s nose, cursing loudly.
These words made even the watching villagers feel it was excessive. No matter how much one disliked their own child, no one would mention expelling them from the clan. Without a clan, a person had no roots, and whether taking the imperial examination or enlisting in the army, it would be extremely difficult.
And Old Madam Lin’s threat wasn’t just to Lin Xin, but also to Lin Nan, the only male heir in Lin Lao Er’s family.
“I say, Lin Family, you’re too ruthless. Nan Xiaozi grew up all thanks to Xin Yatou. Your family never lifted a finger, and now when she finally earns some money, you come demanding it. If not given, you threaten expulsion from the clan—you really have no shame.” Yao Grandma, who also lived at the village end, had always disliked the Old Lin Family bullying Lin Xin and her brother. But previously, Lin Xin never resisted, so she minded her own business. This time, seeing Lin Xin finally toughen up, she spoke up for justice.
“Exactly, the Lin Family is going too far. Who torments their own granddaughter like this?”
“Still the same words—looking at Lin Shenzi’s attitude, it doesn’t seem like Lin Erge is her own son at all.”
“Pah pah pah, all of you get lost, scram quick! This is our family matter—mind your own business!” Old Madam Lin spat several times at the villagers gossiping behind her, then turned to Lin Xin. “You little wretch, I’ll put it here today: if you don’t hand over the money, I’ll expel you siblings from the clan!”
“You shameless old hag, does the Lin Clan bend to your word? Expel from the clan? Can you just expel whoever you want? Where’s Lin Lao Nian Er? Call him here—I want to ask when the Lin Clan started being run by a stupid, greedy woman?” The clan leader and his wife, who had rushed over after villagers reported it, turned black-faced upon hearing Old Madam Lin’s words. The clan leader’s wife directly tore into her.
“Even then, it’s not up to you······ Cl-clan leader?” Old Madam Lin instinctively wanted to retort, but upon turning and seeing it was the clan leader couple, the rest of her words were choked back.
“Hmph!” The clan leader coldly snorted, ignoring her, and looked toward the courtyard where Lin Xin lived.
The back basket full of things and several large and small bundles were messily placed on the ground, clearly showing signs of being rummaged. The bundles were opened, revealing fine cotton cloth, cotton clothes, cotton quilts, and other items inside. The thin, frail young lady with a pale face stubbornly blocked the room door. Through the window with torn window paper in the room, Lin Nan’s terrified little face full of tear tracks peeked out.
At the courtyard entrance, Eldest Brother Lin held his arm supported by Lin Laosan, his right hand’s four fingers twisted and deformed—clearly broken. Lin Laosan’s wife shrank by the door, her gaze darting back and forth between Lin Xin and the things in the courtyard. Old Madam Lin stood aggressively in the middle of the courtyard, still covered in dirt, evidently from rolling on the ground.
The old clan leader couldn’t help sighing. The Old Lin Family was truly sinful!
“Xin Yatou, Clan Leader Grandfather is here. Can you explain what exactly happened?” The messenger had been unclear, so the old clan leader only knew the Lin Family had come to Lin Xin’s home to make trouble again, but not the specifics.
“Clan Leader Grandfather, I······”
“Clan leader, don’t listen to this little wretch. Nothing happened here—we family members just had a little disagreement. This dead girl’s being stubborn, and as her direct grandmother, I’m disciplining her. The clan can’t meddle in this, right!” Before Lin Xin could speak, Old Madam Lin cut in, then threateningly glared at Lin Xin.
Lin Xin could guarantee that if the original owner were here, per the plot, she would definitely have gone along with Old Madam Lin’s words.
Such things had happened before. Some kindhearted auntie would stand up for her when bullied too harshly, but Lin Xin couldn’t stand firm herself, only shrinking timidly to the side saying nothing. Then Old Madam Lin would dismiss it as family business and push back, even scolding her for meddling.
Over time, though everyone felt sorry for Lin Xin and her brother, no one wanted to stick their neck out. After all, they all lived in the same village—who wanted to be caught in the middle?
