"You know, I was looking forward to their return every single day. One day, while I was cooking, suddenly my head spun, and in a blur, I heard your grandparents calling out for help. By the time I came back to my senses, I found myself standing in a water tank, trying to fish something out."
"I didn’t dare tell anyone about this, but I was terribly unsettled, feeling it was a bad omen. In the end, without any news from your grandparents, I understood deep down that something must have happened to them at that time."
"I kept silent about this to give everyone something to hold on to. Chuxia, you’re the first one I’ve told. Sigh, if it weren’t for seeing your whole family, I probably would never have had the courage to speak of it in my lifetime."
Chuxia sighed and said nothing.
"After we found you, I did the math, and your grandparents disappeared exactly when I had that dizzy spell. So, those names Jianxin and Guangxin might really have something to do with it."
As Great Aunt finished her sentence, Old Man Lin and Old Lady Lin rushed in, wailing. "What are they planning to do?" Chuxia’s face was immediately filled with anger, "I haven’t even settled the score with them for sending my dad to the hospital, and here they are, shamelessly showing up." She was about to step forward when Great Aunt pulled her back, "Child, don’t get involved in this just yet."
"Great Aunt..." Chuxia stared at the old lady with a twisted expression, "I can’t let them bully my parents anymore. We don’t owe them anything, yet they just won’t stop."
"Chuxia, don’t worry about it, your parents have their ways." Sometime along the way, Yang Aihua had moved to Chuxia’s side.
"Auntie?" Chuxia looked at her bewildered, "When did you get here?"
"I’ve been here for a bit." Yang Aihua smiled at her, "I talked to your mom about something and returned some things. Chuxia, I’m not beating around the bush with you. When you’re capable, help Chuchun out a bit. Chuqiu, you don’t have to worry about; he’s always disliked you. But Chuchun truly has your back. I’m not asking you to help him right now, but in the future, if you’re able and happen to come across a way to do so, could you lend him a hand, please?"
"Sure." Chuxia nodded eagerly, "I’ll help with Chuchun’s situation. You don’t have to ask, I’d do it anyway. But he’s a man with a lot of pride. I won’t step in when it’s not my place."
"That’s the way." Yang Aihua visibly relaxed, "He’s set on joining the military. With his stature and appearance, he should be fine. My only wish is for him to meet the requirements to become a volunteer soldier without someone taking his place."
"Chuxia..." After pausing for a moment, Yang Aihua didn’t say anything else. She smiled at Great Aunt and backed away, staying quiet.
Old Man Lin and Old Lady Lin were expressing their regrets to Lin Baohe, saying they should not have driven him to the hospital. In the heat of the moment, they had gone mad with the idea that the son they raised had become someone else’s, unable to tolerate the disparity and deliberately acted out. But afterward, they were deeply remorseful...
Well, they’re playing the sympathy card again...
With a speechless shake of her head, Chuxia also understood that Old Man Lin and Old Lady Lin felt that if they didn’t make a scene this time, they would have a hard time gaining advantages in the future. So even if everyone disliked what was happening, they had to fight for whatever benefits they could get.
Lin Baohe’s face showed calm composure, indicating that the antics of the older couple no longer affected him emotionally. Zhao Yulan stood by his side, equally serene.
As Old Lady Lin wailed, she eventually couldn’t go on and simply sat down on the ground, beginning to lament how hard it was to raise several children...
This kind of display is most likely to resonate with people.
But will a tactic that’s been used once still work a second time?
The crowd of onlookers that had mostly dispersed gathered again in bunches, filling the yard. Accompanying the old lady’s cries were the sounds of children playing and mock crying...
Old Man Lin nudged his wife and looked toward Lin Baohe with a trembling gaze, his intentions plainly visible: "Baohe, I know you’ve found your relatives and no longer have room for us. Even if we were to die in front of you now, you wouldn’t spare us a second glance.
After all, your mother and I raised you through thick and thin. If you have any gratefulness for our past kindness, agree to just one thing for us: get Chuqiu a job as a worker in the city. After that, we won’t bother you again. Even if your mother and I starve, we won’t ask you for anything else."
Lin Chuqiu, hidden in the crowd, tightly clenched his fists, forgetting to even breathe...
Suddenly, Lin Baojiang stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Old Man Lin and Old Lady Lin: "Dad, Mom, don’t make it hard for Baohe and Yulan. If you consider them family at all, you couldn’t be calculating against them .
Raising Baohe was possible because the wealth left by his parents was in your hands. With that money, you could have raised ten Baohe’s without any issue.
I was outside when you were scheming against Baohe and Chuxia. At that time, I was also selfish, hoping to benefit from your plots, so I didn’t expose you.
But now, I can’t keep doing things that weigh on my conscience. Just today, I almost killed Shuanshuan, and that would have been divine retribution, a sign that I can’t continue making these mistakes. Dad, Mom, you can’t keep making them either!
Debt must be repaid eventually. The heavens are watching. Baohe has endured much over the years, and now everything has been returned to him. I can see clearly, having a kind heart doesn’t lead to loss!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please with your recommendation tickets and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)