C9 – Strong-willed
Thoughts of the village gossip crossed his mind. Regardless of whether he believed it or not, Yu having so much silver seemed improbable. When he had traded ten years of his life to the village families, he’d received a mere five taels of silver.
Observing Ah Yao’s expression, Lin Yuxing understood his concerns. He smiled and clarified, “Ah Yao, this silver is a gift from my master’s husband.”
“He expressed his gratitude for saving his spouse’s life and gave me this silver as a token of appreciation. Ah Yao, you needn’t worry about its origin.” These words held true. If it were a ruthless and unforgiving master, Lin Yuxing might not have survived. There was no way he could return it.
Hearing this, Soong Qinghee breathed a sigh of relief. He declined the child’s silver but suggested, “If you need to see a doctor, take this silver with you.”
Accepting money from a child was out of the question. He had already assessed their family’s situation, and if he had any money, he would offer it to the mother-in-law.
Lin Yuxing promptly pressed the silver taels into Ah Yao’s hands. “For now, Ah Yao, you should hold onto this silver.”
He, the father, was an extremely devoted and dutiful person. In Lin Yuxing’s view, a sincere and honorable individual could be somewhat dutiful, but he also recognized that in this feudalistic era, a mere label of “filial piety” could spell disaster for someone’s life. He couldn’t hold it against his father, though. After all, his grandmother was an extraordinary character, far beyond his parents’ capabilities.
“Well…” Soong Qinghee could be a bit tough himself, but when it came to significant matters, he deferred to his husband. Now, Yu was asking him to keep something from his spouse, putting him in a tight spot.
Lin Yuxing earnestly regarded his cousin Ah Yao and said, “Ah Yao, if you tell dad, people there will undoubtedly learn about our wealth. They’ll realize we have money, so why go through the trouble of needing it for a doctor? Ah Yao, are you going to give it to him or not?” If he were truly ill, his family wouldn’t withhold assistance. Unfortunately, their grandmother was merely feigning illness.
Their family’s father had endured years of hardship. If they didn’t seek justice for him, they wouldn’t be fulfilling their filial duties.
His words left Soong Qinghee momentarily speechless. Observing how they treated their own brother, he felt a surge of anger inside. “I won’t inform your dad, but he’ll figure it out,” he declared. His husband was an honest soul. If he noticed that Ah Yao wasn’t feeling well, he’d surely send money for his treatment, as he had done countless times before.
“Yes.” Lin Yuxing observed Ah Yao’s unwavering determination and felt a sense of relief. He was eager to assist this family, wishing for his parents to lead a better life.
Due to the inconvenience of his injured heels, Lin Yuxing found himself unable to contribute much. He could only remain confined to his bed, while the household buzzed with unusual activity. After all, in the rural setting, there was always a ceaseless array of chores.
“Yuxing, come out here!” On a particular day, as Lin Yuxing lounged in the courtyard, he heard Aunt Lin calling him.
Lin Yuxing furrowed his brow, as his life had been relatively tranquil in recent days, devoid of any disturbances. Nevertheless, his recovery had been swifter than expected. “Aunt, what’s the matter?”
“Lin Yuxing, are you forcing our Lan to commit suicide?” Aunt Lin complained as tears and snot ran down his face.