Lin Yongshun wiggled his eyebrows at Lin Erxia, smiling in a mysterious way.
Seeing people around them dispersing to start work, Lin Yongshun leaned closer and muttered to her,
“Erxia, what you said really came true.”
Lin Erxia looked puzzled. “What thing, Dad?”
“The thing you said about the family paying for your eldest brother’s job.”
“Dad, how did you find out?” Lin Erxia was confused. There was no way the old couple would tell him, and her uncle’s family would definitely keep it even more tightly under wraps.
Lin Yongshun grinned smugly. “Isn’t that simple? Your grandpa’s tight-lipped, and your uncle’s family wouldn’t say anything, so I went straight to your grandma.
Yesterday morning, I found out she was home, so I pretended I had a stomachache and went back early. I told her I needed money to see a doctor, but she refused.
So I threw a tantrum—rolling around and making a scene. In the end, she still wouldn’t give me any. While she was so angry her head was about to burst, I brought up the matter of the family buying your brother a job.
Your grandma only let slip half a sentence before she shut her mouth tight. Then she even gave me two yuan to shut me up. That guilty look of hers—obviously it’s true.
But from now on, she’ll definitely be more careful. Otherwise, I might’ve even found out exactly how much the family spent.”
Lin Erxia’s lips twitched. Truly, no one understands a mother better than her son… and her dad’s methods, well… they worked.
As he spoke, Lin Yongshun sighed angrily, yanking off a chili leaf and tossing it aside.
“Your grandpa and grandma are way too biased. They won’t even spend two yuan on me, but for the eldest, they’ll spend hundreds without blinking. As a son, I’m worse off than a grandson!”
He grabbed another handful of leaves and flung them down.
Maybe… just maybe it was because her dad had too many past offenses? Still, the old lady really was biased.
Seeing the chili plants nearly stripped bare, Lin Erxia quickly interrupted before the team leader came and scolded them.
“Dad, why are you telling me this?”
Lin Yongshun sighed. “Sigh, I think in this family, only you and I are the smart ones. You’re the only one I can talk to about this.
If I told your mom, your sister, or your younger sister, they’d just shout and refuse to believe it. Your little brother’s still too young—but judging by now, he’ll grow up to be a fool too.”
His tone toward the rest of the family was full of disappointment.
Lin Erxia had no interest in his praise. Her eyes shifted slightly.
“Dad, since you say we’re the two smartest people in the family, shouldn’t you split that two yuan with me? When I succeed in the future, I’ll take good care of you—meat every day, peach pastries and canned food at every meal.”
Lin Yongshun stared at her in shock.
“My goodness, Fifth Girl—you brag even better than your old man! But with your brains taking after me, I’ll be counting on you in the future.”
Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he fumbled behind his waistband and pulled out two bills. With a pained expression, he handed one to her.
Lin Erxia looked at the red note damp with sweat and took it without hesitation. It was one yuan—she’d never even saved that much in private before. A little sweat meant nothing.
She glanced at it once and carefully tucked it into her pocket.
Lin Yongshun looked reluctant, like a wronged little wife.
“Erxia… how about you let me hold onto it for now? It might fall out of your pocket. I’ll give it back when we get home.”
Seeing the regret on his face, Lin Erxia immediately shook her head. If something wasn’t already in your mouth, it wasn’t truly yours. With how he looked, who knew if he’d still be willing to give it the next minute?
“Don’t worry, Dad. My pocket’s big and sturdy. If you’re worried, why don’t you put yours in my pocket too? I’ll give it back to you later.”
Lin Yongshun fell silent, quickly folding his own money and stuffing it back into his waistband.
Noticing the dangerous look he was giving her, Lin Erxia hurriedly changed the subject.
“Dad, this means we’ve got leverage over Grandma now. Today it’s two yuan—next time it could be three. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Lin Yongshun’s eyes lit up. “Right! From now on, even if I skip work, your grandma won’t dare scold me. If I ask for money and she refuses, I’ll just threaten to expose it—she’ll definitely hand it over.”
He was already imagining a bright future, but Lin Erxia quickly shattered his fantasy.
“Dad, did you forget about Grandpa? If you dare do that, he’ll break your legs.”
Lin Yongshun shuddered. Lin Dayong’s authority in the family was absolute—provoking him was like lighting a lantern in a latrine: courting death.
Back then, when Lin Erxia dared to smash bowls and basins in front of everyone, it was purely fueled by anger.
Lin Yongshun deflated. “Forget it. Not worth getting beaten half to death over a little money.”
Lin Erxia raised an eyebrow, a sly smile spreading across her face, her white teeth gleaming.
“We don’t have to ask for money. But Grandma has plenty of good things—once in a while, we can improve our meals.”
In short: don’t fleece her too often, but every now and then, take a little for a treat—something to look forward to.
Lin Yongshun looked her up and down, as if seeing her anew.
“Erxia, you may be darker than your dad, but I didn’t expect your heart to be just as dark.”
Before she could roll her eyes, he quickly added,
“Just as I said—our family only has the two of us smart ones.”
Lin Erxia didn’t bother responding. No woman liked being called dark-skinned so casually. She rolled her eyes and focused on her work.
Meanwhile, Lin Yongshun worked lazily, even humming a tune. Before long, he had fallen far behind Lanxi, but he wasn’t the least bit concerned.
The blazing sun hung overhead, slowly shifting south. There wasn’t a breath of wind, and even the chili leaves drooped lifelessly.
Lin Erxia hurried her pace—finishing early meant getting off work sooner. Otherwise, it would only get hotter. And with the stinging heat of the chilies, she didn’t dare wipe her face—once was enough to remember that burning sensation.
Turning her head, she saw her father massaging his back and stretching, glancing around everywhere except at the chilies beneath his feet. Her irritation grew.
Before long, the team leader arrived to collect the harvested chilies. They couldn’t be left too long—they had to be sent quickly to the commune’s food station to be exchanged for money.
The production team would keep the money and distribute it at year’s end based on work points, so everyone worked diligently.
The team leader called out that they were heading to Changlin Commune soon, urging everyone to hurry. Lin Erxia was almost done with her section, so she sped up even more.
The moment Lin Yongshun heard they were going to the commune, he perked up. Dropping his work, he ran over.
“Captain, let me go deliver the vegetables to the commune—I know the place well!”
The team leader frowned, about to ask what about his unfinished work, but Lin Yongshun quickly added,
“My daughter’s here—she’ll finish the rest for me.”
Before the team leader could react, he had already hoisted a sack of chilies onto his shoulder and dashed off.
Hearing this, Lin Erxia clenched her teeth in frustration. Her dad really was something else. But for the sake of that one yuan in her pocket… she endured it, her teeth grinding audibly.
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