Lin Zhengxian had a full 2,000 yuan in his hands!
Then why was their whole family still crammed into that pigsty-like broken house?
At this moment, Lin Zhengrong and Lin Zhengguang no longer had the mind to bother with Jiang Yunling and Lin Qiqi.
Whether there was a divorce or not didn’t matter much to them—but the 2,000 yuan was very real.
Lin Zhengrong complained, “Mom, my brother has so much money, yet he keeps it to himself. Doesn’t he see how the rest of us are living?”
Yang Sufen hadn’t expected this matter to be exposed at such a critical moment and could only try to brush it off.
“Don’t listen to these outsiders’ nonsense,” she said, pointing at Jiang Yunling. “How could a cripple be worth that much money?”
“She’s just trying to sow discord between you brothers.”
“Sow discord?” Aunt Zhang sneered. “Ask the people around here—who doesn’t know that as soon as the factory compensation for Xiao Jiang’s medical expenses was issued, Lin Zhengxian took it all? After that, the money for treatment was scraped together household by household!”
“That’s right!” people around them chimed in. “Lin Zhengxian is a bastard. My family even lent Xiao Jiang five yuan!”
“Same here, we lent three yuan!”
“It was that girl Qiqi going door to door begging. Where were you Lin family members then?”
The Lin brothers didn’t care how Jiang Yunling paid for her treatment or how Lin Qiqi begged for help.
They only cared whether they could get a share of that 2,000 yuan.
Lin Zhengguang turned and strode out of the courtyard. “I’ll go get my brother right now. Whether he took the money or not, we’ll settle it face to face!”
At work, Lin Zhengxian spent his time idling and drinking tea.
At home, he was served by his mother and wife—he had long grown useless. In terms of strength, how could he compare to Lin Zhengguang, who worked in the fields?
Soon, he was dragged into the alley.
The reason Lin Zhengxian had avoided returning to the residential compound was, first, that he feared Jiang Yunling would cling to him.
Second, Yang Sufen had caused a scene before and ruined his reputation—he was afraid of being scolded.
Now that he showed his face, people immediately began whispering.
“Isn’t that Lin Zhengxian? He still dares to come back?”
“That cowardly bastard ran off with the money and let his family come bully Xiao Jiang and Qiqi.”
“I heard he ran off with Xiao Jiang’s medical expenses?”
“Of course. His own mother said so—said he used it to support another woman, and she’s already pregnant.”
“Oh my god, aren’t they afraid the child will be born cursed?”
The murmurs of insults blended together. Lin Zhengxian kept his head down as he was dragged forward.
When he entered the courtyard, he saw Jiang Yunling sitting by the stone table.
When she had first been injured, her face was sickly pale. She had been bedridden, unable to move, relying on others even for basic needs.
Her unhealed wounds would ooze pus and blood, the surrounding flesh rotting black, her whole body emitting a foul smell.
Lin Zhengxian, used to being served, had no intention of taking on such a burden.
He ignored her. Lin Qiqi, inexperienced in caregiving, struggled. Jiang Yunling had been reduced to a pitiful state.
With no hope in sight, Lin Zhengxian decisively took the money and ran.
But now, Jiang Yunling sat neatly dressed, her hair combed.
Lin Qiqi had fed her back to health—her face fuller, her complexion good.
If not for her leg, she looked no different from a normal person—perhaps even better than before.
Lin Zhengxian froze for a moment, then forced a smile. “Yunling.”
But Jiang Yunling didn’t look at him.
She merely watched the Lin family’s farce with cold eyes.
Lin Zhengxian felt puzzled. Back at home, she used to revolve around him—why was she ignoring him now?
He tried to call Lin Qiqi, but his brothers cut him off.
Lin Zhengrong demanded, “Big brother, I heard from your neighbors that you have 2,000 yuan. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“We’re your own brothers! Even outsiders know, but we don’t?”
Lin Zhengguang chimed in, “Exactly!”
“We’ve been running ourselves ragged for your housing situation, even almost got sent to the police station—and you kept this from us?!”
Facing his two younger brothers, Lin Zhengxian didn’t back down at all.
“And you two have the nerve to talk?”
“All these years, who’s been supporting the family financially?”
“I didn’t say anything because I knew people would covet it!”
The three brothers began arguing loudly in the courtyard.
Soon, they grabbed each other by the collars.
Just as a fight was about to break out, the local officer blew his whistle.
The sharp sound cut through the air, and the three Lin brothers finally separated, still spitting angrily at each other.
“That’s enough!” the officer said, staring at Lin Zhengxian. “Did you take Comrade Jiang’s 2,000 yuan for medical expenses?”
Lin Zhengxian had never been interrogated like this by someone in uniform. He trembled, wanting to lie but not daring to.
“I… I…”
He stammered, unable to speak, while Yang Sufen grew anxious beside him.
She suddenly collapsed to the ground, leaning against the wall and banging her head against it.
“You people are trying to force this old woman to death!”
“No money! If you want, take my life—we Lin family have no money!”
“She, Jiang Yunling, married into our family for so many years and didn’t even give birth to a son. What’s wrong with taking some of her money?”
“And besides—”
In her panic, Yang Sufen threw a heavy accusation onto Lin Zhengxian.
“She’s been having an affair with another man!”
“She should be compensating my son!”
“Mom! What nonsense are you talking about?!” Even Lin Zhengxian couldn’t stand it anymore.
Once Yang Sufen left this alley, she’d return to the countryside—no one could hold her accountable.
But Lin Zhengxian worked at the welding rod factory, right between Uncle Zhang’s stainless steel factory and Jiang Yunling’s textile factory.
People from all three factories knew each other. With such a disgraceful accusation from his own mother, how could he face anyone?
“Don’t talk nonsense. Yunling and Brother Zhang are just neighbors—completely innocent.”
Yang Sufen stared at him in shock and twisted his arm. “You fool! Why are you siding with outsiders?!”
Mother and son began arguing again.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the courtyard.
“Enough!”
The noise stopped. Everyone turned toward Jiang Yunling.
This woman, usually timid and soft-spoken, now looked at the Lin family coldly.
“Didn’t you come here just to divorce me?”
“Qiqi, go get the notebook from my drawer.”
Jiang Yunling looked at Lin Zhengxian.
“Since everyone is here, let’s draft the divorce agreement.”