Lin Dayong was dozing on the long bench, a bit of drool still hanging at the corner of his mouth.
Seeing him asleep and utterly unaware of his surroundings, Lin Yinyin crept up to his ear and shouted at the top of her lungs, enough to shake the roof: “Stepdad!!”
“Wha!”
Lin Dayong shot up like he’d been stepped on, forgetting he was curled on the bench. His balance wavered and “BANG” he fell hard to the ground, hitting the back of his head solidly against the wall.
One hand pressed to his ear, the other to his head, he glared at the intruder, teeth gritted in anger.
It was Lin Yinyin!
“You little brat! Do you want to die? Why did you come here?!”
Lin Yinyin blinked innocently, putting on a face of “I’m so innocent.”
“The captain asked me to come check on Lin Baogui.”
“The doctor just finished stitching him up; he’s lying in there. He won’t be discharged until tomorrow.”
Rubbing the back of his head, Lin Dayong stood up, voice impatient: “Alright, look done, now leave quickly.”
“I can’t leave yet, Dad,” Lin Yinyin instantly put on a pitiful expression. “I haven’t eaten a thing since morning; I’m so hungry I can’t see straight.
Can you give me some money so I can grab a steamed bun from the cafeteria?”
“No money!” Lin Dayong rejected her without a second thought.
“But I’m really hungry…”
Lin Yinyin’s voice suddenly soared, tears welling up in her eyes.
“My stepmom set her eyes on a nineteen-year-old guy, forced me up the back hill, and married him herself! The captain caught it, and the whole village has been gossiping about it all day.
Waaah, I haven’t eaten all day either. Now I’m so hungry I can’t even walk…
I know you’re tight on money, but I’m starving! Just look at how I slave away at home, helping you with everything, even taking care of your bedpan so just give me some money to buy a steamed bun to fill my stomach…”
“Good heavens, this is explosive!”
Lin Yinyin’s wail had drawn quite a crowd.
“Sounds like this stepmom must’ve given this poor guy a fresh green hat!”
“Definitely! Look at him, he’s stunned!”
Lin Dayong finally processed what she said. “Wha what did you say? Lin Xiulan married that idiot Wang?!?”
“Yes, everyone in Wangjia Village can attest! She went through the wedding rites and even consummated it!”
Lin Dayong, shocked, plopped down hard on the ground and was about to rush out of the hospital.
He had to go beat Lin Xiulan.
Not only had she given him a green hat, she’d gone after a fool as well.
But the moment he stepped forward, Lin Yinyin grabbed his wrist tightly.
Though she was thin, her grip was strong; she yanked him backward suddenly.
“THUD!” Lin Dayong fell flat on his backside, grimacing in pain.
“Dad! Don’t rush off!”
“You’re crazy! Let me go!”
“Dad, calm down! Lin Baogui is still in the hospital bed, and he needs your care right now. You can deal with your stepmom later!”
“That’s right, young man!” An elderly man carrying a thermos couldn’t stand it.
He came over and patted Lin Dayong on the shoulder. “Your wife gave you such a massive green hat sure, you’ll need to settle that! But first, you need to eat. You won’t have the strength for a fight otherwise!”
“Yes, and your son’s still inside—the family comes first.”
“Exactly!” another man agreed. “Forget that cheating wench for now. Don’t rush there’s plenty of time later.”
Lin Dayong’s head was spinning. He pulled a yuan from his pocket and slammed it into Lin Yinyin’s hand. “Here! Buy three big steamed buns and two bowls of porridge!”
“Great!” Lin Yinyin spun around and headed out.
Let her spend money to feed Lin Dayong? Dream on!
Even poison would require him to pay for it himself!
The commune hospital cafeteria didn’t have many lunch options. Lin Yinyin used 50 cents to buy two bowls of multigrain porridge and three big steamed buns, then slipped into the public restroom.
She glanced at the latrine what a pity… the smell was strong.
She really did want to give Lin Dayong some “poop” to eat!
With a thought, she pulled a cracked bowl from her space, scooped a spoonful of blood-stained phlegm, and stirred it into the two bowls of porridge.
Sometimes, making someone wish they were dead is more satisfying than killing them directly.
She stepped out of the restroom with a sweet, innocent smile back on her face.
“This porridge tastes a bit salty,” Lin Dayong said as he sipped.
“Probably added some salt for the patients to get energy.
Dad, should I take this porridge to Lin Baogui?”
Lin Dayong waved his hand. “Go ahead, and while you’re at it, change his catheter bag.”
Lin Yinyin rolled her eyes change the catheter? Dream on!
She entered the room and saw Lin Baogui on the bed, thickly bandaged on his bottom.
Lin Yinyin was curious how the surgery worked was it like connecting a hose, or stitched with needles? If it broke again, could it be repaired?
As she pondered, Lin Baogui frowned he was waking up.
Lin Yinyin lifted the porridge and fed it to him.
He mumbled, swallowing carefully, frowning but not opening his eyes probably still under anesthesia.
“Drink faster, or it’ll be gone.”
Lin Yinyin spooned it in one bite at a time, stopping only when the bowls were empty.
Feeling satisfied, she picked up a red apple from the cabinet and bit into it with a crisp “crunch.”
Mmm, sweet and crisp!
At that moment, Lin Dayong burst in and saw the apple in her hand. He panicked. “You little brat! There were only two apples, Liu Hui bought them leave them alone!”
“I won’t.”
Lin Yinyin looked at him provocatively and took another big bite.
Lin Dayong reached to grab the remaining apple but Lin Yinyin was too quick. She stuffed it into her pocket and tossed it into her space.
Lin Dayong’s hand grabbed nothing; he jumped in anger. “Damn brat! I couldn’t even bring myself to eat it, and you take it!”
“Nope!”
Chewing her apple, Lin Yinyin weaved around the bed, ignoring him. Her goal was already accomplished no need to pretend.
“This is infuriating!” Lin Dayong grumbled.
“You ate my apple, so you have to work. You stay here and take care of your brother while I go home.
Wait for Liu Hui to come back before leaving, got it?”
“Who’s Liu Hui?” Lin Yinyin asked.
“Widow Liu!” Lin Dayong yelled irritably.
“Oh, I see.”
Lin Yinyin now knew Widow Liu’s name, though it didn’t matter.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Lin Baogui here.”
“Mm!”
Once Lin Dayong left, Lin Yinyin promptly left the room.
If she stayed to care for Lin Baogui, she wouldn’t resist giving him her “special porridge.”
The hospital ward was on the second floor. Lin Yinyin thought about buying a train ticket north to see her sister.
But as soon as she reached the first-floor lobby, her legs went weak, and her steps felt unsteady.
“Sorry!” She turned a corner unsteadily and almost bumped into a man walking toward her.
At this point, she couldn’t care less about anyone else.
She felt as if a pile of burning coals had ignited inside her, scorching from her organs down to her bones.
“Miss, are you alright?” The man’s voice was deep and magnetic, with genuine concern.
Lin Yinyin struggled to lift her eyes and was surprised when she recognized him.
It was Snow Leopard!