Lin Jianguo grabbed Lin Zhenyu, who was clenching his fists. “Zhenyu, let it go. She is still your sister after all.”
…
Lin Ting was led by the Lin family’s butler to the back garden to find Xiao Youzi.
The butler’s surname was Cao. In the past, she had called him Uncle Cao.
Uncle Cao had white hair, was tall and thin, and had a long scar on his face that looked frightening, but in reality, he was kind and gentle.
Walking beside Lin Ting, Uncle Cao sighed repeatedly:
“Tingting, don’t be too sad. Your father and brother truly are confused and foolish. I’ve always felt that your mother was wronged back then, and so were you, but I just don’t have any evidence. Ah, it’s a pity that old Cao here is powerless and couldn’t protect you. When your mother passed away, she entrusted me to take good care of you. Tingting, I’m sorry!”
Lin Ting was very grateful. “Thank you, Uncle Cao. I’ll handle my own matters. Don’t worry too much.”
If she had the time, she would also want to clear her mother’s name.
But right now, she could barely protect herself and couldn’t even take good care of her daughter. She could only focus on the most important things at hand.
At that moment, Lin Weiwei and Su Xiuzhen were in the greenhouse keeping Xiao Youzi company.
As Lin Ting approached, Lin Weiwei stood up, holding a snack box in her hands. “Sister!”
Lin Ting picked up Xiao Youzi. “I am not your sister.”
Lin Weiwei continued, “Sister, I don’t blame you for looking for Jiang Yu. After all…”
Not wanting to hear any more, Lin Ting firmly interrupted:
“Lin Weiwei, I’ll borrow Jiang Yu’s words to give to you: ‘What you do, heaven watches. If you do too many bad things, you’ll face retribution.'”
Su Xiuzhen, standing nearby, responded unhappily, “Lin Ting, how dare you speak like that?”
By then, Lin Ting had already turned and walked away with Xiao Youzi in her arms.
It was Lin Weiwei who stopped Su Xiuzhen. “Mom, don’t say anything more.”
Only after Lin Ting and her daughter had walked far away and were out of sight did Lin Weiwei cautiously look around. “Mom, did you see the look in Lin Ting’s eyes just now? Could it be that she discovered our secret?”
After a moment of thought, Su Xiuzhen said firmly:
“Impossible. We covered our tracks perfectly. No one could know.”
“Anyway, you are now the Lin family’s young lady. As long as you behave obediently, your wish will soon come true.”
…
Lin Ting knew that Youzi could no longer rely on Jiang Yu for her future path.
From now on, Xiao Youzi would have to walk forward alone, relying only on herself.
She would forever remain behind her, unable to even catch a glimpse.
When they returned home, she wrote a plan.
Then, she made a demand of Youzi:
“Youzi, starting today, you must learn to cook by yourself. Otherwise, you won’t be allowed to eat.”
“Mom, are you serious?” Xiao Youzi looked at her, confused.
Lin Ting hardened her heart but spoke gently, “Mom will teach you.”
She would find an adoptive family for Youzi.
But how could life under someone else’s roof be easy?
If she knew how to do many household chores, her adoptive parents would probably like her more, right?
After all, Youzi was just a child.
She couldn’t reach the kitchen counter and couldn’t lift the kitchen knife.
At first, she was quite interested in the idea of chopping vegetables and cooking and was willing to follow her mother’s lead.
But the kitchen knife was really heavy.
Forget chopping vegetables—just lifting it made her arms ache.
Xiao Youzi put down the knife, feeling somewhat discouraged. “Mom, can I not learn anymore? Can I learn when I grow up?”
The words “grow up” brought a strong pang of sorrow to Lin Ting’s heart.
How she wished she could accompany Youzi as she grew up, how she wished she could protect her forever.
But how many more days could she continue to care for Xiao Youzi like this?
For the first time, the gentle her became a strict mother. “No, Youzi. If you can’t stir-fry the cucumber and pork slices properly today, we won’t eat.”
Mom is acting so strange today!
Xiao Youzi couldn’t quite understand. “Mom, why do I have to learn how to cook?”
Some explanations, Lin Ting couldn’t bring herself to say.
She switched back to her gentle tone, patting Youzi’s head, and said, “Learning one more skill means you won’t starve.”
Xiao Youzi: “With Mom here, how could I ever starve?”
Lin Ting: “…”
Seeing her eyes redden, Youzi thought it was because she was being disobedient and had upset her mother.
She quickly picked up the knife again.
“Ouch…” Eager to make her mother happy and learn how to chop vegetables quickly, Xiao Youzi cut her own fair and tender finger.
Blood immediately gushed out, dripping onto the cutting board.
But Youzi held back her tears, not daring to cry. “Mom, I’m sorry! Youzi is just too clumsy.”
At times like this before, Lin Ting would have quickly pinched Youzi’s wound, hugged her, comforted her, and then bandaged it right away.
But this time, Lin Ting only handed Youzi a band-aid and said sternly, “Youzi, don’t cry. Wipe away your tears, put on the band-aid, and keep chopping.”