“If you two didn’t always try to take advantage of small things, would the villagers dislike our family? I’ve never despised you. I just want to find someone who treats me well…”
As soon as she said this, the surrounding villagers began whispering. The way they looked at Li Shi and Lin Lao’er grew more complicated.
Li Shi trembled with anger and raised her hand to strike Lin Qingqing, but Lin Lao’er quickly stopped her.
“Enough!” Lin Lao’er barked. “The grain is already gone. Arguing won’t bring it back!”
Seeing her goal achieved, Lin Qingqing sneered inwardly, though on the surface she cried even harder and ran off with her face covered.
She knew that continuing the quarrel would only make her look worse. It was better to leave now and do something more important—help Gu Qinglin borrow grain.
In her previous life, Gu Qinglin’s family had nearly failed to make it to Anzhou because of this loss of grain. His mother’s illness had worsened because of it.
Lin Sisi hadn’t given them any of her family’s grain. Instead, she had taken them into the mountains to dig up wild roots.
Though Gu Qinglin and his mother had survived in the end, how could wild roots compare to real grain?
In this life, she would use the engagement between Lin Sisi and Gu Qinglin to force Lin Sisi to help him—while she herself reaped the benefits, making Gu Qinglin remember her kindness.
With that thought, Lin Qingqing wiped her tears, straightened her clothes, and walked toward Lin Sisi.
The setting sun stretched long shadows across the barren slope. Lin Sisi was standing beside the village chief, distributing spring water, surrounded by several young men.
She worked swiftly, giving clear instructions. “Aunt Zhang, your family has five people—that’s two and a half buckets. Hold them carefully; don’t spill.”
“Uncle Zhao, you have a big family. Take half for now. The remaining three buckets will be given after the next batch returns.”
“Alright, Sisi girl.”
“Sisi girl is really capable.”
Lin Sisi turned to another man. “Uncle Li, you and Uncle Wang take a few people to guard the camp. Focus on the grain carts. Patrol every half hour. If there’s any movement, call out immediately.”
These two men were relatives of the village chiefs and considered trustworthy. After the robbery, having them patrol would reassure everyone.
“Don’t worry, we’ll guard it well,” Uncle Li said, gripping his wooden stick tightly.
Finally, she looked at Lin Zheng. “Brother, take two more men and check the eastern woods. Follow the direction the refugees fled and see if there are signs they might return.”
“Be careful. If you see anyone, come back immediately. Don’t fight them head-on.”
“Got it.” Lin Zheng nodded and headed east with two men.
Village Chief Li and Chief Wang stood to the side, watching Lin Sisi’s orderly arrangements with approval written all over their faces.
“Sisi girl may be young, but she’s steadier than us old men,” Chief Li said with emotion. “She thought of everything when arranging the water fetching. That’s rare.”
Chief Wang nodded. “Exactly. If she hadn’t insisted on not sending too many people at once, our losses would’ve been even greater. With her around, this group feels secure.”
Lin Qingqing, who had just approached, heard every word. Her fingers tightened around the edge of her clothes, nails digging into her palm.
Bitterness and jealousy churned inside her.
Why was Lin Sisi praised by everyone? She herself was worrying about Brother Gu too—yet she had only been mocked.
Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her resentment and put on a tearful expression as she stepped forward. “Sister Sisi…”
Lin Sisi didn’t even lift her head. Her tone was calm. “Why are you crying? There are so many people here. If they see you like this, they might think I bullied you.”
The words were like a thin needle pricking Lin Qingqing’s heart.
She cursed inwardly at Lin Sisi’s indifference but cried even harder, taking two unsteady steps forward as if about to fall. “Sister Sisi, you know our family lost most of our grain. My parents are almost frantic.”
“Especially Brother Gu’s family—they lost so much too. Aunt Gu is already in poor health. If they don’t have food, mother and son really won’t survive.”
She secretly observed Lin Sisi’s expression. Seeing no reaction, she lowered her voice. “You and Brother Gu still have an engagement. For the sake of that engagement, could you lend him some grain? Your family has a solid foundation—you surely won’t miss a little.”
Lin Sisi turned her head to look at her, the corner of her lips curling in mockery. “Oh? According to you, lending grain to the Gu family is my obligation?”
Lin Qingqing’s heart pounded, but she forced herself to continue. “That’s not what I mean. We’re all from the same village—and practically relatives by marriage. Helping each other is only right. You’re kind-hearted. You wouldn’t just watch Aunt Gu suffer.”
“Kind-hearted?” Lin Sisi let out a light laugh.
“If I remember correctly, someone was crying earlier down the slope, saying Brother Gu treated her better than her own parents. And now she comes to beg this ‘half relative’ to lend grain to her ‘beloved.’ Lin Qingqing, your calculations are so loud I could hear them across half the hill.”
Lin Qingqing’s face flushed bright red. Her tears froze in her eyes.
“I understand that you want to help Gu Qinglin,” Lin Sisi said calmly, though her tone carried cold sarcasm. “But lending grain? No.”
“Why not?” Lin Qingqing blurted, her voice rising. “Your family isn’t short on food. What’s wrong with lending a little? Or do you simply not care whether Brother Gu lives or dies?”
“Whether I care or not isn’t for you to decide.”
Lin Sisi’s gaze turned icy. “First, my family’s grain was left by my parents. It’s the foundation my brother and I rely on to survive—not something to use for earning favors.”
“Second, I’ve already proposed dissolving the engagement. There’s no such thing as ‘relatives by marriage.’”
“Third, since you care so much about Gu Qinglin, why not give him what little grain your own family has left? Instead, you come to me—hoping I’ll play the good person while you claim the gratitude? Lin Qingqing, you may be young, but your scheming is impressive.”
Lin Qingqing’s face alternated between red and pale. She stammered, unable to speak. “I… I didn’t…”
“Good.” Lin Sisi stood and brushed off the dust from her clothes. “I won’t lend the grain. You should go back. Next time you ask someone for help, try offering some sincerity. Tears and schemes won’t move anyone.”
Lin Qingqing stared at her cold profile, fury and hatred boiling inside her, but she could only grit her teeth and run off.
After she had gone some distance, she turned back and glared in Lin Sisi’s direction, her eyes filled with venomous jealousy.
Lin Sisi, just you wait.
When I become Gu Qinglin’s wife, when he rises to high office, I’ll be the wife of a great official. Crushing you will be as easy as crushing an ant.
Let’s see how proud you’ll be then!
Village Chief Li and Chief Wang watched from afar and shook their heads helplessly.
Chief Wang sighed. “That Qingqing girl—her mind is too restless. It’s just a pity she’s using it the wrong way.”