When Lin Zijin returned, she saw that group of aunts and older women were still standing in the same spot, heads gathered together, chatting enthusiastically.
She was already used to it. These people were always like this—whenever anything happened in a household, they would immediately gather and whisper about it.
She didn’t walk over. When some of them looked at her, she simply nodded slightly with a faint smile and walked past.
Her steps were light, and her posture was much straighter than before.
Before she even reached the front door, she saw her younger brother, Lin Ziyou, leaning against the wall by the entrance, playing with his fingers. She called out, “Youyou~”
Hearing her voice, Lin Ziyou looked up, his face bright with a smile as he ran toward her.
“姐姐, you’re back! The big brother already left~”
Lin Zijin rubbed his little head. “Mm, he’s gone. Let’s go home.”
“Okay~”
He grabbed her hand, and the two of them walked back home hand in hand.
At the doorway, Lin Ziyou raised his clear little voice and shouted inside, “Mom, we’re back~”
Inside the house, Lin Shu heard it and immediately yelled in annoyance.
“What are you shouting for? So noisy! Trying to show off how loud your voice is?”
“Don’t you see someone is resting at home?”
Her voice was sharp and harsh, full of irritation, scaring Lin Ziyou so badly that he flinched. The smile on his face vanished instantly, and he tightly grabbed his sister’s hand.
Lin Zijin’s expression immediately turned angry. She gently patted her brother’s back and picked him up.
“Youyou is in his own home calling for his mother. What’s wrong with that?”
“If you can’t stand it, just plug your ears. Don’t go looking for trouble.”
Lin Shu got so angry that she jumped out of bed and opened the door.
“You little burden, I’ve given you too much face, haven’t I? How dare you talk to me like that!”
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“Don’t think just because you found some wild man to back you up that you’ve grown wings. Let me tell you, this is my house!”
Before she could continue, Yang Qingqiu stepped forward and shielded her daughter and son behind her.
“Lin Shu, shut your filthy mouth.”
“You’re so young, and your mouth is already this foul. Who taught you that?”
“All that trash you’re saying—are you saying your father taught you that?”
“Let me tell you, you don’t get to run this house. If I hear you spewing nonsense again, try me.”
Lin Shu shivered at her aura. She opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. In the end, she glared at them and returned to her room.
Lin Ziyou looked at them with admiration, eyes sparkling.
“Mom is amazing! Sister is amazing too!”
Lin Zijin put him down. Don’t be fooled by the fact that he was only four years old—he was quite chubby, and she was already getting tired from holding him.
Yang Qingqiu adjusted her emotions.
“Zijin, take your brother to your room and play. Mom’s going to cook.”
The siblings nodded and went back to the room.
After dinner, Lin Xue came back. She was in a very good mood—she had gone out to spend time building a relationship with Lu Jinyu.
When she returned and saw no one in the main room, she went straight to her own room.
Lin Shu was lying under the blanket, stuffing her face with egg cake. Seeing Lin Xue return, her eyes lit up.
“Third Sister, you’re back!”
“Cook something. I’m starving.”
Lin Xue frowned slightly.
“I don’t know how to cook either.”
“Go eat at the state-run restaurant then.”
Lin Shu pouted.
“I’d like to, but I don’t even have ration coupons left. How am I supposed to eat?
Are we really going to be like this from now on?”
Lin Xue thought to herself that she was going to get married anyway, so she didn’t really care about these couple of days. Out loud, she said,
“Sigh, who knows.
Right now Aunt Yang is still angry. She’ll calm down sooner or later.”
Lin Shu rolled her eyes and muttered,
“Seriously, I don’t know who gave her the nerve. She’s supposed to be serving us, yet she still dares to show us attitude.”
After saying that, she suddenly thought of something and sat up.
“Sis, I’ve got something to tell you.
Today, that baggage brought a strange man home.
I overheard a bit this morning. It looks like things between them are about to be finalized—they were even talking about meeting the parents.”
When Lin Xue heard this, a bad feeling rose in her heart. She looked deeply at Lin Shu.
She felt she needed to hurry—she had to get Lu Jinyu to come propose marriage as soon as possible. Even though their relationship was already confirmed, she had to get married before Lin Zijin.
Otherwise, the one sent down to the countryside might end up being her…
As for Lin Shu, their father would probably buy her a job anyway. She knew her place—she understood that in their father’s heart, Lin Shu mattered more.
Mainly because Lin Shu looked very much like their deceased mother.
Their parents had once shared a very deep love and went through many hardships to be together…
In any case, Lin Xue would not go to the countryside. That place was not fit for humans. She did not want to end up young with frostbitten hands and face.
Those who returned from visiting rural relatives all looked ten years older. She did not want that life.
Biting her teeth, Lin Xue resented Yang Qingqiu in her heart. She clearly heard Lin Zijin say she was going to the countryside—why did she interfere?
If she hadn’t interfered, she wouldn’t have been so rushed into finding a marriage.
If she hadn’t been rushed, she wouldn’t be getting controlled like this. She did like Lu Jinyu, but his mother wanted to control her and even didn’t want her to marry into the family—frustrating!
In the afternoon, when the sun was still high, Yang Qingqiu had already prepared the meal in advance. After the mother and three children finished eating, she washed the pot. Only then did Lin Jiancheng come home from work.
Seeing the cold kitchen and empty stove, his face turned dark.
“Where is everyone? Where’s the person who cooks?
It’s already this late and no one has cooked—are you trying to starve me to death?”
His roar echoed loudly in the quiet house.
The three in the room heard it, but they stayed inside and said nothing, let alone came out.
Lin Xue gave Lin Shu a look.
“Xiao Shu, go comfort Dad. Don’t let him get too angry. He dotes on you the most—he’ll listen to you.”
“Okay!”
Lin Shu climbed down from the bed.
“Dad, stop shouting.
The mother and daughter trio already ate. Only the three of us are left.
Dad, I’m starving~”
She spoke in a spoiled tone.
Lin Jiancheng’s anger flared even more, but facing this daughter who looked so much like his late wife, his heart still softened a little.
His brows remained tightly furrowed.
“Where’s your sister?
Tell your sister to cook. She’s already grown up.
In our alley, which household doesn’t have a daughter cooking at home? Go call her and make her cook.”
Inside the room, Lin Xue heard this and felt extremely unwilling. Her lips pouted so hard they could hang a bottle.
Why her?
Why not that “baggage,” Lin Zijin?