Lin Shu turned back into the room. “Sis, Dad told you to cook.”
Lin Xue, even though she was unwilling, still came out of her room. “Mm, I’m coming.”
When she looked at Lin Jiancheng, she said, “Dad, I… Aunt Yang never taught me how to cook. I’m not very good at it, you—”
Lin Jiancheng glanced at the tightly shut door of Lin Zijin’s room and waved his hand impatiently.
“Just go cook. Don’t worry about so much.
I’m starving.”
He hadn’t eaten breakfast in the morning because Yang Qingqiu refused to get up and cook for him anymore.
At noon, he only managed to eat a little in the factory cafeteria, and by the time he got there, there wasn’t much food left.
Now that he was finally off work and home, the situation was still like this.
Lin Xue said nothing more and turned to go into the kitchen.
Once inside, she didn’t even know where to start.
She scratched her head, added a ladle of water into the pot, felt it wasn’t enough, and added two more ladles.
After adding water, she began putting in rice—scooping a ladle of rice from the cabinet and dumping it straight into the pot.
She then covered the pot and started trying to light the fire.
After a long time trying, the coal stove still wouldn’t ignite, and she was on the verge of exploding with anger.
Her face darkened, her eyes reddened, and she kept trying to light it again.
Just then, a voice came from outside.
“Is anyone home?
We are from the neighborhood committee.”
Hearing this, Lin Jiancheng quickly walked out, asking in confusion, “Comrade, what’s going on?”
One of the older officials, holding a notebook, spoke in an official tone.
“You are Comrade Lin Jiancheng, correct?”
With a polite smile, he replied, “Yes, yes, I am.”
“Good, then.
A policy has come down from above. We are going door to door to notify everyone—each household must have one educated youth registered to go to the countryside.
The registration deadline is in the next two days. Please decide quickly who will go and sign up.
If you wait until the last moment and are forced into assignment, it won’t look good for anyone.”
Lin Jiancheng quickly nodded with a forced smile. “Alright, alright.”
The two committee officials then turned and went to the next house.
After closing the door, Lin Jiancheng frowned deeply.
He had already heard about this policy earlier, but he didn’t expect it to come to their door so soon.
The problem was—who should go?
In the kitchen, Lin Xue heard this and her heart suddenly tightened.
She had to act quickly. If necessary, she would have to force things into becoming irreversible—she absolutely could not go to the countryside.
In the room, Lin Zijin and her mother also heard it.
Knowing that her daughter had already registered her marriage certificate, Yang Qingqiu finally relaxed. No matter what, it wouldn’t fall on her daughter now.
With a smile, she said, “This has nothing to do with us. Let those two sisters fight it out.”
Lin Zijin smiled brightly. “Mm-hm.”
“Mom, what do you think—should I wear the new dress you bought me to the Lu family tomorrow?”
“Of course. That’s exactly what I was thinking too. My daughter looks especially good in dresses.”
“Big sister is pretty! She’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen!” little Ziyou said seriously.
Lin Zijin couldn’t help laughing. She pinched his cheek. “Our Ziyou is also the prettiest little boy.”
Little Lin Ziyou furrowed his cute brows and said in a soft voice, “Sister, I’m a boy. You can’t say ‘pretty.’ Only girls are pretty.”
Hearing this, both Lin Zijin and Yang Qingqiu burst out laughing.
Lin Ziyou puffed up his cheeks. “Mom, sister, stop laughing. I’m right!”
The two of them nodded in unison.
“Yes, yes, our little Ziyou is right,” they said together.
On this side, the atmosphere was especially warm. On the other side, however, everyone had their own hidden calculations.
When the street office workers were speaking, Lin Shu also came out and stood at her doorway, secretly listening with her ears pricked up.
After they left, she observed her father’s expression. Seeing how complicated it looked, she walked over and grabbed his sleeve, speaking in a spoiled, pleading tone.
“Dad, I don’t want to go to the countryside.
I lost my mom when I was two years old—how could you bear to send me so far away?
Other people have mothers to love them, I only have you, Dad…”
Her eyes were watery as she sniffled.
“Besides, I’m only fifteen this year. I’m still so young—how could you bear it, Dad?”
Looking at her face that resembled his deceased wife, and hearing her mention her early passing, Lin Jiancheng’s heart instantly softened completely.
How could he possibly bear to send his pampered little daughter to the countryside?
He sighed and reassured her.
“What nonsense are you talking about? If you don’t want to go, then you won’t go.
You’re still so young—how could it be your turn to go to the countryside?”
Lin Xue, who was in the kitchen, clenched her teeth in frustration upon hearing this, silently cursing her father for his favoritism.
She walked out and echoed his words.
“That’s right. Little Shu is still young—how could she go to the countryside?
But I… I’ve just started dating someone. The Lu family wants to settle the marriage early, so this…”
Her eyes stared directly at Lin Zijing’s room.
“Someone still has to go to the countryside.”
Hearing this, Yang Qingqiu opened the door immediately.
“What, just because you have a boyfriend makes you so important?
Our Zijing also has a boyfriend. Her boyfriend even came to our house today and said they’ll set the marriage in these next few days.
When is your marriage even being set?
Has the other side shown any sincerity at all?”
Lin Jiancheng was getting more and more irritated. Someone did have to go!
But with Yang Qingqiu’s attitude, things would not be easy…
He looked at Lin Xue again. This girl was obedient and well-behaved—he couldn’t possibly let his biological daughter go to the countryside, could he?
He paced back and forth in the living room, increasingly agitated.
Lin Xue’s heart sank.
She had known it would turn out like this.
With Yang Qingqiu protecting her daughter, if it came down to choosing between the two, her father would definitely hesitate.
Fortunately—fortunately she was smart enough to snatch that stepdaughter’s match and push for a quick marriage. Once she was married off, she wouldn’t have to go to the countryside.
If she acted first, Lin Zijing would be the one forced to go.
Thinking of this, a faint smug smile appeared on her lips.
She did not want to stay and watch these people scheme, so she simply shut the door, blocking everything out of sight.
The loud slam startled Lin Jiancheng, pulling his thoughts back.
Slowly, he made a decision.
Even though Yang Qingqiu was unwilling and reluctant, Lin Xue was his biological daughter. He could not let his own child suffer in the countryside while an adopted child stayed home in comfort.
That was the child his deceased wife had given birth to after ten months of pregnancy—he had to protect her.
He took a deep breath and walked to the door of Lin Zijing’s room.
His tone was both coaxing and persuasive.
“Qingqiu, Zijing, open the door. Let’s sit down and talk this through properly.”
Yang Qingqiu and Lin Zijing exchanged a look. Both mother and daughter already knew what his decision would be. Their eyes were filled with cold disdain.
How could he not bear to send his own daughter to the countryside—but was willing to send away someone else’s child instead?
After a few seconds, the door still did not open.
Frowning tightly, Lin Jiancheng continued.
“Zijing, Dad knows you feel wronged about going to the countryside.
But don’t worry, Dad will make arrangements for you properly. It won’t be far from home. If your mother misses you, she can bring your younger brother to see you anytime.
And this move to the countryside is a national policy—it’s an honorable thing.
After a year or two, Dad will find a way to bring you back. By then, you’ll already have the reputation, and you’ll be able to return…”