The matter had already been settled. Once the name was reported, it could no longer be changed.
Lin Shu cried as if her heart were being torn apart. Her voice was sharp with extreme despair as she shouted at Lin Jiancheng.
“Liar! You’re a liar!
I don’t want to go to the countryside! Dad, you promised me! You said I wouldn’t be sent down anymore! Why?
Why is my name the one in the end?!
You didn’t tell me—why?! Why!”
Lin Shu was covered in tears, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Lin Jiancheng, startling him so badly that his heart skipped a beat.
He didn’t want this either. Seeing his most cherished daughter in such despair, his heart felt like it was breaking. His lips moved, but he didn’t know how to comfort her.
Seeing that Lin Jiancheng remained silent, Lin Shu turned to Lin Xue instead, staring at her fiercely and shouting with all her strength.
“Why?!
Lin Xue, tell me why! Why did you harm me like this?!
It was clearly decided that you would go to the countryside—Dad said it was you! So why did you use your shameless tricks to stay in the city, ruin your own reputation, and drag me into this?!
You knew how hard life in the countryside is—why did you push me into it? Why are you making me suffer?!
Am I even still your little sister?!”
Lin Xue’s lips trembled under the questioning. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.
Was she wrong for only thinking of herself?
Seeing her silence, Lin Shu’s heart sank completely. She let out a cold laugh.
“Heh… all of you are liars. All of you are bad people!
And you, Lin Zijin—what right do you have?!”
Her twisted face and hateful eyes suddenly turned toward Lin Zijin.
“What right do you have?!
Why do all the benefits fall to you?!
You’re nothing but a burden who killed your own father—a bastard child! What right do you have to stay in the city?!
And even land a good marriage?! What right do you have?!”
As if remembering something, her eyes suddenly widened even more, her voice becoming sharper and more venomous, her expression even more distorted.
“Oh, I get it now.
Did you already know about being sent to the countryside?
Did you already hook up with that man and secretly get married just to scheme against me?!
Your heart is so black! You’re vile and rotten! You won’t die a good death!”
Yang Qingqiu was furious. She had originally felt a bit of pity for the girl, but now she had clearly gone too far. Her chest rose and fell with anger.
“Lin Shu! Shut your filthy mouth!
You couldn’t keep yourself in the city—whose fault is that? You only have yourself to blame!
If you want to blame someone, blame your useless father and that shameless sister of yours. Why are you blaming Zijin?!
Our Zijin stands upright and has done nothing disgraceful!
Let me tell you, Lin Shu—even if you curse until the sky has a hole in it, you’re still going to the countryside!
Instead of wasting time yelling here, you should pack your things. Otherwise, when the time comes, you’ll be forcibly dragged onto the truck. And don’t think crying for your father will help—even calling out to your dead mother won’t change anything!”
After venting, Yang Qingqiu felt much better. She called her daughter and son to go out for a meal—steamed meat buns at the state-run restaurant.
Lin Shu was completely stunned.
Was she really going to be sent to the countryside?
Was that really going to be her ending?
Tears streamed down her face as she stood there in disbelief.
Seeing his daughter like this, all of Lin Jiancheng’s anger vanished, replaced only by deep pity.
He walked up to her, crouched down, and helped her up.
“Xiao Shu, your Aunt Yang is right.”
“You need to hurry up and pack your things. Otherwise, when you get to Yunnan Province, you won’t have anything at all. What will you do then?”
Lin Shu was still furious. She wiped her tears and snot with her sleeve, stiffening her neck. “No, I’m not packing. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying at home.”
Lin Xue couldn’t stand it anymore. She didn’t know whether it was guilt in her heart or pity for her younger sister, but she grabbed her and dragged her back into the room.
“Not packing? When you end up in some remote mountain village with no clothes to change into and no blanket to cover yourself, who are you going to cry to then?
Stop acting tough!
Hurry up and pack. Take all your clothes for all four seasons. We don’t even know when you’ll be able to come back.”
Lin Jiancheng also spoke up. “Yes, your sister is right. Stop making trouble and pack your things.
Later, Dad will go to the factory to ask for leave. After that, I’ll take you out to buy some things you’ll need. Whatever you want, Dad will buy it for you.
Daughter, don’t worry. You are Dad’s precious girl. How could I bear to let you suffer in the countryside?
Every month, Dad will send you things and money. Go find some easier work and just get by for a while. I’ll find a way to bring you back.”
Lin Xue listened with envy, a bitter feeling rising in her heart.
If her father treated her even half as well as he treated her younger sister, she wouldn’t have resorted to such methods and ruined her own reputation.
Lin Shu pouted. “Liar. You’re a liar.
You used to say I was your most precious daughter and that you would never let me go to the countryside. And what happened?
You all just watched as my name was written down and couldn’t do anything about it.
And yesterday—yesterday you even told me you’d buy me a job. Where is that job?
Now you’re saying you’ll send me money, tickets, and things, and then bring me back. Dad, can your words even be trusted?”
Lin Jiancheng opened his mouth. “This… this was beyond Dad’s control. It’s the policy from above. Who would have known…
As for the job, I’ve been asking around these past few days. I actually found one, but we had agreed to meet today. Who knew the street office would act so quickly and already write your name down?
If they had been even a little slower, you wouldn’t have had to go to the countryside at all.
Really, Dad isn’t lying this time.
Now that your name is already registered, it can’t be changed. You can only go down to the countryside for a while.
Just endure it for a few months. After three or five months, I’ll bring you back.
There’s a coworker at our factory whose son was also brought back. He only went to the countryside for three months before returning.
If you don’t believe me, you can ask around.
Xiaoshu, trust Dad. I will definitely, absolutely bring you back.”
He didn’t tell his daughter that his coworker’s son had actually fallen off a mountain, broken his leg, and was sent back by the educated youth office.
Lin Shu hesitantly asked, “Really?
You didn’t lie to me this time?”
Lin Jiancheng shook his head. “No, absolutely not. I promise.”
Only then did Lin Shu reluctantly believe him. What Yang Qingqiu had said was right—crying and making a scene wouldn’t change the fact that she had to go down to the countryside.
“Alright, Dad, I’ll trust you this time. Last time. If you lie to me again, I’ll never trust you again—and I’ll hate you.”
Lin Shu’s threat didn’t concern Lin Jiancheng much. He simply thought the child was insecure and frightened.
“Alright.
Daughter, Dad has to go to the factory to ask for leave now. When I come back, I’ll take you out to buy things—new clothes, and lots of delicious food.”
“Mm, got it.”