Lin Miaomiao’s temper flared the moment she heard those words.
“These are my books! Who gave you permission to sell them?”
Her voice was so loud that all three people present were startled. Seeing her sudden return, Liu Huihui’s eyes flickered with a trace of guilt.
She forced an unnatural smile and said, “Miaomiao, you’re back. I thought you didn’t want these books anymore. They were just taking up space at home, so I figured I’d sell them.”
“I had no idea you still wanted them.”
“So, are you selling or not?” the old man collecting the books asked impatiently, frowning.
“Of course not! Whoever dares to sell my books, I’ll kill them!” Lin Miaomiao’s gaze was icy.
The old man was startled by her glare and muttered angrily about having made a wasted trip. He snatched the money from Liu Hang’s hand and stormed off in a huff.
“Lin Miaomiao!” Seeing her drive away the book collector, Liu Hang kicked over the pile of books. “You wasteful woman!”
The next second, Lin Miaomiao’s foot connected with his body. Liu Hang clearly hadn’t expected her to lash out so suddenly and let out a sharp, pained cry—“Ow!”
“Xiao Hang, Xiao Hang, what’s wrong?” Lin Miaomiao’s kick had landed squarely between his legs, and Liu Hang’s agonized screams sounded like a pig being slaughtered.
Hearing the commotion, neighbors came out one after another, asking, “What’s going on? Why is he screaming so terribly?”
“Lin Miaomiao, you’ve gone too far.” Liu Huihui trembled with rage as she watched her brother’s face turn pale with pain.
Seeing the crowd gathering, she immediately burst into tears. “Everyone, please help me judge this fairly! Lin Miaomiao has been living in my house with her child for three years, and I’ve never said a single word against her. My brother just came to stay for a few days, and she couldn’t stand it. Not only did she give me attitude all day, but she even laid hands on my brother!”
Hearing this, everyone was shocked. They had seen Liu Hang around with Liu Huihui these past few days and heard he was her cousin from her hometown, here to look for work, so he was staying with her temporarily. They also said he was an educated man, which made many envious.
But some had wondered: with Liu Hang staying here, wouldn’t Lin Hai’s sister, Lin Miaomiao, feel uncomfortable?
It wasn’t long before they heard Lin Miaomiao had moved out.
Because of this incident, Liu Huihui had been badmouthing Lin Miaomiao everywhere these past few days, and many felt Lin Miaomiao had gone too far.
After all, both were siblings of the married couple—why could she stay but not him?
Lin Miaomiao, with a child and no husband, and being quite beautiful, had already faced plenty of criticism before.
Now, the dissatisfaction was even more apparent.
“Miaomiao, this really is your fault. He’s your sister-in-law’s brother, after all. How could you hit him?”
“Exactly. Everyone has seen you living here all these years, and with a child too. Have you ever heard of a married woman staying at her parents’ home for so long? Your sister-in-law never said anything about it.”
“Right, hurry up and apologize to your sister-in-law. Family shouldn’t hold grudges overnight.”
Their tones were filled with disapproval.
Playing the victim, huh? Lin Miaomiao sneered coldly, then also began to cry. “I didn’t want to hit him. It’s because he shamelessly harassed me.”
“What! Harassment?” Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, turning their shocked gazes toward Liu Hang, unable to believe that such an educated man would stoop to harassment.
As soon as Liu Huihui heard her mention this matter, her expression immediately changed, and she quickly stopped her: “You’re talking nonsense! That was all a misunderstanding. You just can’t stand my brother, so you’re slandering him. Lin Miaomiao, you’re truly vicious.”
Everyone turned their gaze toward Lin Miaomiao.
Lin Miaomiao sneered coldly but feigned grievance on the surface. “Sister-in-law, don’t lie through your teeth. Your brother’s indecent behavior was witnessed by many people, and he was even arrested and detained by the police. I originally thought that after such an incident, he would turn over a new leaf, but it seems old habits die hard.”
“I used to think you were unaware and deceived by him, but I never imagined you were the one behind all this. You’re expecting a second child and feel I’m taking up space in the house, so you want to force me out. But my older brother won’t agree, so you’re trying to marry me off.”
“Since I have no plans to remarry for now because of A Bao, you brought your brother from the countryside here, intending to ruin my reputation. While I was away, you let him sneak into my room to sleep, sell my books, and even harass me in public. In the end, a kind-hearted person reported him, and he was sent to detention.”
“If you don’t believe me, I can take you to the police station to verify whether what I’m saying is true.”
Everyone was stunned.
No wonder they hadn’t seen him for a few days recently, and he came back injured—it turned out he had been arrested for indecent behavior.
And even more shocking, it was actually Liu Huihui who had instigated it!
How despicable!
“You’re talking nonsense! My brother came here to look for a job. He never had any intentions toward you.”
Liu Huihui hadn’t expected Lin Miaomiao to know about this, and she panicked instantly.
“Hah, you say he came to look for a job, but he’s been here for so long and has done nothing but laze around at home, sleeping all day. He even tried to secretly sell my study books to buy cigarettes. Is this what you call looking for a job?”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed, he claimed to be looking for a job, but in all these days, he had hardly stepped out.
Moreover, since Lin Miaomiao mentioned it had even reached the police station, it was almost certainly true.
As everyone considered this possibility, they looked at Liu Huihui with disdain, feeling she had gone too far.
“No wonder Miaomiao moved out. Liu Huihui claimed she couldn’t stand her brother, but now it seems she’s the one who can’t stand her sister-in-law!”
“When Miaomiao first returned, I heard that the Lin Family couple gave the house to Lin Hai on the condition that he take good care of her, and he agreed. Who would have thought it wouldn’t take long for her to regret it?”
“How outrageous! Trying to ruin someone’s reputation—such a person should be sent to jail!”
“Exactly, and her brother doesn’t seem like a good person either, with his shifty eyes.”
“Lin Hai is no better. His own sister has been bullied like this, and he doesn’t even stand up for her. That’s just too much.”
Everyone pointed fingers and criticized.
Liu Huihui was berated by the crowd, feeling as if she were being roasted over a fire.
Lin Miaomiao continued to play the victim. “These books were borrowed from my colleagues for studying. Since I don’t have a place to stay for now, I couldn’t take them with me. But I never expected my sister-in-law couldn’t even tolerate a single book…”
Liu Huihui: “…”
The crowd’s scolding grew even louder.
Liu Huihui was so angry her head throbbed. Watching Lin Miaomiao gather her books to leave, a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.
“Ah, my stomach hurts so much.”
She couldn’t argue with everyone and suddenly cried out in stomach pain, startling the crowd.
Lin Hai ran back and saw her sitting on the ground clutching her stomach, while Liu Hang was also holding his lower body, his face pale with pain. Lin Hai’s expression changed drastically as he pushed Lin Miaomiao aside and rushed over.