Why couldn’t Lin Xinyao tolerate Lin Susu? Naturally, it was because of her identity. By suppressing Lin Susu and making sure she never appeared before her, everything Lin Xinyao wanted would go smoothly.
In her previous life, everyone said she was the successful heir of the Lin family, but few knew that her success came at great cost, relying on a series of influential backers to open doors for her. Her achievements depended on money and status—and Lin Susu was her stumbling block. But in this life, perhaps circumstances had changed enough to give Lin Susu a different path?
Lin Xinyao’s heart was tangled with regret and self-reproach.
At this point, Lin Susu’s lack of deference made Lin Xinyao realize she wasn’t easy to bully. Moreover, Lin Susu’s analysis of the situation revealed her own predicament. Eventually, Lin Xinyao left in a daze.
Compared to Lin Xinyao’s low spirits, Lin Susu remained completely unaffected. She continued living her life lightly and freely.
It was just that occasionally she noticed one or two familiar figures in the corners of her vision. They weren’t people she met every day on the same street, so it was strange.
She didn’t know if these were foolish stalkers or if these people simply treated her as one. Such clumsy tracking skills were laughable—she, a child, could easily detect them.
It was obviously the same person, but each day they looked different. Their disguise was poor—they changed clothes and makeup but not shoes. Even their makeup skills were subpar, neglecting the small details.
A terrible performance! In the twenty-second century, which woman didn’t master exquisite makeup techniques? Some were even skilled in disguise and facial alteration!
After venting, Lin Susu settled into a steady routine. Her outings were either to school or to the supply and marketing cooperative or the market to buy food. Other places she rarely visited. Even entering her space, she waited until nighttime, closing doors and windows before going in.
For Lin Susu, this simple life was far from bad. It allowed her to focus on learning, reviewing the elementary school curriculum from start to finish.
Days were spent at school and nights cultivating in the space. Hard work always bore results. In this time, Lin Susu completed the entire elementary curriculum.
She finally understood why her math teacher often had her solve problems. The methods in the 1960s differed greatly from those in the twenty-second century. She also decided to adapt—standing out too much in this era wasn’t always good.
Her space had also upgraded from beginner to first-level. If the space upgrade represented Lin Susu’s cultivation, then laboring in the space was her training.
When the space upgraded, she realized her spiritual sense could now operate outside of it. Within a ten-meter radius, she could see insects and ants clearly through her perception.
Another uneventful day passed. Since Lin Susu had last dealt a heavy blow to Lin Xinyao, the two hadn’t met again. But with Liang Hui around, Lin Susu could follow every move of Lin Xinyao and comment freely.
“Ah, I’m going crazy—every day I have to deal with that bitch Lin Xinyao. Every time we argued, my dad protected her. Now my dad almost got suspended because of it.”
Since Lin Susu also knew Lin Xinyao, Liang Hui had grown accustomed to venting to her; otherwise, she couldn’t release her frustrations.
“Susu, I feel awful. How did you stay so calm facing that bitch all day before?”
Stay calm? That was because of the power imbalance—the original Lin Susu could only endure.
“Don’t want to see her? Just send her away. You’re not living under someone else’s roof; why are you the one enduring it?”
Surely, even together, Liang Hui and her mother shouldn’t be outmatched by Lin Xinyao! Mrs. Liang wasn’t just a simple housewife.
“Send her away? Easy to say, but it’s impossible! Nothing has been decided about the Lin family yet, my dad almost got implicated, and Lin Xinyao refuses to go to the countryside for a while.”
Her parents had argued several times over the Lin family and Lin Xinyao, yet she remained comfortably at their home, demanding the best in everything.
“Your dad’s really sentimental. Anyone else in his situation would have cut ties long ago.”
Lin Susu spoke vaguely, and Liang Hui didn’t grasp her full meaning.
“Impossible! My dad has always been close to my aunt, even doting on Lin Xinyao like a treasure. Besides, she can’t leave Jinmen City anyway.”
“If she can’t leave Jinmen City, then Guangfu! I once heard Lin Daluo say it’s close to Gangcheng.”
Before the Lin family returned, boats in Jinmen City were watched closely. If their scheduled return didn’t happen, it would be a big problem.
Being from a wealthy Lin family, desertion charges were inevitable. Director Liang would be the first to suffer consequences, since his factory previously relied on Lin family support, enabling him to rise quickly.
If Liang Hui was smart enough, she could pick up Lin Susu’s hints from their conversation.
If Director Liang publicly cut ties with Lin Dafu-ren in the newspaper, the subsequent fallout for him wouldn’t be too severe.
Since Lin Xinyao couldn’t leave Jinmen City, she could be sent to the Guangfu delta. Smugglers there were experienced, ferrying the poor across the sea. But someone like Lin Xinyao—wealthy—could hire them to ensure safe passage.
Just as Liang Hui was about to ask more, Lin Susu let it go. One must always guard against others—she could hint but couldn’t be too explicit.
Two days later, Liang Hui arrived at school in high spirits, carrying a bag of fruit and immediately offering some to Lin Susu.
It seemed Liang Hui wasn’t stupid; she understood Lin Susu’s previous hint. But Lin Susu soon realized that the truly clever one wasn’t Liang Hui, but Mrs. Liang.
When Liang Hui shared her day at school with her mother, she accidentally repeated Lin Susu’s words. Mrs. Liang, far from naive, was highly respected among the wives of officials. Her high EQ and IQ quickly extracted the key information.
Mrs. Liang first analyzed her husband’s situation, suggesting a public severing of ties with Lin Dafu-ren while secretly sending Lin Xinyao to Guangfu. There, she could spend a large sum to hire smugglers to transport her across the sea safely.
In fact, Mrs. Liang was extremely wise. While having her husband sever ties publicly, she also applied for a transfer. Since his position owed much to the Lin family, he could step aside gracefully and start rebuilding influence at a smaller factory. This reduced the fallout from the Lin family’s affairs.
Using Lin Xinyao’s safety to persuade her husband was no small feat. Even more impressive, Mrs. Liang had anticipated future turbulence, allowing her husband to stay low and avoid trouble.
After hearing Liang Hui’s account, Lin Susu could only comment: “Liang Hui, your mother is really a wise woman.”
With Lin Xinyao gone, the ticking time bomb over her head had finally disappeared. Originally, Lin Susu had only wanted a bit of revenge, but in the end, removing the threat was far safer.
Moreover, crossing the sea from the Guangfu delta wasn’t guaranteed safe—even for someone wealthy like Lin Xinyao. She would likely face some hardships along the way.
(PS: Lin Xinyao: Everyone says Lin Susu helped me, but who wants help that comes with so much suffering? Take it, don’t be shy! Hmph!)