“No way. Our Wang family has over ten people working, each month handing in half their salary—how could there be only six hundred yuan at home?”
Huang Jinhua refused to believe the family had no money. With a dozen people working proper jobs, each contributing ten yuan a month, there should have been over a hundred already. In reality, it was much more than that.
“Third daughter-in-law, you’ve only counted the family’s income but not the expenses. For the men getting married, the standard is two hundred yuan each—did you subtract that? Our family has many mouths to feed, and the monthly grain ration isn’t enough. We have to buy extra at high prices. Did you calculate that? There are many children—tuition alone is a significant sum, you know. The household has plenty of expenses, so hardly any money is left to save. If you don’t believe me, I can carefully show you the calculations.”
No sooner had Grandmother Wang finished than the first and second branches also stepped in to reason with her.
“Sister-in-law, you’re not the only one with a son, you also need to consider Shuncai and Shunda! Shuncai is of marriageable age, and Shunda will enter junior high in two months—these all cost money.”
Huang Jinhua knew that no matter how much she begged, it would be useless. The Wang family wouldn’t hand over money or pity her just because she cried.
But she couldn’t just watch her son be sent to labor reform. So, for her son’s sake, she raged and threw a fit. No matter what, she would fight for a way to save him.
In the end, the first and second branches jointly proposed dividing the family property. Grandfather Wang, considering the future of the descendants, couldn’t allow the first and second branches’ children to have their futures ruined because of the third branch, nor could he allow the third branch to resent them.
So Grandfather Wang agreed to the division. For the money, the third branch would take two shares, leaving one share each for the first and second branches.
Huang Jinhua was forced to sign the division agreement under duress. Ultimately, she came to resent the first and second branches of the Wang family.
The neighbors in the compound relished the spectacle, squatting with their bowls in hand, remarking how the Wang family had finally divided their property.
After Lin Suyu took her revenge on Huang Jinhua’s family, she no longer paid attention to the Wang family. She had more important matters to handle.
Not long after returning from the seaside, the street office people found Lin Suyu and said her birth mother was looking for her. She was asked to go to the office the next morning for a formal identification.
This explosive news left Lin Suyu’s appetite for the food in her space completely gone. A sudden appearance of a birth mother seemed strange—how could she know about her now?
She had already changed the story in the book, had her household registration altered by Master Lin, owned a house, and was living independently. Why would her birth mother in the book still know anything about her?
The street office had confirmed that once she could live independently, the woman wouldn’t search for her. Yet somehow, she knew her whereabouts—this was intriguing.
Lin Suyu spent most of the night pondering the reason but couldn’t figure it out. She decided to wait and handle it as the situation unfolded.
The original book’s birth mother was a nightmare—Lin Suyu had no intention of getting involved with such a toxic relative again. Recognition was out of the question; she just wanted to live freely.
At the appointed time, Lin Suyu arrived at the street office. She was greeted by the same official who had handled her household registration.
“Good morning, Officer Liu. I heard someone claims to be my birth mother and wants to meet me?”
Lin Suyu had little patience for this “extreme” relative. She cut straight to the point.
“Comrade Suyu, yes, that’s true. She’s waiting in our conference room. I’ll take you there shortly. Don’t worry—we’ll oversee the process.”
Officer Liu spoke reassuringly, noting Lin Suyu didn’t resist, and led her to the conference room.
“Officer Liu, is this person really my birth mother? My registration clearly states my parents are deceased.”
Lin Suyu subtly reminded the official that the records didn’t match the woman’s claims.
“We’ll clarify everything. Suyu, if you’re unwilling, she won’t be allowed to take you anywhere.”
Officer Liu, familiar with Lin Suyu’s file, was naturally skeptical about the sudden woman claiming to be her birth mother.
Lin Suyu felt reassured by Liu’s promise. Soon, they arrived at the conference room.
“You… you’re my daughter, Suyu? You’ve grown so much… I’ve missed you so much!”
A graceful woman rushed forward, attempting to hug Lin Suyu. But Lin Suyu dodged slightly, shyly holding Officer Liu’s arm.
Seeing Lin Suyu recoil, the woman’s insincere nature became apparent. Lin Suyu felt relieved—she had no need to worry.
She remembered the novel—her original self had been taken by this so-called birth mother to live with a stepfather. As a child, she bore all the household chores.
Once she became an adult, she was exploited further, sent to the countryside as a “sent-down youth” instead of the stepfather’s own children. The so-called mother never offered warmth, only constant exploitation. Such a birth mother was not worth recognition.
Lin Suyu could accept others’ kindness with a smile but never their malice. Anyone harboring ill intent would immediately be treated as an enemy.
“Comrade, you’re scaring Suyu. Please sit down first. Once identities are confirmed, it will be time enough to reminisce.”
Officer Liu handled the situation tactfully. The woman’s crying and wailing were unappealing, giving the impression of sorrow for a daughter—when it was all performance.
“Alright, alright, I’ll sit. Suyu, I really am your birth mother. I gave birth to you, but after the country was founded, women weren’t allowed to be concubines, so I had to remarry. You, as Lin family’s child, could only stay there.”
…It seemed she didn’t know Lin Suyu’s identity had already been altered by the Lin family; otherwise, she wouldn’t have said that.
“Concubine? Are you referring to your status before remarrying? And you’re sure your daughter is Lin Huasheng’s child in the Lin family?”
Officer Liu, being meticulous, recorded the conversation while questioning.
“Of course. Suyu is indisputably the daughter of Master Lin Huasheng.”
Lin Suyu’s identity had to be that of Master Lin’s daughter—otherwise…
“Comrade, you may be mistaken. Suyu is not your biological daughter. Lin Suyu’s father was Lin Chaoying, the Lin family’s accountant.”
“Impossible! Lin Suyu is my daughter, born after ten months of pregnancy!”
The woman stood up, furious, glaring sharply at Officer Liu after her claim was denied.