“Is someone else’s son being raised more important than their own niece? What kind of messed-up relatives are they? It’s really hard on my little sister-in-law, being so young and still having to deal with these people.”
Qin Wenying had been holding back her anger all day, and it finally burst out now.
“It’s so frustrating just watching this. I even feel like stepping in and helping vent my anger. I’ve never experienced anything this suffocating in my life.”
Si Chongguang held her hand and tried to comfort her.
“Our sister-in-law may look young, but she’s very calm when handling things. We came here to help, so you need to control your temper and not cause her trouble.”
“I think her way of doing things is very similar to Wenqian’s. She probably doesn’t need us to interfere. When she does need help, she’ll speak up herself,” Si Chongguang continued. “Just like this afternoon when she needed us to look after Tangtang, she told us. That means she already has everything under control.”
Qin Wenying looked at the unfinished straw bed and felt even more frustrated.
“Tomorrow go to the clinic and borrow a vehicle, then go to the county town and buy daily necessities. We can’t interfere in big matters, but we can’t let my poor sister-in-law worry about these small things anymore.”
She pulled out a thick stack of cash and tossed it to Si Chongguang generously.
“Buy a whole cart of supplies food, daily necessities, everything. I’m staying here to see what kind of demons and monsters are in this village.”
When Si Chongguang took the money, he also held her hand.
Qin Wenying glared at him, still clearly angry.
Si Chongguang leaned closer and lowered his voice.
“Yes, my lady. Now can you wash up and sleep?”
The next morning, the “demons and monsters” really came knocking.
Qin Wenying was sweeping the yard when she saw a large group of people storm in. The leader was Lin Lao’er, whom she had seen the night before.
Lin Lao’er leaned on a crutch and walked in aggressively.
When he saw the beautiful woman in a dress in the yard, his usual roguish behavior surfaced again.
He flipped his fringe and put on a smug air.
“So you’re Lin Qimo’s cousin. Call her out. Pay up.”
Qin Wenying looked up and without hesitation swung the broom at him.
“I’ll beat you to death, you black-hearted, useless man who can’t even produce a son! You show up demanding money the moment you arrive who gave you the nerve?”
The scene instantly descended into chaos. The villagers who had come to watch were all stunned.
Lin Lao’er, limping on one leg, was chased and beaten.
Everyone even felt he deserved it.
“Don’t they say city people are refined? Why does this relative of the Lin family seem even fiercer than us villagers?”
Someone else clapped and laughed, “Lin Lao’er is used to being shameless. Now he finally met someone who won’t tolerate him serves him right, haha!”
After Qin Wenying stopped, Lin Qimo also came out.
She glanced at the crowd and already had a rough idea of what was going on.
There were quite a lot of people perfect timing to bring up that matter.
By then, Lin Lao’er had been protected by the village head.
“Enough! If you keep hitting him, you’ll really injure him. Who’s going to take responsibility?” the village head shouted loudly, his voice carrying authority.
“Village head, you saw it yourself. With you here, they still dared to beat me. Last night I was even cut by this niece of mine!” Lin Lao’er complained again, his hair a mess like a chicken coop.
Lin Qimo turned her gaze to the village head, Lin Changhong.
He was the kind of person who appeared fair on the surface, but was actually very calculating.
She smiled politely as usual.
“Village head, are you here to help my second uncle bully a few orphaned girls?”
The village head cleared his throat. “What are you saying? Your second uncle said you hid behind a tree last night and cut his leg. I came to investigate. What do you say about that?”
“What my second uncle says does anyone have proof?” Lin Qimo replied calmly. Of course she would not admit it.
“Village head, I could also say my second uncle kidnapped my sister. She still hasn’t been found. Shouldn’t you be handling that properly instead?”
As village head, Lin Changhong had to maintain authority. His expression turned serious.
“Lin Lao’er, are you really doing something like that?”
“Village head, don’t listen to her nonsense! I only planned to exchange-raised a son with Li Daqiang’s family. Both families agreed to it. That’s not kidnapping!”
Lin Lao’er spoke confidently.
“Li Daqiang has many sons and is struggling, so I was helping raise one. That’s a good thing. This is allowed in our village!”
This kind of “child exchange-raising” was never openly discussed; it was an unspoken local practice.
Lin Changhong said sternly, “There are many poor households in the village who can’t even pay grain taxes. Lin Lao’er is childless and voluntarily helping raise a child. Since both parties agreed, it doesn’t count as kidnapping.”
“But I never agreed,” Lin Qimo interrupted. “We are a separate household. My little sister is under my care. When did an outsider get the right to decide for us?”
“That’s basically stealing a child. It’s no different from trafficking.”
“What do you mean outsider? I’m your second uncle! We’re family! Lin Xiaobao is my niece why can’t I make decisions?” Lin Lao’er argued stubbornly.
Lin Qimo shot back, “If that logic stands, who would dare marry into our village? Who would dare marry out? Every family has relatives with sons should they just go around swapping children?”
Lin Changhong’s expression turned serious.
That would be chaos.
The villagers watching also felt Lin Qimo made sense.
“Lin Lao’er really did wrong. Even if children are exchanged, the parents must agree. Lin Lao’er’s brother’s family was already split off long ago they are separate households now.”