When Lin Yuqing voluntarily suggested going to the police station, it was exactly what they wanted. They agreed immediately.
After leaving the apartment—
Lin Yuqing headed straight for the residential building behind them.
Some neighborhood kids had already run off to report the incident to the police, so there was no need for her to do it herself.
She had something far more important to take care of.
At the Zhong family home, all six family members who had work or school were already awake.
Mrs. Zhong was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
Zhong Shuwen was hunched over the dining table, writing something.
As his younger brother walked past, he glanced at the paper and asked,
“Big Brother, what are you writing so early in the morning?”
He casually read a few lines aloud.
“…Obsessed with Lin Yuqing, unable to control my feelings, I pressured her into running away from her wedding… Hahaha! Big Brother, this is a self-criticism letter!”
His laughter wasn’t quiet.
Hearing him, Mrs. Zhong stormed out of the kitchen, spatula in hand.
“What self-criticism letter? Lin Yuqing made you write that?!”
Zhong Shuwen remained silent.
His silence only fueled her anger.
“Has she lost her mind?”
“The bride price wasn’t enough for her? Now she’s forcing you to write this disgusting thing too?”
As she spoke, she reached for the letter, intending to tear it apart.
Fortunately, Zhong Shuwen reacted quickly and shielded it.
“Mom, stop it.”
“Stop it?” Mrs. Zhong shrieked.
“That little bitch thinks she can order you around just because she has a commander for a father? Are you stupid? If you spoil her now, once she marries into this family she’ll be sitting on my head!”
“She’s damaged goods, yet you treat her like a treasure!”
Her loud insults carried through the apartment door and into the hallway.
Just then—
Lin Yuqing arrived.
And heard every single word.
She calmly raised her hand and knocked.
Several knocks later, someone finally opened the door.
It was Mrs. Zhong.
The moment she saw Lin Yuqing standing outside, her expression froze in shock.
“You?!”
Hearing the commotion, Zhong Shuwen rushed over.
The instant he saw Lin Yuqing, panic flashed across his face.
He wanted to ask whether she’d heard anything, but he didn’t dare.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he forced a smile.
“Uh… Yuqing, what brings you here?”
“I came to hear how your entire family talks about me behind my back.”
Her tone was so calm it sounded as if she were discussing someone else entirely.
With her chin slightly raised, she walked into the apartment.
She picked up the letter from the table and skimmed it.
“Not bad.”
Then she folded it neatly and slipped it into her pocket.
Crossing the room, she dusted off the sofa before sitting down.
Then she looked toward Mrs. Zhong and crooked a finger.
“You. Come here.”
The way she carried herself made it seem as though she were the mistress of the house.
Since ancient times, mothers-in-law tormented daughters-in-law.
No one had ever heard of the reverse.
Mrs. Zhong wiped her hands on her apron and swaggered over before dropping heavily onto the sofa beside her.
“What is it?”
“We’re here to discuss the wedding.”
Lin Yuqing’s tone remained calm.
Apparently, she intended to let the earlier insults pass without mentioning them.
Of course she would.
After all, she was the one eager to marry into their family.
Mrs. Zhong secretly gloated.
So what if she was a commander’s daughter?
So what if she’d insulted her?
If Lin Yuqing wanted to marry her son, she’d still have to lower herself and beg for discussions about the wedding.
Smugly glancing at her husband, Mrs. Zhong adopted an authoritative tone.
“We’ve already prepared the bicycle, sewing machine, radio, and wristwatch. Those were your requirements.”
“Now it’s my turn to explain our family’s expectations for a daughter-in-law.”
“Mm.”
Lin Yuqing didn’t even bother looking up.
Mrs. Zhong’s confidence swelled.
See? She knows her place now.
The feeling of crushing a wealthy commander’s daughter beneath her feet filled her with satisfaction.
After clearing her throat dramatically, she continued in an even louder voice.
“First, household duties. Our family has six people. Shuwen’s younger sister is busy with work, and his younger brother is still attending technical school. That means all the housework will be yours.”
“Second, money. Our family is united. We don’t split households. After you marry, you’ll live here with us. You can’t stay for free. Every month you’ll contribute twenty-five yuan to the family fund.”
“As for family life, the eldest sister-in-law is like a second mother. You’ll need to care for the younger siblings. Their jobs and future—”
Father Zhong, who had been smoking his pipe nearby, nearly choked.
“Enough!”
He glared at his wife.
“Discuss the wedding already! Why are you talking about all that nonsense?”
Was now really the time to establish rules?
The priority was getting the girl married into the family first!
This foolish woman!
Mrs. Zhong looked unhappy but didn’t dare argue after receiving a fierce glare.
“When we got married, your mother told me the exact same things.”
Silence filled the room.
Zhong Shuwen couldn’t read Lin Yuqing’s expression.
Stepping forward, he tried to smooth things over.
“Yuqing… that’s not what my mother meant. We can discuss all of this later—”
“No.”
Lin Yuqing looked up, a smile hanging at the corner of her lips.
“No need to discuss it.”
“Didn’t your mother just say these are family traditions passed down through generations? We shouldn’t break tradition now.”
Her gaze drifted toward the thick-faced Mrs. Zhong.
Slowly, she lifted her wrist and adjusted the sleeve hiding a jade bracelet underneath.
“My family’s heirloom bracelet.”
She smiled.
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
Mrs. Zhong knew perfectly well how wealthy the Lin family was.
The moment she saw the fine-quality jade, her eyes practically sparkled.
“That’s right! Your dowry jewelry should also be kept by the family!”
Sometimes stupidity made sarcasm completely ineffective.
Lin Yuqing couldn’t help laughing.
“What I meant is that your family’s heirloom is certainly unique.”
“My family passes down jewelry.”
“Your family passes down rules.”
The mockery in her voice instantly left Mrs. Zhong speechless.
“You—!”
“Did I say it was your turn to speak?”
Lin Yuqing shot her a cold look.
Raised in the military compound, she possessed a natural authority and sharpness most people lacked.
Mrs. Zhong instinctively shrank back.
After a long stare, Lin Yuqing said coolly,
“Oh, right. Speaking of family traditions, my family has one too.”
“My mother was extremely possessive. She hated hearing me call anyone else ‘Mom.’”
“And Dad Lin always said I could only marry a man who owned a bicycle and a house—and whose parents were both dead.”
The entire Zhong family froze.
Zhong Shuwen quickly stepped forward and tugged gently at her sleeve.
“Yuqing, don’t be angry. My mother was wrong. Let’s discuss the wedding first.”
“Yes.”
Lin Yuqing smiled.
“Let’s discuss the wedding.”
“Right.” Zhong Shuwen immediately relaxed.
“What would you like to discuss?”
“Well,” Lin Yuqing replied leisurely, “you don’t qualify on the dead-parents requirement. That’s an unfortunate hardware limitation.”
“But I also can’t stand evil mothers-in-law.”
“So let’s each compromise a little.”
At the words compromise a little, Zhong Shuwen visibly brightened.
Squatting beside her, he smiled.
“Tell me.”
“Your parents should get divorced first.”
She glanced at her watch.
“It’s eight o’clock now. Perfect. The Civil Affairs Bureau is open.”
“Go get divorced immediately.”
“When I see the divorce certificate, we’ll hold the wedding tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll take you home to meet Dad Lin.”
For the first time, Lin Yuqing gave a specific wedding date.
The temptation was enormous.
She knew Zhong Shuwen would waver.
And sure enough—
Both Zhong Shuwen and Father Zhong fell silent.
Take him home to the Lin family?
Father Zhong’s lips trembled with excitement.
He was just about to speak—
“Shut up!”
Mrs. Zhong’s scream cut him off.
After thirty years of marriage, she instantly understood what her husband was thinking.
Humiliated and furious, she directed all her anger toward Lin Yuqing.
Rolling up her sleeves, she lunged forward.
“You little bitch! What nonsense are you talking about?!”
“I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart!”
Unfortunately for her—
Compared to Lin Yuqing, she was hopelessly slow.
Lin Yuqing had learned grappling techniques from her eldest brother since childhood.
The moment Mrs. Zhong lunged, Lin Yuqing casually raised a hand.
A slight push with the base of her thumb struck a pressure point in Mrs. Zhong’s arm.
Before the older woman could react—
Lin Yuqing swung her arm.
Smack!
Smack!
Smack!
The slaps were loud, crisp, and merciless.
After several days of frequent practice, her wrist had become quite accustomed to hitting people.
Her strikes were fast.
Accurate.
And powerful.
The younger Zhong siblings were stunned for several seconds before finally rushing forward.
Zhong Shuwen was thrown into chaos.
One hand tried to hold back his mother.
The other tried to restrain his siblings.
The living room instantly descended into pandemonium.
And that was exactly the moment Lin Yuqing had been waiting for.
Seizing the opportunity, she swiftly pulled out her Wild Mushroom Spray.
Then she aimed directly at Mrs. Zhong’s nose—
And sprayed twice.