Black Province Menghu Military Base.
Ling Wenchen had returned to the base, thinking about the Lin family. He guessed that Lin Shiping probably didn’t know yet; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let the gift be delivered to Lin Yuyan.
Thinking of her, his mind immediately recalled the soft, delicate skin he had touched that night, and the girl’s pleading voice—though she sounded scared, it almost came across like coaxing, which made him even more stirred.
Ling Wenchen cleared his throat, trying hard to suppress the rising excitement in his body.
“Wenchen, how is it? Did you give the gift to my sister? How’s Yuyan? Is she doing alright?”
From afar, Lin Shiping ran over, smiling broadly, patting his shoulder.
Ling Wenchen pulled him aside, waving off the others who wanted to crowd around, and led him to a secluded spot.
Lin Shiping, still smiling while asking, saw Ling Wenchen’s furrowed brows and immediately fell silent, anxiety flooding him.
“Wenchen, tell me… did something happen to Yuyan?”
Just the thought of his soft, timid sister getting hurt, crying until her nose was red, filled Lin Shiping with unbearable worry.
Yuyan was such a good, timid girl. Without him protecting her, if anything happened—
He couldn’t even imagine it.
“I need to take leave and go home to check—”
Ling Wenchen stopped him. “Shiping, Yuyan isn’t your sister. Your biological sister is Lin Yue, remember?”
Lin Shiping was confused. “What are you saying? Yuyan isn’t my sister? Who’s Lin Yue? What are you talking about? No, right now isn’t the time—Yuyan—”
Ling Wenchen’s fist shot forward, and the corner of Lin Shiping’s mouth immediately bled.
With a sharp gaze, he said, “Calm down! What good will rushing do? Can Yuyan immediately return? And if she does, will she just be kicked out again?”
Lin Shiping fell silent.
A moment later, he slumped to the ground, his strength drained, rubbing his sore, aching eyes, remaining in long silence.
Seeing him like this, Ling Wenchen felt uneasy as well.
He stepped over and patted his shoulder comfortingly. “Shiping, I’m investigating Yuyan’s whereabouts. But given your family’s situation, I think you should ask them directly. It’s not proper for me, an outsider, to intervene too much.”
Yet—
There were some things he wanted Lin Shiping to know.
“Shiping, your recently returned biological sister… isn’t exactly virtuous—”
The words sounded awkward, as if he were badmouthing someone.
If it weren’t for the memories of the person he recalled, Ling Wenchen would never have done such a selfless, risky thing.
After years of brotherly trust, Lin Shiping immediately understood.
He scoffed and sat down, gazing into the distance with eyes full of irony.
“In fact… when my sister was only a few months old, I already witnessed my mother’s inexplicable hatred for her. She hated her so much she almost smothered her to death.”
Back then, the family had just been relocated to a farm; the sister was less than a month old.
Lin Shiping’s mother looked numb, paying no attention to the baby’s cries.
It was only because Lin Shiping couldn’t bear it that he carefully fed her some broth, barely calming her wails.
He thought that was the end.
Once, when he had a stomachache and quietly went back to the cowshed, he opened the door and saw his mother’s face twisted with hatred, staring fixedly at the baby she was covering with rough cloth.
The baby’s little legs kicked and struggled, but the person covering her remained indifferent.
“Mom! What are you doing?!”
Lin Shiping hurriedly pushed his mother away, snatched his sister, and ran outside, afraid to make noise.
He also didn’t dare leave her at home again—his mother was a madwoman. Next time, she might actually harm the baby.
“I thought she just hated Yuyan, never imagined—”
It turned out his mother knew Yuyan wasn’t her biological daughter. She had no strange hatred for her—simply no feelings at all.
Thinking about it, Lin Shiping couldn’t help but laugh.
During such chaotic times, she meddled with other people’s children, yet didn’t cherish them, instead seemingly wishing to kill them.
He truly didn’t understand where his mother’s arrogance came from, thinking her actions now were justified.
Ling Wenchen pursed his lips. “What do you plan to do?”
“That’s not for me to decide. If Yuyan’s fine, that’s good. But if something happens to her, I really—”
Lin Shiping wiped his face, eyes resolute. “Wenchen, I’m going out for a bit.” Saying this, he ran off.
…
Jiang Yuyan carried a large bundle of herbs to fetch her mother.
Today they were preparing to bring Jiang Muxuan home from the hospital, knowing he couldn’t stay in the hospital and their family had little savings.
Jiang Yuyan hired a half-day cowcart for five mao, having Uncle Niu transport it.
Seeing the courtyard, Jiang Muxuan was puzzled. “This room… isn’t—”
Mother happily guided the youngest brother to help him inside.
“Xuan’er, this room is yours. Your father, following Yuyan’s plan, partitioned the two rooms into four small single rooms. Now each of you four has one.”
Jiang Muxuan lay drowsily on the warm kang (heated bed), taking a deep breath. The room was warmer and more comfortable than any he’d lived in before.
Originally, he had many things to say, but maybe because it was too comfortable or simply familiar, within minutes of lying down, Jiang Muxuan fell into a deep sleep.
Jiang Yuyan glanced at him sleeping, gently closed the door, and left.
“Mother, Big Brother is asleep, sleeping soundly. You don’t need to worry.”
“Phew, thank heavens! This child has suffered so much, keeping everything bottled up. I was really afraid he would hurt himself from all that worry.”
Jiang Yuyan handed her a packet of herbal medicine. “Mother, cook this for Big Brother. It will help his leg injuries.”
It would let him sleep tonight without pain.
“Good, I’ll cook it right away.” Her mother took the packet, but suddenly remembered something, calling out to her daughter.
“Yuyan, I forgot to tell you. When he was discharged, the police asked for you, said you need to go down there, but didn’t say why, and then they left.”
Jiang Yuyan thought, the police? She didn’t know anyone there—except that time she visited Jiang Muyi.
Her mother worried, “Did something happen? Should I go with you?”
Jiang Yuyan smiled reassuringly at her mother’s anxious expression.
“No, I already went to see Second Brother last time. I told the police there, anything can be handled at the hospital. It’s probably just about that. Don’t worry, Mother.”
Her mother sighed in relief. “Good, good.”
She was truly scared, every little thing setting her on edge.
Jiang Yuyan looked at the time; it was still early. She would head to town and could return by the afternoon if all went well.
The police station was bustling.
Jiang Yuyan scanned the room and called out to a police officer she had seen last time.
“Hello!”
“Comrade Jiang Yuyan? You finally came. Quick, Comrade Jiang Muyi was stabbed. I think you saw him last time—did he say anything to you?”