Lin Wan knew that raspy voice all too well.
It belonged to the Lin family’s so-called “pillar of strength”—Old Madam Lin, whose favoritism toward her own children knew no bounds.
She had just been scared off yesterday by Lin Wan’s wooden club.
Why was she back again today?
Lin Wan let out a cold laugh and weighed the solid wooden club in her hand.
It seemed yesterday’s lesson hadn’t been painful enough to teach the old woman a lesson.
Outside, Old Madam Lin leaned on her cane, cursing so fiercely that spit flew everywhere.
“Open the door! Stop pretending to be dead in there, you wretched girl!”
“You think hiding in this ruined temple will save you? Let me tell you, you’re a member of the Lin family while you’re alive, and you’ll be a Lin family ghost when you’re dead!”
Following behind her were not only several old women who loved watching trouble unfold—
There was also Zhang Shi, covering her swollen face, and Lin Daqiang, limping along.
Even Old Man Lin, who normally wouldn’t dare utter a word, had come today.
The entire family had turned out together.
The reason was simple.
Somehow, a rumor had spread throughout the village overnight.
People claimed that Lin Wan had grown radishes thicker than water buckets in the barren land behind the mountain where nothing had ever grown.
Not only that—
Some even swore they had personally seen her dig up a glowing treasure in the mountains.
Otherwise, where had she gotten the money to buy meat and quilts?
The rumors became more outrageous with every retelling.
By the time they reached the Lin family, the story had turned into Lin Wan discovering a gold mine and striking it rich.
How could they let that go?
Old Madam Lin had been so jealous that her eyes nearly turned red.
She hadn’t slept all night.
In her opinion, even if Lin Wan had signed the separation agreement, the blood of the Lin family still flowed through her veins.
That treasure—and every coin she owned—should naturally be handed over to her grandmother as an act of filial piety.
So early this morning, she had gathered the entire family and marched aggressively to the ruined temple.
“Mother, why waste words with her? Just smash the door open!”
Hiding behind Old Madam Lin, Zhang Shi eagerly stirred up trouble.
Yesterday, Lin Wan had scared her half to death.
But today, with so many people on their side, she felt bold again.
“That’s right! Smash the door open!”
“Search the place for the money and the treasure!”
Lin Daqiang hopped around excitedly, already imagining himself spending that fortune in the brothels.
Old Man Lin shrank back and glanced at the shaky wooden door uncertainly.
“Mother… isn’t this a little much? What if that girl pulls out another knife…”
“You useless coward! Shut up!”
Old Madam Lin struck his leg with her cane.
“I’m her grandmother!”
“I’d like to see if she dares lay a finger on me!”
“If she doesn’t hand over the money today, I’ll smash my head on her doorstep and make her carry the shame for the rest of her life!”
Old Madam Lin’s talent for throwing tantrums and making scenes was legendary in Xinghua Village.
She planted both hands on her hips and kicked the door again.
“Lin Wan! You ungrateful little beast!”
“Don’t think signing one worthless piece of paper means you can do whatever you want!”
“As long as I’m still alive, you’ll remain my granddaughter!”
“Now hand over every coin you earned from selling vegetables—and that treasure you dug up in the mountains!”
Her shrill voice shook the broken door.
The old women around her quickly chimed in.
“Young lady, just listen to your grandmother. Elders are never truly angry with their grandchildren.”
“Exactly.”
“A young girl like you shouldn’t be carrying so much money.”
“It’s much safer to let your elders keep it for you.”
…
Inside the ruined temple,
Lin Yulong clung tightly to Lin Wan’s leg.
His small body trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind.
“Sis…”
“They’re back…”
“Are they going to beat us to death?”
His eyes were filled with terror.
Three years of inhuman abuse in the Lin household had left scars that could never easily fade.
“Yulong.”
“Look at me.”
Lin Wan knelt down and gently held his cold little face in both hands, making him meet her eyes.
“Remember this.”
“Since yesterday, we have nothing to do with them anymore.”
Her voice was calm and steady, carrying a reassuring strength.
“They’re not our elders.”
“They’re just a bunch of thieves trying to steal what belongs to us.”
“When you’re dealing with thieves, you don’t need to be afraid.”
“You fight back.”
Lin Wan stood up and patted the wooden club in her hand.
“Stay here.”
“Watch how I deal with these old dogs.”
…
In the corner, leaning against the wall on the pile of straw,
Xiao Junmo watched the commotion outside through the gaps in the wooden boards.
To him, this kind of countryside shouting match was little more than a childish farce.
What truly interested him was Lin Wan’s reaction.
This village girl—
Who radiated killing intent…
Possessed remarkable medical skills…
And somehow managed to grow extraordinary vegetables…
How exactly would she deal with this group of shameless relatives?
He was even considering helping her if things got out of hand.
After all, it would repay her for saving his life.
But the next second—
Creak—
The shaky wooden door was suddenly pulled open from the inside.
Holding her wooden club, Lin Wan stepped calmly over the threshold.
The rising morning sun shone on her.
Yet it did nothing to soften the chilling aura surrounding her.
The shouting members of the Lin family instantly fell silent.
Like a flock of noisy ducks suddenly grabbed by the throat.
Old Madam Lin’s smug expression froze.
Zhang Shi instinctively stepped backward.
Even Lin Daqiang tightly shut his mouth, afraid the club would smash into his leg again.
Looking down at them from above, Lin Wan’s gaze was as sharp as a blade.
“What?”
“Didn’t yesterday’s beating satisfy you?”
“So today you all came together to die?”
Her voice wasn’t loud.
But it carried absolute confidence and arrogance.
Old Madam Lin swallowed nervously.
Still pretending to act like the respected elder, she slammed her cane against the ground.
“You wretched girl!”
“Is that any way to speak to your elders?”
“I’m telling you, don’t think I’m afraid just because you’re acting fierce!”
“If you don’t hand over the money today…”
“If I don’t?”
Lin Wan interrupted her, a mocking smile curling across her lips.
“What are you going to do?”
“Smash your head on my doorstep?”
She pointed at the moss-covered stone beneath her feet.
“This rock is very hard.”
“Grandmother, you’d better aim carefully.”
“If you miss, I’ll end up wasting money hiring a doctor for you.”
“You… you…”
Old Madam Lin trembled with rage.
She pointed accusingly at Lin Wan but couldn’t force out a complete sentence.
She had never imagined this wretched girl would not only ignore her usual threats of crying, making scenes, and threatening suicide—
But would actually mock her for them.
“Lin Wan, don’t go too far!”
Seeing her mother-in-law losing the argument, Zhang Shi reluctantly stepped forward.
“We brought respected elders from the village with us today!”
“Do you really want to completely ruin your reputation in this village?”
She pointed toward the old women behind her.
The moment Lin Wan’s icy gaze swept across them—
A chill ran down their spines.
They immediately shrank back and didn’t dare utter another word.
“Respected elders?”
“Ruin my reputation?”
Lin Wan laughed as though she’d heard the greatest joke in the world.
She suddenly took a step forward.
Bang!
The wooden club slammed heavily into the dirt beside Zhang Shi’s feet.
Pebbles exploded into the air and struck Zhang Shi’s calves.
“Ow!”
She screamed in fright and stumbled backward, nearly falling flat onto the ground.
“I already made this clear yesterday.”
“The separation agreement is written in black and white.”
Lin Wan slowly looked around at everyone gathered there.
Her voice rang out loud and clear.
“I, Lin Wan, now head my own household.”
“My money.”
“My treasures.”
“Even a single blade of grass that I grow…”
“Has absolutely nothing to do with the Lin family.”
“Not even worth half a copper coin to you.”
“You want to steal my money?”
She flipped her wrist.
The wooden club sliced through the air before stopping directly in front of Old Madam Lin and Zhang Shi’s faces.
Her eyes instantly turned cold and ruthless.
“Then let’s see…”
“…whether your bones are harder than the club in my hand.”