Inside the Old Lin family’s dark, cramped thatched cottage, the air was filled with the unpleasant smell of mold and bitter herbal medicine.
Lin Daqiang lay face down on the earthen kang, clutching the waist that Lin Wan had injured with her throw. He grimaced in pain.
But beneath his pain, his triangular eyes gleamed with extreme greed and malice.
“Grandma, hiring those thugs from town to wreck her place will cost a lot of money. Where are we supposed to get that kind of cash?”
Rolling his eyes, Lin Daqiang lowered his voice and proposed an even more vicious—and much cheaper—plan.
“I say we wait until her new house is finished. Then, in the middle of the night, when no one’s around, we’ll splash dog blood around her walls and throw dead rats and dead cats into her yard.”
The more he spoke, the more excited he became. A cruel smile spread across his face.
“The people in our village believe in feng shui and evil spirits more than anything.”
“Then we’ll spread rumors everywhere that her house has terrible feng shui, that it’s haunted, and that it’s an unlucky house.”
“Let’s see who still dares work for her or buy her vegetables after that!”
As soon as Zhang Shi heard the plan, her swollen face, puffed up like a pig’s head, immediately broke into a smug grin.
“Daqiang’s idea is brilliant! It won’t cost us a single coin, but it’ll disgust that little bitch to death!”
“When she can’t take it anymore and comes begging our family to solve the problem, we’ll force her to hand over the new house and all her money!”
She was already imagining herself living in the blue-brick mansion, eating meat and drinking rich soup every day. She nearly drooled at the thought.
“The plan is good…”
Old Madam Lin narrowed her triangular eyes as her shriveled fingers tapped thoughtfully against her cane.
“But that wretched girl has become ruthless. She even has that severance agreement. What if she decides to fight us head-on?”
She was still somewhat wary of Lin Wan’s fearless determination.
“What are you afraid of?” Lin Daqiang snorted dismissively.
“No matter how arrogant she is, she’s still just a woman. Can she really go against the government?”
Ignoring the pain in his waist, he leaned closer to Old Madam Lin and whispered into her ear.
“Once we’ve made a big enough scene, we’ll report her to the county magistrate for being unfilial and refusing to support her elders.”
“That severance agreement was arranged privately by the village chief. The county magistrate might not even recognize it.”
“As long as the magistrate gives the order, not only can he confiscate all her property, he can also throw her into prison and have her beaten with the rod.”
“Then we’ll become the rightful owners of that house!”
His words made both Old Madam Lin and Zhang Shi’s eyes light up, completely erasing their remaining concerns.
After all, filial piety had always been one of the strongest weapons in society.
How could a woman living under her own household registration possibly overturn centuries of tradition?
Old Man Lin had been squatting silently in the corner, puffing on his pipe.
The thick smoke hid the expression on his face.
As he listened to his mother and son discussing how to destroy his own daughter’s hard work and send her to prison…
He merely lowered his head even further.
He didn’t object.
He didn’t stop them.
That cowardly silence was the greatest form of approval.
When profit was involved, so-called family ties were more fragile than a sheet of window paper.
Completely unaware of the Old Lin family’s schemes—and not caring enough to find out—Lin Wan was standing at the busy construction site, calmly directing the workers.
“Uncle Li, dig this foundation another half foot deeper. Make sure it’s packed tightly!”
“Brother Zhang, keep the gaps between the bricks even. Mix in more sticky rice mortar. Don’t try to save materials—we’re building for strength!”
Dressed in practical work clothes with her hair tied high, Lin Wan moved confidently through the clouds of dust without showing the slightest trace of the delicateness expected of a village girl.
The blueprint in her hand had been drawn overnight by combining modern architectural design with ancient construction techniques.
This wasn’t just a house.
It was a solid defensive fortress.
The workers genuinely admired their generous employer, who was knowledgeable, straightforward, and never acted superior.
Everyone worked harder than they would have for their own homes.
“Boss, don’t worry! We’ll build these walls so solid that even a wild boar would break its tusks trying to ram them!”
Uncle Li wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed loudly.
Lin Wan nodded before walking over to inspect the newly delivered timber.
Just then, her eyes caught sight of a familiar figure.
It was Xiao Junmo.
Although his injuries had not yet healed and his complexion was still pale, he simply couldn’t sit still.
He had removed his expensive silk outer robe and was dressed only in a thin inner garment.
Quietly standing in one corner of the courtyard, he helped the workers split firewood and carry lighter pieces of lumber.
His movements were somewhat slow, but every swing of the axe landed with perfect precision.
A faint trace of blood seeped through the wound on his broad back, yet he acted as though he didn’t feel it.
Sweat slid down his sharply defined profile and dripped onto his firm chest, giving him an unmistakably masculine presence.
Several village women passing by couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances, their faces flushing red.
Lin Wan frowned slightly and strode over.
“What are you doing here?”
She snatched the axe from his hands.
“Your injuries haven’t even healed, and you’re already working. Are you in such a hurry to die?”
Xiao Junmo stopped and turned to look at her.
The icy killing intent that had filled his eyes when he first awakened had disappeared, replaced by a faint smile.
“I’ve been eating and living here at Miss Lin’s expense. I truly feel guilty about it.”
He casually wiped the sweat from his forehead, speaking as naturally as ever.
“This little bit of work is just enough to loosen my muscles. It won’t affect my recovery.”
“Do whatever you want. Just don’t collapse at my construction site. I don’t have the money to buy you a coffin.”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes at him before turning away to continue inspecting the lumber.
But she didn’t go far.
Whether intentionally or not, her gaze kept drifting back to check on him.
Watching her deliberately indifferent back, the smile in Xiao Junmo’s eyes deepened.
This girl clearly had a sharp tongue, but her heart wasn’t cold at all.
Picking up another piece of firewood, he quietly continued working.
Yet his eyes unconsciously followed Lin Wan wherever she went.
He watched her confidently direct the workers.
He watched her laugh and chat with them.
This vibrant, lively atmosphere, filled with the warmth of ordinary life, was something that had never existed in the world of political schemes and bloodshed from which he came.
As the sun set, brilliant orange-red clouds painted the evening sky.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The gong signaling the end of the workday rang out.
The workers collected their wages and happily left together.
The once-bustling construction site quickly fell silent.
Lin Yulong neatly put away all the tools in the yard before running into the kitchen to help Lin Wan tend the fire.
The flames licked the bottom of the stove, crackling cheerfully.
A large iron pot simmered with fragrant radish and pork rib soup, while a ring of golden, crispy corn cakes baked along the sides of the pot.
Standing at the stove, Lin Wan skillfully stir-fried the dishes.
Meanwhile, Xiao Junmo sat in the courtyard, using the last rays of the setting sun to carefully organize the lumber needed for the next day’s work.
A gentle breeze drifted through the yard.
The aroma of cooking meat from the kitchen mixed with the fresh scent of sawdust.
The setting sun stretched their shadows across the ground.
One busily cooked by the stove.
The other quietly worked in the courtyard.
Neither of them spoke a single unnecessary word.
Yet the scene carried an indescribable sense of peace and harmony.
They looked like an ordinary married couple who had spent years supporting each other, living the simplest and most fulfilling life.
“Ahem… Ahem…”
Suddenly, an exaggerated cough came from outside the courtyard gate.
The peaceful atmosphere was instantly broken.
Holding her spatula, Lin Wan walked out of the kitchen, her brows slightly furrowed.
Standing outside the gate was Aunt Li, the village chief’s wife.
She carried a bamboo basket covered with a blue cloth.
Her face was full of smiles as she peeked curiously into the courtyard.
“Busy, aren’t you, Wan?”
Aunt Li’s shrewd eyes looked past Lin Wan and fixed directly on the tall, handsome man standing in the courtyard.
Her expression was as though she had discovered a priceless treasure.
“Oh my, who is this young man? He’s really quite handsome.”
Covering her mouth, Aunt Li laughed until the wrinkles on her face deepened.
“Wan, you’ve been keeping this quiet. When did you find yourself a live-in son-in-law?”