This was the kind of treat even the city didn’t have.
“Comrade Song Wei, you’ve really made something of yourself. You can get things even the city doesn’t have. Southern folks really are wealthy!”
Song Wei chuckled harmlessly, her expression innocent and slightly bashful.
“My brother bought it for me,” she said.
In truth, she had met a representative from the company that made White Rabbit milk candies during a dinner at the Friendship Hotel. Having heard about the candy’s reputation, she seized the opportunity to network and managed to buy several packs.
It wasn’t a large quantity, but five big packs would last her a good while.
“Let’s get back to talking about Lin Da Hai,” she said, steering the conversation to the topic she was most interested in.
The elderly women, having just received White Rabbit candies, were delighted even though there were only two pieces per person. Their enthusiasm made their storytelling vivid, as though they had witnessed the events firsthand.
In reality, Lin Da Hai had been arrested in town. The villagers only found out when Public Security officers showed up at the Lin family home the next day.
Although they hadn’t been present for the arrest, the elderly women and the village gossipers had rushed to town after the officers left, eager to gather details.
With the town folks idling away the cold winter, the incident was still a hot topic, and the women managed to glean firsthand accounts from eyewitnesses. Animatedly, they relayed the story, gesturing as if narrating a tale.
“Apparently, an old man reported him. The man lived near Liu Chunyan and saw her and Lin Da Hai being shameless together—they were even kissing! The sight made the old man’s face turn red with anger. He’s the nosy type, so he immediately went to report them. Both were caught red-handed.
“When the authorities investigated, it turned out the woman was pregnant—her belly was already showing! The timing didn’t match her ex-husband, meaning the child wasn’t his. And as for Lin Da Hai, he has a wife and kids at home. If this isn’t adultery, then what is?”
Song Wei listened intently, savoring every detail. She wondered what role Lin Zhen had played in all this.
But from the overall situation, it seemed Lin Zhen had nothing to do with the scandal. Even if old lady Lin was upset, she couldn’t pin this one on him.
“No wonder we haven’t seen old lady Lin or her family these past two days,” someone remarked.
“Exactly,” said Auntie Wang, cracking sunflower seeds. “That biased old lady has been raising a fuss trying to pull strings and get her son released. As for Deng Chunhua, she’s been causing a scene, too—crying and yelling now that her husband’s really in trouble. She’s even threatening to take her son and move back to her parents’ house unless the Lin family returns her dowry.
“The day before yesterday, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got into a big fight. Deng Chunhua’s face got scratched up, but old lady Lin didn’t fare much better—she got shoved and ended up bedridden.”
Song Wei’s eyes glinted with regret. She had missed such a spectacle.
“This whole mess is giving the brigade leader a headache,” Auntie Wang continued. “Lin Da Hai is one of ours, and this kind of thing makes our brigade look bad to outsiders.”
“You should tell Lin Zhen to be careful,” another woman chimed in. “With old lady Lin’s usual behavior, she might go looking for him to ask for help.”
“If she weren’t still lying in bed, she’d probably have harassed him yesterday,” Auntie Wang said.
Song Wei nodded, acknowledging the advice. She continued chatting with the elderly women about other topics.
At dinner, Song Wei told Lin Zhen about the situation.
Lin Zhen nodded. “I know. I’m heading to the city tomorrow to sell some goods. I’ve already prepared pancakes and steamed buns for you to eat in the morning. I might be back a bit late.”
He had even thought of her breakfast.
Sitting beside him, Song Wei nodded obediently. Suddenly, she leaned over and quickly kissed his cheek.
Lin Zhen’s heart warmed, and he set down his bowl to cup her face, peppering her with playful pecks like a woodpecker.
Song Wei, finding him overly enthusiastic, pushed at his forehead in mock annoyance.
Her clean, smooth face was soon covered in his kisses.
Just then, little Heidan returned, holding his photos and White Rabbit candies.
He froze. “Brother, Sister Song, what are you doing?”
Lin Zhen and Song Wei froze as well.
The next second, they seamlessly transitioned into acting.
Lin Zhen maintained his serious expression while holding Song Wei’s face. “I was checking your Sister Song’s face for dirt.”
“Then why were you puckering your lips?”
“To blow on it, of course. Adults’ business is none of your concern.”
Heidan pouted. “Why do you have to talk so loud just to blow on something?”
Undeterred, he stepped closer. “Sister Song, let me take a look too. My brother’s old and his eyesight’s bad, but mine’s sharp.”
Before he could move further, Lin Zhen grabbed him by the back of his shirt and unceremoniously tossed him outside.
“If you’re not eating, stay out there!”
Heidan howled, “Sister Song, look! My brother’s bullying me!”
Song Wei buried her face in her food, trying to stifle her laughter.
Lin Zhen left early the next morning. After breakfast, Song Wei fed the two wolves and carried vegetable scraps from the greenhouse to feed the sika deer.
Luck wasn’t on her side that day. Just as she finished feeding them and prepared to leave, someone pounded on Lin Zhen’s door.
“Lin Zhen, open up!”
It was Lin Lao Si, the fourth son of the Lin family.
Old lady Lin had grown estranged from Lin Lao Er’s branch of the family. They wouldn’t even follow her orders anymore. Lin Xiaocao’s marriage had even been secretly arranged by Lin Lao Er, and old lady Lin had only learned about it recently. Furious, she had publicly berated him and his wife—a story Song Wei had heard from the elderly women the day before.
Now, Lin Lao Si was her only remaining pawn, though even he was often uncooperative. A seasoned freeloader, he would sometimes lock himself in his room to avoid her tirades, pretending not to hear her no matter how much she shouted or banged on the door.
“Lin Zhen! I know you’re in there! We’re family, aren’t we? Whatever grudges there were, we can talk them out. Open the door. I’m your grandmother, after all. Remember, I raised your father, feeding him with my own hands. You can’t turn your back on family!”
Song Wei folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. Playing the sympathy card, are we?
“Lin Zhen, I admit I was wrong before. Please open the door—it’s freezing out here. Have mercy on your old grandmother’s brittle bones. You’ve always been a good, filial boy.”
For a long while, old lady Lin pleaded, but there was no response from inside.
Her patience wore thin, and her tone turned sharp.
“Lin Zhen, if you don’t come out, I’ll freeze to death right here on your doorstep! Let’s see how people judge you for letting your own grandmother die like this!”
Song Wei’s expression turned cold.
She strode to the door and flung it open. Old lady Lin, who had been leaning against it, lost her balance and tumbled inside.
Before she could get up, a warm puff of air brushed her face.
Opening her eyes, she found herself face-to-face with one of Lin Zhen’s wolves, its sharp teeth bared in a menacing snarl.
Old lady Lin let out a piercing scream and scrambled out as fast as her legs could carry her.
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