“You wouldn’t actually ask your own grandson to commit a crime, would you? Surely not, surely not…”
The mocking tone left Old Lady Lin trembling with rage.
“You… I wasn’t even talking to you!”
By now, she was genuinely afraid of Song Zhiqing. Was this woman sent here specifically to torment her? Exposing her plans in front of everyone like this—how was she supposed to ask Lin Zhen for help now?
The surrounding crowd shot Old Lady Lin scornful looks.
“Your son got caught cheating, and you still have the nerve to ask Lin Zhen for help?”
“Exactly. You were always bragging about how great your eldest son was because he worked in a factory. And look at him now—the first in our brigade to get caught cheating on his wife. He brought shame to all of us. Only you could see a pile of dung and call it a treasure.”
Old Lady Lin shouted, “My son was framed! That little vixen set him up!”
“Oh, give it a rest. The police investigated everything. It’s crystal clear,” someone retorted.
Meanwhile, Lin Youfu, humiliated and in pain, whined pitifully, “Grandma, please help me clean off this mess!”
His whole body ached. Whoever had beaten him hadn’t held back.
But the stench was too much for Old Lady Lin to handle. She turned to find Lin Zhen, only to discover he had disappeared.
Of course, Song Wei had anticipated the old woman’s intentions and dragged Lin Zhen away. But instead of leaving entirely, they found a hidden spot to continue observing the spectacle.
Old Lady Lin cursed under her breath when she realized Lin Zhen was gone. “Just wait, grandson. I’ll find someone to help you!”
She marched off to find Lin Xiaocao.
At the door of Lin Lao’er’s house, she banged loudly while cursing, “Lin Xiaocao, get out here! You lazy, greedy girl. Can’t you see your brother’s hurt? Get out and help!”
Lin Lao’er’s wife finally had enough and stormed out. “Mother, what are you thinking? Xiaocao is negotiating a marriage match. How can you ask a young girl to clean up after her brother? Have you no shame?”
This sparked another shouting match. Lin Lao’er’s wife wasn’t holding back anymore, yelling back at Old Lady Lin through the door.
Finally, Lin Lao’er himself came out. “Mother, you’re going too far. Now that your precious eldest son is in jail, if you still want us to take care of you in your old age, don’t expect my son or daughter to serve Lin Dahai’s kid!”
The Lin Lao’er family had grown to resent Lin Dahai deeply.
The bystanders whispered among themselves.
“Wow, Lin Lao’er is standing up for himself now?”
“After being trampled on for so long, anyone with a brain would toughen up.”
“Just wait. Old Lady Lin is going to pull out her usual tricks.”
From her perch in a tree, Song Wei had a perfect view while staying out of sight. She casually shelled some sunflower seeds.
“I bet Old Lady Lin will slap her thigh dramatically, look heartbroken, and cry about how ungrateful everyone is. Something like, ‘I raised you with all my blood, sweat, and tears…’”
Sure enough, Old Lady Lin’s performance was spot on. She dabbed at her dry eyes, slapped her thigh, and put on a pained expression.
“Oh, Lao’er, Lao’er! How could you do this to me? I raised you brothers with all my sweat and tears, and now you’ve turned into an ungrateful wolf. Back when you were sick…”
She launched into a long-winded monologue about the past.
Song Wei rolled her eyes. “Can’t she come up with anything new?”
Lin Zhen chuckled. “This is how she’s controlled her sons all along.”
Old Lady Lin was a master manipulator. From a young age, she had brainwashed her children into becoming obedient puppets, bending to her will.
Lin Zhen’s father, unfortunately, had been unwanted from birth. Even so, she exploited him for years as the family’s laborer. When he finally broke free, she grew bitter and treated him like he wasn’t her son, squeezing him for every ounce of value he had left.
Lin Zhen’s eyes turned cold as he recalled these memories. He would never forget how, after his father’s death, the Lin family gathered at the mourning hall—not out of guilt or grief but to fight over the house and inheritance.
His mother’s premature death was also partly due to Old Lady Lin’s influence.
Lin Zhen clenched his fists tightly at his sides. Lin Dahai’s downfall was just the first step.
Noticing his tension, Song Wei placed her hand over his. They didn’t exchange words, but there was a mutual understanding between them.
The Lin family’s latest scandal soon spread throughout the Ping’an Brigade. Lin Youfu’s embarrassing condition—especially his “size”—became the talk of the town. From now on, he’d likely face mocking stares wherever he went.
However, the gossip didn’t distract people from their real focus: preparing for the New Year.
As the holiday approached, crops like tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers were harvested in large quantities. Led by the brigade leader, everyone worked tirelessly to clean and load the vegetables onto a tractor.
The tractor was a game-changer. It could carry far more than a cart pulled by oxen and moved much faster.
Seeing the fully loaded tractor, the villagers beamed with pride.
“Lin Zhen, let’s go!” The brigade leader’s voice was full of confidence.
Since Lin Zhen was the only one who could drive a tractor, the responsibility fell to him.
Amid envious looks from the younger men, Lin Zhen set off, with the brigade leader on one side of him and the village secretary on the other. Standing at the back of the trailer were Song Wei and Heidan, hitching a ride to the city to buy New Year’s goods.
Space was limited, so only a few people could tag along. Friends from the brigade and the educated youths had entrusted Song Wei with errands, giving her money in advance.
The vegetables were already pre-sold. A portion would be delivered to a small factory in town, but the bulk was destined for the city. The factory workers’ housing compounds there had placed large orders. They contacted two compounds.
Even after splitting the shipment between two compounds, there likely wouldn’t be enough to meet the demand.
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