After finally enduring the public praise, Song Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
A group of people surrounded her to speak, and it was evident that everyone was genuinely grateful to her.
This time, the person who colluded with the traffickers was Xu Zhiqing. Initially, this incident might have further soured people’s impression of the educated youth in the brigade. However, since it was also an educated youth who first discovered the traffickers, and so many traffickers were caught, the villagers’ attitude toward the educated youth didn’t worsen.
One after another, they cursed Xu Laidi for her lack of morals.
Because the human trafficking incident was such a significant matter, not many people paid attention to the Lin family’s troubles.
For several days, the topic of the traffickers dominated conversations. During this time, old lady Lin, who had been mostly ignored, appeared looking haggard and came to find Lin Zhen.
Her most cherished son and grandson had both been arrested, leaving old lady Lin feeling like her world had collapsed.
The worst part was that there was no one in the family who could help.
Old Lin himself was out of the question because he knew that those two weren’t his biological children. In the past, when he still liked old lady Lin, he had indulged her and treated the eldest son’s family well.
But now, Old Lin had given up entirely. After all, he was old, and even if the family split up, his children would still have to provide him with food and necessities every month. Since the eldest son wasn’t his blood, he saw no point in wasting his energy to help them. Besides, there was no way to help.
Lin Lao’er (the second son) had also lost interest in the eldest brother’s family ever since learning they weren’t related by blood. He had already divided the family property and now only wanted to focus on his own life.
As for Lin Laosi (the fourth son), who was both cowardly and lazy, he was utterly unreliable.
After much thought, old lady Lin realized her only hope was Lin Zhen, who might have some connections to pull.
At this point, old lady Lin deeply regretted having strained the relationship between herself and Lin Zhen to such an extent.
“Lin Zhen, I’m begging you as your grandmother. Please help your uncle and cousin,” she pleaded, coming directly to the field while Lin Zhen was working, hoping to use the public setting to apply moral pressure.
Lin Zhen didn’t stop his work, continuing to dig the soil as he replied coldly, “There’s no way to help.”
His refusal was blunt, his tone icy, and he didn’t even look at old lady Lin.
Seeing his attitude, old lady Lin gritted her teeth and continued, “How could you say there’s no way? You know so many people, and you even managed to pull strings to get a tractor. Don’t tell me you can’t do anything—you just don’t want to help.
Fine, I admit I neglected you and Heidan back then. But I had no choice! Do you think I didn’t feel heartache? When I gave birth to your father, I almost died. Can you blame me for feeling resentment?
So many years have passed, and you two brothers have grown up well. There’s no need to keep clinging to the past. I’m begging you, can’t you let it go?”
An elderly person playing the pitiful card can easily evoke sympathy, and old lady Lin was no exception.
Her humble demeanor made everyone feel that she wasn’t having it easy either.
Song Wei raised an eyebrow. Oh, so this old lady was trying the soft approach now?
Lin Zhen asked sharply, “When Heidan almost starved and froze to death, was that ‘having no choice’ too?”
He set down the hoe in his hand and stared at her with dark, piercing eyes.
“When you took the allowances I sent back, the milk powder—was that also ‘having no choice’?”
“And when you caused a scene at my home, making my mother sick and leading her to give birth prematurely, was that also ‘having no choice’?”
“How ridiculous your excuses are.”
Old lady Lin maintained her pitiful demeanor and said, “He was my own grandson. How could I have really let him die? Didn’t he turn out fine in the end? As for the milk powder, there were other children in the family. They’re your nieces and nephews; what’s wrong with them sharing some milk powder?”
“And I didn’t push your mother! That was your damned aunt who did it!”
Song Wei sneered. “Oh, what a fine ‘sharing some milk powder.’ It wasn’t ‘some’—you didn’t leave a single drop for Heidan! The milk powder Lin Zhen worked so hard to send back made all the other kids plump and rosy, while his own brother was so thin. Were you blind? And the injuries on him—what kind of proper guardian treats their grandson like an enemy?”
Old lady Lin gritted her teeth. Once again, it was Song Wei. Why did this woman always have to meddle?!
“Yes, I was blinded by greed back then. But I know I was wrong now. At my age, I made mistakes. Can’t you let it go?”
“Lin Zhen,” an elder spoke up, “she’s your grandmother. If you can help, you should. Don’t let things become too strained.”
Song Wei turned toward the speaker, an older man who often acted like a moral authority. “Uncle, why are you taking her side? Do you not know that Lin Zhen’s eldest uncle and Lin Youfu have no blood relation to the Lin family?”
The elder glared at Song Wei. “Did your family not teach you how to respect your elders? A young girl like you, always sharp-tongued—don’t come to the Lin family and cause trouble. Don’t bring chaos to a good family before you even marry in!”
He had long disliked Song Wei, believing that a harmonious family was most important. While Lin Zhen’s grievances with his grandmother were significant, he thought family should forgive and move forward.
Song Wei squinted, her fiery temper flaring.
Lin Zhen stepped in front of her and said coldly, “Uncle, this is my family matter. You’re overstepping.”
The elder was livid, his beard bristling as he shouted, “Overstepping? How dare you talk to me like this! I’m your uncle! And now, just for a woman who hasn’t even married in, you’re speaking to me this way? You’re disgraceful!”
Lin Zhen’s face darkened. “She’s my fiancée and will be my wife in the future. She is family.”
“You—such arrogance! You’re utterly disrespectful and rebellious!”
Song Wei smirked and retorted, “Elder Uncle, you’re quite old and supposedly respected. But if you’re so eager to meddle, where were you when Lin Zhen’s parents were mistreated, or when Heidan was abused?
Now you want to lecture Lin Zhen on behalf of someone who isn’t even related to the Lin family by blood? Why is your interference aimed at your own instead of outsiders?”
The elder stammered, “The family’s past issues weren’t my place to handle.”
Song Wei rolled her eyes. “Exactly. And this isn’t your place either. So why are you meddling now?”
The elder tried to respond, but Song Wei cut him off. “You are helping two convicted criminals, and making life difficult for an innocent person. What does Lin Zhen owe you?”
“Silence!” old lady Lin and the elder both shouted, red-faced with anger.
Song Wei shrugged. “Oh, I’m such a rebellious person. Try silencing me just because I’m defending my man.”
Then she turned to old lady Lin. “You’ve really outdone yourself as a parent. Your eldest son cheats and goes to prison; your second son wants nothing to do with you; your fourth son is lazy and greedy. The only son you didn’t raise—Lin Zhen’s father—turned out to be a capable man who raised an upstanding son.
And your grandchildren? The ones you doted on are in prison, while the one you neglected is successful, once a soldier and now retired with a house and bicycle.
Honestly, you’re like a curse to those you favor.”
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