Xu Lihua didn’t say anything, but Lin Yongjia felt guilty.

Not helping someone in need was already morally wrong.

Stopping Lin Yongye from saving someone made it even worse.

If Lin Yongye hadn’t saved the old lady and she had died by the roadside, no one would know what Lin Yongjia had said or done.

But since Lin Yongye sent her to the hospital and her family turned out to be from the mine, his actions couldn’t be hidden.

Lin Yongjia felt anxious for a long time.

The more unsettled he felt, the more he feared he might lose his job.

He pulled Lin Yongye into a corner and whispered, “Second brother, you have to help me this time. You saved their old lady, and I’m your real older brother. If they take away my job, it’s a case of biting the hand that feeds them. You should speak a few good words for me!”

“Say what? Whatever happens, happens!” Lin Yongye didn’t show him any respect.

Whether she thanked him or not didn’t matter.

Lin Yongye had never expected anything in return for his actions.

He had received so little kindness throughout his life that he didn’t expect it from anyone, not even from his own parents. How could he expect others to be any different?

He simply couldn’t ignore the situation, though.

He couldn’t let someone die if he had the ability to save them.

If others wanted to repay him, it was because they were good-hearted and grateful. But it was normal if no one thanked him.

Lin Yongye understood this very well.

After being rebuffed, Lin Yongjia became angry and his words became sharper.

“That day, I told you not to meddle in other people’s business, but you went against me. You wasted time and stepped into the fish pond, and your salary got all wet. I’m not criticizing you, but we should be more straightforward in life. I know you want to make connections in the city, but you should stop dreaming. No one will care about you!”

Lin Yongye was disgusted by this.

He had saved someone with no ulterior motive, and now he was being misunderstood and mocked.

If this had happened before, he might have tolerated it, but not now. What was there to tolerate?

Anyone could say cruel words. Just because Lin Yongye was quiet didn’t mean he couldn’t speak back. When he was serious, Lin Yongjia had no chance.

So what if he was mocking him?

Come on, let’s see who’s stronger!

“You keep saying you want people to repay you, wanting to make connections in the city. Isn’t that just what you want? You’re a filthy person who sees everyone as dirty like you!”

“Do I want to make connections? I have my third brother in the county. If I run into trouble, wouldn’t he help me? Would he just watch me suffer? I don’t need to make connections with anyone. My third brother is my support, and even though I rarely ask him for help, he recognizes me as his older brother!”

“Unlike you, who has done despicable things since childhood, even stealing other people’s tuition fees to buy candy, and offended our third brother so badly that now you can’t make any connections!”

A direct blow to the heart!

He had hit Lin Yongjia’s most sensitive spot!

He was absent-minded while working, accidentally hitting his own foot several times with a shovel.

The team leader of the loading crew scolded him twice, but Lin Yongjia remained the same.

His mind had already wandered far away.

The team leader cursed and grumbled.

Finally, in exasperation, he said, “If you can’t do this job, then quit!”

It was just an angry remark with no deeper meaning, but in Lin Yongjia’s ears, it sounded like Xu Lihua had approached the team leader to jeopardize his job.

He was so startled that he confessed without being accused.

“Team Leader, I… I really didn’t mean any harm. I can go to Vice Chairwoman Xu and apologize in person. Could you help me pass the message along?”

The team leader was speechless.

Well, no wonder he couldn’t focus on work—he had offended someone!

Now the team leader, who hadn’t been harboring any particular ill will, suddenly developed a new idea.

“Help you pass the message? You need to take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Do you think you’re someone I’d run errands for? Forget this job! You clearly don’t have your mind in it. Go back to where you came from. We don’t need someone like you here!”

A temporary worker—one who had offended someone and kept making mistakes.

Who would stick up for him?

The team leader told him to leave outright.

Lin Yongjia, feeling guilty, actually left.

But it was impossible for him to give up so easily. He was determined to go home, get some money from his father, and buy more nutritional gifts to bring to Xu Lihua’s home. No matter what, he had to save his job.

Even if he couldn’t become a permanent worker, being a temp was still better than going back to farm the fields.

The next afternoon, Lin Yongye visited Xu Lihua’s house.

His main concern was that he couldn’t afford to offend anyone.

If someone invited him over for a meal, it was a sign of respect.

Refusing would make him appear ungrateful.

Xu Lihua’s mother-in-law, Chen Axiu, had already returned home to recuperate.

There’s a saying: happy people tend to be kindhearted.

The elderly woman had filial children, and apart from breaking her leg this time, her life had been smooth and content. She preferred to see the good in others and had nothing but praise for the person who saved her life.

She had praised him endlessly at the hospital.

Now that she saw him in person, she was even more generous with her compliments.

“Oh my, what a fine young man!”

“Not only is he good-looking, but he’s also kind-hearted. Which lucky girl is married to you? Your parents must have done so many good deeds in their past lives to have a son like you! And how fortunate your children are to have you as their father…”

Once the elderly woman started talking, she couldn’t stop, showering Lin Yongye with praise until his face turned red.

In his thirty years of life, it was the first time someone had praised him so much and so directly. He felt both embarrassed and flattered.

Xu Lihua’s husband, Wang Zhiqiang, was also there.

He noticed Lin Yongye’s awkwardness.

Though he hadn’t met him before, he felt gratitude toward this man for saving his mother.

Meeting him in person, he realized he was an honest man—so honest that he didn’t know what to do with himself under all the praise. If there had been a hole in the ground, he would have crawled into it.

Dealing with someone this straightforward and bashful felt reassuring.

When dinner was ready, the table was laden with six dishes, including fish, meat, and tofu—a feast by any measure. Yet Lin Yongye still seemed uncomfortable, hesitant even to reach for food.

The elderly woman picked up several large pieces of fatty meat and placed them in his bowl.

“These dishes were made especially for you. Eat more, and don’t be shy at Auntie’s house.”

Lin Yongye said, “I can serve myself.”

Xu Lihua and Wang Zhiqiang had encountered many people in their lives.

They’d met honest folks like Lin Yongye before and had a favorable impression of him.

Moreover, since their mother liked him, they were willing to extend a helping hand.

Xu Lihua brought up his job.

“The loading crew work will only last until the end of the year. After the New Year, other workers will be reassigned to that position. What are your plans for next year?”

Hearing this, Lin Yongye froze.

His job was his lifeline and his source of pride. Was it really ending soon?

He voiced his concern, “Is there no chance for a temp worker on the loading crew to become permanent?”

Xu Lihua raised an eyebrow. So, he didn’t know?

She dashed his hopes directly.

“There’s no chance for that. Over at the mines, there’s a group of older workers who can no longer go underground. The company has to reassign them. Since there aren’t enough positions elsewhere, and there are too many temp workers in the loading crew, they’ll have to let the temps go and bring in those older workers.”

Lin Yongye felt a chill run through his entire body.

He had dreamed of climbing out of the pit he was in, but now his bowl of rice—his job—was slipping away.

His thoughts quickly turned to his brother, Lin Yongcheng.