Chapter 8

“What do you mean? Who are you talking about?” Lin Ming slapped his brother’s hand away, not understanding what the two were discussing.

Lin Wei never shared his suspicions with anyone.

Now that his sister was back, he had no intention of bringing it up again.

So he curled his peach-blossom eyes and said, “Nothing, just joking.”

However, his gaze toward his sister said something entirely different.

Lin Ting…

Perhaps because she had been embarrassed at first or because Lin Wei resembled her own brother by about 70%, she no longer felt nervous. After all, she hadn’t done anything wrong.

Even though she knew her second brother intended to settle scores with her later, she wasn’t afraid at all and had a rather shameless attitude of surrendering in advance.

Seeing that look, Lin Wei was so angry that he wanted to punish her again.

Lin Ming stared at his brother and sister suspiciously, but after a while, he couldn’t figure anything out. So, he bent down, picked up a package, and said, “Alright, talk later. Don’t stand in the cold.”

He resembled their father, unlike his younger siblings. He was a typical northern man—tall, rugged, with thick eyebrows and big eyes—looking strong and manly.

The burden that was extremely heavy for Lin Ting felt incredibly light in Lin Ming’s hands.

His other free hand wasn’t idle either—he half-closed it to separate the crowd and protected his sister as they walked onto the platform.

It took more than half a day to drive from Bingcheng Railway Station to Xiangyang Brigade.

On the way there, Lin Ting had first walked to town, taken an early bus to the county at dawn, and then transferred from the county to Bingcheng Railway Station.

She assumed the return trip would be similar.

However, after leaving the train station, she was led by her brothers to a half-used military jeep.

Before she could ask any questions, the passenger door of the jeep opened.

Wang Chunling jumped out and squinted at the girl who had caused such a stir in the commune.

She had been the secretary of Huojiazhuang Commune for less than two years. Although she had heard there was a college student in Xiangyang Brigade, this was her first time meeting her.

Frankly speaking, she didn’t see anything special.

If she had to pick one thing, it was that Lin Ting’s skin was darker than most members’.

But considering that she had been praised by her superiors because of Lin Ting, Wang Chunling didn’t care whether she was dark or fair. She stepped forward, shook hands firmly, and praised with a smile, “Hello, Comrade Lin. We talked on the phone. My name is Wang Chunling. You’re amazing. Our whole commune is proud of you!”

Lin Ting realized the visitor’s identity and was surprised by Secretary Wang’s enthusiasm.

But after understanding what the other meant, she couldn’t help but feel displeased.

With years of work experience as an office worker, she knew most leaders liked to engage in formalities.

And the person before her was clearly using her identity as a martyr’s widow to make a big deal out of it.

Still, no matter how unhappy she was, Lin Ting was past the age of acting on impulse.

Confronting the commune secretary over something that had already happened would do no good to her, her parents, or her relatives.

However, she could still prevent the other from continuing to use her story for promotion.

After all, in her memory, although Wang Chunling was somewhat power-hungry, she also did practical work for the people.

Thinking of this, Lin Ting put on a slightly bitter smile. “I left quietly not just because I didn’t want to shock my family, but also because I didn’t want to use Huo Xiao’s sacrifice for publicity. He is a hero. How can he become mere gossip for others?”

Not to mention, Wang Chunling had wanted to take Lin Ting around for publicity.

It was a great opportunity to promote military-civilian unity!

Seeing Lin Ting’s words, she kept smiling but felt a little unhappy. Had Lin Ting guessed her intention?

Was she trying to shut her down?

At that moment, Lin Wei, who had put away the luggage, walked over, seemingly unaware of the tension between them, and smiled. “Secretary Wang, let’s get in the car first.”

The man in the driver’s seat also shouted loudly at the right time, “Hey, Lao Wang! You talk too much. Hurry up and get in. We need to be back before dark.”

Wang Chunling’s face stiffened when she was scolded, but remembering the other party’s status, she quickly smiled. “Look at me, I was so happy to see Comrade Xiao Lin that I forgot myself. Let’s talk in the car!”

“Minister Hu is the head of the county armed forces and a comrade-in-arms of brother-in-law. He took the initiative to pick you up today.” Lin Wei quickly whispered to his sister before they got in.

He then took out a handkerchief, scooped some snow, and got into the jeep.

The seven-seater jeep had Lin Ming, riding for the second time in his life, huddled in the back with luggage. Lin Ting and Lin Wei sat in the middle to converse with the leaders in front.

Minister Hu dominated the conversation. Every time Wang Chunling tried to speak, he cut her off with a few words. After two interruptions, it was clear he was doing it on purpose. Not wanting a conflict with the armed forces, Wang Chunling wisely stayed silent. Seeing her restraint, Minister Hu’s anger subsided, and he focused on Lin Ting and her brothers.

Minister Hu, 46, was from Pengcheng. He once served in the same unit as Huo Xiaofen but had already transferred when Huo was still a rookie. They met three years ago when Huo Xiaofen, now a deputy regiment commander, returned home. They became close friends despite the age gap and frequently corresponded.

When news of Huo Xiaofen’s death came, Minister Hu sat in his office all night, smoking two packs of treasured cigarettes. He had been angry at Lin Ting because of Wang Chunling spreading Huo Xiaofen’s story everywhere. However, gratitude outweighed his anger. As a soldier, he admired Huo Xiaofen’s courage in traveling thousands of miles alone. So he personally drove to pick up Lin Ting.

Now that he knew Lin Ting had also been plotted against, his prejudice disappeared, but he still refused to let Wang Chunling overstep her bounds.

_

The journey took most of the day. By dusk, they arrived at Xiangyang Brigade. The village roads were too narrow for the jeep, so they had to walk the rest of the way.

Minister Hu and Secretary Wang declined Lin Ting’s invitation for dinner. She and her brothers watched them drive away gratefully. Once the car disappeared, Lin Wei turned to his sister. “Did you tell your… mother-in-law you were coming back today?”

Lin Ting shook her head. She wanted to return quietly without attracting attention.

Lin Wei hesitated. “Then… do you want to go home first?” He wanted to take her back to their family home, knowing the reality of her marriage. But her husband’s circumstances were special, making complaints useless.

Lin Ming frowned at his second brother but said nothing, feeling sorry for his sister.

Lin Ting hesitated briefly before pointing to their bags. “Let’s go to my husband’s house first. My mother-in-law is waiting.”

Lin Wei nodded and started walking. “Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow?”

Lin Ting wiped the frost from her eyelashes, masking her helplessness. “Tomorrow? So soon?”

Lin Wei chuckled. “You have to visit home eventually. Mom and Dad cried for days when you left.”

Lin Ming patted her head. “Don’t worry. They love you the most.”

Was she worried about that? Lin Ting felt helpless but didn’t show it. “Okay.”

Lin Wei raised an eyebrow. “Not happy?”

Lin Ting’s heart skipped a beat. “No!”

“Oh? You talk less and seem more mature this time.” He turned to study her face.

With the black medicine and messy hair gone, her expressions were now fully visible. Lin Ting kept her face neutral. “I’ve always been like this.”

Lin Wei smiled. “Oh, have you really grown up? You even look prettier, almost like a city girl… Time flies. Remember when we stole strawberries at six?”

Lin Ting blinked. “Mom said it wasn’t stealing if it was our field. And you got beaten up because you stuffed scabies into my clothes.”

Lin Wei’s suspicion faded, replaced by amusement. But something still felt different.

She looked the same—same clothes, same face, even the red mole near her eye. But her presence had changed. The past gloom and nobility were gone, replaced by calmness and confidence.

Satisfied with his little test, Lin Wei grinned. “Guess I was just stupid.”

Lin Ming, unaware of the subtle exchange, laughed. “You’ve always been a troublemaker. No wonder our little brother gets mad at you.”

Lin Wei shrugged. “He just has a bad temper.”

Lin Ming shook his head. “You’re 23, I’m only 17. Why can’t you be the bigger person?”

Lin Wei smirked. “I’ll give in next time.”

“When’s next time?”

“I’ll think about it…”

Listening to their banter, Lin Ting’s tense mood gradually eased.

…I should have passed, right?

How is Second Brother so perceptive?

Could he be the reincarnation of a monkey ^[1]phrase used to describe someone highly observant and clever.?

“Tingting… Tingting!”

Lin Ting snapped back to reality and noticed her brothers had stopped. Confused, she asked, “What happened?”

Lin Wei ignored her wandering thoughts and said, “Sneaking back quietly isn’t as good as returning openly.”

“What… What do you mean?” We’re taking side roads and still running into villagers? It’s dinner time!

Lin Wei gave her a knowing look and stepped aside.

Without his cover, Lin Ting was caught off guard by several pairs of curious eyes.

Village children.

Lin Ting sighed in relief and reached for some candies to bribe them.

Before she could, the children suddenly turned and ran towards the village, yelling:

“The Huo family’s runaway daughter-in-law has been caught!”

“The Huo family’s young wife stole money and returned!”

“The Huo family’s young wife took two men into the woods…”

“The Huo family…”

So, this is how the rumors started.

How unlucky!

Lin Ting’s face darkened. Dragging her laughing brothers, she ran toward her husband’s house!