Chapter 22

Lin Qing had come to this world for Zhao Hui Zhou, how could she let him go?

“I just want to see what kind of high branch he’s climbed. I can’t swallow this.”

Wang Lanfeng and Lin Da Hua had also figured out something in recent days.

Zhao Hui Zhou was a cunning and scheming person.

The Zhao family was a den of tigers and wolves, what kind of good thing could come out of it? These wolves and tigers weren’t easy to deal with.

People with timid personalities tend to be more open-minded. If a dog bites them, they just stay away from the dog, don’t think about it, and live their own lives.

Wang Lanfeng and Lin Da Hua didn’t want Lin Qing to get involved with Zhao Hui Zhou anymore.

They were afraid their daughter would be taken advantage of.

They also didn’t want their daughter to move so far away.

A girl, it’s better if she stays close to home.

Big Sister was more open-minded, “Third Sister, if you want to go, go. It’s been weighing on your mind, it’ll eventually drive you crazy.”

She wasn’t like her parents, who were always so accommodating.

Thinking about the broken engagement made her sick to her stomach.

She could understand her sister’s feelings.

Wang Lanfeng and Lin Da Hua didn’t say anything more.

Lin Qing smiled at her parents, “It’s a bit far, but there are advantages. Being far away means no one will know about my past with Zhao Hui Zhou.”

Wang Lanfeng perked up, “Yes, find someone far away, her in-laws won’t hear any rumors, and it won’t affect her own life.”

Lin Da Hua still didn’t want his daughter to go that far.

If she couldn’t find a good one, she wouldn’t have to marry. He could support her. The old house would be left to San Ya.

If you ask him what would happen if his fourth daughter couldn’t get married either?

Well, that would be perfect.

The two sisters could be companions.

Anyway, his daughters didn’t have to get married.

If she went far away,

He wouldn’t be able to protect her.

Seeing Lin Da Hua’s gloomy expression, Lin Qing said with a smile, “It’s okay even if it’s far away. When your daughter settles down, you and Mother can come with her, and we’ll never be bullied here again.”

It wasn’t that Shanglin Village was bad.

It was just that the patriarchal atmosphere was suffocating.

Even in later generations, with more open-minded thinking, this patriarchal atmosphere hadn’t improved much.

Even at the dinner table, some people would say annoyingly, “Your wife still hasn’t given you a son, if it were me, I’d find someone outside to give me a son.”

Their wives would be sitting right there.

How’s that for audacity!

Lin Qing had witnessed a glimpse of this, so she could understand Wang Lanfeng’s bitterness and Lin Da Hua’s helplessness.

She was serious.

If conditions allowed, she would definitely take her father and mother with her.

Big Sister: …

So, the fact that I married so close…was useless?

Big Sister felt her position as the eldest was seriously threatened.

She wasn’t happy.

“Just take care of yourself, I’ll take care of Father and Mother, you don’t need to worry about them.”

Lin Qing pursed her lips, “I’m taking them.”

The two sisters clashed head-on, sparks flying.

Lin Da Hua smiled. What did it matter if he didn’t have a son? His daughters were no worse than boys.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from outside, Black Potato Lin Xia burst into the room, looking like she needed to pee.

After taking care of her business, she came out and asked, “Mother, why isn’t dinner ready yet?”

She had already made plans with her friends to catch frogs after dinner.

Lin Da Hua: …

He pretended he hadn’t said everything.

Speaking of all his daughters, he couldn’t help but think about his second daughter, “Er Ya hasn’t been back in a while.”

Lin Qing calculated, her second sister should be pregnant now.

Her body was already weak, and the past few months were crucial for her health.

“After everything is settled, Big Sister and I will go see her.”

When they got engaged, the He family didn’t seem bad either. He Lao Pozi kept saying she would treat her daughter-in-law well.

But she was a kind-faced but cruel person.

She had been mistreating her second sister for years.

Wang Lanfeng and Lin Da Hua felt troubled when they thought of their second daughter.

Lin Qing: “Father, I recently collected some herbs that replenish blood and energy. I’ll pick some out later and make them into pills for my second sister. I’ll bring them over.”

Lin Da Hua wanted to refuse, those blood-enriching herbs could fetch a good price, but he swallowed the words before they left his mouth.

His daughters were both his flesh and blood, he truly loved Er Ya.

It was impossible for a family to be completely detached from each other.

Lin Da Hua nodded.

Anything that entered their home belonged to them, including the He family.

If Lin Qing went there with herbs, they might boil them into a pot and divide it among the whole family.

She even considered sending some of the herbs that hadn’t fully evolved.

Then she thought better of it.

What if they were in a good mood and gave her second sister a bowl?

Her joyful mood was dampened.

It was time to talk about the important things.

Lin Qing meant that they shouldn’t spread the news of her passing the college entrance exam.

She wanted to catch Zhao Hui Zhou off guard.

The whole family silently agreed.

Wang Lanfeng and Lin Da Hua were fine, they weren’t the kind of people who liked to brag.

Big Sister felt a little uncomfortable. As soon as she got home, her mother-in-law started giving her the cold shoulder, “Don’t meddle in San Ya’s affairs.”

“You can’t take care of her forever.”

Big Sister rolled her eyes, thinking, My sister doesn’t need my help.

Just wait and see how you’ll talk about it later.

Little Potato Lin Xia was either eating or playing outside, and she had visibly darkened a shade in a few days. She had no idea that Lin Qing had passed the college entrance exam and was about to leave for a distant place.

She was carefree.

While this carefree little girl was asleep, Wang Lanfeng took out the family’s savings.

Under the kerosene lamp, she counted the bills one by one.

Lin Qing said softly, “Mother, you don’t need to use your money. The money I made from collecting herbs and selling grain is enough. I also have some private savings.”

“Where did you get private savings?” Wang Lanfeng asked curiously.

“Hey, I sold a lot of headbands and scarves that Zhao Hui Zhou gave me when I was in school.”

Wang Lanfeng was speechless for a moment, but then thought it was good that she sold them, they were just an eyesore anyway.

She continued counting the money.

Lin Qing blinked, “Mother, I have enough money.”

“It’s good to have money when you’re traveling far away. We can feel at ease if you have some money with you.”

Lin Da Hua sat down beside them, fiddling with the herbs and nodding, “Listen to your mother, having money will make us feel at ease.”

The lamp flickered, casting a gentle light on Wang Lanfeng and Lin Da Hua’s dark faces, etched with the marks of time.

They were not young.

They were even older than many people their age.

Their clothes were full of patches.

Their skin was dark and rough.

Their hands looked dirty.

They didn’t have the elegance and appearance of their parents in the previous life.

But Lin Qing wouldn’t trade these parents for anything.

The flickering lamplight fell on Lin Da Hua and Wang Lanfeng’s faces, radiating a warmth that flowed through the room.

The couple chatted incessantly.

They counted money, counted days, and planned how to arrange everything for Lin Qing.

Lin Qing listened and watched, tears welling up in her eyes.

She couldn’t stop them.

She tilted her head back, and Wang Lanfeng’s anxious voice reached her ears.

“San Er, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”