Chapter 28: The Ye Family’s Letter Arrived, Lin Wangsheng Was Beaten Badly

Lin Bingwei: “…” Was it awkward enough to make me pick at my feet? 

Originally, she just wanted them to believe in her determination and ability to take the college entrance exam, not just talk about it. Now, her mother-in-law looked at her with eyes that were completely starry-eyed. 

In her eyes, she was like a divine being; what if she didn’t pass the exam? 

She would have to write her name backward. 

The pressure was immense. 

Lin Bingwei steeled herself and replied, “Then I’ll give it a try.” 

… 

In the following days, her father-in-law continued to be busy with business. 

Zhang Tingyuan was recovering from his injuries, and Lin Bingwei took care of him, while also making clothes and studying. She would spend time every day teaching Zhang Jianguo some basics. 

Life for her mother-in-law, Li Yurong, became lively, with gossip circulating throughout the village, especially enjoying the gossip about Lin Wangsheng’s family from Linjia Village. 

Not only did she love to hear it, but everyone else did too. 

Everyone was guessing whether Lin Bingwei was the biological child of Lin Wangsheng and his wife, and now the answer was about to be revealed. 

Lin Bingyu wrote to Lin Wangsheng, saying she was returning to the country and would come to see them. 

Currently, this was the most discussed topic in the village. 

Originally, Lin Wangsheng and his wife planned to secretly take turns blocking people on the highway, but now that this matter had become so big, they could no longer do that. 

Wherever their family went, they became the focus of several nearby villages, making it impossible to be discreet. 

One day, Li Yurong returned and said to Lin Bingwei, “Lin Wangsheng got into a fight with his third brother’s family, all because of the letter.” 

Lin Bingwei was surprised, “He dared to?” 

The family of Lin Wangsheng’s third brother was quite prosperous, with five sons, the eldest being only a few years younger than Lin Wangsheng. How could they dare to bully them? 

Li Yurong explained, “They didn’t initially fight; the couple would just insult them occasionally. Originally, Lin Wangsheng’s third brother felt guilty for opening someone else’s letter, so a few insults were fine. But the more Lin Wangsheng and his wife thought about it, the angrier they got. Seeing that the other side didn’t respond, they became more aggressive, which eventually led to a fight. 

The eldest son of Lin Wangsheng’s third brother struck first, and after Lin Wangsheng fought back, the other sons joined in. Lin Wangsheng was no match for them and got beaten badly.” 

It was easy to imagine. 

Li Yurong said with glee, “Now they probably won’t be able to have a peaceful New Year.” 

Before they knew it, it was time for the New Year. Li Yurong said that it was rare for the whole family to be together, so she generously bought a lot of New Year goods, with each family member getting a new outfit, along with firecrackers and fireworks, making the celebration very lively. 

On New Year’s Eve, after the family finished their reunion dinner, Zhang Yuanxiu took Zhang Jianguo to set off fireworks in the yard, while Lin Bingwei supported Zhang Tingyuan to watch from the balcony. 

His health was gradually improving, and he could walk on his own without support. 

However, everyone was still worried about the injured bones bearing weight, so they cautiously insisted that someone had to support him while he walked around. 

As the fireworks were set off, Zhang Yuanxiu asked Zhang Jianguo, “Jianguo, do you think the fireworks Grandpa set off are beautiful?” 

Zhang Jianguo was much more cheerful than when Lin Bingwei first arrived, able to laugh happily like a normal child. 

“They’re beautiful, Grandpa, set off another one.” 

“Alright, I’ll set off one more for my eldest grandson.” 

Watching the grandfather and grandson play in the yard, Zhang Tingyuan felt a bit envious and sighed repeatedly. 

Lin Bingwei said, “What are you sighing about? You’re almost better now.” 

“Oh, I’m not sighing about that.” 

“Then what are you sighing about?” 

“Jianguo is already this big, and I still don’t have a child.” 

Lin Bingwei was momentarily stunned before realizing he was talking about having kids. 

“Mom said that one shot would make you behave; I don’t see that happening.”

Zhang Tingyuan bent down and whispered in his ear, “It’s still your fault.”

Huh?

“My fault?”

“Yeah, I hurt my sternum, which doesn’t delay us having kids. You’re fine, yet you’re splitting the blankets with me. If we didn’t have enough quilts at home, you’d have to share a bed with me.”

Lin Bingwei: “…”

“I see you’ve been standing for a while; hurry back and lie down.”

After saying that, she guided him back into the room and pushed him onto the bed to lie down comfortably.

Then she took a hot water bottle to the kitchen to fill it with hot water and tucked it under the blankets with him.

Zhang Tingyuan propped himself up, “I have to keep watch tonight; I’m not sleeping.”

“You can keep watch, but you have to lie down.”

“Huh? You all are outside chatting and eating sunflower seeds while I’m just lying in bed alone? I’m afraid.”

Lin Bingwei: “…” You, a big man, are afraid? How could you be embarrassed?

“Then we’ll talk loudly, and you won’t be scared if you listen to us.”

Zhang Tingyuan: “…”

“Oh, that’s so ruthless.”

The door to the night watch room was left open, and there was a large fire pit in the center of the room. Lin Bingwei placed an abandoned stove frame on top as a grill and put a clay pot on it to cook porridge, along with some sweet potatoes and oranges roasting around it.

This way, they could chat while eating roasted food.

Zhang Tingyuan envied the voices of the people outside; he couldn’t just lie in bed obediently for long and soon came out slowly.

Li Yurong quickly put down the sunflower seeds she had and helped him, “Why don’t you listen? Didn’t the doctor say you need to lie down and rest? You just walked around a bit; why are you up again? Come on, return, let Mom help you.”

Zhang Tingyuan said, “You all are clustered around the stove eating seeds, leaving me alone inside. I won’t do that; I want to come out and keep watch with you.”

“That won’t work!” Zhang Yuanxiu looked at the old-fashioned clock at home and said disapprovingly, “There’s still over three hours to go; how can you just sit? Hurry back, behave yourself.”

Zhang Tingyuan felt excluded.

Meanwhile, Lin Bingwei laughed lightly.

Just as Zhang Tingyuan was about to say something, Lin Bingwei grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and stood up, “Let’s go, I’ll keep you company in the room.”

That finally coaxed him back.

Zhang Tingyuan lay in bed waiting for sunflower seeds, saying, “My wife still cares about me; no wonder my parents always urge me to marry.”

Lin Bingwei tossed him the peeled seeds, then handed him the rest, saying, “Do it yourself.”

“Hey, I’m injured.”

“Come on, didn’t you say you’re all better? You can’t peel sunflower seeds?”

He pretended to try peeling a seed and said, “Oh, I have to use force; I can’t open it.”

Lin Bingwei glared at him, annoyed by his playful grin.

She picked up an unpeeled seed and stuffed it into his mouth, saying, “If you can’t open it, learn from Jianguo and just bite it with the shell.”

Zhang Tingyuan spat it out quickly, “Then I’d just be like a three-year-old.”

“What do you think? Even a three-year-old is more useful than you.”

“Oh, you disdain me.”

Lin Bingwei replied, “Look at you lying in bed, smooth-talking. It’s clear you often tease little girls, huh?”

At her words, Zhang Tingyuan got flustered, saying, “Hey, you can’t just say that; I’ve only teased you, one little girl.”