Chapter 16

After making sure he wouldn’t run off again, Lin Yun and Lin Yumei began looking around for a good place to sit. But perhaps because of the commotion earlier, many people had stood up, so they couldn’t see anything clearly.

As things got more heated over there, an adult finally stepped in to stop it:
“Whose kids are these? So unruly! That’s enough already. Go, go, scram!”

The ones fighting stopped when they heard an adult speaking. Several of them turned and walked away, though some still stayed behind, spitting threats and setting up a time for the next fight.

Once things quieted down, Lin Yun realized it was because the movie was about to start, which was why those adults finally intervened. The movie being shown was called Moonlight Blade: Vengeance on a Snowy Night. To her surprise, Lin Yun recognized several famous figures from the future. Seeing their young faces on screen was truly a surreal experience.

After the movie ended, Lin Yun heard someone say it was already past midnight. Yet surprisingly, she didn’t feel sleepy at all. It had to be said—there’s a reason why movies are so popular. Watching one in that kind of setting could really stir up the emotions.

On the way home, Lin Yunshi walked back with Lin Yonggang and the group of boys he usually played with. From this first proper interaction, Lin Yun didn’t think those boys were as bad as the older folks made them out to be. Sure, they were a bit annoying and overly energetic, but they didn’t seem like delinquents.

Lin Yun and her group were the first to get home. After saying goodbye, the boys left, arms around each other’s shoulders.

Even though she was still full of energy earlier—happily discussing the movie with them on the way back—once she got home and cleaned up a bit, the drowsiness hit like a wave.

“I’m done for, sis. I’m so sleepy I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. I’m going to bed. You should sleep early too—we’ve got to wake up early tomorrow.”

The next day, no matter which house they passed, they could still hear people talking about the movie. Some were even guessing when the next movie screening might be.

Once life settled into a routine, time started flying. Lin Yun got up at 5 a.m. every day to go work with Zhao Lanxiu, came back at noon for lunch, studied with Lin Yumei until evening, then the two of them (plus their third sibling) would go out to collect centipedes. Half a month passed like this.

One day, while Lin Yun and Lin Yumei were studying English—Lin Yonggang having run off somewhere to play—a voice called from outside:

“Yumei? Er Ya? Are you home?”

“That’s Auntie Yang from Team Three. What’s she doing here? Looking for Mom?” Yumei asked as she went to open the door.

“Auntie, are you here for my mom? She’s at Uncle’s house. She’s not home right now.”

“I’m not here for her, I’m here for you two.”

Yumei glanced back at Lin Yun, who had followed her to the door with a puzzled face, then turned back to Auntie Yang.
“Please come in and sit, Auntie. Is there something you need?”

“Oh, nothing much. I was just passing by and thought, hey, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you girls, so I thought I’d check in. Honestly, I’ve been hoping you’d come over and visit!”

“It’s been so hot lately.”

“Well, if it’s hot, just come in the evening. My boy has been saying he hasn’t seen you girls in ages. Come visit tonight—he can even walk you back afterward.”

At this, Lin Yun raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound like a casual visit—it was almost like she was trying to introduce her son to Lin Yumei.

Yumei clearly thought the same and quickly cut her off:
“To be honest with you, Auntie, I’m planning to start high school after this summer.”

As soon as she said that, the woman acted as though she’d heard something outrageous.
“You’re still planning to go to college? Yumei, listen to your auntie—girls should be more practical. You’re just going to get married in the end. Studying costs money, and even if you get into a university, can you even afford to go?”

“Auntie, I don’t think that’s right,” Lin Yun stepped in. “Even if the end goal is marriage, by your logic, would a primary school graduate marry better or a college graduate?”

She’d heard this too many times since arriving—how girls were going to get married anyway, so there was no point in studying too much.

“You’re wrong there. I’ve got a distant cousin whose daughter only graduated elementary school, and she still married a city man.”

“Okay, but is every elementary school grad in your extended family marrying a city guy? Or just that one? I could say the same—that every college graduate ends up with a city man.”

“And if you think studying isn’t important, then why do you still send your son to school even though he doesn’t behave? If school doesn’t matter, then he shouldn’t go either. He’s still going to get married too, right?”

“How can boys and girls be the same?”

“In my eyes, they are. My sister’s not just going to college—if she wants to keep studying after that, I’ll support her all the way.”

“Sigh, you kids study and it all goes to the dogs. Is that what school teaches you? To talk back to your elders?”

“Respecting elders comes from their character—not their age.”

That was almost a direct attack on her morals. The auntie clearly didn’t expect Lin Yun to be this blunt. She was about to explode but held herself back.

“You’re just a child. I don’t have time to argue with you.”

Lin Yun just rolled her eyes and didn’t bother responding.

“Yumei,” Auntie Yang said, quickly changing the subject, “I’ve been meaning to ask, where do you get all those centipedes? What spots do you search in? Lately, they seem harder to find—did you and your siblings catch them all?”

“Auntie, it’s not that bad. We don’t even have that much time. We’re usually studying. There might be more centipedes at night—you can check then too.”

“At night, it’s pitch dark. You’d need a flashlight. Our family doesn’t have that kind of luxury—only your family can afford to send three kids to school and use flashlights. If we stayed out for hours with the flashlight on, who could afford the batteries?”

“Auntie Yang, what is it that you really want to know? Nothing we say seems to satisfy you. We already told you we go out at night to find them, but you don’t believe us. Then why even ask?”

Lin Yun was starting to regret opening the door. If she’d known the woman would be like this, she would’ve just pretended no one was home.