Chapter 25: I Knew You Were Up to No Good

Lin Hao, wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen with a bewildered expression. “Dad, what do you want?”

“You scoundrel! You even had your eye on the dowry I and your mother prepared for your sister. Are you even human?” Lin’s father said angrily, launching into a furious scolding.

Lin Hao, belatedly realizing he’d been tricked by Lin Qingyue, tore off his apron and threw it on the ground. “Lin Qingyue, you tricked me! You never intended to lend me the money.”

“Brother, wake up! That girlfriend of yours, she’s no good,” Lin Qingyue said earnestly. “I was afraid you’d be cheated! Brother, you’re still young.”

“You haven’t even met her, how do you know she’s no good?” Lin Hao retorted stubbornly. “I like her, and that’s that.”

“Son, you’re being foolish! You haven’t even done anything serious, and she’s already asking you for a thousand yuan. That girl is definitely gold-digging,” Lin’s mother chimed in anxiously.

“She didn’t ask me for a thousand yuan; I offered it!” Lin Hao’s mind was stuck in a rut, unable to comprehend.

“So you’re eyeing your sister’s dowry? What kind of man are you?!” Lin’s father, forgetting that it was his new son-in-law’s first visit, grabbed a nearby object and threw it at Lin Hao.

“I’ll beat you, this rebellious son, to death with the family rules today!”

“Dad, calm down! What if I bring a daughter-in-law home?”

“If you dare bring her here, I’ll break your legs!” Lin’s father gasped for breath in anger.

Seeing the situation was dire, Lin Hao tried to escape. “Dad, I’m leaving. I’ll come see you another day!”

Lu Siyi dashed forward, grabbing Lin Hao by the collar. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“What’s it to you? This is our Lin family’s business,” Lin Hao retorted angrily. “It’s all because your wife tricked me and didn’t want to lend me the money!”

“That money is for my business. Why would I lend it to you?” Lin Qingyue seized the opportunity to speak.

“Qingyue, you want to start a business?” Father and Lin’s mother looked at Lin Qingyue simultaneously.

“Yes, I can’t be supported by Lu Siyi for the rest of my life,” Lin Qingyue winked. “Lu Siyi and I went to the county town the other day, and street vending is quite profitable. It’s just that we don’t have enough startup capital.”

“If you don’t have enough money, tell your parents! We’ll give you the money after we deal with your brother’s matter,” Lin’s father said, picking up the whip hanging on the wall—the Lin family’s disciplinary tool.

Lin Hao’s face turned pale with fright. “Dad, are you serious? You’ve never used the family rules on me before!”

Lin’s father dragged Lin Hao towards the study.

Lin’s mother hurriedly followed, but Lin Qingyue stopped her. “Mom, Lin Hao needs discipline.”

“I’ve never seen your dad so angry. What if he loses control and hurts him?” Lin’s mother worried.

“Dad knows his limits. Besides, Lin Hao’s a grown man. A few minor injuries will heal in a few days.”

Lu Siyi looked calmly at Lin Qingyue, choosing to remain silent.

Soon, Lin Hao’s cries and pleas for mercy echoed from the study.

Lin’s mother’s heart ached. Turning to Lin Qingyue, she said, “Qingyue, go persuade your dad. Let’s just drop it.”

“Mom, you have to straighten a sapling while it’s still young. Disciplining Lin Hao now isn’t too late,” Lin Qingyue said coldly. “Mom, if you and Dad were to hand over the family business to Lin Hao now, would you be at ease?”

Certainly not. The Lin family’s ancestral business would likely be ruined by Lin Hao in a few years.

“It’s fine if your brother lives a leisurely life,” Lin’s mother whispered. She never expected much from her son.

“Mom, how many messes has he made that we’ve had to clean up over the years?” Lin Qingyue said quietly and coldly. “Mom, you should also consider me. Lu Siyi works in the army. If he goes astray, it will affect his future.”

“The Lu family has served in the military for generations. If our family brings shame to them, we’ll all be sinners.”

Lin’s mother fell silent.

The cries from the study gradually subsided.

The study door opened, and Lin’s mother rushed in, followed by Lin Qingyue and Lu Siyi.

Lin Hao lay weakly on a stool. Seeing his mother, he immediately broke down. “Mom, Dad’s going to kill me! Stop him!”

“Think about all the foolish things you’ve done over the years. How many times has the family stepped in to clean up your messes? I should have beaten you to death long ago!” Lin’s father roared.

Lin Hao’s defiance immediately weakened.

“Dad, Lin Hao’s grown up, and he’s not studying. We should find him a proper job to keep him from wandering around and getting into trouble,” Lin Qingyue thought for a moment and continued. “Why not find him a job at the factory? You can keep an eye on him too.”

“Lin Qingyue, I know you’re up to no good. I’d rather die than work at the factory!” Lin Hao struggled to get up and run out the door.

Lu Siyi picked him up like a chick and put him back down. “Your sister is doing this for your own good.”

“She’s not my sister, I don’t acknowledge her!” Lin Hao yelled relentlessly.

Lu Siyi suddenly tightened his grip. Lin Hao cried out in pain and immediately begged, “I’ll go work at the factory! Just let me go, okay?!”

He released his grip. “Give your family a proper apology.”

Fearing Lu Siyi, Lin Hao slumped to Lin’s father, reluctantly saying, “Dad, I’ll work at the factory. You decide what position.”

“I have one more condition: break up with that girl! If you want a girlfriend, find a decent one from a respectable family,” Lin’s father said coldly.

“Dad, let me think about it,” Lin Hao clung to his last bit of stubbornness.

Lin’s father raised his whip again.

Lin Hao immediately begged, “I’ll break up with her! I’ll never contact her again!”

Seeing Lin Hao’s cowardly demeanor, Lin Qingyue twitched her lips. In her past life, Lin Qingyue had actually fallen for this kind of person—how ridiculous.

Lin’s mother quickly took Lin Hao to apply medicine.

Only Lin’s father and the Lu Siyi couple remained in the study.

“Qingyue, tell me about this business you’re planning,” Lin’s father asked.

“Well, I have an idea, a general direction, but I’m short of money. Raw materials, hiring people—everything adds up to three or four thousand yuan.”

She sighed heavily. “I’m worried about the money.”

“What kind of business needs so much money?” Lin’s father didn’t understand. A small stall would cost at most a few hundred yuan. Three or four thousand yuan was enough to rent a storefront.