Chapter 32: Dog bites dog

He didn’t dare to trouble Lin Yiwan now, so he took his anger out on Tan Qiuyue! 

“It’s all your fault! You didn’t raise our son properly, and you offended our daughter, now she doesn’t even want to come home!”

Tan Qiuyue, having just been revived by a neighbor, almost fainted again from Lin Weimin’s accusations!  How could he say that?

“Lin Weimin! Do you have a conscience? Lin Yiwan is your daughter, how could I have done those things without your consent?”

The couple bickered, the onlookers stunned.

“My goodness!  What a terrible stepmother and stepfather!”

“Luckily Lin Yiwan ran fast, otherwise, she’d be dead!”

…

Hearing her parents’ argument and seeing their beautiful home empty, Lin Yirou cried until she was breathless. Song Huaiqing comforted her.

“It’s okay, Yirou, these are material things, you’ll have more later.”

But Lin Yirou cried harder. She wouldn’t! These things were exquisite; she was used to them. She wouldn’t want to use ordinary things. Besides, her brother likely took the family money; how could they afford new furniture?

“Brother Song, how could Sister Wanwan be so cruel?” Crying, her tears and snot running down her face, she lost her usual delicate beauty. 

Song Huaiqing, remembering her manipulative fainting act, didn’t automatically blame Lin Yiwan.

“Yirou, how can you say that? Wanwan has been good to you.” She gave her a nice room and was willing to give her the job. 

What more did she want? Song Huaiqing felt disappointed. Was this the woman who made Lin Yiwan run to his uncle?

Lin Yirou was stunned. “Brother…Brother Song?” Usually, he’d scold Lin Yiwan with her. Why had everyone changed?  Her father, and now Song Huaiqing.

Clutching Song Huaiqing’s arm, Lin Yirou had a bad feeling.

“Yirou, you’re tired, rest. I’ll see you in a couple of days.” Song Huaiqing tried to pull away.

“No! Don’t go!” Lin Yirou panicked, gripping his arm tighter.

The onlookers gasped.  “Shameless, a girl clinging to a man.” “I thought she was good, but I was wrong!” “Such a promiscuous girl, who would marry her?”

Hearing “promiscuous,” Song Huaiqing forcefully pulled his arm away, leaving Lin Yirou sprawled on the ground. He left without looking back.

Lin Yirou sat there dejectedly. The onlookers dispersed. Only the three Lins remained, dejected.

After a while, Lin Yirou jumped up. “The job! My job! Lin Yiwan promised to transfer it today!” She ran out.

Lin Weimin stopped her. “Don’t go, she won’t give you the job.”

“What?” Lin Yirou stared incredulously. “We agreed! How could she go back on her word?”

Lin Weimin was annoyed. “You fought with her, what right do you have to ask for the job?”

But Lin Yirou wasn’t willing to give up.  She was so close!

“It’s your fault! If you hadn’t said she stole the money, I wouldn’t have fought with her!” Lin Yirou glared at Lin Weimin.

They had no proof, why blame Lin Yiwan?  Now, she hadn’t gone to jail, but lost her job.  Lin Weimin lost four hundred yuan, his house was emptied, and he was furious. He was yelled at by his wife and daughter.  He slapped Lin Yirou across the face!

“Useless thing! If you were half as capable as Lin Yiwan, I wouldn’t have to grovel before her boyfriend!” She couldn’t even handle Song Huaiqing!

A loud slap echoed.  The house fell silent.  A burning pain made Lin Yirou realize her father had hit her.

“You hit me?” She stood stunned.

“Lin Weimin! I’ll fight you, you dared to hit my daughter!” Tan Qiuyue attacked Lin Weimin. He slapped her back.

“Crazy woman! Unreasonable!” He stormed out, leaving the mother and daughter, shocked and heartbroken.

—

Distraught, Lin Weimin ended up in a small alley. He found a dilapidated shack.  He heard a baby crying.  He knocked, and a woman opened the door.

“Why are you here?” Huang Xiangju looked nervously behind him.

“No one, I was careful.” Lin Weimin entered. The door closed. His hand went to her waist.

“Don’t be so impatient…” 

A woman’s voice came from the quiet room.