Chapter 27: Letting Off Steam

When Lin Yue got home, it was already dark, the two little ones had dinner at Aunt Zhang’s house.

     Aunt Zhang saw that she hadn’t come back for a long time, she had been worried at home for a long time, and now she kept asking her if she had encountered any danger.

     The two little ones, although only two years old, also knew to worry about their mother, they surrounded her and called out to her in unison.

    Lin Yue felt both touched and guilty.

     Lin Yue hugged the two children and kissed them each, patting their heads: “Baby is so good, mother is back, I brought you delicious candy apples, are you happy?” The two little ones hadn’t really eaten candy apples, they almost didn’t remember what they tasted like, but they still nodded in agreement.

     Little Lingling nestled in Lin Yue’s arms, raised her arm to show her: “Mother, aunt hit me, it hurts, blow on it!” Since the two children could speak, Lin Yue had often taught them that if they encountered anything outside, or were bullied by anyone, they must tell her.

    Hearing Lingling say this, she quickly rolled up her sleeve, and saw two particularly obvious bruises on her white and plump arm, her heart ached.

     Aunt Zhang didn’t expect that such a young child would already know how to complain, she felt that she hadn’t taken good care of the two children, her tone was a bit awkward: “The kids were playing at the door today, your aunt came over, I didn’t pay much attention, who knew that the two kids would be crying in no time.

    When I went over, your aunt had already run away, I didn’t catch up.

    ” Lin Yue was hugging the child and comforting her, when she heard this, she instantly became angry, she wanted to go find Zhang Xiaoxi to settle the score, but Aunt Zhang stopped her: “Don’t forget, your mother-in-law is not someone to be trifled with, this matter is just children playing around, you go to your mother-in-law’s house to make a scene late at night for this, what about your reputation?” Lin Yue thought about it, even if she went now, she couldn’t beat Zhang Xiaoxi, Sun Hongmei would be able to turn the tables on her and say that her daughter-in-law was causing trouble in their family.

    But she couldn’t just let it go, she dared to bully her children, if she didn’t fight back, others would think she was a good-natured person! She handed the cloth she had bought to Aunt Zhang, one sky blue, one khaki, and also matched white buttons.

     Aunt Zhang touched the two pieces of cloth and said to her granddaughter: “This blue is really refreshing, it will definitely look good as a small jacket, look, I told you your aunt has good taste.

    ” Zhang Guixiang saw her new cloth, she was also very happy, she asked Lin Yue: “Auntie, why didn’t you buy a piece with flowers? This is also pretty, it’s just a bit plain.

    ” Aunt Zhang said: “I think this one is better than those with broken flowers! A few days ago, your Niu auntie’s niece from the city came to our village, she was wearing this color, there were no messy flowers, how beautiful! Her color wasn’t as good as this one.

    ” Niu auntie’s niece was indeed beautiful, and she also had a great temperament, very different from the girls in the village, when she came to the village a few days ago, many young people’s eyes were glued to her.

    Zhang Guixiang also remembered the beautiful girl, she instantly blushed.

     Lin Yue laughed, grabbed a handful of loquat stalks from the basket and put them on the table, hugged one child in each hand and went home.

     Aunt Zhang’s family was considered to be in good condition, but they were still reluctant to buy these snacks, she chased after her to ask her to take them back, but Lin Yue walked too fast, she didn’t catch up, she just laughed and scolded her for wasting money.

     On the way, she asked Lingling: “Does your arm still hurt?” Little Lingling said: “Arm hurts!” She asked again: “Why does your arm hurt?” “Aunt pinched Lingling, also pinched Wanli!” “Why did your aunt pinch you?” “Aunt wanted candy, didn’t give it to her, pinched Lingling.

    ” Lin Yue was furious when she heard this.

    The children in the village might not see a piece of candy in a year, Lin Yue gave each of them a piece of Great White Rabbit milk candy because she wasn’t around them today, she told them that if they missed their mother, they could eat a piece of candy, their mother would be back soon.

     Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaoxi saw it and even hit the two children.

     If the two children hadn’t learned to speak early, she wouldn’t have known they were being bullied.

     She kissed Little Wanli’s hair, although the two children were the same age, Wanli had always been very steady, like a big brother.

    Just now she was only comforting her sister, she didn’t know that he was also pinched, the little guy was always very quiet beside her, he was so sensible that it made people feel sorry for him.

     The next morning, Lin Yue carried the two children on a carrying pole, blocking Sun Hongmei’s family on their way to work.

     Zhang Xiaoxi was already 11 years old this year, she didn’t go to school, her two brothers did, but during the busy farming season, they still followed their family to earn work points, they only went to school when it was slack, she wasn’t with Sun Hongmei now, she didn’t know if she had gone to school.

     Lin Yue saw Zhang Xiaoxi, grabbed her and asked: “Zhang Xiaoxi, why did you bully your two nephews? They’re so young, how could you pinch their arms like this, huh?” Zhang Xiaoxi was suddenly pulled, and seeing Lin Yue’s terrifying expression, she didn’t dare to say a word, she shrank her neck and stood.

     Sun Hongmei wouldn’t stand for it, she yelled angrily: “What are you doing? How can a sister-in-law bully her younger sister-in-law like this? You’re a troublemaker, I think you’ve gone crazy! The children got a little hurt, you’re blaming Xiaoxi? It could be they bumped into something!” Lin Yue said: “Everyone saw Zhang Xiaoxi hit people, the two children are so small, they were pinched like this! Besides, it’s your grandson and granddaughter who were beaten, don’t you feel sorry for them at all? You’re really a good grandmother!” There were already many people watching the commotion on the road, at this time they looked in the direction Lin Yue pointed, the two children’s arms were bruised, it was obvious that they had been hit hard, someone scolded: “This pinch is too hard, Xiaoxi, those are your nephews, you should protect them, how can you bully them?” Sun Hongmei scolded: “Bah! You know nothing, just talking nonsense? It’s not necessarily Xiaoxi who pinched them! Who saw Xiaoxi bully anyone? You call him over! If you don’t call him over today, I’m not done with you!”  A voice came from the crowd, it was Aunt Zhang: “I saw it, what about it? Yesterday, Wanli’s mother sent the two kids to my place, I took care of them, I saw with my own eyes that her younger sister pinched them, she pinched the kids until they cried!” Aunt Zhang’s family was large and powerful, people generally didn’t dare to offend her.

    Sun Hongmei saw Aunt Zhang stand up, she didn’t dare to target her, she could only continue to attack Lin Yue: “Her younger sister is the children’s elder, why can’t she discipline them! Besides, you’re the mother, the children got hurt, isn’t it because you didn’t take good care of them? It’s your own problem, why are you making trouble for Xiaoxi!” Lin Yue laughed angrily, grabbed Zhang Xiaoxi’s arm and twisted it hard, saying: “Mother-in-law is right, now your daughter has also been pinched, according to your logic, it’s because you didn’t take good care of her as a mother, don’t come to me! Oh, also, she’s such a big girl now, she should learn some manners, don’t cause trouble all day long, and let people beat you up at home!” After saying that, she picked up the carrying pole, carried the children and left, not caring how Sun Hongmei rolled around on the ground and cursed.

     Zhang Shouren and Zhang Shouyi, the two brothers, didn’t go to school today, they left late, after Lin Yue left, they heard people’s discussions and learned about what had happened.

    They caught up with Lin Yue halfway, each gave their two nephews a piece of sorghum candy: “Sister-in-law, don’t worry, we’ll take good care of our sister in the future, we won’t let her do this again.

    ” After saying that, they ran away.

     These two pieces of candy should have been saved from the New Year; Lin Yue sighed again: “What a good sprout from a bad bamboo!” Although she had been keeping her distance from her in-laws for the past two years, she had a good relationship with the two brothers-in-law.

    The two brothers would occasionally give their nephews some snacks and toys when they met them, even if it was just half a piece of cake, Lin Yue remembered this kindness in her heart.

     Lin Yue would go to her in-laws’ house to send money, and occasionally she would buy some things that the two brothers could use and send them together.

    Of course, she did it openly, she had to let everyone know that she had paid, she wouldn’t be a sucker.

     On her way to work, she ran into Wang Baodong again.

    He had slicked back his hair today, wearing a sharp suit, a pair of liberation shoes, and a straw in his mouth, he was standing by the roadside, looking nonchalant.

     Someone saw his outfit and joked: “Wang Baodong, you’re dressed so neatly today, are you going to see someone for a blind date?” Wang Baodong spat the straw in his mouth at the person, laughed and cursed, his eyes fixed on Lin Yue.

     Lin Yue felt uncomfortable being stared at by him, she glared back fiercely.

     Wang Baodong was not afraid, instead he ran over excitedly, and said obsequiously: “Sister-in-law, you carry these two children every day, aren’t you tired? Come on, I’ll help you!” He reached out to touch Lin Yue’s hand on the carrying pole.

     Lin Yue saw his salty pig hand reaching out, she stomped hard on the back of his foot.

    She held back a little bit, otherwise Wang Baodong’s foot would probably be broken.

     Wang Baodong was stepped on like this, he was in so much pain that he bent over and sat on the ground, holding his foot and crying out.

     People on the roadside saw it, they laughed and didn’t take it seriously, they joked: “Serves you right! Who told you to harass other people’s wives! Widow Liu is always calling out to you, you don’t go, why are you staring at other people’s innocent wives?” Lin Yue didn’t want to hear this; she turned around and left.

     She walked a long way before she heard Zhang Shoucang scolding people behind her: “You’re not going to work, what are you watching a commotion for? Wang Baodong, you’re dressed like this, do you look like someone who’s going to work in the fields?” Wang Baodong roared: “I’m not working today! You stinky bitch, you wait for me!” The last sentence was obviously said to Lin Yue.

     Lin Yue heard Zhang Shoucang seem to have scolded a few more words, she didn’t bother to pay attention, she didn’t even turn her head back.

     For the next few days, everything was calm, Wang Baodong stayed at home for four or five days before going out, Zhang Xiaoxi didn’t show up in front of Lin Yue either.

     Lin Yue thought that life would continue to be this peaceful, but she didn’t know that a “surprise” was waiting for her ahead.