Lin Ning returned to the guest house, thrilled as she counted the 2,000 yuan she had just taken. With the Lin family now in complete chaos and at each other’s throats, they wouldn’t have the time to trouble her for a while.

Without that money, Lin Yong would no longer be able to buy a house. He would have no choice but to get married while staying in the Lin family home.

A thought struck Lin Ning: since Lin Yong had always wanted to marry her off for money, why not turn the tables? She decided to get him married off instead—preferably as a live-in son-in-law—so he could taste the humiliation of living under someone else’s roof.

At the Dong’an County Textile Mill, Fan Xiao’e was deeply frustrated. Lin Yong had just informed her that, since his family couldn’t scrape together the money, they wouldn’t be able to buy a house. That meant they would have to live in his parents’ home after marriage—a prospect that filled her with dread.

“Fan Xiao’e, someone’s here to see you!”

“Who is it?”

When Fan Xiao’e walked out, she saw Lin Ning standing at the factory gate. Her face darkened. She was well aware of everything that had happened with Lin Yong’s family. Had Lin Ning agreed to marry into the Feng family, Lin Yong wouldn’t be in this mess. In her eyes, Lin Ning was selfish and ungrateful, and yet she had the gall to show up here.

“What do you want, Lin Ning?” Fan Xiao’e asked coldly.

Her tone brought back bitter memories of Lin Ning’s past life. Fan Xiao’e and Lin Yong had used the money earned from selling Lin Ning to buy their house, enjoying the best resources the Lin family had to offer. Yet, when Lin Ning’s parents needed care in their old age, they ignored them entirely.

Even though they lived right next door, they forced Lin Ning to come back and take care of her parents. This exploitation had only made Fan Xiao’e look down on Lin Ning even more. She often barked orders at her and treated her as less than human.

Lin Ning wanted to slap her right there, but she knew that would draw too much attention. She decided to bide her time.

“I’m here to talk about something important,” Lin Ning said with a smile.

“What is it?”

“Would you like to get married without having to live with your in-laws? Would you like to sleep in every day, free from the demands of housework?”

Of course, Fan Xiao’e wanted that. Who wouldn’t prefer the comfort of their own home to the stress of living with in-laws? But she remained wary, suspecting Lin Ning’s intentions. “What are you getting at?”

Lin Ning smirked. “Don’t overthink it. I’m just giving you a friendly tip. If you follow my advice, you can have everything you want.”

Fan Xiao’e’s interest was piqued. “What’s the plan?”

“Have Lin Yong become your family’s live-in son-in-law.”

Fan Xiao’e gasped. “That’s impossible!”

It did seem unlikely. After all, live-in son-in-laws were typically poor, desperate men with no other options. Lin Yong, on the other hand, was a young man with a stable job, a family home, and, most importantly, the status of being the Lin family’s only son. How could his parents possibly agree to such an arrangement? They’d be a laughingstock.

“Nothing’s impossible,” Lin Ning countered. “Just tell Lin Yong exactly what I suggest.”

Fan Xiao’e mulled over Lin Ning’s words but couldn’t shake her suspicions. “What’s your angle in all this? Are you trying to take over your family’s house?”

Take over your house? What nonsense! Lin Ning cursed her in her heart but kept her face neutral. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve already moved out, and I have no intention of going back. That house has nothing to do with me.”

She leaned in slightly. “Think about it. You know how my family is—three generations of single sons. If you don’t have a boy, my mom will hound you day and night to produce a son. Is that the life you want?”

The mere thought made Fan Xiao’e’s blood run cold. Still, her distrust lingered.

“Take your time to think it over. I’m not here to harm you,” Lin Ning said before leaving.

Fan Xiao’e brought the idea to her parents, and they were thrilled.

“This is brilliant! If you two move in after the wedding, we’ll take care of the chores and the kids. You’ll still get to live like you do now!” her mother exclaimed.

Fan Xiao’e’s father chimed in with a grin. “Plus, if Lin Yong moves in, his salary will go toward our household expenses. It’s like gaining a son-in-law and an extra pair of hands for free! We’re the real winners here.”

The plan seemed too good to pass up, and Fan Xiao’e was tempted. But she knew convincing the Lin family would be another matter entirely.

Her father reassured her, “Offer them something they can’t refuse. Tell Lin Yong that we’ll transfer this house into both your names as soon as you’re married.”

When Fan Xiao’e presented the idea to Lin Yong, he balked. “No way! That’s humiliating! My parents would never agree.”

“What’s so humiliating?” she shot back. “Let people talk all they want. At least we’ll have the last laugh.”

She laid out the benefits: “Our house is bigger than yours. My dad’s already said he’ll put the deed in both our names. My parents will handle the chores, and you won’t have to deal with smoke-filled rooms or bad cooking anymore.”

Lin Yong hesitated. Everything she described sounded perfect. He missed the days when he didn’t have to lift a finger. The more he thought about it, the more appealing it became.

“I’ll talk to my parents,” he finally said.

When Lin Yong broached the subject at home, his parents exploded.

“Absolutely not!” his father roared. “I didn’t raise you for over twenty years just to hand you over to someone else’s family!”

“Fine,” Lin Yong snapped. “If you don’t want me to move into their house, then buy me my own place!”

His father grabbed a cane and lunged at him. “You ungrateful brat! Get out of my sight!”

Lin Yong stormed off to Fan Xiao’e’s house, where her parents welcomed him with open arms. They plied him with food and flattery, slowly wearing down his resistance. Before long, Lin Yong was spending more time at their house than his own.

After weeks of tension, Lin Yong’s parents reluctantly gave in. They made him promise to visit them regularly and help with household matters when needed. If he failed, they threatened to cut him out of their will.

But Lin Yong wasn’t having it. “Who else are you going to leave the house to? Lin Qiao or Lin Ning? Try it, and see what happens!”

The final break came a month later, when Lin Yong married Fan Xiao’e and officially moved in with her family. The Fan household thrived, while the Lin family was left in ruins. Lin Yong took everything he could from his parents, leaving them penniless and alone in their old age.

It was a bitter ending for the Lin parents, who had gambled everything on their son—only to lose it all.