Chapter 10

Lin Qian stood still, patiently enduring Ma Guixin’s long-winded scolding. She let it all go in one ear and out the other—what she really wanted was to see Ma Guixin’s reaction once she discovered their house had been emptied out.

Seeing Lin Qian’s indifferent attitude, Ma Guixin gave up talking for now. Her throat was dry from all the yelling, and she needed a drink of water before she could continue.

In any case, she wasn’t about to let Lin Qian break off her engagement until Lin Yuanyuan’s marriage was finalized. She couldn’t let this little wretch ruin her biological daughter’s reputation.

When she pushed open the courtyard door, the first thing she noticed was that the clothes and quilts she had hung out to dry were missing.

A strange pang of unease hit her.

This was the residential compound of the mechanical factory—there hadn’t been a single report of theft in years. Surely no one had jumped the wall just to steal a few pieces of clothing and bedding?

Panic rose in her, and Ma Guixin rushed into the house. She nearly tripped over a dip in the courtyard floor in her haste.

Lin Qian waited at the door, barely able to hold back her laughter.

“AHHH! AHHH!! AHHHH!!!”

Soon, Ma Guixin’s ear-piercing shrieks echoed from inside the house—each louder than the last, like a groundhog in distress.

Neighbors who had just gotten off work rushed over after hearing the commotion.

“Qianqian, was that your mom screaming just now? What happened at your house?”

Lin Qian turned around with a deliberately pitiful expression. “I don’t know what happened to my mom. She wouldn’t let me go inside and told me to return to the Lu family.”

A kind neighbor gently patted her shoulder and said, “Qianqian, your parents really are… sigh. Now that you’re grown up, you should really make your own decisions when it comes to your marriage.”

Another outspoken aunt chimed in, “Qianqian, I’m not trying to meddle, but that boy from the Huo family—he’s handsome, also a military officer—he’s a much better match for you. Why did you choose that Lu guy instead? His mother, Wang Wanzhi, came all the way from Factory One to apologize to your mom because her son was late to the matchmaking meeting. She even gave your mom two more meat ration coupons, and your mom accepted them happily.”

Lin Qian instantly thought of the huge piece of pork Ma Guixin had been holding earlier.

Unbelievable!

As Lin Qian stood there, trying to respond to the nosy neighbors, Ma Guixin suddenly came running out of the house, wailing and throwing herself onto the ground.

“Oh heavens! Our Lin family has been honest farmers for generations—why are we suffering such a disaster!”

Everyone rushed inside to see what had happened.

“Guixin, get up! What on earth happened to your house?”

Ma Guixin sobbed hysterically, “We were robbed! Everything in the house is gone—completely cleaned out! Wuuu wuuu, I can’t live like this, my life’s work is gone, I don’t want to live anymore!”

“Lin Qian, go to the factory and get your dad! Go get Lin Dawei back here!”

Lin Qian watched as Ma Guixin sobbed like she was about to drop dead. She felt pure satisfaction.

She almost wanted to jump for joy.

“Alright, alright—I’ll go get Dad right now.”

Lin Qian happily skipped off.

When she reached the mechanical factory entrance, she figured it was time to stir up even more trouble.

Those two wicked people from the Lin family had ruined her relationship with Huo Xiujin in her past life. In this life, she was going to turn their world upside down.

She walked across the street to a state-run store and bought two cans of fruit preserves. Then she slipped two yuan under the cans.

She remembered it was a widow named Wu Xiuhong.

Inside the factory, she quickly found out who the woman was by asking around. Then she asked someone to deliver the preserves to Wu Xiuhong on her behalf, specifically telling them to say they were from Lin Dawei.

Only after the job was done did she go find Lin Dawei herself.

The workshop was too noisy, so she pulled him outside.

“Aiya, Qianqian, what are you doing here? I’m in the middle of adjusting the machines!”

As they reached the entrance of the workshop, Lin Qian noticed someone watching them intently—she quickly realized it must be Wu Xiuhong.

She tested the waters by asking, “Dad, doesn’t that auntie look like she’s trying to talk to you?”

“Huh?”

Lin Dawei instinctively turned to look at Wu Xiuhong and made eye contact with her. He flinched like he’d seen a ghost.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

He grabbed Lin Qian and rushed her out of the workshop.

Lin Qian had seen everything—the way they looked at each other. Her two cans of preserves were not in vain.

Wu Xiuhong would definitely try to return the favor soon. She just hoped someone would catch them together and force Ma Guixin into a marital crisis ahead of schedule.

Once outside, Lin Dawei asked, “Didn’t your mom already go home? Why are you looking for me?”

Lin Qian replied, “The house was robbed—cleaned out. Mom’s crying her eyes out and told me to come get you.”

“What?! Something that serious and you’re only telling me now, you little brat?!”

Lin Dawei pushed her aside and ran off in a panic.

Lin Qian followed slowly. She wanted to see how the police would handle this case.

Back at the Lin family courtyard, three police officers were investigating. After thoroughly inspecting the house, they all shook their heads.

In all their years of experience, they’d never seen a case like this.

The house had been completely emptied out—nothing left but bare floors. The thief left no trace, and none of the neighbors had seen or heard anything suspicious.

Ma Guixin collapsed on the ground, nearly fainting from crying.

Only Lin Dawei was still managing to stand upright, staying close to the police.

“Officers, do you think the thief can be caught?”

The officers glanced over their notes and couldn’t give a clear answer.

One older officer patted his shoulder and said, “Let’s wait a bit. We’ll go back and look into it more. If any new leads come up, we’ll let you know.”

Ma Guixin started sobbing even harder, clawing at the ground, “I don’t want to live anymore!”

Lin Dawei slapped his own thigh. He wanted to cry too.

How had this happened to their family? It was like they’d been cursed.

Lin Qian figured this “burglary” case would likely just be left unresolved.

She really wanted to laugh.

But the issue of her engagement with Lu Zhanting still hadn’t been resolved, and she wondered what the Lu family was up to. She’d have to head back there soon.

She said goodbye to the neighbors and turned to leave.

Just then, a bicycle came wobbling down the alley with the clear intent of ramming into her.

Luckily, Lin Qian let go of her own bicycle and dodged out of the way.

When she looked up, she saw the rider was none other than Lin Yuanyuan.