Chapter 13 – The Female Supporting Character in the Confession Book

Before Wen Xin could take action against Luo Manzhen, she heard the news that Lin Jianzhang’s mother, Liao Jinzhi, had been stabbed by a madman while returning from the countryside. 

She also learned that Luo Manzhen had happened to be passing by, saw the situation, and engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the madman, getting seriously injured and being admitted to the hospital.

Wen Xin vaguely remembered that event, where Liao Jinzhi had been seriously injured by the madman and was sent to the hospital with no one to take care of her. 

At that time, the original owner worked in the town, so taking advantage of her work schedule, she brought Liao Jinzhi some meals for several days.

This act of kindness further improved the Lin family’s attitude towards the original owner, who had already been favored by them. Lin Jianzhang, who was filial, was deeply touched. 

The emotional bond between them, which had already started to form, grew even stronger, and after some discussion, the two decided to get married.

After the wedding, it was just as Lin Jianzhang had told Wen Xin earlier—the original owner went with him to follow the army, and her job was transferred as well.

Wen Xin had originally planned to deal with Luo Manzhen, but after hearing this news, she became less inclined to act.

In the previous life, the original owner had often quarreled with Lin Jianzhang because of his filial piety. This time, Wen Xin was curious to see if, after Luo Manzhen saved his mother, Lin Jianzhang would be so moved by his filial duty that he would remarry her.

If he did remarry, then that would be even better. 

Everything Luo Manzhen had done after her rebirth was for the sake of being with Lin Jianzhang and living a life of wealth and status. 

As for Wen Xin, her past experiences had made her a suspicious person. If her life went smoothly after rebirth, she could pretend to be a gentle, virtuous, and diligent little wife for the sake of money and Lin Jianzhang’s future success.

But this life wasn’t as smooth for her. Lin Jianzhang was a competent soldier, a filial son, and grandson, but not a good husband. Although he didn’t indulge in gambling or visiting brothels, and compared to Sun Haowen, he was upright, Luo Manzhen clearly wasn’t satisfied with that.

She wanted Lin Jianzhang to be successful in his career and to love, spoil, and cherish her, but Lin Jianzhang was somewhat of a male chauvinist and clearly could not meet those expectations.

A couple like this would inevitably face many obstacles in their life together. Wen Xin didn’t need to act; Luo Manzhen could ruin herself.

What Wen Xin needed to do was deliver a crushing blow when Luo Manzhen was at her lowest point.

And just as Wen Xin had predicted, things unfolded accordingly.

Luo Manzhen, who had been injured while saving Liao Jinzhi, was hospitalized. 

Liao Jinzhi had previously had a wound that was stitched up and covered with gauze, and it wasn’t a big deal. 

However, Luo Manzhen had been bedridden for seven days.

Liao Jinzhi was a soft-hearted person who easily got touched by others. After this incident, she had long discarded all her previous grievances against Luo Manzhen and felt nothing but deep sympathy for her.

Lin Shuisheng, as a child, had always listened to his mother. After marriage, he would often listen to the conversations between his mother and his wife. At this moment, Grandma Lin and Liao Jinzhi both seemed intent on matchmaking Luo Manzhen and Lin Jianzhang. Although Lin Shuisheng was unwilling, after his objections proved futile, he resigned himself to fate.

Lin Jianzhang’s military exercise had already ended, and as he was preparing to return, he encountered this situation. 

If he had been in the Provincial Capital, it would have been understandable if he didn’t come back, but he was in the county, just an hour’s walk from home. It would be impossible to justify not returning.

He called Colonel and requested two days off, and the Colonel readily approved it.

Liao Jinzhi’s injury didn’t require much care, so Lin Jianzhang bought some nutritional supplements for Luo Manzhen and sent them over. These were expensive and hard to find in the market.

After returning from the hospital, Lin Jianzhang thought about visiting Wen Xin’s house. He had come back to the area three or four times, but he had never visited her.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Grandma Lin was displeased: “Why go? You’re not supposed to. Everyone’s been saying you two aren’t together anymore, so why are you pushing yourself on her? Are you trying to make a fool of yourself?”

Lin Jianzhang frowned. “Grandma, that’s not what I mean. She said she wanted to separate, but it wasn’t because of us. It’s mainly because Luo Manzhen keeps showing up and making her family the subject of ridicule. If I go a few more times, she’ll soften up.”

Grandma Lin slammed her chopsticks down. “No, you’re not going. I think Manzhen is a good kid. If she hadn’t shown up in time, who knows what would have happened to your mother?”

Liao Jinzhi was someone who could forget all previous grievances with a little kindness. To put it in modern terms, she was a bit of a saint: “Your grandma’s right. Just look at this situation. Manzhen is a good child. If it weren’t for her timely intervention, who knows how things would have turned out with your mother.”

Grandma Lin was very pleased with Liao Jinzhi’s approval: “Yes, I’ve thought about it too. In the past, Manzhen caused a scene probably because you two weren’t living together. She understands now, and during this time, she’s been taking care of the household and has been good to both your dad and me. So, if you remarry, take her with you to follow the army.”

Liao Jinzhi chimed in: “Your grandma’s right. When you two have a child, I’ll come and help look after it.”

The two women were getting along better and better.

Lin Jianzhang silently put down his chopsticks. “You don’t need to think about it. I don’t agree.” He stood up and left, leaving the dinner table in an awkward silence.

Grandma Lin felt that her authority had been challenged, and she was very angry. “You’re getting too bold and not listening anymore. Shuisheng, aren’t you going to do something?”

Lin Shuisheng remained silent, eating without saying a word.

Eldest Sister-in-law Lin exchanged a glance with her husband, and Eldest Sister-in-law Lin’s face showed a clear look of disdain.

After the meal, everyone returned to their respective rooms. Eldest Sister-in-law Lin was sewing clothes for her child and spoke to her husband, Big Brother Lin: “Luo Manzhen must have fed Mom and Grandma some sort of nonsense. Just wait and see, if Jianzhang really remarries her, there’s going to be trouble ahead. Luo Manzhen isn’t someone who knows how to handle family life.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Lin was of the same generation as Luo Manzhen. 

As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lin family, she hadn’t received any special treatment. 

She worked in the fields, climbed the mountains, and did all the chores. Unlike Luo Manzhen, who had her elders sympathizing with her and her husband being away, so she didn’t want to work in the fields and only stayed at home cooking. But the cooking wasn’t really done by her—wasn’t it her two children who were made to do it?

Eldest Sister-in-law Lin had argued with Luo Manzhen about this several times. When Luo Manzhen divorced Lin Jianzhang, Eldest Sister-in-law Lin had found a quiet place to laugh about it. Now, seeing that Luo Manzhen was coming back, Eldest Sister-in-law Lin was extremely angry.

Big Brother Lin didn’t think highly of his sister-in-law either, who was always making her own children do the work, but as a man, he couldn’t directly argue with Luo Manzhen. He could only tell Lin Jianzhang about it. Feeling frustrated, he muttered: “Alright, enough talking.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Lin fell silent.

That night, it started raining, and the rain continued lightly through the next morning. That day was the wedding of Lin Jianzhang’s cousin, and knowing he was home, they invited him to join them for a meal. Lin Jianzhang, feeling bored at home, decided to go. He was the most successful younger generation in the village, and the older folks in the town liked to talk to him and drink with him. Without realizing it, Lin Jianzhang drank a bit too much.

The meal lasted from morning until afternoon. After the elders had finished enjoying themselves, Lin Jianzhang stumbled back home, lay on the kang, and fell asleep.

He was awakened by a loud scream. Lin Jianzhang opened his eyes to find his parents and his brother and sister-in-law standing at the foot of his bed. 

At the head of the bed, Luo Manzhen was sitting, wrapped in a blanket, softly crying.

She had likely just come out of the hospital. Her head was still bandaged, her face was pale, and tears were falling one by one. She looked pitiful.