Chapter 9

“Grandma, it’s snowing again! So beautiful!”

Hu Xiu placed a stool by the window. Miaomiao loved standing on tiptoe, peering outside through the clear glass. At that moment, the first snowflake fell.

The young girl couldn’t describe the beauty in words, so she wiped the glass with her chubby hands, trying to clear the fog.

But Guoguo, being a boy, lacked such romantic sentiment.

Hearing his sister, he dropped his toy, climbed onto the stool, and frowned. “Grandma, why does it snow at our house every day?”

He wanted to play outside, but his grandmother never allowed it when it snowed.

Hu Xiu, meanwhile, was filling a bowl with rice porridge. Ever since taking care of the twins, she had become more particular about their meals. Tonight, along with the white rice porridge, there were scallion egg pancakes and leftover stewed tofu with soybean paste.

Hearing the children’s contrasting views on snow, Hu Xiu chuckled but chose not to engage, fearing an endless string of “why?”

She changed the subject skillfully: “Alright, little gluttons, time to eat.”

Normally, the mention of food would make the two obediently rush over. But today was different. They remained at the window, watching intently.

Just as Hu Xiu was about to tease them, she caught a faint noise outside.

What’s happening in the village?

Before she could think further, Miaomiao called out, “Grandma, someone’s coming to our house!”

Hu Xiu quickly covered the food and went to the window.

Against the white winter sky, she saw a familiar figure.

It’s Tingting!

Despite the thick winter clothing, Hu Xiu immediately recognized her daughter-in-law.

Her thin face brightened with a smile. “Silly children, your mother is back!” She quickly unbolted the door and rushed outside.

Lin Ting, walking briskly, also spotted her mother-in-law.

She waved, quickening her pace.

Hu Xiu, happy yet confused, also hurried forward.

As soon as they met, Lin Ting took her hand—a closeness they had never shared before.

Hu Xiu felt a lump in her throat. Had her daughter-in-law suffered?

Before she could ask, Lin Ting spoke first: “Mom, you’re not feeling well. Why didn’t you wear a thick coat?”

“I was in such a hurry that I forgot.” Hu Xiu was touched. Her daughter-in-law cared about her. She never believed Lin Ting had run away with money.

To be honest, Hu Xiu never intended to force Lin Ting to stay forever. If she wanted to remarry, Hu Xiu would support her with a generous dowry, just as if she were her own daughter. Her only concern had been for Lin Ting’s safety and preventing her late son from being dishonored.

Now, seeing Lin Ting return safe and considerate, Hu Xiu felt relieved.

Just as she was about to turn and speak to Lin Ting’s brothers, Lin Ting tugged on her sleeve again.

Hu Xiu frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Ting sighed. “The whole village knows I’m back.”

Hu Xiu was puzzled. “So what?”

“They’ll come to watch the drama. I don’t want trouble.”

As for the ridiculous rumors, she decided not to upset her mother-in-law with them. Sooner or later, she would clear her name.

Hu Xiu chuckled. “That’s village life. If you don’t like it, ask your Second Aunt to handle it.”

Second Aunt Chen Guilan was petite but known for her sharp tongue and quick thinking.

“Should we invite her over?”

As they spoke, they entered the house.

The kerosene lamp flickered, casting shadows across the dimly lit room.

But my mother-in-law kept the house very clean, and under the dim firelight, it felt warm and cozy.

Hu Xiu made tea for her daughter-in-law’s two brothers, despite their refusal. She waved her hand and said, “No need. Just wait and see. They’ll be here soon.”

She knew her sisters-in-law very well.

Just as she finished speaking, the door, which had just been closed, was suddenly pushed open with a loud “bang!”

Earlier, when Chen Guilan heard that her nephew’s wife had returned and had gone into the woods with two men, she immediately scratched the gossiper who spread the rumor and ran over, panting.

She was determined to see for herself whether the girl from the Lin family was up to something suspicious. She had sharp eyes, like a measuring ruler—one glance and she could expose any wrongdoing.

But when her eyes met the two men sitting on the bench, the anger in her heart deflated, like a punctured balloon.

Hu Xiu handed out the freshly brewed tea and smiled at her sister-in-law. “Gui Lan, you’re here? Haven’t eaten yet? It’s perfect timing—stay for some dumplings.”

The dumplings were made a few days ago with pork and cabbage filling. She had made about a hundred of them. Aside from a few that she cooked for the twins, she had frozen the rest, waiting for her daughter-in-law to return so she could give them to her husband.

Hearing it was dumplings, Chen Guilan subconsciously swallowed.

She had many children, and raising four half-grown boys had drained the family’s finances. Because of this, she could only have a proper meal during festivals.

Normally, she would have stayed and taken advantage of the situation.

But right now, there were still a lot of villagers gossiping.

Her husband and third brother’s family were also waiting for news, so how could she waste time eating dumplings?

Thinking of this, Chen Guilan glanced at her troublesome nephew’s wife.

Only then did she realize that the girl from the Lin family had changed a lot in the past twenty days.

How should she put it? That anxious, jittery feeling she used to give off was gone. Now, it seemed like she was truly settling into her life.

For once, the usually sharp-tongued Chen Guilan declined her sister-in-law’s invitation to dinner. Instead, she looked at her nephew’s wife and, in an unusually gentle tone, said, “Xiao Lin, you must be tired from the long trip.”

Lin Ting was surprised by her change in attitude and smiled. “Yes, I’m pretty exhausted. I’ve basically been in a car for days.”

Wow! Intellectuals weren’t being pretentious for once!

Chen Guilan was curious and wanted to sit down and ask more.

But as soon as she sat on the stool, she remembered she still had things to handle. After hesitating for a moment, she finally stood up and moved toward the door.

As she reached it, she noticed that her nephew’s wife had followed her.

Seeing this, Chen Guilan’s smile became more sincere. “No need to see me out. If you’re tired, just get a good night’s sleep. Second Aunt will come to chat tomorrow.”

Although Chen Guilan was a generation older than Lin Ting, she wasn’t actually that old—only thirty-eight. When she smiled, she looked quite friendly.

Lin Ting wasn’t sure why she was suddenly acting differently, but who would complain about a peaceful day? So she smiled back and said, “I doubt tonight will be peaceful. Someone is bound to come knocking soon.”

“It’s already snowing, and the sun has set. Who would be so tactless as to come bothering you? Don’t worry, the earliest they’ll come is tomorrow.”

Besides, she planned to deal with those troublemakers tonight. Tomorrow, they would just be watching the show.

With that thought, Chen Guilan nodded to her brother-in-law, who was sipping tea on the sofa, then pushed the door open and disappeared into the snow.

Lin Ting belatedly realized something and turned around to glare at her second brother.

Catching the amused look in his eyes, she immediately understood—he had known all along that no one would come tonight but deliberately made her anxious!

Lin Ting took a deep breath… Ugh, her brother was so annoying!

Dinner was over.

It was past six o’clock.

The Lin brothers thanked their aunt for the meal and left.

Knowing their parents were waiting for news, Hu Xiu didn’t try to keep them. She stood at the door, exchanged a few polite words, and then took the twins to the west room.

Lin Ting looked up at her two brothers. “Come pick me up tomorrow afternoon. A lot of people will be coming in the morning, so I won’t be able to leave.”

Now that she had calmed down, she understood.

If she had already survived the worst part, this final challenge wouldn’t be a problem.

Being treated like a spectacle?

She could endure it!!!

Lin Ming rubbed his sister’s head and said, “Got it. Go rest. Don’t overthink things.”

No matter how good a sleeper car was, it was still cramped, like a birdcage. It couldn’t compare to the warm kang. His little sister looked so tired that her chin had become pointed.

Lin Wei reached out and flicked his sister’s forehead. Before she could get mad, he asked casually, “And what about the letter…?”

Lin Ting’s mind immediately went on high alert. “I burned it!”

Lin Wei was suspicious. She used to treasure that letter so much—if he even glanced at it, she’d get mad for days. “Did you really burn it?”

“I really did!”

She wasn’t lying. The day after she arrived in this world, when she went out to call the commune, she burned all the original Lin Ting’s treasured letters.

It wasn’t about disrespecting anyone. But keeping something that could cause problems was like holding onto a ticking time bomb.

Burning it was the only way to eliminate any risks.

Seeing her firm attitude, Lin Wei was even more confused. But now wasn’t the time to press further.

Besides, he had to give his stubborn little sister one night to prepare herself.

If he didn’t teach her a lesson this time, who knew what crazy thing she’d do next?

Thinking this, he let the matter go for now, playfully poked his sister’s forehead, and pulled his older brother away.

As for Lin Ting’s request to pick her up at noon tomorrow?

He didn’t agree.

Based on his understanding of their parents, the old couple would definitely arrive before dawn to see their precious daughter with their own eyes.

Lin Ming: “What letter did you just say?”

Lin Wei: “Huh? Didn’t you say it?”

“I told you, Tingting said something was burned. What are you two hiding?”

“Brother, you’re overthinking. Why not ask her yourself? By the way, Aunt-in-law treated us to dumplings. When she picks up my little sister tomorrow, bring her some treats.”

“Good idea. We hunted a roe deer recently. How about giving her a hind leg?”

“And a chicken. Tingting went through a lot this time.”

“Alright. I’ll get up early and save the chicken blood for my little sister. She likes it…”

Lin Ting watched her brothers’ figures fade into the snowy wind. She slowly closed the door, gaining a deeper understanding of her elder brother’s upright and honest nature.

What a good diversion.

“Tingting…”

Lin Ting turned and met her mother-in-law’s gaze. The warmth in her eyes had faded. She looked at the two packages on the table and hesitated. “Mom… Can I see Xiao’s things?”

Why wouldn’t she?

Coming to this world meant losing her loved ones. Lin Ting’s eyes reddened instantly. “Of course!”