Chapter 23: Human Relations

Seeing Doctor Yang’s special attention to their family, Lin Luoxi decided to gift him a few relatively good-quality fish when he was about to leave. Although the fish were ordinary and had no special attributes, she briefly considered using her jade pendant to enhance them with a spirit essence. However, remembering her plans, she ultimately refrained from doing so.

As Doctor Yang accepted the fish from Lin Luoxi, he thought to himself that these fish could serve as a replacement for consultation fees, feeling justified in receiving them.

Finally, after Doctor Yang had left, Village Chief Lin Zhousheng smiled as he pulled a red booklet from his pocket.

“Dayou, look what I brought for you,” he said, remembering that he had taken care of Dayou’s household registration earlier that day. As he returned, he couldn’t help but remark on the troubles plaguing the old Lin family, expressing his sympathy.

Fortunately for him, he had been quick about it; otherwise, the old Lin family might have reversed their agreement from yesterday regarding the severance of ties.

“Dayou, you know, the old Lin family today…” Village Chief Lin Zhousheng rarely gossiped, but he seemed eager to share.

“Oh? What’s happened now?” Lin Dayou asked, feeling indifferent to the old Lin family’s issues. He had long since given up on them, simply asking out of passing curiosity.

When Lin Wangshi heard her husband’s seemingly concerned inquiry, she immediately focused her attention on him. She couldn’t afford the luxury of having Dayou soften his heart toward the old Lin family again, knowing how much their actions had affected her children.

“We’ve had a hard time getting by, and I don’t want to be involved with the old Lin family anymore,” she thought.

“Father, are you having second thoughts?” Lin Luoxi noticed her mother’s reaction and realized there were questions her mother could not ask but which she did not shy away from. She felt no emotional ties to the old Lin family at all and decided to ask on her mother’s behalf.

“No, I was just asking casually,” Lin Dayou responded, realizing as he glanced at Lin Luoxi and then at his wife, who was looking at him intently. He shook his head, reassuring her.

Lin Wangshi and Lin Luoxi both relaxed a little at his reassurance.

“Dayou, I think you need to be careful. The old Lin family has lost money, and they will likely try to cling to you again,” Chief Lin Zhousheng cautioned. Living in the same village, he was aware of the shameless tactics of the old Lin family. If all of their fortune had been stolen, they would inevitably seek to drain the Lin Dayou family of their resources.

Just as Chief Lin Zhousheng finished speaking, a cacophony of wails erupted outside of Lin Dayou’s home.

“Second brother! Second brother! Mother is sick now…” Lin Daguan began wailing outside, trying to attract the attention of those nearby, attempting a moral coercion on Lin Dayou’s family.

“Second brother, we know we made mistakes yesterday; my wife and I have come to apologize,” Lin Xiaowu chimed in, adding her sobs to the drama. Anyone unaware would think someone had died in Lin Dayou’s household.

“Lin Dayou, mother is sick, and now she’s been mumbling about you. Could you please come back and take a look at her? Or perhaps bring her over?” Lin Daguan lamented, showing his true feelings behind the facade.

“Father, is that our older brother?” Lin Luoxi overheard the commotion and grew anxious, fearing that Lin Dayou’s heart would soften, and he would rush out to engage with such despicable people.

“Brother? What brother? My household account is just for my family now,” Lin Dayou replied coldly, clutching the dark red booklet in his hand.

“Father, I just want to ask you, do you regret it? If you do, you can go out and reconcile with them,” Lin Luoxi pressed.

“I can get by just fine with Mother, Big Brother, Third Brother, and Little Sister; we will live better than you and the old Lin family, so you don’t need to worry,” she added, laying her cards on the table ahead of time.

If Lin Dayou was foolish enough to go back and serve the old Lin family, she was prepared to take her mother and live a clean life with her siblings instead.

Hearing this solution for the first time, Lin Wangshi’s eyes lit up as she looked at Lin Luoxi. She would rather be divorced than return to that family to be their servant.

Moreover, Lin Luoxi was especially convincing; she believed that following her daughter would not lead them into a life worse than the one they had now.

“Yes, yes! We want to go with Sister!” Lin Luoning said, holding Lin Wenqian’s hand, expressing her support.

“Haha, I see you all have grown wings and want to leave me behind for a better life, right? Think again!” Lin Dayou chuckled, feigning amusement at the solidarity exhibited by his wife and children, though inwardly annoyed.

“I never planned to go back to serve them! I’m building my own household now; who are they to me?” Lin Dayou quickly clarified, fearing that his family might really abandon him.

“Lin Dayou, are you still human? Hearing that your mother is sick, you’re hiding in the house and not showing your face. Have you lost your conscience?” Lin Daguan shouted, frustration boiling over.

He was furious at the thought that all his family’s money had been stolen clean, and now that their mother was sick, they needed expensive medicine, but they could not afford even a single hair.

After deliberation, they collectively decided to send their mother to Lin Dayou’s household; at least that way, they could save on food.

If something unfortunate were to happen to her, the villagers would blame Lin Dayou for being unfilial, not Lin Daguan for lacking conscience.

“Father, since you don’t want to have anything to do with them, let us handle this matter,” Lin Luoxi said, unwilling to let Lin Dayou fumble over words when confronting someone as shameless as their old family.

“Are you sure you can manage that?” Lin Dayou asked, although they had severed ties, the old Lin family was like leeches, disgusting and bothersome, and avoiding a direct confrontation was the best course.

“Just watch me,” Lin Luoxi replied confidently, giving her father a reassuring smile.

She then pulled Lin Wenqian and Lin Luoning close, whispering plans to them.

After hearing Lin Luoxi’s words, Lin Wenqian’s eyes shone with excitement.

“Mother, look at your son! While you’re sick and we’re in trouble, your youngest son is standing by doing nothing to help…” Lin Daguan lamented as he watched Lin Dayou’s continued silence.

The commotion created by Lin Daguan drew the attention of nearby villagers, and as they heard his pitiful claims, they began murmuring to each other.

Many in the village, unaware of Lin Dayou’s intention to sever ties with the old Lin family, listened to Lin Daguan’s story. Consequently, the uninformed elders began to rally around Lin Daguan, siding with the perceived victim and condemning Lin Dayou’s family, who had yet to reveal their side of the story.