Chapter 37: Intelligence Is Not Inferior to Others

“Alright, big brother, it’s getting late. Let’s rest early; I want to head up the mountain again tomorrow.” Lin Luoxie stretched her aching legs and urged Lin Wenqian to hurry off to bed.

Lin Wenqian furrowed his brows upon hearing Lin Luoxie’s words. “Lin Dayou, why do you want to go up the mountain again?”

His voice was a bit louder than usual, drawing the attention of Lin Dayou, Lin Wang, and Lin Luoning, who were in the room with Lin Wentao.

Instead of being alarmed, Lin Luoxie smiled. “Big brother, why are you so worked up? I’m going up the mountain to gather medicinal herbs and hunt a bit. I want to earn some extra money to send you to school.”

“I don’t want to go to school; our life is already good enough as it is.”

Thinking back to how Lin Luoxie had looked covered in blood that day, Lin Wenqian felt a rush of panic. The mere thought of her possibly getting into trouble because of him made him feel sick with worry.

“Big brother, do you really want this kind of life?”

“With your intelligence, if you truly had the means to study, you wouldn’t be any worse than that good-for-nothing Lin Wenwu.”

“If you went to school and became a scholar, our family wouldn’t be bullied by the old Lin family to this extent. Don’t you agree?” Lin Luoxie noticed the glimmer of longing in Lin Wenqian’s eyes when she mentioned school and began to coax him gently.

“Second sister, you’re being ridiculous. Father said I have no talent for studying; why waste the money?” Hearing Lin Dayou’s earlier remarks made him feel even more disheartened.

“That’s nonsense! My older brother can easily memorize what he overhears Lin Wenwu reciting from the window. Just listening once is enough for him to remember,” Lin Luoxie insisted.

“With that kind of intelligence, if you aren’t fit for studying, then who is?” Lin Luoxie’s earlier mention of school sparked a fragment of memory that suddenly flashed in her mind.

“I, I… Second sister don’t say that. As long as our family can eat and dress warmly, that’s good enough.” Lin Wenqian hurriedly interrupted, trying to change the subject.

“Big brother, I will take care of our family’s basic needs, but your education is important too. In the social hierarchy, you can only help us gain respect if you achieve success as a scholar. It’ll show the old Lin family and the villagers that despite cutting ties with them, our lives can only get better.” Lin Luoxie’s perspective was long-term; she had plans beyond just survival.

Outside the room, Lin Dayou, Lin Wang, and Lin Luoning stood by the door, listening to the conversation between the siblings. They felt a deep sorrow, their eyes filling with tears.

“Wife, I’m really useless for not being able to send the children to school,” Lin Dayou lamented. He had always listened to her, believing that his children weren’t cut out for education. What a dreadful mistake that was.

Hearing his daughter’s words today filled him with cotton-like heaviness in his heart.

“Ha, at that time, you were completely focused on your parents, your brother and sister-in-law, and your precious nephew. How could you notice Wenqian’s desire for education?” Lin Wang couldn’t personally feel Lin Dayou’s pain, but she knew her children yearned to study.

Yet her husband worked tirelessly every day, earning money to support his brother’s family while their own children went hungry and cold. Watching the eldest branch live comfortably only deepened her resentment toward him.

Now, having heard Lin Luoxie and Lin Wenqian’s exchange made her heart feel as though it were being slowly tortured.

Upon hearing Lin Dayou’s remark in her ear, her pent-up resentment flared to the surface, and she retaliated without hesitation.

“I…” Lin Dayou initially sought some comfort from Lin Wang, but he didn’t expect that his usually gentle and understanding wife would stab him with such words, leaving him speechless.

“Hmph!” Since this family would soon be in her children’s charge, Lin Wang was not about to coddle him. She coldly snorted at Lin Dayou and turned back to Lin Wentao’s bedside, sitting down to talk gently with him about the changes in their household.

“Second Sister, what’s gotten into you today? Why are you so sassy, daring to fight back like that?”

“Hmph!” Lin Luoning mirrored her father’s obliviousness, letting out a huff before turning to return to her own room.

As she turned away, her body tightly tensed up, and her shoulders shivered slightly. This was not an act of laughter but rather a quiet expression of tears. This life was changing for the better with the arrival of her second sister—how wonderful that was.

“What’s wrong with them?” Lin Wenqian, who had been chatting with Lin Luoxie, turned to look at the three faces displaying strange expressions.

“It’s nothing. They probably just heard you might be going to school soon, and are very happy about it,” Lin Luoxie said, knowing full well about Lin Dayou and Lin Wang’s conversation. She was pleased with the change in attitude from Lin Wang and Lin Luoning.

In this world where men were seen as paramount, Lin Luoxie hoped her mother and sister could grow stronger and no longer be oppressed.

“Oh, it’s getting late; let’s rest!” Lin Wenqian softened his tone, dropping the topic of Lin Luoxie going up the mountain.

“Mhm.” Lin Luoxie responded sweetly, turning to hurry back to her room.

She remembered seeing Lin Luoning with tears in her eyes earlier and thought about the little girl. At just four or five years old, she already displayed mature and profound expressions.

Lin Luoxie believed this little sister must have her secrets as well.

“Little sister, are you asleep?” As she entered the room, Lin Luoxie saw Lin Luoning lying on the straw bed with her eyes tightly shut. She tiptoed closer and whispered.

“…” Second Sister, are you silly? If I replied, it would mean I was pretending to be asleep!

Noticing Lin Luoning’s eyes flickering beneath her eyelids, Lin Luoxie recognized that the little girl was indeed pretending to sleep.

Since Lin Luoning wasn’t willing to open her eyes, Lin Luoxie sighed and lay down on the other side of Lin Luoning.

“Woah woah woah…” When the rooster crowed for the first time, Lin Luoxie, who had been in a deep sleep, abruptly opened her eyes.

Hearing Lin Luoning’s even and rhythmic breathing calmed Lin Luoxie, and a smile crept across her lips.

In her heart, she silently thought: Let’s go in.

As soon as she opened her eyes, the surroundings had changed.

Lin Luoxie got up and first patrolled the space around her.

She quickly discovered that this area was just barren black land, with a spirit spring outside, and nothing else in sight.

However, there were a few chickens and ducks from her old Lin family’s home that had been stolen, along with a mottled pig.

Those fowl behaved relatively well, only scuttling around in one corner of the open space, not straying close to the spirit spring.