Chapter 16: They Will Even Catch the Knives Thrown at Them

Lin Xiuran raised his gaze and looked toward the source of the voice, seeing his second aunt, Madam Zou, staring at him with a mocking expression.

His face darkened. “Second Aunt, as an elder, please be more cautious with your words!”

Lin Zhiyi’s second elder brother, Lin Xiuyan, the second son of the main household, also snorted coldly. “Second Aunt, you should better mind your own affairs!”

Their younger sister was still young and merely confused for a moment. Once she grew up, she would surely understand who truly cared for her.

Madam Zou, seeing the two still defending Lin Zhiyi, sneered. “Oh? You still protect her? When you pampered Lin Zhiyi and sent her off with a ten-mile bridal procession, you emptied the Lin family’s coffers to fill her dowry. Now that the Lin family is in trouble, she’s the first to sever ties with us.”

She scoffed at them. “You both cherish her so much. When you’ve been in this prison for days, has she sent anything for you to eat?”

Madam Zou thought of her own daughter, Lin Jingshu, who was married. She had asked the main household to contribute some dowry, but her sister-in-law, Song Ruolan, refused to give anything, saying that everything she had saved for her daughter would go to Lin Zhiyi as her dowry instead.

Thinking of this, Madam Zou gritted her teeth in anger. Now the main household was getting what it deserved.

“If Sister-in-law had given Jingshu some dowry back then, would it have come to this? When Jingshu sent food during our imprisonment, she didn’t share even a little bit with the main household!”

Third Aunt, Madam Zhou, chimed in, “That’s right! Not only did she fail to send food to you, but when we were escorted through the streets, I even saw Lin Zhiyi leading the way, throwing rotten vegetable leaves at us.”

Lin Xiuran’s face turned slightly cold at the mention. “My sister has her reasons.”

It was true that their younger sister had arrived at the prison empty-handed that day, with not a single word of concern. When she saw them, she directly forced their father to sign the severance letter, and after getting it, she happily left.

But she was their beloved little sister. Lin Xiuran could only convince himself that she was still young and had been manipulated by Qin Lang.

Lin Xiuyan bluntly retorted, “As long as our little sister is happy, even if she throws knives at us, we will catch them.”

Besides, it wasn’t really her fault. If anyone was to blame, it was them, her brothers. They had dragged her into this, causing her to suffer.

When Madam Zou and Madam Zhou saw the looks Lin Xiuran and Lin Xiuyan shot at them, they both silenced their retorts.

They had a strong feeling that the main household was doomed.

Lin Mu( – Madam Lin – Lin Zhiyi’s Mother) seemed to cry even more sorrowfully. She leaned on her eldest son. “Ran’er, Yan’er, I can’t seem to calm my heart. I don’t know if your little sister has been mistreated at the Qin family because of our matters.”

Lin Xiuran comforted her. “Mother, you don’t need to worry. With her dowry, Zhiyi won’t lack food or clothing. It’s certainly better than going with us into exile and suffering.”

Though he said this, he was still deeply uneasy about Qin Lang.

He had seen early on that Qin Lang was not a good person, but there was no stopping his little sister from liking him and insisting on marrying him.

Back then, the Lin family had been able to support her, and even if Qin Lang had ulterior motives, he had to keep them hidden.

Now, with the Lin family in a difficult position and no longer able to protect her, Lin Xiuran feared that Qin Lang’s true nature would soon be revealed.

Song Ruolan (Real Given name of Lin Mu-Madam Lin) felt somewhat reassured by her eldest son’s words.

Yes, Zhiyi had her dowry, which was certainly better than suffering with them in exile.

She felt fortunate that she had prepared a sufficient dowry for her daughter. Otherwise, with the Lin family’s assets being confiscated, they wouldn’t have even received a single coin.

Lin Xiuyan also comforted her. “Mother, what big brother says is right. If Qin Lang dares to have any ill intentions toward our little sister, when we return to the capital, I’ll peel his skin off and boil his bones for soup.”

Song Ruolan nodded in approval, feeling somewhat comforted.

It seemed that her two sons, as elder brothers, did not bear a grudge against Zhiyi.

Zhiyi was their youngest child. Since childhood, she had taught her two sons to protect their sister, and they had done so.

This had spoiled Zhiyi and cultivated her stubborn and confused nature.

Lin Xiuran’s wife, Gu Wanyun, exchanged a glance with Lin Xiuyan’s wife, Fang Luo, and both sighed.

By now, neither their parents-in-law nor their husbands were willing to blame their little sister even once.

They had too many grievances in their hearts, but at this point, they were too weary to argue further.

Lin Zhiyi arrived at the city gate and spotted Fang Mama waiting there from a distance.

Considering the conflict with the Qin family, and with Fang Mama and her son still needing to live in the capital, Lin Zhiyi had instructed them not to show themselves in front of the Qin family to avoid provoking their retaliation.

After all, Qin Lang still held an official position, while Fang Mama was just an ordinary commoner.

As for settling the score with the Qin family, she could wait five more years, until she returned to the capital with the Lin family. Then, they could settle their debts.

For now, she allowed them to live a few more days.

As soon as Lin Zhiyi got off the carriage, Fang Mama hurried forward. “Miss, the cart you requested is ready, and I’ve also prepared some food for you.”

“Rest assured, once we sell the house, Da Lin and I will catch up with you. We’ll bring more food and clothing then.”

Fang Mama certainly understood why Lin Zhiyi had chosen to ride in a cart instead of a carriage.

It was because the old madam of the Lin family was excessively partial.

If they had learned that Lin Zhiyi was riding a carriage, not only would she not have been allowed to board, but it would have been taken from her.

“Mama, move the grains and food to the carriage. I only need the cart and the bedding on it. As for selling the house and going to Fangzhou, you don’t need to suffer with us,” Lin Zhiyi instructed.

“Miss, I’ll discuss it with Da Lin,” Fang Mama replied.

During these past few days, Fang Mama had been very happy.

Ever since Lin Zhiyi met Qin Lang, it felt as though she had become a completely different person.

Now, it was as if the true Lin Zhiyi had returned, and she had grown closer to Fang Mama again.

“Miss, you must take good care of your health,” Fang Mama said, her eyes turning red as she wiped away tears.

Fang Mama had already lost her parents-in-law and only had her son, Da Lin, to rely on. There was no real difference between staying in the capital or moving elsewhere for them.

She thought about it and decided that once she discussed it with Da Lin, they would sell the house and go to Fangzhou.

Lin Zhiyi took out a hundred liang in silver notes and placed them in Fang Mama’s hands. “Mama, you must take care of yourself as well. Keep this silver for your health, and also, it’s time for Da Lin to find a match for marriage.”

Fang Mama was momentarily stunned. Thinking of how Lin Zhiyi, despite her own misfortune, still thought of her, she was deeply moved.

Determined to sell the house and go to Fangzhou, even if Da Lin disagreed, she would go ahead with it.

“Miss, you should keep the money for yourself. The journey to Fangzhou is long and arduous, and you will need more when you settle there,” Fang Mama said as she tried to return the silver.

“Mama, please keep it. You know I still have plenty of silver from selling the house,” Lin Zhiyi said, not accepting the money.

Fang Mama’s hand hovered in the air as she reluctantly accepted the silver.

She thought that when she followed Lin Zhiyi later, she would take the silver to Fangzhou to support her.

Da Lin moved all the items from the cart to the carriage.

“Alright, Mama, I’m leaving with Chai Ya now. You and Da Lin can head back. Chai Ya, let’s go,” Lin Zhiyi instructed, waving goodbye to Fang Mama.

Fang Mama, her eyes red, also waved. “Take care of yourself, Miss.”

She waited until Lin Zhiyi’s figure disappeared from sight before she turned around.

Da Lin asked, “Mother, have you really decided to go to Fangzhou?”