Soon, news of Bai Ji taking a temporary job in the county town reached the Lin family.

The atmosphere in the Lin household had been tense for the past few months.

Today, it was even worse than usual. Even the most favored grandson didn’t dare to speak.

Ever since the third branch split off from the family, Lin Yongcheng had visited once a month. Besides the agreed five yuan, he hadn’t given anything else.

Every time the mood in the family slightly improved, Lin Yongcheng would come to deliver the pension money, and the atmosphere would return to square one. This cycle had been going on for a few months.

The news of Bai Ji going to the county town was undoubtedly bad news for the Lin family.

Old Man Lin, in a furious tone, ordered, “Go shut the courtyard gate!”

Without even stepping outside, Old Man Lin knew there were many people waiting to laugh at him.

Usually, he liked sitting in the courtyard, enjoying the breeze while smoking his dry tobacco pipe.

Today, he didn’t even want to go out into the yard and instead sat in the living room, smoking his pipe.

Except for a few children, all the adults sat still in the living room.

When it comes to interests, whoever leaves is the fool.

The people from the first branch were cunning, and the second branch wasn’t any better.

They were all waiting for Old Man Lin to speak.

Sure enough, after spitting out a thick gob of phlegm, Old Man Lin started cursing.

“Third son is an ingrate! He stayed in the house for a year, and even though he has connections, he didn’t help his brothers. Not even a word of support. Is he guarding against the family? Doesn’t he think about who gave birth to him and raised him? Ungrateful scoundrel!”

“He didn’t help his brothers, and what’s he doing finding a job for his wife? She’s a useless woman! Instead of staying home to take care of the children, she runs off to work in the county!”

“If she has the energy to go to the county, why didn’t she bring back a boy to raise?”

“The third son was fine before, but since he married this woman, he’s become all over the place and even forgot about his own brothers!”

Old Man Lin rarely got this angry.

Normally, he would only sulk or have Old Mrs. Lin speak for him, never directly involved. But to hear him curse so vehemently at Lin Yongcheng and his wife showed just how furious he was!

In Old Man Lin’s mind, his daughter-in-law was an outsider.

Lin Yongcheng didn’t help his own brothers, but instead helped an outsider, which made him so mad it hurt his liver!!

The anger he felt today wasn’t any less than the anger from the time of the family split.

Old Mrs. Lin joined in with the cursing.

“Back then, I wanted to find him a local woman, but he didn’t agree. Outsiders are trouble, and now she’s brought her whole family along. The third son doesn’t support his own parents, but he’s so close to the Bai family. Are we going to support them in the future too?”

“This son is a waste!”

“There’s not a decent one among the Bais! They couldn’t have a son, so they let their daughter seduce other people’s sons and make them forget their own parents!”

The old couple cursed for a long time, but the tightness in their chests didn’t go away.

They were frustrated!!

Their own son treated them like outsiders, while he went to his in-laws to be filial. Other people’s daughters had their elbows turned outwards, but their son turned his away from them.

They kept on cursing.

Lin Yongye and his wife sat silently, not saying a word.

Of course, they knew very well that even if they spoke, it would be useless. It might even divert the old couple’s anger and make them the target for venting.

In a family, there’s a huge difference between the favored and the unfavored.

Lin Yongye seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. “Not many men in our team can go to the county. The third son’s wife is lucky to marry him.”

Once Old Man Lin had finished cursing, he ordered Old Mrs. Lin, “Go find the third son’s wife. She doesn’t know the rules. The third son got his job through his connections, but she really dares to do this? Go tell her to give the job to Yongye!”

Neither of his sons had work, so why should a woman have a job?

Old Man Lin didn’t even consider the fact that Bai Ji and her parents already had jobs.

It was just that Lin Yongcheng had transferred to his registered residence, and she had come with him.

As for Li Qiurong and Bai Zhu, they only had Bai Ji as their daughter. With Lin Yongye using his savings and building a big house under their name, and for other reasons they couldn’t discuss, they ended up in Shanglin village.

They were well off to begin with, and they were city people.

People like the Lin family, when facing the Bai family, felt deeply inferior.

They didn’t want to admit that the Bai family could live well too.

They always tried to credit everything to Lin Yongcheng, as if their good fortune was all because of him.

Lin Yongye’s eyes flickered, and he continued to stoke the fire.

“Father… The third son has already distanced himself from the family. Would he agree to this? His wife hasn’t even visited in months. Wouldn’t she cause trouble for us?”

“She’s a woman, what say does she have?”

When there’s something to gain, Old Man Lin always thought of Lin Yongye.

At this moment, he hadn’t thought about his other son.

Lin Yongye coldly smiled to himself. He shouldn’t have had any expectations.

After all, when good things happen, they never fall to him. He might as well stop thinking about it.

“Father, about the issue with the ocean last time, the third son already has issues with us. He’s angry already, and if you try to take his wife’s job, it’ll only push him further away. Looking at the third son’s behavior these last few months, we should understand.”

“Although we’re family, we still need to know when to coax him. As long as we bring him back, he’ll be on our side. He can’t refuse to help us.”

It’s not like he had any dark motives or resentment towards his eldest brother’s success, but anyone who had been treated unfairly for decades would find it hard to accept.

So, was he wrong?

Lin Yongye didn’t think so.

If someone can get a job in the county, it’s a chance to change their fate, including their children’s future.

Lin Yongye had been favored for decades, but not all good things should fall into his hands.

If the parents caused trouble, he would go to the third son himself and make sure this matter was sabotaged.

There was no way the job should go to Lin Yongye!

If Lin Yongcheng was doing well, Lin Yongye could accept it, because the man had the ability.

But he couldn’t tolerate the Lin family thriving just because of Lin Yongye!

This family was divided, with everyone having their own plans.

Old Man Lin thought about what Lin Yongye said and admitted it made sense. His tone softened slightly, “I’m his father, he’s my son, should I be begging him to help the family? If he has connections, he should help!”

Bai Ji had gone to the county town, and Li Qiurong had to work.

Every day, she would cut hay to feed the cattle in the village. The work was light, but it was inconvenient to carry Little Bai Guo along, and she was afraid the hay might hurt her.

So, taking care of Little Bai Guo fell to Bai Zhu.

Bai Zhu had to take care of both children.

Previously, he carried little Zisu to the clinic, but now with the addition of the younger one, he couldn’t carry Zisu anymore.

Zisu, being very understanding, said, “I’m Big Zisu now. I can walk by myself!”

Bai Zhu patted her head, “Our Zisu is so obedient.”

The first day went smoothly. Little Bai Guo was so easy to take care of—she didn’t cry, make noise, or move around.

Zisu chattered around her the whole time, and Little Bai Guo didn’t mind the noise.

In the afternoon, Bai Zhu was taking the two children back home.

On the way home, they met an unexpected guest.