The old couple couldn’t sleep from excitement, both imagining a bright future for Lin Yongjia.

Back at home, Bai Ji acted as if nothing had happened, not mentioning her encounter with Old Madam Lin to Bai Shu and the others. But Little Bai Guo was unhappy.

How could her “villainous mother” be so kind?

She had been scolding Lin Yongjia’s family earlier, but now she was suddenly trying to find him a job.

Little Bai Guo felt betrayed.

The next day, Little Bai Guo wasn’t in the mood to talk.

She didn’t speak baby talk to Bai Ji and just lay on the cooling bed like a lazy fish, barely moving.

The Bai family was calm, but the Lin family had a different atmosphere.

Old Lin casually mentioned, “I heard from the third one that the city is hiring temporary workers. He wants to help the family and support Yongjia!”

One sentence shattered the calm in the house.

In that instant, it placed the blame on Lin Yongcheng and cleared Old Lin and his wife of responsibility.

Of course, they didn’t mention the four hundred yuan.

Tsk… so sly!

At the dinner table, everyone except the youngest, Lin Liuyue, understood.

The people from the main house smiled, while those from the second house showed their displeasure. Lin Yongye’s chopsticks fell to the ground.

Lin Yongjia’s breathing quickened. “Dad, is this true?”

Old Lin nodded. “Of course it’s true.”

Considering Lin Yongye’s family, he didn’t show his excitement.

“Yongjia can really go to the city to work?” His wife, Li Xiaofen, trembled with excitement. “Does this mean our whole family can become city people?”

Old Lin said, “Whether we can become city people depends on whether Yongjia makes good of this chance!”

Lin Yongjia promised, “Dad! As long as I can get to the city, I won’t move again. I’ll be a city person for life, and I’ll definitely be good to you and Mom!”

Was he stupid? Not at all!

Since childhood, Lin Yongcheng didn’t like him, so how could he voluntarily help him?

It must have been his mother who went to Bai Ji and took away the job opportunity!

But this was something he would never say out loud, so he had to pretend to be deaf and mute, and go along with the two old people. “When I get my salary, I’ll definitely treat the third brother to a couple of drinks!”

Old Lady Lin couldn’t match Old Man Lin’s patience, and her face bloomed with a smile. “Your father and I are still able to work in the fields, so you don’t need to be too filial. Just take care of yourself!”

“That’s not right. It’s only right to be filial to our parents, especially when we’re doing well.”

“Good son!”

Old Lady Lin was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.

It was a perfect picture of a loving mother and a filial son.

Lin Yongye couldn’t take it anymore.

He bent down, picked up the chopsticks, and sneered. “The third brother got a job for the Lin family in the city? Are you dreaming?”

He didn’t even bother calling him “big brother” and just referred to him by his name.

He thought the same as Lin Yongjia—he assumed it was because they had taken Bai Ji’s job.

Lin Yongye continued, “What kind of temper does the third brother have, do you think I don’t know? Even if Bai Ji is willing to give up her job, does it really have to go to the Lin family? Am I not your son? Why does everything good go to the Lin Yongjia while I just have to watch?!”

The last sentence was almost a shout.

For these years, he had always been passive, as if he had no temper.

But he wasn’t really without a temper. In the past, little things didn’t bother him. After all, the family didn’t have much, so what if there was favoritism?

Getting a job in the city was different.

Taking one step back was like giving up his future, including the future of his children!

Lin Yongye’s reaction was so extreme that it poured cold water on Old Man Lin, who had been excited about the situation.

Old Man Lin quickly tried to reassure him by painting a better picture.

“The third brother didn’t steal Bai Ji’s job. When he helped Bai Ji find the job, he thought about you brothers. Bai Ji’s job requires some education, so it’s not something you can do. But look… now there’s a new opportunity, and the third brother thought of you.”

He painted a nice picture to calm Lin Yongye down, hoping to get Lin Yongjia to the city first. Once that happened, it would be easier to handle.

Later on, they could claim there was no opportunity and what could Lin Yongye do?

After all, city jobs weren’t as easy to come by as a bunch of cabbages.

“Dad, you think I’m an idiot, don’t you?” Lin Yongye glared at Lin Yongjia with hate in his eyes.

He nodded. “Fine, if one of them goes to the city, the whole family can go to hell. If Lin Hongni, a little girl, can kill an entire family, what’s to stop me, a grown man, from doing the same?”

He slammed the table, causing several bowls to fall to the ground.

These bowls had been bought just recently after Lin Yongcheng had once overturned the table.

A few bowls crashed to the floor, and Old Lady Lin was distressed.

She pounded her thigh. “You’re trying to get yourself killed! These are new bowls!” She pushed the bowls toward the center of the table.

She pushed two bowls but then realized it wouldn’t work.

Having seen Lin Yongcheng overturn the table before, she quickly asked her daughter-in-law and eldest granddaughter to take the bowls away.

Dinner was postponed until they could discuss things further.

Lin Hongni’s “killing the entire family” became the most intimidating phrase in the Shanglin village.

Old Lady Lin was heartbroken over the broken bowls, but Old Man Lin was worried that Lin Yongye might really lose his temper.

He was usually very honest, but when an honest person gets angry, it’s even more terrifying.

“The third brother has connections. Do you think he can’t find the next opportunity?” Old Man Lin pointed to his two eldest grandsons, Lin Dahe and Lin Dahua. “You should also think about the kids. If you kill someone, they’ll shoot you. Can your wife support four kids?”

“If she can’t, she’ll remarry!” Lin Yongye glanced at his wife and kids.

The second family knew he was fighting for the benefit of his own family.

They stayed silent and didn’t jump in to hinder him.

“If your wife remarries, your three sons will take their stepfather’s surname. That means your family line will end!” Old Man Lin could only use the future of the children to argue.

“They’re not three-year-olds. They’ll know who their real father is when they grow up. Once they’re old enough, they can change their surname back.” Lin Yongye replied, “I’m saying this now—if the Lin family gets a job in the city and Lin Yongjia gets it, then that’s the end for all. I’ve got nothing to lose. The barefooted don’t fear the man in shoes!”

The kids from the first family were a bit scared.

Their little eyes seemed to not recognize this uncle at all.

Lin Yongjia cursed Lin Yongye under his breath and also cursed Old Man Lin for being useless!

If he were useful, he wouldn’t have let Lin Yongye threaten him!

The night before, Old Man Lin and Old Lady Lin had been in good spirits, but the next day, it all fell apart, and it was because of Lin Yongye.

The saying “A barking dog doesn’t bite” was spot on.

Wasn’t Lin Yongye just a dog that didn’t bark before?

The old couple was also upset and felt a tightness in their chests.

…

In reality, Lin Yongcheng wasn’t a good person either.

When he got home, Bai Ji told him about Old Lady Lin asking for money from her.

She then added, “You won’t blame me, will you?”

“Blame you?” Lin Yongcheng said, his face expressionless.

Bai Ji immediately turned cold, and Little Bai Guo was stunned.

“Wait, so the villainous mother is just trying to scam money?”

Didn’t this mean that Fishy was angry for no reason?

Forget it, I’ll forgive her!

Lin Yongcheng added, “Four hundred is too little. Six hundred is more appropriate.”

His face couldn’t hold back a smile, and he laughed. “I’ve got an even worse idea. I’ll go talk to Lin Yongye. They want to spend four hundred on getting Lin Yongjia a job in the city.”

“You’re scaring me on purpose!” Bai Ji punched him, then laughed. “Six hundred, I’m afraid they won’t have enough, so just refuse. Take the four hundred; they can still manage it. Giving a hundred to the high school kid, we make a pure profit of three hundred.”

The high school kid’s salary was eighteen yuan, and the job would end by the year’s end.

Give him a hundred, and he still profits.

Lin Yongcheng said, “Fine, four hundred it is.” He picked up Little Bai Guo and shook him. “The three hundred we make? Consider it compensation for the nutrition the Lin family owes our little girl!”

They caused his little girl to be born prematurely, so they owed her some compensation!

But, he added, “Lin Yongye can’t stand seeing Lin Yongjia do well, and I’ll talk to him. What if they can scrape together another four hundred? I can get a position for the high school kid from a colleague, no work required, just months of salary as profit. They’ll definitely be willing!”

“Is it really okay to scam your parents like this?”

“Scam them?” Lin Yongcheng shook his head, his smile fading. “Some people deserve it. My dad actually had some family assets.”

Back when they were fighting the landlords, Old Man Lin had been a pioneer, and he had some valuables from the landlords’ homes hidden away, but no one knew about them.

But Lin Yongcheng knew.

He explained simply.

“The person who helped me back then was from that family’s lineage. They brought some assets with them when they fled. If I can recover something from their family, it’s a way of repaying the favor!”

“You suffered in those years. It’s a blessing you met someone to help you. It’s time to repay that debt.” Bai Ji touched his face with affection. “Convince Lin Yongye, and once he makes a fuss, Lin Yongjia won’t be able to go to the city alone. We’ll scam as much as we can!”

Previously, she thought four hundred was enough, but now she realized that four hundred was too little.

To secure Lin Yongjia’s future, she believed Old Man Lin would agree to six hundred.

Sending one son to the city meant the others couldn’t be left behind.

The couple was on the same page, and Little Bai Guo began receiving strange information.

Can I just say that they truly are the villains?

After a while, Bai Ji said, “Your parents really don’t know how to raise kids. None of the three sons are filial. Lin Yongjia is selfish, and Lin Yongye is no better. As for you… you never got any love from them, so it’s no surprise you’re not filial.”

The two daughters of the Lin family were even worse.

Out of the five kids, not a single one truly cared for their parents, proving how poor a job they did raising them.

“It’s their own fault. Sooner or later, it will come back to them,” Lin Yongcheng agreed, and when Little Bai Guo looked at him, he poked her cheek. “Our two daughters will definitely be well-raised and treat each other well!”

“Still good? They’re clearly leaky!” Lin Yongcheng couldn’t help but mutter.

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Bai Ji laughed and punched him.

…

Old Man Lin and Old Lady Lin hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days. On one hand, they were trying to send Lin Yongjia to the city, and on the other, they feared becoming sacrifices for their eldest son’s future.

Were they angry?

What’s the use of anger?

They couldn’t bear to ruin their eldest son’s future, but they also feared risking their whole family.

The Lin family had fallen into a strange atmosphere.

No more fighting, but it was a fake peace.

Either both sons stayed in the village to farm, or both would go to the city.

It all depended on Old Man Lin’s decision.

Still, he hadn’t figured out a solution when Lin Yongcheng came back, and even the false peace couldn’t last. At the dinner table, Old Man Lin was already grumbling.

Since Lin Yongye revealed his true face, he had stopped pretending.

After finishing his meal, he tossed the bowls and left.

Before leaving, he said, “I’m going to talk to the third brother!”

“Second son, get back here!” Old Man Lin yelled angrily, rushing after him.

Lin Yongye was about to lose his mind.

He had been appeased for so long, and once he spoke with Lin Yongcheng, everything would fall apart.

The plan to send Lin Yongjia to the city would be over.

But it didn’t work. Lin Yongye wasn’t listening.

Why should he listen? He had always been the one following their rules, but they never gave him anything good. All the good things went to the Lin family, so why bother?

Whether he listened or not, he wasn’t going to get what he wanted.

So why should he suppress himself?

Lin Yong…

Yeye walked quickly, leaving Old Lin behind.

Once outside the house, Old Lin was concerned about his face and couldn’t shout loudly. He could only chase after him.

When they reached outside the Bai family’s courtyard, Lin Yongye called out, “Third Brother, I’m your second brother. I need to talk to you about something. Can you come out for a moment?”

The Bai family had just finished dinner.

Hearing the voice from outside, Bai Ji and Lin Yongcheng exchanged a glance.

Well, well, Lin Yongcheng hadn’t come to find him, but Lin Yongye had come on his own. This meant the Lin family had already caused a ruckus, which made things interesting.

Lin Yongcheng stepped outside and saw Lin Yongye with his relaxed expression. Gone was the usual tension.

He smiled and said, “Has Second Brother figured things out? Congratulations!”

“I’ve always known what’s in my heart,” Lin Yongye replied with a bitter smile. “It’s just that the burden on my shoulders is too heavy, and I have no real skills, so I couldn’t make a fuss.”