In the summer, it gets dark late. The Bai family’s house is at the foot of the mountain, and going up the mountain to talk is both hidden and convenient.

Lin Yongcheng had the intention to stir up trouble, so he chose a secluded spot.

Moreover, since Lin Yongye had come to him, as long as they didn’t speak out, no one would know what they had discussed.

Lin Yongye nodded, “Let’s talk on the mountain, then.”

The two brothers walked one after the other up the back mountain.

As they walked, Lin Yongye couldn’t help but reflect, “Third Brother, actually, I’ve always admired you. Born into such a messed-up family, you still managed to climb out by your own abilities. I can’t do that. I’ll probably have to just stick with them for the rest of my life.”

He was speaking from the heart.

Lin Yongcheng’s success was admirable to him.

Lin Yongcheng had made something out of nothing and had lived beautifully.

Unlike Lin Yongjia, who enjoyed the resources of the whole family yet still couldn’t achieve anything.

“Don’t say that about yourself, Second Brother,” Lin Yongcheng said. “As long as you’re determined, it’s never too late to break free. Lin Yongjia is useless, relying only on his parents. He’s good for nothing. You haven’t broken free yet, but you haven’t been relying on others for everything either.”

“I can’t do it,” Lin Yongye shook his head and smiled bitterly. “If I leave that family, I won’t even be able to afford my children’s schooling. I can’t get out…”

Thinking of the children in Lin Yongye’s family, Lin Yongcheng fell silent.

The older nephews and nieces seemed hopeless to him.

The twin sons of the second family, Lin Dajiang and Lin Dahe, were the same as Lin Yongye, always comparing themselves with the eldest son of the first family, Lin Dahai.

But there was really nothing to compare.

The two boys were already ten years old, while Lin Dahai was only seven.

With a three-year age gap, there was no real comparison to be made.

A smart person should seize the opportunity to study and make a living with their own skills, not constantly comparing themselves to others.

Of course, Lin Dahai wasn’t perfect either.

The two of them stopped under a tea tree.

Lin Yongcheng couldn’t help but offer advice, “Second Brother, don’t you see that your two oldest children are following the same path you took? You’re not partial to your children, but the old folks are partial to the first family’s grandchildren. Their influence is just the same. If you were to split the family, your family might not fare too badly. Raising a pig or two, the kids’ school fees would be covered.”

Raising pigs didn’t cost much besides the initial cost of buying piglets.

There wasn’t much else to spend on.

Lin Dajiang and Lin Dahe were already ten.

After school, it wouldn’t be hard for them to gather two baskets of pig feed, right?

If they were a little more diligent, raising two pigs could work.

Lin Yongye didn’t respond.

The old man had a bit of money in hand, but if the family were split, he wouldn’t get much.

Perhaps, like the third family, he would end up being cast out with nothing.

The third family had backing, but he didn’t. And most importantly, he wasn’t willing to accept that!

They were both sons of the Lin family. Why should Lin Yongjia take everything?

In the dim light, Lin Yongcheng looked at Lin Yongye’s profile and guessed his thoughts.

Those ideas weren’t hard to understand.

People think differently.

In Lin Yongcheng’s mind, his wife and children were more important than the little bit of money in the old man’s hands.

But clearly, Lin Yongye cared more about the old man’s money and the resentment he’d held in for decades.

If he didn’t pry some money from the old man’s hands, he wouldn’t feel at ease.

Lin Yongcheng didn’t say much more.

There was no point in saying more; it was easy to talk when you weren’t in the situation.

Lin Yongye, as the father, didn’t care that his children were being raised to be useless. Why should Lin Yongcheng, an uncle, worry?

Forget it. As long as his two daughters weren’t affected, that was all that mattered.

“Tell me, what’s the matter? Why did you come to find me?” Lin Yongcheng asked again.

If he was going to stir up trouble, he might as well do it quietly and not act innocent as if he had no intention of causing problems.

Lin Yongye hesitated before speaking, “Third Brother, didn’t Sister-in-law tell you?”

“Hm?” Lin Yongcheng raised an eyebrow. “Tell me what?”

“About the job,” Lin Yongye still believed in what he thought was the truth.

Old Lin had mentioned getting a job for Lin Yongjia, but Lin Yongye didn’t believe anything else he said except that.

Lin Yongye wasn’t a good man. He would rather Lin Yongjia and his family not go to the city than to help them. The job was still Bai Ji’s, and he didn’t want to help Lin Yongjia.

He came to find Lin Yongcheng to stir things up.

“A few days ago, our mother came to find Sister-in-law. The next day… she got a job for Lin Yongjia in the city. I’m thinking, they must have forced Sister-in-law to give up the job.”

“That thing?” Lin Yongcheng nodded. “It’s not Bai Ji’s job. Bai Ji’s job is something you all can’t handle. You need education for that.”

Lin Yongye’s heart lifted immediately.

“Then what job are they talking about?”

“It’s just a temporary position. I got a job for Bai Ji, and I’ve been keeping an eye out for opportunities for you. After all, with so many kids at home, school will be a big expense in the future. I’ve been keeping watch for any good opportunities. I just found one.” At this point, Lin Yongcheng’s brow furrowed, and his expression became more worried.

He didn’t say anything further.

Lin Yongye became anxious.

This was the chance to go to the city!

Whether he could escape from this family, whether he could make something of himself, depended on this opportunity!

“Third Brother, what’s the result? Was there only one position?”

“No…” Lin Yongcheng shook his head, saying with difficulty, “It’s just too expensive. Four hundred for one position. How can our family afford that?”

Lin Yongye’s heart sank.

Four hundred!

He couldn’t come up with that much money even if he sold himself!

He didn’t doubt that Lin Yongcheng was lying to him.

In Lin Yongye’s eyes, a job in the city was something unattainable. If Lin Yongcheng had said less, he might not have believed it.

Lin Yongcheng saw that the time was right and added more fuel to the fire.

“Second Brother, didn’t you say our father wanted to send Lin Yongjia to the city for a job? That’s four hundred! That’s not a small sum! Doesn’t that mean he has to empty out the family savings?”

Hearing this, Lin Yongye’s heart grew even colder.

Yes, four hundred.

He had never seen that much money in his life.

Yet, his father was willing to empty the family’s savings just to send Lin Yongjia to the city.

His eyes nearly turned red with rage!!

It was clearly them who were paying the four hundred for Lin Yongjia’s job, but they were lying to him!

And then they said that next time, the opportunity would be his.

All the unfair treatment he had suffered before was nothing compared to this.

If Old Lin were here right now, he might lose control of his fists.

Could this really be his father?

Sending Lin Yongjia to the city, making him work like a servant at home?!

Hatred exploded in Lin Yongye’s heart.

He took a deep breath.

“Third Brother… if something happens to me, please help look after my wife. Don’t worry about raising them, just help when they’re in trouble. If you can’t help, it’s fine. It’s their fate, and I won’t blame you.”

That night, he had only said he wanted to kill the whole family to threaten Old Lin.

But now, he was serious about killing.

Either he and Lin Yongjia would die together, or the two of them would go to the city together.

They were twins, born in the same womb, born at the same time—so what was the difference if they died together?

Lin Yongcheng saw the change in his brother and felt his eyes widen.

Oh no… had he gone too far?!

He quickly grabbed Lin Yongye, urging him, “Second Brother, calm down. Think of your wife and kids. They’re still young. You can’t leave them without a father. Don’t lose your temper over this small thing!”

“I can’t calm down! Third Brother, let me tell you, I’ve been holding it in for decades. If I hold back this time, then I’m not a man!”

He had had enough of holding back!

What was the use of holding back any longer?

He had nothing!

Everything good went to Lin Yongjia.

This time, he didn’t want to retreat!

Lin Yongye shook off his hand and walked away without looking back.

“Second Brother, don’t be impulsive!” Lin Yongcheng shouted after him.

…

On the other side, Old Lin couldn’t catch up with Lin Yongye.

When he arrived outside the Bai family’s courtyard, he couldn’t bring himself to knock on the door.

Even when they needed water from the well, it was always Lin Yongye who came to fetch it.

Old Lin felt that stepping into the Bai family’s house meant he was bowing down to them, especially bowing down to Bai Zhi.

His little pride wouldn’t allow it!

He stood outside for two minutes and then turned back.

At this point, he could only hope Lin Yongcheng would be smart enough not to mention the four hundred, or else their family would be finished.

As soon as Old Man Lin came home, he frowned and sat in the yard, smoking his dry tobacco.

Old Mrs. Lin couldn’t stay calm like him.

She kept glancing at her second daughter-in-law, Chen Cuihua, her gaze filled with poison, as if she believed it was her daughter-in-law who had caused trouble.

Even though it was her son who wouldn’t listen to discipline, she blamed the daughter-in-law.

She kept thinking that the marriage was wrong, that this daughter-in-law was the one stirring things up.

With Bai Ji’s situation, she felt even more certain that her son was being provoked by someone.

Old Mrs. Lin cursed incessantly.

“Married a widow star, and the whole family can’t be at peace.”

“All day long, she just causes trouble. Do you think she’s happy when she stirs up the family?”

“Now, the second son is being deceived and making a fuss at home. One day, he’ll realize that his own parents are more important than an outsider. When he wakes up, he might even beat you up!”

“…”

Old Mrs. Lin kept on cursing.

Chen Cuihua remained as silent as a piece of wood, without any response.

Lin Dajiang and Lin Dahe were full of hatred.

It was clear that their grandparents favored their eldest uncle, forcing their father to step in and fight for their own interests.

How did this become their mother’s fault?

The second house followed their father’s orders, and their mother never had a say.

The youngest, Lin Liuye, didn’t understand what was going on.

She only knew that her grandmother was cursing her mother. With teary eyes, she hugged the rooster tightly and didn’t dare to speak.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Yongye finally returned.

His face was grim, his eyes sharp as if a vengeful spirit had taken over.

Old Man Lin immediately called out to him, “Second son, come here, I need to talk to you!”

Lin Yongye didn’t even give him a look.

He went straight into the kitchen.

When he came out, he was holding a kitchen knife, and Old Man Lin stared at him, terrified.

“Second son, what are you going to do?”

“Stop right there!”

He stopped smoking and rushed over.

Old Mrs. Lin screamed in fear.

“Second son, put down the knife!”