Xiao Baiguo was ill, and Xiao Zisu had no heart for studying, so the small classroom at the health center was temporarily closed.

Lin Zhijun and his sister had also heard the rumors circulating outside.

They didn’t have to attend class, so they made three trips a day to the Bai family.

When they learned that Xiao Baiguo was just teething and running a fever, and not as the rumors had said, they felt relieved.

Seeing how hard the couple was taking care of their child, the siblings didn’t dare tell them the rumors out of fear of making them angry, thinking that once Xiao Baiguo’s fever went down, the rumors would naturally die out.

Xiao Baiguo was a premature baby, and on the day he was discharged from the hospital, Old Lady Lin had publicly said that the county hospital doctor had told them that the child wouldn’t survive, so the Lin family shouldn’t keep him.

With Old Lady Lin’s words, the rumors in Lin Village started to gain more credibility.

Many people believed them.

Lin Yongcheng was doing well and nobody dared to offend him, but there were many who secretly criticized him.

They were jealous because he had success and a father-in-law who was willing to spend money to help him build his house.

Some nasty tongues spread rumors behind his back, claiming he was living off his wife, which was nothing more than jealousy.

Now that they heard his only daughter was about to die, those with ill intentions were just waiting to see the joke.

After all, who wouldn’t be envious of his good life?

But there were also those who were concerned.

Lin Changjin and Lin Yongliang came to visit, but Lin Yongcheng was confused.

The fever from teething was a big deal for his own family, but surely it wasn’t serious enough to have outsiders visiting? It wasn’t to that extent!

Lin Yongcheng sensed something wasn’t right.

“Changjin Uncle, what rumors are spreading outside?”

No matter how exaggerated or absurd the gossip, it would usually avoid reaching the family directly. Nobody would be foolish enough to spread something that would offend the very person involved.

Even the shyest people, like Aunt Liu, wouldn’t dare mention it in front of the Bai family.

Lin Yongcheng had connections outside, and he knew that one day the gossip might find its way to him.

Bai Zhu was the village’s barefoot doctor, someone they couldn’t afford to offend.

That’s why, for now, his family was still unaware.

Lin Changjin and Lin Yongliang exchanged a glance.

Lin Yongcheng’s face was pale, showing some worry but not too much, not the look of a father whose child was on the verge of dying.

The two men quickly understood what was going on.

“Cough… The situation is like this,” Lin Changjin explained, his face looking uneasy. “People in the village are saying that your daughter is very sick, so Yongliang and I came to check on her.”

“The rumors are exaggerated.” Lin Yongliang nodded in agreement.

“How exaggerated?” Lin Yongcheng’s face immediately darkened.

There was no need to say more. He already had his suspicions.

Lin Yongcheng was furious.

His daughter was just teething, and how could people have so much malice toward a child?!

Didn’t they have to grow teeth too? Or was it only his child who had to grow teeth?

If they didn’t want teeth, he’d go over and knock theirs out!

“Yongcheng, don’t be angry. It’s a misunderstanding,” Lin Changjin said. “I’ll go to the village committee and clarify it using the loudspeaker. I’ll also warn them to stop spreading rumors.”

Lin Changjin could understand his feelings.

What parent wouldn’t be angry hearing that their child was being cursed?

But then again, a teething fever was such a small thing.

Why was everyone acting like it was a huge disaster?

Was their child really that precious?

Lin Changjin couldn’t understand.

He had more questions in his mind, but as the village leader, he still had to offer advice. “In a few days, once the fever is gone, take her out more. Let those gossipers see who’s wrong.”

Just as he was speaking, Bai Ji, unable to bear it any longer, stormed out.

“My child is fine! Those gossipers talk all day long, but why go after a child?”

“My child is healthy and will live a long life!”

Lin Yongcheng couldn’t help but shout, “When will those gossips die off? They can’t even live a decent life themselves, and now they’re trying to curse someone else’s child? What a bunch of miserable wretches. After they die, they’ll go straight to hell!”

“Why can’t they just leave us alone? If they had the guts, they would come and say it to my face. But cursing a child behind their back? What a cowardly thing to do! They deserve to live miserable lives!”

“Not in this life, nor the next!”

Both of them were really angry.

Their child’s fever had kept them on edge for several days, and they hadn’t been able to sleep well. Now, with all the rumors, their anger had flared up.

Lin Changjin and Lin Yongliang stayed silent.

Who in the world talks like that about other people’s children?

The child can’t even speak or walk, so how could it have offended anyone? It was truly outrageous!

If they hadn’t personally gone to the Bai family, they would have believed the rumors too!

The more Lin Yongcheng shouted, the angrier he became.

After venting, a bad idea crossed his mind.

Cursing his child, huh?

He would make them regret it!

“Yongliang, I’m sorry,” Lin Yongcheng said. “My daughter is sick, and our family has been really worried. I’ve been so distracted that I haven’t had time to teach you how to drive the tractor. These last few days, I haven’t been able to rest, but I’ll sleep well tonight and be ready to teach you tomorrow. I’ll also show you how to repair the tractor.”

The next day, still worried about his daughter, Lin Yongcheng didn’t work.

After two days of poor rest, he was too tired and didn’t want to drive the tractor.

The tractor, which he had borrowed from the commune, was still parked at the village entrance.

Fortunately, Lin Changjin had borrowed it after the other brigade had finished delivering their grain, so no one was in a hurry.

As long as someone watched the tractor and made sure it wasn’t stolen, everything was fine.

Lin Yongcheng was the only one in the village who knew how to drive the tractor.

Usually, people would complain if the tractor was delayed, but with the rumors of his child being gravely ill, no one dared to say anything.

If a child was near death, who would dare complain?

Lin Yongliang was shocked!

He had only expected to learn how to drive the tractor, not repair it.

It was a pleasant surprise.

A tractor driver who could also repair the tractor was much more valuable than a regular driver.

He paused for a few seconds, processing the information.

Then, he excitedly grabbed Lin Yongcheng’s arm and shook it, “Bro, I’m not kidding! I’m serious! Don’t go back on your word! Even if you do, I’m not leaving your house!”

Lin Yongliang was so excited he couldn’t speak clearly.

Once he learned this skill, he would have a secure future!

Lin Changjin couldn’t hide his joy either. “Yongcheng, Uncle is serious too!”

“I won’t back out,” Lin Yongcheng promised.

Then, he dropped another surprise. “Next month, Hongkang Commune is going to repair roads. They’re looking for two more tractor drivers. Yongliang, you don’t have to worry about finding work anymore. If your skills are good, you’ll never be short of jobs!”

Hongkang Commune and their Hongxing Commune were in the same county but on opposite sides, farther away than the county seat, so they hadn’t heard about it.

Now, with skills and work, Lin Yongliang’s good days were coming soon.

Lin Yongcheng wanted those gossips to open their eyes. As long as he wanted, he could help Bai Ji find work, or even get Lin Yongliang a job in the county, or help Lin Yongliang rise up. He had the power to do it.

Let those jealous people keep being envious.

They couldn’t even help themselves, just resenting others.

Compared to helping Lin Yongliang rise, helping his brothers was more practical. He was teaching skills, and they weren’t even his real brothers.

When helping his own brothers, others came with low expectations. After all, they weren’t real siblings—why should he help them?

But Lin Yongliang wasn’t like that. No blood relation, but he still cared.

And that gave outsiders a sliver of hope.

Many people might come asking for help, but so what?

He wasn’t going to help!

After Lin Changjin and his son left, Lin Yongcheng gently kissed the small white fruit in his arms.

“Good baby, get better soon. Daddy’s avenged you. When you grow up, you should learn from your dad. If someone bullies you, you should stand up for yourself—holding it in will only make you sick.”

“You need to be a child with a temper.”

“I’m not afraid of you having a bad temper, I’m afraid you’ll have no temper and be bullied.”

Lin Yongcheng truly felt sorry for his little girl.

She was so obedient, and before she was even half a year old, she was cursed maliciously.

Those who spread rumors, didn’t they have hearts?

He couldn’t help but curse again.

His little girl was such a sweet baby.

Even his parents-in-law said there was no child easier to raise than her.

But being too obedient made her an easy target for bullying!

From the day she was born, she’d been bullied three times already.

First, Lin Dayang’s actions caused her premature birth.

Then, Grandma Lin didn’t allow her to enter the Lin family’s main door.

And now, the current injustice she suffered—it was always filled with malice, like she had a knack for attracting troublemakers.

Lin Yongcheng held the little Bai Gou and quietly asked Bai Ji: “Do you think our little girl is being targeted by bad people? Should we find a fortune-teller to check?”

Bai Ji was stunned by his words.

After a few seconds, she turned her head with a blank expression.

Her eyes looked as if she didn’t recognize Lin Yongcheng, and it took a while for her to force out a sentence: “You’re being superstitious!”

It could only be said that people’s hearts were too malicious, having such ill intentions toward a child.

The idea of being targeted by bad people was really far-fetched.

Bai Ji didn’t want to believe it.

“We both can…” Lin Yongcheng didn’t finish his sentence, lowering his voice: “And there’s nothing we can’t believe. Our little girl has been bullied several times!”

Bai Ji fell silent.

The couple stared at each other for a while, and after two minutes, Bai Ji’s resolve started to weaken. Then, thinking about how much older Xiao Zisu had never been bullied, she started to waver.

She tried asking: “Then… should we find a fortune-teller?”

They were in agreement.

But then, the question arose—where could they find a fortune-teller?

In this day and age, the profession of fortune-telling had long been on the decline. Either the fortune-tellers had switched careers, or they no longer dared to advertise their services. People might not even want to take their business.

…