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Lin Shu fished out an orange candy given by Panpan and tossed it to him, half comforting and half dismissive, “Here, sweeten your mouth.”
Lin Yue looked at the orange candy, wiped away his tears, and smiled.
He fiddled with the candy in his hand, “Sister, I want to talk to you.”
Old Sun made Sun Er apologize to him, telling him that a couple’s bond was precious and that he should consider Bao’er, their child, and not let the child grow up without both parents.
He said they shouldn’t damage the harmony between the families and bring shame to the elders.
He even made Sun Xiaohong apologize to his parents, promising that she would let his mother manage the household and that she would go to the fields to earn work points.
This humble behavior from Old Sun was a first in his memory because Old Sun had always looked down on him as if he was always inferior in the Sun family.
When he stood firm, the Sun family softened, and instead of being pleased, he felt only sarcasm.
Listening to Sun Xiaohong crying, his son crying, and the constant arguing in the house, he felt overwhelmed and confused.
As the anger that had propelled him out of the house, supported by Mrs. Zhou and Aunt Lin, dissipated, he felt weak and empty.
It seemed like there were two diverging paths in front of him, both shrouded in darkness with no clear direction.
He didn’t know which way to go.
Choosing divorce would feel liberating in the short term, but remarrying would mean another dowry and a gamble on the character of the new wife.
If she turned out to be bad, it would be more suffering for his parents and Bao’er.
Not divorcing meant enduring Sun Xiaohong’s nature.
She might pretend to be submissive now but would certainly make their lives even harder later, keeping the whole family in constant fear.
Unable to figure it out, he excused himself to go to the bathroom and wandered out, eventually finding himself in Lujia Village.
His third sister had become formidable, capable and assertive, even praised by the commune.
Fang Dihua, a formidable person herself, also protected her.
He wanted to talk to his third sister.
Lin Shu asked him, “Do you truly want a divorce, or are you using this to make Sun Xiaohong submit? In other words, if Sun Xiaohong changes, works in the fields, stops abusing our parents, and lives well with you, can you forgive her?”
Lin Yue’s newfound resolve to seek a divorce surprised Lin Shu.
She had thought that exposing Sun Xiaohong’s true nature to cause their parents and Lin Yue to resent her would make Sun Xiaohong uncomfortable but never imagined divorce would be on the table.
After all, in the original storyline, Lin Yue was completely controlled by Sun Xiaohong.
Lin Shu’s original plan was to cause a scene, sever ties with Sun Xiaohong, and ensure her children wouldn’t have to call Sun Xiaohong “aunt” anymore.
Sun Xiaohong’s aunt was less annoying, and she now saw Lin Yue in a new light. Could this younger brother still be saved?
Lin Yue said, “She… won’t change. I don’t want to stay with her, but I’m worried about how it might affect Bao’er and about the embarrassment it might cause you and our parents.”
Lin Shu understood his concerns.
It wasn’t that Lin Yue was clueless or lacking in opinions, but that he was afraid of conflict and tended to back down in difficult situations.
He didn’t want to face the consequences of his choices, so he preferred to let things happen naturally and deal with the outcomes as they came, avoiding the guilt of making a wrong choice.
When he was caught in an affair with Sun Er, he was afraid of the trouble and didn’t pursue the truth, so he went along with the Sun family’s arrangements for marriage.
Now, if he was pressured into divorce or reconciliation by the Sun family or neighbors, as long as he didn’t make the decision himself, he wouldn’t have to deal with the psychological burden.
Lin Shu looked at him. At 22, Lin Yue still seemed like a child, as if he were only 18.
If things had gone as planned, Lin Yue would have had a sensible wife by now, and his family’s situation would be different.
But the wheel of fate had its own way of turning.
Still, the fact that Lin Yue could consider divorce and was concerned about his child showed he still had hope.
She said, “Let’s address your concerns.
“You worry about Bao’er. What’s so pitiful about Bao’er? He’s mostly cared for by our mother, and Sun Xiaohong just occasionally takes him out to show off. How does Sun Xiaohong’s presence really benefit Bao’er? He has his loving grandparents and father—how is he pitiful?
“I know you’re concerned about a stepmother. Divorce and remarriage are normal. There’s nothing shameful about it. When you remarry, choose someone who will be good to Bao’er. If you’re worried about picking the wrong person, consider a woman who can’t have children and has been hurt by her previous marriage. If you treat her well, Bao’er can grow to love her as a mother, and she’ll care for him in return. Good people can develop genuine feelings for each other.”
Lin Yue nodded, realizing how insightful his sister was.
He had only thought about how Bao’er might suffer with a stepmother but hadn’t considered practical solutions.
He was simply thinking about not remarrying, which wasn’t realistic at his age.
Lin Shu continued, “As for the shame of divorce, what is that even? Divorce happens when a marriage can’t continue.
Separating is good for everyone; it’s a way to save both families.
How is that shameful? Is it better to force a relationship and only cause more damage or even harm? Adults need to learn to cut their losses in time.”
Lin Shu said, “Divorce might seem shameful for a while, but your own life is what matters for a lifetime. You and your parents are living under oppression and for the sake of momentary appearances—what’s more important?”
Lin Yue was suddenly enlightened by her words, as if a breeze had cleared the distant fog, allowing him to see the path stretching out before him.
Lin Shu continued, “Whether you choose to divorce or not, you will certainly encounter many troubles in the future.
The key is not to shrink back when facing difficulties. Understand what you want, what you care about most, and what you need to protect.”
Any choice isn’t wrong; it’s about the intention behind it.
Choices aren’t set in stone; they can be adjusted according to reality.
The most important thing is to make a choice and not regret it or complain.
Just like her own situation—her goal was clear: to raise her children well, to enjoy a life of ease with her in-laws in her early years, and to rely on her children in her later years.
Anyone who disrupts this plan becomes her enemy.
She would take good care of her elders, ensuring they live happily and age gracefully, enjoying their retirement years.
She would raise her children well, helping them grow up healthy, happy, and successful.
If life changes, she would adjust her plans accordingly. For instance, now her plans also include her sister-in-law.
If any unexpected events occur, she would decisively adapt, given that she managed to thrive despite her poor health in her previous life.
Now with her strong health, how could she not succeed?
She also wanted to remove Sun Xiaohong, who would bring disaster to her children and ruin her parents’ lives.
Lin Yue smiled brightly again, “Sister, I think I know what to do now.”
Lin Shu gave him a knowing look, “It’s not just about knowing what to do right now. You need to know what to do in the future. Sometimes when faced with problems, it’s not necessary to headbutt the wall; use your brain. Learn to leverage what you have and throw the problem back.”
Lin Yue scratched his head, partially understanding but still unsure.
How should he throw the problem back when the Sun family was using submission to pressure him into not divorcing?
On his way back to Lin Family Village, Lin Yue was intercepted by Sun San at the village entrance.
Sun San, grinning, taunted him, “Brother-in-law, off to get more advice from third sister, are we?”
He also claimed it wasn’t Lin Shu’s instigation!
Lin Yue ignored him and went straight home.
The fields were still muddy, so he didn’t have to work in them, which only made things easier for Old Sun’s family.
A crowd was blocking his yard and the west room.
Seeing Lin Yue return, Old Sun sneered with a fake smile, “Son-in-law, what did your Third Sister say?”
Lin Yue clenched his fists and replied slowly, “I have one condition. If you meet it, I’ll forgive Sun Xiaohong and not go through with the divorce.”
Old Sun felt a wave of relief and immediately put on a big smile.
The Sun family also started smiling, knowing that Lin Yue was weak and wouldn’t really stand up to them.
Lin’s aunt and Mother Zhou, along with the other women, were disappointed. They thought Lin Yue was spineless and useless.
Lin Yue’s parents, lying on the kang, remained silent. They looked visibly older in an instant.
Lin’s mother sighed, resigned to the fact that Sun Xiaohong would always have control over her.
Sun Xiaohong smirked, “I knew you couldn’t resist me. It’s been enough of this charade for the past couple of days. I won’t let Second Brother hit you anymore.”
Lin Yue ignored her and addressed Old Sun directly, “You need to clarify to everyone here how the Sun family tricked me back then, apologize to my grandmother and parents, and return the extra 300 yuan from the bride price. Also, Sun Xiaohong must apologize to my mother. From now on, my mother will be in charge, and Sun Xiaohong will work in the fields and never again mistreat the elderly.”
“Dream on! You’re dreaming!” Sun Xiaohong yelled, ready to pounce on him.
Lin’s aunt acted quickly and slapped Sun Xiaohong, “Sit down!”
Encouraged by Mother Zhou and the others, Lin’s aunt had taken on the role of the head of the Lin family with a sense of duty.
Sun Er roared in anger, “What nonsense are you talking about? Who tricked whom?”
He tried to confront Lin Yue but was stopped by several men held back by the village chief’s wife, who scolded, “You only know how to use your fists. Are you a bandit or a bully? Keep this up, and we’ll arrest you!”
Lin Yue looked coldly at Old Sun, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
His sister was truly smart.
She had caught Old Sun completely off guard.
Old Sun was taken aback and didn’t know what to do.
He, being old and cunning, said, “Son-in-law, you shouldn’t speak recklessly. It was you who was at fault back then, and Xiaohong has always protected you.”
Lin Yue remained silent.
He had made up his mind about what he wanted and what mattered most to him.
He could have married Sun Xiaohong, but he shouldn’t have ignored the traps set by the Sun family or allowed them to use it as an excuse to hurt his family and make them suffer.
He wanted to restore his family’s dignity and live a peaceful life.
…
That evening, Lin Shu briefly explained the situation to Fang Dihua and Sister Lu, mentioning that her brother might get a divorce.
Fang Dihua understood well and asked Sister Lu Da to accompany Lin Shu to her parents’ home the next day and help Lin Yue with advice, offering to call people if needed.
Sister Lu Da was more than happy to help. Like Lin Shu, she loved gossip and could be quite ruthless about it.
Lin Shu originally planned to visit her parents’ home with Sister Lu after breakfast, but as soon as Fang Dihua got up early to open the yard door, Old Sun was already there with his son, waiting outside.
Seeing Fang Dihua, Old Sun immediately approached with a smile, thanking her for the peaches she had sent, saying they were very sweet.
Fang Dihua replied, “A few peaches aren’t worth much. Why did you come all this way?”
Old Sun showed a troubled expression and quickly brought up the issue of the sewing machine. “My daughter and son-in-law are quarreling again. Young people are so impulsive; they want to get divorced over nothing.”
He tried to make Fang Dihua believe that Lin Shu’s meddling in her parents’ home was the reason for the quarrel between her brother and sister-in-law, which he hoped would distract from their real issues.
Fang Dihua wasn’t fooled and responded, “The sewing machine was a dowry gift from me to my daughter-in-law. How could it be causing your daughter to want a divorce?”
Old Sun resorted to his usual tactic of playing the poor and helpless card, claiming his family was poor and his son couldn’t afford a wife without the help of his daughter, and that he felt ashamed for the trouble caused.
He even offered an apology to Lin Shu.
Fang Dihua said, “Well, that’s not how I see it. All three of us daughters-in-law came through our sons, not through our daughters.”
Old Sun was taken aback and felt a stinging sense of public humiliation.
He grudgingly admitted, “It’s the old man’s fault; the family is poor, and the son is not successful.”
Fang Dihua replied, “Every generation has its own blessings. It’s not your fault.”
Seeing her softening, Old Sun felt relieved and said, “Please, Third Auntie, talk to the son-in-law.”
Fang Dihua asked, “Am I supposed to talk about your daughter and son-in-law’s issues? Can’t the third daughter-in-law speak for herself?”
Old Sun was frustrated but kept his composure, only able to smile and respond, “It’s only right for third sister to scold her younger brother and younger sister-in-law.”
Fang Dihua then inquired, “I heard your daughter hit her mother-in-law?”
Old Sun’s face flushed with pain, and he quickly denied it, “No, no, that’s not true. It was just the children playing around.”
He was determined not to admit his daughter’s violent actions or any past schemes, nor did he want to push for divorce, so he needed to pressure Lin Shu into making peace.
Lin Shu was already up, swatting mosquitoes on the kang.
Despite the mosquito net, these pesky insects managed to get through and bite Panpan several times, causing him to suffer for his mother and sister.
She applied a purple ointment to Panpan’s little arms, kissed him gently, and covered his small belly with a cloth.
The mosquitoes, having had their fill, landed on the net, and she smacked them dead.
She got up, stretching her white fingers, and said to Old Sun in surprise, “Oh, isn’t this Mr. Sun?”
Old Sun nodded and smiled, “Lin Shu, are you swatting mosquitoes? I’ll bring you some mosquito-repellent plants; they work really well.”
Lin Shu replied, “Indeed.”
She showed him her hand and continued, “Honestly, there are so many creatures in this world. Cats have their ways, insects have theirs.
Cicadas are noisy but the larvae are tasty; caterpillars are disgusting but butterflies are beautiful.
But these damn mosquitoes and flies—one bite isn’t enough for them. Even when they’re full, they won’t leave, and they just keep buzzing around. It’s infuriating trying to get rid of them!”
Fang Dihua’s presence was a testament to her commitment to helping her daughter-in-law.
As for Lin Shu, her annoyance with the mosquitoes was a sign of her underlying frustration with the situation she was facing.
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CyyEmpire[Translator]
Hello Readers, I'm CyyEmpire translator of various Chinese Novel, I'm Thankful and Grateful for all the support i've receive from you guys.. Thank You!