Chapter 13: Adorable Younger Brother

In the military family compound, Lin Zheng was throwing a tantrum at Yao Yanfang. Last night, he had waited at the daycare for a long time, but no one came to pick him up. Eventually, Teacher Wang from the daycare took him home on her way back.

When he arrived home, he found a big padlock hanging on the front door. If it weren’t for their neighbor, Brother Chuitou, who took him in, he would’ve had nowhere to sleep that night.

This morning, he had been waiting at the door since early dawn, and finally, he caught Yao Yanfang returning home.

“Mom, where’s Big Sis? Is that bloodstain on the corner of the wall hers? I heard people saying you forced her into attempting suicide!”

“Don’t listen to the nonsense people outside are spouting. Your sister just couldn’t figure things out—what does that have to do with me?”
Of course, Yao Yanfang would never admit she had driven Lin Qinglan to suicide.
How was she supposed to know Lin Qinglan was that weak?
Had she known, she would’ve just given her a bit more money. Taking her own life over that—utterly ridiculous. Now she was the laughingstock of the unit.

“I know you don’t want me or Big Sis. Look, you’ve already packed up your things, but all of ours are still in the room. You didn’t want Second Sis before, and now you don’t want us either.”
Lin Zheng fought back his tears. He was a boy—he couldn’t cry. Dad said only women cried like that.

“Zheng’er, why don’t you and your big sister go back to your second sister? Life isn’t easy for Mom either.
If you go back, it’ll ease my burden, and the three of you siblings can take care of each other.
The hometown is by the sea—if you work hard collecting seafood every day, at least you won’t go hungry.
Unlike your grandma and the others—they work all year, and by year-end, they still don’t have enough food.”

Yao Yanfang was the eldest in her family. Years ago, she was lucky enough to save an elderly military doctor, who then took her in as an apprentice for several years.
After the doctor passed away, she took over his position and became a surgeon at the military hospital.

But because her skills were average, she had never been promoted.
Everyone who joined the workforce with her was now head doctors, while she remained an assistant.

After she started working, she constantly sent money back to her maternal family, even after getting married.
The money Lin Jianshe gave her to send to his own parents? She gave it to her family instead.

Over the years, a portion of the household’s finances went to her family, while the rest she spent on herself.
Now, all she had left were the compensation payment and the 2,000 yuan pooled together by Lin Jianshe’s comrades.
Even though 4,000 yuan seemed like a lot, with Lin Jianshe gone and her low income, she couldn’t support her family anymore.

Her motherly love for Lin Zheng and Lin Qinglan was nowhere near strong enough to outweigh money.
If Lin Zheng hadn’t waited at the door today, she would’ve taken the money and run. After all, the military wouldn’t let the children starve.

“You say all this just to abandon us. Fine—don’t want us, but leave behind Dad’s compensation money!
That money was bought with his life. You don’t deserve it.”

Of course, Lin Zheng didn’t come up with those words himself. Last night, Brother Chuitou had talked to him all night, telling him he must protect the money—otherwise, he and his sister wouldn’t survive.

Lin Zheng actually understood. He was six years old, after all. Growing up in the military compound, he knew what it meant for someone to sacrifice their life.

He had a little friend whose father also died on duty. The boy’s mother remarried with the compensation money, and if not for a kind soldier who adopted him, he would have ended up homeless.

Last night, Lin Zheng didn’t sleep at all, mulling over all of this—because now, his mother was going to abandon them too.

“You two are just kids—what would you do with that much money? I’ll keep it for now. When you grow up and get married, you can come ask me for it.”
Yao Yanfang was just saying that for the sake of appearances.
She wasn’t planning to give them a cent. If she gave them the money, what would she do with her life?

Lin Qinglan was already sixteen—old enough to get married. If she brought Lin Zheng along into her marriage, wouldn’t that solve everything?

She had already done them a favor by not marrying Lin Qinglan off randomly—there was no way she was giving them the money.

“If you won’t give the money to me and Big Sis, then we’ll go straight to the military leaders.
I don’t believe they’ll ignore the children of a martyr.”

Lin Zheng didn’t believe a word of Yao Yanfang’s lies.
Granny Peng had told him that the higher the military rank, the greater the compensation.
Though he didn’t know the exact amount, his dad had been a regiment commander—surely it was at least a couple thousand yuan.

And his dad’s monthly salary was over a hundred yuan—their savings had to be significant.
He couldn’t understand why his mother would be so heartless—not even leaving them a path to survive.

“You—you’re turning against me?! That compensation was given to me by the army!
If I want to give it to you, I will. If I don’t, don’t even think about it!”

Yao Yanfang pushed Lin Zheng out the door while cursing, then slammed it shut.

Left standing outside, Lin Zheng burst into tears, crying loudly—a stark contrast to the composed boy who had just negotiated over the compensation money.

Now he finally looked like a true six-year-old child.
What he had done moments ago seemed like a delusion of maturity.

Hearing him cry, Chuitou came out from the neighboring yard.

“Zhengzi, you’re really useless! Didn’t I tell you exactly what to say last night?
How could you lose to that old witch of yours? Never mind—I’ll take you to the hospital first.
This money issue… we’ll have to leave it to your sister.”

“But my sister’s head is all injured, and Mom still won’t give us the money.
Maybe we should go find the military leaders.
I don’t want Big Sis to get hurt again.”

“If you bring your sister along, it’ll work even better. Listen to me…”
Chuitou leaned in and whispered in Lin Zheng’s ear.

He was a clever kid. This whole money plan was his idea.

Yesterday, he had seen the entire scene of Lin Qinglan’s suicide attempt—he had been climbing on the courtyard wall at the time.

Big Sis Qinglan was such a gentle person. To be forced to suicide… he would never forgive the person who drove her to it.

That afternoon, Granny Peng took Lin Zheng and Chuitou to the hospital.

When Lin Zheng saw his sister’s head wrapped tightly in bandages, he couldn’t hold back his tears.

“Big Sis… your head… does it hurt a lot?”

“You’re my little brother? So cute! Come here, let Big Sis give you a hug.”
Lin Qinglan was completely charmed by the chubby little boy in front of her, sobbing and hiccupping.

So this adorable little dumpling was her little brother?

In her past life, both she and Lin Qingmei loved children.
Unfortunately, they never had younger siblings, nor did they ever marry or have kids. It was something they always regretted.

Now, after transmigrating, she had actually gotten her wish.

Even though this dumpling was a bit older and not a cuddly one- or two-year-old, he was still adorable.
Given the current situation, she’d make do!