Chapter 21: Rumors Abound

After dinner, Lin Nuo informed the village chief about the construction work for the house in the back. She told him that the workers could start the day after tomorrow, and that the work at the back was just some minor tasks that would be completed quickly.

The next day was the tenth of the month, a day off for the school, so Lin Lei didn’t attend classes either.

After breakfast, the siblings went about their day. Lin Lei went to review his schoolwork, while Lin Nuo prepared tea and got ready for the house construction to begin. She expected that Guo Zhou and the others would be delivering materials soon.

Around 9 a.m., Guo Zhou and his team arrived with ten carts of blue bricks and some tools. A few of the village widows, standing at the village entrance, watched as the carts entered Lin Nuo’s house, whispering among themselves.

Lin Nuo went out to greet Guo Zhou and his workers. “Big Brother Guo, you’ve worked hard. Please, take the workers inside for some tea before starting your work.”

“Okay, just a moment,” Guo Zhou replied, then called to the workers behind him, “The master requests tea. Please drink some first before starting.”

In most places, when someone visits, the host would typically offer a bowl of water or maybe some sweet water. Tea was reserved for wealthier households. This time, Lin Nuo’s family was considered a rich household, and the workers gratefully went inside.

The group’s conversation was overheard by the village widows standing outside, who clenched their fists in envy. “Why is this young woman so lucky?” one of them muttered, spitting on the ground before leaving.

No matter the era, there are always people who can’t stand others doing better than themselves, and these widows were such people.

After some commotion, Lin Nuo led Guo Zhou and the workers to the foundation site next door. They measured and planned the construction in detail, then started working. Lin Nuo returned home.

After lunch, Lin Lei went outside to play with Gouzi. The sun was hot, and Lin Nuo didn’t feel like going out, so she went to her room to rest.

Gouzi took Lin Lei to find other children in the village to play with.

When they reached the southern side of the village, they saw a group of kids playing. Among them were the village head’s grandson and a few other children.

Gouzi, excited, said, “Shao Qun, Shao Qun, this is my good friend Lin Lei. He just moved here from the next village.”

The other children looked at the boy next to Gouzi. Lin Lei had a refined face, his eyes bright like stars, and his neat black hair was tied in a simple, tidy knot. He wore a pale moon-white robe, looking especially handsome, like a young master from a noble family.

Shao Qun ran over and grabbed Lin Lei’s hand. “Gouzi, this is Lin Lei, he’s really handsome!”

Lin Lei blushed slightly but smiled and greeted them. Then, he shared the candy his sister gave him, offering one piece to each of the children.

The others were happy and wanted to play together, but two boys from the widow’s family, Erpang and Xiaopang, weren’t pleased.

It seemed they had been raised poorly. The day before, they overheard a conversation between their mother and their aunt, saying that the Lin family was very wealthy. They heard rumors that the sister was not a decent woman, and that her husband had gone to war while she was out courting other men.

When they heard the Lin family was building a new house, they were even more displeased.

At this moment, Erpang threw Lin Lei’s candy on the ground and shouted, “Bastard, I don’t want your candy! Who knows where you stole it from, or if your sister gave it to you after hooking up with other men. The outside world doesn’t want your dirty stuff! Get lost, we don’t want to play with you!”

He pushed Lin Lei.

Lin Lei was frightened by the scene, but Shao Qun pulled him aside. Lin Lei’s eyes reddened, and he was about to cry.

However, he didn’t back down because he had promised to protect his sister.

Lin Lei clenched his small fists and shouted, “My sister isn’t like that! She’s the best sister in the world! I won’t let you talk bad about her! Apologize, or I’ll punch you in the mouth!”

He was ready to fight.

Erpang, enraged by Lin Lei’s words, rushed forward to hit him.

Though Lin Lei was younger, he was quick and agile. He dodged most of the blows and managed to pull Erpang down, pinning him to the ground and giving him a good beating.

It was only when Shao Qun and Gouzi pulled them apart that they stopped.

Erpang’s clothes were torn, and he cried loudly as he ran home, followed by his younger brother and a few others.