Chapter 281 - 278: Cutting Off Ties
Seeing their expressions, Lin Lan quickly changed the subject. "Big Brother, Second Brother, let Mom and Dad stay and have fun for a few more days. You two can take the sewing machine and television Xiangyang bought for them back to Shilian."
"Little Lan," Zhao Xiaohui quickly grabbed Lin Lan’s arm. "Did my brother-in-law really buy Mom and Dad a television and a sewing machine?"
Lin Changyou, who had been talking with Wu Jiafu, shot to his feet and stared at Lin Lan. "Little Lan, are you saying Xiangyang also bought us a television and a sewing machine?"
Lin Lan nodded. "Xiangyang said he wanted to buy a sewing machine for Mom to save her eyes when she does needlework, and the television is for you two to pass the time."
Wu Shuqin, Wu Jiafu, and Tong Xinglan all stared at Lin Lan in astonishment. They had never heard of a son-in-law buying such expensive gifts for his father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Lin Lan had Lin Guoliang bring out the television and sewing machine from the other room, and only then did Wu Shuqin and the other two believe she was telling the truth.
Lin Changyou felt a mix of emotions. He couldn’t say much in front of Wu Shuqin and the others, so he just told the brothers, "Take these things home with you later. Your mother and I will head back the day after tomorrow."
Wu Shuqin, who had originally planned to go home, changed her mind. "Guoliang, on your way, you’ll pass my place. Stop by and leave a message for your uncle, telling him we’ll come back with your parents in a couple of days."
"Okay," Lin Guoliang agreed readily.
Wu Jiafu never dreamed that Lin Lan would marry so well her second time around. He was genuinely happy for her. "Little Lan, your uncle has things to take care of at home, so I’ll head back with Guoliang and the others."
"That young man Xiangyang is a good one. Be good to his father, and be good to Xiangyang. Don’t throw any petty fits."
Lin Lan nodded. "Uncle, I’ll remember that."
Now that there was a television and sewing machine to take, Zhao Xiaohui stopped insisting on staying. She happily helped the two Lin brothers strap the items to their carrying racks, ready to head to the station to catch their bus.
Lin Lan gave Wu Jiafu some meat, wine, rice, and flour as a parting gift and saw them to the door.
Zhao Xiaohui pulled Lin Lan aside and whispered, "Little Lan, I think our aunt plans to leave her daughter, Xinglan, in Lexing to help you. Don’t be fooled by how young she is. I’ve noticed that Xinglan is very cunning. You should be careful."
Lin Lan nodded. "I know, Second Sister-in-law. Thanks for making the trip, even though you didn’t have time to see the shop."
’It’s normal for people to have their own ideas. As long as a relative’s heart was in the right place and they weren’t trying anything crooked, she was willing to lend a hand. But if they had other intentions, they couldn’t blame her for being cold.’
Zhao Xiaohui didn’t mind at all. She smiled and said, "It’s no problem. We’re family. I’ll come by when I have time."
’Bringing a television and a sewing machine back to the Shilian brigade... they’d be the first ones! She didn’t even have to imagine the envious looks on everyone’s faces.’
’Especially those who looked down on Little Lan and bad-mouthed her behind her back. She couldn’t wait to see the looks on their faces—to see their eyes pop out of their heads.’
After seeing off Lin Guoliang and the other three, Lin Lan and the rest returned to the courtyard. Wu Shufen told Lin Lan to take Lin Changyou and the others to see the shop while she stayed home to pick up Little Douzi from school later.
Although Little Yong from the Su family had been rescued, the child was no longer as lively and cheerful as before after the frightening ordeal.
Thefts often happened toward the end of the year, so families who doted on their children were afraid something might happen to them and continued to escort them to and from school.
Lin Changyou thought for a moment, then said to Wu Shufen, "It’s getting late today. We’ll go see the shop tomorrow morning. You stay home and wait to pick up Douzi. Little Lan and I will go over to Ah Yong’s place to see Yuezhen."
"It’s good for you to go see them," Wu Shufen said, handing a satchel to Lin Lan. "Take this stuff to the bank and deposit it."
Lin Lan took the satchel, went inside to get the passbook, put a bracelet in a cabinet, then came out, said goodbye to Wu Shuqin, and left on her bike with Lin Changyou.
***
After Lin Guohui "got drunk," Brother Yong had put him to bed in a side room. Zhou Chunlan sat in the newlyweds’ room, her eyes gleaming as she scanned the furnishings:
A brand-new chest of drawers, a three-door wardrobe, a full-length mirror, a vanity table, a large red leather suitcase, a 26-inch ladies’ bicycle... and when she thought of the thing in the main hall called a television, her heart burned with excitement.
"Big Sis, I never knew Brother Yong was so capable! Look at all this furniture in your house. Not even Lin Changyou’s family can compare. You even have one of those televisions that shows little people..."
Yuezhen watched the chattering Zhou Chunlan with a blank expression, then raised a hand to cut her off. "You’ve had your celebratory wine, and Shilian is a long way from here. I won’t keep you. If you leave now, you can still catch the last bus."
"Big Sis, Guohui is dead drunk! I can’t move him!" Zhou Chunlan said, moving her chair to within a step of Lin Yuezhen and looking at her with heartfelt sincerity. "Big Sis, you and Guohui are true siblings, born of the same parents! Flesh and blood, so close that even a broken bone can’t separate you!"
"Can you really bear to watch us suffer in poverty in that mountain backwater for the rest of our lives? Big Sis, we were wrong in the past. I’m begging you, just teach us a couple of the skills you learned from Lin Lan. We’ll be grateful to you for the rest of our lives."
Lin Yuezhen stared at her coldly, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. She lifted the hem of her shirt, pointing to the scars that still hadn’t fully faded. "I used to think you were the one who instigated Guohui to abuse me. It wasn’t until the day I rolled down that mountain that I finally understood: people of a kind flock together."
"I know exactly why you’re trying to butter me up now. And I’m not afraid to tell you, the money in East Market is easy to make. If you have the skills, then find your own way to come out here and earn it. Don’t even think about learning a single one of Little Lan’s skills from me."
Seeing her expression, Zhou Chunlan knew this trip was a waste. She looked at her, unwilling to give up. "Big Sis, if you’re going to be like that, then don’t blame us for what happens next..."
Lin Yuezhen shot to her feet, her hands trembling with anger as she glared at her. "Are you threatening me with worshiping our parents’ graves again..."
"Yuezhen," Brother Yong called out as he entered the room with a bowl of food. He took Lin Yuezhen’s hand, led her to a seat, and handed her the bowl. "You have me now. Don’t waste your anger on irrelevant people."
Lin Yuezhen nodded, took the bowl, and went to sit at the sewing machine by the window to eat.
Zhou Chunlan gave Brother Yong an awkward glance. When she saw the scar on his face, she didn’t dare look again. "Brother-in-law, we really don’t have any bad intentions. We just want to learn a trade, come to East Market to sell some food, and earn some money to build a tile-roofed house for our son, so it’ll be easier for him to find a wife when he grows up."
Brother Yong looked at her coolly. "You don’t need to threaten her with visiting the graves for Qingming and Hanshi. I’ve already consulted a master. As long as the sentiment is sincere, the ancestors will receive the offerings no matter where you worship."
"Besides, Yuezhen is a daughter who has married out, like water that’s been thrown away. Visiting the graves for Qingming and Hanshi is just her way of showing filial piety. If you try to stop her, there’s nothing we can do about it, is there? I imagine they wouldn’t blame us for that."