Chapter 11: You Are Illegitimate Children

The trio of Lin Xinrou, who lagged behind by a step, were nearly beside themselves with rage.

Lin Xinjian, unable to endure any longer, snapped, "Lin Jingyue, the family gives you twenty yuan every month—how are we mistreating you? How can you slander my mother behind her back like this?"

His words dripped with malice. He let slip to others that Lin Jingyue had quite a sum of money in her hands—those with ill intentions would surely take note, perhaps even be tempted to take risks.

Lin Jingyue understood his intentions all too well, smiling as she replied, "Isn't that my compensation? After all, I nearly lost my life from the beatings you gave me."

Since she dared to flaunt her wealth, she was confident in her ability to protect her possessions. She hadn’t been oppressed in the twenty-first century, so there was no reason she should endure humiliation in this era. Besides, her original self had always been prone to violence—quick to act at the slightest provocation, something she quite enjoyed.

"Don't make wild accusations! Why would we beat you?" Lin Xinjian refused to admit it.

Lin Xinrou smiled softly, "Sister... Jingyue, I know you have grievances against my mother, but she and Uncle Lin only met later. Their union was just to ensure you’d be cared for; Uncle Lin is a grown man and not suited to look after children. They did it all for you, otherwise they wouldn't have agreed to give you twenty yuan each month when you threatened to kill yourself."

Who could afford to give a child twenty yuan a month, unless they had money to burn?

The surrounding crowd’s gaze toward Lin Jingyue shifted.

Yet Lin Jingyue remained perfectly composed, watching Lin Xinrou’s performance with leisure.

She was biding her time for something bigger.

Lin Xinrou had no inkling of Lin Jingyue’s thoughts, but for reasons she couldn’t explain, meeting Lin Jingyue’s gaze sent a chill through her. Nevertheless, she pressed on with her act, "Jingyue, you can’t distort the truth just because you’re hostile toward my mother. All these years, the family has revolved around you—even Uncle Lin has retreated time and again to compensate you..."

A father who is so indulgent of his child—the two older women on the ox cart cast Lin Jingyue looks of reproach.

Utterly unfilial.

Lin Xinrou was secretly delighted by this, smiling demurely, "Jingyue..."

"Are you done performing yet?" Lin Jingyue suddenly scoffed, her clear gaze fixed on Lin Xinrou.

"You say I’m hostile toward your mother? You’re right, I am."

Seeing her admit it, Lin Xinrou nearly applauded, but in the next moment her reason returned—Lin Jingyue hadn’t been like this lately.

She grew wary, and sure enough, Lin Jingyue's next words struck her like a heavy blow.

"Do you not know why I’m hostile? You two aren’t mere burdens—you’re illegitimate children born from an affair during marriage!" She smiled sweetly, her red lips curling as she spoke words sharp as knives, stabbing deep into Lin Xinjian and Lin Xinrou’s hearts.

Their faces turned deathly pale, then darkened with fury.

They glared at Mu Zhixu. "You're talking nonsense!"

"Lin Jingyue, this is slander—you... you’re spouting venomous lies!"

"Venomous? It seems you don’t believe me. You’re welcome to write home and ask, see what the two of them say," Lin Jingyue replied with unwavering confidence, her meaning clear.

The bystanders were stunned.

A scandal of epic proportions—illegitimate children, marital infidelity, moral misconduct!

Heavens above!

Everyone now looked at Lin Xinrou and Lin Xinjian with suspicion, even Zhao Hua quietly moved two steps away, eager to avoid association.

Lin Jingyue flashed them a radiant smile, then turned to another old man nearby who was watching the drama unfold. "Sir, are you still waiting for someone? If not, could you give me a ride home? I’ll give you half a pound of sugar."

The old man exclaimed and quickly tapped out his pipe, putting it away. "No more waiting, I'll take you."

Half a pound of sugar—what luck! "By the way, young lady, which brigade are you from?"

"Qingshan Brigade."

"That’s just next door—I’ll take you," the old man said with a grin, pleased with the generous girl.

"Thank you, sir," Lin Jingyue replied, smiling as she effortlessly swung her large bundle onto the ox cart.

The onlookers...

They found her carefree demeanor amusing, yet strangely poignant.

Zhou Yan’s eyes sparkled as he waved at Lin Jingyue, "Comrade Lin, mind if we hitch a ride? Just me and Jiang Xun."

Jiang Xun had one hand in his pocket and carried a modest bundle in the other. "I'll pay half the sugar."

"That’s perfect—come aboard," Lin Jingyue arched her brow.

The three climbed onto the ox cart, and the old man drove off, while the atmosphere behind remained tense and uneasy.

Everyone’s gaze toward Lin Xinrou and Lin Xinjian was now tinged with unease.

Lin Xinrou caught Zhao Hua’s look and was overwhelmed with shame and fury, her hatred for Lin Jingyue intensifying.

"Sister, I’m going to write to Mom and ask!" Unfortunately, Lin Xinjian beside her seemed utterly clueless.

Lin Xinrou nearly choked with exasperation.

In the end, she couldn’t resist Lin Xinjian’s insistence and sent a telegram.

Little did they know, when the telegram arrived, the family quarters erupted—in this era, moral misconduct was a serious matter.

The result was predictable: Father Lin and Hu Cui Xi lost their jobs, partly thanks to the Wu family’s influence. The Wu family hadn’t managed to secure a job through Lin Jingyue, and now that she had gone to the countryside, far from authority, they vented their anger on Father Lin and Hu Cui Xi.

But that’s another story.

Back to the present, Zhou Yan sized up Lin Jingyue, still doubting her strength. With those slender arms and legs, it seemed impossible.

Meanwhile, Lin Jingyue was chatting enthusiastically with the old man.

"Girl," the old man said, "you have to be tough—if anyone bullies you, you bully them right back, no matter what."

"Sir, aren’t you afraid my actions are unfilial?"

"There are fathers who are unkind, too."

Zhou Yan thought, Isn't it those with wealth who are unkind?

"You’re absolutely right, sir—if a father isn’t compassionate, a child isn’t filial," Lin Jingyue replied, feeling she had found a kindred spirit. "You don’t know—since my mother passed, I’ve become the little cabbage of the family."

She struck a pose of wilted cabbage, yellowed in the field, exuding a sense of desolation.

Jiang Xun caught the cunning and indifference in her eyes, and his lips curled with a hint of amusement.

While chatting away with the old man, Lin Jingyue forgot how numb her backside had grown from the bumpy ride, but nearly stumbled when she got off the cart, her legs weak.

How embarrassing!

Relying on her remarkable balance, Lin Jingyue steadied herself, beaming brightly—if she wasn’t embarrassed, it was others who would feel awkward.

Zhou Yan tried to suppress his laughter until his face reddened.

Lin Jingyue shot him a cool glance, handed the old man half a pound of sugar, declined Jiang Xun’s offer to help, then hoisted her bundle and headed toward the commune’s lodging.

"Wow! Who is that, carrying such a huge bundle!"

A shocked shout brought many out from their homes.

People looked on in amazement at the ‘creature’ with only two thin legs, questioning reality.

In just a short while, word spread through the brigade that the new comrade Lin Jingyue possessed extraordinary strength.

PS: Lin Jingyue—when others are unhappy, I am delighted!