Chapter 49 - 17: Seriously Ill

Chapter 49: Chapter 17: Seriously Ill

Da Zai and Er Zai were very close with their grandpa, clinging to Lin Heling and pestering him to tell them a story.

Lin Heling didn’t refuse and, sure enough, began telling them a story.

Da Dan and the other kids had been craving the meat and candy their aunt had brought, but seeing their grandpa telling a story to Da Zai and Er Zai, their attention was instantly diverted. They sat down in a row to listen.

After Lin Zhao finished talking with her mother, she stepped outside and saw her father telling a story. She walked over quickly and sat on the wooden rocking chair next to him. The chair swayed a few times, making Father Lin feel dizzy, so he reached out and grabbed the armrest to steady it.

But he was used to it and didn’t say anything to his daughter, simply continuing the story in his unhurried tone. It was about a lawless monkey.

Lin Zhao had been listening to this story since she was a child and had never grown tired of it. Sometimes, her dad would start a sentence, and she could finish it.

The scene made Mrs. Lin, Lin Shichang, and Lin Shisheng feel as if they had gone back to the time before Zhaozhao was married.

After nearly an hour of storytelling, Mrs. Lin noticed that Lin Heling’s voice was getting a little hoarse and interrupted them.

"That’s enough for today. Da Dan, Er Dan, take your younger brother and sisters outside to play." Mrs. Lin gave some of the candy her daughter had brought to her grandchildren, then shooed the little ones away.

’They’re so noisy in the house!’

The children were still eager for more, but they didn’t dare make a fuss. They took the candy and ran out of the house.

Da Zai and Er Zai were like little birds freed from a cage, dashing off with their cousins.

The three girls of the Lin Family—Lin Xibao, Lin Xuan, and Lin Zheng—didn’t go out.

Lin Zhao asked, "How come you aren’t going out to play?"

"Auntie, you don’t come back very often. We want to stay and talk with you," Lin Xibao said with a serious expression, sidling up to her aunt.

The sight of an eight-year-old girl putting on the airs of a little adult was amusing.

The two sisters, Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, stood a short distance away, not daring to come closer.

Lin Zhao beckoned to the sisters. "Xuanyuan, Zhengzheng, come over here. Auntie has gifts for you."

The two little girls smiled, their eyes bright.

Lin Xibao feigned disappointment, wheedling, "Auntie, you prepared gifts for Xuanyuan and Zhengzheng, but what about me? What about me? Isn’t there one for me?"

Seeing her daughter acting like a little imp, Chen Yu could hardly bear to watch. "Lin Xibao!"

"Sis, it’s fine. It’s good for a little girl to be so open and confident." Lin Zhao waved her hand dismissively. She really liked Xibao’s personality; she was always cheerful, like a little ray of sunshine.

"Hehe, Auntie, what gifts did you prepare for us?" Lin Xibao’s face was wreathed in smiles.

Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng were also a little curious.

Lin Zhao took three hair ties from her shoulder bag. "Hair ties. One for each of you."

"I love it! Thank you, Auntie." Lin Xibao took the hair tie and asked her mom to tie up her hair with it.

Chen Yu glanced at the hair tie. It was nicer than the ones sold at the co-op in the county town and probably cost twenty or thirty cents. She said, a little embarrassed, "This must have cost a lot, Lin Zhao. You shouldn’t have."

Lin Zhao smiled. "It’s nothing."

Just then, Second Sis, Qiu Lian, strode over and snatched the hair ties from her two daughters, Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng.

"What do little girls like you need hair ties for? Give them to me. I’ll keep them safe for you and give them back when you’re older."

Chen Yu looked at her domineering sister-in-law with utter disbelief, unable to comprehend her actions.

’Is she not even going to pretend anymore?!’

Lin Zhao was also stunned. ’?’

’What’s going on...?’

The smiles vanished from the faces of the two sisters, Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng. They looked utterly wronged.

’Auntie gave those to us!!’

"I don’t want you to!" Lin Zheng snatched her hair tie back, mustering the courage to refuse. She protested, "You always say you’ll keep things for us, but in the end, you give them to our cousin! I’m not letting you keep it!"

Humiliated, Qiu Lian flew into a rage. She poked her daughter hard on the head, her long fingernail leaving a red scratch on the little girl’s forehead.

She scolded her angrily, "What nonsense are you talking? I keep all your things safe. Who gave anything to your cousin? You’ve even learned how to tattle now. You’re getting spoiled."

Lin Zheng said angrily, "You’re lying, Mom! My sister and I both saw it! You gave the fabric Grandma gave us for new clothes to our cousin! I’m not tattling, you really did it!"

Qiu Lian’s temper flared, and she raised her hand to strike her daughter, but Lin Zhao stopped her. "Scolding her is one thing," Lin Zhao said coldly, "but are you really going to hit her, Second Sis? Are you even her mother?"

Not wanting to argue with Second Sis in front of her two nieces, Lin Zhao ignored Qiu Lian and led the three girls to her own room.

Qiu Lian felt wronged. ’I haven’t been able to give birth to a son, so I have no standing in my husband’s family. My own family is my only support. I give things like the fabric to my niece hoping my family will back me up in return. Why can’t those two little brats understand my good intentions?’

Chen Yu saw right through her sister-in-law’s thinking. ’She’s really lost her mind.’

Father Lin closed his eyes, not even deigning to spare her a glance. ’For a fool,’ he thought, ’even looking is a waste of energy.’