Chapter 14: Lin Yi Gets Beaten

Lin Yi finished making the sweet potato porridge and even luxuriously fried two eggs to bring over to Chen Wenjun.

"Eat while it's hot. It'll be light out soon, and we'll go take a look at the vegetable patch."

Lin Yi had heard the conversation between his daughter and Chen Wenjun earlier. Seeing how naturally they spoke to each other, they didn't seem like strangers, but rather like an old married couple.

He believed that his daughter and Chen Wenjun were innocent, but as a father, he had to consider things carefully for her. He didn't want his daughter to get too close to Chen Wenjun.

Chen Wenjun had no idea what Lin Yi was planning and followed him out after breakfast.

Lin Qin helped clear the table and took the opportunity to wash the fish Chen Wenjun had brought.

At noon that day, the family had fish soup again.

The next morning, when Lin Yi got up, he found another fish in the kitchen, and even a few more river snails. He couldn't help but frown.

As soon as Lin Qin woke up, he couldn't help but grumble to her.

"I told that kid Chen Wenjun yesterday not to bring anything else. How come there's an extra basin of river snails? It really makes me mad!"

Lin Qin was speechless. "Dad! Someone is giving us free food, aren't you happy about that?"

"What's there to be happy about? Is there such a thing as a free lunch in this world? Don't think I can't see what Chen Wenjun is up to! He's aiming for you! Dad is telling you now, even if you can't make it work with Liu Yongming, I won't let you be with Chen Wenjun."

For the first time, Lin Yi laid his cards on the table.

Lin Qin rested her chin on her hand and looked at him calmly. "Why? Because he's a Tanka person with no fixed home? Or because he has a son who isn't very agile?"

"You know, so why ask!" Lin Yi glared at her irritably. "Our family's situation in the village is already such that we can't hold our heads up high; otherwise, the Liu family wouldn't dare bully you so blatantly! If you end up with Chen Wenjun after this, our family will become the laughingstock of the whole village!"

It wasn't that he looked down on the Tanka people, but the environment was such that people's deep-rooted ideas couldn't be changed. He would rather Lin Qin marry a widower with fields and land than have her involved with Chen Wenjun.

Seeing Lin Yi's agitated state, Lin Qin laughed. "Dad! Why are you saying all this? I'm not even divorced yet. And even if I were to get a divorce, does that mean I have to remarry? Can't I just stay home and take care of you in your old age?

What if I marry into a family even worse than the Liu family? How would I even survive then?"

"Pah, pah, pah! Can't you wish yourself some good luck instead of being such a crow? Is there any point in saying such depressing things? If you don't marry, what will happen when Yaya grows up? Can I stay with you for the rest of your life when I'm old?"

The more Lin Yi looked at Lin Qin, the more worried he became. He only had two daughters; the eldest was doing well and had a supportive husband's family, so why was it so difficult for his youngest daughter?

Lin Qin decisively shut her mouth, ran to the kitchen to look at the river snails, and said, "Dad! Let's keep the snails for two days to let them spit out the sand before we cook them."

Lin Yi listened to her and took another wooden basin to keep the snails.

Liu Yaya rested for another three days until the scabs on her back had healed and it no longer hurt, at which point Lin Qin allowed her to go out and play.

Lin Qin took her for a walk around the village. When the nosy elderly women asked, Lin Qin would lift up Liu Yaya's shirt to show them her back, sparing no effort to denounce the Liu family's crimes.

Now, the entire Shanglin Village knew that the Liu family were heartless, and they also knew about the abuse Lin Qin and her daughter had suffered at the Liu family's home.

When Lin Yi heard the rumors, he didn't say anything and went out to work as usual.

In the evening, Lin Qingxiang suddenly came over in a panic to find Lin Qin. "A-Qin, your dad was ambushed and beaten at the vegetable patch! You need to go take a look!"

Lin Qin knocked over her bowl and chopsticks, and in a panic, she rushed toward the vegetable patch with Liu Yaya. When she saw Lin Yi lying on the ground covered in blood and groaning, her mind went blank. She anxiously begged everyone to help take him to the hospital.

Fortunately, this was Shanglin Village. With Lin Qingxiang calling for help, they got Lin Yi to the hospital without Lin Qin needing to do much.

While Lin Yi was still receiving treatment, the village chief arrived with a police officer.

"Lin Qin, how is your dad?" the village chief asked, looking worried.

Lin Qin hugged Liu Yaya and stood up quickly, her voice hoarse as she replied, "He's still inside. We're waiting for the doctor to come out."

The village chief glanced at Liu Yaya in Lin Qin's arms, his eyes full of pity. "What's been going on with your family lately? One thing after another. Is there something wrong with your feng shui?"

The police officer: "..."

Lin Qin didn't know how to answer.

After a while, Lin Yi was wheeled out and transferred to a ward.

The attending physician told everyone, "The patient has a head injury, two broken ribs, and a fracture in his lower left leg. We've already taken X-rays of the leg bone; he'll have surgery tomorrow. The ribs can only heal with rest; it will take about three to five months to fully recover. Fortunately, the head injury didn't hit any vital areas. A family member should go pay the hospital fees shortly."

Lin Qin's mind was a complete blank.

The village chief and the police officer waited until Lin Yi regained consciousness and asked him about the situation before leaving.

Seeing the village chief about to leave, Lin Qingxiang instructed Lin Qin, "I'm going back to get some money. You stay here and watch your dad and the child. Don't run off."

"Uncle, I have money. I'll pay you back once my dad is discharged," Lin Qin said, grateful and tearful.

Lin Qingxiang waved his hand. "We'll talk about that later."

Lin Qingxiang and his group left in a hurry, and Lin Qin used the nurse station's phone to contact her older sister, Lin Ying.

It wasn't until Lin Qingxiang brought the money and helped handle the admission procedures for Lin Yi that everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Once Lin Qingxiang calmed down, he started cursing outside the ward. "If I catch that bastard, I'll kill him! A-Qin, did your dad offend anyone?"

Lin Qin shook her head with red eyes. "Uncle, don't you know what my dad is like? He hasn't had a falling out with anyone in the village all these years. If there's anyone he offended, it would only be the Liu family.

Especially Liu Yongming. When he came to snatch the child the other day, my dad scolded him, and I slapped him and smashed his bicycle. That's all there was."

Lin Qingxiang punched the wall in anger. "I knew Liu Yongming wasn't a good person! Where does his family live? I'm going to settle the score with him!"

"Don't! Uncle, don't be impulsive. We don't have any evidence, and besides, the village chief has already called the police. Let's wait for the police investigation." Lin Qin was terrified that Lin Qingxiang would act impulsively and make things worse.

The village chief, who had just returned, heard Lin Qingxiang's words and scolded him, "You're not even as sensible as Lin Qin! You've lived this long, yet you're still so reckless. Are you really not afraid of death?"

After scolding Lin Qingxiang, the village chief looked at Lin Qin. "I just came from the police station. The officers have already gone to investigate. Although your dad's vegetable patch is near the entrance of the village, it's still within the village. His money wasn't stolen, which means the perpetrator wasn't after his money. Such a heavy-handed attack looks like a grudge. Think carefully—who has your dad offended recently?"

Lin Qin and Lin Qingxiang exchanged glances.

Lin Qingxiang shouted angrily, "It's Liu Yongming, no doubt about it! It must be him! That turtle's grandson, I'm not finished with him!"

Just as Lin Qin was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of Chen Wenjun at the end of the hallway and shook her head slightly at him.

Chen Wenjun immediately understood her meaning and turned to leave.