Chapter 130

Lin Chunxing and her group went to the county town and came back every day. The villagers had gotten used to it. They were not surprised to see them in the fields or by the roadside. They would glance at each other, greet those who were familiar with them, and keep their heads down and do their work if they were not.

But when they saw Lin Chunxing return today, they were thinking of not bothering to greet her. But upon closer inspection, they found Lin Qingqing and Lin Chunxing walking side by side.

"Oh, Qingqing! You're back?"

The woman in the field let out a startled cry, and the villagers around looked over.

Lin Qingqing smiled slightly and replied to the person who spoke, "Yes, Auntie, you're back."

"Good heavens, where have you been all these days? Where have you been? Your parents are going crazy looking for you!"

Lin Qingqing said calmly, "I found a job in the county town."

When Lin Qingqing said she had found a job, everyone around her stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

"Oh, you silly child, why didn't you come back earlier from your work? You could have put your parents at ease."

Lin Qingqing just smiled and didn't say anything more, then walked over with Lin Chunxing and the others.

Having just returned, she should have gone straight home, but she still had the money to repay Lin Chuntao. She could have had Lin Chunxing accept it on her behalf, but Lin Qingqing felt that she should return it to Lin Chuntao herself and thank her. Even her own parents wouldn't easily lend her five hundred coins.

Thinking this, Lin Qingqing followed Lin Chunxing to her home after entering the village.

Lin Chuntao was still busy cooking when she saw Lin Qingqing come back. She greeted her with a smile, "Qingqing, you're here. Come in and sit down."

Lin Qingqing called out to her with a smile, then went into the kitchen and said to Lin Chuntao, "Sister, I got my wages today, I'll pay you back first."

She then took out a lotus bud filled with five hundred copper coins. Lin Chuntao quickly counted them and found there were five hundred and fifty coins. Lin Chuntao raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at her: "This count is wrong. Why is there an extra fifty coins in there?"

Lin Qingqing pursed her lips and then said, "I should have treated my sister to a meal, but we can never seem to find the time, and you're always busy."

Lin Chuntao counted out the fifty coins and handed them back.

"Although you are not my biological sister, we are only a little bit apart. You don't need to be so polite with me. I will accept the five hundred coins. Take this back with you. Earning money is not easy, so take good care of it."

As she spoke, Lin Chuntao stuffed the money back into her hand.

Lin Qingqing said, "Thank you, sister. I'll head back now."

"Okay, go ahead."

"Come over to my house when you're done with your work," Lin Chuntao said.

Lin Qingqing didn't linger. The villagers would see her return, and soon their families would all know. It wouldn't be good for her to stay here too long.

Just as she expected, everyone in the village knew that Lin Qingqing had run away from home, and the children rushed to Lin Qingqing's house after hearing the news.

"Brother Jiaye, Sister Qingqing is back!"

Lin Jiaye frowned. "Where?"

The child replied, "Outside the village, we should be coming into the village now."

"Really?" Lin Jiaye asked, half-believing, half-doubting. The child's words sounded so real that Lin Changhua and Wang Shi, who were sitting inside, rushed out of the house. "Eryuan, where is your sister Qingqing?"

Seeing the adults' serious expressions, the child shrank back and pointed in the direction of the village entrance, saying, "The village entrance is where Chunxing and the others came back together."

Hearing the child's words, Lin Changhua and the others took it seriously and rushed out. But when they reached the door, they stopped, held onto the gate, and after thinking for a while, slowly turned around and went back into the house to sit down.

Lin Chunxing saw Lin Qingqing off at the courtyard gate. Looking at Lin Qingqing, Lin Chunxing took a deep breath and asked, "Want me to come with you?"

Lin Qingqing took a deep breath and then shook her head. What's meant to happen will happen; it's bound to come eventually.

She thought to herself, "It's okay, I'll come find you when I'm done with my work."

Lin Chunxing said, "Okay! I also have some good news to discuss with you."

Lin Qingqing nodded and strode away.

From Lin Chunxing's house to their house, they are in the same village, both on this side of the river, very close.

But she felt she had never walked such a long way before, and every step felt incredibly long.

She tried to cheer herself up and then gave up again and again, repeating this countless times, before she finally reached her doorstep.

The courtyard was quiet. Lin Qingqing carried things in one hand and held onto the gate frame with the other, peeking inside.

She found her grandparents, aunt, and great-aunt in the yard, as were Lin Jiaye and the others, all quietly watching her.

"Grandma, Auntie," Lin Qingqing called out first. The old lady paused for a moment before rushing over and hugging her.

"You brat, where have you been? You didn't say a word!"

Lin Qingqing was being held by the old lady. When she looked up, she saw Lin Changhua inside the house. His face was gloomy, and he was staring at her intently.

The old lady hugged her and looked her over from head to toe. She noticed that she hadn't lost weight and had even become a little fairer. She was carrying some snacks and candies. Just as she was about to ask her more questions, Lin Jiaye's mother said, "Mother, Qingqing just got back. Let her go inside and rest for a while. Now that she's back, we can talk slowly."

Upon hearing this, the old lady turned around and glanced inside the house. She saw Lin Changhua and said to Lin Qingqing, "Come inside, your parents are inside."

Lin Qingqing nodded and slowly walked into the house.

Looking at Lin Changhua inside the house, she was actually quite flustered. After all, it was her first time running away from home, and she felt that she was bound to get a beating. She was prepared for this and walked into the house with her back straight.

"Father, I'm back." Lin Qingqing called out to Lin Changhua in a clear voice. Lin Changhua looked at her, gave a faint "hmm," and said nothing more.

"Where's my mother? Did she go out?" Lin Qingqing asked again, trying to make conversation. But as she walked in, she realized that Wang Shi was sitting inside with her back to her. She nervously swallowed and called out, "Mother, I'm back."

Wang didn't reply, and she didn't say anything more. She just put the pastries and candies on the table and put them down, and then took the money she had on her into the house.

She stood inside the house and let out a long sigh before coming out. Wang Shi remained sitting motionless, and Lin Changhua was also silent.

Looking at her parents, Lin Qingqing stood in the center of the room in silence for a long while before saying, "Father, I heard that my engagement has been called off?"

Lin Changhua replied, "Yes, I've withdrawn."

Lin Qingqing: "That's good."

The father and daughter exchanged questions and answers, then fell silent.

As Wang listened to their words, the thought of the day her mother and sister-in-law came to visit seemed like a curse, tightly binding her heart.

She turned back angrily and glared at Lin Qingqing: "Are you happy now that the engagement is off? Satisfied? You're willing to come back?"

She glared at Lin Qingqing with a fierce look in her eyes, and her barrage of questions made Lin Qingqing's heart tremble. But she quickly regained her composure, stared at Wang Shi, and wanted to speak in rebuttal, but she heard Wang Shi curse, "You shameless wretch."

Hearing Wang's cursing, Lin Qingqing took a deep breath. She knew better than anyone why her marriage with her cousin had been called off. Even for that reason, was Wang still blaming her?

"Didn't you run away from your wedding? Why did you come back? Why didn't you just die out there?"

Looking at her ferocious face, Lin Qingqing suddenly chuckled. The laughter was abrupt and sarcastic, and both Wang Shi and Lin Changhua were taken aback.

She looked at Wang and said softly, "I heard that your fate is to bring misfortune to your cousin, so your aunt returned all the things you sent over the years, and your grandmother also told you not to go back to your parents' home anymore?"

Hearing this, Wang was so angry that veins bulged on her forehead.

Lin Qingqing said, "It seems you still resent me, thinking they treated you this way because I ran away from the wedding! You are my mother, and I'm telling you clearly today, if you tell me to get out of this house, don't ever come back. Even if I starve to death outside, I will never come back!"

Wang wanted her to get lost, but after waiting so long for Lin Qingqing to return, she ultimately didn't say those words, only glaring angrily at her.

Lin Changhua frowned slightly, his tone somewhat stern.

"You came back after being away for a month just to argue with your mother?"

Lin Qingqing lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Lin Jiaye's mother came in from outside and said to Wang Shi, "Sister-in-law, really, weren't you always worried that Qingqing was safe and sound? Now that she's back all safe and sound, what grudge could there be between you two? Why are you arguing?"

With the adults' persuasion, Lin Qingqing naturally didn't argue back. Wang Shi probably felt wronged, and tears fell down her face.

When Lin Qingqing returned, the old lady went to the backyard, caught a chicken, and quickly killed it.

Aunt Lin boiled water to help pluck the chicken feathers.

Lin Qingqing was too lazy to argue with Wang Shi and played with Lin Jiaye and the others in the courtyard.

Once the meal was ready, the whole family sat in the yard to eat, and the fragrant aroma of chicken drew the attention of the neighbors on both sides.

When Lin Qingqing returned, the surrounding neighbors were all watching the spectacle.

He peeked over and asked Lin Qingqing, "Hey, Qingqing, you're back?"

No matter who asked, Qingqing answered with a smile.

When they heard her mention working in the county town, their eyes widened, and they asked, "How much do you get paid a day? What kind of work do you do?"

Lin Qingqing said, "I help people sell things, and I get paid monthly."

"Oh my, how did you find this job? Will you go back to doing it again?"

Lin Qingqing smiled and said, "I just found it by chance."

I definitely want to go back, but I need to discuss this with my family.

She didn't answer.

When the whole family was eating, Aunt Lin asked, "Qingqing, where do you live while you're working in the county town?"

Lin Qingqing said, "I rented the house with one of the ladies in our shop."

"Rent a house? How much?"

Lin Qingqing said, "I rented a small room for one hundred coins a month."

"One hundred coins!!"

Everyone at the table was stunned. Lin Qingqing pursed her lips and said, "There's nothing we can do. There are so many people from other places in the county now, it's hard to find a place to rent."

"So how much do you get paid? Twenty coins a day?"

Lin Qingqing didn't know where the twenty-wen standard they mentioned came from, but she was careful and didn't tell them the real wages, she just nodded.