Chapter 27 The Donkey Pays Back Its Debt

Hu pressed down the wild vegetables in the basket and hurried towards the Lin family's old house. Grandma Zhu, seeing her enter the house without a word, raised an eyebrow. This daughter-in-law never came unless she needed something. "Eldest daughter-in-law? What brings you here today?"

Mrs. Hu slammed the basket down on the table. "Mother, guess who I just saw?"

Following her words, Madam Zhu asked, "Who?"

“They are your three good grandsons.” Madam Hu drawled out her words, with a hint of sarcasm.

"What's so strange about that? We all live in the same village, don't we see each other often?" Zhu replied dismissively.

“This time it’s completely different! Those three siblings are actually leading a donkey!” Hu’s jealousy became more and more obvious, and her words became sarcastic. “They’ve already bought livestock! But look at their own grandparents and uncle, still eating wild vegetables here, not even bothering to come and show them some respect.”

Hearing what Hu Shi said, Grandpa Lin Demao came out of the house and asked, "Who bought a donkey?"

When Hu saw her father-in-law, she was secretly delighted. Her father-in-law doted on her husband the most, so she had to embellish the story and tell it properly. "It's that kid Lin Cheng! I just saw them at the village entrance, leading a donkey. They looked so impressive!"

Lin Demao stroked his mustache, about to speak, when Zhu Shi interrupted, "We should be happy that those three children are living a good life. Since the family has separated, everyone should live their own lives, so let's not interfere." As she spoke, she glanced at Lin Demao's expression.

Lin Demao immediately straightened his face and shouted, "Woman's view! Just because the family has separated doesn't mean we don't have to be filial to our grandparents? Where did they get so much money to buy a donkey?"

Mrs. Hu pursed her lips, thinking that her mother-in-law was too soft-hearted. Fortunately, her father-in-law was on their side, so she quickly chimed in, "Who says otherwise! How can grandparents be eating wild vegetables while their grandchildren are eating and drinking well! I saw them at the dock the other day, and they set up a food stall. It looks like they're making quite a bit of money!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Demao couldn't sit still any longer and stood up. "Eldest daughter-in-law, come with me!"

Zhu was extremely anxious but couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Madam Zhu couldn't understand why her husband was so cruel to his second son's family, even though they were all his own children. Before the family was divided, he treated the second son's family like servants, even making the second son take the place of the eldest son in military service, and finally kicking the second son's widow and orphans out of the house. Now that these children's lives had finally started to improve, he still couldn't bear to see them doing well.

Lin Demao and Hu Shi had just left the house when Zhu Shi followed them out.

On the other side, Lin Cheng and Lin Song were still immersed in the joy of buying the donkey. Lin Song named the donkey Little Gray because it was covered in dusty gray. Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.

"Open the door! Open the door!" Lin Demao shouted at the top of his lungs from outside the door, his voice full of anger.

Lin Yao heard Lin Demao's voice outside the door, her eyes darted around, and she thought, "He's here so fast. I was afraid he wouldn't come."

Hearing Lin Demao's voice outside the door, Lin Yao sneered inwardly. He came quite quickly, just like a cat that comes looking for fish.

This old man usually ignores his siblings, but now he must have heard about the donkey sale and is convinced they made money, so he rushed over to confront them and try to get some benefits out of them.

Previously, it was always Lin Changshou and Madam Hu who were causing trouble for them, and they had almost forgotten about this troublesome character.

When Lin Yao decided to buy the donkey, she didn't intend to hide it, since it was impossible to keep it a secret. So today, she deliberately led the donkey openly past the village entrance.

Lin Cheng put down the hay he was feeding the donkey and ran to open the door: "Grandpa, what brings you here?"

"Can't I come? If I don't come, I won't know that you heartless bastards are secretly running a business, living a life of luxury, and even buying a donkey! Do you even have any respect for your grandfather?" Lin Demao cursed as soon as he entered the door, his face turning red.

Lin Cheng clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, and said, forcing back his emotions, "Grandpa, we didn't mean that."

"Then tell me, why do you three siblings eat alone, and why don't you take your two older brothers from your uncle's family with you when you do business!" Lin Demao stared wide-eyed and questioned him righteously.

Lin Yao was utterly stunned by his shamelessness; this man's skin only got thicker with age.

Lin Demao had a loud voice, and his shouts were very penetrating. Several families living next to Lin Yao's house heard the noise and came out of their homes to see what was going on.

"Grandpa, after Dad disappeared, our family was separated and lived separately. This donkey was bought with all our savings. We just hope to earn more money to make a living!" Lin Cheng had no feelings for this grandfather. If he hadn't forced his father to join the army in place of his eldest uncle, his father wouldn't have disappeared. Not to mention that his grandfather had been harsh on him, his sister, and his younger brother since they were young.

These words instantly brought back memories of Lin Demao's family's meanness towards the second son, Lin Lao Er. Old Zhang from next door couldn't stand his attitude. "Lin Demao, what you're saying is unreasonable. If it weren't for your eldest son, would these kids be fatherless? They've worked hard to earn their money from their business. You and Changshou haven't helped them at all before, so why should they bring Changshou's two sons into the picture?"

“That’s right, that’s right. Other people’s children are capable of living a good life on their own. What does it have to do with those two boys from the Changshou family? Does that mean Lin Er’s son isn’t your own grandson?” Liu San Niang chimed in from the side.

Lin Demao felt somewhat embarrassed after being told off like that, but he still stubbornly argued, "They are my own grandsons! When there are benefits, I naturally have to think of my family. How can I secretly live a good life and forget about my family!"

Lin Yao sneered, stepped forward, looked directly into Lin Demao's eyes, and said, "Grandpa, don't forget, when we divided the family property, we were already two separate families. These past few days, my siblings and I have gone through wind and rain, enduring countless hardships. Have you ever cared? Now that you see we're doing a little better, you want to take a share? There's no such easy way out!"

She paused, then looked at Madam Hu. "Speaking of my two older brothers, I do have something to discuss with my eldest cousin. A few days ago, my brother and I were attacked and then falsely accused of poisoning our food, causing me to miscarry. In the end, the authorities found out that it was my eldest cousin who orchestrated it. The authorities have ordered my uncle's family to compensate us for medical expenses and the doctor's consultation fee, totaling thirty-one taels and one hundred and eighty cash. The case settlement document is still at home, so please don't forget about it, Aunt."

Lin Yao's words were clear, logical, and forceful. The surrounding neighbors were immediately abuzz with excitement.

"Lin Youfu is truly wicked! Does he intend to kill Cheng'er's entire family?"

"That's right, she can even hurt her own siblings, she's heartless!"

Lin Demao had no idea about this, and was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to refute it. He could only turn around and glare fiercely at Madam Hu.

Mrs. Hu felt a little guilty. "Your eldest cousin made a mistake. He was ignorant. Your aunt apologizes to you on his behalf."

As he spoke, he made a move to kneel down.

Lin Yao felt utterly disgusted by her behavior and rolled her eyes to the heavens.

This Ms. Hu is really willing to go to any lengths to get a share of the pie.

However, she wouldn't indulge her.

Lin Yao reacted quickly, grabbing Hu's arm and then kneeling down on the ground with a thud.

She pinched her wound hard, her eyes instantly reddening, and she cried out in tears, "Aunt, my eldest cousin is trying to kill my brother and me! That masked man tried to cripple my hand right away, and my brother was knocked unconscious and left in the wilderness. If it weren't for the help of a benefactor, we would both be dead!"

Lin Yao wiped away her tears, not giving Hu Shi and Lin Demao a chance to interrupt, and continued to sob, "Father went to serve in the army in place of my eldest uncle, and we haven't heard from him since. We, a widow and her children, were separated from the family, and a cold took my mother's life. Now, only the three of us siblings are left to depend on each other! If we also leave, what will happen to Song'er? He's only three years old!"

“We finally managed to set up a small food stall, and we haven’t even made much money yet, and you’re already rushing to take a share. I beg you, Grandpa and Aunt, please have mercy on us and let us live!” After saying that, Lin Yao kowtowed to the ground repeatedly, her forehead quickly turning red.

Seeing this, Lin Cheng pulled Lin Song to kowtow along with Lin Yao.

"How dare Hu say that Lin Youfu is ignorant? He's several years older than Cheng-ge!" Liu San Niang couldn't help but whisper among herself.

Hu was caught off guard by Lin Yao's actions. She had originally planned to kneel down and apologize, and if Lin Yao accepted that, she would be bombarded with insults. Even if Lin Yao was unwilling, she would have to help her up, and then Hu would take the opportunity to say some kind words. In front of so many people, Lin Yao would surely agree to let her child join the business. But unexpectedly, Lin Yao turned the tables on her.

Just as Lin Yao and her brothers were kowtowing repeatedly, Madam Zhu arrived in a hurry with the village head. However, Madam Zhu dared not walk in front of the crowd and could only hide behind them, watching secretly. The village head cleared his throat, and when the crowd saw him arrive, they all quieted down and made way for him.

The village head looked at the three Lin siblings kneeling on the ground, then at Lin Demao and Madam Hu standing awkwardly to the side, and asked sternly, "What's going on here? What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket!"

As the surrounding sounds gradually quieted down, Lin Yao looked up and saw the village head.

Lin Demao had just opened his mouth to speak when the village head raised his hand to interrupt him. "Don't rush to speak, let me hear what the children have to say." The village head said, his gaze falling on Lin Yao. The village head knew his cousin's character best: biased towards the eldest son's family and mistreated the second son's family. He didn't want to listen to his cousin's nonsense at all.

Lin Yao wiped away her tears, stood up, bowed to the village head, and explained the whole story in detail.

After listening to Lin Yao's account, the village head frowned deeply and turned to look at Lin Demao and Madam Hu, asking, "Is what she said true?"

Madam Hu lowered her head, not daring to meet the village head's gaze. Lin Demao coughed awkwardly twice and said, "Eldest cousin, this is all a misunderstanding between the children. We have already disciplined the eldest son."

"Misunderstanding? I've never heard of cousins ​​hiring someone to hurt each other because of a misunderstanding!" The village head sneered. "A-Yao also said that the government ordered you to pay compensation! A-Yao, bring me the case closing document!"

Lin Yao immediately went back into the house and retrieved the case closure document.

The village head glanced through the document and his face grew increasingly grim. "Lin Youfu did such a foolish thing that he almost killed several people. And now you still have the audacity to try and take a share of his business? It's outrageous! Quickly return the money to Cheng Ge'er's family according to what's written in this case closing document."

Hu was extremely unwilling and muttered softly, "Grandpa, the family really can't come up with that much money right now. We were just thinking of having Ayao and Chengge lead us to do some business so we can earn money to pay it back."

"Pah! You have no shame!" Liu San Niang couldn't stand it anymore.

Lin Desheng also gained a new understanding of Hu's shamelessness. "No need to make trouble. I will be a witness here today. You should pay back the money as soon as possible, and Cheng Ge'er and the others will let this matter go!"

Mrs. Hu still didn't want to take out the money, "Grandpa, it's not that we don't want to compensate, it's just that..."

Lin Yao didn't want to get entangled with someone like Madam Hu any longer. "If Aunt really can't come up with that much money, then let's just forget about it."

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Author's note: [starry eyes] Writing is hard work, please add this to your favorites!