"Big brother—"
Lin Haodong's expression changed slightly when he saw Ji Zhijun. Not daring to be presumptuous, he quickly explained in a flattering tone, "My mother's old illness has relapsed. I called Xia to ask her for help."
"Don't call me big brother. The two families broke off the engagement last night and have no relationship anymore."
Ji Zhijun glanced at Aunt Lin with a cold smile, and only after noticing that her complexion was indeed a bit off did he suppress his anger: "Auntie is feeling unwell again."
Lin's mother smiled weakly at the Ji siblings: "Yes, my body is failing me; I felt breathless first thing this morning—"
Ji Xia curled her lips and calmly looked at Lin's mother with a gaze that seemed to see through everything, making Lin's mother look embarrassed and at a loss for words.
Ji Xia knew Lin's mother's personality better than anyone.
When there's trouble, she's like Zhong Wuyan; when there's no trouble, she's like Xia Yingchun. That's the kind of person Lin's mother is.
They say they're very affectionate, treating their daughter-in-law like their own daughter, but in reality, the daughter-in-law is just a tool to serve the mother and son. The mother and son are only responsible for enjoying their good fortune after marrying their daughter-in-law.
In his past life, when Lin Haodong came back from vacation, even if he was resting at home, if his mother had something to do, she would just wait for Ji Xia to come home from get off work and continue working. Even when she was sick, she would never ask her son to do any work.
Now that she's broken off the engagement, why should she come looking for her again when she's sick?
Seeing that Lin's mother had shut up, Ji Xia retorted in a firm but not soft way: "It's no small matter if your aunt is not feeling well. You should send your son to the hospital right away. I won't keep you any longer."
"Wait, Xia, you're the one who always takes care of my mother when she's sick. You're the only one who knows her condition best. Please help me this one more time—"
Seeing that Ji Xia was about to leave, Lin Haodong abandoned his pretense and, supporting his mother, blocked her way.
A large hand reached out from the side and pulled Lin Haodong away. Chen Jing deliberately raised his voice: "Lin Haodong, have you no shame? You've already slept with Liu Zhiqing, why are you still clinging to Ji Xia when your mother is sick?"
"What? Lin Haodong slept with Liu Zhiqing?"
When did this happen?
Before anyone knew it, the villagers who were working nearby stopped and looked over curiously.
With a smug smile, Chen Jing loudly told the villagers, "Yes, they slept together the day before yesterday and were caught by the militia. It was Uncle Ji who went to the militia to bail them out."
Chen Jing's words drew even more curiosity and questions, with everyone surrounding the group to ask what was going on. The Lin mother and son looked as dark as if their father had died.
Ji Xia secretly rejoiced, but shook her head at the mother and son with a blank expression, saying, "Aunt Lin, I'm not a doctor. I don't have the ability to bring the dead back to life. If you're sick, have your son take you to the hospital. It's no use coming to me."
She nodded to her brother and said, "Brother, I'm in a hurry to get back to work at the supply and marketing cooperative. I'm off!"
Ji Xia had already ridden his bicycle past the Lin mother and son in a flash.
Lin Haodong's face paled, and when he saw Chen Jing embellishing the story of their annulment to the surrounding villagers, his face turned even more ashen.
Coming to my senses, I saw Secretary Ji walking slowly down from the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
He walked up to the two of them, and with a serious expression, he spoke earnestly to the mother and son:
"Sister-in-law Lin, although Second Brother Lin is no longer here, we still need to pay attention to the Lin family's reputation. The most important thing for a man is to be responsible."
Since Haodong slept with Liu, the educated youth, he has to take responsibility; otherwise, the charge of indecent assault will ruin his future.
Lin Haodong's heart skipped a beat; he could hear the strong threat in Secretary Ji's voice.
He quickly put on a smile, suppressing his displeasure, and pleaded with Secretary Ji: "Uncle Ji, I didn't mean to shirk responsibility, it's just that my mother isn't feeling well, and I want to take her to the hospital to get checked out."
Secretary Ji nodded calmly: "I understand, go ahead! I'll just talk to Old Chen."
"Uncle Ji, the militia wants us to bring our credentials today, but my mother is sick."
Lin's mother coughed weakly twice at the opportune moment, her face full of flattery: "Secretary Ji, it's all my fault for being so weak. Could you give me two more days?"
Secretary Ji glanced at Lin Haodong indifferently, his calm eyes revealing a sharp glint: "I can't interfere with the militia's affairs, but they're not unreasonable people. After you go to the hospital in the city, go to the militia and report to them!"
As he spoke, he turned around and called the villagers to gather at the brigade headquarters to arrange their work. Under the guidance of Secretary Ji, a group of villagers wisely left and went to the brigade warehouse together.
Ji Zhijun took two slow steps, lowered his voice and scolded, "You already have a fiancée, who will soon become your wife. From now on, go find Liu Zhiqing to discuss matters concerning you and your son. Don't bother my little sister all day long."
As he spoke, Ji Zhijun glared at Lin Haodong with a warning look, then turned and strode away.
Chen Jing walked to the back and deliberately raised his voice, calling out, "Lin Haodong, Liu Zhiqing has already gone to the brigade to ask for an oxcart for you. What are you standing there for? Didn't you say your mother's illness was serious and you needed to go to the hospital?"
Lin Haodong was furious that the mother and son's plans had all failed. Seeing Chen Jing kicking him while he was down, he couldn't help but sneer and glare at Chen Jing: "Chen Jing, do you think you can marry Ji Xia like this? She only likes refined and talented men, she doesn't look at you."
"So what if that's the case? You still can't marry her anyway."
Chen Jing laughed loudly a few times, then suddenly lowered his voice and turned back to him with a sinister smile: "I told you long ago that I would make her leave you, you hypocrite. How about that? Captain Liu arrived just in time, didn't he?"
Lin Haodong was stunned for a moment, then immediately remembered that the militia captain's surname was Liu, and he realized what was going on.
He angrily grabbed Chen Jing by the collar and growled viciously, "It was you? You're the one who snitched?"
"Yes, I was the one who snitched, so what?"
Chen Jing grabbed Lin Haodong's wrist and squeezed it hard. Lin Haodong immediately felt a sharp pain and weakness in his wrist, and his face turned red.
“From the very beginning of your affair with Liu Zhiqing until now, we’ve been watching how many times you’ve had sex in the wild, what actions you’ve taken, and what you’ve said!”
"us?"
Lin Haodong was startled: "Who else?"
"you guess?"
Chen Jing laughed heartily, shook off Lin Haodong's hand, and walked away laughing.
Lin Haodong was so angry that his face turned ashen, his mind went blank, and he felt a deep sense of regret.
He should have realized that Chen Jing had never given up on Ji Xia, and he shouldn't have let Liu Pianran seduce him so easily.
Just as I was feeling lost and disoriented, I suddenly heard my mother's weak, breathless cries from behind me.
Lin Haodong turned around and saw his mother clutching her chest and swaying behind him, which frightened him so much that he rushed over to her.
Before noon, Ji Xia changed into her work clothes and returned to the supply and marketing cooperative, where she saw two colleagues chatting with several customers.
Upon seeing Ji Xia appear, her colleague Liu Hongju asked curiously, "Xia, I heard your future mother-in-law had a heart attack and has been taken to the hospital. Why are you still at work?"
Ji Xia shook her head calmly: "I broke off my engagement with Lin Haodong. His family's affairs have nothing to do with me."
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