Chapter 122 Kneeling on the Altar
We had a great time at the beach in the afternoon and also had dinner.
There are many food stalls on the road next to the sea, most of which sell seafood.
Not only are the ingredients fresh, but the price is also not expensive.
Wang Xiuren ordered grilled squid, oyster cakes, grilled oysters, and conch in sauce, and the staple food was seafood noodles.
The family of three enjoyed the sea breeze and devoured their dinner with relish.
Then they slowly walked hand in hand along the plank road towards the Minghua Lun.
The Minghua Wheel is brightly lit at night, making it particularly eye-catching in the darkness.
The family of three returned to the Minghua ship, watched the folk performances again, and then fell asleep contentedly to the sound of the waves.
Here the family of three had a wonderful trip to the sea world, while Lin Ting, who was far away in Hunan Province, knelt under the altar at home.
This story begins when Lin Ting returned home for the New Year.
After Lin Ting and Zhou Qing returned home, they found that Lin Li and Liu Xiang, who had been working outside, had returned a few days ago.
The couple probably made a lot of money this year. At least the two adults and two children have put on new clothes and are in good spirits.
Seeing the old couple coming back, he came to visit them with some Yichang specialties. On the other hand, Lin Hui, who lived under the same roof, was nowhere to be seen every day.
Logically speaking, almost no one would build a house in the cold winter, and besides, it was the end of the year and people were still preparing for the New Year at home. So not only Zhou Mei complained about Lin Hui not being home all day, but even Lin Ting wanted to find out what was going on.
Before Lin Ting could go out to inquire, the reason why Lin Hui was not home became clear.
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before New Year's Eve, someone walked into the Lin family's gate.
Who is coming?
It was Dong Gao, the owner of the house that Lin Hui helped build in the second half of this year.
What are you here for?
Come to collect debts.
Who should I ask for the debt?
Lin Hui is nowhere to be seen every day.
The Chinese New Year is coming tomorrow, and today a creditor came to my house, but I don’t know where the person involved has gone.
When Zhou Mei heard that Dong Gao was not here to deliver wages but to collect debts, she was so angry that she threw herself on the bed and cried. Lin Huan and Lin Cong were so scared that they ran to find the old couple crying.
Seeing Lin Ting coming out, Dong Gao said politely: "Uncle Lin, I am really sorry to come to your house at the end of the year! But I really have no choice. My family also has to celebrate the New Year. I can only come to see your eldest brother. Please forgive me!"
Lin Ting ignored these polite words and got straight to the point: "Didn't my boss help your family build a house? How come he owes you money?"
"You should ask your boss about these things! It's not convenient for me to talk about it." Dong Gao avoided looking and was unwilling to answer the question.
Lin Ting stared at him closely: "It is natural to pay back debts, but I have to know what the debt is for, right?"
Dong Gao still avoided the question, "Uncle, it would be better if you ask your eldest brother about this matter!"
After that, he took out an IOU from his pocket and handed it to Lin Ting, "Uncle, this is the IOU, please take a look. This is signed by your eldest brother, and his fingerprints are on it!"
Lin Ting took his hand, looked at it and nodded.
It was written by the eldest brother, and it said that he owed Dong Gao two thousand yuan, and the date was December 9th.
"Since uncle acknowledges this IOU, it will be easy!" Dong Gao put the IOU neatly into his pocket. "Then can you please call your eldest brother out? I am also waiting for this money to celebrate the New Year."
"He's not in the room!" Lin Ting pointed at Lin Hui's door. "I only saw him once when I came back. If you don't believe me, you can go in and take a look!"
"Then I'll borrow a stool from your family and sit here and wait for him to come back!"
Dong Gao sat down directly on the chair in the main room, with his head tilted up, looking very comfortable.
Lin Ting ignored him, walked into his room, and sat by the fire without saying a word. However, his violently heaving chest showed that he was very angry.
"Old woman, go ask Lizi if he can call the boss back!" Lin Ting drank a cup of cold tea and instructed Zhou Qing.
Although Zhou Qing did not go out, he heard roughly what happened in the room and was also very angry.
It’s New Year’s Day and the creditors come to my door. What do you think is going on?
She hurried out through the back door, found Lin Li who was watching TV, briefly explained the situation, and asked him to go find Lin Hui.
When Lin Li heard this, his expression became heavy.
Although he was a little selfish, Lin Hui was still his brother. It was not easy to break bones but tendons. It would not be good if the debt collector came to the door.
He ran to find Lin Hui without saying a word.
About an hour later, Lin Li dragged the panicked Lin Hui into the house.
Seeing Dong Gao sitting in the main room, his face turned pale instantly and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
When Lin Ting came out and saw Lin Hui's horrible appearance, he was furious and wanted to teach him a lesson, but was afraid of making a fool of himself in front of Dong Gao.
"Get in here!" Lin Ting pointed at Lin Hui and shouted harshly.
Lin Hui slowly walked into the room, lowered her head, and called out hesitantly, "Dad!"
"Go and return the money!" Lin Ting panted. "I've lived for nearly sixty years, and this is the first time someone has come to my house to collect a debt!"
Lin Hui didn't move, with her head down and her neck shrunk.
After a long while, he said timidly: "I don't have it on hand."
"You!" Lin Ting was so angry that he fell back.
Zhou Qing immediately supported him and patted his back, "Old man, don't be angry, take it easy."
Lin Ting leaned on the table and took a few deep breaths. "Old lady, I'm fine. Take out two thousand yuan and let him pay it back first!"
Zhou Qing opened the closet door, took out the two thousand yuan that Lin Qiu had given him before he left, and threw it on the table.
Lin Hui still didn't move.
"Are you feeling embarrassed enough?" Lin Ting glared at him.
Zhou Qing stepped forward and kicked him in the calf, "Why don't you go get the IOU back first!"
Lin Hui staggered after being kicked, then took the money out, and soon brought the IOU in.
Lin Li followed in, "The man took the money and left."
Seeing that there were no outsiders, Lin Ting asked loudly, "Tell me, what did you borrow money from him for?"
Lin Hui said nothing.
"What do you want to borrow money for?" Lin Ting asked again.
Lin Hui still didn't say a word and kept her head down.
"I'm asking you a question!"
A teacup hit Lin Hui's feet.
Lin Hui shuddered with fear and uttered two words: "Play cards!"
When Lin Ting heard this, he immediately went up to him and slapped him in the face.
"You are so bold! You are already in gambling debt. You think you are the boss because I have been away from home for the past two years, right?"
Lin Ting hit her very hard, half of Lin Hui's face was swollen, and Lin Li also took a step back.
"When did it start?" Lin Ting walked up to him.
"End of November." Lin Hui answered honestly.
"How much did you lose?"
"The wages for the work plus these two thousand."
"Who asked you to play cards?"
"Dong Gao."
Hearing this name, Lin Ting asked Lin Hui to tell him the whole story.
It turned out that it was the end of November, and it started raining when Dong Gao’s house was almost completed. Since it was raining, no work could be done, so Dong Gao organized the workers to play mahjong.
So, once or twice, Lin Hui got carried away.
Not only did Lin Hui lose all her wages, she also owed another two thousand yuan.
When Lin Li heard this, he immediately said, "Brother, he took you to the cage!"
Only then did Lin Hui react.
"You have a pig brain! You can't even see such an obvious situation!" Lin Ting poked Lin Hui's head angrily.
"I'll go find him!" Lin Hui lowered her head and planned to go find Dong Gao.
Lin Li quickly pulled him back and said, "If you go find him now, he will definitely not admit it!"
"Get back here!" Lin Ting yelled, "Now that I know, it's too late!"
"What did I tell you before? I told you to stop itching, and you agreed? Huh?"
Looking at his eldest son who was huddled at the door like a quail, Lin Ting really wanted to slap him twice.
He forced himself to calm down, "Lizi is here today too, write me an IOU for the two thousand yuan you just took from me!"
Lin Hui looked at Lin Ting in disbelief.
Lin Ting sneered, "It's always the son who pays the father's debts, but I've never heard of the father paying the son's debts. You don't think I will pay your gambling debts, do you? Write it down!"
Lin Hui could only write the IOU.
"Go find a solid piece of bamboo strips, and Lizi, call everyone in the room over!" Lin Ting instructed his two sons.
The two brothers did as they were told.
When everyone, big and small, gathered together, Lin Ting didn't give Lin Hui any face at all and told her what he had done.
When Zhou Mei heard this, she walked up to Lin Hui and scratched her a few times, making a fuss and scolding her.
"Zhou Mei, you two can go back and argue later. Boss, kneel down!" Lin Ting pointed at the altar: "Kneel down under the altar, put your hands out, and stand up straight!"
Then he looked at his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren one by one, "In our Lin family, we have never forbidden eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. Today, your father and uncle went out to gamble, so I will whip him thirty times as punishment. If there is a next time, get out of this neighbor's door!"
After saying that, he picked up the bamboo strips and hit Lin Hui's hand with it.
The sound of bamboo strips hitting flesh made both adults and children shudder when they heard it.
Lin Hui wanted to pull back her hand, but Lin Ting shouted, "Pull back once, and I'll give you ten more hits!"
Lin Hui could only grit her teeth and endure it, her hands were beaten so hard that they were red and swollen.
Lin Huan and Lin Cong cried as they watched their father being punished.
After the smoking, Lin Ting asked Lin Hui to kneel before the altar for three hours every night from today until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The lesson learned this time made the younger generations present never dare to touch cards again, not even for fun.
After all, Lin Hui’s case is a bloody example.
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