Chapter 11 Reporting to the Officials
"Lin Dayou, if you want to get rid of us relatives, then give us money. Just like your father said, give us thirty or forty taels, and we'll agree to break off this marriage with you." When Lin Daguang heard his father say this, he stopped fighting and echoed the old man's words.
The clan elders and village chief standing to the side gasped in astonishment when they heard Old Man Lin making such an outrageous demand for so much money from Lin Dayou—the most they had ever seen in their lives.
"Lin Jiyong, I think you're obsessed with money. We've all seen how you've treated Lin Dayou over the past few decades."
Don't even mention the debt of gratitude you owe Lin Dayou for raising you. Only people as shameless as you are, with skin as thick as the county walls, could say such things. I feel embarrassed just listening to it.
"You only care about giving birth to him, not raising him. If it weren't for Uncle Lin, Lin Tianyou would have died long ago when you threw him into the river because you were disgusted by his extra food..."
The Lin family elder couldn't stand Lin's old man's attitude, so in front of everyone, including the villagers who had surrounded Lin Dayou's house in three concentric circles to watch the spectacle, he brought up how Lin Jiyong and his wife had treated Lin Dayou.
"Elder, don't give me that nonsense. If Lin Dayou wants to sever ties with us, he'll have to pay this much money. Otherwise, forget about it." Old Man Lin was going all out. Even if he had no shame, he was determined to make Lin Dayou skin him alive.
Lin Zhousheng hadn't expected this old man to suddenly pull this stunt, and he looked at Lin Dayou with sympathy.
If Lin Dayou had that much money, his son Lin Wentao wouldn't still be lying in bed waiting to die. Old Man Lin is indirectly forcing Lin Dayou to die.
"Father, let's go report to the authorities now." Lin Wenqian walked over with a broom in hand and a cold expression.
"Since Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle don't want us to live, then we'll report them to the authorities, and none of us will have an easy time."
"Anyway, none of us are going to school, and we won't become high-ranking officials in the future, so we have nothing to lose."
“My brother is still lying in bed, his life hanging in the balance. This is murder. I believe the officials will be able to help us get justice,” Lin Luoxi said.
"Alright, I'll go pick up your brother. Our family will go beg the officials for a way out." After saying that, he glared hatefully at Old Man Lin, struggled to his feet, and walked into the room.
The crowd watching the commotion outside the door were all talking amongst themselves, feeling that Old Man Lin was truly a scoundrel. One moment he had his granddaughter steal Lin Luoxi's marriage, and the next he had beaten Lin Dayou's youngest son into a living dead.
Now look what's happened! They actually came to their door demanding so much money. They've worked hard for generations and never seen so much money before.
Besides, the Lin couple know perfectly well how they treat Lin Dayou's family.
What biological parents would drive their child to this state? Only mortal enemies would do such a thing.
Now that they hear Lin Dayou is going to the yamen to file a complaint, they agree and join in the commotion, insisting on going to help as witnesses.
The clan elders and the village chief looked at Lin Dayou's resolute back, then turned to look at the old man Lin.
"Lin Jiyong, when Dayou goes to the yamen, you should also pack your things and leave Wutong Village. Wutong Village will not harbor murderers." The clan chief came to this conclusion after thinking for a long time.
"Why? Our home is here, we're not moving!" Old Man Lin gave Old Woman Lin a look after hearing the clan chief's decision, and Old Woman Lin immediately jumped out.
"If a murderer comes out of our Wutong Village, how will the young men and women of Wutong Village ever find a spouse?" The clan elder glanced at everyone and downplayed the seriousness of the matter.
"Yes, move out, the murderer move out..." The villagers, who originally intended to be bystanders, immediately started to jeer when they heard the elder's words. They seemed to want to drive the Lin family away immediately.
Seeing the excited expressions on everyone's faces, and Lin Dayou's resolute expression, Lin Daguang immediately jogged over to Old Man Lin and muttered something to himself.
"Alright, we agree to sever ties." Finally, fearing that Lin Dayou would go to the yamen to file a complaint and implicate his beloved grandson, the old man Lin finally agreed.
Upon hearing Old Man Lin's words, the clan elder quickly signaled the village chief to bring out the letter severing ties and have Old Man Lin sign it.
They acted quickly, fearing that the shameless old man might make some other demands.
"You just wait. Once my precious grandson is in high school, you won't get a thing with him."
Seeing that the clan elders and the village chief were all on Lin Dayou's side, and that after all this commotion, he hadn't gotten anywhere, Old Man Lin got furious and made a harsh statement.
"Don't worry, once your precious grandson gets into high school, we will definitely not get involved." Village Chief Lin Zhousheng carefully put away the letter severing ties, smiling calmly.
The clan elder's gaze softened for a moment after hearing Old Lin's words, but seeing Lin Zhousheng's expression, he seemed to know something and remained silent.
"Hurry up and go back. Do you want others to invite you to stay for dinner?" Having gained nothing from Lin Dayou and lost all face, Old Man Lin could only vent his anger on his own people.
Without waiting for Lin Zhousheng to bring out the family genealogy, they crossed out Lin Dayou's family right in front of him.
“Zhou Sheng, from your conversation with Old Man Lin just now, it seems you know about his eldest grandson…” The clan elder rarely became so gossipy.
"Hmph, his precious grandson spends all his time in the county going to places of pleasure with those rich kids. How can he possibly concentrate on his studies..." Lin Zhousheng told everyone everything he had seen in the county.
"You're talking nonsense." Old Man Lin, who should have walked away, suddenly cursed from the crowd.
"Believe it or not." Lin Zhousheng felt a moment of embarrassment for talking badly about someone behind their back and being caught red-handed, but since the other person was Old Man Lin, he immediately put aside his embarrassment and said this.
Seeing Lin Zhousheng's confident expression, Old Man Lin felt uneasy and stopped talking, turning and leaving.
The person involved had already left. Lin Zhousheng gave Lin Dayou the letter of severance signed by Old Man Lin and, in front of Lin Dayou, crossed their family off the page of Old Man Lin's family genealogy.
"I'll help you set up your own household in the county as soon as it's light tomorrow." Lin Zhousheng had witnessed firsthand the shameless behavior of the Lin family today.
Thinking it best to quickly separate Lin Dayou's business from the rest, to prevent the old man from causing any more trouble.
"Thank you, Brother Zhou Sheng!" Lin Dayou bowed gratefully and gave a respectful salute to Lin Zhou Sheng and the clan elders.
"Thank you, Uncle Village Chief, thank you, Great-Grandpa Clan Elders, Grandpas..." Lin Luoxi and Lin Wenqian also bowed politely to the Village Chief and the clan elders to express their gratitude.
"You're welcome. From now on, your family must strive to be more successful; that would be the greatest way to repay us." The village chief and the elders felt sorry for Lin Dayou's family and kindly hoped that their future would be better.
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