Chapter 66 Having committed countless evil deeds, he received his retribution.
"You can't tell this kind of person from ordinary times. I never expected that he would be as black-hearted as Old Mrs. Lin."
"What you're saying is ridiculous. They're aunt and niece, they share the same blood, and their hearts are equally black. That makes sense."
"Exactly. She has a daughter of her own, yet she still does such a heinous thing. Isn't she afraid of retribution?"
"Didn't you see? The Lin family's silly daughter got married through her own scheme, didn't you? Maybe that was what she was planning all along..."
"Having done countless bad things, now the retribution has come upon me, and no one likes me anymore..."
Wherever Lin Xiaowu passed by, the villagers all pointed and whispered about her.
Hearing these whispers, Lin Xiaowu glared fiercely at the village women who were gossiping about her.
"Hmph, I'm so scared. If you're capable of doing this, don't let others talk about it." A village woman of similar age to Lin Lao Wu's mother, seeing Lin Xiao Wu's sinister eyes, was completely unafraid and said sarcastically.
That village woman was none other than Lin Li, the mortal enemy of Old Lady Lin and the daughter-in-law of the clan elder.
Back then, the patriarch's son, Lin Jijin, was a scholar from Wutong Village. He was handsome and talented. When he reached marriageable age, he happened to save two sisters who had fallen into the water on his way back from the county town.
The two girls were Lin Li and Lin Wu. Both of them, who were rescued at the time, secretly harbored feelings for Lin Jijin.
The two returned to the village and secretly inquired about Lin Jijin's identity. Upon learning that he was the only scholar in Wutong Village, the two girls became even more determined to marry Lin Jijin.
Old Mrs. Lin was quite daring; she would loiter around the entrance and exit of Wutong Village all day long, hoping to create a chance encounter.
However, in this era, if an unmarried woman does anything bold or outrageous, she will inevitably be criticized by the world.
Moreover, given the family's strong moral compass and values, the patriarch would be even less likely to agree to Lin Wu's marriage.
Lin Li was thoughtful and meticulous, and she was more respectful of etiquette and propriety, unlike Lin Wu who would openly block people.
She paid a matchmaker to introduce herself in a way that highlighted her good qualities to Lin Jijing's family. Before long, the matchmaker brought good news: Lin Lishi naturally became Lin Jijing's wife.
Because Lin Lao Wushi often frequented the intersection of Wutong Village, one rainy night, she was dragged into a grove by a passing ruffian. Just as she was about to be assaulted, Lin Jiyong appeared and rescued her.
She returned to her village in a disheveled state, only to hear that the Lin Li family had already arranged a marriage between Lin Jijin and Lin Li's family.
Lin Laowu first went to Lin Lishi's house and cursed her, then severed ties with her. He then turned around and agreed to Lin Jiyong's marriage proposal.
And so, the two sisters, who were originally good friends, both married into Wutong Village because of Lin Jijin.
The relationship between the two sisters did not change because they married close to each other. On the contrary, Lin Wu saw that Lin Li's life was getting better and better than hers, while hers was getting worse and worse, and the two became enemies.
They'll inevitably argue whenever they meet, and might even end up fighting.
Now, seeing Lin Xiaowu looking at her with that kind of gaze, as if she were looking at Lin Laowu, Lin Li stood up without fear and glared back.
Lin Xiaowu had been married into the Lin family for over ten years, and naturally had witnessed the fierce arguments between her and her domineering mother-in-law.
Now, seeing Lin Li stand up, looking like she was about to fight her, she was so frightened that she quickly looked away and hurried home.
"Honestly, why bother arguing with someone like her? Mother and daughter-in-law are two of a kind." The people around her saw that Lin Xiaowu had been frightened away and laughed to comfort Lin Li.
“If she hadn’t looked at me like that, I wouldn’t have bothered with her. Her whole family is a disgrace to Wutong Village.”
“You can’t say that. There’s a scholar in their family. Maybe he can pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, just like your husband…” a woman beside her advised.
“Aunt Zhang, I could believe it if you said Lin Wenqian from Lin Dayou’s family could pass the imperial examination, but his family, no matter how much they burn incense, can’t produce a single scholar…” Lin Li’s lips curled into a more disdainful smile as she thought of the scene she had witnessed in the county.
“Aunt Li, from what you're saying, it seems like you know something…” The woman called Aunt Zhang’s eyes immediately lit up with excitement, her face full of gossip.
Lin Li made no attempt to hide anything and told everyone what she had seen.
As Lin Lishi spoke with great enthusiasm, everyone gathered around.
...
"What? You invited us here so early in the morning because Da Ya wants to become Doctor Yang's apprentice?" The clan elder looked at Lin Dayou in shock.
Lin Dayou went to his house today, but didn't explain the reason clearly, just said it was a happy occasion.
He wondered if it was Lin Wentao, that chubby-faced kid, who had woken up. Little did he know, there was such a big surprise waiting for him.
However, those who survive a great calamity are bound to have good fortune in the future. Lin Daya fell into the water but didn't drown, so it seems that great blessings are waiting for her later.
The clan elder sat in the main seat of Lin Dayou's house, looking at Lin Luoxi sitting beside him and kneeling on the ground kowtowing to Doctor Yang, and felt a great deal of emotion.
But a gut feeling told him that Lin Dayou's family was about to rise up.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he turned around and asked Lin Dayou, who was standing behind him.
"Well, yesterday Dr. Yang saw that my daughter recognized many kinds of herbs, and after asking her some questions, he thought she had a good aptitude, so..."
Lin Dayou watched as Lin Luoxi poured tea for Doctor Yang and quietly answered the question posed by the clan elder.
The young people who came to Lin Dayou's house for dinner were also surprised to find that there was such a happy occasion at Lin Dayou's house, and they all gathered around to watch the excitement.
When they saw Lin Luoxi become Yang Dafu's apprentice, everyone was filled with mixed emotions and could not calm down for a long time.
But everyone knows that good days are just around the corner for Lin Dayou's family.
All they could do was try to maintain good relations with Lin Dayou's family, but they couldn't afford to offend Lin Luoxi.
No one can guarantee that they will never have minor illnesses or pains in their lifetime, so having a skilled doctor in the village is extremely important to them.
After the apprenticeship ceremony was completed, Doctor Yang continued to lead Lin Luoxi and Yang Xiaofeng into Lin Wentao's room to treat him, while the others helped cook in the courtyard.
Just as I finished a set of needlework, I heard someone calling me to have dinner outside.
"Wow, Dayou, you're so generous today." Village chief Lin Zhousheng had just lifted the lid of Lin Dayou's rice pot when he saw a pot full of fragrant white rice, and his eyes widened.
Even in their family, no one would dare to cook rice like that.
Lin Dayou went out early in the morning to ask for help, but little did he know that his own child was cooking rice.
Seeing that big pot of white rice again, he felt heartbroken, but he still had to say nice things, "Because today is the day that Daya becomes an apprentice, and knowing that you are coming, we naturally want to make it more grand."
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