Chapter 35 Lin Family
Xie Sangning paused slightly.
Having spent ten years alone in Xihan, she had long since grown accustomed to knowing the joys and sorrows of life on her own.
This warmth, so close yet so distant, feels like something from a past life; it feels somewhat unfamiliar.
"Is...is she Grandma's daughter...?"
The old woman, leaning against the doorframe and with a hunched back, reached out her hand tremblingly, her voice choked with sobs.
The elderly man beside her, also with white hair, gripped the old woman's arm tightly, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word. His eyes were fixed on Xie Sangning, as if he were desperately trying to grasp another shadow that had long since vanished through her.
Xie Sangning felt a tightness in her throat for no apparent reason.
She instinctively wanted to turn her head away to avoid that burning gaze, but she held back.
These tears, ten years overdue... truly caught everyone off guard.
As soon as Xie Sangning stood at the door, the two elderly people stepped forward and suddenly grabbed her hand.
She twitched her fingertips slightly, suppressing the instinct to pull her hand back: "Grandma, Grandpa."
"Good, good. Good child..." Grandpa Lin Zhijie stared at her intently.
"So alike...so alike...just like your mother, they're practically identical..."
The middle-aged man next to Xie Sangning, Xie Sangning's uncle, suddenly snapped out of his daze: "It's windy outside! What are you all doing standing here! Come inside, let's talk inside!"
Inside the main hall, Xie Sangning was held tightly by her grandmother and pulled all the way to the grand master's chair in the main hall.
Before his bottom even touched the chair cushion, a sudden, cold snort rang out:
"Ha! All this fuss just to pick up a heartless ingrate? I'd rather go play football with my brother!"
The warmth that filled the room instantly froze.
Everyone turned their heads in unison, glaring angrily at the boy standing in the corner with his arms crossed. He was none other than the eldest uncle's youngest son, Xie Sangning's cousin, Lin Ziyuan.
Lin Ziyuan stiffened his neck, his face filled with undisguised disgust.
Xie Sangning raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest stirring within her.
ungrateful?
I've only ever heard people say they're vicious or arrogant, but I've never heard anyone say they're unscrupulous. That's interesting.
"Lin Ziyuan! What nonsense are you spouting!" Lin Zhijie's face turned ashen as he shouted angrily.
"I'm talking nonsense?!"
Lin Ziyuan bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Xie Sangning and raising his voice eight octaves.
"Over the years, she's been like a bloodsucking leech, sending people with letters every few days demanding money and things! And what's the reply? Not even a simple 'I'm doing well'! She's practically drained our Lin family dry!"
He grew angrier as he spoke, his eyes reddening: "Dad! Look at our family! How long has my sister been sick? She still can't speak! We can't afford a famous doctor or good medicine, so the whole family has to tighten our belts to make ends meet!"
He pointed sharply at Xie Sangning: "And her? She's out there spending money like water! Extravagantly more pampered than a princess! Bah! She uses our family's wealth to bolster her own image! I feel disgusted just looking at her!"
After shouting, Lin Ziyuan's chest heaved violently. He turned to rush out, but his father, Lin Ruzhou, kicked him in the thigh, causing him to stumble and almost fall to his knees.
"Watch your mouth! Stay put!" Lin Ruzhou was so angry that the veins on his forehead were throbbing.
"Dad! Are you being unreasonable?!" Lin Ziyuan clutched his leg, feeling extremely aggrieved.
This barrage of accusations completely froze the last bit of interest on Xie Sangning's face.
She slowly stood up, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly, her voice carrying a chill:
"You're saying that all these years, I've been asking your Lin family for money?"
Seeing her feigning ignorance, Lin Ziyuan became even angrier and shouted, "Nonsense! Otherwise, how do you think our Lin family has fallen into such a state! They come every month! With letters bearing your personal seal! It's written in black and white that we don't have enough money! Ten years! A full ten years, Xie Sangning! That's why my sister's voice is like this!"
He pointed to a pale-faced girl in the corner. The girl opened her mouth, but only made a muffled "ah...ah..." sound.
Lin Ziyuan finally couldn't hold back her tears and they streamed down her face: "You've spent all the money we could have spent on a doctor! And you still have the nerve to ask?!"
"Heh..." Xie Sangning suddenly laughed out loud.
The laughter sounded particularly jarring in the main hall.
All eyes were on her.
"My personal seal? Coming every month? It's written in black and white that the money isn't enough?"
She repeated it word by word.
"What a huge joke!"
"My money is enough to pave the entire city of Jinling! Why would I ask the Lin family for money? That's utterly ridiculous!"
She suddenly stood up, her wide sleeves knocking over the teacup beside her.
The sound of the celadon shattering startled everyone.
"Ten years...a full ten years. I, Xie Sangning, have struggled to survive in Xihan. I haven't even seen a scrap of paper from the Lin family, let alone received a letter or a sum of money from them."
"I always thought that the Lin family had abandoned me, their granddaughter who had lost her mother's protection and was exiled by the family. I thought you had wanted to break off this marriage with me for a long time, which is why you have been out of touch for ten years."
"Lin Ziyuan... tell me, when did I write a letter? What does my personal seal look like? And who delivered that letter to you?"
"Did you see with your own eyes that one of my people?! Or was it some demon or monster that crawled out from some hidden corner, using my name to do all sorts of dirty work that sucks the blood of your Lin family!"
Xie Sangning's words were like a thunderbolt, instantly stunning Lin Ziyuan!
The anger and grievance on his face froze, replaced by immense bewilderment.
"Never...never wrote a letter? Impossible!"
He instinctively retorted, but his voice lacked its previous confidence, "That letter...that private seal on the letter..."
Just then, Lin Wantang, who had been silent in the corner, suddenly became agitated. She rushed to Lin Ziyuan, gesturing frantically and anxiously shouting "Ah ah!"
"Sister! What do you want to say?" Lin Ziyuan grabbed his sister's hand and asked anxiously.
Lin Wantang broke free from his hand and ran to the old servant, Uncle Fu, who had been standing at the door with an extremely ugly expression. She pointed at him, made a gesture of taking something and handing it over, and then frantically shook her head and waved her hands at Lin Ziyuan again!
Uncle Fu's face turned deathly pale!
Lin Ziyuan glanced at his younger sister, then at Uncle Fu, whose face was deathly pale…
For years, Uncle Fu has been the one who delivered and received the mail!
Could it be...?!
Xie Sangning understood the situation from Fu Bo's reaction and Lin Wantang's gestures.
Her cold gaze swept over Uncle Fu as if he were a dead man.
Xie Sangning took a deep breath, suppressing his surging killing intent.
She gently released her grandfather's hand and stood up straight.
"Very good...very good."
Xie Sangning's lips curled into a cold smile as her gaze fixed on Uncle Fu, whose face was deathly pale.
"It seems there are quite a few demons and monsters in Jinling. Even my name, Xie Sangning, is being used by people to swindle and deceive."
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