"Mom, we're back~~~"
Lin Laosan's words rang out lightly. When he saw Lin Xiaomei in the courtyard, the smile on his face faded a little, but he didn't become serious.
When Lin Xiaomei saw Lin Laosan, she was taken aback at first, then a sarcastic smile appeared on her face.
"Hey, isn't this my third brother who's always guarding that dilapidated courtyard? What's up, only just getting back? And you've been wandering around outside with your nephew for so long?"
Lin Laosan's face immediately turned cold.
The two little ones also rolled their eyes at Lin Xiaomei.
Seeing the expressions on their faces, she became even more smug.
She turned around and took Mr. Wang's arm. "Mr. Wang, this is the third brother I told you about. He's never seen the world and has spent his whole life just guarding this dilapidated courtyard house."
Boss Wang glanced sideways at Lin Laosan and snorted through his nostrils.
“Young people should have some drive. What future can they have if they just stay in the village? If you’re really having trouble, just let me know. My company happens to need a gatekeeper.”
Lin Hu placed the oil paper package on the stone table, and the oil paper tore open, revealing the dark brown pork knuckle inside.
“We just gave the village chief some chocolates that my grandma brought back from the port city, and the village chief was very happy.”
He deliberately emphasized the words "chocolate brought back from the port city," his eyes glancing at Boss Wang's tight-fitting suit.
Lin Yao took out a large cardboard box from the snakeskin bag, with the three red characters "Panda Brand" printed on it.
"This is a large color TV that my grandma brought back from the port city. It's 14 inches and much clearer than the usual ones. The village chief just said he wanted to borrow it so that everyone in the village could watch TV."
Lin Laosan ignored them and walked straight to Lin Li to take the bucket of water.
"Mom, the village chief said the fabric brought back from the port city is of particularly good quality, and he asked me to thank you. Let me do it."
Lin Xiaomei felt as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.
First, she covered her mouth and burst out laughing, then her laughter grew louder and louder until she couldn't stand up straight and tears were almost streaming down her face.
She pointed at Lin Laosan and said to Boss Wang.
"Boss Wang, listen to what nonsense my third brother is spouting. Fabric brought back from Hong Kong? Does he think the Dacron fabric from the supply and marketing cooperative is some kind of treasure? Someone like him, how could he possibly have access to fabric from Hong Kong? I think he's gone crazy for fabric!"
She stepped forward, got close to Lin Laosan, looked him up and down in his old cotton-padded jacket, and snorted.
"Third Brother, I'm not trying to be mean, but what's the point of pretending to be something you're not? You should use that energy to think about how to make more money instead of just sitting around in this shabby place all day. People will laugh at you. Do you think talking about Hong Kong makes you seem so successful?"
Mr. Wang laughed along and patted Lin Xiaomei on the shoulder.
"Don't take him seriously. Some people just like to daydream. Fabrics from Hong Kong? Not just anyone can get their hands on those. Only people with status and position can afford them."
Lin Laosan's expression remained calm. He picked up the bucket and said indifferently.
"Believe it or not, the facts speak for themselves. The curtains made of that fabric are hanging in the village chief's house right now. If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself."
Lin Xiaomei's laughter stopped abruptly, her face filled with disdain.
"Who has time to go see those things with you? I think you're just feeling guilty and saying these things to scare people."
Lin Hu couldn't help but say, "We're not kidding you, that fabric is really good. The colors are bright and it feels especially comfortable to the touch. The village chief said he's never seen such good fabric in his life."
Lin Yao nodded in agreement: "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. The village chief even said he wanted to thank Grandma."
Lin Xiaomei turned her head away and said, "What do you two know? You're just following your third uncle's lead. Let me tell you, don't think you can fool me with some random stuff. I've seen a lot in the world. The things Boss Wang brought back are much better than what you're talking about."
Mr. Wang proudly puffed out his belly: "Of course, the things I bring back from Hong Kong are all the best, incomparable to those from small places."
Lin Laosan ignored them and carried the bucket to the kitchen, leaving Lin Xiaomei and Boss Wang talking to themselves.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Lin Xiaomei turned her gaze to Lin Hu and Lin Yao. She looked the two children up and down, and suddenly remembered something, so she asked.
"By the way, where are your two dads? I haven't seen my eldest brother and second brother, and my sister-in-law isn't here either?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Hu and Lin Yao's expressions changed instantly.
His face, which had just been filled with a hint of pride and excitement, suddenly darkened.
Lin Hu pursed his lips tightly, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Lin Yao lowered his head, his eyes dim, staring at the somewhat worn cotton shoes on his feet, and said nothing more.
"What's going on? Why are you all making those faces? Where are my eldest brother, sister-in-law, second brother, and second sister-in-law?"
Lin Xiaomei was a little confused by their sudden change, and she frowned as she asked, her tone tinged with impatience.
The two little ones raised their heads and glared fiercely at Lin Xiaomei.
His eyes were filled with complex emotions: resentment, dissatisfaction, and a trace of unspeakable pain.
They didn't answer Lin Xiaomei's question, and quickly turned and walked into the bedroom.
The door slammed shut with a bang.
Lin Xiaomei was even more confused by their actions. She stood there, staring at the closed bedroom door, completely bewildered.
She scratched her head, turned around and walked to Lin Li's side, asking with a puzzled look.
"Mom, where are my eldest brother, sister-in-law, second brother, and second sister-in-law? I just asked Hu Zi and Yao Yao, and they were like that, locked in their rooms. What happened?"
Lin Li stopped what she was doing, turned around and looked at Lin Xiaomei with a cold, emotionless gaze.
She remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice calm.
"Your second brother is repenting in prison."
"What? Second Brother's in jail?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaomei's eyes widened in disbelief, and she opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
In her memory, her second brother, as a college student, always considered himself a scholar, aloof and arrogant. How did he end up in prison?
Lin Li ignored her surprise and continued speaking.
“Your second sister-in-law should have been in jail too, but she was released on bail because she was pregnant.”
Lin Xiaomei's mouth opened even wider, as if she could fit an egg inside.
Was the second sister-in-law also involved?
She's pregnant?
The series of messages left her head buzzing, and she couldn't process them all at once.
She frowned, trying hard to figure out the relationship, but she just couldn't understand it.
"However, the child she was carrying wasn't your second brother's. After your second brother went to jail, she divorced him."
Before she could recover, Lin Li dropped an even more shocking bombshell.
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