Lin Qingwei did not deny Lin Yajun's accusations. He frankly admitted, "It's only human nature. I'm just doing this for show. My dear niece, you can't hate your third uncle because of this."
Lin Yajun smiled sarcastically and said, "As long as your mother returns here, she will see ghosts."
She pressed on, "Heh heh, so your own mother won't dare live here anymore? Does that mean the Lin family won't have to serve your mother anymore? Does that mean no one in your household will have to pay their respects to your mother? Are you all no longer fulfilling your filial duties?"
Lin Daowei was speechless when Lin Yajun asked him a question. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
Finally, he had no choice but to turn back to the west courtyard, tell his family to pack their things quickly, and leave the Lin residence that very night.
In the dead of night, Lin Daowei and his family of four, along with a few servants, hurriedly moved into three dilapidated rooms in the backyard of the government office, like stray dogs.
These three rooms, not only adjacent to the stables and outhouse, reeked of a nauseating stench, but their rudimentary state was also astonishing. They were a world apart from the spacious, bright, and pleasant courtyard they lived in at the Lin residence.
As Mrs. He reluctantly packed her luggage, she kept muttering complaints under her breath.
"It's all my mother-in-law and Cheng's fault for being so greedy. They ended up with nothing, and they even dragged down our three families."
She harbored deep resentment and dissatisfaction towards the second wife's family, feeling that they were not even human.
Previously, the second branch of the family had received so many benefits from the first branch, but seeing that the first branch had just lost its official position, they immediately turned their backs on them and became so heartless and ungrateful.
Especially Cheng Shi, whom He Shi hated to the core.
In He's eyes, Cheng was a short-sighted person who was greedy for petty gains. If Cheng hadn't instigated her daughter to participate in the arranged marriage, how could things have escalated to this point?
In fact, Madam He was well aware of the second branch's desire for a marriage exchange. She had earnestly advised Madam Cheng: "Elder sister-in-law, in my opinion, the second master of the Ren family is an excellent candidate! He is not only handsome and tall, but also the chief bodyguard of the imperial consort, which is a very important position. He assists the imperial consort in managing the casinos and brothels, and he will surely achieve great things in the future!"
He's implication was that Master Ren was merely a guard in the Imperial Guard, and his official rank and future prospects were inferior to those of the second master of the Ren family. Therefore, there was no need for the second branch of the family to arrange a marriage exchange, which would invite criticism from outsiders.
Cheng completely disregarded He's suggestion, coldly replying, "Stop meddling in other people's business! What could a woman from the countryside like you know? What good or bad could a girl like you possibly know?"
Cheng held He's background in utter contempt. She felt that He's mother was merely a maid and her father was just a coroner, incomparable to herself. After all, she was the daughter of a military household, of higher status than He.
Although He Shi and Cheng Shi did not have a harmonious relationship, she understood that she had absolutely no reason to remind the eldest branch of the family. If her mother-in-law found out about this, she would probably be divorced.
After all, He's husband and Cheng's husband were brothers born of the same mother!
Recalling the words He Shi had said to her, He Shi's anger grew even more intense. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she couldn't help but curse fiercely, "That hateful woman Cheng Shi deserves to die!"
Lin Daowei was extremely annoyed. Ever since the second branch of the family took away the eldest branch's marriage, there had been no peace in the house, and so many things had happened!
These events made the Lin family a laughing stock, and the third branch of the family was even expelled from the mansion by the eldest branch because of this incident.
Lin Daowei watched his wife, He Shi, complain incessantly, feeling somewhat helpless. He gently comforted her, "Stop cursing. Let's make do for one night. Tomorrow we'll buy a small courtyard. It's better this way. We won't have to depend on others anymore, and we can be in charge of our own lives from now on."
Hearing her husband's words, He Shi was still somewhat unhappy, but she knew that now was not the time to lose her temper, so she replied sullenly, "Yes, husband."
However, He's mood did not improve despite her husband's comforting words.
The money she had painstakingly saved was originally intended as a dowry for her ten-year-old daughter, Lin Jingwei, so that her daughter could marry into a good family. But now that she had bought a courtyard house, future expenses would definitely increase significantly. How would she then prepare her daughter's dowry?
Thinking of this, Mrs. He felt increasingly heavy-hearted. She lay down fully clothed, closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep.
The smell of horse manure and human excrement kept wafting into her nose, making her feel extremely nauseous.
He cursed her sister-in-law Cheng to die in her heart.
If it weren't for the Cheng family, how could their third branch have ended up in such a state?
At the dead of night, when all was quiet, the Lin residence's gate was suddenly shattered by a series of urgent knocks. The sleepy gatekeeper was startled awake by the sudden noise. Reluctantly, he got out of bed, grumbling as he slowly made his way to the gate.
The doorman opened the side door, and by the faint moonlight, he saw a figure standing outside.
The newcomer first raised the lantern high to illuminate his face, then asked softly, "Young man, it's me."
The doorman looked closely and recognized the servant as someone from the second branch of the family. He couldn't help but feel a little annoyed and said irritably, "What are you doing here so late?"
The visitor didn't seem to care about the doorman's attitude. He lowered his voice and asked, "Where are the eldest and third masters?"
The doorman replied impatiently, "At this hour, the master is naturally sleeping. The third master's family has moved to the government office. Just tell me what you need."
The visitor said in an even softer voice, "I've come to report the death of our second mistress."
Upon hearing this, the doorkeeper was struck dumb, and his sleepiness vanished instantly.
He stared wide-eyed at the newcomer in disbelief, stammering, "What did you say? The Second Madam is dead? She was just walking out of this gate a moment ago, how could she suddenly... Did she catch a sudden illness?"
The servant who came to deliver the news glanced around and whispered, "The Second Madam died a horrible death. She was found dead on the bed in the cloth shop. Her right hand was severed, both corners of her mouth were slashed open with a knife, all the way to her ears, her tongue was cut off, and her eyes were gouged out." After saying this, he shuddered and said in a panic, "I'm leaving now. I still have to go to the government office to deliver the news to the Third Master." He turned around hurriedly and ran away.
The doorman looked flustered and hurriedly slammed the door shut, as if the old lady's ghost was hiding behind it. Then, like a startled rabbit, he rushed to the second gate and whispered a few words to the old woman guarding it.
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