Lin Yi prepared sweet potato porridge and, in an act of extravagance, fried two eggs for Chen Wenjun.
"Eat while it's hot. Soon it'll be dawn, and we can take a walk around the vegetable field."
Lin Yi had overheard his daughter's conversation with Chen Wenjun. From the way they spoke comfortably, they seemed more like longtime married couples than strangers.
He believed that his daughter and Chen Wenjun were innocent, but as a father, he had to consider more for his daughter. He didn't want her to get too close to Chen Wenjun.
Chen Wenjun had no idea of Lin Yi's thoughts and followed him outside after breakfast.
Lin Qin helped clean the table and washed the fish that Chen Wenjun brought along.
That afternoon, the family had fish soup again.
Early the next morning, Lin Yi got up and found a fish in the kitchen, along with some extra river snails, making him frown.
When Lin Qin woke up, he couldn't help but grumble to her.
"I told that brat Chen Wenjun yesterday not to give any more gifts, yet he brought over a basin of river snails! It's really frustrating!"
Lin Qin was speechless, "Dad! He's giving us things for free, isn't that something to be happy about?"
"Why would I be happy? Is there such thing as a free lunch? Chen Wenjun has his motives—don't think I can't see it! He's after you! Even if things don't work out with Liu Yongming, I won't let you end up with Chen Wenjun."
For the first time, Lin Yi made his point clear.
Lin Qin, leaning leisurely, asked, "Why not? Because he's a nomadic Dang family person? Or because he has a son with limited mobility?"
"You know all this and still ask!" Lin Yi glared at her, "Our family's already seen low in the village; otherwise, the Liu family wouldn't dare to bully you openly! If you end up with Chen Wenjun, our family would become the village's laughingstock!"
It wasn't that he looked down on the Dang family; it was the environment that couldn't be changed, ingrained with old thoughts. He'd rather Lin Qin marry a widower with land than get involved with Chen Wenjun.
Seeing Lin Yi so agitated made Lin Qin chuckle, "Dad, why say so much? I'm not even divorced yet, and even if I do get divorced, who says I must remarry? Can't I stay home to take care of you in your old age?
What if I marry into a family worse than the Liu's, how would I survive?"
"Spit, spit, spit, you jinx, can't you wish something good for yourself? Is there any point in saying such depressing things? If you don't remarry, what will happen to Yaya when she grows up? Can I accompany you all my life as I grow old?"
The more Lin Yi looked at Lin Qin, the more worried he became. He only had two daughters; the eldest was doing well and was supported by her in-laws, but why was it so difficult for his youngest?
Lin Qin wisely shut her mouth and ran to check on the river snails in the kitchen, saying, "Dad! Keep the river snails for a couple more days to let them purge the sand before cooking them."
Lin Yi listened to her and got another wooden basin to keep the river snails.
Liu Yaya was allowed to play outside only after another three days when her scabs no longer hurt.
Lin Qin took her for a walk around the village. When the caring village women asked, Lin Qin would lift Liu Yaya's shirt to show her back, relentlessly accusing the Liu family of their misdeeds.
Now the whole of Shanglin Village knew that the Liu family was inhumane and that Lin Qin and her daughter were abused by them.
Upon hearing the gossip, Lin Yi said nothing and went out to work as usual.
At dusk, Lin Qingxiang suddenly rushed over to find Lin Qin, "Ah Qin, your dad was attacked by someone who put a sack over him and beat him. You'd better go take a look!"
Lin Qin knocked over bowls and chopsticks in her haste, anxious to take Liu Yaya to the vegetable field. When she saw Lin Yi lying on the ground covered in blood, moaning, her mind went blank, and she desperately pleaded for help to take Lin Yi to the hospital.
Fortunately, this was Shanglin Village, and with Lin Qingxiang calling people over to help, they quickly got Lin Yi to the hospital without Lin Qin having to intervene.
Over there, while Lin Yi was still in treatment, the team leader arrived with the police.
"Lin Qin, how's your dad?" the team leader asked with a worried expression.
Lin Qin held Liu Yaya, hurriedly stood up, and replied hoarsely, "He's still inside, waiting for the doctor to come out."
The team leader looked at Liu Yaya in Lin Qin's arms, full of pity, "What's happening with your family lately? One incident after another, is there a feng shui problem?"
Police officer: "...."
Lin Qin didn't know how to respond.
After a while, Lin Yi was finally pushed out and transferred to a ward.
The attending doctor told everyone, "The patient's head is injured, has two broken ribs, and a broken left leg bone. His leg has been X-rayed; surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. The ribs can only heal by resting in bed, which could take three to five months. Luckily, the head injury is not life-threatening. Family members should go pay the hospitalization fee."
Lin Qin's mind was blank.
The team leader and police waited until Lin Yi regained consciousness and inquired about the incident before leaving.
Lin Qingxiang, seeing the team leader leaving, instructed Lin Qin, "I'll go get the money. You stay here watching your dad and child, don't run around."
"Uncle, I have money. I'll pay you back when Dad is discharged," Lin Qin gratefully said through tears.
Lin Qingxiang waved it off, "We'll talk about that later."
Lin Qingxiang and his group hurriedly left. Lin Qin used the nurse's phone to contact her older sister, Lin Ying.
When Lin Qingxiang returned with the money and got Lin Yi admitted, everyone sighed in relief.
Sitting outside the ward, Lin Qingxiang cursed under his breath, "If I catch that bastard, I'll kill him! Ah Qin, has your dad offended anyone?"
With red eyes, Lin Qin shook her head, "Uncle, you're aware of Dad's nature, right? All these years, he hasn't argued with anyone in the village. The only ones he might have offended are the Liu family.
Especially Liu Yongming; he came to seize the child that day, and Dad yelled at him. I slapped him and smashed his bicycle, and that's about it."
Lin Qingxiang angrily pounded the wall, "I knew Liu Yongming was trouble! Where's his family? I'm going to settle this with him!"
"No, Uncle, don't be rash. We don't have any evidence, and besides, the team leader has reported it to the police. Let's wait for the police to investigate," Lin Qin worried that Lin Qingxiang's impulsiveness would worsen the situation.
The team leader, just arriving, overheard Lin Qingxiang and scolded him, "You're not as sensible as young Lin Qin! You've lived so many years and still act so foolishly, are you not afraid of death?"
After reprimanding Lin Qingxiang, the team leader turned to Lin Qin, "I just came from the station, the police are already investigating. Your dad's vegetable field, though near the village entrance, is still within the village. None of his money was taken, suggesting money wasn't the motive. Whoever did this seems to have acted out of spite; think carefully about who your dad might have offended recently."
Lin Qin and Lin Qingxiang exchanged glances.
Lin Qingxiang shouted angrily, "It must be Liu Yongming! Definitely him! That bastard, I'll get him!"
Just as Lin Qin was about to speak, she saw Chen Wenjun at the end of the corridor and gave a slight shake of her head.
Chen Wenjun understood immediately and left quietly.