Chapter 6: Clearing Up Rumors

It was nearly three in the morning when the three of them returned to Shanglin Village. The diligent elders of the village were already up in the dark to stoke their cooking fires, and the sounds of activity could be heard from several courtyards.

Lin Yi expertly retrieved the key from the kitchen, opened the door, and let Lin Qin and the child inside. Lin Yi’s home consisted of only one room, divided by a wooden partition. In the front, there was a dining table and a few low stools, leaving almost no room to spare. Behind the partition sat a bed where Lin Yi slept. Underneath the bed were piles of fertilizer bags, large and small, stuffed with either clothing or old, useless items that Lin Yi cherished dearly. Though small, the house was neat and tidy.

To the side was a small back door; opening it revealed a tiny patio. Opposite the back door was a shed, which had previously been where she and her older sister, Lin Ying, had lived. Lin Qin took Liu Yaya to the shed, opened the door, and lit a candle. Originally, the shed had only one wall that belonged to someone else. Because the two girls couldn't fit in their family's house, Lin Yi had spoken to the neighbor, borrowed their courtyard wall, and gathered broken bricks to build walls on both sides. This created an open-air, "mouth"-shaped courtyard. He then built another wall in the middle, forming a "sun"-shaped structure, and added a roof over one half, creating a livable room.

If this were in the North, it would be freezing in the winter, but here in the South, where it only frosts and rarely drops below zero, living in such a structure was manageable. Now that the weather was warming up, she and her child could easily make do here for a few months.

"Yaya, would you like to live here with Mommy from now on?" Lin Qin asked, sitting on a small stool and hugging Liu Yaya. She had intended to clean the room, but found it quite tidy; Lin Yi clearly cleaned it often, so she didn't need to lift a finger.

Liu Yaya nodded vigorously. She looked up at the gauze wrapped around Lin Qin’s head and touched it cautiously with her small hand. "Mommy, does your head still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore. Mommy is fine!" Compared to her experiences in her past life, she didn't even consider this injury a burden.

Liu Yaya let out a sigh of relief and offered a sweet smile. "Mommy, let's go to sleep quickly! Grandpa said you need plenty of rest, and Yaya won't disturb you!"

Lin Qin’s nose stung, and tears spilled down her cheeks. She climbed into bed as the child wished and asked in a low voice, "Yaya, if Mommy and Daddy get a divorce, would you come with Mommy?" This was a question she had always wanted to ask in her past life, but never had the chance.

Liu Yaya looked at Lin Qin with innocent, wide eyes. "What is a divorce?"

Lin Qin was at a loss for words. After a moment, she explained, "Divorce means Mommy and Daddy separate and won't be together anymore. Mommy won't stay at your Grandma's house either. If that happens, would you come with Mommy or stay and live with Daddy and Grandma?"

"I want to follow Mommy. Wherever Mommy goes, I go!" Liu Yaya gripped Lin Qin’s clothes tightly, sobbing softly. "Mommy, please don't leave me behind, okay?"

"I won't!" Lin Qin pulled Liu Yaya into her arms, secretly swearing that in this life, she would never abandon her daughter again. Mother and daughter fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Lin Qin was awakened by voices outside. Liu Yaya was still sleeping, so she carefully climbed out of bed and went to the front yard without disturbing her.

Lin Qingxiang, who was carrying a hoe on his way to the fields, saw Lin Qin with the gauze on her head. His expression was exaggerated. "What happened? Who did this? It wasn't that wicked mother-in-law of yours at your husband's house, was it?"

Yesterday, the Liu family had sent people to the village looking for Lin Yi, causing quite a scene. As soon as they entered the village, they had accused Lin Qin of having an affair, and the news had spread throughout the entire village.

Seeing that the man was a kind-hearted neighbor who was on good terms with Lin Yi, Lin Qin immediately addressed him politely. "Uncle, this injury was caused by a trap set by the Liu family. I already reported it to the police yesterday, and they have handled it."

Lin Qingxiang was startled. "Reported it? What’s going on?"

Lin Qingxiang’s voice was loud, and the aunts and grandmothers living next door all appeared. They were curious to hear the gossip about Lin Qin. If she really had committed adultery, it would be a disgrace to Shanglin Village, and in the old days, she would have been drowned in the pond.

Lin Qin wanted exactly this effect. She immediately played the victim, her eyes reddening as she indignantly recounted the Liu family’s evil deeds. "I know they just despise me for being uneducated and having a daughter. They wanted to get rid of me before Liu Yongming’s job assignment so they could make room for someone new! They really tried to kill me with that club; my head was bleeding. They didn't just knock me out—they also knocked out an innocent boat dweller. How could I not report that? If I had let them get away with it, my reputation would have been ruined! People that heartless will get their retribution sooner or later!"

Lin Qingxiang was furious. He stormed into the kitchen and dragged Lin Yi out, who was still holding a pair of fire tongs.

Lin Qingxiang cursed loudly, "Your daughter has been bullied like this, and you’re still cooking? Come on! I’m going with you to the Liu family to demand justice!"

Lin Yi was caught between laughter and tears, struggling to pull away. "No, no, my girl is tough. She caused a huge scene at the Liu family last night, alerting the police, the neighborhood committee director, and all the neighbors. The Liu family paid a hefty sum in compensation this time; I reckon her mother-in-law is too heartbroken to even eat."

The gossiping women, who hadn't initially believed Lin Qin was innocent, realized how serious the matter must have been if the police and the neighborhood committee had been involved. Since Lin Qin was standing there alive and well, the problem clearly lay with the Liu family.

One grandmother stared at Lin Qin’s head, clicking her tongue in sympathy. "You can't be careless with a head injury. Has it been treated properly?"

Lin Qin nodded obediently. "I went to the clinic last night to get medicine. I plan to recover here at my father's place and worry about the rest later."

The grandmother went into her house, took out two eggs, and pressed them into Lin Qin’s hands. "Have your father stew these for you to build up your strength. Look at you—after a few years of marriage, you’ve been worn down to nothing by your in-laws! You weren't this miserable when you lived at home!"

The other women finally noticed that the clothes Lin Qin wore were old, patched, and worn thin, and her shoes had several holes. Before she was married, she must have weighed over ninety pounds, but now, even after having a child, she hadn't gained weight; instead, she was thin as a rail, looking like she barely weighed ninety pounds at all. Her miserable state further confirmed the fact that she had been abused by her in-laws.

Soon, everyone began to condemn the Liu family, cursing Ma Cuihua for her cruelty and criticizing the Liu couple, and even Liu Li’s reputation began to sour.

Lin Qin looked down at the two eggs in her hands, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. This time, she had seized the initiative. By telling the truth before Li Lian could spin her own version, she was certain that these villagers, who loved gossip and fancied themselves righteous, would spread the word about her tragic plight. She didn't expect the rumors to destroy the Liu family, but she could build an image of herself as a victim, laying the groundwork for her eventual divorce.