Chapter 123: The Han Residence, A Place of Healing

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When Lin Jingyue encountered her stepmother, she certainly wasn’t going to miss the chance to report her. It was actually Wei Lanyin herself who made the report, and no one dared to say a word against it. As a result, Hu Cuixi and that man were both taken away.

Before leaving, Hu Cuixi looked at Lin Jingyue with eyes full of resentment and venom. But did Lin Jingyue fear her? If she did, she wouldn’t be Lin Jingyue.

After parting ways with Wei Lanyin, the three siblings strolled back home leisurely.

“Jingyue, you used to…” Han Yizhou hesitated. He had heard from his mother that Jingyue’s past was very hard, but he didn’t quite grasp it until seeing that stepmother today. With such a stepmother, it was no wonder Jingyue had suffered.

“I’m fine. Hardships are only temporary. In the end, they had it worse, haha!” Lin Jingyue winked and laughed heartily.

Han Xingye and Han Yizhou felt a pang of sympathy upon seeing her carefree demeanor. It was probably a defense mechanism born from past pain.

Lin Jingyue thought to herself, “You’ve really misunderstood.”

Back home, Lin Jingyue didn’t hide anything and told Song Qinglan everything. Song Qinglan was thrilled.

She would never miss a chance to strike at Lin Jian’an from every angle.

She observed Lin Jingyue secretly and, seeing she felt indifferent, grew even bolder in her revenge.

The next day, Hu Cuixi was tormented before being sent to a poor farm. Lin Jian’an’s life also took a turn for the worse; Song Qinglan came up with a plan and sent him there too.

Whether they survived was up to fate.

Lin Jingyue was aware of all this but continued to eat and drink without a second thought; in fact, she secretly approved. Lin Jian’an had cost Wu Huixian her life; even if he died, he deserved it.

She didn’t have much sympathy.

…

“Children, children, don’t be greedy; after Laba Festival comes the New Year. We’ll eat Laba porridge for a few days. On the twenty-third, sticky sweets to send off the Kitchen God to heaven. Twenty-fourth, clean the house. Twenty-fifth, frozen tofu. Twenty-sixth, buy meat. Twenty-seventh, slaughter the rooster. Twenty-eighth, let the dough rise. Twenty-ninth, steam the buns. On the thirtieth, hang the door gods.”

“Too high, too high…”

“Too low again, oh no, not only low but crooked.”

Han Xingye, holding the couplets, was full of frustration and turned to glare, “Han Yizhou, are you messing with me?”

Lin Jingyue, snacking on sunflower seeds nearby, smiled with narrowed eyes. “Yes, he’s definitely messing with you.”

“Han Yizhou, are you itching for trouble?!” Han Xingye slapped the couplet on the wall and jumped down, chasing Han Yizhou around the yard.

“Haha, Xingye, circle around from the left…” Lin Jingyue found the spectacle entertaining.

“Lin Jingyue! Whose little sister do you think you are?!” Han Yizhou shot her a glare in between.

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“Whoever’s smarter is my brother.” The implication being that a fool doesn’t deserve to be her brother.

Both Han Xingye and Han Yizhou were momentarily stunned.

Inside the house, Song Qinglan and Han Jianmin couldn’t help but laugh. “These kids…”

“Those two silly boys aren’t a match for Jingyue,” Han Jianmin covered his face, shaking his head.

“It’s good that the girl’s clever; it’s harder to fool her.”

With Jingyue in the family, laughter and joy increased.

After finishing the couplets, they prepared the New Year’s Eve dinner. Song Qinglan was quite skilled in cooking, and Han Jianmin didn’t hold the outdated belief that men can’t cook. Naturally, their two sons had no such prejudice either.

So everyone pitched in the kitchen.

Some picked vegetables, others tended the fire. The kitchen had both a traditional stove and a gas stove, and since there were many dishes, both were used.

Currently steaming were the cured meats and sausages that Lin Jingyue had brought.

“Jingyue, we haven’t even tasted your cooking skills yet. When will you let us try?” Han Yizhou teased as soon as he had a moment.

“Shut up. If you’re so good at cooking, why have I rarely eaten your dishes?” Song Qinglan rolled her eyes.

“...Are you really my birth mother?”

“No, you were picked up from the trash,” Song Qinglan shot him a sidelong glance.

Han Yizhou thought to himself… this family really couldn’t hold him.

“Hahaha.” Seeing him put in his place, Lin Jingyue and Han Xingye laughed gleefully.

The kitchen was filled with laughter and joy.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was sumptuous, with ten perfect dishes. Four meat dishes included steamed cured meats and sausages, chicken stewed with mushrooms, braised fish, and marinated duck.

The marinated duck was store-bought but had a unique flavor. Aside from the braised fish, Lin Jingyue liked that dish the most—it was very authentic.

“Since it’s New Year’s, let’s have a little drink,” Han Jianmin stood up and brought over a bottle of wine.

—Moutai from 1970.

Lin Jingyue…

“Jingyue drinks soda,” Song Qinglan shot him a sharp glance.

“No, Auntie, I can drink!” Lin Jingyue quickly said.

Moutai—the grandfather’s favorite. She remembered he had two bottles of 1970 Moutai in his wine cellar that he never dared to drink.

“Really?” Song Qinglan, who also dotes on children, asked.

Seeing Lin Jingyue nod, she said, “Then pour her a glass. After all, it’s our own home, and she can practice her tolerance.”

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Han Jianmin chuckled and poured a small cup for Lin Jingyue.

The adults all had a glass, including Han Xingye and Han Yizhou.

“To the new year—may our family be safe and sound,” Han Jianmin raised his glass.

A simple wish, but it carried his deepest hopes for everyone at home.

“Yes, no illness, no disaster, just peace and safety,” Song Qinglan’s eyes reddened for a moment.

No one else saw it.

He quietly patted her hand under the table and gave her a comforting smile.

The New Year’s bell rang, signaling the passing of one year.

This was Lin Jingyue’s first New Year here, and she thought… it wasn’t bad at all.

“Here, this is your New Year’s money,” Song Qinglan came out of the room holding several red envelopes while Lin Jingyue was gazing out the window.

“Two each,” she handed out the envelopes to the three siblings. “One of them was sent by Xingye’s father, who personally instructed it must be given to you all.”

“Huh? I get some too?” Lin Jingyue was surprised.

“Of course. Our Han family treats girls and boys equally,” Han Jianmin smiled up from his tea.

Lin Jingyue’s heart suddenly warmed.

The Han family.

She finally understood why her aunt, despite all her bitterness and scars, could still wear such a warm smile in the Han family.

The Han family was a place that easily healed people.

Her aunt was truly fortunate.

“Jingyue, come on, let’s set off some firecrackers,” Han Yizhou pulled her up, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Firecrackers?”

“Yes, hurry up!”

Lin Jingyue was dragged outside, and Song Qinglan quickly reminded them to be careful.

Though bundled in a cotton coat and scarf, Lin Jingyue shivered as the cold hit her.

She pulled her collar tighter but found Han Yizhou’s eagerness to set off firecrackers quite amusing.

There were quite a few people outside—children from the neighborhood compound.

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