Chapter 48: The Shameless Illegitimate Daughter

The next day, after feeding the pigs, Lin Jingyue learned from a few children where Qian Guihua had been assigned to work. She handed over the pig feed and then strolled over in no apparent hurry.

Halfway up the mountain, Qian Guihua was working alone in her plot. The fields here were small, each person allotted three patches. Seeing that the others were far away, Lin Jingyue’s lips curled into a sly smile as she approached. “Well, Aunt Sun, this won’t do. Other people, once they have a daughter-in-law, can enjoy an easy life, but here you are, working with no one to help you?”

Her tone was deliberately exaggerated.

Qian Guihua jumped at Lin Jingyue’s sudden voice, responding irritably, “What’s it to you? Mind your own business.”

“I just can’t stand to watch, that’s all. Your daughter-in-law—tsk tsk…” Lin Jingyue grinned and sat on the edge of the field.

Qian Guihua snorted but said nothing, though inwardly she was thoroughly annoyed. She disliked both Lin Jingyue and Lin Xinrou. Those two sisters were nothing but trouble.

“Aunt Sun, you’re just too kindhearted. Lin Xinrou treats you like dirt, dragging your reputation through the mud, and you still put up with her and won’t let her work in the fields. That’s truly impressive.”

“But I get it. She’s your daughter-in-law now, sharing everything with your son. If you don’t treat her well, what if she whispers in your son’s ear and he starts siding against you? That wouldn’t do at all.”

A chill ran through Qian Guihua’s heart—Sun Zhiyuan was her most promising son. What if he turned against her…?

Lin Jingyue smiled slyly, like a little fox. “Lin Xinrou is ruthless, you know. I’ve lived with her over ten years—I know her too well, and I’ve suffered plenty because of her.”

“She didn’t want to get involved with your son at first—jumped into the river, threw herself against rocks, made a huge fuss. And then, all of a sudden, she agreed to marry Sun Zhiyuan. I wonder if it was because of you, Aunt Sun…”

She left her sentence hanging, letting Qian Guihua fill in the rest herself.

Lin Jingyue patted the dust off her trousers and stood up. “Oh, by the way, I saw Lin Xinjian and Zhao Hua eating meat yesterday. I wonder where they got the ration coupons for that.”

“And really, Lin Xinrou is now part of the Sun family. Surely she’s not still clinging to the past?”

“Aunt Sun, I’ll leave you to your work. I have things to do—goodbye.”

Watching Lin Jingyue walk away, Qian Guihua’s face clouded with anger.

Lin Xinrou, don’t think you’re safe just because you’re pregnant.

You think Sun Zhiyuan is your support? Hah, keep dreaming.

Originally, Lin Jingyue had planned to leave Lin Xinrou be, let her waste away in the countryside for a lifetime. Who knew she’d keep pushing her luck?

Since that’s the case, it’s best to cut off her chances for good.

“Lin Jingyue!”

Coming down from the mountain, Lin Jingyue was stopped by someone.

“What is it?” Her expression was cold.

Li Cuihua hadn’t expected her to be so calm, as if nothing in the world could faze her. She had even considered her a good friend.

“Why are you doing this?” she demanded.

Lin Jingyue raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me, what did I do? Did you hit your head?”

“I thought we were friends. Why did you ruin my marriage prospects?”

Noticing that people were starting to gather and watch, Lin Jingyue sneered. “You’ve got some nerve. Your own matchmaking fell through and you blame me? I have a clear conscience, and if you try to pin false accusations on me, I’ll have to discuss this with the team leader. Isn't that right, Aunt Chun?”

At the fork in the path, Aunt Chun hurried over.

“Comrade Lin, Cuihua just got carried away—don’t take her words to heart.” Aunt Chun shot her daughter a stern look.

So foolish—matchmaking was always conducted in private; even if people suspected, it hadn’t been confirmed. Now she’d blurted it out herself—did she think her reputation was too good?

Li Cuihua glared at Lin Jingyue with resentment. She’d already heard about what happened at the village entrance yesterday. No wonder she’d been rejected—it was all because of Lin Jingyue.

Why was it that everyone only had eyes for Lin Jingyue? Since she’d come to Qingshan Brigade, she was all anyone talked about.

What gave her the right to attract so much attention?

Facing her resentful gaze, Lin Jingyue spoke coolly, “I let it slide this time out of respect for Aunt Chun. If it happens again, I don’t care who you are.”

With those words, she turned and left.

She’d lived this long and never once felt aggrieved. So what if she was the team leader’s daughter? She wasn’t afraid of anyone.

“Come on, let’s go home!” Aunt Chun’s face was dark as she dragged Li Cuihua away from prying eyes.

“Cuihua really went too far. I was there yesterday—the young man just greeted Comrade Lin, that’s all,” said one of the older women, trying to be fair.

“Comrade Lin was neither warm nor cold. How did she ‘ruin’ anything?”

“Maybe the young man just wasn’t interested, and Li Cuihua is looking for someone to blame?”

“Enough, let’s not talk about it,” murmured a timid young wife.

Remembering that Li Cuihua was the team leader’s daughter, everyone fell silent.

When Sun Lanlan heard about it, she gleefully retold the story at lunch.

Lin Xinrou’s eyes flickered as she formed a plan. The grudge against Lin Jingyue for sending her down to the countryside remained unresolved. Those two hadn’t harmed her directly, so she’d have to attack their reputation instead.

“Hurry up and make lunch! Sitting around all day like some young mistress—so many complaints!” Her plotting was abruptly interrupted.

Looking up, she saw Qian Guihua enter, her expression thunderous.

“Mother…” Lin Xinrou managed a weak smile, supporting her waist.

“Drop the act—I’ve been pregnant, too. What, you think you’re special? Get in there and cook, and come to work with me this afternoon.”

“Useless girl, who knows what tricks your parents played to get you here, always causing trouble.”

“A bastard born of an affair, acting so high and mighty. Hah, shameless.”

Lin Xinrou’s face froze, inch by inch.

Qian Guihua knew exactly how to hit her where it hurt.

“Mother, aren’t you afraid I’ll spill the truth…”

“Go ahead, you little wretch. I knew you were rotten to the core. If you have the guts, report me to the authorities! Dalang is your husband now—go on, turn us in!”

Lin Jingyue was right—Lin Xinrou would never do it.

She was now the Sun family’s daughter-in-law, so she had to put the family first. “And you dare steal from me to support a man? Shameless tramp…”

Country women cursed as harshly as possible, and Lin Xinrou’s face turned deathly pale with anger.

She couldn’t understand what had changed—Qian Guihua had gone out in the morning, and now she was a different person.

As Qian Guihua’s finger jabbed closer and her mouth sprayed spittle, the sight of yellowed teeth and the stench made Lin Xinrou nauseous.

And indeed, she bent over and vomited.

Qian Guihua paused, her scolding quieter but unrelenting.

Sun Lanlan and Sun Zhigang watched coldly, unmoved.

They, too, felt nothing but distaste for her.

A woman who schemed her way into the family—disgraceful.

Back at the educated youth’s quarters, Lin Jingyue cooked in good spirits—scrambled eggs, cabbage stir-fried with pork cracklings, and two steamed buns, before sitting down to eat with satisfaction.