"Talking about it now is useless. We need to contact Yongming immediately and tell him about the situation at home. With today's commotion, Lin Qin will surely be on guard against us. Trying to calculate her using this trick again won't work."
Liu Yongguo grew increasingly angry, pounding the bedframe with loud thuds.
"It's all because you're useless!" Xu Manzhi vented her frustration with another round of scolding.
Already on the street with Lin Yi, Lin Qin suddenly stopped, looked at Lin Zhi and Li Lian, and said with a forced smile, "Second Uncle and Aunt, thank you for your hard work tonight. You can head back to the village first. We need to make a trip to the clinic and will return at midnight."
Lin Zhi didn't persist and, maintaining the dignity of an elder, lectured, "Although your husband's family acted unscrupulously, they're still your mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and sisters-in-law. You also took action. If you ask me, that's enough. Don't let it end with your husband's family being unable to tolerate you.
Our family has never had a daughter come back in disgrace after being driven away by her in-laws, don't embarrass your father because of you."
"Exactly! Which daughter-in-law doesn't act humbly? Only you have such a temper, such a strong personality, acting impulsively and even biting someone so hard they bled. If the Liu family weren't at fault today, they'd have definitely forced your husband to divorce you!
You're driving me mad! I don't know what kind of example your mother set when she was alive—it's simply disgraceful!" Li Lian followed up with more criticisms.
"Haven't you said enough? Who do you think you are? My father hasn't said anything, what gives you the right to babble on? And scold my mom—what did she do to you? On what grounds are you speaking about her?" Lin Qin roared in anger.
She could tolerate being scolded, but Li Lian criticizing her mom was unforgivable!
Li Lian was taken aback by the shouting but quickly flared up, "Hey! You little brat, if it weren't for your mess, we wouldn't have come running here. What's the harm in saying a couple of things to you? If you weren't so useless, would the Liu family bully you like this? If you could argue like this, how did you get bullied so badly? Worthless!"
"That's enough!" Lin Yi shouted furiously, "My daughter is none of your business!"
Li Lian snorted in disdain and turned away, "Who would want to bother with you!"
She wasn't here to help Lin Qin, but to witness the commotion when she heard Lin Qin was involved with a wild affair. She came specifically to gloat and add insult to injury, but never expected to miss the spectacle and witness Lin Qin's defiance firsthand, leaving her irritated!
"Are you coming or not?" Li Lian walked a few steps, saw Lin Zhi wasn't catching up, and called impatiently.
Lin Zhi glanced at her, his expression soured, and without giving Lin Yi a proper look, he followed Li Lian.
Lin Yi was livid, his eyes red with suppressed tears, while holding Liu Yaya, he consoled Lin Qin, "Though your mother-in-law and the Liu family's eldest couple are unscrupulous, your husband is a college graduate. In about three or four months, he'll graduate.
When he graduates and gets a job, you'll move with Yaya to live with him, away from his bothersome family. So bear with it for now, persevere and things will get better."
Walking behind Lin Yi, Lin Qin silently wept. She wanted to say it was impossible, that she and Liu Yongming had no future, but she couldn't say it now. Saying so now was pointless. Only time could give Lin Yi the answer, even if it would hurt him for a long time.
Lin Yi assumed Lin Qin's silence was stubbornness, sighed helplessly, and quietly headed towards the clinic holding the child.
When the trio arrived at the clinic, only the night shift doctor and nurse were there.
The clinic's conditions weren't as good as a hospital's, but the hospital was far away, and unless there were major issues, people wouldn't go there.
Lin Qin entrusted Lin Yi with looking after Liu Yaya and their luggage, and went inside to find a doctor herself.
By sheer chance, she ran into Chen Wenjun, who had just finished his appointment.
Chen Wenjun smiled warmly at her, left palm upturned, and with two fingers on his right hand, traced two steps on his palm, a gesture he used to comfort her during her time bedridden.
Lin Qin's eyes instantly grew wet.
She thought they would never intersect again in this lifetime, yet never expected he, like her, had actually been reborn.
After the gesture, Chen Wenjun did not acknowledge Lin Qin.
They brushed past each other.
Lin Qin composed herself and sat on a high stool, "Doctor, I got hit on the head, it's bleeding."
The doctor's brow furrowed instantly, "The patient before you also came for a head injury, said he got hit. Why are you also injured? Did the city experience turmoil again? The safety isn't good; avoid the trouble. Just days ago, someone lost an eye from meddling."
Lin Qin shook her head, "No!"
The doctor saw her unwillingness to elaborate and didn't pursue further. He examined her and murmured, "It's best to go to the city hospital for X-rays to check for any critical injuries. I can only clean and medicate your wound here. If you experience nausea, vomiting, or dizziness, immediately go to the hospital. Don't delay."
Lin Qin hurriedly nodded in agreement.
In her past life, she jumped into the river before her wound had healed and ended up with headaches, which worsened with weather changes, more precise than a weather report—though not a major issue.
After her treatment, it was already deep into the night.
As Lin Qin and Lin Yi, holding the child, exited the clinic, they saw Chen Wenjun waiting outside.
Lin Yi instinctively frowned.
Chen Wenjun, carrying a yoke, approached, "Uncle, may I join you? It's dark, and I'm scared."
Lin Yi: "..."
Initially intending to refuse, Lin Yi reconsidered; Chen Wenjun suffered an undeserved calamity because of the Liu family's ambush, unrelated to his daughter. At this late hour, no one would witness their companionship to spread gossip.
Moreover, walking together late at night ensured safety, so he agreed.
On the way, Lin Yi prompted conversation, "You mentioned you're of the Dang family. Where do you live?"
"Nanxi, near the Qingyun Temple river section, not far from here," Chen Wenjun answered while balancing the yoke, walking quickly and steadily.
Lin Yi nodded, "I've been there; our family is in Shanglin Village. We can walk together for a bit; from our place, it's just over half an hour to Qingyun Temple. Once we part, walk faster, avoid deserted areas, to prevent mishaps."
"Thank you, Uncle, I understand."
Chen Wenjun's responses were polite and respectful.
Lin Yi held a favorable impression of him.
After they parted, Lin Yi quietly cursed, "Liu Yongguo truly isn't a decent person, he exploits such honest people. I reckon he thought Chen Wenjun wouldn't dare retaliate because he's Dang family!"
Honest people? Lin Qin glanced at Lin Yi's back. In the past, she'd have agreed Chen Wenjun was honest.
But today, his behavior was far from that of an honest person. Now, he might be more cunning than her!
With this thought, Lin Qin's heavy mood lightened considerably.
After all, Chen Wenjun had a son who was partially paralyzed.
In her past life, that child was so sensible and endearing it hurt, though she hadn't done anything for him, he'd always treated her with filial respect, thinking of her with anything good.
If Chen Wenjun succeeded, at least he could provide that child with a better living condition.