Lin Yi prepared a bowl of sweet potato porridge and even went to the luxury of frying two eggs to serve to Chen Wenjun.
"Eat it while it's hot. The sun will be up soon, and we'll go check on the vegetable plot."
Lin Yi had heard the entire conversation between his daughter and Chen Wenjun just moments before. Seeing how natural they were with each other—not like strangers, but more like an old married couple—he felt uneasy. While he trusted that their relationship was innocent, a father naturally had to look out for his daughter’s future, and he did not want her getting too close to Chen Wenjun.
Chen Wenjun, completely oblivious to Lin Yi’s concerns, finished breakfast and followed him out.
Lin Qin cleaned up the table and took the opportunity to wash the fish Chen Wenjun had brought over. That afternoon, the family had fish soup again.
The next morning, when Lin Yi got up, he found another fish in the kitchen, along with a portion of river snails. He couldn't help but frown. As soon as Lin Qin woke up, he started grumbling to her.
"I told that boy Chen Wenjun yesterday not to bring anything else. How is it that there’s a whole basin of snails here now? It’s enough to make me lose my mind!"
Lin Qin was speechless. "Dad! Are you really going to be upset because someone gave us free food?"
"What is there to be happy about? Is there any such thing as a free lunch in this world? Don't think I can't see what he's up to! He’s aiming for you! Let me tell you, even if you can’t make it work with Liu Yongming, I won't let you end up with Chen Wenjun."
This was the first time Lin Yi had spoken so plainly.
Lin Qin propped her chin on her hand and watched him calmly. "Why not? Because he's one of the Tanka people and has no permanent home? Or because he has a son who isn't physically sound?"
"You know exactly why, yet you still ask!" Lin Yi glared at her irritably. "Our family already has no standing in the village—that's exactly why the Liu Family dared to bully you so brazenly! If you were to attach yourself to Chen Wenjun after this, our family would become the laughingstock of the entire village!"
It wasn't that he looked down on the Tanka people, but the reality of their environment and the deeply ingrained prejudices of the villagers were impossible to change. He would rather Lin Qin marry a widower with land and property than have any involvement with Chen Wenjun.
Seeing Lin Yi’s agitation, Lin Qin laughed. "Dad, why are you saying all this? I'm not even divorced yet. And even if I were, heaven forbid, does that mean I absolutely have to remarry? Can’t I just stay here to look after you in your old age? What if I married into a family even worse than the Liu Family? How would I even survive that?"
"Bah, bah, bah! You crow, can't you wish for something good for once? Is there any point in saying such upsetting things? If you don't remarry, what will happen to Yaya when she grows up? I'm old—do you think I can stay by your side forever?"
The more Lin Yi looked at Lin Qin, the more worried he became. He only had two daughters; the eldest was doing well and had a capable husband, so why was everything so difficult when it came to his youngest?
Lin Qin wisely shut her mouth. She went to the kitchen to check on the snails and said, "Dad, let's keep them for a couple of days to let them spit out the sand before we cook them."
Lin Yi listened to her and moved the snails to a separate wooden basin.
Liu Yaya was kept inside for another three days until the scabs on her back had healed and stopped hurting; only then did Lin Qin allow her to go out and play. Lin Qin took her for a walk around the village, and whenever a nosy neighbor asked, Lin Qin would lift the back of Liu Yaya's shirt to show them the wounds, leaving no detail spared in accusing the Liu Family of their crimes. By now, the entire Shanglin Village knew the Liu Family had no shred of decency and was aware of the abuse Lin Qin and her daughter had suffered.
Lin Yi heard the rumors but didn't say anything, continuing his work as usual.
That evening, Lin Qingxiang suddenly arrived, looking panicked. "A-Qin, your father was attacked at the vegetable plot—someone put a sack over his head and beat him! You need to go see him right away!"
Lin Qin knocked over her bowl and chopsticks in her haste and rushed toward the vegetable plot with Liu Yaya. When she saw Lin Yi lying on the ground, covered in blood and groaning, her mind went blank. She frantically begged the others to help get him to the hospital. Fortunately, it was Shanglin Village; Lin Qingxiang called for help, and before Lin Qin could even intervene, they had already whisked Lin Yi away to the hospital.
While Lin Yi was still receiving treatment, the brigade leader arrived with a police officer.
"Lin Qin, how is your father?" the brigade leader asked, looking concerned.
Lin Qin stood up while holding Liu Yaya, her voice raspy. "He's still inside. We're waiting for the doctor."
The brigade leader looked at Liu Yaya in her arms, his eyes filled with pity. "What’s been going on with your family lately? One thing after another—is there something wrong with your feng shui?"
The police officer said nothing. Lin Qin didn't know how to respond.
After a while, Lin Yi was wheeled out and transferred to a ward. The attending physician told them, "The patient has a head injury, two broken ribs, and a fracture in his lower left leg. We've already x-rayed the leg; surgery will be tomorrow. The ribs will have to heal through rest, which will take about three to five months. Fortunately, his head injury didn't hit anything critical. One of the family members should go pay the hospitalization fees."
Lin Qin’s mind went blank. The brigade leader and the officer waited until Lin Yi was conscious to ask him about the incident before they left.
Seeing the brigade leader depart, Lin Qingxiang told Lin Qin, "I'm going back to get some money. You stay here and watch over your father and the child. Don't go anywhere."
"Uncle, I have money. I'll pay you back once my father is discharged," Lin Qin said, her eyes brimming with gratitude.
Lin Qingxiang waved his hand. "We can talk about that later."
After the group left, Lin Qin used the telephone at the nurse's station to contact her eldest sister, Lin Ying. It wasn't until Lin Qingxiang returned with the money and handled the admission procedures that the family finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Once Lin Qingxiang regained his composure, he started cursing outside the ward. "If I ever catch that piece of filth, I'll hack him to death! A-Qin, did your father offend anyone?"
Lin Qin shook her head, her eyes red. "Uncle, you know my father's temperament better than anyone. He hasn't had a falling out with anyone in this village for years. The only people he's offended are the Liu Family. Especially Liu Yongming—he came over to snatch the child that day, my father scolded him, and I slapped him and smashed his bicycle. That's all there is."
Lin Qingxiang slammed his fist against the wall in anger. "I knew Liu Yongming wasn't a good person! Where does he live? I'm going to settle this with him!"
"No, Uncle! Don't be impulsive. We don't have any evidence, and the brigade leader has already called the police. Let's just wait for them to finish their investigation," Lin Qin said, afraid that Lin Qingxiang’s temper would only make matters worse.
The brigade leader, having just walked back in, heard this and scolded them, "You're even less sensible than Lin Qin! You've lived this long, and you're still acting so reckless—are you really not afraid of death?"
He turned to Lin Qin. "I just came from the police station. The officers have already gone to investigate. Even though that plot of land is near the village entrance, it's still within village boundaries. Your father's money wasn't stolen, which means this wasn't a robbery. An attack this brutal sounds like a grudge. Think carefully—who has your father offended lately?"
Lin Qin and Lin Qingxiang exchanged a look.
Lin Qingxiang shouted furiously, "It's Liu Yongming, no doubt about it! It must be him! That turtle's egg—I'm not finished with him!"
Lin Qin was about to say something when she caught sight of Chen Wenjun at the end of the corridor. She gave a slight shake of her head toward him. Chen Wenjun immediately understood her meaning and turned to leave.