"Half and half?"
Lin Changhong didn't understand what this 'half and half' meant.
"Big brother, let me ask you, who do Grandpa and Grandma care about the most?" Lin Caisang looked at Lin Changhong, resting her own chin on one hand, and asked.
"Of course, it's you."
Lin Changhong rolled his eyes and said irritably.
"If you really had an accident, Grandpa and Grandma would surely follow you to the grave... Not!"
Before he could finish his sentence, his face had turned pitch black, and his entire demeanor worsened, as he angrily punched the bed.
"Isn't Liu Rumei afraid of invoking a lawsuit over a human life?"
"Hehe."
Lin Caisang also pulled at the corners of her mouth, a smile not quite reaching her eyes.
"If I truly get stuck in the Chen Family and cannot get out, who would know that Liu Rumei did it? Now Second Uncle seems capable, even hoping to snag a ninth-grade agricultural historian position in the county yamen, how could he tolerate having such downtrodden relatives like us?"
Hearing this, Lin Changhong's gaze turned even more bloodshot than before.
Sangsang was the lifeblood of the elders, too precious to be held too tightly in their mouths for fear of dissolving, too fragile to be held in their hands for fear of dropping. Especially after their father had gone without a trace, the elders had relied on Sangsang as their sole pillar for survival.
How could they go on living if something truly happened to Sangsang?
"Sangsang, are we just going to let this matter drop?" He asked Lin Caisang with hatred.
"What can we do if we don't let it drop? We have no evidence—how could our empty words ever outweigh theirs? At best, we can accuse the Chen Family of plotting against my life."
Lin Caisang shrugged her shoulders.
Liu Rumei's family did business in the town and had even expanded into the county—how could they ever hope to compete with such people? Unless... Grandpa and Grandma went all out and charged Liu Baixiao with the crime of disrespecting his parents at the county yamen.
In that case, no matter how capable Liu Baixiao was, he wouldn't dream of holding an official position in the county yamen.
But no matter how disrespectful Liu Baixiao was, he was still the son of Grandpa and Grandma—who as parents, could bear to see their son suffer? They might speak harshly, but who knows what they truly thought?
She didn't want to impose too much hardship on Ms. Lu of Lin Family.
"Big brother, here's what we'll do."
She gestured Lin Changhong over with her hand, and Lin Changhong immediately leaned in to listen.
After they had discussed in whispers for a while, at Ms. Lu of Lin Family's urging, Lin Changhong went to the main hall to eat, while Lin Caisang's meal was brought to her in bed by Ms. Lu of Lin Family.
...
"I've found out."
Next to the old Lin Family's home was Ya Molian's residence—Ya Enxi had just walked to his own home but managed to learn everything that happened to Lin Caisang.
"It was Second Aunt from the Lin Family who, behind Grandma Qiubo's back, tricked Caisang into going to the county to be sold, to replace a sickly bride for good fortune!"
He relayed everything he had heard to Ya Molian, cursing Liu Rumei in his heart a thousand and ten thousand times, wishing he could rip a piece of flesh from her!
"Liu Baixiao's woman?"
It was early spring, and Ya Molian was only draped in a single layer of clothing, her hair unbound as if she had just taken a bath. Upon hearing Ya Enxi's words, she raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it that Liu Baixiao?" Ya Enxi nodded.
Over the years, the name Liu Baixiao had become notorious in their village—everyone who mentioned it would spit on the ground in disgust.
"I heard the Liu Family has been doing quite well in the county, hoping to secure a ninth-grade agricultural historian position for Liu Baixiao, but they're just short on silver. So, they've targeted Caisang."
An agricultural historian? In his eyes, Liu Baixiao was nothing but a festering carbuncle!