In the past life, the eldest brother had died, and soon after finishing junior high school, the younger brother had been sent by their father to work at the floor tile factory, and what about his little sister and himself?
Lin Qiu had been forced into marrying that abusive scoundrel and had to endure the terrible treatment from her evil mother-in-law.
And what about himself? What kind of days had he lived?
None of them were happy!
Lin Chun belatedly realized something was off with his sister. He quickly got up, pushing his motionless sister, "Xiaoxia! What's wrong with you? Are you still not feeling well?"
Lin Xia had snapped back to reality after Lin Chun's shout.
She forced herself to smile, but however you looked at it, the smile seemed fake.
"I'm fine! Big brother! From now on, things will definitely get better and better!"
Lin Chun looked worriedly at his sister, who laughed lightly, and blamed himself, saying, "It's all my fault! You were just getting better, and I said so much! Are you tired? Xiaoxia! Lie down for a bit! I'll call you when Xiaoqiu has finished cooking!"
This time, Lin Xia didn't object. She followed her brother's lead and lay down on the unmade bed.
After covering herself with the quilt, she felt much better. Seeing her elder brother still alive, and having lived again, what could possibly not be changed?
Suddenly, Lin Xia felt strength surge through her body; she grabbed Lin Chun's hand tightly and hurriedly said, "Big brother! Don't blame yourself! As long as we siblings are united, there are no hurdles we cannot overcome..."
Just then, they suddenly heard someone outside the door calling, "Is Lin Xia home?"
It had been so long since the old days that Lin Xia truly couldn't recognize who the voice belonged to!
But Lin Qiu, who was cooking in the kitchen, immediately laughed, her eyes lighting up as she loudly responded, "Yes, home! Aunt Jin, please come in!"
Aunt Jin?!
Lin Xia remembered this auntie, their neighbor who was always kind-hearted and had often helped them out.
But back then, she was timid, and after being scolded and beaten a few times by Chunli, she was afraid of bothering others, so gradually she stopped interacting much.
Lin Chun walked outside, and Lin Xia was also about to follow him down to see, when footsteps and voices came closer, and someone pushed the door open.
The first to come in was Aunt Jin!
With ears-length short hair, a wiry headband with teeth pulled back her bangs and small hairs behind the ears, her round face had a kind smile, dressed in a blue polyester jacket with a white collared shirt underneath, black pants, and black cloth shoes.
Upon seeing Lin Chun at the door, she was somewhat surprised, "Oh! Lin Chun, you're not working today?"
Lin Chun quickly smiled and said, "I was working! I was just worried about Lin Xia, so I came back early! Aunt Jin, please, come inside!"
"It's really a brother's duty!" Aunt Jin said as she walked to the bed and asked with concern, "Is Lin Xia feeling better?"
"Aunt Jin! I'm much better now! Please, take a seat!" Lin Xia quickly tried to get up.
Aunt Jin chuckled and pressed her down, "You child, why bother getting up when you are sick? I can just sit on the edge of the bed!"
Behind her, Lin Qiu and Lin Chun also had smiles on their faces.
Lin Chun quickly instructed, "Xiaoqiu, get Aunt Jin some water!"
"Okay!" Xiaoqiu happily complied, skillfully grabbed the thermos and cups, poured the water, and smilingly brought it to Aunt Jin, "Aunt Jin! Have some water!"
Aunt Jin warmly greeted, "No need to fuss! Xiaoqiu, good child, sit down, Lin Chun, you sit too. I just heard Lin Xia was ill and came to see her!"
"Okay!" Xiaoqiu sat next to Lin Xia.
"Okay! Aunt Jin, have some water!" Lin Chun didn't sit on the edge of the kang, but instead sat on a long bench.
Aunt Jin glanced around the room casually, noticing its broken condition and lack of possessions. Sympathy flashed in her eyes as she gently took Lin Xia's hand and said, "Lin Xia, your illness yesterday really worried your brother and younger siblings.
From now on, you should be a bit shrewder, and not so straightforward! When will all of you actually be treated like real children by him? Your dad was just muddled for a moment and didn't think it through!"
To speak of Lin Xia, she was capable and sincere, and she was also quite pretty, but her luck was just not good.
Being in such a family, things were a bit better when her mom was still alive, at least she could protect the children somewhat.
But as soon as her mom passed away, Lin Aiguo didn't take long to bring back a widow to be his wife, who also came with two children of her own.
What was even more infuriating was that he treated those children who were not his own very well, while his own biological children got nothing but beatings and scoldings!
All the old neighbors in the streets behind and in front, who didn't secretly criticize Lin Aiguo? How could he be so muddled!
But after all, it was someone else's family matter, and they, being outsiders, couldn't say too much.
Lin Chun listened quietly and nodded, agreeing that what Aunt Jin said made sense.
Xiaoqiu turned her face to the side and stealthily pursed her lips, unwilling to believe it.
Lin Xia silently nodded her agreement, yet she knew it wasn't possible. The neighbors always thought their dad, Lin Aiguo, was just temporarily muddled.
Maybe when he came to his senses, he would see clearly who his real children were.
But, only she, who had experienced everything, knew that Lin Aiguo was not muddled, but was feigning ignorance on purpose.
All the miseries she and her siblings faced, could they really all have been orchestrated by Qian Chunli alone?
Since she was young, she knew that in Lin Aiguo's eyes, they were less than even little cats and dogs.
Whenever he saw something he disliked, he would scold or hit them, and even though many fathers behaved this way nowadays, her father was truly one of a kind!
Aunt Jin noticed that Lin Xia and Xiaoqiu didn't like what she was saying, but Lin Chun took it to heart and sighed internally.
It wasn't the children's fault!
"All of you are here, so I won't beat around the bush! I came here today to tell you something, your Uncle Jin knows someone at a big factory in another city, and they're hiring now. If you do well, you can become a regular worker. He wants to send my son Baoquan there.
Your Uncle Jin and I thought about it, and Lin Chun is just the right age. You kids really have it tough. They say distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, living next door, we should help out where we can!
But your Uncle Jin can only lend a hand, whether or not it actually happens, I can't guarantee! It still depends on Lin Chun himself!"
Lin Chun listened and then bowed his head in silence, feeling conflicted.
Lin Xia's heart thumped violently for a few moments when she heard this, she had only come to know about this in her past life.
By then it was already too late, like cold dishes at a banquet.
This time, she had to seize the opportunity no matter what!
If her older brother could go to another city, might he not die?
Lin Xia was so excited that she tightly held Aunt Jin's hand resting on the kang, and said with immense gratitude, "Aunt Jin! Thank you so much! I won't say anything superfluous, but whichever of us makes something of ourselves one day, we will repay your kindness!"
"My brother could even become a worker! Aunt Jin! How wonderful you and Uncle Jin are! Even if it doesn't work out, we still thank you!"
Xiaoqiu was so excited that she trembled and didn't even know what to say in thanks, she just covered her mouth and laughed continuously.