GD (QT) Chapter 14

“Eldest Sister, you’re finally awake.”

The one keeping watch by the bed was Lin Lai, who lit up with joy when she saw her open her eyes.

Lin Zhaodi was still a little dizzy. “Laidi… why is it you? Did Father bring me back home?”

“Eldest Sister, I’m not called Laidi anymore. Father gave me a new name—Lin Lai. From now on, call me A-Lai.”

Lin Lai helped her sit up, chattering nonstop. “The Sun family went way too far, making you do so much work that you fainted. Thank goodness we went to see you—otherwise it would’ve been terrible.”

Once Lin Zhaodi caught her breath, her first feeling wasn’t happiness but worry. “Father just brought me back like this—people will gossip. I’m much better now. I should go back later.”

“Eldest Sister, what nonsense are you talking?” Lin Lai pressed her down. “Doctor Wang said you’re overworked, with depleted qi and blood. You need proper rest—at least a year.”

“Father said you should recuperate at home. You don’t need to worry about the Sun family or anyone else.”

“How can that be?” Lin Zhaodi said anxiously. “What married daughter lives at her parents’ home? Besides, Father doesn’t earn money easily. I can’t burden the family.”

Moved yet even more unwilling to add to their load, she struggled to get out of bed.

Just then, a little girl stumbled in, clutching an egg in her hand.

“Ma… Mama…” Her speech was still unclear as she tried to stuff the egg toward her mother’s mouth.

Lin Zhaodi’s expression changed. “Where did this egg come from?”

The little girl was startled.

“Eldest Sister, what are you doing? Don’t scare Xiaohua,” Lin Lai said quickly.

She patted her niece. “You eat it yourself. There’s more in the pot.”

The little girl still looked timidly at her mother, not daring to put it in her mouth.

Lin Zhaodi’s heart ached. “If it’s for you, then eat it. Mama doesn’t like eggs.”

“How do you not like eggs? You used to love them.” Lin Pan walked in carrying a bowl of rice.

On top were meat and vegetables, and a freshly fried sunny-side-up egg.

“Elder Sister, eat first. We’ll talk after.”

Lin Zhaodi swallowed as she looked at the bowl, wiping her tears. “It’s not a festival or anything—why are we eating so well? It’s all because of me.”

The sisters exchanged a glance, both sensing something was wrong with Lin Zhaodi’s temperament.

As the eldest, and with their mother still alive when she was born, Lin Zhaodi had once been cherished. Among the three sisters, she’d always been the most forthright, protecting her younger sisters before she married.

But now, lying on the bed, she was pale and weak, timid and shrinking.

Lin Pan and Lin Lai felt their hearts soak in bitterness.

“Elder Sister, do you want me to feed you?”

“We’ve already eaten. This was specially kept for you—if you don’t eat it, it’ll just be thrown away.”

Lin Zhaodi didn’t believe them. Feeling that her poor health was dragging down her family, she finally took the bowl under their insistence.

After eating, Lin Zhaodi still insisted on getting out of bed.

The sisters teamed up to hold her down. “Elder Sister, Father also gave you a new name.”

“From now on, you’re Lin Zhao—zhao as in ‘bright as the sun and moon.’ No more Zhaodi.”

Having just eaten, Lin Zhaodi was stunned speechless by the news.

Taking advantage of her daze, the sisters told her everything that had happened recently—from Father rejecting Lin Pan’s marriage to smashing up Eldest Uncle’s house.

Lin Zhaodi grew even more dizzy, even suspecting she was dreaming.

“What? Father cut ties with Eldest Uncle?”

“Yes. Father said we won’t have an eldest uncle anymore. Our family will live behind closed doors on our own. I think it’s great—we won’t have to work for Grandma anymore,” Lin Lai said happily.

Lin Zhaodi frowned. “Would Grandma agree? Won’t the Clan Leader interfere?”

“The Clan Leader did come once, muttered a few lines, and that was it. Just shows that if we’re determined, no one can control us,” Lin Pan added.

Lin Zhaodi felt even more incredulous. “Father even got involved with the county magistrate? How is that possible?”

“Elder Sister, there’s a lot you don’t know,” Lin Pan smiled. “Just stay and recover. Over time, you’ll see for yourself.”

Still, Lin Zhaodi was uneasy. She felt that since she was already married, she couldn’t stay at her parents’ home eating and drinking for free.

It might be fine at first, but over time people would resent her—she’d offend both sides.

Besides, the Sun family definitely wouldn’t agree.

Lin Yu returned from outside and was delighted to see his eldest daughter awake.

But after she spoke, his smile faded.

“Father, I’m almost better now. When do you think it’d be appropriate for me to go back?”

Lin Yu frowned. “I think it’s most appropriate for you to never go back.”

Lin Zhaodi froze, stammering, not daring to speak.

Lin Yu sighed inwardly. Lin Zhaodi was different from her sisters—married with a child. Changing her mindset overnight was impossible.

He’d keep her here first. With time, she’d feel how good it was at home, and her thinking would change.

So he took a roundabout approach. “The family isn’t short of food for you and the child. This time the Sun family went too far. Unless they come to apologize in person—kowtow, admit their mistake, and promise to treat you well—I won’t let you go back.”

Hearing this, Lin Zhaodi actually relaxed.

In the countryside, if a favored daughter married out and was wronged, it wasn’t unheard of for her natal family to go make trouble.

Seeing that Lin Yu didn’t mention divorce, nor forbid her from returning outright, she felt much more at ease.

“Father, what if they never come to fetch me?” Lin Zhaodi asked worriedly.

Lin Yu laughed. “Then you can stay here and recover properly. If they do come, I might not even be willing to let you go.”

“Father, you really care about me the most.” Lin Zhaodi’s eyes reddened with emotion.

Lin Yu sighed, thinking that if the original Lin Yu had truly cared, he wouldn’t have ignored her once she was married.

“A-Pan and A-Lai told you, right? From now on, you’re called Lin Zhao. No more ‘bringing in a younger brother.’”

Lin Zhaodi nodded repeatedly, smiling. “A-Zhao sounds nice too. I’m just used to the old name.”

“Elder Sister, we weren’t used to our new names at first either,” Lin Lai said with a grin. “But after just a few days, we’re totally used to them!”

“Repeat it a few more times in your head. The new name sounds way better than the old one.”

Lin Zhao silently repeated her new name a few times. Before she knew it, it already felt familiar.

“Gong… Grandpa… Grandpa!”

As they spoke, the little girl ran over and hugged Lin Yu’s leg.

Lin Yu scooped her up and bounced her lightly. “Heavier than before. Looks like you’ve been eating well these past few days.”

He then pulled out a piece of candy and popped it into her mouth. “Sweet?”

“Sweet—very sweet. Thank you, Gran… Grandpa,” the little girl said haltingly.

Lin Zhao froze. “Xiaohua can talk now.”

The sisters asked in surprise, “Couldn’t she talk before?”

Lin Zhao pressed her lips together. “She could only call ‘Mama’ and ‘Papa.’ She couldn’t really say anything else.”

Because of that, Old Madam Sun always said her daughter was stupid and probably wouldn’t survive.

But now, after only a few days, Xiaohua was speaking—calling Grandpa, saying thank you. Lin Zhao was almost overcome with joy.

“It must be because the Sun family kept scolding you and the child,” Lin Lai said angrily. “She was frightened when she was little.”

Lin Zhao fell thoughtful.

She pinched her daughter’s cheek—it was still thin, making her eyes look especially large.

Lin Yu handed the child back to his daughter. “From now on, Father will take care of you. I won’t let you suffer anymore.”

“Father…” Lin Zhao’s eyes reddened again. She stroked her daughter’s dry, yellowish hair and said nothing this time.

Lin Yu stopped there, leaving the rest to time.

…

News that the mother and daughter had stayed spread quickly. Soon all of Qingshan Village knew that Lin Yu had stormed the Sun household and brought his eldest daughter back.

From Doctor Wang, people learned how badly Lin Zhaodi had been wronged—how she’d nearly died. Most felt sympathy and thought the Sun family had gone too far, never having seen a daughter-in-law tormented like that.

But there were also those who couldn’t stand to see others doing well, muttering privately that Lin Zhaodi had only borne a daughter in three years of marriage and owed the Sun family—doing more work was only right.

Old Madam Lin, who hated seeing her three granddaughters doing well, flew into a rage upon hearing the news.

“That Erzi is getting more and more outrageous. He earns money and doesn’t even show filial piety to his own mother, instead bringing back a money-losing girl to eat and drink for free.”

“Zhaodi’s been married out for years—she’s been a Sun for ages. With that spare money, he’d be better off spending it on Guangzong and Yaozu.”

“No, this can’t be allowed. I’m going over to take a look.”

Lin Da said gloomily, “Mother, Second Brother’s wings have hardened. He won’t listen to us at all. What good will it do if you go?”

Old Madam Lin’s face darkened further.

“Mother, any news from the Clan Leader?” Lin Da reminded her. “He hates it most when juniors are unfilial.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Lin immediately headed for the Clan Leader’s house.

“Elder Brother, you can’t ignore this. Erzi is becoming more and more outrageous—he even brought back a married-out daughter. Anyone who doesn’t know better would think a Lin daughter was divorced and sent home.”

She knew exactly what buttons to push.

“If word gets out, how will our Lin family’s girls marry in the future? You must intervene.”

The Clan Leader frowned deeply.

Earlier, after hearing the village head, he’d hesitated, afraid Lin Er truly had ties with the county magistrate.

But thinking it over again at home, he felt Lin Er was just a useless farmer—how could he possibly be connected to the magistrate?

Most likely it was a bluff to scare people.

He waited and waited, yet heard nothing from the county office, which only confirmed his belief that Lin Er was lying.

The Clan Leader felt his authority had been trampled and ground into the dirt.

Seeing his resolve waver, Old Madam Lin cried again. “My Guangzong and Yaozu are meant to study and take the imperial exams. They can’t be dragged down by him.”

“Don’t worry, little sister,” the Clan Leader said, slapping the table. “I must intervene. I can’t let Lin Er ruin the Lin family’s reputation.”

“I’ll gather the Lin clansmen and go confront him. If he refuses to send the woman back to the Sun family, I’ll—open the ancestral hall and strike his name from the clan, drive him and his daughters out of Qingshan Village!”

With that, the Clan Leader summoned a group of Lin men and marched aggressively toward Lin Yu’s home.