“Father, are we really going to trouble Lin Er?” the Clan Leader’s son asked worriedly. “When Lin Er goes mad, he even beats his own brothers. Why should we go poke such a hard nut?”
The Clan Leader snorted coldly. “That’s exactly why this has to be handled. Our Lin clan cannot produce an unfilial son.”
“But this is just Third Branch’s business. Do we really need to go all out like this?” his son asked, puzzled.
“What do you know,” the Clan Leader explained. “Lin Da’s two sons are studying in the county seat. I hear they’re quite capable—who knows, they may amount to something in the future. If you’re going to curry favor, you do it early.”
“And besides, that day he even dared to use the county magistrate’s name to bluff me. It was infuriating. If I don’t drive him out of Qingshan Village today, where will my dignity be?”
Hearing his father’s words, the Clan Leader’s son puffed out his chest. “Don’t worry, Father. Later I’ll be the first to rush in and beat Lin Er senseless to vent your anger.”
A group of men arrived at Lin Yu’s doorstep, bristling with menace.
“Lin Er, get out here!” the Clan Leader bellowed.
These past few days, Lin Zhao had been resting with good food and drink, and her complexion had improved a lot. She was the type who couldn’t sit idle, and was currently making padded cotton clothes with her two sisters.
The little girl leaned against her mother, gnawing on a flatbread in her hands.
Having grown up hungry, she instinctively stuffed anything she got into her mouth. Afraid she’d upset her stomach, Lin Yu had Lin Pan make harder flatbreads for her to chew on.
At the Clan Leader’s shout, Lin Pan pricked her finger with the needle, and the little girl nearly choked.
Lin Yu frowned and stood up, heading outside.
Lin Zhao hugged her daughter and patted her back, panic written all over her face. “What do we do? The Clan Leader must’ve heard about me and come to cause trouble. Maybe I should leave right away—I can’t bring trouble to the family.”
“Eldest Sister, just sit tight and watch Father deal with them,” Lin Lai said confidently.
Lin Pan added, “The Clan Leader doesn’t feed or clothe us. What can he really do to us?”
Lin Zhao was still deeply uneasy. “He’s the Clan Leader after all. If things blow up, how will Father live in the village? Maybe I should go out and admit fault—say I’ll go back after a while.”
These past days at home felt like a dream. Every meal had eggs, and they even ate meat daily.
All she needed to do was some light housework with her sisters—easier than before she’d married.
And even then, Father and her sisters kept saying she still hadn’t recovered properly, forbidding her from doing any heavy work.
Since marrying, Lin Zhao’s days had been sheer misery, working nonstop from dawn to night without a single moment to catch her breath.
She liked these good days too. After only a few days, her spirits had lifted—but that only made her more afraid of bringing disaster upon the family.
Lin Pan and Lin Lai worked together to keep her inside, then directly plopped the little girl into her arms.
“Eldest Sister, just hold Xiaohua and watch. Father definitely has a way.”
Before going out, Lin Yu grabbed a shoulder pole.
The moment he stepped out and stood there, before he even lifted a hand, the Lin clansmen who’d followed all retreated, afraid he’d swing at them.
“Clan Leader, maybe we should just forget it.”
“Third Branch’s affairs should be handled by Third Branch. Why did we come at all?”
“Even Third Aunt herself didn’t come—why are we sticking our necks out?”
“Lin Er is terrifyingly strong. He can kill a wild boar with one punch. A few days ago he even hung the entire Sun family up and beat them.”
One by one, they shrank behind the Clan Leader and his son, terrified of being struck.
The Clan Leader’s face darkened. “So many of us, and you’re afraid of him?”
“When the time comes, all of you rush him together. Let’s see what he can do.”
But no matter how loudly he shouted, none of the Lin men dared step forward.
Before his words had even faded, Lin Yu let out a cold laugh and slammed the shoulder pole onto the ground. “What are you all here for? So many people—are you here to pick a fight?”
His icy, razor-sharp gaze swept over them like blades.
“N-no, no…” Anyone caught by that stare hurriedly waved their hands, cursing themselves for coming along to watch the fun.
The Clan Leader was furious at their uselessness and shot his son a vicious glare.
The son had nowhere to hide. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward. “Lin Er, did you bring Zhaodi back?”
Lin Yu replied calmly, “There is no Zhaodi in my family. Only Lin Zhao.”
“I don’t care what you call her. She’s already a married-out daughter—there’s no reason for her to live long-term at her natal home. Hurry up and send her back. Otherwise, people will think she did something wrong and was divorced and sent home. Our Lin clan has no divorced daughters,” the Clan Leader shouted.
“No,” Lin Yu said flatly.
“My daughter was wronged outside. Unless the Sun family personally comes to my door, kneels down, apologizes to my daughter, and swears never to bully her again, she will not return.”
“What? You even want them to kowtow and apologize?” The Clan Leader felt Lin Er had truly gone mad. How could he say such things?
Lin Yu nodded. “Perfect timing—since so many of you are here, go pass the message to the Sun family. Otherwise, my daughter won’t be going back.”
“Have you lost your mind? Are you planning to support her for the rest of your life?” the Clan Leader cursed.
Lin Yu smiled. “That wouldn’t be impossible.”
The Clan Leader jumped in rage. “Mad—absolutely mad! Have you thought about the Lin clan’s reputation? About Guangzong and Yaozu’s future? I won’t allow you to disgrace the Lin family!”
Lin Yu shot back, “I’ve already cut ties. What does their future have to do with me?”
“As Clan Leader, when a daughter of the clan is wronged, you don’t help her seek justice—fine. But to aid the abusers instead? Someone like you isn’t fit to be Clan Leader. Otherwise, you’ll drag the entire Lin clan into the mud, stuck in obscurity forever.”
“You—you—you!” the Clan Leader shrieked. “Today I’ll expel you from the Lin clan and drive you out of Qingshan Village!”
Lin Yu didn’t even twitch an eyebrow, only staring coldly at the people at the gate. “Go ahead and try.”
The Clan Leader suddenly looked to the Lin clansmen. Earlier they’d been shouting loudly, but now, when it mattered, every single one lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
With no other choice, the Clan Leader shoved his own son forward.
The son’s hands and feet were trembling. After only a few days, Lin Yu’s presence felt more terrifying than the King of Hell himself.
But with his father urging him on, he had no choice but to step forward. “Lin Er, if you still won’t listen, then we’ll have to take action.”
His answer was Lin Yu’s disdainful snort.
Inside the house, Lin Zhao was frantic, struggling to go out. “Let me go back. I can’t bring trouble to the family. You can’t offend the Clan Leader just for me and make it impossible for you all to live in the village.”
But Lin Pan and Lin Lai said, “What they say doesn’t count. Only what Father says counts.”
The little girl, not understanding what was happening, suddenly wriggled free from her mother’s arms and ran outside.
“Grandpa, Grandpa!”
Lin Yu froze, not expecting the child to come out.
He bent down and scooped her up.
At that very moment, the Clan Leader roared, “Now! Do it—drive them all out of Qingshan Village!”
“I want to see who dares!”
The village head’s face had gone completely black.
He’d warned the Lin Clan Leader long ago that Lin Yu was no longer the same. Who would’ve thought he’d still dare come looking for trouble?
Even worse, he chose to come at the exact moment the yamen runners arrived.
Wasn’t this smearing Qingshan Village’s reputation?
The village head shot a vicious glare at the Lin clansmen, then turned and bowed politely. “Esteemed officers, this way please—this is Lin Yu’s home.”
The Clan Leader spun around and saw yamen runners dressed in black.
His head exploded with a loud boom. He remembered the village head’s earlier warning—that Lin Yu had connections with the county magistrate, who had personally seen him off.
Before he could react, the village head had already led the officers through the crowd to Lin Yu’s gate.
The yamen runner delivering the message was the same one from last time.
Bailiff Bai swept his gaze around and immediately understood what was going on. He sneered. “What’s going on in your village? Gathering a mob to fight is a serious crime.”
Cold sweat poured down the Clan Leader’s head. His tongue tangled, unable to respond.
The village head hurriedly said, “They—they must’ve heard that Lin Yu received a reward from the magistrate and came to congratulate him, sharing in the honor.”
Bailiff Bai snorted. “If it’s congratulations, where are the gifts?”
The village head hurriedly shot them meaningful looks.
The Lin clansmen all spoke up at once. “The gifts are at home—my wife’s preparing them.”
“We were in such a hurry to congratulate him. We’ll bring the gifts right over.”
“I’ll go get the gifts now.” A few immediately greased their feet and ran, afraid of being caught by the officers.
Even the Clan Leader wiped his cold sweat and said, “We’ll send the congratulatory gifts shortly. Please forgive us, sir.”
Bailiff Bai ignored them and walked straight to Lin Yu, his expression warming with a hint of a smile. “Brother Lin Yu, Magistrate Huang has sent the curved-shaft plow you presented up the chain. The Prefect was overjoyed when he saw it, saying it truly is a tool that benefits the country and the people.”
“These are the rewards bestowed upon you by the Prefect. He also said he’ll rush the curved-shaft plow to the capital. If it catches the Emperor’s eye, your good fortune is still to come.”
Lin Yu’s heart finally settled.
The reward had come at exactly the right time.
He swept a glance over the Lin clansmen, knowing they were no longer worth worrying about. From now on, none of them would dare utter another word.
Lin Yu set the child down and cupped his hands in thanks. “Many thanks, Bailiff Bai, for making this special trip. Please come inside for some tea and rest your feet.”
Bailiff Bai naturally didn’t refuse and had the gifts carried inside.
The village head barked, “Why are you all still standing there? Go help!”
He’d never realized before just how lacking in sense these Lin clansmen were.
Lin Yu thought the village head showed good judgment and said, “Village Head, why don’t you come in as well and be our guest?”
The village head happily agreed and followed him inside with a smile.
Outside, the Clan Leader’s son was drenched in sweat. “Father, what do we do now?”
The Clan Leader had no idea either. His legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground. “It’s over… it’s all over.”
Maria Lian On CFRFGC Chapter 104