GD (QT) Chapter 21

“Second Brother, even if Mother was in the wrong before, she’s sick now. This is the mother who gave birth to you and raised you; you can’t just ignore her.”

Lin Da arrived at the door in person, making a show of speaking with gravity and earnestness. Fearing that Lin Yu would find an excuse to refuse, he deliberately shouted: “Mother is so sick she can’t even get out of bed, all because of the stress over your daughters’ marriages! No matter how many faults she has, you must come and see her.”

The neighbors clearly heard this and stuck their heads out to watch.

Encouraged by the audience, Lin Da leaned into his performance: “There are no parents in this world who are truly in the wrong. You can cut ties with me because you think your sister-in-law meddles too much—I have nothing to say to that—but are you really going to abandon your own mother?”

Even with the Prefect’s favor fresh in their minds, the villagers nodded in agreement. They felt that Old Mother Lin was, after all, his birth mother who had raised him to adulthood.

The three Lin sisters looked at each other, their hearts full of worry.

Lin Yu stood up and asked, “Is Mother truly ill?”

With Old Mother Lin’s sturdy constitution, how could she happen to fall ill right at this moment?

Lin Da barked, “Of course it’s true! Would Mother pretend to be sick just to trick you?”

He expected Lin Yu to hesitate or argue, but to his surprise, Lin Yu turned around and pushed out a wooden handcart. “Then let’s not waste time. We must get her to the city for treatment immediately.”

Lin Yu looked up and said, “Brother, if Mother is sick, she needs a cure. Why come to me? I’m not a doctor. Every moment we delay here is a moment her condition could worsen.”

“You…” Lin Da started to snap, but swallowed his words.

Lin Yu turned back to his daughters and instructed, “Stay home. I’m taking your grandmother to the city for medical care.”

With that, he pushed the cart and set off.

The neighbors watched and praised him: “Even though the two families had a falling out, Lin Er is truly filial. He’s not stingy with medical fees when it comes to his mother.”

“Lin Da is something else, though. He doesn’t think of his brother when good things happen, but the moment money needs to be spent on a doctor, he’s at his brother’s door.”

Lin Da wanted to argue, but saying anything now would make it look like he was the one unwilling to pay for his mother’s treatment. He followed behind with a furrowed brow, feeling suspicious. He had expected the “transformed” Lin Yu to refuse, which would give him evidence of unfilial behavior to use against him. He hadn’t expected him to head out without a word.

When they reached the Eldest’s house, Lin Yu stopped. “Go and carry Mother out.”

Lin Da’s eyes darted around. “Mother just caught a bit of a chill and can’t get out of bed. The trip to town might be too bumpy.”

“An elder’s illness cannot be taken lightly; a small ailment can turn into a catastrophe,” Lin Yu said decisively. “Don’t worry, I will cover all the medical expenses. Hurry up! Don’t delay her treatment!”

Under this pressure, Lin Da had no choice but to go inside.

Guangzong and Yaozu were home. Seeing their father, they asked, “Dad, did Second Uncle agree to come in?”

Lin Da whispered, “He’s here, but he’s waiting outside. He says he wants to take Grandma to the town to see a doctor.”

Old Mother Lin, who was faking her illness, heard this and said, “I’m not actually sick! Just tell him to come in here.”

The four of them had planned this: Mother would fake an illness to guilt-trip the Second Brother and squeeze money out of him.

But Lin Guangzong said, “Grandma, Second Uncle is waiting at the door. If you refuse to go to the doctor, everyone will know you’re faking. You might as well go. Once there, you can just say you have a headache or a fever. The doctor will prescribe medicine regardless.”

Lin Yaozu came up with an even more malicious idea: “Have the doctor prescribe ginseng and deer antler. That’s much easier than asking for cash directly.”

“That’s a great idea! If he refuses to buy it, he’s unfilial,” Old Mother Lin slapped her thigh, delighted by the plan.

The four of them calculated their moves, the “abacus beads” clicking loudly in their minds. Lin Da bent over and carried his mother out. Old Mother Lin put on an act, looking as though she were drawing her last breath.

To the neighbors, she looked like she was at death’s door.

Lin Yu looked frantic, calling out: “How did Mother get so sick? Quick, get her on the cart! We must get to the town doctor!”

“Mother is just worried about us,” Lin Da sighed. “The elderly shouldn’t have to worry so much. Second Brother, in the future, don’t make Mother worry anymore.”

Lin Yu’s expression flickered. “You’re right. Mother is old. We shouldn’t let her worry.”

The faking Old Mother Lin and her eldest son exchanged a look; they felt the plan was working perfectly. If Lin Yu dared to refuse treatment or the expensive medicine, he would be labeled unfilial. No amount of official favor could protect a man with a ruined reputation.

Lin Yu pushed the cart and called out to the villagers: “A few of you, please lend a hand! Once we get Mother to town, there will be a heavy reward!”

Lin Da realized this was bad. He tried to stop them, but several men stepped forward.

“We’re all neighbors, no need for rewards! We’ll help you push.”

Lin Yu thanked them one by one, and the group set off for town.

Anxious, Lin Da whispered, “Why did you call so many people? I can push it myself.”

Lin Yu replied, “More hands make for a steadier ride. We don’t want Mother to suffer on the bumps.”

Lin Da could only signal his mother to keep up the act. Old Mother Lin wailed and groaned on cue, looking like she was in the throes of a sudden, violent illness.

While most were fooled, one of the Eldest’s closest neighbors felt something was off. She was shouting curses with a full voice just last night; how did she suddenly fall so ill? Is she faking?

“Who knows,” another replied. “It’s the Lins’ business; we can’t interfere.”

Despite the uncertainty, most villagers suspected she was faking to scam her second son.

Back at Lin Yu’s house, the three sisters were also worried.

Lin Lai said huffily, “Grandma must be faking again. She’s the best at the ‘crying, screaming, and hanging herself’ routine. She always uses it to force Dad to give her things. I hope he isn’t tricked.”

Lin Pan didn’t say it out loud, but her heart agreed. She was more worried than her sister: “Dad is her son, after all. If she’s ‘sick,’ he has to take care of her, or people will talk.”

Lin Zhao whispered, “I’m just afraid Grandma will use this ‘illness’ to demand something terrible.” They had just found peace; she was terrified of the grandmother ruining it.

…

The road from Qingshan Village to the county seat was long and difficult. Fortunately, with several men helping, the cart was steady. Old Mother Lin, as she faked her illness, actually almost fell asleep.

Fearing she’d look too relaxed, Lin Da gave her a sharp pinch. She woke with a start, let out a yelp, and resumed her moaning.

“The old lady looks even worse now,” the villagers remarked. “Let’s move faster.”

Soon, they arrived at the pharmacy in Changhe County.

Without waiting for prompt, Lin Da carried his mother inside, shouting: “Someone help! Doctor! My mother has had a sudden collapse! Check her pulse!”

He took the chance to put some distance between himself and the neighbors, whispering: “Mother, this is the chance. Make sure you get Second Brother to agree to what we discussed.”

“I know,” she assured him.

They had planned to demand all the gifts the Prefect had sent, and also demand that Lin Yu take Guangzong and Yaozu to meet the Prefect. With an official’s favor, the grandsons would surely become high-ranking officials and bring glory to the family.

Lin Da set her down so abruptly that she hit the chair and cried out in genuine pain.

Lin Yu followed close behind, reminding him: “Be careful not to bump her!”

With the commotion, the doctor assumed it was a dire emergency and rushed over to take her pulse.

Old Mother Lin took the opportunity to grab Lin Yu’s hand. “Erzi… you’re brothers. Blood is thicker than water. Let the past grievances go…”

A cold light flashed in Lin Yu’s eyes. He gripped her palm back firmly. “Mother, just focus on getting better. Nothing is more important than your health.”

He turned to the doctor. “Doctor, use whatever it takes to cure my mother. Don’t worry about the cost.”

The accompanying villagers were moved. “Lin Er is truly a filial son.”

Lin Da’s face darkened, but he played along: “He has always been filial. Whatever Mother wants, he has never refused.” He signaled his mother to make her move.

Old Mother Lin mentally rehearsed the lines her grandsons had taught her: Guangzong and Yaozu are the only male heirs of the Lin family. They will provide for you in your old age. Since you have the favor of the Prefect and the Magistrate, you should promote your nephews. They are the ones who will perform your funeral rites.

She was about to speak when her body suddenly shuddered and went limp.

“Doctor! What’s happening to my mother? Look at her!” Lin Yu cried out, sounding frantic.

The doctor was startled. The pulse he had just touched was strong and healthy—how did it suddenly become weak as a thread? He checked again.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” Lin Da wailed, covering his eyes to hide his joy at her “acting.” “Just as Second Brother is becoming successful and showing his filial piety, just as your good days are beginning, why are you suddenly like this?”

The villagers grew worried, thinking they had been wrong to doubt her. No one could fake that well.

Lin Da continued the performance: “Doctor, my mother has always been healthy! She hardly even gets a cold. Why this sudden collapse?”

Lin Yu added with deep emotion: “I will pay any amount of money to save her!”

Perfect! Lin Da thought, trying not to laugh. He gave his mother a look, telling her to speak now.

But Old Mother Lin was desperate to speak and found she couldn’t. Her body had lost all sensation, and terror gripped her.

The doctor examined her thoroughly before saying in a heavy voice: “The elderly lady suffered much in her youth, which damaged her constitution. She seemed fine, but when illness strikes, it strikes hard.”

Lin Da was delighted. Doctors always exaggerate, he thought. If there’s no illness, they invent one; if it’s small, they make it big.

“How do we treat her?” he asked. “She worked so hard to raise us. She hasn’t even enjoyed her life yet. You must save her!”

Lin Yu narrowed his eyes and echoed: “I don’t care how precious the herbs are. Even if I have to bankrupt myself, I will save her.”

Lin Da was getting impatient. Such a perfect opportunity, why isn’t she speaking? Make him give everything to Guangzong and Yaozu! Those three girls don’t deserve the Prefect’s gifts—only my sons do!

But Old Mother Lin didn’t respond to his looks at all.

The doctor let out a long sigh. “The lady is lucky to have such filial sons. But this illness is troublesome. My skills are shallow; I fear I am powerless to reverse this.”

“You should take her back… and begin preparing for the funeral.”

Lin Da was stunned. He jumped up and screamed: “You quack! My mother was fine when she came in! How is she suddenly dying? Did you kill her with your diagnosis?!”