GD (QT) Chapter 28

Ever since Lin Yu made it clear that he would never remarry, the hearts of the three Lin sisters finally settled. Without the unstable variable of a stepmother, even the habitually over-anxious Lin Zhao stopped living in a state of panic. She focused entirely on honing her skills, determined to earn money with her own two hands.

She spent every day tinkering with new patterns, and her embroidery grew better and better. It didn’t take long for her teacher to realize she had nothing left to teach her. Lin Zhao began to innovate on her own at home, producing work that was increasingly exquisite.

She went to town to sell her work again; because her patterns were novel and her handkerchiefs exceptionally detailed, they fetched a very high price. Emboldened by this success, she wanted to take her needlework everywhere. If Lin Yu hadn’t stopped her, she would have worked until midnight. Only after a stern lecture did she realize her health and eyesight were worth more than a few copper coins, and she stopped secretly working late into the night.

Lin Lai, on the other hand, put immense effort into her martial arts, practicing diligently every day. Because the Lin family was eating well and martial arts made her hungry, she ate significantly more. Within a single month, she shot up in height, eventually surpassing both of her sisters. Among the three, she was the youngest, yet she had become the tallest.

Lin Zhao worried about this in private, whispering to her sister, “If you keep growing like this, you’ll be taller than a man. I’m afraid it’ll be hard to find a husband.”

Lin Lai didn’t care at all. She puffed out her chest and said, “What does that matter? When Father is old, I’ll have the strength to take care of you all. Just watch—I’ll be more successful than any man.” She put all her energy into it, wishing she could grow even taller and sturdier.

With the eldest and youngest busy with their pursuits, Lin Pan felt noticeably idle. Her embroidery was slow; though she could earn money, her talent clearly lagged behind her eldest sister’s. As for martial arts, Lin Pan had no interest. Just watching her third sister shout and punch wood in the yard made her own hands ache. She had tried it once, and her fist was so swollen by evening that she couldn’t even cook the next day.

Lin Pan had to give up; she simply wasn’t built for it. But as she watched her eldest sister earn money and her youngest sister master martial arts, she felt a quiet anxiety gnawing at her.

“Eldest Sister, Third Sister, how about I handle all the household chores from now on?” Lin Pan suggested one day after dinner.

Lin Zhao naturally disagreed. “That won’t do. How can we let you do everything? There are only so many chores; if we all pitch in, they’re finished in no time.”

Lin Lai added, “Second Sister, we’re doing fine dividing them up. Why do you want to take them all on?”

Lin Pan lowered her head and remained silent. As the eldest, Lin Zhao had raised her younger sisters since they were small and knew their temperaments well. After a moment of thought, she pieced it together. She took her sister’s hand and asked, “Are you feeling uneasy because I’ve been earning money?”

“Sister, I didn’t mean it like that.” Lin Pan’s face flushed as she hurriedly explained, “I just feel so useless. I can’t do embroidery well, martial arts isn’t for me, and I get a headache just looking at Father’s blueprints. I can’t do any of it.” Her voice trembled as she sniffled. “Of all the sisters, I’m the only one who can’t learn anything.”

Lin Lai looked at her sister helplessly, not understanding why she felt this way. Lin Zhao pulled her into a hug and patted her back. “Second Sister, you shouldn’t think that way. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Look at our youngest—she punches wood and smiles, totally unafraid of pain. I certainly couldn’t do that; just watching her makes me hurt.”

“But Eldest Sister can embroider! The teacher said the only reason you aren’t a master is that you started late,” Lin Pan muttered.

Lin Lai sat down beside her. “Second Sister, Father said everyone should play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. You can’t just stare at those two things.”

Lin Pan knew this, but she was even more discouraged. “But what are my strengths? Aside from washing, cleaning, cooking, and watching the child, I can’t do anything, let alone earn money like Eldest Sister.”

Lin Zhao hugged her tight, her heart aching for her. “Silly girl. Half a year ago, I thought the same way. At the Sun house, I felt my life was hopeless—that I was destined to just work at home forever. But look at me now.”

“Exactly!” Lin Lai chimed in. “And we’re in no hurry.”

Lin Pan felt her crying was a bit silly. She sheepishly wiped her eyes and said, “But I’ve thought and thought, and I can’t figure out what I’m good at.”

“Ask Grandpa,” Lin Le suddenly blurted out.

Lin Lai clapped her hands. “That’s it! We can ask Father. He’s seen so much and has so many ideas; he’ll definitely know.”

“Isn’t that… embarrassing?” Lin Pan hesitated.

Lin Zhao said, “What’s embarrassing between a father and daughter? Come, let’s go ask him together.”

…

In the yard, Lin Yu was doing the final assembly and improvements on his invention, calculating the best time to present it to the county magistrate. It was winter now, and the rivers were freezing, so a waterwheel wouldn’t be very useful. It would be better to wait until spring.

As he was calculating, his three daughters walked over hand-in-hand. He noticed Lin Pan had been crying. He stopped his work and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Lai quickly explained the situation, concluding with: “Father, hurry and think of a strength for Second Sister, or she’s going to go crazy with worry.”

Lin Yu found himself in a difficult position. He was an outsider; how was he supposed to know Lin Pan’s “special talent”? Finding Lin Zhao’s embroidery skill had been a stroke of luck—he had only wanted to give them something to do to keep them busy.

However, seeing the look of expectation in Lin Pan’s eyes, he started with praise: “It’s a good thing that A-Pan wants to improve herself and earn her own way.” This made her blush, and her shame lessened slightly.

“Look at me,” Lin Yu continued. “For over thirty years, I lived a mediocre life. Aside from farming, I didn’t know what I could do. But suddenly, in my thirties, I ‘woke up.’ Perhaps what A-Pan lacks is just a spark, an opportunity.”

Lin Pan pondered this. It made sense; there was no reason her father and sisters could be successful while she was not. But after a moment, she grew troubled again. “But where is my spark?”

Lin Yu offered some advice: “First, you can look for things that interest you and try doing them. Our family is doing well now and we aren’t short of money, so you can try everything. If you try enough things, you’ll eventually find something you like and are good at.”

Lin Zhao and Lin Lai encouraged her. One said she didn’t know she could embroider until she was nearly twenty, and the other said she never knew she loved martial arts until she tried it. Lin Pan finally laughed, her mood brightening as she realized her family was there to support her.

Lin Yu took the chance to add, “Actually, A-Pan’s ability to keep accounts is excellent. You manage our household money perfectly—none of the three of us can match you in that.”

This was the truth. Lin Yu was a big spender who didn’t care about a copper or two. Lin Zhao cared, but she was terrible at math and had to count a string of coins several times, often getting it wrong. Lin Lai was similar. In the end, it was always Lin Pan who stepped in to settle the books.

Lin Pan laughed. “Too bad there’s no profession for just ‘counting money,’ or I’d be set.”

From that day on, Lin Pan took the matter to heart, wanting to try her hand at everything.

…

Before Lin Pan could find her “spark,” the snow began to fall, and suddenly it was the end of the year. This was the first New Year the whole family was spending together. Lin Yu took them all to town and bought a massive amount of holiday goods—if he saw something good to eat or use, he bought it. His daughters had to talk him out of spending their entire savings.

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, the three sisters were up early. They thoroughly cleaned the house, which was already spotless from their previous “spring cleaning.” When Lin Yu woke up, he heard the sound of sizzling from the kitchen. He walked over and saw a large pot of oil on the stove.

Lin Pan was the head chef—a role she had requested. She was currently frying mahua (twisted dough sticks). The dough spirals expanded several times their size in the hot oil. Lin Yu looked around; there were also “cat ears” (crispy dough snacks), sesame balls, and various small pastries. One of them was particularly beautiful—after being fried, it bloomed like a flower.

“What’s this?” Lin Yu asked.

“Lotus pastries,” Lin Pan replied shyly. “A few days ago in town, I heard a waiter mention this kind of snack. He said they only sell them in large restaurants. I came home and tinkered with it. It might not be quite right.”

Lin Yu was amazed. “You made this just from a description?” He picked one up and tasted it. The crust was crispy and flaky, with a sweet bean paste filling. He could see she had struggled with the first few—they were a bit charred—but the later ones were perfect, looking like half-opened lotuses.

“It tastes great!” Lin Yu praised loudly. “A-Pan, you certainly have a talent for cooking.”

“Cooking isn’t really a talent,” Lin Pan instinctively countered. “Everyone knows how to cook.”

“But what they make definitely isn’t as beautiful or delicious as yours,” Lin Lai added. She was holding a dough stick to tease Lele. “Right, Lele? Who makes the best food in our house?”

Lele was very close to Lin Pan, who cared for her most often next to her mother. “Second Aunt! It’s Second Aunt!” she shouted.

Lin Pan’s face flushed red with a happy smile. “If it’s good, eat more. I’ll make it for everyone from now on.”

…

As various aromas filled the house, Lin Le stayed by the kitchen door instead of playing in the yard, waiting for someone to give her a bite of something. Lin Yu ate quite a bit just standing at the window.

“Father, it’s New Year’s Eve. Should we send some food to Grandma?” Lin Zhao asked. Although Old Mother Lin was technically in the care of Lin Da, New Year’s Eve was special. Normally, the Eldest should have invited them for a reunion dinner, but he hadn’t mentioned it, and Lin Yu had no intention of taking his daughters there.

Lin Yu nodded. “Pack some of the softest things; I’ll deliver them later.”

“I can go, Father,” Lin Lai offered.

“No, I’ll go. You stay here and keep busy,” Lin Yu said. Lin Zhao soon packed a large bowl of soft, easy-to-chew foods, topped with a large piece of braised pork that had been stewed until it was tender enough for a paralyzed elder to eat.

…

“Father is probably afraid we’ll be bullied if we go,” Lin Lai noted after he left.

Lin Zhao agreed. Ever since their grandmother became paralyzed, the two families rarely interacted. Lin Yu delivered her medicine personally every time. Eldest Aunt had come over once, suggesting the three girls were “idle” and should help nurse their grandmother, but Lin Yu had flatly refused her.

“Grandma is a bit piteous,” Lin Zhao sighed. “I heard Eldest Aunt isn’t very careful with her care.”

“How is she piteous?” Lin Lai said without looking up. “She was so fond of causing trouble when she was well. Just you wait—if she ever got better, she’d be right back to tormenting us.”

In the sisters’ memories, Old Mother Lin had only ever been someone who hit or scolded them; they had no affection for her and little sympathy for her plight. Deep down, they felt it was a blessing she was paralyzed, or their father would have a much harder time.

…

Lin Yu entered the Eldest’s house carrying the large bowl. Lin Da’s eyes lit up when he saw it.

“It’s New Year’s Eve, so we made some good food. I brought some for Mother,” Lin Yu said loudly, making sure the neighbors could hear.

“Why didn’t you bring more? This isn’t enough for everyone,” Eldest Aunt grumbled, reaching for the bowl.

“This is for Mother, not for you,” Lin Yu said coldly, walking right past her into the room.

Old Mother Lin was clean, but she looked terrible—her face was sallow and her frame was skeletal. The sharp, energetic old woman was now just a shell. Seeing Lin Yu, she struggled to speak, her eyes bulging.

“Mother, eat well. I’ll bring the children to wish you a Happy New Year tomorrow,” Lin Yu said calmly.

Old Mother Lin had suffered immensely over the past few months. Paralyzed and unable to speak, she relied entirely on others. Initially, Eldest Aunt was somewhat diligent, but she soon began to neglect her. To avoid having to clean up after her, she barely gave her a drop of water to drink. Mother wanted to complain to her “precious son,” but Lin Da rarely entered the room; he just stood at the doorway. Her grandsons were nowhere to be found.

Her only hope was her Second Son, who visited every seven days to deliver medicine and make sure she was still alive. Because of this, Eldest Aunt didn’t dare be too excessive.

Mother reached out, trying to grab Lin Yu. She wanted to tell him how unfilial the Eldest was—to tell him to take her back to his house. Surely his three granddaughters would be better caregivers than a daughter-in-law? She heard Eldest Aunt grumbling and knew Lin Zhaodi had also come home. A divorced woman was worthless; she should spend her life nursing her grandmother to earn a good reputation.

But she couldn’t move or speak, and she watched Lin Yu leave once again.

As soon as he was gone, Eldest Aunt snatched the bowl. “I told you we didn’t need to buy meat! Someone delivered it right to us!”

“Hurry and heat it up,” the Eldest said, ignoring her greed.

Eldest Aunt looked around. “Where’s Guangzong?”

“I sent him to walk the Second out.”

She frowned. “Why should my son walk him out? Look at him—he only cares about his mother; he doesn’t think of our sons at all. Don’t expect my son to perform his funeral rites later.”

“Don’t be stupid,” the Eldest snapped. “The Second has money. Even if we aren’t on good terms, he’s still their uncle. When he dies, his property will belong to us!” Eldest Aunt realized he was right and stopped complaining. But when she got to the kitchen and saw that most of the bowl was tofu with only a few pieces of meat on top, she screamed in rage.

…

Lin Guangzong insisted on walking Lin Yu all the way to his gate. “Go back,” Lin Yu said, waving him off.

“Second Uncle… blood is thicker than water. Our two families shouldn’t stay like this forever.”

“This is fine. It’s New Year’s, and I don’t want to curse anyone. Leave,” Lin Yu said impatiently.

Lin Guangzong didn’t get angry. “No matter what, in my heart, you will always be my uncle.” He looked refined and scholarly. To anyone else, he seemed the perfect nephew, but he couldn’t fool Lin Yu. This was the family that had tried to drain him dry; if Mother hadn’t become paralyzed, they’d never be this quiet.

Lin Yu sneered and shut the gate. Lin Guangzong’s expression immediately turned dark. He cursed his uncle for being heartless. He had hoped to soften the relationship first and then slowly drain his resources, but it seemed his uncle’s “stubbornness” was too strong.

He thought of how he had studied for years yet hadn’t even passed the first exam. Now the family had no money to continue his and his brother’s studies. The Qian family was pressuring them for a daughter to marry; he had used his uncle’s name to scare them off, but the Qians said that if they didn’t deliver a bride after the New Year, they would have to pay damages.

The family was destitute. While they were suffering, his uncle—a mere farmer—had official favor and property. He was even sending things to the capital; who knew if he might catch the eye of the Emperor? Lin Guangzong couldn’t stand being left behind. His uncle had three daughters—a “dead end”—yet he spent his money on those “money-losers” instead of his own nephews. Poisonous thoughts began to boil in his mind.

…

Inside the Lin house, the table was laden with chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Lin Yu was impressed by Lin Pan’s talent; the food wasn’t just delicious, it was beautifully presented.

“This looks amazing, A-Pan. Color, aroma, and taste—it has it all,” he praised.

“Then please eat more, Father,” she smiled.

Lin Zhao asked, “Was that Guangzong just now?”

Lin Yu nodded and warned them: “That boy is sinister. Don’t deal with him.” He saw clearly that the Eldest’s family were all villains, and Guangzong was the most cunning of them all. When Old Mother Lin used to demand things, it was usually for him, yet he always managed to keep his reputation clean in the village.

The three sisters nodded. “We’ll remember, Father.”

“He never used to look us in the eye anyway,” Lin Lai added. “I won’t look at him either.”

The family enjoyed a hearty meal and then gathered around the fire pit. They roasted taro and chestnuts in the embers. Warmed by the fire, Lin Lai said, “I wish it could be like this every year.”

“As long as you want it to be, it can be,” Lin Yu laughed.

“You said it, Father! We’ll be together every year!”

Lin Zhao fed her daughter a piece of orange, a relaxed smile on her face. Lin Yu loved the roasted chestnuts, but they were hard to get right. Lin Pan sat by the fire, pulling them out at exactly the right moment. Every single one was perfect.

“A-Pan, how do you know when they’re done?” Lin Yu asked.

“I just feel it, and then I pull one out to check,” she replied.

“You truly have a talent for food,” Lin Yu said again.

Lin Pan felt proud of her cooking but sighed. “What use is a talent for cooking? I can’t go out and be someone’s kitchen maid.” The thought of living in someone else’s house terrified her.

“You don’t have to be a maid,” Lin Yu suggested. “You could open your own shop and sell food.”

Lin Pan shook her head. “I couldn’t. I can’t do business.”

Since it was New Year’s Eve, Lin Yu didn’t push. “Let’s not talk about that. With A-Pan’s skill, we’re all blessed. Let’s try to gain a few pounds this holiday.”

Lin Pan felt relieved he didn’t press her. She had become braver in town, but the idea of opening a shop on her own was still terrifying.

…

On New Year’s Day, Lin Yu took the girls to visit Old Mother Lin to keep up appearances. He didn’t want the village pointing fingers at them for being unfilial. After a brief visit, they returned home.

As soon as they arrived, a stream of villagers came to wish them a Happy New Year. The yard was soon full of people. The three sisters busily served snacks and tea.

“See?” Lin Lai whispered to her sisters. “As long as our father is successful, everyone rushes to us. We have to be successful too.”

Time passed quickly. After the spring thaw, the farmers began their busy season. Lin Yu walked through the fields, seeing the busy villagers, and knew the time was right.