Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

We absolutely must let Lin Ying know about this.

Lin Yi seemed to have found his pillar of support, calmed down, his eyes slightly reddening, and asked, "Should we inform your aunt?"

Lin Qin paused, then shook her head. "No need for now, let's talk about it during the funeral."

After arranging everything, Lin Qin went to the school to explain the situation to her counselor and asked for two days off.

I talked to my roommates about it later and asked them to help me take notes.

Only after taking care of these things did she ride her bicycle to Shangcunlin.

As soon as they arrived at the village entrance, they were met with the attention of a group of villagers.

Several elderly women came up to Lin Qin and started talking all at once about Lin Zhi's family, as well as some things that Lin Qin didn't know.

When Lin Qin returned to the old house, her face looked extremely pale.

Lin Yi pressed further, "What's going on?"

Lin Qin didn't hide anything and told everything she knew. "Jianguo has been stealing money from home to gamble. His second uncle has caught him several times, but the amounts are not large. His second uncle scolds him a few times and then gets over it in a couple of days."

Jianguo became increasingly brazen. When he ran out of money at home, he would steal from other people's homes. When he was caught, he would deny it to the death, and his second aunt would protect him and argue with the thieves.

Jianguo's reputation is ruined around here; he can't find a wife. No wonder my second aunt went to stop us last night, insisting we introduce her to a girl similar to Xiaohong. She's probably broke and desperate, that's why she's resorting to such shameless tactics.

Lin Yi's heart sank further as he listened. Gritting his teeth, he stomped his feet in anger and cursed, "Bastard! How could our Lin family produce such a worthless wretch! Waaah!"

When Lin Jianqiang and his wife Chen Xiaofen returned, they heard Lin Yi's angry curses and silently stepped forward, saying, "Uncle."

Lin Yi looked up, his voice trembling with emotion, and demanded, "Jianqiang, did you know that your brother stole money to gamble?"

Lin Jianqiang slowly lowered his eyes and nodded. "I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen and told me to leave him alone."

"When did it start?"

Lin Jianqiang shook his head. "I haven't been back much since I got married and moved here. My parents don't care about me either. If Jianguo hadn't asked me for money a few times, I wouldn't have known he was gambling."

When I told my parents about it, they weren't surprised at all. I knew they knew then, but no one told me the specifics.

Lin Yi could tell from Lin Jianqiang's few words that Yang Jianqiang and Lin Zhi and his wife didn't get along well.

He shook his head again inwardly.

Chen Wenjun didn't arrive until almost noon.

“Dad, I’ve looked into this matter through connections. The police station said that Uncle’s death was accidental, and given the circumstances, he won’t be sentenced to death, but he’ll probably be imprisoned for about ten years. This is only because Uncle’s attitude in admitting his guilt was good and Aunt didn’t pursue the matter further. We’ll just have to hold the funeral as it is; there’s nothing else we can do.”

Upon hearing this result, Lin Yi finally shed tears of regret, "If I had known he would turn out like this, I should have been stricter with him from the beginning!"

Lin Qin felt very uncomfortable after hearing this. "Dad! You are just Uncle's brother, not his parents. You were young at that time. It's already amazing that you were able to raise Uncle. Who can blame you?"

You haven't owed your second uncle anything all these years; on the contrary, it's your second uncle and aunt who have been scheming against you. If you ask me, it's a case of reaping what you sow; heaven is watching what people do!

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianqiang and his wife looked somewhat uneasy.

Lin Yi sighed but didn't say anything more. They helped set up the mourning hall.

Li Lian was also brought back by the police officers from the police station. As soon as she saw Lin Yi, she rushed up to him like a madwoman and tried to hit him. "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! If you hadn't been so heartless and didn't care about our lives, the father and son wouldn't have ended up like this. It's all your fault!"

With a loud "slap!", Lin Qin slapped Li Lian hard across the face, shouting furiously, "If you're going to go crazy, go somewhere else! My dad doesn't owe you anything! You're the one who caused Jian Guo to become like this! You didn't raise your son properly, you're the real culprit!"

"You bitch! I'll fight you to the death!" Li Lian bared her teeth and claws, ready to fight Lin Qin to the death.

The funeral hall was in complete chaos.

Lin Jianqiang, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward and grabbed Li Lian hard. "Enough! How long are you going to keep making trouble like this! I told you when Jianguo stole money to gamble, but you didn't care and didn't care. Now that he's emptied his family's coffers, instead of teaching him a lesson, you're helping him come up with crooked ideas to scheme against others!"
My cousin is right. The Jian Guo Society has become like this because of you, because you indulged it! Don't you find it ridiculous that you're now taking your anger out on others who haven't been caught in your schemes?

Li Lian looked at Lin Jianqiang in disbelief, "Fine! I knew you were a greedy ingrate. You rented your uncle's house and now you think you can disregard me? You fawn over him, but he doesn't even respect you!"

Everyone shook their heads in silence.

Lin Jianqiang took a deep breath, and before he died of anger, he said coldly, "You can think whatever you want, I can't control you! But let me remind you, Jianguo has already been killed by you, and Dad has been arrested and won't be out for at least ten years! Now you only have me as your son! If you piss me off, I won't care about you anymore!"

Li Lian was stunned by the shout, tears welled up in her eyes instantly, and she helplessly collapsed to the ground, sobbing bitterly, looking both pitiful and hateful.

Lin Jianqiang turned his head in frustration and apologized to Lin Yi, "Uncle, I'm sorry. You saw it yourself. No matter how others try to persuade my mother, they can't change her mind. I can't reason with her properly either."

Lin Yi waved his hand, "Stop talking, let's take care of Jianguo's funeral first."

Their custom is to bury a person one or two days after they pass away.

Lin Jianguo's death was not honorable, and Lin Jianqiang did not want to hold a grand funeral, so he decided to bury him the next day.

Lin Ying and her husband arrived that evening. After learning what had happened, the couple remained silent for a long time.

The next day, Lin Jianguo's funeral was held, and Lin Yi attended with his two daughters and son-in-law.

As a result, most of the people who came to pay their respects did so out of respect for Lin Yi, including Lin E's family.

Li Lian was furious, but she didn't want to disturb her youngest son's peace at the funeral, so she kept crying and cursing in the room, cursing God for being blind.

As soon as Lin E's family entered the courtyard, they heard Li Lian cursing. Lin E, who was usually good-tempered, became more and more angry as she listened, especially after learning about Lin Jianguo's affairs.

Enraged, he grabbed a stick and went into the house, beating Li Lian until she screamed in pain.

"Who are you? What right do you have to hit me!" Li Lian was furious.

Lin E stared coldly at her and shouted loudly, "I am your great-aunt! Our Lin family must have been cursed for eight lifetimes to marry such a brainless woman like you. You have ruined our children and grandchildren!"

It took Li Lian a while to guess Lin E's identity. She was filled with shame and indignation, and was very unconvinced.

Lin Qin thought that Lin E would have done enough by giving Li Lian a lesson.

Who knew that Lin E's beating would also leave Li Lian with lacerated wounds, and she wouldn't allow anyone else to intervene.

The end result was that Li Lian collapsed on the ground, howling until her voice was hoarse, and was taken to the clinic by the villagers. (End of Chapter)