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

Chapter 21 Murder?

Lin Qin knew that she could only believe half of what the salesperson said. Judging from the salesperson's guilty yet ingratiating smile, the salesperson probably didn't even believe what she was saying.

But Lin Qin believed it and immediately decided to take the shop.

The sales clerk's eyes widened in surprise. "Sir, are you really sure? That's five hundred and fifty yuan! That's no small amount!"

He had indeed been trying to persuade Lin Qin to buy the shop, but when Lin Qin actually tried to buy it, he started to feel guilty.

They advertise their store every day, but not many people ask about it. Three months have passed, and it's still deserted. He really has no confidence in the development of Friendship Plaza.

Lin Qin nodded firmly, "I want this one!"

Every shop on this street will be a prime location in the future; she remembers that even grocery stores could earn enough to buy a house.

The sales clerk stopped trying to dissuade her after seeing her inspect the property and happily took her back to the store to complete the formalities.

For buying and selling shops, all you need to do is sign a contract and send it to headquarters for stamping.

The store was deserted, but the sales staff were very proactive and quickly helped Lin Qin complete all the paperwork.

She exchanged 550 yuan for a thin contract, but she felt incredibly at ease.

That shop will be her and her daughter's livelihood from now on, and their future will definitely get better and better!

By the time Lin Qin returned to Shanglin Village with the contract, it was almost dark.

Lin Ying made sweet potato porridge and, upon seeing her, immediately asked, "Did you really buy the shop?"

Lin Qin nodded.

Lin Ying stamped her feet anxiously, "How could you be so fast! I just asked some people in the village who often go to the city, and they all said that the shops in Friendship Square are deserted and nobody's buying anything. Why are you buying that? You're really driving me crazy!"

Lin Qin happily packed her things into the shed in the backyard, then skipped out and said, "Sister! You don't understand! It's true that Friendship Square is deserted now, but who can say that it will always be deserted? Anyway, I'm not afraid that the shops will disappear after I exchange my money for them. Even if things don't go well in the future, I can still move there with Ya Ya. I won't be afraid of thieves."

Lin Ying still couldn't understand, "That's five hundred and fifty yuan! You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are until you're in charge of the household."

Lin Qin retorted, "From now on, I'll be in charge of the household. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Dad."

"Oh! Still taking care of your dad! Is divorce something to be proud of?" Li Lian's voice drifted in.

Lin Ying and Lin Qin both stopped smiling and looked coldly at the uninvited guests in front of them.

"I thought it was someone important! Turns out it's just a complete stranger! Who are you? Did I give you permission to come in?" Lin Qin retorted irritably.

Li Lian was furious. "Lin Qin! How dare you speak to your elders like that? You really are a motherless child!"

"Who are you cursing? Who do you think you are, elder? All the elders who should have visited my dad in the hospital have gone, but you haven't even shown your faces. And you dare to act like elders here? What gives you the right? I'm asking you, what gives you the right?" Lin Ying angrily pushed Li Lian out the door.

Li Lian was furious. "Lin Ying! How dare you push me! Believe me or not, I'll beat you to death!"

"Come on, come on! Let's see who kills whom! You old fool who doesn't know what's going on!" Lin Ying showed no respect for Li Lian.

Li Lian also noticed Lin Ying's arrogance, glared at her fiercely, and stopped arguing with her. Instead, she turned to Lin Qin and said, "My second aunt came to play matchmaker for you because we are relatives and she knew you were divorced. I wouldn't have bothered with anyone else!"

The man is from Nansheng County, named Qian Dashan. He's forty years old, a mature and caring man, and willing to offer an eighty yuan dowry. It's not easy for a divorced woman with a child like you to find another husband. Since he doesn't mind, you shouldn't be picky. I'll give him a heads-up tomorrow and have him come to your house to propose!

"You big dummy! If you want to marry, marry him yourself! If you come to my house to cause trouble again, I'll beat you to death!" Lin Ying waved a large broom at Li Lian.

Li Lian was startled and screamed, running away while shouting at Lin Qin to reconsider.

Lin Ying chased the man two miles away before storming home, where she cursed loudly for a long time in the main room. Perhaps because of Lin Ying's fierce and protective nature, Li Lian didn't dare to cause trouble at the door for the next two or three days. Instead, acquaintances in the village would come to visit Lin Yi, giving him some money or eggs and noodles.

Lin Yi's legs are still immobile, but he can sit up, so he doesn't have to stay in bed all day.

Next, I need to focus on recovering from my injury; I won't be able to do farm work for several months.

Lin Ying had a lot of things to do at home, but seeing that Lin Yi was alright and Lin Qin was taking care of things, she packed her bags and went back.

Because Liu Yaya was still on Chen Wenjun's fishing boat.

Lin Qin and Lin Yi discussed going to bring the child back.

"Dad, I'll ask Uncle Qingxiang to come over and take care of you for a while after 10 o'clock tomorrow. I'll go and bring Yaya back."

Lin Yizhi nodded, "Okay! You've troubled them too much these past few days. When you go over, pick some vegetables. The vegetables in the field haven't been tended to for the past few days, so I don't know how they're doing. Pick whatever you can and take it over. It must be inconvenient for them to eat vegetables on their fishing boat."

"I understand." Lin Qin glanced at the sky, then took a sickle to the vegetable garden to get some vegetables to change Lin Yi's diet.

After the father and daughter finished dinner, Lin Qin closed the door as soon as it got dark, completely unaware that a pair of eyes were watching their every move in the darkness, revealing a lewd smile.

In the middle of the night, Lin Qin was half asleep when she heard the sound of bricks and tiles breaking. Just one sound, and she immediately opened her eyes and listened carefully.

In the darkness, all sounds are amplified infinitely. She suddenly felt uneasy. Her gaze fell on the door of the shed, her heart pounding. She subconsciously gripped the old wooden stick beside the bed.

Just then, a gust of wind blew in.

Although Lin Qin couldn't see her, she knew that the shed door had been opened.

Since Lin Yi can't get out of bed, the only one who can get in is a thief!
She immediately hid at the foot of the bed.

Hearing the noise, the other person thought Lin Qin had turned over and immediately groped their way toward the bed.

Lin Qin felt someone pounce on the bed, and immediately raised a stick and smashed it down hard, yelling, "I'll beat you to death, you thief! I'll beat you to death, you robber!"

"Ah! Ah! Help! Help!" A rough, hoarse voice rang out from the darkness.

Lin Qin knew immediately it was a strange man, so she hit him harder and harder until he stopped moving. Then she clutched her chest and ran outside, shouting, "Thief! Thief!"

She pushed the door open with all her might, and all the neighbors rushed over.

Someone came over carrying a kerosene lamp and a hoe stick, asking, "Where? Where's the thief?"

Lin Qin pointed to the shed in the backyard, still shaken.

The old lady next door quickly asked, "Are you hurt?"

Lin Qin shook her head.

Just then, a terrified scream came from the shed, "Lin Qin, did you kill someone?"

Lin Qin's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly ran to the backyard.

She pushed through the crowd and saw a person lying motionless in a pool of blood.

"Report to the police"

After saying this, Lin Qin collapsed instantly.

(End of this chapter)