Chapter 31 - 11: Backing

Chapter 31: Chapter 11: Backing

She made no mention of punishing her granddaughter.

Aunt Gu’s expression turned even uglier. She took a deep breath as she watched the old woman and the girl walk away.

Her own grandson never got to eat candy like that, so why should Gu Xing’er get it?

’That biased old hag.’

「 」

The Gu Family’s third branch.

Lin Zhao clung desperately to her mother’s waist, physically holding her back to stop her from marching over to the Gu Family’s old house to beat up Gu Xing’er.

Mrs. Lin was the reigning champion of the neighboring team, the kind who was utterly unbeatable in a fight. She was ridiculously strong; most men couldn’t win against her, and no one in her team dared to provoke her.

Even the Fengshou Team had heard of her fearsome reputation.

"Why are you stopping me? Why are you stopping me?! If Gu Xing’er dared to push you, then I’ll smash her face in! Let go!" Mrs. Lin was burning with rage.

The moment she remembered hearing from an old friend that her Zhaozhao had a huge bump on her forehead from being pushed, she wished she could tear the culprit to shreds.

Mrs. Lin had killed bandits before. She was fierce, and when her temper flared, she wouldn’t recognize friend or foe. Afraid she couldn’t hold her mother back alone, Lin Zhao called for the twins.

"Third Child, Fourth Child, quick! Help Mommy hold back your grandma!"

The twins didn’t understand her words. At an age where they loved to copy others, the two little ones simply mimicked their mother and hugged their grandma’s legs.

Mrs. Lin almost laughed in exasperation.

Annoyed, she reached out and poked Lin Zhao’s forehead. Knowing her own strength, she eased up on most of the force just as she made contact.

"With a temper like mine, how did I end up with such a soft-hearted daughter? You’re going to be the death of me."

Mrs. Lin picked up the twins, one in each arm, and sat down in a huff.

She had short hair and a fierce-looking face. She wore a gray top and black pants, with patches on the shoulders of her shirt and the legs of her pants, but the clothes were starched and immaculately clean. Her whole demeanor was fiery and energetic.

A smile touched Lin Zhao’s eyes as she sat down next to her mother.

"Mom, don’t be angry yet. I haven’t even said anything."

"Then talk. Talk right now. I’d like to see what excuse you can come up with to stop me," Mrs. Lin said, deliberately keeping a straight face.

Lin Zhao explained, "My mother-in-law compensated me with ten yuan on my sister-in-law’s behalf. Gu Chenghuai doesn’t have to cover her tuition and living expenses anymore, and Gu Xing’er isn’t allowed in our home again. I already made an agreement with my mother-in-law. If you go over there and make a scene, wouldn’t that just give Gu Xing’er an excuse to come crawling back? I don’t want that."

"Things are good now, really."

"The people at the old house know they’re in the wrong, so I have the upper hand. They’ll agree to whatever I ask. I won’t have to deal with my difficult sister-in-law anymore. I couldn’t be happier."

Mrs. Lin’s greatest fear was her only daughter being wronged. Hearing this, the fire smoldering in her heart began to subside.

’Ten yuan is no small amount of compensation. Most importantly, my son-in-law no longer has to pay for that vicious girl’s schooling. That’s acceptable.’

"Since you put it that way, Mom will trust you. You’re my daughter. I’ve never let you suffer the slightest grievance, and the Gu Family better not think they can give you any grief either."

"If you can’t stay in the Fengshou Team, just come home. Our family has room for you and your four kids."

A warm current flowed through Lin Zhao’s heart.

Growing up, her mother truly had never let her suffer any wrong.

Even now, there was still a room for her at her parents’ home.

That gave her the courage to face anything.

"I know what I’m doing."

Mrs. Lin’s tense expression softened slightly. "As long as you know."

"That sister-in-law of yours is a real troublemaker. I don’t know how her mother raised her." Thinking of her daughter’s sister-in-law, she wore a look of disgust.

Lin Zhao had never taken her sister-in-law’s difficult nature to heart. She smiled faintly and said, "She can still be willful while she’s living at home. Later on... someone will teach her a lesson."

"Let’s not talk about her. Mom, how did you know I hit my head?"

Mrs. Lin looked mysterious. "You don’t need to worry about that."

"Just remember to protect yourself and the four kids from now on. If anything happens, have someone send a message to me."

Lin Zhao wondered to herself but couldn’t for the life of her figure out who her mother’s informant could be.

"I know."

Mrs. Lin’s expression was stern. "Don’t just say it. Take it to heart."

"I told you this on your wedding day, but what about you?"

"Something as big as hitting your head, and you didn’t even send word. Do you have any idea how anxious I was when I heard? And your father! His health is already poor. He almost fainted when he heard you were hurt. It’s all your fault, you silly girl! Can’t you speak up for yourself?"

Speaking of her husband, she couldn’t help but shoot her daughter a look.

Lin Zhao grew anxious and worried. "Is Dad okay?"

"It’s his old ailment. He’ll have to rest in bed for a few days," Mrs. Lin said.

"I’ll go back to see him tomorrow." Lin Zhao was still worried.

"That’s fine. Your dad misses you too. If I hadn’t stopped him, he would have come to see you himself." Mrs. Lin placed the Third and Fourth Child on her lap, stroking the twins’ small faces.

The two little bundles beamed, their sweet smiles capable of melting an iron lady’s heart.

"The Third and Fourth Child have gotten thinner. Look how small their faces are, not even half the size of yours when you were little."

As a grandmother, her heart ached for her grandchildren, and she couldn’t help but chide her daughter a little.