Chapter 90 - 31: "Bizarre

Chapter 90: Chapter 31: "Bizarre

Lin Xibao was unfazed. She raised her arm, flexing a non-existent muscle, and said, "Grandma says a strong body is more important than anything. I’m not that pretty anyway, so being a little tan doesn’t matter. But Grandpa told me not to belittle myself, that every girl is a precious treasure."

She grinned and sidled up to her aunt, stressing again, "Auntie, Grandpa said I’m a treasure."

Her voice was full of unconcealed joy and pride.

In the Lin Family, everyone loved the gentle and courteous family patriarch. He never used his life experience as fodder for conversation; he was humble and mild-mannered, always supporting the children in following their own paths.

Lin Zhao pinched Xibao’s cheek and boasted right back, "What’s there to show off about? Your grandpa used to hold me and call me Zhaobao, sweetie, and little sunshine all the time. Did I get all proud about it?"

Lin Xibao looked up at her aunt and nodded vigorously. "...You did."

’Hmph, hmph. Auntie can’t suppress the smile on her face at all. I should get a mirror and make her look at herself.’

Lin Zhao looked toward Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng. The two little girls’ eyes curved as they smiled and nodded as well.

Da dan and Er Dan watched with expectant eyes, waiting for their aunt to ask them.

Lin Zhao didn’t notice her nephews’ eagerness to join the conversation. She just shrugged, a smile playing on her lips.

"Fine, I’m proud. I have such a wonderful dad, so I’m proud. Is that so wrong?"

A smile bloomed in Father Lin’s eyes.

’This is why I prefer daughters,’ he thought. ’They’re so considerate. Even after getting married, she’s always thinking about me and Xiwei.’ He subconsciously forgot how frustrating Lin Zhao had been in previous years, and how much she had made them worry.

Er Dan seized the opportunity to speak up. "Not wrong at all!"

Having been beaten to the punch, Da Dan shot daggers at the back of his little brother’s head and hurriedly added, "Not wrong at all! Not the least bit wrong!"

Only then did Lin Zhao notice the two of them. "Oh, Da dan and Er Dan are back too."

Er Dan pretended to be hurt. "I’ve been back for a while."

"Here, have some candy." Finding herself in the wrong, the aunt immediately changed the subject.

Er Dan took the candy, the hurt expression on his face vanishing as he beamed. "HEH HEH HEH, thanks, Auntie."

"You’re welcome." Lin Zhao then gave Da Dan a piece of candy too.

"Thanks, Auntie," Da Dan said graciously. He then ran to the side with his brother Er Dan to discuss how to eat the candy so it would last longer.

Lin Zhao found an opening to speak with Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, and Xibao quietly tagged along.

"How have you two been these last couple of days?" she asked.

Lin Zheng was precocious and could hear the concern in her aunt’s voice. Her heart warmed. "We’ve been great! No one’s been watching over us, making me and my sister work all day. Grandma even lets us go out to play, and the other kids in the village are willing to include us. My sister and I are really happy."

Lin Xuan, who was quiet and spoke little, simply nodded.

’What she didn’t tell anyone was that with her mother gone, she no longer woke up startled in the middle of the night. It felt so good to have finally gotten two nights of sound sleep.’

"Kids should be innocent and carefree. There’ll be plenty of time for work when you’re older. For now, the house is full of adults, so you should slack off whenever you get the chance." Lin Zhao stated her life’s motto.

Mrs. Lin heard this, but her expression didn’t change. She herself was a capable woman, the type who was brimming with vitality—she could work the fields, hunt, and mend clothes... She never felt tired and even enjoyed the feeling of being busy. But she would never force Zhaozhao to be like her.

Whatever kind of life Zhaozhao wanted, it was her own choice to make.

Want to study? Then study.

Want to get married? Then get married.

...

Song Xiwei was confident that no matter how Zhaozhao chose to live her life, she would be there to back her up.

And because of this, Lin Zhao lived her life with the passion of a sunflower.

Hearing her aunt’s words, Lin Xuan’s head shot up.

"What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile.

Lin Xuan quickly shook her head and gave a shy smile. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "It’s just... what you say is different from what the villagers say."

Lin Zhao knew what the villagers said—that the Lin Family members were strange, that they were all oddballs, different from everyone else.

"But we don’t have to live our lives like anyone else."

She bent down, her gaze gentle as she met Lin Xuan’s eyes, and said softly, "You are you, a one-of-a-kind existence in this world. Don’t take what other people say to heart. At your age, you should just be happy and grow up."

Lin Zhao felt that Xuanxuan was too weighed down by her thoughts. She hoped the girl could open up her heart and find the happiness a child should have.

In the book, Lin Xuan’s story was also just mentioned in passing—

*They say that girl from the next village, the one named Lin Xuan, died by throwing herself on the train tracks.*

That simple sentence made Lin Zhao’s breath catch, her chest tightening in waves.

’Xuanxuan was terrified of pain.’

"If you ever face anything you can’t get through, come find your aunt. We have an extra room at my house, and it’s specially prepared for you girls. I’ll build a new bed, a new wardrobe, a new desk, and it’ll have a bright window. When you open it, sunlight will pour in, and it’ll be so comfortable lying in bed. You will always have a way out. I am your way out, no matter what you encounter." Lin Zhao’s eyes were gentle, her tone soft and slow.