The three of them returned to Shanglin Village at nearly three in the morning. The diligent elders of the village were already up in the dark to start fires, and movements could be heard from a few courtyards.
Lin Yi skillfully took the keys from the stove room in the courtyard, opened the door, and let Lin Qin and the child in.
Lin Yi's house had only one room, divided by wooden planks. In the front, a dining table and a few low stools took up nearly all the space. Behind the wooden planks was a bed where Lin Yi slept.
Under the bed were stacks of large and small fertilizer bags filled with either clothes or some old items Lin Yi cherished but found no use for.
Although the house was small, it was clean and tidy.
There was also a small back door on the side, opening to a tiny courtyard. Opposite the back door was a shed, where she and her elder sister, Lin Ying, used to live.
Lin Qin, taking Liu Yaya, opened the shed door and first lit some candles.
The shed originally had only one wall, belonging to someone else. Because their family couldn't accommodate two girls, Lin Yi spoke to that family, borrowed their courtyard wall, and used some rubble to build walls on the sides, forming an open "mouth" shaped courtyard. He then built a wall in the middle, like the character "日", covered half with a roof, and made a livable room this way.
If it were in the North, one would freeze to death in winter, but here in the South, the winter at most brings frost, not reaching below zero, so living in such a place was alright. Now, the weather was getting warmer, and she could stay here with her child for several months.
"Yaya, from now on, you'll live here with Mom, okay?"
Lin Qin asked, sitting on a small stool, holding Liu Yaya.
Initially, she intended to clean up the room but found it pretty clean, probably because Lin Yi cleaned it often, leaving no need for her to dirty her hands.
Liu Yaya nodded firmly, gazing up at Lin Qin's bandaged head, her little hands gently touching it, "Mom, does your head still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore, mom's fine!" Compared to the suffering of her past life, she didn't consider this injury significant.
Relieved, Liu Yaya smiled sweetly, "Mom, then let's rest quickly! Grandpa said you need more sleep, Yaya won't disturb you!"
Lin Qin's nose tingled, and tears involuntarily rolled down. She lay on the bed as the child wished, asking softly, "Yaya, if Dad and Mom get divorced, will you go with Mom?"
This question was one she always wanted to ask in her past life but never had the chance.
Liu Yaya looked at Lin Qin with innocent eyes, "What is divorce?"
Lin Qin was at a loss for words and explained after a while, "Divorce means Dad and Mom separate and won't be together anymore. Mom won't stay with Grandma either, so in such a situation, will you live with Mom or with Dad and Grandma?"
"Then I want to go with Mom, wherever Mom goes, I will go!" Liu Yaya clutched Lin Qin's clothes tightly, sobbing quietly, "Mom, don't leave me, okay?"
"Okay!" Lin Qin hugged Liu Yaya tightly in her arms, secretly vowing that this life, no matter what, she would never abandon her daughter again!
The mother and daughter held each other and fell asleep.
Early the next morning.
Lin Qin was awakened by the sound of voices outside the door.
Liu Yaya was still asleep, and not wanting to disturb her, Lin Qin got up carefully and went to the front yard.
Lin Qingxiang, carrying a hoe and about to head to the fields, saw Lin Qin with her head bandaged, his expression exaggerated, "What's going on here? Who did this? Could it be that wicked mother-in-law from your husband's family!"
Yesterday, the Liu family sent someone to the village to find Lin Yi, causing quite a commotion, immediately accusing Lin Qin of infidelity, spreading rumors all over the village.
Recognizing the visitor as a warm-hearted uncle, one of the few people in the village who had good relations with Lin Yi, Lin Qin promptly and obediently greeted him.
"Uncle, this injury was a setup by the Liu family. I called the police yesterday, and they handled it."
Lin Qingxiang was taken aback, "Called the police? What's the situation here?"
Lin Qingxiang's loud voice attracted the neighboring aunties and grandmas. They wanted to hear Lin Qin's gossip. If she truly was unfaithful, it would be a disgrace to Shanglin Village, punishable by drowning in the olden days.
This was the effect Lin Qin wanted. Immediately, she pretended to be pitiful, eyes red with indignation, accusing the Liu family's wrongdoings.
"I know, they despise me for being uneducated and for giving birth to a girl, thinking of driving me away before Liu Yongming graduates and gets a job to make room for a newcomer!
They really hit me hard; I was bleeding from my head. They not only knocked me out, but they also knocked out an innocent Dang person. Do you think I could just let it go without calling the police?
If they succeeded, my reputation would have been ruined! Those heartless people will get their comeuppance sooner or later!"
Lin Qingxiang, hearing this, was furious, pulling Lin Yi out of the stove room where he was cooking, with Lin Yi still holding a fire tong.
Lin Qingxiang angrily berated, "Your daughter's been bullied like this and you're still cooking? Let's go! I'll go with you to the Liu family to demand justice!"
Lin Yi could only laugh and cry, struggling vigorously, "No need, no need. My daughter is fierce. Last night, she caused an uproar at the Liu family, alerting the police, street office director, and all the neighbors.
The Liu family paid a hefty price this time, I bet her mother-in-law can't even eat!
Listening to the gossip, the aunties initially didn't believe Lin Qin was truly innocent, but hearing even the police and the street director were involved, showed how serious it was. Now, with Lin Qin standing here as good as new, it was evident the problem lay with the Liu family.
A grandma gazed at Lin Qin's head, clucking sympathetically, "Head injuries can't be taken lightly; is everything handled properly?"
Lin Qin nodded obediently, "I went to the health clinic last night to get medicine. I plan to recover at my dad's, and we'll see once I'm better."
The grandma went inside and grabbed two eggs, pressing them into Lin Qin's arms, "Have your dad cook eggs to nourish you. Look at you, after marrying, being tormented by your in-laws into this state! You never lived this miserably before at home!"
Only then did the other women notice Lin Qin's worn clothes, mended multiple times, and shoes with several holes.
Before marriage, she was estimated to be over ninety pounds. Even after having a child, she didn't gain weight but became a bag of bones, seemingly not even ninety pounds.
Her miserable appearance further validated Lin Qin's mistreatment by her in-laws.
In no time, everyone criticized the Liu family, cursing Ma Cuihua for being inhumane, and maligning Liu Yongguo and his wife's character, tarnishing Liu Li's reputation.
Lin Qin looked down at the two eggs in her arms, a slight smile forming at the corners of her mouth.
This time, she seized the initiative, spreading the truth before Li Lian could slander her. She believed these gossip-loving villagers who considered themselves just would surely spread her tragic experiences everywhere.
She didn't hope the gossip would affect the Liu family, but it could create the image of a victim, laying the groundwork for a future divorce.