Chapter 47 Part 2

His family head’s courtyard was far larger than the others—three times the size of Lin Xianing’s Small Courtyard, complete with its own kitchen. The dozen or so entered the Great Waiting Hall together.

Eldest Uncle Lin took the main seat first. “Manji, Little Nine—as Lin Family head now, you can be casual with me in private as Big Brother or Uncle. But in front of others, you must show respect due a family head.”

Casual? He was using that word for them?

Third Uncle Lin sat down. A servant poured him tea. Hearing Eldest Uncle Lin, he slammed his cup down hard.

“Big Brother calls us casual? We’re brothers—do you have to lord your position over us?”

“Mom once said the family head position is a responsibility, not a privilege.”

“Now it looks like Big Brother’s treating it as a privilege, not a duty. You think we’re living in ancient times or something?”

Not a single curse word, yet Third Uncle Lin had thoroughly dressed down Eldest Uncle Lin.

Lin Manyue let out a scoffing laugh. “Big Brother has no claim to princess blood, but he’s got full princess syndrome.”

“Big Brother, Mom already divided up the family assets. We acknowledge you, and you’re the head. We don’t, and you’re nothing.”

“Don’t think too highly of yourself, Big Brother.”

Lin Manyue’s words were a knockout blow—far more direct than Third Uncle Lin’s.

In the years since Grandma Lin’s death, the four siblings had fought openly and covertly. Whatever family ties remained were held together only by self-interest.

Third Uncle Lin and Lin Manyue’s back-to-back jabs made Eldest Uncle Lin’s already sour face darken further.

Eldest Uncle Lin said gravely, “Manji and Manyue have spoken. Manhe, say your piece.”

“Second Brother? Tsk!” Third Uncle Lin showed utter disdain. “Big Brother knows full well that Second Brother is your lapdog. Of course he’ll side with you if you ask him.”

Back when they were kids, whenever Eldest Uncle Lin messed up, Father Lin took the fall for him. After they grew up, Eldest Uncle always got first pick of everything, with Father Lin settling for whatever was left.

One could say Father Lin was Eldest Uncle Lin’s staunchest supporter.

Whatever Eldest Uncle Lin decided, Father Lin never objected. He always backed him up.

Sure enough, Lin Manhe showed no surprise at all. “The eldest brother is like a father to us. I’ll follow Big Brother’s lead.”

“Heh.” Lin Manyue let out a cold laugh. “Your useless old dad is lying in bed right now. What kind of father is he?”

“Watch your mouth, Manyue.”

Third Uncle Lin had originally planned to team up with Lin Manyue, but her words made his tone turn stern in an instant.

Lin Manyue was as sharp-tongued as ever. “That old geezer turned me into this. How exactly do you expect me to talk?”

“Third Brother, he dotes on you the most. You can respect him all you want, but don’t ask me to respect someone who ruined my entire life.”

“What is a father, anyway? He’s nothing.”

Lin Manyue lived up to her reputation—her fighting words were ferocious.

Le Yiqiu exchanged a glance with Lin Xianing, both of them reading the thoughts in each other’s eyes.

It was Lin Xianing’s single remark that had set the four siblings against one another right there in the room.

Le Yiqiu knew a little about the Lin Family’s internal drama, and now that they were airing it out again, she itched to gossip with Lin Xianing about it.

With that in mind, Le Yiqiu pulled out her phone.

—Will they end up splitting the family over this?

After sending the message, she waved her phone at Lin Xianing, signaling her to check it.

Lin Xianing took out her own phone. When she saw the text, the corners of her mouth curved up in a smile. She typed a quick reply on the screen.

—Nah, if they were going to split, they would’ve done it ages ago. At most, they’ll just bicker a bit.

Just as Lin Xianing had predicted, they exchanged a few verbal jabs, but nothing concrete came of it.

Lin Manhe took the initiative to speak up, breaking the tense standoff. “Today’s mess all started because Xiaxia rode a bike to the Ancestral Hall. She’s at fault here, so whatever punishment Big Brother decides for her, I have no objections.”

“I just hope Big Brother won’t let his anger harm our sibling bonds.”

Lin Manhe played the role of peacemaker to perfection—mild-mannered and benevolent, as if he were the true head of the family.

Le Yiqiu: ???

“What do you mean? Can’t agree among yourselves, so you’re turning on Lin Xianing now?”

“You people are going too far.”

Le Yiqiu’s face was full of confusion. She just couldn’t hold back anymore. If it had been anyone else picking on Lin Xianing, that might’ve been one thing, but this was Lin Manhe.

She glanced at Eldest Uncle Lin, who was clearly shielding his own son, and then back at Lin Manhe.

A wave of sorrow washed over Le Yiqiu. She knew exactly why this happened—why Lin Xianing was always the one getting chewed out, even when others were the ones bullying her.

Father Lin was the classic type: the kind of dad who’d rather wrong his own child than stand up for them.

With just a couple of casual sentences, Father Lin had shifted all the blame onto Lin Xianing.

Le Yiqiu couldn’t stay seated any longer. She was furious and done holding back her temper. “Dad—I’m calling you Dad because of Lin Xianing.”

“You don’t have to acknowledge me, that’s fine. But there are some things I have to say.”

“Lin Xianing is your daughter. You don’t have to protect her, but you can’t dump everything on her when she hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“There’s not a single rule in the Lin Family Rules that says you can’t ride a bike to the Ancestral Hall. Just because you don’t ride bikes, does that mean Lin Xianing can’t?”

“Second Mr. Lin, I hope you realize this: every time you’ve blamed your own daughter, have you ever once stood by her side? From the day she was born?”

“Not even once. You’re a pretty lousy father.”

She let it all out in one breath, and it felt like a weight had lifted from her chest.

She just couldn’t stand parents like these. Other people’s folks stood unconditionally by their kids, but someone like Lin Manhe, who sacrificed his family for his own reputation? Utterly contemptible.

“This is family business. As an outsider, don’t butt in,” Lin Manhe snapped, his benevolent facade crumbling.

He was used to playing the mediator, and people would usually give him face with just a few grumbles.

Never had a junior ripped into him like this, sentence after sentence hitting right at his sore spots.

Sacrificing family for reputation—that’s exactly what Wu Yu had thrown at him during their fights.

Le Yiqiu wasn’t afraid of him. She could take a few barbs herself, no problem. But letting Lin Xianing get wronged? Absolutely not.

She was about to keep going when Lin Xianing tugged at her arm. “Le Yiqiu, sit down first.”

Lin Xianing pressed her back into her seat and shifted into a more comfortable position herself. With her wild, carefree air, she clearly wasn’t taking Father Lin’s words to heart.

Seeing this, Le Yiqiu obediently sat. She didn’t think Lin Xianing would bend over backward for Father Lin—and sure enough…

“Dad, what did you just say? That Le Yiqiu is an outsider?”

“Le Yiqiu and I are legally married. To me, she’s the closest person in the world—not an outsider at all. Closer than you, even.”

Lin Xianing’s sarcastic tone made Lin Manhe’s face darken further. She continued indifferently, “As for riding the bike, sure, I can take the punishment. No more going to the Ancestral Hall ever again, right? Fine by me.”

She’d love that—who wanted to trek to the Ancestral Hall every day, twice a day no less?

But she wasn’t about to take the fall alone. “If I’m getting punished, then Big Brother can’t go to the Ancestral Hall anymore either.”

“Back then, Grandma herself banned Big Brother from the hall. Showing up late for incense is way worse than me riding a bike, don’t you think?”

“Oh, and I remember one year Eldest Uncle fell asleep during the night watch at the Ancestral Hall. Got caught and still denied it. I’ve got the footage, by the way.”

The Ancestral Hall had cameras, and Lin Xianing had kept those videos on purpose. She figured everyone else in the room had their own copies stashed away too.

“My bike-riding disrespects the ancestors? Then what does that make Eldest Uncle?”

“Oh, right—Third Uncle, you were the first one to take the cable car up the mountain for ancestor worship. If my bike is wrong, doesn’t that make everyone guilty?”

“Shouldn’t we all get punished together?”

She had no desire to keep bickering with the Lin Family at the Ancestral Hall every day. If she could avoid it, all the better.

She’d stay away on her own terms, not because they chased her off.

And why should Le Yiqiu have to suffer alongside her? She wasn’t like her dad, letting others have their fun while her family took the hits.

In her book, she’d take the grievance herself before letting Le Yiqiu suffer.

But ideally, neither of them would have to.

Lin Xianing’s gaze swept toward Father Lin. Just as Le Yiqiu thought she was about to air his dirty laundry, her eyes shifted to Lin Manyue instead. “I remember Aunt once demanded to join the ancestor worship, but Grandma turned her down. And yet she’s been participating these past few years.”

“What, have you all got such bad memories?”

Every one of Lin Xianing’s words dragged up their past misdeeds, making everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.

They were older now, with more authority—no one dared bring up those old slips anymore. But Lin Xianing didn’t mind refreshing their memories.

Le Yiqiu’s eyes sparkled with admiration. What a badass big sis—cool, dominant, savage with her comebacks, and fiercely protective. She was head over heels.

“Elders?”

Le Yiqiu was still basking in Lin Xianing’s aura when Lin Manyue cut in sharply. “You’re coming at us so aggressively, but you still remember we’re the elders?”

“For that matter, why don’t you call out your own dad? Didn’t he doze off in the Ancestral Hall once and burn all the offerings? Why skip that?”

Le Yiqiu nearly laughed. Speak of the devil—here you go.

Lin Xianing had been waiting for Lin Manyue to expose everyone’s skeletons. That way, no one could accuse her of not sparing even her own father.

Lin Manhe’s face was so grim it looked ready to drip water, though everyone else’s expressions were even uglier.

Lin Manyue’s perfect assist made Lin Xianing quite pleased. She leaned back lazily in her chair and drawled, “Compared to all your screw-ups, does my bike ride even count as a mistake?”

Of course not. Le Yiqiu didn’t see anything wrong with riding a bike there at all.

Ever since returning to the Lin Family, Lin Xianing hadn’t lost a single verbal showdown. Every round was a total victory—pure bliss.

But man, it was exhausting. No one could keep this up forever.

And what were they even discussing here? Just trading dirt on each other? How pointless.

Lin Xianing took Le Yiqiu’s hand and headed for the door. “My wife and I are going out for dinner tonight, so we’ll skip the family gathering.”

As they neared the entrance, she glanced back over her shoulder. “I’ll be at the Ancestral Hall on time tomorrow morning. I’ll handle the prayers.”

No one raised any objections to that. What more could they say? If they kept going, no one would get to worship the ancestors at all.

Le Yiqiu looked down at their joined hands, a profound sense of security filling her heart. Add in the thrill of watching Lin Xianing tear into them, and she was over the moon.

At the same time, her heart was pounding erratically. Lin Xianing had just called her “wife.”