Chapter 21: A Murder?

Lin Qin knew that one should only take half of what a real estate agent says to heart. Looking at the agent's guilty yet ingratiating smile, she guessed that even he didn't believe his own sales pitch.

Yet, Lin Qin did believe. She made the decision on the spot to take the storefront.

The agent’s eyes widened in surprise. "Comrade, are you sure about this? This is five hundred and fifty yuan! That’s not a small sum!"

He had indeed been pressuring Lin Qin to buy the shop, but now that she was actually going through with it, he started to feel uneasy. They promoted these storefronts every day, but few people ever asked about them. It had been three months, and things were still deathly quiet; he truly had little faith in the development of Friendship Plaza.

Lin Qin nodded firmly. "I’ll take this one!"

She knew that every shop on this street would become a prime location in the future. She remembered stories of people selling miscellaneous goods and earning enough to buy a whole house.

Seeing that her mind was made up, the agent stopped trying to dissuade her and happily led her back to the office to handle the paperwork. Buying a storefront only required signing a contract and sending it to headquarters for an official seal.

The office was deserted, so the agent worked with extra enthusiasm, quickly helping Lin Qin complete all the formalities.

She had exchanged five hundred and fifty yuan for a thin contract, yet she felt incredibly secure. This storefront would be the foundation for her and her daughter’s independence. Their future would surely get better and better!

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

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

Lin Qin nodded.

Lin Ying stomped her feet in frustration. "Why were you in such a rush! I just asked some people in the village who often go to the city, and everyone says no one is buying shops at Friendship Plaza; it’s completely dead. Why would you buy that? You’re going to be the death of me!"

Lin Qin happily tucked her belongings into the shed in the backyard and skipped out. "Sister! You don't understand! Friendship Plaza might be quiet now, but who’s to say it will stay that way forever? Besides, I’ve traded my cash for a storefront, so I don't have to worry about the money disappearing. At the very worst, I can move there with Yaya. At least I won't have to worry about thieves eyeing my savings."

Lin Ying still couldn't fathom it. "That was five hundred and fifty yuan! You don't know the value of money when you're not the one managing the household."

Lin Qin countered, "I’ll be the one managing it from now on. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Dad."

"Oh! Taking care of your father, are you? Is divorce something to be proud of?" Li Lian’s voice drifted in.

Lin Ying and Lin Qin both wiped the smiles off their faces, staring coldly at the uninvited guest.

"I was wondering who it was! Turns out it’s just a stranger with no relation to us. Who are you? Did I agree to let you in?" Lin Qin retorted sharply.

Li Lian was incensed. "Lin Qin! Is that any way to speak to an elder? You really are a child with no upbringing!"

"Who are you scolding? What kind of elder are you? All the real elders visited my father in the hospital, but you didn't even show your face. How dare you put on airs as an elder here? On what grounds? I’m asking you, on what grounds?" Lin Ying, trembling with rage, shoved Li Lian out the door.

Li Lian was furious. "Lin Ying! How dare you push me! Do you believe I’ll beat you to death?"

"Come on then, try it! Let’s see who dies! You ignorant old hag!" Lin Ying showed her no respect at all.

Li Lian sensed Lin Ying’s ferocity. She glared at her viciously, decided not to argue further, and turned to Lin Qin. "As your aunt, I’m only here because we’re family. I heard you got divorced, so I came to play matchmaker. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even bother! The man is from Nansheng County, his name is Qian Dashan. He’s forty this year—older men know how to cherish a woman. He’s willing to pay eighty yuan as a bride price. It won’t be easy for a divorced woman with a child to find another husband. He doesn’t mind your situation, so don’t be picky. I’ll give him an answer tomorrow and have him come to propose!"

"Propose your head! If you want to marry him, go marry him yourself! If you come to my house to stir up trouble again, I’ll beat you to death!" Lin Ying brandished a large broom toward Li Lian.

Li Lian jumped, shrieking and howling, and as she ran away, she kept shouting, urging Lin Qin to reconsider.

Lin Ying chased her for nearly a mile before returning home in a rage, cursing loudly in the main room for a long time.

Perhaps because of Lin Ying’s fierce protectiveness, Li Lian didn't dare come back to stir up trouble for the next few days. Instead, familiar villagers stopped by to check on Lin Yi, bringing a little money, eggs, or noodles.

Lin Yi’s leg still couldn't move, but he could sit up and didn't have to stay in bed all day. He just needed to recover, as he wouldn't be able to do farm work for several months.

Lin Ying had a lot to take care of at home, and seeing that Lin Yi was stable and in Lin Qin’s care, she packed her things and left. Since Liu Yaya was still on Chen Wenjun’s fishing boat, Lin Qin discussed with Lin Yi about going to pick her up.

"Dad, tomorrow after ten o'clock, I'll ask Qingxiang to come over and look after you for a while so I can go bring Yaya back."

Lin Yi nodded repeatedly. "Good! We’ve troubled them too much these days. While you’re there, pick some vegetables. The garden hasn't been tended to in days, and I don't know what state it’s in. Pick whatever you can and take it to them; it’s probably not convenient for them to get fresh vegetables on that boat."

"I understand." Lin Qin looked at the sky and went to the garden with a sickle to get some vegetables for Lin Yi.

After the father and daughter had dinner, Lin Qin locked the doors as soon as it got dark, unaware that in the shadows, a pair of eyes was watching their every move, wearing a lecherous grin.

In the middle of the night, Lin Qin was drifting between sleep and wakefulness when she heard the sound of a brick breaking. It was just one sound, but she instantly opened her eyes and strained to listen.

In the darkness, every sound was amplified. She suddenly felt a sense of unease. Her gaze shifted to the door of the shed, her heart pounding against her ribs as she instinctively gripped the old wooden stick by her bed.

Just then, a gust of wind blew in. Even though Lin Qin couldn't see, she knew the door to the shed had been opened.

Lin Yi couldn't get out of bed; it had to be a thief!

She immediately ducked to the foot of the bed.

The intruder, hearing a movement, assumed Lin Qin had simply turned over and immediately lunged toward the bed.

Feeling someone throw themselves onto the bed, Lin Qin raised the stick and smashed it down hard. "I’ll beat you to death, you thief! I’ll beat you to death!"

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

Recognizing it as a strange man’s voice, Lin Qin struck even harder. Only when the person stopped moving did she clutch her chest and run outside, screaming, "Catch the thief! Someone help, catch the thief!"

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

Someone brought a kerosene lamp, wielding hoes and sticks. "Where? Where is the thief?"

Lin Qin pointed at the shed in the backyard, still trembling with shock.

The grandmother from next door hurriedly asked, "Are you hurt?"

Lin Qin shook her head.

Just then, a terrified cry came from the shed: "Lin Qin, did you beat him to death?"

Lin Qin’s heart sank, and she rushed toward the backyard. She pushed through the crowd and saw a man lying in a pool of blood, motionless.

"Call... call the police..."

After saying this, Lin Qin collapsed.