Chapter 23: Living Life Together

Chen Wenjun did not expect Lin Yi to ask so suddenly. After a brief silence, he nodded earnestly. "I do want to marry her, but I am also aware that given my current circumstances, you wouldn't find me suitable. I didn't want her to suffer with me, so I had originally planned to work hard for two or three years. I intended to wait until I had money and moved to the mainland before asking for your blessing. I never imagined such a major crisis would strike here, and now I have no choice but to be thick-skinned and ask you. Uncle, I want to marry Lin Qin; please give her to me! Although I don't have much money right now, I will work hard to earn it, and I won't let her suffer by my side!"

"How can you guarantee that? I know the situation of the Dan people all too well. It’s only because you’re an honest man that I allowed Qin to get so close to you! Sigh! Why is my daughter's fate so bitter? Forget it, forget it! Since things have reached this point, I don't dare keep her here any longer. If she agrees, then so be it!" Lin Yi felt both heartbroken and helpless.

Chen Wenjun was overjoyed. He immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Yi. "Uncle, don't worry, I definitely won't let you down!"

Lin Yi’s mouth twitched. He dared not hope that Chen Wenjun could provide a good life for Lin Qin; he only hoped that in the future, the man wouldn't drag her down.

In high spirits, Chen Wenjun followed Lin Qin to the vegetable garden.

Liu Yaya spotted him first and waved excitedly, "Uncle Chen, we’re over here!"

Chen Wenjun gave her a bright smile, ran over to help them, and took the opportunity to whisper to Lin Qin, "I just spoke to your father about marrying you. Do you agree?"

Lin Qin’s movements paused, and she looked at him in surprise. "My father actually agreed?"

Chen Wenjun nodded. "Your father is worried about you. I know it seems like I’m taking advantage of the situation, but the circumstances here are truly too dangerous, and I’m worried. Lin Qin, I believe that heaven giving us a second chance is a destined arrangement. In this life, I will never be as spineless as I was in the last one. I will work hard to give you a good life and make others envy you."

Lin Qin’s nose stung, and tears began to fall. "It wasn't that you were spineless; it was that I was useless. If it weren't for me in our past life, you and Ping'an could have lived a good life."

Back then, the government had been vigorously reorganizing the Dan people, setting aside land for them to settle down. Because of her poor reputation and fear of public judgment, Chen Wenjun had chosen to continue fishing, building only a stilt house by the Nanxi River, far from the Dan village. Later, when the village developed, it had nothing to do with Chen Wenjun. By the time she died, he was still living in extreme poverty.

"That's not true! You gave Ping'an a mother's love and filled the void of him not having a mother. I’m the one who should thank you!" It was the first time Chen Wenjun had spoken his heart to Lin Qin.

Chen Ping'an was his only son, abandoned by his biological mother from a young age, disabled, sensitive, and insecure. He had only ever smiled in front of Chen Wenjun, but ever since Lin Qin came to live with them, there was a sparkle in the boy's eyes. He had clearly noticed that his son was much happier than before.

Lin Qin sobbed uncontrollably, crouching on the ground with her head buried in her hands. Liu Yaya looked on, frightened and helpless. Chen Wenjun hurried over to pick her up, comforting her, "From now on, let’s live a good life together, okay?"

Lin Qin nodded vigorously. Chen Wenjun smiled even more happily, teasing Liu Yaya in his arms. "Yaya, how about you, your mother, and your grandfather all come to live at Uncle's house?"

Liu Yaya asked innocently, "Are Mommy and Grandpa both coming?"

"Yes, both!"

Liu Yaya clapped her hands in delight. "Yay! I want to go, I want to go..."

Lin Qin wiped away her tears and stood up to continue working. Once the gloom in her heart dissipated, the sunlight seemed to shine into her soul—warm, reassuring, and steady.

The three of them picked all the harvestable vegetables and filled a large wicker basket. Chen Wenjun carried it all back on his back. Halfway there, they ran into a familiar old woman.

The old woman eyed Chen Wenjun and asked gossiping, "Who is this young man?"

Lin Qin didn't hide it, smiling as she introduced him, "Grandma, this is my partner."

The old woman’s eyes lit up instantly. "Where is he from?"

"From over by Nanxi," Lin Qin replied vaguely.

The old woman nodded, not digging further, but said earnestly, "With a partner, your father can have some peace of mind. Otherwise, there's no telling what kind of trouble your second uncle and aunt might stir up!"

Everyone knew about the way Li Lian had been running around trying to find a suitor for Lin Qin recently. That woman had even mobilized the elders to persuade Lin Qin to remarry; everyone knew what her intentions were. Lin Qin nodded and thanked the old woman again.

When the three returned home, Lin Yi was not at all surprised by Lin Qin’s decision. Chen Wenjun immediately urged Lin Qin to pack her luggage and bring all the valuable items from the house.

Lin Yi, worried about his vegetable garden and house, asked Lin Qin to bring Lin Qingxiang over. When Lin Qingxiang learned about the situation between Lin Qin and Chen Wenjun, he laughed heartily. "I had my suspicions about this lad before, but I didn't expect it to be true! Since he wants to take care of you, just move over there with peace of mind. Come back once your health has recovered. I'll watch over this shack of yours, and I'll take care of the vegetable garden for you."

Lin Yi added quickly, "You can farm the paddy fields this year; just return them to me next year." Lin Qingxiang agreed to everything.

Lin Qin, standing to the side, reminded him, "Dad, you should write up a formal agreement with Uncle Qingxiang to avoid any disputes between Second Uncle, Aunt, and Uncle Qingxiang after we leave. It would be terrible if Uncle Qingxiang helped us but ended up suffering for it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi urged Lin Qingxiang to find the village chief immediately to draw up the document.

They discussed these matters without saying a word to Lin Zhi and his wife. By the time Lin Zhi and Li Lian got wind of the news and rushed to Lin Yi’s house, they found the front door already locked and everyone gone.

The couple ran to Lin Qingxiang’s house in a rage to confront him. "Why should my brother's fields be farmed by you! If anyone is going to farm them, it should be us!" Lin Zhi shouted, though he didn't dare step into Lin Qingxiang's house.

The village chief walked out from the next room. "What's all the shouting?"

Lin Zhi stepped forward with an indignant face. "Village chief, since my brother is leaving the village, his fields should be given to my family to farm. Why give them to Lin Qingxiang? You can't be biased just because he's your clansman!"

"I'm being biased?" The village chief laughed in disbelief. "Lin Zhi! When Lin Yi was injured and hospitalized, I didn't see you. When his place was raided by thieves, I didn't see you either! Now that he’s letting someone else farm his land, you pop up! Who do you think you are? What's the matter? Can't Lin Yi make his own decisions about his own land? What right do you have to boss him around?"

"I... I have the right because I'm his own brother! When our parents died, he promised he would take care of me for the rest of my life!" Lin Zhi argued righteously.

The village chief squinted at him, examining him closely. "Lin Zhi, are you seventy or eighty and unable to move? Are you bedridden and incapable of caring for yourself, or are you without children? Your brother has done enough for you! Let me tell you something! You and your brother aren't even on the same household registry! His land and property have absolutely nothing to do with you! Stop coming here and causing trouble!"