Chapter 115: I Will Repay You

The family had just picked up their chopsticks, but a gloomy mood hung over them.

“Who is it, coming over so late?” Liao Shuxia asked, puzzled.

At that moment, the knocking on the door sounded again, louder and more urgent each time. Clearly, whoever was outside was losing patience and growing angry.

Lin Hongda’s expression turned cold. He said to his family, “Everyone stay seated. I’ll go open the door.”

With those words, he stood up. Lin Wenyan hurried to follow him to the entrance.

Lin Hongda opened the door to find a man standing outside whom he didn’t recognize at all.

The stranger wore a fierce expression, like someone arriving to settle scores.

“Who are you?” Lin Hongda asked, frowning.

“Yu Chun?” Lin Wenyan recognized him.

Yu Chun recognized Lin Wenyan as well, and immediately shouted, “You rascal! I finally tracked you down!”

Hearing Yu Chun’s voice, Lin Sangqian also stood up.

Yu Chun tried to force his way into the courtyard, but Lin Hongda and Lin Wenyan blocked him, giving him no chance.

Lin Sangqian walked over. As soon as Yu Chun saw her, he cried out, “You wretched girl! You’ve caused me nothing but misery! I should have known you weren’t just being kind, paying off my debts and treating me to a meal! You were just trying to coax information out of me!”

He’d heard about Gao’s wife being arrested, of course. With such a big case, all it took was a few inquiries to learn the whole story.

Only then did he realize he had been used.

Now that Gao’s wife was in custody, there was no one left to give him money. If he wanted to find another generous woman who wasn’t too old, it would be no easy feat.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He’d found out where the Lin family lived and came straight over.

“Yu Chun, a man should have a conscience,” Lin Sangqian said calmly. “Whether I used you or not, the fact remains that I paid your gambling debts. Otherwise, do you think you’d have the strength to come here and shout at my door?”

Yu Chun was taken aback; suddenly, her words seemed to make sense.

“But you shouldn’t have used me!”

“You should be grateful we did,” Lin Sangqian sneered. “If you hadn’t given us crucial information, do you think you’d still be standing here? Just failing to report what you knew is enough for the authorities to charge you as an accomplice!”

“You’re… you’re lying…”

“Well then, come with me to the magistrate’s office and find out if I’m lying. Father, big brother, hold him.”

---

Lin Hongda and Lin Wenyan reacted swiftly, pinning Yu Chun in place.

“Hey, don’t! Don’t…”

Lin Hongda noticed the commotion had attracted some neighbors, so he dragged Yu Chun into the courtyard and shut the door.

Yu Chun collapsed on the ground, defeated.

“Miss Lin, I never really wanted to cause you trouble. My mind’s just a mess, and I needed to vent…”

“Ha! You heartless scoundrel!” Liao Shuxia scolded. “You want to vent, so you come to my house? I see you’ve got more courage than sense! Husband, teach him a lesson!”

Lin Hongda immediately raised his fist. Yu Chun shrieked in terror, covering his head.

His pathetic display made everyone laugh.

“I say, with you looking like that, you dare come alone to someone else’s house to make trouble?” Lin Beitao chuckled. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll be carried out feet first?”

Yu Chun trembled, unable to speak.

“That’s enough,” Lin Sangqian said. “Yu Chun, you should leave. Since you once helped us, I won’t pursue today’s incident. But please, don’t bother my family or me again.”

Yu Chun, as if granted a pardon, quickly stood up and prepared to dash out.

At the threshold, he hesitated, then turned and said to Lin Sangqian, “Miss Lin, you’re a good person. I behaved badly today. You saved me before, and I won’t forget it. One day, I’ll find a way to repay you!”

With that, he opened the gate and hurried away.

“That man, he could at least close the door,” Liao Shuxia muttered.

Lin Hongda went over and closed the gate. Lin Beitao asked, confused, “Little sister, you’re really just letting him go?”

“Yes,” Lin Sangqian nodded. “Beating him won’t change anything. Besides, he’s not inherently bad—he still has a chance to mend his ways.”

Lin Beitao nodded, half understanding.

The family continued their meal. The sudden disruption did nothing to dampen their spirits.

---

The next morning, Lin Sangqian and Zhao Lan’er were counting the chicken feet they’d prepared to deliver to Fortune Banquet Restaurant.

Just then, Aunt Niu arrived.

She looked weary, her whole demeanor listless.

“Aunt Niu, here so early?” Zhao Lan’er greeted her, startled by her appearance. “You… what’s wrong?”

---

Lin Sangqian looked up as well.

“I didn’t sleep well last night,” Aunt Niu managed a weak smile, then turned to Lin Sangqian, her lips trembling. “Miss, I have something I’d like to speak to you about privately.”

Lin Sangqian nodded. “Let’s talk in the kitchen.”

Once there, Aunt Niu wrung her hands, her face troubled.

“Miss, I truly don’t want to ask this of you, but I have no other option…”

“Aunt Niu, just say what’s on your mind.”

“Well, you know my husband… still hasn’t found proper work. Yesterday, my child let slip that I work for you and that you have several shops. As soon as my husband heard, he forced me to come and ask if you’d give him a job at one of your shops.”

Lin Sangqian understood; Aunt Niu’s useless husband wanted to take advantage of her connection and work in her shop.

But surely, he’d just laze about, not actually work.

She couldn’t afford to support an idler.

“Aunt Niu, I’m sorry, but I can’t help with this,” Lin Sangqian said. “You know your husband better than I do. If he comes to work in my shop, not only will he be of no help, he’ll likely cause trouble.”

“No, he promised…”

But here, Aunt Niu faltered, lowering her head in embarrassment.

Her husband’s promises were nothing but empty words.

He just wanted a free paycheck.

Lin Sangqian smiled. “Aunt Niu, we’ve known each other for a long time, and you’ve always been diligent in your work for me. I appreciate your effort. How about this: forget about your husband working in my shop, but I’ll give you five extra coins each day, how does that sound?”

She had long planned to give Aunt Niu a raise, and now was the perfect time to bring it up.

Aunt Niu truly was hardworking; she always did her duties, and even helped with anything else she noticed.

Her only flaw was her stubborn refusal to leave her useless husband.

“Thank you, Miss…” Aunt Niu said gratefully, though her heart trembled.

Now that her request had failed, she feared she would be beaten again once she returned home.