Chapter 246: Vacation – Daily Gossip in the Courtyard of the Sickly Young Aunt

Chapter 246: Vacation - The Daily Gossip Life of the Sickly Little Aunt in the Compound

Perhaps Lin Shu really wanted to prove herself. Since that day when she threw down the gauntlet, Lin Shu hadn't come to find Lin Qing for several days.

Lin Qing also relished the quiet. In fact, Lin Qing saw Lin Shu's occasional visits as a bit of fun, mainly because she was quite bored apart from work.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back." Lin Qing returned to the Lin family on her day off.

"Sweetie, you're back!" Mother Lin greeted her with surprise.

"Yes."

"Is your husband still not off this week?" Father Lin asked, noticing no one behind her.

"Ah, you know how it is. They're in the thick of their research right now. Where would they find the time?" Lin Qing explained for Cen Xi.

"Are you used to living alone at home? Is there any inconvenience?"

"It's fine!"

After chatting with her parents for a while, Lin Qing decided to change the subject.

"Dad, Mom, is the textile factory doing anything for Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"No, with all the commotion outside, how could the factory risk any big moves?"

"Oh, I see."

Lin Qing understood. Indeed, the textile factory wasn't as strictly protected and managed as the machinery factory. Not many dared to cause trouble in the machinery factory, but the textile factory was different. Some people always blew things out of proportion, which kept everyone on edge.

Usually, such major festivals would have some activities to boost morale, but this year they really didn't dare to do much. Even their machinery factory only held a mixer.

"By the way, is your factory having a get-together?" Mother Lin asked.

"Mom, how did you know?" Lin Qing was full of surprise.

Mother Lin waved her hand, "It was Lin Shu. A few days ago, she came back specifically to ask your dad for help, to get him to pull some strings."

Lin Qing was stunned but soon realized that this was indeed something Lin Shu would do. She turned to Father Lin, "Dad, did you agree?"

Father Lin shook his head, "Sigh~ I don't really know the union director, and besides, we're on opposite sides. How could I just go out of my way to help her?"

Lin Qing nodded, "Dad, do whatever you think is right."

Lin Qing initially thought her father might agree, as it wasn't a big deal, but she didn't expect the complicated relationship between her father and the union director, which ultimately led to his refusal.

So, who did Lin Shu go to after that? She came back so sure of herself, clearly having found a way.

Lin Qing thought about it for a while but then brushed it off. After all, it wasn't her concern.

Lin Qing spent a day with her parents and returned to the compound the next afternoon.

She came back at a bad time, as the vibe was a bit off in the compound.

Lin Qing saw that in the west wing, Lin Shu was squaring off with Mother Jiang, Jiang Dahu, and Jiang Erhu alone, while Jiang Da Sao sat at her own door, openly enjoying the show.

For a moment, Lin Qing found it strange. Why wasn't Jiang Da Sao worried about getting an earful from Mother Jiang today?

After all, in the past, she often saw Jiang Da Sao lurking in the background to catch the drama, just like herself, and never as boldly as today.

Also, her entire posture was somewhat peculiar. She leaned against the wall, her hand constantly touching her belly, and Lin Qing was full of questions.

Lin Qing carried her cloth bag and walked home at her own pace.

Lin Shu and the others noticed Lin Qing's amused expression, but no one dared to provoke her, so they all quietly ignored her.

Lin Qing didn’t feel anything and went to the window to watch the commotion after getting home. She still had no idea what was happening!

When Lin Shu saw Lin Qing return, she felt humiliated, and her anger flared up even more.

"Mother-in-law, it was those two who caused the trouble, or else how could I have burned the kitchen?"

Lin Qing’s eyes widened. What? The kitchen caught fire?

Lin Qing looked towards the middle room of the west wing. Did it really burn?

Looking closer, the wall did seem blackened. If you weren’t paying attention, you might’ve missed it.

"What are you talking about? My grandsons are so well-behaved—they’d never burn the kitchen. You’re just making excuses."

Lin Shu realized no one believed her, no matter how much she explained, and she felt bitter.

"It wasn’t me, it was them," Lin Shu said, almost furious, since it clearly wasn’t her fault.

Those two little troublemakers caused the kitchen fire today on purpose.

Jiang Da Sao lowered her head to hide her amusement, then looked up with concern in her eyes. "Sister-in-law, if we make a mistake, we need to own up to it. Don’t just blame the kids..."

Lin Shu was speechless. No one was listening to her.

"I really didn’t do it," Lin Shu said quickly.

"Alright, sister-in-law, it’s not a big deal. The house isn’t badly damaged, and Mother-in-law won’t make a fuss. Don’t blame the kids."

"I told you I didn’t do it. What would I gain from this?" Lin Shu snapped.

"Hmph! You—" Mother Jiang snapped, "You just want everyone to think Dahu and Erhu are troublemakers, don’t you?"

"Do I even need to say it? They’re little troublemakers who cause chaos all day," Lin Shu shot back.

"Waaah... waaah..." Dahu and Erhu started crying.

"You’re lying!" She quickly comforted the kids, "Oh, Dahu, Erhu, it’s okay. You’re good kids—she’s the bad one."

Jiang Da Sao was thrilled—everything was going exactly as she’d planned.

At lunch, Jiang Da Sao announced she was pregnant, and Mother Jiang and Father Jiang were thrilled.

Then, Jiang Da Sao used her pregnancy as an excuse to avoid heavy household chores. Since Jiang Da Sao wasn’t doing them, Mother Jiang didn’t want to either, so all the chores were pushed onto Lin Shu. Lin Shu, of course, was very unwilling, but she had no choice.

So, Lin Shu had to make dinner while Jiang Da Sao sat by the door, doing nothing. The kitchen fire happened right in front of her, and she knew exactly how it started, but she wasn’t about to say anything.