Chapter 558

Chapter 558

A Change in Seniority

Mu Lin’s eyes reddened as he took out the photo he had brought, placing it beside the portrait. One showed an elderly man, the other a younger one, but it was clear they were the same person.

The Old Village Head sighed at the sight and said, "When Mu Bing left, he kept thinking about all of you. He was afraid that what happened back then would implicate you and make you suffer. Later, trapped here, he could barely survive himself and had no way to look for you. For your safety and to avoid burdening the villagers, he only told me his name was Mu Bing but never mentioned where he was from or who his family was. That’s why, after he passed, we couldn’t find anyone to take him home. We had to bury him on the back hill, alongside the other old companions who couldn’t return."

Now that it was confirmed, the Mu family was both excited and heartbroken. Everyone cried until their eyes were red and swollen. Even the Lu family was deeply moved, shedding tears alongside them. Lu Dudu, however, was spooked by the situation. Seeing everyone cry, she started crying too, and with such earnest, loud sobs that she drowned out the others’ weeping.

Lin Nannan, who had finally managed to work up some tears, found herself abruptly cut off.

"What are you crying for?" she said, pulling the child into her arms and resting her forehead against hers helplessly.

Lu Dudu didn’t say a word, just wrapped her arms around Lin Nannan’s neck, looking visibly distressed.

Understanding that the collective crying had scared her, Lin Nannan didn’t say anything more, simply patting her back gently to soothe her.

Seeing that the child was frightened, the Mu family members all looked at her with concern. Noticing that Lin Nannan had calmed her down and was shaking her head at them, they felt somewhat reassured.

They stopped crying and turned to the Old Village Head to ask about the past.

The Old Village Head was kind-hearted. He knew those people had been wronged and couldn’t help openly, so he supported them in secret. The gutsy Lin Nannan was the perfect candidate.

"Rather than saying Nan Nan helped them, it’s more accurate to say they were kind enough to accept Nan Nan, which made her wholeheartedly devoted to protecting them!" Recalling those times, the Old Village Head sighed emotionally. "The Lin family were so harsh with Nan Nan that she rarely trusted others, but she considered the people on the back hill as her own. That shows how sincerely they treated her. It was because of this that they managed to survive with Nan Nan’s help."

Some memories only came back to Lin Nannan after the Old Village Head’s reminders. The original host had suffered brain damage from a fever and forgotten many things.

After being prompted, she recalled that the original host had survived those difficult times largely thanks to the Old Village Head’s leniency and covert assistance.

In this village, some were sharp-tongued, but others were kind-hearted. Otherwise, in an era when everyone was tightening their belts to get by, the original host would have struggled to survive.

"Since you were my father’s apprentice, from now on, you are part of our Mu family," Mu Lin said, looking at Lin Nannan, who had captured his father’s likeness so well. He thought she must have held great respect for his father; otherwise, after all these years, she wouldn’t have recalled his features with such precision. His manner toward her changed noticeably.

"Come here," Mu Lin called over the younger generation of the Mu family. "Your grandfather’s apprentice is your aunt. Remember to respect her as you would us, understand?"

Lin Nannan, who had moments earlier thought the seniority talk was a joke, now found herself facing a row of people older than her calling her "Aunt." She was totally thrown off.

The change in status was too abrupt, leaving her utterly bewildered.