Chapter 190: Rare Visitors

Chapter 190: Rare Visitors

Zhou Ye wished he could bear all of Lin Shu's pain. Hearing that she merely wanted to bite something, he immediately rolled up his sleeve and offered his arm without a second thought.

Lin Shu chuckled as she bit down, starting gently. Seeing his expression unchanged, she couldn't resist applying a bit more force, leaving two clear rows of teeth marks on his sturdy arm.

Afterward, she ran her fingers over the marks, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "How come you're not making a sound? Didn't that hurt?"

"Compared to what you're going through, this is nothing," Zhou Ye replied earnestly.

Lin Shu let out a soft whimper and buried her face in his chest, nuzzling against him with a smile. "A Ye, my fondness for you grew a little more today."

Zhou Ye held her waist with one hand while gently massaging her lower abdomen with the other. His palm was warm, like a heating pad pressed against her skin. At that moment, Lin Shu didn’t mind his warmth at all.

In her previous life, Lin Shu had also been like this—unexplainably irritable and restless during her period. Anyone who crossed her path during those days would bear the brunt of her irritation.

But Zhou Ye was patient and gentle. With his comforting words and soothing touches, her inner turmoil gradually subsided into calm.

However, this rare tranquility was soon disrupted.

Just as the family was having breakfast, rare visitors arrived—relatives from her uncle’s family, whom they hadn't spoken to in three years, suddenly showed up.

The eldest son of the uncle, Lin Duocang, her nominal older cousin, and the second son, Lin Duogu, both came together.

Both looked remorseful. Before Lin Dashan could angrily chase them away, Lin Duocang, with red-rimmed eyes, explained, "Second Uncle, I’ve come to… borrow money. My mother fainted suddenly this morning, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. She nearly died!" His voice choked with emotion as he spoke.

Hearing this, Lin Dashan and He Guixiang were stunned.

Lin Shu was also surprised. The symptoms sounded like epilepsy, which was indeed dangerous.

She had never met this aunt face-to-face, but from what she had heard, the woman was quite active and spirited. How could someone so full of life suddenly be at death's door?

Was it real or fake?

Judging by her older cousin’s reaction, the illness seemed genuine. But when she looked at the second cousin, the situation seemed more complicated.

According to her mother, Lin Duocang took after his father, who, like Lin Dashan, was an honest man. Lin Duogu, on the other hand, resembled their late grandmother, who was cunning and calculating. The youngest cousin, Lin Duoliang, took after his sharp-tongued and narrow-minded mother.

At that moment, Lin Duocang looked genuinely fearful, while Lin Duogu, though seemingly concerned, appeared to be putting on an act. There was a hint of calculation in his eyes, as if he had an ulterior motive.

When Lin Duocang’s explanations began to sound repetitive, Lin Duogu suddenly fell to his knees with a thud before Lin Dashan. "Second Uncle, when the family property was divided, my parents were too calculative and shortchanged you. If it weren’t for my mother’s critical condition, my brother and I wouldn’t have the nerve to come begging like this. At first, we thought it was just emotional distress, but even after seeing a doctor in town and taking medicine, she didn’t get better. We didn’t think much of it until this morning when she suddenly…" He broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

His kneeling startled Lin Dashan. "Why are you kneeling? Get up quickly!" He reached out to pull him up.

Lin Duogu rose with his help and continued tearfully, "Father is staying home to care for Mother and couldn’t come, but he admitted he was wrong. He said he shouldn’t have let a few acres of land ruin the bond between brothers. Now that Mother is critically ill, we can’t even scrape together enough coins to take her to the county hospital."

Lin Dashan’s expression softened at this, but he remained silent.

He Guixiang sighed softly. After all, they were blood-related brothers. She felt she needed to say something.

"How is your mother now?" He Guixiang asked.

Lin Duogu wiped his tears and replied, "At first, she was unconscious and didn’t recognize anyone. It took a while before she came to. The elders in the village said she must be taken to the county for treatment, or she might not survive another episode."

Hearing this, Lin Dashan set aside past grievances. Regardless of everything, they were still his elder brother and sister-in-law.

"How is it that your family has no money for a doctor?" Lin Dashan asked, frowning.

Lin Duogu quickly explained, "When the family property was divided, Grandma did favor my parents, but you know, Second Uncle, we only got the farmland and the old house. Grandma didn’t have much savings, and what little she had was given to you and Third Uncle to build your houses."

"My parents aren’t as capable as you and Second Aunt. They rely on those few acres of land to get by. With so many mouths to feed, we’ve eaten through our grain stores and have nothing extra to sell. We only grow some fruits and vegetables to sell for a few coins at the market. But things like oil, salt, and soy sauce all cost money. By the end of the year, there’s nothing left."

"If it weren’t for Mother’s illness, Father would never have dared to come to you. I’m truly ashamed to be here…"

After hearing this, the resentment Lin Dashan had held onto for years dissipated significantly.

But to Lin Shu, all the explanations and excuses boiled down to one thing: borrowing money.

No matter how many reasons they gave, the underlying goal was clear.

Although neither Lin Duocang nor Lin Duogu had much education, Lin Duogu was quite skilled at playing the victim. His words would have moved anyone, let alone someone as soft-hearted as Lin Dashan.

After all, they had lived alongside their uncle’s family for years. While there was resentment, it was impossible to say there was no affection at all.

Human nature is strange. When life improves, people become more magnanimous, especially when those who once scorned them kneel before them, weeping and expressing regret, satisfying a hidden emotional need.

At that moment, Lin Duogu suddenly seemed to remember something and produced a land deed from his robe, handing it to Lin Dashan. "The conflict between you and Father started over the division of land. Father has regretted it for years. This is the deed to two *mu* of land. Father asked me to give it to you. If our family weren’t so large, he would have given an extra *mu* to Third Uncle as well."

Lin Dashan was utterly stunned.

Although he had softened earlier, the fact that Lin Datian hadn’t come in person had left him somewhat reserved. But with the land deed presented by his nephew, he finally let go of his lingering resentment.

He stared at the deed for a long time. Though he couldn’t read most of the words, he recognized the character for "land" and the number "two."

His elder brother had actually given him the deed to two *mu* of land!

Not only Lin Dashan, but even He Guixiang was taken aback.

The three Lin brothers were fundamentally similar—traditional, honest men who were proud people. If they didn’t believe they were wrong, they would never bow their heads.

Yet Lin Datian had not only admitted his mistake but also offered two *mu* of land as an apology. Was this really Lin Datian?

He Guixiang knew Lin Datian well enough to doubt it. In truth, Lin Datian would never do such a thing. The land deed was part of a plan devised by Lin Duogu and his mother, Zhang Lamei, and brought out secretly.

Zhang Lamei was indeed ill, but not as severely as described. She had felt dizzy that morning and collapsed but quickly regained consciousness. Only her second son, Lin Duogu, witnessed it and exaggerated the incident to the family, frightening Lin Datian and Lin Duocang.

Once she recovered, Zhang Lamei immediately discussed a plan with her son to use her "critical condition" as an excuse to borrow money from Lin Dashan’s family—and not a small amount at that.

They were confident that, given Lin Dashan’s nature, he would never accept the land deed.

As expected, Lin Dashan tried to return the deed after examining it. "Take this land deed back—"

But before he could finish, a cough interrupted him.

Lin Shu, leaning on Zhou Ye for support, covered her chest and coughed softly.

Initially, she and Zhou Ye had been listening from inside the room, but she could no longer stand by. If she didn’t intervene, this situation would spiral out of control.

"Cousins," she said softly, her face pale from menstrual pain, looking every bit the fragile beauty.

Lin Duogu’s words caught in his throat.

How could this cousin from the marquis’ household look even sicker than his mother? Hadn’t she just married Zhou Ye?

"Father, we can’t accept this land deed, but you can hold onto it for Uncle’s family for now. Think about it—Uncle has finally swallowed his pride and admitted his mistake. If you don’t accept this gesture, he’ll think you still hold a grudge. That would only hurt your relationship further. Keep the deed for now. Once our families start interacting again and repair our ties, you can return it to Uncle later."

Lin Dashan took these words to heart, finding them quite reasonable. After all, he didn't covet the land deed for these two *mu* of farmland—with the savings the family had tucked away, they could afford to buy many more plots. What truly mattered was the sincerity of his elder brother’s apology, which left him feeling deeply satisfied.

So, Lin Dashan withdrew the hand he had initially extended.

Lin Duogu watched as his second uncle folded the land deed for the two *mu* of farmland and tucked it into his robe, accepting it.

…He accepted it.

Lin Duogu’s hands trembled, and he almost spat blood in frustration.

What was he supposed to do now? How would he explain this to his mother when he returned? And if his father found out, he’d probably break his legs for sure.

Cold sweat beaded on Lin Duogu’s forehead. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even hear his uncle ask how much money they needed to borrow.

It wasn’t until his elder brother, Lin Duocang, mentioned one string of cash that Lin Duogu snapped back to attention. Quickly adopting a tearful tone again, he pleaded, “Second Uncle, I’m afraid one string of cash won’t be enough. Could you possibly lend us a bit more? Mother’s condition requires expensive medicines like ginseng and lingzhi to sustain her. If we go to the county seat and don’t have enough money, the trip might be in vain. Second Uncle, could you lend me... five strings of cash?”

At the mention of five strings of cash, Lin Dashan frowned, and He Guixiang’s expression shifted noticeably. Even his elder brother, Lin Duocang, standing to the side, looked startled.

How could he ask for so much? Although Second Uncle’s family had become better off, requesting five strings of cash outright—would Second Uncle’s family even agree?

Seeing their reactions, Lin Duogu hurriedly explained, “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, these five strings are just a precaution. If Mother’s treatment doesn’t end up costing that much, I’ll return whatever is left to you.”

“Well...” Lin Dashan hesitated, about to respond, when Lin Shu’s soft, delicate voice chimed in again. “Father, the expenses for my wedding with A Ye were quite substantial. I’m afraid our family can’t spare five strings of cash right now.”

Lin Dashan immediately glanced at He Guixiang, who, catching her daughter’s hint, nodded in agreement. “Husband, between the wedding gown, the new bed and cabinets, and that pure silver jewelry set I had made for A Shu, our savings are stretched thin. I was already worried when our eldest nephew asked for one string of cash—let alone five!”