Chapter Thirty-One: Uncle-in-Law

Dealing with people like this requires constant vigilance; otherwise, you might be sold down the river without even realizing it. But their opponent was Lin Xiang, a woman who refused to engage in internal conflict and simply chose to go wild.

Lin Xiang wasn’t buying any of it.

"Listen to yourself. The last time your family of four visited us together was right after my father passed away. You didn't want my mother to remain a widow, so you tried to marry her off to an old widower. Ever since my mother refused and your little scheme failed, how long has it been since you last stepped foot in this house?"

"Now you're playing the 'caring relative' card? Do you really think I’m still a gullible three-year-old? Your family is scum, and as it happens, I’m not exactly a saint either. Since we both know exactly who the other is, why bother with this charade?"

The mask of fake kindness that the uncle-in-law had worn for decades was cracking under the strain. What on earth had gotten into Lin Xiang to make her tongue so sharp?

He took a deep breath, forcing himself back into his practiced persona. "Niu-zi, I know you still hold a grudge because we haven't been able to check on you enough over the years. But times are hard for everyone. I have two children of my own to support; I simply haven't had the energy to look after you and your mother."

"Oh," Lin Xiang replied, unmoved.

"You also know that back then..."

"Oh." Still unmoved.

"Niu-zi, I’m just..."

"Oh." Still nothing.

The uncle-in-law tried to play the emotional card, but Lin Xiang had transformed into a heartless machine. No matter how many flowery words he spun, her only response was that single syllable.

Even a master of disguise like him couldn't keep it up any longer. He stood up from the stool. "You two talk; I’m going outside for some fresh air!"

"I’ll send you on your way, a thousand miles away, and don’t you ever come back," she retorted.

The uncle-in-law, mid-stride across the threshold, nearly tripped. Why did he feel like Lin Xiang wasn't wishing him well?

Once he was gone, Lin’s aunt opened her mouth to speak, but before a sound could escape, Lin Xiang pointed toward the door. "If you still have any shred of self-respect, get out on your own. Don't wait until I make you cry, only for you to go around spreading rumors that I don't respect my elders."

"Lin Xiang, you are truly lawless!"

Lin Xiang rolled her eyes. "Better to be lawless than to be as shameless as you."

"You—you—you—"

"If you’re going to stutter, be quiet. It’s making my eyes hurt!"

After pacing outside for a while, the uncle-in-law returned to find his daughter and son crying. Standing opposite them was Lin Xiang, her left hand on her hip, her right hand holding a straight piece of firewood, tapping it rhythmically and erratically against the table.

He could no longer contain his rage. Abandoning his persona, he rolled up his sleeves. "Your father died too young. Because you lacked a father's guidance, your character has become twisted."

"After all, I was your father’s brother-in-law. Since he isn't here to teach you, I will step in and discipline you properly to ensure you get back on the right track!"

Lin Xiang rolled her eyes so hard they nearly flew out of her head. He clearly just wanted to bully her to get what he wanted, so why bother with all these high-sounding pretenses?

Seeing his hand raised to strike, Lin Xiang wasn't foolish enough to stand there and take it. She bolted for the door, and the moment she crossed the threshold, she began to scream at the top of her lungs, "Help! Someone’s attacking me! Someone is saying my father died young and that we’re easy targets because we're just a mother and daughter. He’s taking advantage of my mother being away to come here and beat me with a stick!"

Lin Xiang had a powerful set of lungs, and she repeated the same few sentences over and over. Within moments, a crowd had gathered at the Lin family gate.

These people weren't just here to watch the show; many were ready to stand up for Lin Xiang.

"Niu-zi, who hit you? Tell your auntie, and I’ll go settle the score for you!"

Lin Xiang covered her face with her right hand, sobbing. "It’s my aunt's family. I don't know where they heard the rumor that I got a job opening at the textile mill, and they’ve been to my house three times today!"

"Even though I’ve told them repeatedly that it’s not true, they refuse to believe me. They even planned to pay me a measly fifty yuan to give them the spot!"

A neighbor stepped forward and asked, "So, did you give it to them?"

"I’m not a fool! Besides, the spot doesn't even exist!" Lin Xiang continued to sob. "I just told my mom that I admired the work of the mill girls, and she misheard me, thinking I actually had an offer. She went out and mentioned it to a few people, and now look—some people have turned into leeches that I just can’t shake off!"

The aunt had finally caught up and rushed out of the house. Hearing that last remark, she pointed at herself and shouted, "Are you calling us leeches?"

Lin Xiang looked at her with the expression one might reserve for a fool. "I said you’re like a certain animal that spots a bone and refuses to let go once it bites down. Tsk, tsk, I’ve never seen anyone so eager to label themselves!"

Lin Xiang dared not let the villagers know that she actually *did* have a spot.

The people of the Lihua Brigade were poor; those with one or two hundred yuan in savings were considered wealthy, and most couldn't even scrape together ten or twenty yuan. Never mind eight hundred—even five hundred yuan was a sum no one here could afford!

If they couldn't afford it, it would only breed jealousy.

It was late 1977. Although policies were loosening, it was still a sensitive time, and she feared that jealousy might lead some to do her harm. Therefore, she denied it at the source. If someone was suspicious, she would stick to the lie that it simply didn't exist.

Seeing Lin Xiang deny it so quickly, the villagers felt at ease.

They had always looked down on the Lin girl, so why was she now helping in the state-run restaurant and acting as a translator for leaders, while they didn't even have the time to visit town? It was easy for them to feel unbalanced.

With their jealousy dispelled, the villagers spontaneously sided with her and began to accuse the aunt and uncle.

"Old Lin had barely been laid to rest when you, his own sister, didn't offer a word of comfort to your sister-in-law, but instead tried to sell her off to an old widower. How can you have the gall to come here now and demand a job spot from Niu-zi?"

"Even if Niu-zi had a spot, why should she give it to you? You’re supposed to be her aunt by blood, yet you’ve shown her less care and concern than we, her neighbors, have!"

Lin Xiang thought to herself: *When have I or the original owner ever received any care or concern from you lot?*

But she couldn't tear down the facade in public. She stood beside the villagers and tilted her head up. "Exactly! How thick-skinned must you be to come to my house over and over to demand a spot? And don't even get me started on your daughter!"

"She’s a few months older than me, right? She’s eighteen now—how can she be so rude? Coming into someone else’s home and rummaging through our cabinets without the owner's permission!"