Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 143 - 142: Don’t Mention It

Chapter 143: Chapter 142: Don’t Mention It

Qian Chunli got off work and returned home, and as soon as she entered the Eastern House, she was hit with a thick stench of alcohol, with her son Lin Qiang snoring thunderously as he lay on the northern kang bed.

She was astonished and hurriedly tried to wake him, "Qiangzi! Why have you come back so early? And why have you been drinking?"

Lin Qiang opened his eyes, bleary from the alcohol, and saw it was his mom. He rolled over and got up, rubbing his eyes, "Mom! I took the day off today!"

Qian Chunli struck him in frustration, "Why are you taking time off for no reason? If Lin Aiguo finds out, it’s going to be trouble!"

Her son’s unpredictable behavior was really driving her to the brink of madness.

Lin Qiang replied with a flushed face, shouting, "What do you mean no reason? My buddy Mangzi saw Lin Xia and Lin Dong, those sons of a bitches! As soon as I heard, I rushed to settle the score with them!"

Qian Chunli quickly pressed for details, "What happened after that?"

Lin Qiang crossed his legs, "After that, Mangzi and I actually caught up with the two of them at the station! Then we started beating them! But who would have thought we’d run into the cops... After that, we ran..."

Qian Chunli listened, fraught with worry, "Oh my goodness! Was there any trouble? The police won’t be after you, will they?"

"They probably won’t! Lin Xia isn’t stupid; would she really want Lin Dong to end up inside?" Lin Qiang was quite confident about that.

Qian Chunli nodded, "That’s also true!"

As Lin Qiang recalled his foolish actions, he pounded his leg in anger, "But, Mom, I regret it so much, I should have just gone straight for them when I saw them! What was the point of talking? It just wasted time..." He recounted the whole event in detail to Qian Chunli.

Having heard everything, Qian Chunli was deeply annoyed, "Next time you want to beat someone, find a secluded place, would you? How good was it to do it at the station, with people coming and going?"

"Got it! I’ll remember that! Mom! They must be staying in the city! Otherwise, they wouldn’t have run into us at the station again!"

Qian Chunli slapped her thigh, "That must be it! I’ve been wondering why I couldn’t find any trace of them. Lin Dong must also be going to school in the city! Those kids are quite capable, managing to move to the city! They must definitely have money!"

Lin Qiang smacked his lips in frustration, "They definitely have money! I saw the two of them dressed all slick and smooth! If only I had known this before..."

With a sigh, Qian Chunli said, "Ah... What’s the use of saying all that now? Next time you run into those kids, be more cunning... take them somewhere no one’s around and give them a good beating..." Her hatred for Lin Xia was intense; she regretted that her son hadn’t managed to beat them up properly.

Lin Qiang narrowed his eyes menacingly, "Mom! Don’t worry! They won’t be so lucky next time..."

Qian Chunli suddenly sneered, "When Lin Aiguo gets back this time, let’s see if he can take a lesson from him and let him do the searching! Finding them in the city is not easy, it’s a big place..."

...

The goods Lin Xia had for sale were finally almost all sold before New Year’s Day, with only a few hair clips, hairbands, and earrings left, so she wasn’t desperately trying to sell them all off.

At this time, the winter in the north had reached its coldest phase, and Lin Xia was spared from having to suffer outside; she started to "cat winter" at home.

On New Year’s Day, the three siblings gathered together to make dumplings with sauerkraut and pork filling. Without intending to, they all ended up talking about their eldest brother Lin Chun, who was away.

Although the eldest brother wrote in his letters that everything was going well for him, they weren’t sure how things really were; he might just be sharing good news and keeping the concerns to himself.

However, they all chose to think positively, believing he must be eating better than at home, aside from working harder there wouldn’t be anything too bad.

After New Year’s Day, when Lin Dong finished his final exams, he started his winter vacation as well.

Lin Qiu had gone to apprentice with Potter Dame Tao. As the year was coming to an end, work was at its busiest, so recently she had started providing meals which spared Lin Qiu the trouble of running back and forth at noon.

Therefore, now the house was left with only Lin Xia and Lin Dong.

Some time ago, Lin Xia had taken advantage of their absence to haul back many logs from the mountain, piling up a large stack next to the partition screen.

That day, since the sunlight was quite nice and it wasn’t too cold, she and Lin Dong worked together in the yard, sawing wood and chopping firewood.

The siblings chatted as they worked, not feeling the least bit tired.

The entrance suddenly filled with the sound of footsteps followed by a knock on the door.

"Xiaolin!"

As soon as Lin Xia heard the voice, she recognized it as her second brother!

"Second Brother?"

"It’s me!"

Lin Dong put down the large axe and joined Lin Xia, happily going to open the door.

But it wasn’t just her second brother standing outside the door; next to him stood a tall, beautiful girl with an oval face and delicate features, and beside her rosy lips, a small mole.

She slightly raised her chin, sizing up Lin Xia and her brother.

Jiang Mingyuan smiled as he introduced them, "Xiaolin, this is my sister, Xiaoqing! She’s probably older than all of you! Just call her Sister Xiaoqing."

What else was there to not know? The university student was here to tutor Lin Dong!

"Hello, Sister Xiaoqing!" Lin Xia and Lin Dong excitedly greeted her together, then ushered her into the house.

Lin Xia invited them to sit down and went to the kitchen to brew tea and pour water.

Lin Dong stood by the stove, sweating nervously, not knowing where to place his hands or feet.

This was his first time meeting a university student, and he could hardly contain his nerves, let alone the anxiety at the thought of being tutored by one, worried they might find him dumb.

Jiang Mingyuan noticed his discomfort and laughed, "Lin Dong, don’t be nervous! In a bit, you can show your questions to your Sister Xiaoqing, and she can explain them to you!"

After he spoke, he glanced at Jiang Mingqing, who was looking around the room, "Xiaoqing!"

Jiang Mingqing’s smile lingered on her lips as her eyes sparkled, "Right! Your name is Lin Dong, isn’t it? I’ll explain the questions to you!"

At that moment, Lin Xia came in with two cups of water, cheerfully calling out to them, "Second Brother, Sister Xiaoqing, please have some hot water!"

Jiang Mingqing took it with a light thanks.

Jiang Mingyuan took the cup and placed it at the edge of the bed, "Xiaolin, don’t be busy! We’re all family here! Have a seat yourself!"

Lin Xia sat on a stool to the side and pulled Lin Dong to sit too; the bedroom was already small, and now it felt very crowded.

They made small talk for a bit, with Jiang Mingqing contributing little, her responses terse, while Jiang Mingyuan did most of the talking.

Lin Xia thought it was just her personality, without realizing the real reason.

When his sister had come home for the holidays and heard from their mother about the tutoring, she had thrown a bit of a tantrum and refused.

Later, after he promised her ten yuan, she agreed to come.

"Xiaolin, I saw you sawing wood, right? It’s perfect, I’ll help you out, and they can discuss the questions in peace in the house!"

Lin Xia quickly got up to refuse, "Second Brother, you’re a guest, you can’t be working here! Maybe we should sit in the living room?"

She couldn’t bear the thought of letting her second brother work! That would be improper!

Jiang Mingyuan insisted, "What’s there to be afraid of? Come on, Xiaolin! We’d be a disturbance to them in the living room, too!"

Jiang Mingqing suddenly laughed from the side, "Xiaolin, if my second brother wants to do the work, just let him! Don’t be polite! We would indeed be disturbed by your presence in the room while I explain the questions!"

Jiang Mingyuan gave Jiang Mingqing a warning look, and she quietly stuck out her tongue and fell silent.