Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 243 - 242: Did He Really Leave?

Chapter 243: Chapter 242: Did He Really Leave?

Little New Year had arrived, and with it, the countdown to New Year’s Eve grew shorter.

In every household at this time, a good deal of the New Year’s shopping had already been done.

It was on this day that Lin Aiguo came to Lin Xia’s stall.

When he arrived, Lin Xia and Lin Dong had just finished their work, sitting down to rest their feet, while people were still busy at Jiang Mingyuan’s stall.

Seeing Lin Aiguo, Lin Dong stood up with a whoosh, bracing himself and coldly looking at him with caution.

The last time he had seen this father was half a year ago, after a fight that followed the middle school exams.

Both had changed; one had grown taller and more solid, while the other had aged and become hunched.

Lin Aiguo also sized up his son. After a long absence, he had grown taller and filled out, his features maturing on his face, shedding the naivety of youth for a look of mature determination.

Upon seeing Lin Aiguo, Lin Xia instinctively frowned. She had no idea what scene he intended to play out today, but she was ready to see it through, whatever it was.

She and her siblings had casually chatted that, with the New Year approaching, Lin Aiguo might come over, and it turned out to be exactly as they’d talked about.

Lin Aiguo, seeing Lin Xia’s cold face at the stall, was involuntarily reminded of the time she had him sent to the mental hospital. All those unpleasant memories came flooding back, darkening his expression.

His voice was cold and rigid as he said, "I’ve been transferred, from now on send the money directly to me!"

"Fine!" Lin Xia didn’t object. After all, the reason they had been sending money to Lin Aijia was because Lin Aiguo’s job transfer hadn’t been finalized yet.

Seeing her quick agreement, Lin Aiguo found that the words he’d rehearsed on the way over were unnecessary.

His purpose for coming today wasn’t just to talk about the money transfers; he also wanted to discuss visiting the valley for the New Year.

But given that every encounter was usually fraught with tension, now that there was a rare chance for a decent conversation, he found himself at a loss for how to continue.

Seeing Lin Dong protectively standing by Lin Xia, as if Lin Aiguo might strike or insult them at any moment, infuriated him further!

He didn’t ask to go see them, knowing Lin Xia would snub him, "You should go to the valley during New Year’s to see your grandma! She’s getting on in years and hasn’t stopped thinking about you!"

"We don’t have time!" Lin Xia rejected him bluntly, anger flooding her heart at the thought of her grandmother, Liu Shuqin. In those days, her grandmother had stirred up trouble and bullied her mother. They certainly didn’t need her concern!

As for Lin Aiye and those who never had their fill of taking advantage, she didn’t even want to see them.

Lin Dong also had no good impressions of the old lady. Although she was alright to him, her grandson, he remembered all the past clearly.

Lin Aiguo’s eyes went stern as he subconsciously wanted to erupt in anger, but remembering the agreement they had signed, he swallowed the words back down.

"How can you possibly be busy during New Year’s? This place doesn’t close for the holiday?" He wouldn’t believe it if Lin Xia said they didn’t close.

"We close! We are too busy to have time to visit anyone! Better you leave now!" Lin Xia didn’t want to waste words with him. A small concession on her part did not mean she would comply with his wishes on everything in the future.

If he still wanted to come and make a scene, she wouldn’t indulge him. Not only would they stop the money, but she would make sure he had it rough.

"Lin Xia! Even if you don’t want to see me, that’s your grandma..." Lin Aiguo wanted to say that the old lady hadn’t been unkind to them, having watched over them since they were little.

Just then, three women came to buy goods, and Lin Xia and Lin Dong immediately greeted them with beaming smiles.

Lin Aiguo felt his breath caught, trapped. These were his well-raised children, showing completely different faces to others than the ones they showed their father!

Yet at the same time, he soberly realized that they had indeed grown up. Yelling or hitting them would no longer intimidate them, but would only make their relationship more strained.

He stood and watched for a while, and seeing that Lin Xia and her brother were busy selling their goods without paying him any attention, he left with a dark scowl on his face.

Jiang Mingyuan observed Lin Aiguo leaving with heavy breaths, a flicker of motion in his eyes.

Lin Xia and Lin Dong were not as oblivious to Lin Aiguo as they had appeared; seeing that he had indeed left without a word, the siblings exchanged glances.

Feeling uncertain, Lin Dong whispered, "Big sister, did he really leave? Will he come back later?"

He was not used to Lin Aiguo leaving without throwing a fit, and it felt strange to him.

The Lin Aiguo he remembered would cuss as soon as he opened his mouth and strike with his hands; the current situation truly seemed abnormal.

"Who knows! Forget about him!" Lin Xia shook her head, unsure of what Lin Aiguo might be thinking.

After all they had been through, how could it still be possible to visit Lin Aiye’s home in the gully for the New Year as they had in the past?

By the time they packed up the stall, Lin Aiguo did not return.

While helping Lin Xia pack up, Lin Dong said, "Big sister, do you think he will come again tomorrow?"

"Even if he comes, we’re not going to the gully for the New Year! Hurry up and pack!" said Lin Xia with a frown. Her mood hadn’t improved since seeing Lin Aiguo.

Somehow, the way he had left felt off to her.

Jiang Mingyuan followed Lin Xia and her brother out of the greenhouse, and they pushed their cart towards home.

A shadow quietly followed behind them; this tail was none other than Lin Aiguo, who had supposedly left earlier.

As it turned out, upon leaving the greenhouse, Lin Aiguo couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

As their father, he didn’t even know where Lin Xia and the others were living now!

Since he was on the night shift today and had nothing else to do, he decided to follow them once they packed up to find out where these kids were staying.

He would visit their home when the New Year was approaching. This year, it couldn’t be the same as the last.

Jiang Mingyuan quickly detected someone following them and whispered to Lin Xia walking beside him, "Lin Xia, someone is following us from behind! Let’s get on the bike and go!" He thought the figure looked like Lin Aiguo.

Something stirred in Lin Xia’s heart. Without looking back, she grabbed the bag on the rear rack of her bike and called out to Lin Dong, "Dongzi, pedal and keep up!" Then she mounted the bike.

Feeling the weight on the rear rack, Jiang Mingyuan couldn’t help but smile silently to himself. If it hadn’t been for this sudden incident, he wouldn’t have had the chance to carry Lin Xia.

If only Lu Zheng, that kid, could see this with his own eyes!

Lin Dong sensed something was wrong but didn’t ask questions; he simply obeyed and pedaled hard to keep up.

Jiang Mingyuan deliberately changed the route, with Lin Dong closely following behind him.

Lin Aiguo watched the two bicycles zigzag until they disappeared from view. In the icy snow, he tried to run after them but couldn’t; he could only support himself on his knees, gasping for breath.

Afterwards, he had to run to the bus stop. If he was late, he would probably have to spend the night in the city and not be able to return home.

Jiang Mingyuan led Lin Xia and her brother on a detour back home, and all three were convinced that the person following them had definitely been Lin Aiguo.

When Lin Qiu served them their meals and heard the whole story, she asked with concern, "Sister, so he didn’t manage to follow us today, but what if he sneaks up on us some other day?" She truly feared him finding this place. Would they still be able to enjoy the New Year?