"Okay, I'll be there on time!" Lin Shunhe quickly replied.
As he watched Elder Chen stroll leisurely out of the oil mill's warehouse, hands clasped behind his back, a huge weight was finally lifted from his heart.
'Even though I used up years of savings all at once, even throwing in my retirement fund... as long as my son can get in and make something of himself, it's worth it. As for the money... I can always work hard and earn it back later...'
*
*
*
Lin Hui followed the road and took a stroll through town.
The entirety of Xinyu Town was a pocket-sized place, with five streets intersecting in the shape of a comb. The so-called streets were actually just ordinary dirt roads that had been packed down.
The town's main industry consisted of a dozen or so workshops, the oil mill being just one. There were also garment shops, tanneries, grain mills, fruit presses, and more.
Besides the workshops were the residences—either square, earthen houses or compounds with stone walls.
The only thing that left a deep impression on Lin Hui was a dilapidated temple he passed on the side of the road.
He didn't enter the temple. He just stood outside, peeking through a hole in the crumbling wall. Nothing was enshrined within; instead, there were rows upon rows of clay sculptures of children with damaged, incomplete bodies.
The dark clay figures were exquisitely crafted and startlingly lifelike. It was as if real children, all under the age of three, were sitting cross-legged in the temple, their faces frozen in gleeful smiles.
But because the figures were damaged, the sight was especially eerie.
That was why he hadn't dared to go inside.
As noon approached, Lin Hui turned and headed home. On the way, he gazed out toward the edge of town.
A white fog permeated the landscape, a vast expanse of gray where nothing could be seen.
The fog shrouded everything in this world. Only by gathering around the giant cities could people find a No-Fog Zone, giving them a chance to survive.
With a sigh, Lin Hui quickened his pace. Just as he neared the Lin Family Mansion, he saw three or four Lin Family Members respectfully escorting a pot-bellied old man out the gate.
At the head of the group was none other than the Lin Clan Patriarch, Lin Chaoyi.
The patriarch, now in his seventies, was the current head of the Lin Family. He leaned on a date-red cane, his complexion ruddy and his silver hair neatly combed back. His usually stern face had softened, looking particularly gentle.
He was gently holding the back of a pretty young woman's hand as he chatted with the pot-bellied elder.
Seeing Lin Hui approaching, the old patriarch stopped speaking and gave the young woman's arm a final pat.
"It's settled, then," the old patriarch declared decisively.
"But... is this really a good idea? That spot was secured by my friend, Lin Shunhe..." The pot-bellied man was none other than Elder Chen, fresh from the oil mill. He hadn't expected that the moment he stepped outside, the Lin Clan Patriarch, who had been lying in wait, would invite him over. Without a word, the patriarch had pressed an even larger sum of money on him. His only request was to transfer the spot to Lin Hongyu, another member of the Lin Family.
'The patriarch's offer was better, so of course Elder Chen was happy to agree. It's just... Lin Shunhe had risked life and limb to get that spot from the young master. To just change it like this...'
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. We're all Lin Family Members. I am the patriarch; I make the decisions for this family, big or small," Lin Chaoyi stated flatly. "I never expected Shunhe to actually pull it off. But now that he has, such a fine opportunity to join the Chen Family would be wasted on Xiaohui. It should go to Hongyu. With her talent and willpower, she can thrive in the Chen Family. Once she secures a high position, she can pull Xiaohui up with her. That is the proper path. It's the optimal choice for the good of the entire Lin Family."
"What about Shunhe, then...?"
"I'll speak with him. I'm his father! If he dares to disobey, this cane of mine isn't just for show!" Lin Chaoyi said grimly.
Elder Chen glanced at the group from the Lin Family and shook his head inwardly. 'So, they were waiting here the whole time, aiming to snatch this from Lin Shunhe's family.'
'Vicious.'
'But this was all the Lin Family's business. As long as he got paid, the rest had nothing to do with him. He had, after all, delivered the spot to the Lin Family as promised.'
Now, seeing Lin Hui slowly approaching, the old patriarch lowered his voice to say a few more words to Elder Chen, then escorted him to a horse-drawn carriage waiting by the road.
The group brushed past Lin Hui, jostling him aside. Once they had seen Elder Chen off, the old patriarch turned to look at Lin Hui. He sized up the boy's slender frame and listless eyes, then let out a cold snort before leading the others back into the mansion.
Lin Hongyu and her father, Lin Shuntao, were also in the farewell party. Lin Shuntao glanced at Lin Hui, feeling a little guilty for taking the boy's spot, and gently nudged his daughter.
"Go say hello to your cousin. You should stay in touch more."
"You go if you want to, I'm not going," Lin Hongyu snapped, turning away. "I have to train my Heart and Spirit every day. I don't have time to just wander around like him. So what if I owe him something? I'll just pay him back double in the future, big deal."
When her father pushed her again, Lin Hongyu became even more irritated.
"Stop pushing me! He's useless. He couldn't seize the opportunity even if he had it. Who's there to blame but himself?"
The group walked back into the mansion, still bickering, leaving a bewildered Lin Hui to watch them go. He had a bad feeling about this.
They hadn't been speaking loudly, and from where he stood, he couldn't make out their words.
Seeing that everyone had gone back inside, he followed them into the mansion. He really was tired after walking for so long.
*
*
*
CRASH!!!
"What?! You gave Xiaohui's spot to Hongyu?!"
A teacup lay shattered against the wall.
Lin Hui's father, Lin Shunhe, shot to his feet, his face contorted with rage. Lukewarm tea drenched his hands and clothes.