Chapter 26

The Lins Regret

The Lins looked at each other, it all felt like some crazy dream—everything sounded so unreal.

"Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?!" Zhao Aju looked at her daughter skeptically.

Lin Qingqing stamped her foot in frustration. "With so many people watching, how could I be wrong? The Lus treated Lin Nannan as if she were their pride and joy! Everyone doted on her!"

"Two acres of land—that’s no joke!" Old Mrs. Lin refused to believe it, speculating, "The Lus must have done it on purpose to avoid being mocked for having a foolish daughter-in-law."

"Grandma, if you don’t believe me, go see for yourself tomorrow!"

Of course, the Lins didn’t believe it.

To them, Lin Nannan had always been nothing but trouble—a huge nuisance.

The old Lin Nannan had been easy to control, but after the fire affected her mind, she became uncontrollable. If provoked, she’d go at you tooth and nail. Ironically, in the entire household, Lin Nannan had it easiest.

She was unrestrained—coming and going as she pleased. If she wanted something and the Lins refused, she’d raise such a ruckus they'd gladly ship her off.

But getting rid of a full-grown person was no easy task...

……

The turmoil in the Lin household had no effect on Lin Nannan whatsoever.

After a busy afternoon, she felt a bit tired. To wake up early the next day, she decided to sleep early.

Before bed, she asked as usual, "Want to have a baby?"

Lu Hang shut that down fast.

Rejected, Lin Nannan wasn’t the least bit upset. She was out like a light, completely untroubled.

Lu Hang, on the other hand, found himself restless and unable to sleep. Especially after Lin Nannan fell asleep, she'd naturally cling to him, burrowing into his neck. She was out like a light, making him wonder if she was doing it on purpose.

Two nights in a row, whether he slept on the inside or outside, he couldn’t avoid becoming her human pillow—making him worry about his future self...

Unlike the day before, today Lin Nannan didn’t bother checking on Lu Hang. Instead, she hurriedly got up, ate breakfast, and rushed off to the fields, with none of yesterday’s consideration. Lu Hang almost felt like he shouldn’t be in bed—or even at home.

After two days together, the Lus had come to appreciate Lin Nannan’s straightforwardness, protectiveness, and lack of pretense. Even Second Aunt Pan Xiaoping had grown fond of her, making sure she got the best portions during meals.

As soon as she finished eating, Lin Nannan energetically hauled off two dawdling helpers to the fields, leaving the grown-ups equal parts amused and exasperated.

"This child, so eager!" Grandma Lu chuckled, shaking her head.

Pan Xiaoping, clearing the dishes, said, "What's bad about being eager? The land Nannan worked yesterday was no worse than what our men could do."

"Exactly!" Zhang Xiaofeng grinned like she'd won the lottery. "Who knows where those rumors came from, calling Nannan dim-witted and wild—utter nonsense! I’ve never seen anyone better than her."

After how fiercely Lin Nannan had defended A Hang yesterday, she wouldn’t tolerate anyone slandering her.

"Where else would they come from? The Lins were scared stiff Lin Qingqing would be overshadowed, so they smeared Nannan’s name!" Pan Xiaoping scoffed.

What seemed reasonable to them was, to the Lins, completely unfair—because they’d had no idea Lin Nannan was capable of such things.

Watching Lin Nannan work the land harder and faster than anyone else, the Lins were sick with regret.

Had they known Lin Nannan was so capable, they would have rather canceled the wedding than let her get married.

With such a hard worker around, how much extra grain they could bring in a year? This was way better than marrying Lin Nannan off.

The Lins looked at each other—none of them had known about this.

"You couldn’t have seen wrong, could you!?" Zhao Aju stared at her daughter, doubtful.

Lin Qingqing stomped her foot angrily. "So many people saw it—how could it be a mistake? The Lus treat Lin Nannan like she's gold. Everyone dotes on her!"

"Two acres of land—that’s serious business!" Old Mrs. Lin refused to believe it, guessing, "The Lus must be doing it on purpose to avoid being mocked for having a slow daughter-in-law."

"Grandma, if you don’t believe it, go see for yourself tomorrow!"

Of course, the Lins didn’t believe it.

In the Lin household, Lin Nannan was nothing but trouble—big trouble.

The old Lin Nannan had been easy to control, but after her injury, she became uncontrollable. If you provoked her, she’d go at you like a wildcat. So, ironically, the one who had it easiest in the entire family was Lin Nannan.

She did as she pleased—coming and going as she wished. If the Lins refused her demands, she’d raise such hell that they’d wish they could send her away.

But sending away a living person was far from easy…

……

The unrest in the Lin household didn’t bother Nan Nan one bit.

After a busy afternoon, she was kinda tired. To wake up early the next day, she decided to sleep early.

Before bed, she asked as usual, "Want to have a baby?"

Lu Hang’s face darkened, and he flat-out said no.

Rejected, Lin Nannan didn’t bat an eye. She slept soundly, completely untroubled.

Lu Hang, on the other hand, felt restless and couldn’t sleep at all. Especially after Lin Nannan fell asleep, her arms and legs naturally tangled around him, her head burrowing into his neck. She slept so peacefully that he wondered if she was doing it on purpose.

Two nights in a row—whether he slept on the inside or outside—he couldn’t shake her off, making him worry about his future self…

Unlike yesterday, today’s Lin Nannan didn’t baby Lu Hang. Instead, she hurriedly got up, ate breakfast, and rushed off to the fields, showing not a trace of yesterday's sweet care. It made Lu Hang feel like he shouldn’t just be out of bed—he shouldn’t even be home.

After two days together, the Lus had come to realize that Lin Nannan was straightforward, fiercely protective of her own, and never minced her words. They grew even fonder of her. Even Second Aunt Pan Xiaoping took a special liking to her, going out of her way to look after her during meals.

After eating, Lin Nannan energetically hauled two slowpokes off to the fields, leaving the Lus not knowing whether to laugh or groan.

"This child, so impatient!" Granny Lu chuckled, shaking her head.

Pan Xiaoping, cleaning up, said, "What’s wrong with being impatient? The land Nan Nan plowed yesterday held its own against what our men did."

"Exactly!" Zhang Xiaofeng grinned like she'd won the lottery. "Who knows where those rumors came from, calling Nan Nan slow and crazy—utter nonsense. I’ve never seen a better girl than her."

After how fiercely Lin Nannan had defended A Hang yesterday, she wouldn’t allow anyone to badmouth her.

"Where else would they come from? The Lins were just afraid Lin Qingqing would be overshadowed, so they slandered Nan Nan!" Pan Xiaoping waved it off.

What seemed reasonable to them was total bull to the Lins, who had no idea Lin Nannan was this capable.

When they saw how diligently and energetically Lin Nannan worked the land, the Lins kicked themselves.

Had they known Lin Nannan was so capable, they would have rather canceled the wedding than let her get married.

With such a hard worker around, how much extra grain they could bring in a year? This was a way better deal than marrying Lin Nannan off.