Chapter 452: Chapter 452: The Future Live-in Son-in-law Backs Out
The main reason Aunt Lin had gotten by so well in life was that she knew how to pick her battles. The woman before her was beautiful and powerful, and she had no desire to offend her.
So, she was carefully considering her words, trying to figure out how to avoid blame from the Lin family patriarch without getting kicked by the young woman in front of her.
Aunt Lin had always been canny and composed, but she had forgotten that the daughter by her side had inherited none of her finesse.
Lin Qingya was already deeply jealous of Gu Jiaojiao’s beauty, and now that she had drawn near, she could see it all the more clearly.
Gu Jiaojiao was wearing a spring-green, long-sleeved hooded jacket of a style and fabric Lin Qingya had never seen. From a distance, there were what looked like two patches over her stomach.
Up close, she realized they were actually two stylish-looking pockets. Even the ordinary pair of jeans she wore was elevated, looking far more high-end.
Her complexion was fair and smooth on her exquisite face, and its radiance made even the bright green of her jacket seem dull in comparison.
’How could she possibly be this beautiful? It’s outrageous!’
Furious, Lin Qingya snapped, "Where did this wild brat come from? How dare you be disrespectful to the mistress of the Lin Family?"
"I’m not one to hide my name. The name is Gu. Gu Jiaojiao. Is asking a question disrespectful? The stepdaughter of the Lin Family is certainly arrogant."
As for how Gu Jiaojiao knew Lin Qingya was the family’s stepdaughter, it was because Geng Haoyi frequently mentioned it to her.
Gu Jiaojiao also knew she was already divorced. She had been so arrogant toward her in-laws that her ex-husband had nearly sent her to prison.
The mother and daughter had asked Mr. Geng for help, but he considered her a disgrace and was unwilling to intervene.
With no other option, Lin Qingya had been forced to quietly agree to a divorce.
Gu Jiaojiao only refrained from spelling out these sordid details to embarrass her out of consideration for Geng Haoyi.
"You... you... you shameless hussy!" Lin Qingya sputtered, her anger making her stammer. She hated it more than anything when people called her the Lin Family’s stepdaughter.
’She was a true-born daughter of the Geng Family! So what if she had personally reported her own father when she was a teenager? That was the only reason she couldn’t return to the Geng Family to enjoy a life of wealth and glory.’
’And after she got married, so what if she hit her brother-in-law a few times? Her husband actually wanted to have her thrown in jail for it. It was completely infuriating!’
’Meanwhile, her brother had enjoyed a comfortable life in the Lin Family for years, just like she and her mother had, yet he was eventually allowed to return to the Geng Family to live in splendor.’
’When it came down to it, it was all the Geng Family’s fault for favoring sons over daughters. They refused to take her back, which led to everyone whispering behind her back, calling her the Lin Family’s stepdaughter.’
"How am I shameless? Go on, tell everyone. Lin Qingya, if you can’t give me a good reason, don’t blame me for what happens next."
As she spoke, Gu Jiaojiao began to slowly flex her right wrist with her left hand, rotating it back and forth.
She looked as if she would snap Lin Qingya’s neck the moment she failed to produce an answer.
Lin Qingya was terrified, but seeing the big and burly Wang Dashu standing beside her, she ducked behind the man’s broad back.
She peeked her head out and shrieked, "You offended my Third Aunt and seduced my fifth cousin! That’s what makes you shameless, am I wrong?
No wonder my Third Aunt called you a country vixen! Why don’t you go piss in a puddle and take a look at your own reflection? Did you think the men of the Lin Family are people you country bumpkins can seduce whenever you please?
What are you going to do to me, huh? Do you have any idea who I am? I’m not just a stepdaughter of the Lin Family; I’m the one and only true-born daughter of the Geng Family!
I married down into his family! Shouldn’t they have respected me? I only hit my brother-in-law a few times, and that scoundrel actually wanted to send me to prison?
You’re all horrible, rotten to the core! Wang, help me beat this hussy to death!"
Hearing Lin Qingya’s words, Lin Mingjun, still lying on the ground, piped up weakly, "Cousin Qingya, if she’s willing to seduce me, I’m more than happy to let her..."
Lin Qingya and the rest of the Lin Family: "..."
"Enough! Mingjun, shut your damn mouth!" Uncle Lin roared. "Isn’t this chaotic enough for you? Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?"
Gu Jiaojiao’s icy gaze swept over the crowd as she said with a sneer, "Tsk, tsk. Did you hear that? Your fifth cousin’s own words prove that I didn’t seduce him.
It seems your Third Aunt is as delusional as you are. Lin Qingya, you’re just jealous that I’m beautiful. That’s why you can’t stand the sight of me and are just looking for a fight, isn’t it?
If you’ve got the guts, come over here and fight me yourself. What kind of coward hides behind a man?
I’ve seen plenty of women like you. You think the whole world owes you something. Why don’t you take a good, long look in the mirror!
You blame everyone else for your problems. Search your conscience and ask yourself, are you completely without fault?"
Gu Jiaojiao’s words provoked Lin Qingya, who reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She tried to drag Wang Dashu forward to attack.
However, Wang Dashu yanked his hand away and practically fled to Wang Yuejin’s side, shouting back over his shoulder.
"I wouldn’t dare marry a woman like you! You even hit your own brother-in-law. If I brought you home, wouldn’t you be beating my nephews and nieces every day?
My nephews back in the village have been running all over chasing chickens, roughhousing with dogs, and climbing trees to raid birds’ nests since they were little.
They even like to poke hornets’ nests. They’re a wild bunch. If I married a woman like you, it would be a complete disaster!"
Lin Qingya, now completely irrational with rage, screamed, "You mud-legged peasant, you dare look down on me? For me to even notice you means smoke is rising from your family’s ancestral graves!"
"My family’s ancestral graves have never emitted any smoke, so I’d really rather you didn’t notice me."
"Xiao Wang, my daughter would never marry and move to the countryside. Didn’t I say you would be the one marrying into our family?" Aunt Lin asked anxiously.
"Ma’am, we may have a lot of brothers in our family, but none of us ever planned on marrying into a wife’s family," Wang Gousheng said, displeased.
Lin Qingya was so angry her mouth fell open, but no sound came out. ’These country bumpkins actually dared to look down on her!’
Gu Jiaojiao taunted her, "Lin Qingya, don’t force me to shatter what little pride you have left. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll step aside quietly."
Lin Qingya was hopping mad, but then the light seemed to go out of her eyes. Though only twenty-seven, she normally looked as if she were in her thirties; at this moment, she seemed to have aged several more years.
Aunt Lin’s once bright and calm eyes were now etched with weariness.
She seemed to mull something over for a long time but ultimately said nothing. ’Her future son-in-law is about to back out of the marriage. What more is there to say!’
It was getting late, and Gu Jiaojiao wanted to wrap things up. She walked over to the car Lin Sisi was slumped against.
"Lin Sisi, as far as I know, I, Gu Jiaojiao, have never done anything to offend you, yet you’ve provoked me time and time again.
If you’re interested in a man, go after him yourself. What’s the point of playing these innocent-but-manipulative games all day?"
Lin Sisi was already scared out of her wits. "I told you, after today, I won’t cause you any more trouble."
"Now that’s more like it. One must learn to be pragmatic. If you act your age and do what’s appropriate, your life will go much more smoothly, and you’ll find it easier to be happy."
Aunt Lin and Uncle Lin were both pragmatic. They knew there was nothing they could do to Gu Jiaojiao today.
The two exchanged a look, then dejectedly led the rest of the Lin Family away.
But Wang Yuejin and his two companions stayed behind. Hualin Road seemed especially quiet as the sun began to set.
"Miss, you said... you could help us find jobs?"
Just as Gu Jiaojiao was about to speak, she heard the sound of an approaching car in the distance.
