Chapter 602: A Huge Gap
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the early morning, Lin Laoda, accompanied by his wife and two grandchildren, arrived at Little Lin Village. They had been directed to a red-brick house, but upon arrival, they found the area in front of the house teeming with people. A few tables of mahjong were set up by the door, and the crowd was engrossed in their games. The sounds of chatter and laughter mingled with the clatter of mahjong tiles, creating a lively atmosphere. Looking down, they saw the ground covered in firecracker remnants, reminiscent of a red carpet. It was a display of prosperity.
Inside the house, Lin Cheng and his wife, Li Hua, were tidying up the kitchen after preparing breakfast. They were also preparing tea and snacks to serve to the guests outside.
Lin Lao’er had been ushered out by Mother Lin to bask in the warm sun early in the morning. He was now entertaining the guests with a game of mahjong. As for Su Shen, he had taken the children to the ancestral hall early in the morning to visit the elderly caretaker, and was not at home.
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At this time, only Gu Zi and Mother Lin were attending to the guests outside. However, these guests hardly needed any attention. Both women were surrounded by people, each forming a center of conversation, leaving them no time to attend to the newly arrived visitors.
Lin Laoda and his wife stood outside the door for a while, watching the lively scene but feeling the chill of the wind. They couldn’t help but feel a bit stifled. Lin Laoda’s wife snorted coldly and turned to leave, but was stopped by Lin Laoda. “We haven’t been in contact for so long, and they didn’t know we were coming today. Let’s not be so formal. Let’s go and greet them. They can’t ignore us. Now is not the time to be angry.”
Lin Laoda’s wife pouted, showing her impatience. Originally, Lin Lao’er’s family was the poorest. Now that they had risen in status, she was not pleased. Today, they had taken the initiative to visit, but no one had come to greet them. Not even a glance was cast their way. What did this mean?
Their daughter had married a rich man, so what?
“Look at us, has anyone even noticed us? What does this mean?” Lin Laoda’s wife lamented.
Lin Laoda hadn’t expected that so many people would now be rushing to curry favor with his younger brother’s family. Although he had moved his family to the town and settled there, his visits to the village had become less frequent. Last year, he hadn’t returned to the village at all.
However, as one of the three brothers who had done well for themselves, every time he returned to the village, he would receive a lot of attention.
But this time, the difference was stark. Not just his wife, even Lin Laoda himself was finding it hard to adjust. He felt a sense of suffocation in his heart, but he didn’t want to show it. He didn’t respond to his wife’s questioning, but instead picked up the box of cookies he had brought as a gift and walked up to his brother, Lin Lao’er. “Second brother, are you busy?”
Lin Lao’er had just won a round of mahjong. He looked up to see his long-lost elder brother and felt a bit dazed. “Elder brother, why are you here? And sister-in-law too. Please, have a seat. You can take my place, I was just about to take a break.”
Lin Lao’er called someone to take his place at the mahjong table. He got up, leaning on his crutch, his face calm. There was no hint of surprise. Seeing his reaction, Lin Laoda’s wife became even more displeased. She immediately complained to her husband, mocking, “See, I told you today was not a good day to go out, but you didn’t believe me. Look at your brother, he doesn’t even recognize you. Yet, you insisted on coming out in this cold.”
Lin Laoda felt that his wife’s words were damaging his dignity. He scolded her in a low voice, “What nonsense are you talking about on New Year’s Day? Isn’t everyone gathered outside? Are you the only one who can’t stand the cold?”
By this time, many people had noticed the presence of Lin Laoda and his wife. Gu Zi and Mother Lin also looked over. After exchanging greetings with the couple, the others showed surprised expressions. Why had Lin Laoda and his wife come? Hadn’t they stopped associating with Lin Lao’er’s family a long time ago?
Lin Lao’er knew that his sister-in-law had always looked down on them. Now that she saw the prosperity of their family, she must be feeling uncomfortable. If she wanted to mock, let her. He didn’t feel anything. After all, they were the ones who had said they wouldn’t associate with them. Now they had come of their own accord, and if they felt the cold, who could they blame? Lin Lao’er remained silent, watching Lin Laoda and his wife argue.
Mother Lin pulled Gu Zi over and exchanged a glance with her husband. She introduced them politely, “This is your uncle and aunt. These two children are their grandchildren. They live in the town and don’t visit often, so this is your first time meeting them.”
Gu Zi inwardly praised her mother’s tact. She had directly stated that they didn’t visit often, not giving them any face. She put on a polite smile and greeted them, “Hello, uncle and aunt. Happy New Year!”
Lin Laoda and his wife stopped arguing and turned to look at Gu Zi. Seeing her well-dressed appearance, they immediately felt a pang of envy.