CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 150: THE SCARS OF CHILDHOOD REMAIN

Lin Qin chuckled, "Wrong! Relying on others is not as good as relying on yourself. Women still need to be independent. When I first married Chen Wenjun, we were penniless and lived crowded on a boat. If we hadn’t bought this island and built a house, I wouldn’t dare have children.

It’s only this year that I’ve had the energy to prepare for exams. Before, it was always sporadic studying, even Teacher Su couldn’t bear to watch."

Liu Ling listened with laughter, winking and saying, "No matter what, you’re the impressive one. I’ve come today to talk about Xu Manzhi. That woman was locked up for a few days, lost her job, and went crazy as soon as she returned yesterday, scolding the entire Liu family, including you of course.

But I thought you wouldn’t like to hear those words, so I won’t tell you."

"Oh! I should thank you then!" Lin Qin said, amused and exasperated, "I’ve been sisters-in-law with Xu Manzhi for years. Do I not know her temperament? This time she voluntarily admits her mistake and reconciles, who is she fooling? If she doesn’t get a taste of her own medicine, she won’t learn.

Being locked up for so many days, everyone knows she went to the police station, so everyone will talk behind her back in the future. Let her experience being criticized by others!"

Liu Ling gave a thumbs up, "That’s why I say you’re impressive! Just the right time to come, let’s plan a time to report to school together!"

Lin Qin looked forward to attending school and readily agreed, "Going together will indeed be quicker, but I probably can’t live on campus. After all, there are so many kids at home, I can’t just leave them all unattended."

Given her grades, she could actually apply to a better school. But doing so would mean leaving An City, leaving home, something Lin Qin would never agree to.

Since she initially chose An City Normal College for her children, naturally, she would commute.

Liu Ling understood, "In that case, you’ll probably need to apply to the leaders."

Lin Qin nodded, over the years, Chen Wenjun had maintained good relationships with several education department staff, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

The two agreed on a time to go to school, and Liu Ling complained about not having money for clothes.

Lin Qin suggested, "There’s still a month of summer vacation, you could find a part-time job, like tutoring. I’m sure there are many parents around your neighborhood who want you to tutor their kids. Besides that, you could set up a stall to sell things, like clothes or something, and earn a bit."

Liu Ling was inexperienced, but loving beauty is a girl’s nature. Upon learning Lin Qin knew someone in clothing wholesale, she immediately decided to try setting up a stall to sell clothes.

Lin Qin accompanied her on a trip, and eventually, Liu Ling took some goods from Gao Lei to try selling at their street market.

Lin Qin didn’t ask if she could make money, thinking Liu Ling had taken only a small amount of goods anyway, not risking much loss.

After resolving Liu Ling’s matters, Lin Qin spent her time accompanying the kids. As long as they weren’t in class and had finished their homework, she’d take them to the river to dig for wild duck eggs, catch snails, and fish.

The things they caught were sold right on the roadside.

You wouldn’t believe, during summer evenings, a lot of people came by, and seeing their fresh goods, they’d all buy a bit.

The money earned was kept by the children, Lin Qin didn’t take any of it.

By the time school was about to start, each of the four kids had saved forty to fifty yuan.

This amount was a fortune for the kids, enough for them to manage the next semester as they wished.

Xu Kang shouted loudly, "I’ve decided, I want to eat all the snacks at the school gate that I’ve never tried before."

Chen Wenjun laughed and nodded, "Ambitious! Just don’t let your parents know, or your behind won’t be safe."

Lin Qin burst into laughter, looking over at Xu Jian, "What about you? What are your plans?"

Xu Jian, older and more sensible than Xu Kang, excitedly clenched his fist, "I’m saving for fireworks at Spring Festival to blow up the cesspool!"

"Poof!" Lin Yi sprayed the tea out of his mouth, going over to tug Xu Jian’s ear, "What did the cesspool do to you? No wonder it’s been so smelly these days! Have you been secretly throwing firecrackers in there?"

Xu Jian winced in pain, broke free from Lin Yi’s hand, and quickly ran off.

Chen Wenjun shook his head with a laugh, turning to his own kids, "What about you two? What are your plans?"

Yaya and Ping’an exchanged glances, and said in unison, "Buy gifts for Mom, and save the rest."

"Buy for me?" Lin Qin stared in surprise.

The two little ones nodded in unison, giving a shy smile, "Congratulations Mom on going to college."

Ping’an added, "Grandpa says getting into college is a remarkable achievement."

Yaya nodded emphatically, "Mom is even more amazing, better than that bad guy!"

Lin Qin felt a strong surge of emotion, pulling Yaya into her arms, "Those things are in the past, they’ve got nothing to do with Yaya."

She hadn’t expected Yaya to still be bothered by past events, it seemed the harm that the Liu family caused was far greater than she had thought.

Chen Wenjun gently patted Yaya’s head, speaking warmly, "Yaya, those bad people have nothing to do with you now. We can’t change the past, but we hope you look forward, happy and joyful."

Yaya’s eyes reddened, choking back tears, "That old witch said I was a loser, said Mom wasn’t educated enough for that bad guy, but Mom is amazing! Now the bad guy isn’t good enough for Mom!"

The little one had a stubborn look.

Chen Wenjun and Lin Qin exchanged glances, knowing she was too young for reasoning, they changed the subject.

A few days before Lin Qin was to report, Lin Ying and Xu Dahai unexpectedly brought Xu Xinyi to Nanyu, saying they wanted to give Lin Qin a celebration, and also to see their newly renovated house.

Lin Qin teased, "You’re really here to see the house, the celebration for me is just a side thing!"

"What nonsense! You being admitted to college, I’m proud just like that! You wouldn’t know, when I told folks in the village my sister goes to college, gosh! Everyone looked at me with such envy! And Dahai’s sisters-in-law, every one of them said sour things in jealousy.

Especially Dahai’s sister-in-law, they used to be double-income earners, everyone in the village envied them, now the spotlight’s on me. They want to send their son to study in the city but lack the capability and it’s driving them crazy!"

Lin Ying became more proud, speaking increasingly louder.

Lin Qin glanced at Xu Dahai, nudged Lin Ying’s arm, "Sister, that’s enough. Now you and brother-in-law’s conditions far exceed theirs, no need to compete every day. I’ll tell you, the house you built is so beautiful, it tempts me, now I’m also renovating my house."

Excited by what she heard, Lin Ying could no longer sit still, eagerly urging Lin Qin to go see the house in the city.

The sisters rode bicycles to the house on Zhongshan Road.

From the outside, the house looked the same, but inside it was different. The once old, dim, cluttered house had been transformed into a bright, cozy space, especially with patterned floor tiles and a design akin to an old villa, stylish and attractive.