Chapter 50: Mother-in-Law Is Here?

Chapter 50: The Mother-in-law Is Coming?

Lin Zhijin's newly recognized parents were too intimidating—even though Lin Youtian and Li Cuihua wanted to raise a stink, they didn't dare, especially with a bunch of Lin Zhijin's siblings watching them closely.

The two exchanged glances, and Li Cuihua opened her mouth, "I... but you're the Pan Di I gave birth to!"

"Lin Pandi is already dead. You clearly treated her as dead when you sold her, so don't come crying at her grave now." Lin Zhijin gave them a look and motioned to the security guards, who nodded and went over to kick them out.

These weren't your average security guards—they were battle-hardened veterans who'd shed blood and retired due to injuries.

Lin Zhijin deeply respected them, always greeting them with a smile and bringing them homemade goodies now and then. Over time, they came to treat her like their own kid. If she hadn't told them to hold off, they'd have tossed that couple out ages ago.

Just then, Gu Yan rushed over, sweating buckets. "I heard your folks came looking for you? Where are they?"

Lin Zhijin glanced around—someone must've tipped him off. Knowing it was well-intentioned, she didn't say anything about it.

"Yeah, I already sent them off." Noticing several people sneaking glances at her, Lin Zhijin didn't want to be gawked at, so she pulled Gu Yan to a quiet spot in the back. "They kept calling me Pandi. Hmph, Pandi—'hoping for a boy.' I hate that name, so I changed it when I left the Chens. I told them that Lin Pandi died in the Chen household, and the one alive now is Lin Zhijin. The Party and the state gave me life, so the Party is my father and the nation is my mother."

Gu Yan hugged her tight, worried. "It's all in the past. From now on, you've got the Party and the state behind you, plus the Women's Federation and me. We've all got your back. Xiao Jin, next time something like this happens, you need to tell me right away. I'll stand with you."

Lin Zhijin leaned her head on his shoulder. "I know, don't worry. I'm fine. You should head back to work."

She wasn't the original owner of this body, which was why she could face Lin Youtian and the others so calmly. She hoped they'd have the sense not to come looking for her again—otherwise, she wouldn't mind making things difficult for them.

After this showdown, Lin Zhijin became famous in the area—no, she became known all over the southern city. Especially after it hit the papers the next day, even more people learned about it. Some said Lin Youtian and his wife had it coming, others said she was unfilial, and still others said both sides were wrong. Everyone had their own take.

What she didn't expect was that quite a few women were stirred by this—not exactly awakened, but they started to push back a little. For example, if they weren't happy with an arranged marriage, they'd fight back, and if that didn't work, they'd go to the Women's Federation.

This also made some mothers-in-law and mothers resent the Women's Federation even more, always trash-talking it behind its back.

Of course, they didn't dare say it openly, since the Women's Federation was a government body, and the people working there were wives of military officers or cadres.

"They actually put it in the paper?" Wang Xiaoyao looked at the paper and gave Lin Zhijin a thumbs-up. "Good riddance. If you hadn't cut ties, they'd just be dead weight."

"I can't say that. If they weren't so hung up on having sons, I'd be willing to take care of them. Unfortunately..." Since the ties were already cut, she could say the polite things. Looking too cold-hearted wouldn't be good.

Su Jianhong and Chen Qiuqiu nodded. "Exactly. In the future, when they're old, don't skip the customary holiday gifts. Reputation is the least important thing in life, but also the most important."

"I know." Lin Zhijin smiled in response.

A bunch of veggies counts as a gift, and so does bird's nest—it just depends on how you give it.

That evening, He Yang came home and Li Yue wanted to have dinner with him. Since Gu Yan was there, Wang Chunhua went to eat with Zhang Jinxiu and the rest, leaving just the two of them at home. Only then did Lin Zhijin voice her suspicions.

"I suspect my parents were sent by the Chens to get under my skin. Last time was like that, and this time too." Lin Zhijin said with a grim expression.

Gu Yan frowned slightly. "The Chens tried to scheme against you before, and you turned it around on them. So they brought in your parents. This time it's probably because of our engagement. What, does the Chen family still expect you to remain a widow for that dead old man?"

"That's definitely what they're thinking. But since I'm with you, they must have investigated your background. Second Master Chen and the others probably wouldn't dare. I suspect it's Old Lady Chen." Lin Zhijin bit her lip, a flash of anger in her eyes. "If it weren't for... I'd go settle the score with them right now."

Aunt Zhang had told her they had a plan and that she shouldn't confront the Chen family directly, so she could only wait.

A gentleman's revenge is never too late—there was no rush. The Chen family would get what was coming to them eventually.

Gu Yan gently took her hand. "Don't let it ruin your health. They're not worth it. I've already noted it down. When the time is right, I'll collect the debt with interest."

Lin Zhijin nodded and took a deep breath to calm herself. "I was genuinely grateful to Old Lady Chen at first. Even though she bought me to be a bride for a dying man, at least she fed me and clothed me and gave me shelter. I never expected she was planning to marry me off to her good-for-nothing brother. That alone was bad enough, but then she kept scheming against me one after another. She spends all day chanting Buddhist scriptures—ha, I bet she's made so much karma that her conscience won't let her rest."

"Don't be angry anymore." Gu Yan kissed Lin Zhijin's cheek, then slowly moved to her lips, deepening the kiss as their breaths intertwined.

"Gu Yan." Lin Zhijin pushed him away, breathless, resting her head against his shoulder. "You should go home."

Gu Yan lowered his head and nuzzled against her face. "Xiao Jin, I want to get our marriage certificate tomorrow."

Lin Zhijin shot him a sideways glance. "The legal marriage age under the new marriage law is twenty. I'm eighteen this year."

Seeing his wistful expression, Lin Zhijin couldn't help but laugh, pushing away his head as he leaned in again. "Go on, get going."

A few days later, while Lin Zhijin was at work, Zhang Haixia showed up with a bruised and swollen face. She frowned and turned to Wang Xiaoyao. "How many times is this now?"

"I've lost count—more than five fingers' worth anyway. I don't get what she's thinking. She gets beaten like this and still won't leave him." Wang Xiaoyao no longer felt sorry for her. There was no helping it—she brought it all on herself.

Lin Zhijin took out her notebook. "Comrade Zhang, what can we do for you?"

"I..." Zhang Haixia twisted her fingers, speaking in a low voice. "I want to divorce Li Fengnian."

Lin Zhijin remembered this—it was the fourth time she'd said it. Every time, the Women's Federation helped her fight for the best possible outcome and told her that if she had nowhere to go, they could arrange housing and even find her a job. But every time, she backed out, making the federation look bad.

"Comrade Zhang, if you want a divorce, you should go to the people's government. We don't handle marriage or divorce matters here." Lin Zhijin closed her notebook and said politely.

Zhang Haixia's nose tingled and she choked up. "Cadre Lin, are you abandoning me too? I'm serious about divorcing this time. Really. Please trust me one more time."

Lin Zhijin genuinely couldn't trust her. Not just her—even Zhang Haixia's own mother and sisters refused to believe her anymore and had stopped speaking to her altogether.

"Cadre Lin, really, I'm serious this time. I really want a divorce. Li Fengnian isn't human—he's an animal. He's lost all humanity. He wants to sell our children to pay off his gambling debts." Zhang Haixia covered her face and sobbed.

Honestly, if it were just Zhang Haixia, Lin Zhijin and the others would have brushed her off with a few words. But when it involved children, they couldn't stand by and do nothing.

They arrived at Zhang Haixia's home to find the place in complete disarray, and the two children were nowhere to be seen.

Zhang Haixia let out a shriek and collapsed to the floor. "My children—that beast Li Fengnian must have taken them! My babies, it's all Mommy's fault. My darlings, my children, wuwuwuwu."

"Enough! Now's not the time for crying. Do you know where Li Fengnian is right now? We need to go immediately." Lin Zhijin snapped coldly.

Zhang Haixia scrambled to her feet and nodded. "I know. I'll take you there."

Lin Zhijin said sternly, "Lead the way."

She really despised irresponsible mothers like Zhang Haixia—unable to leave her abusive husband, she used her children as an excuse, dragging them through hardship with her. She knew Li Fengnian wanted to sell the kids, yet she still came to the Women's Federation without bringing the children along, leaving two little ones alone at home. What good was crying now?

On the way, Wang Xiaoyao ran into the police station and brought along a few officers, just in case a conflict broke out and they were outnumbered.

Fortunately, gambling dens were afraid of the police too. Seeing such a large group approaching, they immediately handed over Li Fengnian along with the two children.

"Wife, why did you bring so many people? Don't worry, I'll take good care of the kids. I just brought them here for some fun, nothing else." Li Fengnian panicked at the sight of both the Women's Federation and the police.

Lin Zhijin stared coldly at Li Fengnian, disgust clear in her eyes. "Bringing your kids to a gambling den for fun? Who would believe that? You were planning to sell your children to pay off your debts. Do you have any shred of fatherly decency left?"

The two children hid behind Zhang Haixia, their little faces full of terror. Zhang Haixia crouched down and hugged them tightly, sobbing and cursing, "Li Fengnian, you animal! How could you do this to our children!"

A flicker of guilt crossed Li Fengnian's face, but he still tried to argue. "Don't talk nonsense. How could I sell my own kids? I really just brought them here for fun."

The police officer stepped forward and said sternly, "Come with us to the station. Human trafficking is a serious crime—even if they're your biological children."

Hearing this, Li Fengnian continued to protest. "Officer, I was wrong to bring the kids to the gambling den, but I really wasn't selling them."

Lin Zhijin turned to look at Zhang Haixia. If she softened now, then she was truly beyond saving.

"What do you have to say? Are you going to forgive him again this time? Look—because of your repeated indulgence, things have escalated to the point where he's selling off his own children." Chen Qiuqiu also had no kind words for Zhang Haixia.

Zhang Haixia shook her head tearfully, "I won't forgive him anymore. I'm definitely divorcing him this time. Director Chen, Cadre Lin, please help me. I can't let my children be around him anymore."

Chen Qiuqiu sighed and said, "I hope you're really sure this time. We'll help you, but you need to understand—this is the last time."

The group headed to the police station. Li Fengnian still refused to admit he planned to sell the children, and the gambling den naturally wouldn't admit to buying them either, only claiming they were just trying to scare Li Fengnian.

Maybe a sliver of maternal love brought Zhang Haixia to her senses—she actually did divorce Li Fengnian.

The Women's Federation notified her birth family, who were equally shocked but expressed willingness to take the mother and children back in.

"I'm not going back. Cadre Lin, you mentioned arranging a dormitory last time—is that still available?" Zhang Haixia held the older child's hand and carried the younger one, looking at Lin Zhijin nervously.

Her brother had gotten married, and his wife was now living there; staying a day or two was fine, but any longer would definitely cause problems.

Rather than risk a falling-out later, it was better not to go back at all. Besides, once she had a place to stay, the Women's Federation wouldn't provide a dormitory.

Lin Zhijin consulted Chen Qiuqiu and ultimately assigned her a single dormitory—after all, with children, sharing a room with others wouldn't work.

As for work, the position they'd helped find last time was no longer available, so they'd have to search anew.

"Zhang Haixia, now that you're divorced, live well with your children from now on. Don't make foolish mistakes again. The kids are young—you need to fulfill your duty as a mother," Lin Zhijin said solemnly.

Zhang Haixia nodded repeatedly, weeping with gratitude: "Cadre Lin, I understand. I'll live well from now on and take good care of my children. Thank you all so much this time—I don't know what I would have done without you."

Watching Zhang Haixia and her children walk away, Lin Zhijin sighed softly, hoping she would live well with her kids from now on. The Women's Federation often held social events, and if a suitable match came along, they would also keep an eye out for her.

"Xiao Jin, my mom is here. She'd like to meet you—is that okay?" Gu Yan suddenly said while picking Lin Zhijin up for dinner.

Author's note:

None