CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: ONLY ONE FANG YIN

Fang Yin nodded affirmatively, "Indeed not, if there were, it would have spread across ten miles and eight villages long ago."

Lin Qin thought for a moment and decided to tell her about her own experience, "There’s a woman from Fangshan Village named Fang Yin. She and my husband attended the same college in the provincial city, and they even got involved with each other. That Fang Yin got pregnant. I suspect that she’s anxious now because the child is about to be born, and she plans to get rid of me and my daughter to marry my husband.

That Fang Yin might just be the Fang Meixiang you’re talking about. As for why she used your name to attend college, I don’t know."

Fang Yin’s face gradually turned pale, her pupils dilated, and her voice trembled, "You... you mean... Fang Meixiang took my admission letter and impersonated me to college?"

Lin Qin took a deep breath, "I’m only suspicious, I’m not sure if that’s the case."

"No! Your suspicion... could be possible!" Fang Yin looked at Lin Qin excitedly, tears streaming down, "I should have thought of it earlier. Meixiang is the village chief’s daughter and is particularly pampered at home. How could she marry far away just because she was disheartened in high school!

The village chief loves this daughter dearly; how could he let her marry far away! I’m so foolish, I should have suspected this earlier! No, I can’t let it go! I have to go back and find out."

Lin Qin hurriedly pulled Fang Yin back, "Don’t be so hasty! If Fang Meixiang really replaced you to go to college, that’s no small matter! The number of people involved must be especially large; how could you, a single woman, fight for your rights?"

"Sister! What do you think I should do? I’ve nowhere to turn! Today, my parents took eighty yuan from an old man, forcing me to marry him. If the police hadn’t arrived in time, I would have been dragged away by that old man!

I now have no home to return to, no grievances to appeal... I don’t want to live anymore! But I’m also unwilling to die like this! Waaaaa..." Fang Yin knelt on the ground, crying bitterly.

Lin Qin looked at Chen Wenjun.

Chen Wenjun stepped forward, taking out fifty yuan and giving it to her, "Take this money to buy a long-distance bus ticket to the provincial city. Find the principal or the admissions office of that college, first ask if the Fang Yin they admitted is you. If it is, then explain the situation to the school and the principal, and report the matter to the police in the provincial city!

If not, then come back. Fifty yuan is enough for a round trip, and you can stay in the provincial city for a few days."

Having never been far from home, Fang Yin looked at the fifty yuan in front of her, unsure whether to take it or leave it.

Lin Qin persuaded, "In life, if you don’t take a gamble, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Consider this money a loan from us; pay it back when you can. If you can’t, it’s alright; we understand."

Fang Yin came back to her senses, sobbing as she thanked them.

For the first time in her life, she felt cared for and cherished, ironically not by her parents, but by strangers she had just met.

"Thank you! I will work hard to repay you in the future! What are your names? Where do you live? How will I find you later?"

Fang Yin asked many questions.

Lin Qin answered her earnestly.

Once they reached the hospital, Chen Wenjun said to Lin Qin, "You take the child upstairs first. I’ll see her off to the station and come see you tomorrow."

"Okay!"

With Chen Wenjun around, Lin Qin always felt particularly reassured.

When Lin Ying and Lin Yi saw Lin Qin carrying Liu Yaya back, both of them were overwhelmed with joy and cried tears of joy.

Lin Yi couldn’t move, but his eyes never left Liu Yaya.

Lin Ying held the child tightly, calling her precious for quite a while, frightened to the core, "What did the police station say?"

"They’re still investigating. Luckily, the child has been found, and the human traffickers were also caught."

Lin Qin didn’t say much more.

Lin Ying, enraged, cursed the ancestors of those human traffickers up to the eighteenth generation before calming down.

By eight o’clock the next morning, Chen Wenjun arrived at the ward with a bag of fruit.

As soon as he sat down, Lin Qin couldn’t wait to ask about Fang Yin’s situation.

Chen Wenjun quickly said, "I got her the earliest bus today, and she’s already on her way. Let’s hope things turn out as we expect."

Lin Qin nodded, breathing a sigh of relief.

Liu Yaya sweetly called out to Chen Wenjun, "Uncle Chen."

Chen Wenjun quickly picked her up and said to Lin Qin and Lin Yi, "Uncle, if you trust me, you can let Yaya stay with me for a few days. There are many people around in the hospital, and oversight can happen. I won’t be selling fish these days, so I can watch over the child for you. Once uncle is discharged, I’ll bring the child back to Shanglin Village. What do you think?"

To be honest, Lin Qin was somewhat tempted.

Chen Wenjun is one of the Dang people, living on a fishing boat, floating on Nanxi when not ashore, easily finding an unoccupied shore to moor. As long as the child doesn’t go ashore, there’s no worry about human traffickers.

Most importantly, this abduction was a conspiracy by Liu Yongming and his mistress. Having failed the first time, there would certainly be a second attempt. If the child was with Chen Wenjun, Liu Yongming definitely wouldn’t find her!

"Isn’t this too much trouble for you?" Lin Yi looked at Chen Wenjun with gratitude and shame.

Chen Wenjun shook his head, "What trouble could it be! Whether it’s watching one child or two, as long as you’re willing!"

Saying this, he looked down at Liu Yaya, patiently coaxing her, "Would you like to stay a few days with Uncle Chen? There’s a brother your age at Uncle’s house who can play with you. Once your grandpa is discharged, Uncle will take you home, alright?"

Liu Yaya was reluctant to leave Lin Qin.

Lin Qin comforted her with tears, "Sweetie, Mommy will visit you whenever possible. You’re staying with Uncle Chen for a few days, so you won’t be targeted by traffickers again, alright?"

"Alright! Mommy, remember to visit me and bring me home!" Liu Yaya cried pitifully.

Several adults shed tears as well.

To comfort Liu Yaya, Lin Qin returned to Nanxi with them.

This was her first time back since being reborn.

The scenery of Nanxi was the same as ever, with bustling fishing boats on the river, and the bustling Dang people glanced at her curiously before tending to their own business.

Chen Wenjun carried Liu Yaya and led Lin Qin back onto his boat.

This was a five-canopy boat used by the Dang family, also known as a five-canopy craft. Typically, a five-canopy boat is over 10 meters long, about 3 meters wide, with an area of more than 30 square meters. "Five" refers to five retractable bamboo canopies, used to deal with various weather conditions.

The bow is equipped with a pair of long oars, an anchor, and a long bamboo pole. The central cabin, commonly known as the "boat’s belly," consists of two levels, especially in the aft section. The lower layer is for storage and livestock, while the upper layer is spacious. It’s the living center for the whole family, where eating, drinking, and sleeping all take place in the aft section.

A pair of couplets hung over the hatch, with the words "Smooth sailing" written in bold red letters on the door.

Everything was so unfamiliar and novel to Liu Yaya.

When Chen Wenjun opened the door, a black head emerged from the cabin, shouting happily, "Daddy!"