CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: DID SOMEONE DIE?

Lin Qin knew that the real estate agent’s words could only be half-believed. Seeing the guilty yet ingratiating smile on the other person’s face, she figured they didn’t even believe what they were saying.

But Lin Qin believed it and immediately decided to take the shop.

The real estate agent widened his eyes in surprise, "Comrade, are you sure? This is 550 bucks! Not a small sum!"

He had indeed been coaxing Lin Qin to buy the shop earlier, but now that she really wanted to buy it, he felt nervous.

They advertised the shop every day, but not many people asked about it. It had been three months, and still very quiet; he really had no confidence in the development of Friendship Square.

Lin Qin nodded affirmatively, "I just want this one!"

No matter which shop on this street, it will be a prosperous shop in the future; she remembered that even those selling groceries could earn a house.

Seeing her determination, the real estate agent didn’t persuade her anymore and happily took her back to the office to handle the paperwork.

The purchase of a commercial property just required signing a contract, followed by an official stamp at the headquarters.

The office was empty, the real estate agent worked particularly eagerly, quickly getting all the procedures done for Lin Qin.

bucks for a thin contract, yet she felt very secure in her heart.

Would that shop become the livelihood for her and her daughter in the future? Their future would surely get better and better!

By the time Lin Qin returned to Shanglin Village with the contract, it was almost dark.

Lin Ying had made sweet potato porridge. Seeing her, she immediately asked, "Did you really buy the shop?"

Lin Qin nodded.

Lin Ying stamped her feet in urgency, "Why were you so quick! I just asked people in the village who often go to the city, and everyone said no one’s buying shops at Friendship Square, it’s very quiet. Why did you buy it? You really pissed me off!"

Lin Qin joyfully stored things in the shed in the backyard, leaping out, "Sis! You don’t understand! Friendship Square is indeed quiet now, but who can say it will always be? Anyway, I turned the money into a shop without fear of it running away. In the worst case, I can move there with Yaya, not afraid of thieves eyeing it."

Lin Ying still couldn’t understand, "That’s 550 bucks! You don’t manage the household so you don’t know the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt."

Lin Qin retorted, "In the future, I’ll manage the household. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of our dad."

"Oh! Taking care of your dad, huh? Is divorce that glorious?" Li Lian’s voice floated in.

Lin Ying and Lin Qin both stopped smiling, coldly looking at the unexpected guest.

"I wondered who it was! It turns out to be an unrelated stranger! Who are you? Did I agree to let you in?" Lin Qin snapped back.

Li Lian was angry, "Lin Qin! Is that how you speak to elders? Truly motherless!"

"Who are you scolding? What kind of elder are you? The important elders visited to see my dad in the hospital, but you didn’t even show your face, yet you dare to act like an elder here. By what right? I ask you, by what right?" Lin Ying, furious, pushed Li Lian out the door.

Li Lian was enraged, "Lin Ying! How dare you push me! Believe it or not, I’ll beat you to death!"

"Come on, try it! Let’s see who beats who to death! You clueless old fart!" Lin Ying had no regard for Li Lian.

Li Lian saw Lin Ying’s toughness, glared at her viciously, then turned to Lin Qin, "As your second aunt and considering we’re family, I came over to arrange a marriage for you knowing you’re divorced. I wouldn’t bother for others!

He’s from Nansheng County, named Qian Dashan, forty years old. Being older, he’d care more. Willing to pay an 80-buck bride price, you are divorced with a child; finding another family isn’t easy. He’s not picky, so don’t be. Tomorrow, I’ll tell him to come propose at your place!"

"Propose to your stupid head! If you want to marry, marry him yourself! If you stir up trouble in my house again, I’ll beat you to death!" Lin Ying waved a big broom toward Li Lian.

Li Lian was startled, screamed wildly, and while running, kept persuading Lin Qin to reconsider.

After chasing her for a couple of miles, Lin Ying angrily returned home, cursing loudly in the main room for a long time.

Perhaps because of Lin Ying’s fierce protective nature, Li Lian didn’t dare to return and cause trouble in the next two or three days. Instead, familiar villagers came by to see Lin Yi, gifting some money or bringing eggs and noodles.

Although Lin Yi’s leg still couldn’t move, he could sit up and didn’t need to lie in bed all day.

Now he just needed to rest and heal; it would be months before he could do farm work again.

Lin Ying had lots of matters at home, saw that Lin Yi was fine and with Lin Qin looking after him, she packed up and returned home.

Because Liu Yaya was still on Chen Wenjun’s fishing boat.

Lin Qin and Lin Yi discussed going to pick up the child.

"Dad, after ten tomorrow, I’ll have Uncle Qingxiang come over to look after you for a while, and I’ll go get Yaya back."

Lin Yi nodded repeatedly, "Okay! We’ve troubled them too much these days, you can also pick some vegetables, the field’s crops haven’t been tended these days, not sure how they are, harvest what you can and take them over, it’s surely not convenient for them to have vegetables on the boat."

"Got it," Lin Qin looked at the sky, took a sickle to the field to harvest some vegetables to give Lin Yi a change of taste.

After father and daughter had dinner, Lin Qin closed the door just as the sky turned dark, completely unaware that a pair of eyes were watching their every move from the darkness, revealing a lewd smile.

In the middle of the night, half-asleep, Lin Qin heard the sound of a brick breaking, just one sound. She immediately opened her eyes, listening intently with her ears.

In the dark, every sound was magnified, and an uneasy feeling suddenly overcame her, her eyes locking on the shed’s door, her heart pounding, instinctively grasping the old wooden stick by her bed.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew in.

Although Lin Qin couldn’t see, she knew the shed’s door had been opened.

Lin Yi couldn’t get out of bed, so it must be a thief!

She immediately hid at the foot of the bed.

The intruder thought Lin Qin was just turning over and moved towards the bed.

Feeling someone pounce onto the bed, Lin Qin immediately raised her stick and struck down hard, "I’ll beat you to death, thief! Beat you to death, robber!"

"Ah! Ah! Help! Help!" A coarse, hoarse voice sounded in the dark.

Lin Qin recognized it was a stranger, hit more heavily until the person stopped moving, clasped her chest, and ran out yelling, "Catch the thief, catch the thief!"

She pushed the door open with all her might, and all the neighbors came running over.

Someone came with a kerosene lamp, holding hoes and sticks, "Where? Where is the thief?"

Lin Qin pointed to the shed in the backyard, still in shock.

Next door granny hurriedly asked, "Are you hurt?"

Lin Qin shook her head.

Then, a terrified shout came from the shed, "Lin Qin, did you kill someone?"

Lin Qin’s heart skipped a beat, she rushed to the backyard.

She pushed through the crowd, only to see a person lying motionless in a pool of blood.

"Call... the police..."

After saying that, Lin Qin collapsed.