CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: TURNING THEIR OWN METHODS AGAINST THEM

Lin Qin paid the deposit, agreed with the boss to pick it up in five days, and then left with the children.

Although this trip cost 25.3 yuan, both children were quite happy, and Chen Ping’an, who usually didn’t dare to raise his head in front of others, was noticeably more cheerful.

Lin Qin felt that the money was well spent.

Walking down the street, Liu Yaya saw a kid eating maltose and was tempted. She carefully asked Lin Qin while holding her hand, "Mom, can I have that candy?"

"Maltose? Where are they selling it around here?" Lin Qin looked around but didn’t see anything.

Liu Yaya jumped up excitedly, "Granny Jin Hua can make it."

Lin Qin suddenly remembered that Granny Jin Hua was an elderly woman who lived near the Liu family’s street and specialized in selling maltose.

In addition to boiling maltose, she was also incredibly skilled at making rice cakes.

Lin Qin hesitated for a moment but agreed and led the children towards that street.

Granny Jin Hua didn’t have a storefront; those who bought from her were all regulars.

Lin Qin led the children inside and shouted, "Granny Jin Hua, are you here?"

"Coming!" Granny Jin Hua came from the backyard and was surprised when she saw Lin Qin. "Is this Lin Qin? Yaya? Wow! I almost didn’t recognize you! Why did you come here today?"

Lin Qin patted the two children’s heads and laughed, "Granny, the kids want some candy, so I’m here to buy some. Do you still have rice cakes?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I made a batch early this morning and haven’t sold them all yet. Besides rice cakes, I have salty cakes left, just one piece; if you want it, I’ll give it to you at a discount!" Granny Jin Hua couldn’t stop smiling and quickly led Lin Qin to take a look.

Seeing only a small piece of salty cake left, Lin Qin decided to take it all, bought the same amount of rice cakes, and asked Granny Jin Hua to pack a jar of maltose.

Granny Jin Hua, seeing her generous spending, immediately praised her, "I was worried you were having a hard time after hearing you divorced Liu Yongming, but now seeing your spirits so high, I’m relieved."

Lin Qin lowered her eyes, "Thank you, Granny, for your concern. The Liu family is just a pit of fire; no matter what, I can’t live worse than before."

Granny Jin Hua agreed deeply, "Just between us, as soon as you got divorced, Liu Yongming brought back a pregnant woman, claiming she was a relative. What kind of relative stays here with a big belly and doesn’t leave? I think that woman is Liu Yongming’s lover, and he’s been secretly involved with her behind your back. Now, whenever they go out, people whisper behind their backs—such shameless people!"

Lin Qin met Granny Jin Hua’s gossip-seeking gaze and deliberately stammered, "I’ve gotten used to it. Liu Yongming married me initially for my dowry, and after I entered the family and served them, he wanted to push me aside."

That woman is different; she’s from a school, a top student, an intellectual, can get a job later... It’s that type of family match, we can’t compete."

"What? From the same school? Shouldn’t students be focused on studying? How did she end up pregnant?" Granny Jin Hua’s eyes burned with gossip.

Lin Qin shrugged and shook her head, "I don’t know. I just saw Liu Yongming accompanying that woman for prenatal check-ups in the hospital, several times."

Granny Jin Hua quickly memorized these words and after sending Lin Qin and the children off, she rushed to the street corner to gossip with the neighbors cooling off.

"Do you know? The woman Liu Yongming brought back isn’t a relative of the Liu family at all; she’s his lover from the same school, and they say she’s still studying!"

Granny Jin Hua’s words shocked the neighbors.

Li San’s mother stretched her neck and tugged at Granny Jin Hua, "Who did you hear that from? You can’t spread rumors like this!"

"Oh come on! Am I someone who spreads nonsense? Lin Qin just came with Yaya and a little boy to buy things from me, and I got it out of her!"

Granny Jin Hua shook her head in satisfaction, acting as if she were particularly capable.

Li San’s mother jumped up excitedly, "What did Lin Qin say? Tell us quickly!"

So Granny Jin Hua vividly told them about Liu Yongming and "Fang Yin," mostly imagined, but mostly true.

Ma Cuihua originally wanted to go out and chat but overheard people gossiping about her family.

When she listened closely, there were quite a few groups, and she jumped up to curse them on the spot.

She even called the street director over.

When the street director saw it was Ma Cuihua again, he seemed almost in despair, "I say, can’t you ladies calm down for once and stop fighting? What’s the problem now?"

Ma Cuihua angrily pointed at Li San’s mother, "This shameless hag slanders my son!"

"Slander about what?" The street director looked at Li San’s mother.

Li San’s mother shouted energetically, "Liu Yongming was fooling around behind Lin Qin’s back and got someone pregnant. As soon as they divorced, he brought his pregnant lover back and claimed she was a relative. Pah! She’s from the same school. Still a scholar, but a rogue, shameless!"

The street director’s face immediately darkened, "Hey... You can’t say things like that randomly! Be careful; they might sue you for defamation!"

"Sue! Sue if you dare! I’ve heard that woman calling Ma Cuihua ’mom’ many times when passing by their house, so what? Did Ma Cuihua secretly give birth to a daughter while her deceased husband wasn’t around?"

Li San’s mother’s words were indeed quite unpleasant.

Ma Cuihua was so angry she wanted to tear at her.

The street director felt his nerves twitch and urgently held her back, "Enough! This is a baseless story; don’t spread it anymore!"

Li San’s mother, however, was not willing to give up, "Fine! The director says it’s baseless, right? You all heard! That woman Liu Yongming brought home has nothing to do with the Liu family. Don’t say they’re unclear just because she calls Ma Cuihua ’mom.’ The child isn’t Liu Yongming’s either, did you hear?"

"Bitch, I’ll fight you!" Ma Cuihua, like a shrew, couldn’t be stopped, and even knocked the director’s glasses off.

The director had no choice but to have someone call Liu Yongguo and Xu Manzhi from the Liu family.

Ma Cuihua was dragged back all the way, still cursing along the way.

The street director, with a dark face, followed into the Liu family, seeing "Fang Yin" eating fruit in the living room with a hostile gaze and angrily looked at Ma Cuihua, "Can’t you say things calmly? Do you have to resort to violence?"

"Calmly? I’ve been slandered like this about my son, and you want me to offer my face for her to hit?"

The street director took a deep breath and asked, "So is there any truth to the rumors outside? Ma Cuihua, let me tell you! Liu Yongming has a promising future and can’t have any behavioral issues affecting it! Think carefully about your answer!"

"I..." Ma Cuihua breathed heavily, her gaze dodging the director’s question.

The director’s heart sank, his face turning half-black, "So, Li San’s mother was right? That woman really is Liu Yongming’s lover?"