CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 102: BIG BROTHER, DON’T LAUGH AT SECOND BROTHER

"There are more professional translators in Beijing, so I won’t be going. Mr. Wilson, until we meet again."

After seeing John and Wilson off to the guesthouse, Lin Xiang got into the Township Party Secretary’s car and returned to Li Hua Team.

She had been busy all day, assuming that Mrs. Lin would be home by the time she returned, but the courtyard door was locked tight, and the house was dark.

Using her key, Lin Xiang unlocked the courtyard door and made a quick meal with whatever ingredients were in the kitchen, left it warming in the pot for Mrs. Lin, and then washed up before lying down to rest.

Just as she lay down, before the cold bed could warm, Mrs. Lin returned.

Seeing the anger on Mrs. Lin’s face, Lin Xiang sat up, wearing her new cotton jacket, "Mom, what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?"

Mrs. Lin collapsed heavily onto the bed, kicked off her shoes, rolled up her sleeves, and started cursing, "I was wondering why those women randomly invited me to stroll around town. I thought they were trying to take advantage of me, but it turns out they were following your Aunt’s orders!"

"As soon as I arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative, I saw your Aunt waiting there. Once inside, she started buying this and that in large quantities, getting the shop assistant to wrap up a bunch of items, then waited for me to pay! Do I look like a sucker to you?"

Lin Xiang softly asked, "Did you pay?"

Mrs. Lin: "I did."

Brilliant!

Lin Xiang took off her coat, lay back down, and tightly wrapped the blanket that had barely warmed but suddenly cooled around herself, "I’m tired, going to sleep now."

"Girl, isn’t your Aunt too much? Aren’t you angry?"

Lin Xiang turned her back on Mrs. Lin, "Why would I be angry, she didn’t take advantage of me."

"But the money she spent was from what you gave me, all earned by your hard work!"

"You know how hard I work for my money. Anyway, it’s just that money, apart from the pocket money for you, the rest is my tuition and living expenses for school next spring. Once it’s spent, it’s gone."

Mrs. Lin said sheepishly, "But your Aunt forced me to pay, in front of so many people, it was hard for me to let her lose face."

Lin Xiang finally uncovered herself and asked Mrs. Lin, "And? What’s the purpose of telling me this?"

"Mom, my breasts are breasts too. If you were that angry and had rejected Aunt face-to-face, I would have praised you. But being so accommodating and then getting mad at me, doesn’t make sense."

What about not letting her lose face?

These are all excuses!

Mrs. Lin has long been used to being treated badly by Aunt Lin!

Lin Xiang wasn’t really upset about the money. Since she had given it to Mrs. Lin, even if the entire amount was handed over to Aunt Lin, Lin Xiang wouldn’t comment.

But Mrs. Lin, while angrily cursing Aunt Lin in front of her, willingly handed the money over, it just didn’t make sense.

Mrs. Lin opened her mouth, "I... I didn’t give her much, just five bucks."

Mrs. Lin hadn’t even planned on buying anything, just wanted to stroll around town because others invited her.

Afraid the companions would take advantage of her, she only brought five bucks.

Aunt Lin didn’t know, grabbed lots of stuff at the supply and marketing cooperative, totaling over thirty bucks, and expected Mrs. Lin, the sucker, to pay.

Who knew Mrs. Lin only brought five bucks, she willingly handed it over, but Aunt Lin still lost a lot of face.

Lin Xiang looked puzzled, "So, what’s the purpose now, do you want me to praise you for being wise today, not letting Aunt fool you out of too much money?"

Mrs. Lin moved closer, "Girl, can you give me some grain coupons? I’m planning to go to town tomorrow, and want to eat at the state-run restaurant."

Today, passing by the state-run restaurant, Mrs. Lin couldn’t help but salivate at the aroma wafting out, but the companions were unwilling to spend, didn’t have the tickets for a rare indulgence, so Mrs. Lin didn’t mention it. Later, her money was tricked away by Aunt Lin.

Lin Xiang squinted, "Eat alone at the state-run restaurant? It’s not a hassle, tell me what you want, I’ll get you a serving from the state-run restaurant tomorrow."

"Bringing it back won’t taste good. Good food has to be eaten fresh."

"It’s okay, tomorrow I’m taking John to the airport, come with me in the morning, after drop off, I’ll take you to the state-run restaurant. With me there, you can order anything, if it’s not peak time."

"Ah, you’re busy with important tasks, having me follow isn’t appropriate, might delay you too?"

Lin Xiang raised her eyebrow, "Tell the truth! What is the grain coupon really for! If you don’t tell me, I won’t give it!"

Lin Xiang’s voice abruptly rose, Mrs. Lin jumped in surprise, hitting Lin Xiang’s arm, "Rascal, you startled me!"

"Honestly, it’s about your Aunt, planning to meet Yu Fang’s fiancé tomorrow. To ensure the man’s family doesn’t look down on them, she scheduled the meeting at the state-run restaurant. When you gave me the tickets yesterday, I took two meat tickets but didn’t take the grain coupons."

"So your whole setup was to get grain coupons from me?"

Mrs. Lin avoided Lin Xiang’s gaze and said sheepishly, "I was really angry just now. We are sisters, why does she scheme against me."

"But she’s schemed against you, yet you’re still rushing to give her money and tickets." Are you really that naive?

Mrs. Lin felt somewhat awkward, "You said it, we’re family. I only have these few relatives."

Lin Xiang took a deep breath, ultimately said nothing more.

She lay back down, her emotions complex.

With her temperament, she shouldn’t provide any financial support to Mrs. Lin, at least not this time by giving grain tickets, which would essentially subsidize Aunt Lin.

Not like she’s stingy, but Aunt Lin’s parasitic ways, Lin Xiang isn’t fond of.

But she couldn’t think of Mrs. Lin’s behavior through her own reasoning.

Family, especially for those who haven’t felt much family warmth since childhood, often they grab hold of whatever warmth they can.

Although Mrs. Lin’s behavior made her angry, it did exemplify this.

Back then, didn’t she almost ruin her life for elusive family relationships?

Stop judging others!

Mrs. Lin reached out and nudged Lin Xiang, "Girl, the grain coupons..."

Lin Xiang covered her head with the blanket and said muffledly, "I’ll give them to you tomorrow morning."

The next morning, after leaving the grain coupons on the table, Lin Xiang returned to town, first seeing Wilson’s group onto the Beijing-bound train, then escorting John’s group onto a flight to the United States.

With that, her task was completed.

Although the orders received by the food and paper factories were not as substantial as those for the cotton spinning factory, it was a start.