CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: LIN XIANG MUST NOT BE BLAMED

In Lin Xiang’s understanding, shrimp are easy to catch; as long as you cast the net and scoop it up, you’ll end up with quite a lot of shrimp.

She thought Lin Yun would do the same.

But she forgot that she now lived in the seventies, and using the inherent logic of the future to consider the current life was obviously unrealistic.

"Brother, I’m sorry, I... I hadn’t thought it through."

Lin Yun smiled, "It’s not a big deal. It’s only a matter of a few minutes in total. I won’t get sick. I’m not as frail as you think."

He then turned his head to Liu Pei and said, "Smartie Liu, Niuzai just wanted to prepare a good dish for the foreign guests, and shrimp is an essential ingredient. We all know the importance of foreign guests. Not to mention just catching some shrimp, even if we had to catch all the shrimp in the river, it would be justified."

"I understand your good intentions, but Niuzai is not wrong in this matter."

So, you cannot groundlessly blame Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang instinctively looked up at Lin Yun and found his expression very serious, as if emphasizing something important to Liu Pei.

At this moment, Lin Xiang felt quite inhuman.

Shrimp is not necessarily an essential ingredient. She just used the pretext of needing shrimp to make Lin Yun feel needed, in hopes of gaining his favor and returning soon to her 200-square-meter mansion.

But she forgot the limitations of the era and also overlooked that Lin Yun was just a taciturn workhorse.

She initially thought Liu Pei would be angry, but after being stunned for a moment, Liu Pei forced a smile, looked apologetically at Lin Xiang, and said, "I was just too anxious earlier, which is why I misspoke. I’m sorry, I apologize to you."

Liu Pei was so polite that Lin Xiang felt even worse.

She knew Liu Pei genuinely liked Lin Yun, but Lin Yun genuinely did not like Liu Pei!

Liu Pei’s reason for blaming her was out of concern for Lin Yun’s health, and it was she who caused Lin Yun to go into the water to catch shrimp.

Lin Xiang took a deep sigh, but before she could speak, Lin Yun said, "Let’s go back first, Smartie Liu. See you around."

After he finished speaking, he pulled Lin Xiang along. Caught off guard, Lin Xiang spun in place twice, then gave Liu Pei an apologetic smile and quickly followed Lin Yun home.

Mrs. Lin had already returned and saw Lin Yun bringing back a bucket of useless river shrimp and started scolding, "Back from work and don’t even know to cook, going to catch shrimp? This stuff isn’t tasty and doesn’t fill you up. With that time, you might as well wash and dry Niuzai’s bedding!"

Lin Xiang didn’t think that despite her long persuasion, Mrs. Lin’s combativeness remained, and could only quickly explain, "Mom, don’t blame my brother. I asked him to help me catch shrimp. Secretary Wang called and asked me to go to town tomorrow. I thought I’d prepare some shrimp for the foreign guests."

"Oh, I see, well, no problem then!" Mrs. Lin said to Lin Xiang with a full smile, "After you finish cooking for the foreign guests tomorrow, stir-fry the leftover river shrimp with the state-owned restaurant’s oil, okay? Mom has been craving for it for a long time, but we don’t have enough oil at home. Since you helped the state-owned restaurant greatly, no one will mind if you use a little bit of their oil."

Stir-fried river shrimp is delicious, but it uses a lot of oil. The shrimp are small and not filling, so few people in the village bother to eat them, except for children who catch fish and shrimp for fun.

"Got it, I’ll let Chef Shen know tomorrow. Mom, today, for my sake, my brother went directly into the water and stayed in the cold river for a long time. Please let him heat some water to bathe before changing into new clothes. I’ll handle dinner."

"Doesn’t heating water require firewood? Why should a grown man be so delicate!"

"Mom!" Lin Xiang glared at Mrs. Lin, "The firewood we use at home is all carried back from the back mountain by my brother. What’s the big deal if he uses electric firewood to heat water? If it runs out, he can just go cut more! Besides, his last illness hasn’t fully recovered yet. If he falls sick again, not only will we need to buy medicine, but he also won’t be able to earn work points. Can we just stop bickering over such trivial matters? I’ll make dinner for you!"

Though Mrs. Lin was somewhat selfish, she still listened to her precious daughter’s words.

Seeing Lin Yun still standing there foolishly, she grumbled, "Did you not hear what Niuzai said? Hurry and go heat some water for a bath! After the bath, don’t just loaf around, wash the bedding in our room!"

"Mom!"

Lin Xiang came out of the kitchen holding a spatula, "I will wash the bedding tomorrow after I return from town!"

"What’s the matter now!" Mrs. Lin stood up, rolling up her sleeves, "Can’t he do some work?"

This daughter’s elbow is leaning outward!

Lin Xiang knew that Mrs. Lin was angry and quickly explained, "That’s not what I meant! Mom, think about my reputation in the village. I was known for being lazy, unreasonable, and hot-tempered. I’m so old and yet no one has introduced me to a match."

"That’s because they are blind!"

Lin Xiang: ...

"Now I’ve finally managed to change others’ perception with my skills as a translator and Western food chef. Isn’t washing bedding a private matter? I’m already at my age and if it gets out that I let my brother wash my bedding, I won’t be able to find a proper partner, let alone a legitimate job!"

She held a spatula in one hand and massaged Mrs. Lin’s shoulders with the other, "Please be kind and let me handle this myself. You don’t want my chances of finding a match ruined over such a minor issue, do you?"

Finding a match for Lin Xiang was always Mrs. Lin’s biggest concern.

The conditions of the Lin Family weren’t good. Lin Xiang’s father passed away early, leaving nothing behind. Even though Lin Yun could earn full work points, the mother and daughter duo were known for being lazy, and the Lin Family still had only two rooms.

Unfortunately, Lin Xiang had a bad reputation and no one dared talk about matches for her in nearby villages.

Now, she had finally managed to turn her reputation around and show her face in front of leaders. If a minor issue affects her chances of a match, Mrs. Lin would regret it deeply.

"Tomorrow you have to cook Western food and also serve as a translator. It’s exhausting. I will wash the bedding for you. You rest well when you get back."

"Shall I go make dinner then?"

"Yes, go make it, make more. I’ve been hungry all day!"

"Alright, as you say!"

Lin Xiang returned to the kitchen, and Mrs. Lin gave Lin Yun a look, "Remember what your sister said. Don’t do anything in the future that would embarrass her and affect her chances of finding a match. Otherwise, you’ll see what I’ll do to you!"

Lin Yun didn’t respond and silently took the bucket to fetch water.

Ever since Lin Xiang had woken up from her coma, he found it increasingly hard to understand her.

He couldn’t even figure out if what she just said to Mrs. Lin was for his sake or to find herself a good match.

The next morning, just at the break of dawn, someone knocked on the Lin Family’s door.

Lin Yun put on his outer garment and opened the door, seeing Mr. Sun Sr. standing at the entrance, "I am here as per the brigade leader’s arrangement, to take Niuzai to town. Is she up yet?"