Chapter 5

After discussing with Uncle Three, Lin Yanchao walked from the field back home. Upon arriving, Lin Yanchao acted as if nothing had happened and continued to read aloud.

Although summer nights grew dark later, it was still dark. The chirping of crickets began as usual.

At this time, farmers would prepare to eat early and then go to bed to save on lamp oil.

At this time, only the wealthy and those studying would light lamps at night. Therefore, the ancients used the term "lamp oil expenses" to describe the costs of education, where "lamp oil" refers to the oil for lamps and "lamp" refers to the lamp itself. Since ancient times, pursuing education has been difficult, especially for poor families.

Lin Yanchao lit the lamp and faintly heard his mother-in-law's voice outside.

"Putting on a show of diligence, not going to work, and being lazy is one thing, but do you really think you're the Star of Literature? Reading at night doesn't consume oil? You wouldn't know the value of firewood and rice if you didn't manage a household."

Lin Yanchao listened without speaking, and instead turned the lamp brighter. He said to Lin Qianqian beside him, "Qianqian, I once read a book. There was a man named Yan Jiansheng in it. He was extremely stingy. When he was about to die, he stretched out two fingers and refused to pass away. Do you know why?"

Lin Qianqian, knowing that Lin Yanchao was angry at his mother-in-law, laughed and said, "Brother Chao, you say he was a miser. Did he stretch out two fingers because someone owed him two taels of silver and he couldn't close his eyes?"

"No, no. His eldest and second nephews, as well as his wet nurse, tried to guess and persuade him, but none of them were correct. Finally, his concubine said, 'I know what you mean. It's because there are two wicks in the lamp, and you're worried about wasting oil.' I'll just remove one wick. Only after the wick was removed did Yan Jiansheng nod and pass away."

"This person is really funny." Lin Qianqian giggled.

Lin Yanchao also laughed. He could feel that the mother-in-law outside was about to explode with anger.

"Yanshou, now someone is cursing your mother to death. Mother tells you, you must strive to be a good student so that no one can say that your ancestors never studied."

"Let the brat be arrogant and rampant. When Grandfather comes home and sees you not working in the fields, just wait to see how he will scold you!"

Lin Yanchao's eyes turned cold. He resented himself enough, but now he was also speaking ill of him in front of his thirteen-year-old cousin, trying to sow discord between them. Such a woman really couldn't tolerate him! However, the mother-in-law did not rashly enter the room and argue with him. She was a sensible person. It seemed she was waiting for Grandfather and Uncle to return before making a formal complaint.

This suited his plans. Lin Yanchao continued to read.

Night had fallen, and it was time to light the lamps.

A heavy cough sounded from outside the door. Lin Yanchao put down his book, knowing that Grandfather had returned.

"Father, you must stand up for me!" the mother-in-law cried from outside the door.

Grandfather's voice came, "What happened? Who dared to bully you?"

"It's that brat Lin Chao. He cursed me to death!"

The mother-in-law then added more details to her story in front of Grandfather, and Lin Yanchao listened coldly.

"Call him out, I have something to ask him," Grandfather ordered.

Hearing this, Lin Yanchao opened the door and walked out, saying, "Grandfather, you're back."

Seeing Lin Yanchao's polite demeanor, Grandfather's expression softened slightly, but he still asked sternly, "Why did you insult your mother-in-law? Have you forgotten your manners?"

Seeing Grandfather's question, Lin Qianqian, fearing that Lin Yanchao would be scolded, came over and said, "Grandfather, it's time to eat. Why don't we eat first and talk later?"

"What are you talking about eating?" Grandfather scolded Lin Qianqian, and she dared not speak again.

At this moment, Uncle also returned home and saw the scene, saying, "Yanchao, why don't you apologize to Grandfather and your mother-in-law?"

As soon as Uncle said this, the mother-in-law glared at him, and he fell silent.

Lin Yanchao, hearing everyone's reactions, looked at Grandfather and said, "Grandfather, I did not insult my mother-in-law."

"I kindly mentioned that reading at night consumes oil, and you used the story of the Jiansheng to curse me to death."

"Mother-in-law, I was just telling a story to Qianqian while reading. It's all from the book, and I didn't mean to curse you."

"You were clearly talking about me."

"Mother-in-law, you're just projecting your own thoughts onto me."

"Father, look, he's still making excuses!" the mother-in-law said to Grandfather.

"Yanchao, whether you argued with your mother-in-law or not, I told you to go to the fields today, and you didn't go. That's true, isn't it?" Grandfather's voice grew heavier, and his face darkened.

"Yes, I didn't go."

Seeing Lin Yanchao admit it, the mother-in-law's face lit up with joy. She looked at the bouncing Lin Yanshou and said, "Yanshou, where does Grandfather usually keep the bamboo strips?"

"I know, I know." Lin Yanshou ran upstairs and then bounced back down, saying, "Grandfather, Grandfather, here are the bamboo strips, the bamboo strips!"

According to the ancient principle of "a good son is beaten with a stick," these bamboo strips were used by Grandfather to enforce family discipline. In the past, the three Lin brothers had all been beaten by him, but he rarely disciplined his grandchildren. Taking the bamboo strips, Grandfather glared at the mother-in-law. She was startled by his glare and forced a laugh, scolding her son, "Who told you to give them to Grandfather? He won't really hit Yanchao."

"Grandfather, don't hit him." Lin Qianqian fell to her knees in front of Grandfather, hugging his legs and pleading for mercy.

Uncle also said, "Father, scaring the child is enough."

"Considering your Uncle and Qianqian, you should apologize to your mother-in-law! You must not do this again." Grandfather put the bamboo strips aside, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The mother-in-law, however, looked dissatisfied.

"Thank you, Grandfather, for not punishing me, but I didn't say anything bad about my mother-in-law. How can I apologize for something I didn't do?"

Hearing this, Grandfather's face darkened. He had already decided to let Lin Yanchao off lightly to give the mother-in-law, as an elder, some face. He didn't expect Lin Yanchao to argue back, leaving him with no way to back down. Grandfather couldn't believe it; no one had dared to defy him in the family for a long time, not even his three sons.

Seeing Lin Yanchao defy his father, Uncle asked, "What did you say? Dare to say it again?"

Lin Qianqian quickly pulled Lin Yanchao, saying, "Brother Chao, Grandfather has spoken. Apologize, and this will be over."

But Lin Yanchao smiled and patted Qianqian's head, saying, "I said I didn't do anything wrong. How can I apologize? It's the mother-in-law who can't distinguish right from wrong."

Grandfather's body trembled, and the mother-in-law sneered, but she supported Grandfather, saying, "Father, don't let this boy upset you. It's not worth it."

"Unbelievable! I thought you wouldn't defy your mother-in-law, but today you show no manners." Uncle's anger rose.

The mother-in-law added, "He was lazy and didn't go to the fields, and now he doesn't listen to his elders. How could the Lin family produce such a disobedient son?"

At this moment, Uncle Three came in with a hoe, seeing the tense scene and asking, "What's going on?"

Seeing Uncle Three return, the mother-in-law looked even more pleased, quickly moving from Grandfather to Uncle Three and saying, "Look, he was lazy and didn't go to the fields, and now he's defying Grandfather and Uncle."

"This matter, Mother, I told him not to go to the fields and to come home. Don't blame him," Uncle Three said nonchalantly.

The mother-in-law forced a smile, "Uncle Three, did I hear you correctly? The autumn harvest is coming, and we need more hands in the fields. Without Lin Chao, can you manage alone?"

"It's not that I'm not busy, but the irrigation channel was dug up, and our ten acres of paddy fields have turned into dry fields. I asked Yanchao to check what happened," Uncle Three explained.

Hearing that the irrigation channel was dug up, Grandfather was very concerned and asked Lin Yanchao, "What happened?"

Lin Yanchao said, "Grandfather, I don't know what happened, but our irrigation channel was dug up, and the water flowed into the mother-in-law's family's fields. Not a drop came to our home."

The mother-in-law's face changed, "Father, I don't know..."

Seeing the mother-in-law's difficulty, Lin Yanchao said, "Mother-in-law, what you did is understandable."

Everyone was surprised, "Why is Lin Yanchao defending the mother-in-law?"

Lin Yanchao continued, "Mother-in-law, don't you often say that we're all one family, and what's in one hand can be used by the other? Our things can be used by the Xie family."

Grandfather's face turned green. This matter was a loss for the mother-in-law. In fact, the irrigation channel was dug up by him and Uncle Three to frame the mother-in-law. The mother-in-law, however, assumed it was done by her family.

Lin Yanchao could have used the cabbage field as an excuse, but he knew the mother-in-law was too smart and would have an explanation ready. He decided to frame her to let her taste the bitterness of being framed.

Grandfather's face was already dark, and the mother-in-law was a bit afraid, but seeing Lin Yanchao looking at her defiantly, she muttered, "I can't deal with you." She then gave Uncle a look.

Uncle, who always followed the mother-in-law's orders, said, "So, you have a reason now? Just because Uncle Three told you not to go to the fields, you can defy your mother-in-law and Grandfather?" He then scolded Lin Qianqian, "Look at your brother Chao. You don't even try to persuade him. You and Yanchao always talk back to the mother-in-law. Do you know what filial piety is?"

Lin Qianqian was so angry that she trembled. She knew the mother-in-law often spoke ill of her to Uncle.

Seeing Uncle scold Lin Qianqian, Lin Yanchao stepped forward, standing in front of her, and said, "Uncle, Grandfather hasn't said anything. How can you speak for Qianqian?"

"You're out of line. Can't I discipline you and Qianqian?" Uncle was really angry.

Seeing this, Lin Yanshou quickly picked up the bamboo strips and handed them to Uncle, saying, "Father, bamboo strips, bamboo strips!" Uncle took the bamboo strips, raised them, and tried to scare Lin Yanchao.

Lin Yanchao snorted, "Uncle, whether you discipline us or not, I ask you, do you think I was wrong today? The mother-in-law had her family dig up our irrigation channel. Was she right?"

Uncle shook his head, "It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong. Grandfather and your mother-in-law are elders, and you can't argue with them!"

Lin Yanchao shook his head, "Uncle, for a grown man, you have no insight. You believe everything the mother-in-law says. Do you have any independent thoughts?"

Uncle, furious, pointed the bamboo strips at Lin Yanchao, "You say I have no insight. Say it again!"

The more Uncle got angry, the calmer Lin Yanchao became. Uncle's anger didn't he see Grandfather's displeasure? The mother-in-law only wanted Uncle to discipline him, but she forgot that digging up the irrigation channel had already upset Grandfather, even though she was framed.

Lin Yanchao stepped forward and said to Uncle, "What if I say it? Listen, Uncle."

"When my father passed away, he entrusted me to you. You told me that you would be my father and take care of me for life. When something happens, you forget everything? You only think of your wife and not of me, your nephew?"

"You often claim to be filial and respectful. I ask you, what is respect? Bullying your younger brother's son is your respect?"

"My father entrusted me to you. Is this how you take care of me? You not only don't help me but also want to hit me. Does hitting a child make you look powerful, or does it show that you're worthy of my father?"

"You say you have insight. Call all the relatives and neighbors and lay out the facts. If someone says you're right, I'll apologize to Grandfather and the mother-in-law. If no one does, you admit that you have no insight and only listen to a woman. Uncle, dare you?"

"Will you dare?"

Lin Yanchao's questions made Uncle's face pale. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word. He was stunned, the bamboo strips falling to the ground. How could he argue? He and his younger brother were very close.

Lin Qianqian, thinking of Lin Yanchao's parents, started to sob, and Grandfather's expression grew heavy.

The family fell silent. Uncle's face was pale, and he felt a bit guilty looking at Lin Yanchao. He stomped his foot and said, "I won't deal with this!" and ran upstairs.

"Done," Lin Yanchao said softly.

Uncle's departure meant that the mother-in-law lost her biggest supporter, leaving her isolated and helpless.

Seeing Lin Yanchao drive away his older brother, Uncle Three also gained courage and said, "Sister-in-law, what about the irrigation channel?"

Lin Yanchao nodded. Uncle Three was indeed a good ally, now challenging the sister-in-law.

The mother-in-law, facing both internal and external pressure, with her usual ally Uncle Three turning against her and her strongest supporter Uncle being silenced by Lin Yanchao, had to step forward.

The mother-in-law humphed and said strongly, "It's just a matter of money. I'll talk to my father, and we'll compensate the Lin family. Brother Three, why are you siding with Lin Chao? Listening to his talk, I end up in a difficult position."

"What about the cabbage field? The cabbage that Uncle Three watered day and night, you sold half of it to your family's vegetable shop at a lower price."

The mother-in-law, seeing Lin Yanchao accuse her, decided to be bold and said, "You're talking about my faults. At your young age, you're so capable. Are you trying to take charge of the Lin family? Do you want to divide the family property?"

Lin Yanchao sneered. The mother-in-law was already in a panic, speaking recklessly. These words could be said in front of Grandfather.

Sure enough, Grandfather was angry, "Lin Chao isn't capable, but he's speaking the truth."

The mother-in-law, seeing her usual supporter Grandfather turn against her, quickly said, "Father, that's not what I meant. You don't know how terrible Lin Chao was, wanting to divide the family."

Lin Yanchao said, "Mother-in-law, don't lie. The law states that a family cannot be divided while the parents are alive. As a student, how could I not know this?"

"You, you're talking nonsense."

Lin Yanchao sneered. The mother-in-law was already in a panic. Today, there could be no retreat. A snake not killed will come back to bite.

Lin Yanchao said, "Mother-in-law, in the past few years, you've been harsh to me and Qianqian. I won't go into details. When I was seriously ill half a month ago, Qianqian asked you for money, and you didn't lend it to her. Instead, you asked her to exchange her gold phoenix hairpin, a gift from my grandmother to my mother, and then to Qianqian. You even want to take this. What in the Lin family can you not take?"

"From this, we can see how much of the monthly allowance Grandfather and Uncle Three give you, you have withheld and hidden."

Hearing this, the mother-in-law's face changed. A wife hiding private wealth was one of the seven grounds for divorce. These words were like a hidden dagger, aiming to drive her out of the Lin family.

"You brat, you're talking nonsense! Father, you must stand up for me..." The mother-in-law looked at Grandfather, but his face was dark, and he was trembling.

Everyone knew that Grandfather and his wife had a deep relationship, and the gold phoenix hairpin was the most cherished item of Grandmother, later given to Lin Yanchao's mother, but the mother-in-law had always been envious of it. This was a well-known fact in the family.

Grandfather's face darkened, "I thought you were just a bit fierce, which is good for a housewife. Others wouldn't dare to provoke the Lin family. But I didn't expect you to be so evil. When Yanchao was seriously ill, you said you would take care of him, but this is how you did it."

"Do you think I'm