TATLC Chapter 12 – Chen Xiaomi Asserts His Authority

Lu Tong arrived while Chen Xiaomi was at home.

Chen Xiaomi took one look at the visitor and felt annoyed.

He had long known that Lu Lin wasn’t valued in the Lu family and was treated like a slave. When Lu Lin first came to their house, he brought nothing with him, which confirmed his suspicions. Now that Lu Tong was here, Chen Xiaomi didn’t believe she came to deliver gifts. Most likely she was here to demand for benefits.

Lu Lin glanced at Lu Tong and, considering it was autumn harvest season, gave a cold smile as several thoughts crossed his mind.

Lu Tong avoided Chen Xiaomi’s piercing gaze and spoke directly to Lu Lin, “Lu Lin, Grandpa wants you to come back and work the fields.”

Before Lu Lin could answer, Chen Xiaomi snorted and said, “Your family sure has a short memory! You’ve married him off to me and now you want to take him back as free labor? Keep dreaming!”

Lu Tong mumbled, “But your family doesn’t have any land.”

“There’s a lot of work to do even without land. He has to go hunting in the mountains, chopping firewood, boiling water. I paid so much money to bring him here. Did you think I’d let him sit around doing nothing?” Chen Xiaomi said fiercely.

“Lu Lin isn’t a hunter,” Lu Tong muttered.

Chen Xiaomi laughed coldly. “Hunter or not, what difference does it make? I bought him with real silver, so he belongs to me now. If I want him to go into the mountains, that’s where he’ll go. If he dies, that’s just his bad luck!”

Lu Tong stared at Chen Xiaomi. The village rumors were right. Chen Xiaomi really was fierce.

She glanced at Lu Lin and saw him stay silent as if he was actually afraid of Chen Xiaomi. She couldn’t help feeling angry at how spineless her cousin was.

Chen Xiaomi raised the bamboo stick in her hand, pointing it at Lu Tong. “Damn brat, are you leaving or not? If not, I’ll throw you out myself.”

Lu Tong’s face flushed bright red. Because Lu Chengyu was a Tongsheng, Lu Tong had always held a certain status in the village. Many villagers wanted to marry her, but Lu Tong was set on becoming a wealthy wife and looked down on all of them. Being treated so coldly was a first for her.

“Lin-ge, what do you say?” Lu Tong asked with a stiff face.

Lu Lin looked at Lu Tong, contempt flashing in his mind. The Lu family’s second branch was nothing but unpaid laborers in the household. Lu Tong never respected the original Lu Lin in the slightest. In the memories he recovered, Lu Tong rarely called him “Brother Lin.” Usually it was just “Hey!” or “You!”

“I still need to dig for wild vegetables,” he said. “We don’t have enough to eat, and if I don’t gather more, we might starve.”

Chen Xiaomi glanced outside and warned loudly, “There’s already too much work to do here! If you go help them, I’ll break your legs. I won’t feed someone who works against his own family.”

Lu Lin nodded in understanding. “I know.”

Chen Xiaomi was very satisfied with Lu Lin’s cooperation. He was worried he might be stubborn and continue to be loyal to the Lu family despite their mistreatment.

Lu Tong just reached the door when she overheard Chen Xiaomi “laying down the law” with Lu Lin. She felt angry both at Chen Xiaomi’s arrogance and at Lu Lin’s incompetence. He’s completely dominated by his Shuang’er wife.

In Lu Tong’s eyes, although Chen Xiaomi was fierce, a Shuang’er was still a Shuang’er. Even if Lu Lin had married into his family, the husband should still be in charge.

After making sure Lu Tong had gone far enough away, Lu Lin smiled and said, “Thank you?”

Chen Xiaomi looked at him in surprise. “What are you thanking me for?”

“I don’t have to go work for them anymore.” Lu Lin blinked. In his previous life, rural conditions had already improved by the time he was born, so he hadn’t really gotten involved in farm work. If he had to choose, Lu Lin would rather go into the mountains than work the fields.

Chen Xiaomi’s face turned slightly red. “There’s nothing to thank me for. You wouldn’t get paid working their fields anyway. I still need you to work here.”

Lu Lin smiled. “I understand.”

Chen Xiaomi blinked and said, “Lu Tong isn’t that young anymore, is she?”

Lu Lin nodded. “I guess so.”

In Lu Lin’s eyes, Lu Tong was only sixteen and still very young. But in this world, sixteen was already considered a grown woman. Lu Tong planned to wait until Lu Chengyu passed the county examination before considering marriage. If Lu Chengyu didn’t pass soon, Lu Tong might end up an old maid. In a couple of years, she’d have to start paying taxes.