TATLC Chapter 23 – Grandma Lu Makes A Scene

After sharing the secret of the convenience store, Lu Lin and Chen Xiaomi’s relationship grew much closer.

With money in hand, Chen Xiaomi wasn’t in a rush to earn more. As winter approached, he stopped hunting for prey and instead gathered more firewood.

Chen Xiaomi heard from Lu Lin that the kang bed would keep them warm in winter when heated, but it consumed a lot of firewood. While watching Chen Xiaomi chop wood, Lu Lin once again witnessed his extraordinary strength. With one swing of his axe, Chen Xiaomi could cut through branches as thick as an adult’s palm. He could run quickly while carrying logs on his shoulder. By the time Chen Xiaomi had chopped three piles of firewood, Lu Lin hadn’t even finished one.

Chen Xiaomi knew that Lu Lin had been a “young master” from a “rich family” in his past life and wasn’t used to farm work. The fact that he could manage this much was already quite impressive. Combined with the money Lu Lin earned, Chen Xiaomi’s tolerance for him was actually quite high.

The Chen family’s situation naturally became the talk of the village. From making new clothes to buying grain, the villagers couldn’t help but be impressed with how quickly hunters made money. For a time, interest in mountain hunting surged among the villagers, but many gave up when they considered the dangers involved.

Chen Xiaomi and Lu Lin spent more than ten days gathering enough firewood. Lu Lin also dug up some yams, collected a lot of mushrooms, and harvested bamboo shoots, storing them all in the convenience store.

Usually, mushrooms had a short shelf life and needed to be dried for preservation, and yams would grow moldy if not eaten in time. But inside the store, they stayed fresh without issue.

In their spare time, Chen Xiaomi and Lu Lin built a kang bed for Lao Zhou, the old hunter in the village.

Since injuring his leg, Lao Zhou experienced severe pain whenever it rained. Lu Lin said building a kang would make him more comfortable, and Chen Xiaomi took this to heart.

Lao Zhou didn’t care much about having a kang at first, but once it was built, he loved it so much that he spent all day on it. He was even reluctant to get off. Chen Xiaomi also chopped some firewood for Lao Zhou and stacked it in his woodshed. Soon, news of the kang spread throughout the village.

After a cold wave, the weather turned much colder, and everyone was thinking about how to stay warm. Word quickly spread that Chen Xiaomi had built a kang for Lao Zhou.

The old hunter’s legs didn’t work well anymore, and he didn’t own any land. In previous years, he had managed to save some money by hunting and selling foraged goods from the mountains. Now he could exchange that money for grain, but with money only going out and none coming in, who knew how long he could hold on.

Many villagers would trade grain for some of his money, and when they entered his house, they naturally noticed the kang. Those who visited Lao Zhou knew that he now had something magical that kept him warm when he slept on it.

Before long, many people came to see the kang. The villagers were rather simple-hearted. Those who came to see the kang usually brought a handful of vegetables, a couple of eggs, a small amount of rice, or a load of firewood. Although not much, these were still a bit of support.

Visitors couldn’t leave without sitting on the kang for a while. Lao Zhou’s once quiet home suddenly became bustling with guests, so many that his doorstep was practically worn down.

When the villagers learned that Chen Xiaomi had built the kang, their reactions were mixed. In their minds, Chen Xiaomi was capable of all sorts of evil deeds, so many were surprised he would do something so kind.

When news of the kang reached the Chen household, the family was furious. Grandma Chen spent half the day cursing and complaining, endlessly calling Chen Xiaomi ungrateful, saying he only knew how to benefit outsiders with good things.

Grandpa Lu also went to try the kang at Lao Zhou’s place and found it very warm. After trying it, his mind began to work. He thought that since the kang was built by Lu Lin and Chen Xiaomi together, Lu Lin must know how to build one. Now everyone in the village was talking about it, and who wouldn’t envy it? If his family had one, it would bring them great face.

Having made up his mind, Grandpa Lu sent Lu Tong to find Lu Lin, but Lu Tong returned empty-handed again.

“Why didn’t that brat come back?” Grandma Chen was visibly displeased when she saw Lu Tong return alone.

During the busy farming season, Lu Lin didn’t come back, which had already upset her. When she learned that her husband invited Lu Lin back to build a kang, she wanted to assert her authority and teach Lu Lin a lesson. She never expected Lu Lin would simply refuse to return.

“He didn’t come again?”

Lu Tong nodded. “No, cousin doesn’t want to come back. He said he doesn’t know how to build it, that Chen Xiaomi built the kang and he just helped out.”

The old woman snorted. “Hmph, what nonsense about not knowing how. He’s just being lazy. He hasn’t come home even once since he left. I think he forgot all about his own family since marrying into another family.”

Grandma Chen felt this couldn’t continue and decided to find Lu Lin herself.

……

When the old woman arrived at Chen Xiaomi’s place, Lu Lin was sleeping.

Lu Lin was actually a lazy person with no ambition. Because of the cold weather and lack of air conditioning, he became addicted to sleeping in.

With money in hand, Chen Xiaomi no longer worried about winter provisions and turned a blind eye to Lu Lin’s lazy habits. In Chen Xiaomi’s view, Lu Lin was a scholar from a wealthy family in his past life, and marrying into his family was already a step down for him. He took such advantage of Lu Lin that letting him sleep a little longer wasn’t a big deal. Besides, winter had arrived, and it was time to slow down anyway.

Lu Lin was sleeping soundly when he heard a commotion. He went outside to find Xiaocai confronting Grandma Chen.

The old woman was lying on the ground, wailing, “He hit me! He’s killing me!”

Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiaocai and asked, “What happened?”

Chen Xiaocai frowned and said, “This old woman came in cursing and yelling. I gave her a little push, and now she’s lying on the ground refusing to get up.”

Lu Lin’s eyes darted around as a thought struck him, This old woman isn’t getting up because she’s planning to extort money from us. What a scam!

Soon, a crowd gathered around Chen Xiaomi’s place.

Lu Lin eyed the onlookers suspiciously. This area was usually quiet, so these people must have followed the old woman here, to watch her make a scene.

“You unfilial bastard! Laoer¹, look at what kind of good son you’ve raised!”

“Laoer, you gave birth to a son just to torment me!”

“Laoer, look at this son of yours! He marries a Shuang’er and forgets his grandparents. He doesn’t even come home! He gives all the good things to outsiders!”

…

Wang lay on the ground refusing to get up. As she saw more and more people gathering to watch, her wailing grew increasingly louder.

Chen Xiaomi wasn’t around, and several villagers whispered among themselves as they looked at Lu Lin.

…

A short while later, the village head was called over.

“Lin-xiaozi², what’s going on here?” the village head asked.

Lu Lin replied calmly, “My grandmother came to our house to steal things. Xiaocai caught her and hit her a few times.”

When Lu Lin said this, Wang, who had been pretending to be half-dead on the ground, almost jumped up.

Gasps and whispers erupted among the villagers. Theft was a serious matter in the countryside. Getting caught meant having your reputation completely destroyed.

Wang glared fiercely at Lu Lin. “You heartless creature, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Lu Lin looked at her and said in a gentle voice, “Grandma, I married into this family, and they paid ten taels of silver for me. You can’t just try to steal from Xiaomi because you think he’s making too much money now. My eldest cousin is a scholar. This kind of behavior isn’t good for him either!”

Lu Lin spoke with such earnestness and sincerity that Chen Xiaocai couldn’t help but give him a strange look.

Chen Xiaomai heard the commotion and ran out. Hearing Lu Lin’s words, he grinned and shouted, “Thief! Thief!”

When Lu Lin heard Chen Xiaomai’s shouts, he immediately thought how perfectly timed they were! In the villagers’ eyes, Chen Xiaomai was simple-minded, so his words must be truthful.

Lu Lin decided that once these people left, he would steam Xiaomai a bowl of his favorite egg custard.

When the village head heard Chen Xiaomai’s words, his face turned livid with anger.

When the villagers heard about the ten taels of silver and Wang’s alleged theft, they became agitated. Many villagers worked hard all year for just seven or eight taels of silver. Ten taels was a huge sum! Wang had already gained such an advantage, yet she was still unsatisfied. That wasn’t right!

Wang stopped crying and looked at Lu Lin with pure venom.

Lu Lin kept his head down, looking completely sincere.

Wang saw the expressions of those around her and became both angry and anxious. “You heartless creature, what nonsense are you talking? I’ll strangle you to death!”

“Grandma, my father died in battle, my mother worked herself to death, and I’ve married into another family. Our branch of the family has no heirs left. You coming to steal Xiaomi’s money, aren’t you pushing me to ruin?”

When the villagers heard Lu Lin’s words, they began to criticize Wang. Having no heirs was a serious matter in this place.

The people believed Lu Lin’s words. After all, in their eyes, Lu Lin was an honest man who quietly did his work. If he weren’t so honest, he wouldn’t have ended up being married off by his family. Besides, the villagers knew what Lu Lin was like when he left home.

And Chen Xiaomi had such a violent temper! If Wang really took the money, Lu Lin would certainly be beaten, perhaps even beaten to death.

The village head looked at Wang and said, “Have you made enough trouble? Get up now.”

“No! This unfilial grandson is slandering his grandmother!” Wang lay on the ground, wailing heartrendingly.

Lu Lin listened to her cries without reacting.

The village head gave Lu Lin a meaningful look. “Ah Lin, although you’ve married into Chen Xiaomi’s family, you’re still from the Lu family.”

Lu Lin glanced at the village head and said, “Uncle Zhang, you’re right. Before, when I was sick, my family spent a tael of silver to treat me. They must’ve cared for me deep down.”

The villagers looked at Lu Lin and thought, Lu Lin is too honest. The medical treatment only cost one tael, but they sold him for ten taels. If it weren’t for the money, would the Lu family have bothered treating him?

The village head kept a straight face and gave Lu Lin a cold look. “As long as you understand.”

The village head had someone take Wang away. The rest of the people, seeing there was no more drama to watch and afraid that Chen Xiaomi will come back, dispersed.

The story of Wang trying to steal from the Chen family and being hit by Chen Xiaocai quickly spread through the village.

When Wang returned to the Lu home, Grandpa Lu slapped her.

She was used to being domineering at home, so Wang was furious at suddenly being slapped.

No matter how Wang explained that she didn’t steal anything, no one in the family believed her.

Many villagers knew that Chen Xiaomi sold alcohol in town and made a lot of money, and Wang knew this too.

Tang had often heard the old woman complain that when Chen Xiaomi offered ten taels of silver, they should have bargained for fifteen taels at least. Because of this, Tang believed Grandma Chen was greedy enough to steal.