Chapter 19
Chapter 19: Checking on Lin Yue’s Sister
Su Qian was not just talking big. She had asked Xia Meng Meng about what the spirit herbs and spirit plants could do.
Since they could be used to refine pills, they could naturally be used as medicine too.
Even if they were not as effective as pills refined in the cultivation realm, they would still be far better than Earth’s medicine.
After leaving the café, Su Qian drove to Yun Jin Villa.
The villa was spacious and bright, and the decoration was exquisite. Su Qian went upstairs, checked each room, and smiled in satisfaction.
“This storage room is big enough. Transferring things will be much more convenient in the future.”
Su Qian stood in the storage room, pleased as she looked at the wide space.
The Chat Group still had 99+ messages every day.
Remembering that she promised Lin Yue she would check on her sister, Su Qian opened her private chat with Lin Yue.
Lin Yue (Ancient Household Intrigue): “Qian Qian, girl, my family situation is complicated. They favor sons over daughters. I’m not sure after I die whether my sister will still have a chance to keep going to school. If you can, could you quietly give my sister some money, and also bring my cat out?”
Lin Yue (Ancient Household Intrigue): “As for my parents, no matter what they say or do, just ignore them.”
There were many parents in this world who did not love their children, and Su Qian understood that deeply.
She did not expect Lin Yue to have an experience so similar to her own.
Lin Yue was the oldest daughter. All along, her parents wanted a son.
In their eyes, a son belonged to the family, while a daughter would marry out sooner or later.
When Lin Yue was five, her parents had a boy and a girl.
Under that mindset of favoring sons over daughters, Lin Yue finished the nine years of compulsory education and was then forced out to work.
As a teenager, Lin Yue struggled through society, sending all her wages home just to buy her sister the chance to stay in school.
Maybe because she had been drenched by the rain herself, she wanted to hold an umbrella for her sister.
…
Su Qian drove to County No. 2 High School. School was not out yet.
She went to the security guard and asked politely, “Hello, I’m looking for Teacher Liang of Senior Year Class 2.”
The school’s control over outsiders was very strict.
The guard eyed Su Qian warily and asked sternly, “What do you need? School isn’t out yet. We can’t just let people in.”
Su Qian smiled. “I’m the sister of Lin Qin, a student in Senior Year Class 2. I’m here to see Teacher Liang about something.”
Lin Qin was the sister Lin Yue had mentioned.
The guard studied her for a moment. “Wait here. I’ll call and ask.”
He picked up the phone and dialed Teacher Liang.
“Teacher Liang, there’s a woman at the gate claiming to be Lin Qin’s sister. Is something going on?”
Teacher Liang’s voice came through the phone. “Lin Qin’s sister?”
Teacher Liang could not help feeling suspicious.
[Wasn’t Lin Qin’s sister already dead?]
“I understand. Have her come to the main building to find me,” Teacher Liang said. She guessed it might be a cousin or an older cousin.
As Lin Qin’s homeroom teacher, Teacher Liang knew some things about Lin Qin’s family situation.
Thinking of Lin Qin, Teacher Liang sighed.
The college entrance exam was almost here, and Lin Qin had already missed several days of class.
Teacher Liang had called the Lin Family parents several times, but the moment they heard it was her, they hung up right away.
After the marrow cleansing, Su Qian’s hearing was sharp enough that she caught every word on the call. From Teacher Liang’s tone alone, Su Qian could tell something was off.
[Had Lin Qin already dropped out?]
A bad feeling rose in Su Qian’s chest.
Following the guard’s directions, Su Qian soon arrived at the main building.
She knocked lightly. After getting a response, she walked into the office.
Teacher Liang looked at Su Qian, whose presence stood out, and her surprise showed.
“Y-You’re Lin Qin’s sister?” Teacher Liang was a woman in her early thirties, slightly overweight. She stared at Su Qian, confusion filling her eyes.
“I’m a friend of her sister Lin Yue. My name is Su Qian,” Su Qian said.
Teacher Liang paused, then suddenly understood. “So that’s how it is. No wonder I didn’t recognize you. Lin Yue… she already…”
Teacher Liang trailed off, as if she could not bring herself to say it.
Su Qian nodded lightly. “I know Lin Yue passed away. I used to hear her talk about having a sister who studied well. Even though she’s gone now, the one she couldn’t let go of was still her sister.”
Teacher Liang sighed. “Lin Qin is a pitiful child too. Her family situation is complicated. Her tuition used to be paid by her sister working. Her grades were usually good, but the college entrance exam is so close now, and I haven’t seen her come to school for days.”
“For days?” Su Qian frowned.
That did not make sense.
From what Lin Yue said, Lin Qin cherished her chance to study. She would not skip class for no reason.
“You might not know this. Lin Qin has a twin brother named Lin Tian Ci. He’s spoiled and overbearing. He hangs around with students who don’t like studying. He often bullies classmates, and fighting is common,” Teacher Liang said, anger flashing in her eyes when she mentioned him.
“A few days ago, he fought with a group of classmates and stabbed someone. The injured classmate is still lying in the hospital right now.”
Su Qian was stunned. She did not expect it to be that serious.
But if Lin Tian Ci stabbed someone, why had Lin Qin stopped going to school too?
Teacher Liang pushed up her glasses. “I heard the victim’s family is demanding 300,000 in medical fees, plus all kinds of other losses.”
Su Qian froze.
[Don’t tell me the Lin Family can’t come up with the money, so they’re making her drop out and work?]
“Teacher Liang, I understand. Thank you for telling me,” Su Qian said.
She said goodbye to Teacher Liang and headed for the address Lin Yue had provided.
The Lin Family lived in the old city district. The neighborhood looked worn down and messy.
From upstairs came noisy shouting. She could faintly hear sobbing, along with the sound of things being thrown and smashed.
Inside the apartment, under dim light, the dining table was a disaster. Broken bowls and plates were scattered everywhere, and the food had been knocked onto the floor.
“No! I won’t get engaged! I won’t marry!”
Lin Qin curled up in a corner, wailing through tears. In her arms was a gray-and-white kitten, trembling slightly.
Lin Qin’s parents stood nearby with dark faces, anger and venom twisted together in their expressions.
“If you don’t marry, who is going to pay this 300,000?” Father Lin roared.
Lin Qin shook her head in despair, tears streaming down. “No! I want to go to school! Why does my brother stabbing someone mean I have to drop out and marry, just to trade for a bride price?”
Father Lin glared, furious. “Then what do you suggest? Where would we get that kind of money to pay?”
“Three hundred thousand! That’s 300,000! It’s going to cost us old folks our lives!” Mother Lin screamed dramatically.
Her hateful eyes locked on Lin Qin, who was curled up in the corner.
In a burst of rage, she yanked Lin Qin up by force.
“You money-losing thing! If you can’t come up with 300,000, your brother will go to prison. Are you trying to wipe out the Lin Family, Lin Qin? What a vicious heart!”