Chapter 407: Chapter 406: Lin Wan’s Struggle
Han Yijian saw Lin Wan’s eyes redden and quickly walked in front of her, squatted down, and hugged her in his arms. "Xiao Wan, this isn’t your fault. Don’t burden yourself with this. That person was clearly premeditated, maybe struck when we went to the movies that night. If not that night, there would have been other times."
"Ai Yi, Ye Qing blames me, she must hate me so much, right?" It was evident from that time on, Ye Qing’s distancing and resentment towards her. "Wrong, she’s wrong. She should blame those who hurt her, not you."
Lin Wan nodded, her throat choked up. "I know, it’s just that this isn’t how it should’ve been. I’m just sad for a moment. No one wanted this to happen to her. I did nothing, yet she insists on hating me."
"Silly girl, you’re friends with Su Ling and Yin Peibai now. If one day you go out to play and someone hits you in the middle and they’re not there, would you blame them? Besides, they didn’t just abandon you; they just went to buy something nearby. Would you hate them for that?"
Lin Wan froze, shook her head with red eyes. "No, it’s not her fault. I’m just unlucky."
"See, it’s because she doesn’t know the culprit, and she feels unsatisfied, rebellious, and aggrieved. She needs to vent, so she’s blamed you for all that happened. Such people aren’t worth befriending and aren’t worth your sadness." The meal was almost done, Han Yi embraced Lin Wan, sat her on his lap by the stove, comforting her, "Remember, these days, she even tried to harm our child?"
"...." Right, how could she be so confused? It wasn’t her fault; Ye Qing brought trouble on herself, not seeking revenge on her enemies, but blaming her.
Thinking about all the things Ye Qing did to her before, ending up in such a situation, wasn’t that all Ye Qing’s doing?
"Telling her you were waiting for her then, that it wasn’t on purpose to leave her?" Han Yi sighed, "If you confess now, she won’t forgive you but hate you more."
"Why?"
"If you go now, she’ll think you know about her unspeakable past, not here for reconciliation, but to mock her. She doesn’t need your sympathy."
"...." Lin Wan nodded affirmatively this time.
Indeed, Ye Qing is such a person.
"Some people’s personalities are like that; no matter how much you explain, what she thinks won’t change. In this life, you two won’t be well; remember to avoid her afterwards, understand?" Although Han Yi sympathizes with her experience, he’s clear about right and wrong. Besides, this matter concerns his family, Xiao Wan.
He can’t let his wife live in guilt for the rest of her life; it’s not Xiao Wan’s fault to begin with. Ye Qing is blaming the wrong person.
He suspects Ye Qing knows who’s behind this but just doesn’t want to say.
The meal was ready, but Lin Wan was too upset to eat because of this. Han Yi didn’t force her to eat.
At night, lying in bed, hearing the cold wind blowing against the window outside, Lin Wan couldn’t sleep for a long time. Han Yi hugged her tightly from the back, staying with her.
He only turned her around once she gradually fell asleep, gazing at her frowning sleeping face, gently smoothing her brows, he sighed quietly.
Thinking to himself, if he had known, he wouldn’t have said he knew Ye Qing, causing Xiao Wan to fall into guilt.
She’s pregnant now, if her mood stays gloomy for long, it wouldn’t be good for her and the baby’s development.
It seems Lin Wan can’t stay here anymore.
That night, Lin Wan dreamed of the scene when they went to the movies.
She even dreamed of when Ye Qing went to the bathroom and returned.
Her face clearly didn’t look good, she even asked Ye Qing then if she was okay, if she felt uncomfortable.
"It’s nothing, just ran into an acquaintance, it was annoying."
That was Ye Qing’s response at the time. Lin Wan frowned slightly, that person should be the one who bullied Ye Qing, right? Does Ye Qing really not know?
Unbeknownst to her, Ye Qing was also plagued by nightmares all night, in the yard next to hers.
"Ah Wang, my brother gave me a dime. Did your brother take any money? Should we pool together two dimes to buy some sunflower seeds?" On their way to the movie, Ye Qing showed her crumpled dime from her pocket to Lin Wan boastfully.
Sure enough, Ye Qing saw the envy in Lin Wan’s eyes. Although their family wasn’t much better off than Lin Wan’s in the village, with their dad loving to drink. When drunk, he either hit Mom or her. But so what.
Compared to Lin Wan’s family, theirs was much better off. Although Dad wasn’t great, he was the backbone of the family, occasionally giving pocket money when not drinking.
Unlike Lin Wan’s family, who had no one to rely on, working themselves to the bone every day, yet still dirt poor.
That’s why she was willing to play with Lin Wan.
She shook her head and bashfully said, "I only have a penny; a dime can buy a lot of sunflower seeds. Buying five cents’ worth alone is enough, no need to pool money together."
"A penny, the seller only sells sunflower seeds for two cents," Ye Qing said proudly.
"No worries, I brought some snacks. Mom prepared pumpkin rice cakes for me and brother before coming."
What Ye Qing hated most about Lin Wan was this; their family was so poor they could hardly eat, yet her mom was always coming up with ways to make her good food.
Eating the same few homemade dishes repeatedly.
Ye Qing showed disdain on the surface, but deep down, she envied them. Both had moms.
She couldn’t understand why Lin Wan’s mom treated her so well, spending hard-earned money without saving, how she could be willing to let her son and daughter eat it.
Looking around the village, which household wasn’t living tight, with kids all skin-and-bones, yet Lin Yinghui and Lin Wan’s clothes were patched again and again, still stubbornly letting both kids go to school. Even Lin Wan, not working much in the fields, her skin was so fair and delicate, no wonder the village chief always thought fondly of the women in their family.
At this time, many people watched movies; as long as they knew where a village would play a movie, people from other villages would walk three-four miles or even seven-eight miles to watch. Many times, people crowded together, not clearly seeing what was playing. After working on the production team all day, by the time farmers walked a few miles at night, halfway through the movie, they were already so sleepy they couldn’t keep their eyes open!
A group from the same village found a spot in the middle and huddled together, excitedly watched the black-and-white movie on the big screen.
Many times, young men and women weren’t really there for the movie, but to check out the opposite sex from nearby villages. If they took a liking, they’d hurry to inquire.
She came over here and first visited the snack stall; sugar sticks cost a dime for dozens, sunflower seeds could buy four big handfuls.
Though she flaunted in front of Lin Wan, she was really reluctant to spend. That dime was painstakingly begged from her brother.
Dad favored sons over daughters, usually generous with brother compared to her. Occasionally gave brother five cents or a dime as pocket money, but never to her.
Ye Qing only bought two cents’ worth of sunflower seeds, kept in her pocket, reluctant to eat, rarely took one out, even if she did, she’d suck the salt dry before cracking and spitting it out.
Being friends, Ye Qing generously gave Lin Wan a handful, saying a handful but only a dozen seeds.
This pained her deeply.
But it wasn’t much of a loss, midway, Lin Wan shared a piece of her mom’s pumpkin rice cake.
Ye Qing promptly took a small bite, feeling reluctant, then casually told Lin Wan, "Xiao Wan, I’m going to the bathroom."
"Okay." Lin Wan was absorbed, watching the screen while eating rice cake.
Feeling joyful, she squeezed through the crowd and stored the cake in her pocket.
Though excusing for the bathroom, she did feel a bit of urgency.
Just as she left the bathroom, she ran into an acquaintance. An acquaintance merely meant someone she often met when picking up liquor for Dad at town public office.
Due to her mom’s experience, she always disliked educated youths. But this person had once helped her in town.
Remembered that time when it suddenly rained, soaked to the bone, clothes clinging revealing her figure.