Chapter 27: You Don’t Really Think Your Father Was the One Who Brought You Into This World, Do You!

Xu Lin's attitude, ready to strangle him at the slightest disagreement, frightened Father Xu so much that his face turned pale. He hurriedly shielded his neck and shouted loudly, "Five thousand, I still have five thousand! I'll give it all to you, please don't choke me, I really have nothing left but this money!"

Father Xu's eyes reddened with distress, as if he truly only had that paltry sum left. If Xu Lin hadn't followed him to the secret room, she might have believed his nonsense. But it didn't matter—she had already emptied the secret room.

Xu Lin slowly withdrew her hand, lifted her chin, and a look of disdain flashed across her face. She never expected this wretched spy to be so afraid of death. Indeed, Xu Lin wished to kill Father Xu, the man who had ruined her entire life; no one wanted him dead more than she did.

But Xu Lin understood that the law of the land must be respected. If Father Xu were to die, it should be under the law’s judgment. She would spare him for now, let him live a few more days. With mocking scorn, Xu Lin said, "Well, why aren’t you bringing out the money? Are you waiting to die?"

"Yes, yes! I’ll get it, I’ll get it right now!" Father Xu, eyes red, still shielding his neck, scrambled and stumbled toward the bedside to fetch the money.

The thought of losing five thousand made Mother Xu’s heart ache; five thousand yuan was a fortune—her monthly salary was only forty-five. Not eating or drinking for ten years, she still might not save up five thousand. This little wretch demanded five thousand with a single sentence, why not go rob someone? No, she was robbing them, right now, taking their family’s money—Mother Xu’s heart bled.

If she could fight, she’d surely risk her life against Xu Lin. No, she absolutely couldn’t let the little wretch take the money away; it had to stay in the Xu family.

Mother Xu’s eyes reddened, filled with crazed murderous intent. But as soon as that intent met Xu Lin’s sharp glare, it collapsed utterly, vanishing in an instant, replaced by a fawning, ingratiating smile.

In this single exchange, Xu Lin not only tricked Father Xu into admitting he had already registered to go to the countryside, but also received five thousand yuan in compensation. Xu Lin’s heart soared as she waved the thick stack of bills with a flourish. She knew how to show off, how to incite envy—Mother Xu’s eyes nearly spat fire watching her.

To keep herself from losing control, Mother Xu buried her head in her hands and wept silently, venting her bitterness and rage.

Oh, right—the countryside subsidy was reclaimed by Xu Lin too. Starting tomorrow, she could openly prepare her own supplies for the journey.

Xu Lin was delighted, but from the room behind came Mother Xu’s muffled sobs and Father Xu’s suppressed, furious roars.

Early the next morning, Xu Lin rose before dawn, cornered the Xu family inside their home, gave them a thorough beating, and then strutted out with a swagger.

She bought breakfast, carrying it in hand, eating as she wandered. She wanted to take this rare free time to explore the capital. Twice she had lived, yet never properly toured Beijing.

Those dogs in the Xu family—enjoying delicacies, traveling across the country, never once thinking to let Xu Lin join them. The thought made her fists clench again; it felt like beating them hundreds more times wouldn’t be too much.

Alas, in seven days she’d go to the countryside; there’d be fewer chances to punish the Xu family, and less time to enjoy herself.

Her first sightseeing stop was the Forbidden City, which she’d longed to visit for years. To be a native of Beijing and live two lifetimes without ever seeing the palace—what irony.

Yet, unexpectedly, before she reached the Forbidden City, her way was blocked.

The man barring her path had eyes much like Xu Lin’s—almond-shaped and alluring. Tall and upright, he wore gold-rimmed glasses. He looked every bit the refined scoundrel, and his words made Xu Lin furious.

"You must be Xu Lin?" Qin Zongwu scrutinized her with a critical gaze, finally letting his eyes settle on the half-eaten meat bun in her hand. He clicked his tongue in disdain. "Tsk tsk, eating on the street—clearly you have no manners."

Faced with his hostile glare and malicious words, Xu Lin immediately struck back.

"Oh, oh, oh! Whose dog is this, running loose on the street, barking at random? Aren’t you afraid someone will beat you to death? Lucky for you I don’t eat dog meat, otherwise you’d be left with no grave."

"You—you sharp-tongued brat! No wonder your parents won’t acknowledge you. Look at yourself—do you have any semblance of a daughter’s propriety?"

Qin Zongwu was grinding his teeth, pointing at Xu Lin and launching a tirade. From head to toe, not a single thing about her met his approval.

"Oh, oh, oh! And you call yourself a man? Acting like an old woman, blocking a girl’s way. You’re really giving men a bad name! So cultured, are you? Is your upbringing all about bullying girls? Tsk tsk, may I ask the name and address of this paragon of virtue? I’ll make sure to spread the word in your compound, so everyone can see just what sort of man you are."

Xu Lin sneered as she retorted, her scornful gaze sweeping over him before quickly looking away, as if she'd seen something filthy. She muttered, "Oh no, my eyes are dirty now—I’ll need to go to the hospital for a wash. My goodness, what bad luck today, running into such filth. Who can I complain to?"

Qin Zongwu never imagined his unknown sister would be so sharp-tongued, able to infuriate anyone. He realized he’d underestimated her. To avoid falling behind, Qin Zongwu took several deep breaths to calm himself, then pushed up his glasses and said with a mocking tone, "Such a sharp-tongued girl—no wonder your parents won’t claim you."

"Oh, oh, oh! This cultured gentleman talks as if he wasn’t born of a girl. So your mother wasn’t a girl? Your grandmother wasn’t a girl? Your other grandmother wasn’t a girl? Oh, right, right—they’re not girls, they’re middle-aged women, wrinkly old ladies. They just passed through being girls, that’s all. Tsk tsk, look at how you forget your roots. You don’t think your father gave birth to you, do you? Surely not! Are there really people in this world who can’t tell male from female? My worldview is shattered!"

Xu Lin exaggeratedly widened her almond eyes, her expression as shocked as if she’d been stunned for thirty thousand years, agitating Qin Zongwu to the point he could barely contain his fury.

Male and female—was that any way to describe one’s own parents? Qin Zongwu thought he’d never seen anyone so utterly disrespectful.

"Xu Lin, you wretched girl, do you even know what filial piety means?"

"Oh, heavens! Which saintly tree bore such a withered fruit—one with a face but no skin, a fruit that only grows a face, not a conscience. May I ask, oh skinless one, from what position do you dare to question me?"

Xu Lin stared at him with puzzled almond eyes, arms crossed, waiting for this skinless one to answer.

"I am—" Qin Zongwu was about to announce himself, then suddenly realized the trap and barked, "Bah! Who are you calling skinless? Do you even know who I am?"