Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 212: Chapter 197: Lin Xu’s Attitude

The shameless trio had not left yet when Lin Xu hurried to the hospital following the rumors; An Zilan, on the other hand, had been coaxed by him to accompany her family to rest.

”Mom, what are you trying to do now?” When Lin Xu arrived, Luo Qianqian, who went to find the doctor, had not returned yet. Lin Xu only saw Luo Shufan and the Bai brothers standing opposite the old lady. The Bai brothers had not yet been thanked for resolving the fleet issue before they offended the biased old lady.

”You’ve come just in time. You must get back the money these two brats spent!” The old lady charged up to Lin Xu as soon as she saw him and pointed at Luo Shufan.

Bai Yizhu casually pointed at the sack in front of the middle-aged couple, ”I think I’ve already given you the money, haven’t I? Is this ever going to end?”

Lin Xu’s face turned pale as he looked at the three embarrassed young men, ”Mom, I’ve already said it. You’ve taken what you deserved. The rest belongs to Zilan; what’s Zilan’s belongs to her and her brother! Not even you, mom—I don’t have the right to touch it!”

”I’ve raised you for so many years. Shouldn’t you repay me? Do you even understand filial piety? It’s like marrying a wife and forgetting your mother,” the old lady sat on the ground and began wailing, ”Oh my life, as soon as my son married, he stopped caring about me! For the sake of two hangers-on, he says I have no right—oh, heavens.”

Luo Qianqian, who had just returned with the medicine, heard the old lady’s words, gave a cold laugh, walked up and stood in front of Lin Xu looking aggrieved, ”Uncle, why have you come?” She bowed her head, yet her angle allowed Lin Xu to see a swollen patch on her face.

”What happened to your face?” Lin Xu had not expected that she would hit the child; he thought she had bumped into something, but he noticed the color change on the faces of the three men when he mentioned Luo Qianqian’s facial injury.

Luo Shufan noticed his sister gently shaking her head at him, then continued to maintain her posture and softly said, ”I’m fine, as long as grandma calms down. Grandma said she won’t bother mom if I give her the money.”

Lin Xu stared in disbelief. When they had talked about getting married, they did not allow An Zilan to bring the two children along and required both of them to undergo sterilization surgeries and not have more children. They had promised that after Lin Jiayou came of age, they would stop taking money from home and even had to support Lin Jiabao’s education, marriage, and life. To gain the elder’s blessing for the marriage, Lin Xu and An Zilan had discussed it and agreed, but a prenuptial agreement was signed, keeping An Zilan’s money for the two children, and the gifts from the bride’s relatives and friends were left to the family to manage, without their interference.

”Mom, Lin Jiabao is not my child, he’s eldest brother’s child. Has big brother worked in all these years? Has he ever given you a dime? The expenses of a family of four have all been on me, and now you’re even targeting the children, threatening them. If you keep this up, I won’t give you a dime anymore!” Lin Xu said sternly. He really wondered if he was his biological son. Why had his elder brother been pampered from childhood to adulthood? Why were even his children placed on such a high pedestal? What was this all for? It was still fine when father was around, but after father passed, it became even more obvious.

”What are you talking about? Your elder brother is the mainstay of our family! Jiabao is also the elite of the future. He still doesn’t pay? If it wasn’t for your brother feeding you when you were young, you would have starved to death long ago! Your money is mine! Have I raised you all these years for nothing? They say having sons is to fend for old age, does this son have any other use besides being rebellious and unfilial?” The old lady spat on the ground and continued reproachfully.

”Little brother, what are you talking about? This is your mother, did the education you receive go to the dogs?” Lin Hui stood up. Although every month Lin Xu sent them money, it was just enough to provide barely enough food for the four of them, and also to pay for Lin Jiabao’s tuition, and occasionally, it was needed for other mishaps, so their clothing was rather shabby. He was wearing the clothes An Zilan bought when she last visited during the New Year, but it was somewhat warm today. He had no choice but to wear the clothes open-chested, while the old lady’s clothes were not only new but also seasonal, as they were specially bought by Lin Xu for her. Regarding his elder brother’s family, he had nothing to say; that money, if given solely to the old lady, even adding Lin Jiabao’s expenses, would have been more than sufficient. Instead, the elder brother’s family, able-bodied, was just idling around the house, waiting for death, living off the money he sent for the old lady’s care, even coercing the old lady into constantly demanding money from him.

”My education? Big brother, who barely passed and only graduated from middle school, while I, one of the top students, had to drop out after the third grade—isn’t this clear favoritism? Why can’t I study when you didn’t? You are the ’mainstay’ as mom says, so you handle it. Starting next month, whatever amount big brother gives, I will give the same amount; supporting the elderly is the responsibility of all children!” Lin Xu was even more furious as he listened to Lin Hui. What did they take him for? To squeeze out the last bit of utility?

”Lin Xu, say that again! Do you believe I would sue you?” The old lady quickly scrambled up, and looking around at the crowd that had gathered to watch, she cried out, ”The son I raised, does he have a grudge against me? He wants to drive me away just for saying a few words!”

”Today I got married, and this is how you act as a mother? You come to ask my stepdaughter for her own family’s money?” Lin Xu couldn’t help but laugh angrily, tearing off his suit jacket: ”I’ve always said that their money is theirs, and all of ours I’ve given to you. Continue making a scene, and if they call the police, I won’t be able to do anything since you told me not to ask for their money. Because of my wedding, the siblings can’t even live with their mom anymore, and they still help us in every way. What have you done? Just focusing on that money, is it that if the money is enough, you could even do without me as your son?”

”What are you even worth, talking to Mom like this?” Lin Hui swung a punch at Lin Xu’s face but was caught by Lin Xu.

”Enough from you both, or I’ll call the police. This is a hospital, not your stomping ground,” Luo Shufan barked, holding back Bai Yixian, who was flushed with rage.

”Lin Xu, let’s go, go back and ask that used item for money, or hand over today’s money to us, or give us the house!” The new house that belonged to the Lin family was in An Zilan’s name, and Lin Jiayou had no objections, believing he could do better in the future. Lin Xu publicly declared that the house was An Zilan’s dowry, fearing that his mother, who heavily favored his older brother, would take everything from him. Now the family had no idea what they’re doing.

”Say ’used item’ one more time!” Luo Qianqian stepped forward, standing in front of the old lady, and snorted coldly when she saw the raised hand: ”Go on, hit me, and make sure it counts. Your grandson will receive the same treatment! Who dares to touch what belongs to my mom?”

”Try touching Jiabao and see!” The middle-aged woman glared at Luo Qianqian and slapped her across the face: ”I did hit you, what can you do about it! Not only today do you have to hand over the money! The house has to be handed over too! Once you marry into the Lin family, you and your belongings are ours!”

Seeing Luo Qianqian get hit, Lin Xu pulled her to his side with a pained expression, carefully checked her, and curled his lips: ”Zilan and I planned to register our marriage the day after tomorrow, and it’s a good day too. Now that Zilan isn’t my family’s person anymore, you have even less right to touch her money, her belongings! Isn’t driving away one enough? Do you really want me to stay single for life to satisfy you?”

”Getting married without a certificate, really inappropriate,” the middle-aged woman snorted but said nothing.

Bai Yizhu picked up a sack from the ground and kicked the middle-aged woman aside: ”A good dog doesn’t block the path!”

”The money,” the woman said anxiously as she watched Bai Yizhu take away the sack.

”Giving it to you is your own, but now I’d rather hire two guys to beat up a grade-schooler than give it to you,” Bai Yizhu snorted, taking out his phone.

The old lady shuddered and quickly stood beside her older son: ”We don’t want it anymore, we’re leaving now, don’t touch the child!”

”You’d better not show up in front of Aunt An either, or if word gets out that Aunt An has been mistreated, I don’t know where this call might end up,” Bai Yizhu snorted.

Lin Xu stayed silent on the side, gently massaging Luo Qianqian’s cheek, his expression also one of disgust.