Chapter 8: Kindness Invites Exploitation

Lin Yu didn’t hold high hopes for the swimming crabs; after all, luck played the biggest part in whether he would catch any. Such a gamble could only be approached with a try-and-see attitude.

He pinned his hopes on the flower crabs. As long as the crab traps were well-made and the bait well-prepared, there would be some catch. How much they would catch depended entirely on how attractive his bait was.

Steam rose from the large pot, and even before the lid was lifted, the fragrant aroma of white steamed buns wafted through the air. Lin Yao’s mouth watered, and she kept asking when they would be ready.

Ten minutes after uncovering the pot, when his mother, Wang Yufen, lifted the lid, a wave of hot steam carrying the sweet scent of the buns greeted them. Inside was a full basket of fluffy, plump, snow-white buns that quickly sprang back when pressed gently.

Mother’s buns were steamed to perfection—soft, airy, and fragrant.

Seeing the little one drooling with anticipation, Wang Yufen quickly took one out and handed it over. “Use your chopsticks to poke it, eat slowly, don’t burn yourself.”

Then she passed one to Lin Yu as well.

Lin Yu sat on the threshold, holding his sister Lin Yao, and contentedly began to eat. The buns were soft, with a faint sweetness, bringing the whole family immense satisfaction.

Mother then prepared a kelp soup, placed a table on the kang, and with bowls and chopsticks ready, the family gathered around.

“These buns are so delicious; I want to eat five,” the little one said with innocent certainty.

But no one believed it—mother’s buns were bigger than peaches. Eating five would surely burst anyone’s belly.

“Mom, eat more, don’t be stingy. We have twenty jin of flour—it will last a long time,” Lin Yu said quickly, noticing his mother nibbling slowly.

“You eat, Mom doesn’t like buns,” Wang Yufen smiled.

Though they had bought plenty of flour, they couldn’t eat steamed buns every day. The future was uncertain; they had to be frugal. No matter how hard things got, the children must not suffer.

“Mom, who doesn’t like steamed buns? If you don’t eat, then I won’t either,” Lin Yu said, setting down his bowl. Hearing her brother’s words, Lin Yao also slowly put down her bun, reluctantly saying, “If Mom doesn’t eat, then Yao Yao won’t eat either.”

The children’s understanding moved Wang Yufen deeply, tears filling her eyes. “Good children, Mom’s eating. You both eat quickly now.”

Seeing the two still hesitant, Wang Yufen took a big bite herself and said, “Look, Mom’s eating big bites. You two hurry and eat.”

Only then did Lin Yu pick up the bun again, smiling. “That’s better, Mom! Don’t worry. When I’m the one supporting the family, there will always be enough rice and flour. Eat without fear, eat boldly.”

Wang Yufen was momentarily stunned.

Her son had truly grown up—caring for his mother and ready to shoulder the family’s burden.

Whether he could actually manage it or not, the very intention deserved recognition and praise.

Just as the family was enjoying their warm meal, a shout rang from outside the door.

“Wang Yufen, come out here! You owe me an explanation today, or this won’t be over!”

Hearing his second aunt’s pig-like shriek, Lin Yu knew immediately she had discovered that he had pulled up the radishes and cabbages from the field.

“Yao Yao, put the buns down. Eat later. Mom, put the buns away and bring out the clams and snail meat we had this morning,” Lin Yu said.

Wang Yufen was slightly taken aback, unsure of what Lin Yu was up to, but quickly hid the buns in the cupboard and fetched the clams and snails.

Just then, the door was kicked open, and the angry second aunt stormed inside, followed by their grandmother.

“What’s that smell? Steamed buns?” Upon entering, the second aunt wrinkled her nose and immediately asked. The scent of buns filled the room. Her eyes scanned the table and landed on the clams and snails, and her expression turned fierce again. “Tell me, was it you who pulled up the cabbages and radishes in the field?”

“It was me,” Lin Yu looked up, rolling his eyes without hesitation. “I told you before, if you don’t harvest them yourselves, I will.”

“You little bastard, you’re defying me now,” Liu Guilan, the second aunt, fumed, pointing her finger in his face. “Those were my vegetables! They weren’t ready yet, and you pulled them all out. You’re just causing trouble. You’re an ill-bred brat, born of a father but raised without one…”

The moment the insult left her lips, Lin Yu exploded. With a loud crash, he smashed his bowl in half on the table, then stood up swiftly, holding one half of the bowl toward Liu Guilan’s neck.

“If you say one more word, I’ll make you bleed.”

Lin Yu’s fierce actions terrified Wang Yufen, who hurried to snatch the broken bowl piece from him. “Xiao Yu, don’t be impulsive. Don’t do anything foolish. Listen to Mom and put it down.”

But Lin Yu refused, pushing the sharp bowl piece even closer to Liu Guilan, who widened her eyes in terror and ducked behind the old lady. “Mom! Look, your grandson’s gone mad! He’s going to kill someone!”

The old lady turned pale, struggling to regain composure. “Xiao Yu, listen to Grandma. Put it down. We can talk.”

Lin Yu’s gaze was icy, chilling the air.

“There’s nothing to talk about. The land must be returned. If I see anything else from our field growing on your patch, it won’t just be words next time. We three women are barely surviving. If they don’t want us to live, no one else will have it easy either.” With that, Lin Yu sat down and resumed eating the snail meat as if nothing had happened.

Seeing Lin Yu calm down, Wang Yufen exhaled deeply. Gathering her courage, she met the old lady’s gaze and spoke firmly, “Old lady, even if you don’t consider me, you must think about your grandson and granddaughter. Yes, I remarried—but why? Wasn’t it so your grandchildren would have food to eat?”

“My son died, and as a woman raising two children, with Yao Yao still so young, if you had helped us evenI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.