Chapter 15: The System’s Every Word Stings

[Hehe! It’s your godfather’s little nephew! He’s been here for several days!]

Brother Muchen?

Tongtong tilted her head, her big, fluffy eyes filled with confusion.

If he came, why didn’t he come find her? Why was he hiding here, peeking?

So strange.

And every time Brother Muchen came, she could feel a strange energy fluctuation, and then she’d get a little sleepy and want to take a nap.

Hmm… Tongtong thought to herself, she must figure this out later.

She yawned, quietly returned home, lay down on the bed, hugged her sweet and soft Mother, and fell into a comfortable sleep.

…

The next day at noon.

Yu Wanqin needed to review the contents of her books, so she didn’t cook. Tongtong took the lunchbox and Grain Coupons to the canteen to get food.

Before leaving, she cheered her Mother on.

“Go, Mom! Once you learn how to be a doctor soon, you can divorce that old bastard and take Tongtong to live a good life!”

Yu Wanqin was instantly filled with fighting spirit.

“Okay!”

Tongtong toddled out the door on her short little legs.

When she arrived at the canteen, she happened to see Lin Zhiguo sitting in a corner, his face gloomy, eating without tasting anything.

Clearly, his conversation with Shen Wei yesterday hadn’t gone well.

Tongtong tilted her head and thought for a moment.

She carried her lunchbox, got a full serving of braised pork, and then clattered over to sit across from Lin Zhiguo, plopping down on her own.

Lin Zhiguo frowned, looking at Tongtong’s soft, chubby little face, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.

Tongtong ate her food in small bites while muttering quietly.

“Sigh! Grandpa and Grandma back home are so pitiful… going hungry… no food!”

“Daddy, you’re pitiful too, you don’t even have any meat to eat. Tongtong feels bad for you.” Tongtong reluctantly shared two pieces of braised pork with him, showing a sweet smile.

Lin Zhiguo: “…”

His feelings were complicated.

He had been so good to Shen Wei and her two children, but in the end, it was only this little daughter he didn’t care for who was concerned about whether he had meat to eat.

Tongtong subtly observed his expression.

She chuckled inwardly.

“Sigh! Daddy, all the money you’ve given to eldest aunt over the years, added up, could buy so much food! Enough to feed half of Kaoshan Tun!”

“Eldest aunt really treats Daddy like family, so why doesn’t she give the money to Daddy to help Grandpa and Grandma… Is it because she doesn’t want to?”

“Sigh! I heard people say that eldest aunt is still young and will eventually remarry. She can’t stay in our family forever…”

She blinked her big eyes, looking deeply worried.

Every word struck a nerve!

Each sentence stabbed right into her father’s heart.

With every mutter from Tongtong, Lin Zhiguo’s face grew darker.

His hand gripping the chopsticks tightened.

Shen Wei had always been unwilling to take out the money. Could it really be that she wanted to keep it to remarry?

Lin Zhiguo felt unhappy, and his expression turned sour.

“Even eating can’t shut your mouth. Is this how your mother taught you?” he scolded.

Tongtong secretly rolled her little eyes, took a big bite of braised pork, and ignored him.

Go on and doubt, you old bastard!

Neither of them noticed Li Xue, who had been hiding behind them, eavesdropping intently.

Li Xue cursed inwardly.

Girls really are a waste of money. How could this little brat talk such nonsense, dumping all the blame on her dear Sister Shen Wei’s head!

She slipped away quietly.

She needed to tip off Shen Wei.

Not long after, Shen Wei indeed hurried over.

Her eyes were red, and she was holding Lin Jiaojiao, wearing a gentle yet slightly aggrieved smile.

“Zhi Guo, why are you eating so little? Are you still worried about things back home? I…”

“Eldest Aunt!” Tongtong’s crisp voice cut her off, her big eyes sparkling as she eagerly continued, “Dad’s been worrying about the money for the hometown! I said you’d definitely have a solution, Eldest Aunt. You earn a high salary and manage Dad’s money—just taking out a little would be enough for Grandpa and Grandma to live comfortably, right, Eldest Aunt?”

After speaking, she nodded emphatically, wearing an expression that said, “I totally believe in you.”

Shen Wei’s smile froze on her face.

Her salary… she was saving it for her younger brother’s wedding.

Feeling Lin Zhiguo’s suspicious gaze and recalling their argument from last night, she gritted her teeth in frustration.

Originally, she had intended to urge Lin Zhiguo to ask Yu Wanqin for money. She didn’t know what had gotten into Lin Zhiguo, insisting that she take out her savings.

That was her private money!

She couldn’t bear to spend it on those two old fools from the Lin family!

Lin Jiaojiao, nestled in her arms, couldn’t help but glare at Tongtong and snap angrily, “What’s it to you?”

Tongtong sighed, playing with her little fingers, her voice soft and sweet. “Sigh! It’s none of my business. I just feel sorry for Dad—he’s been so worried about Grandpa and Grandma that he can’t even eat!”

“Sigh! It seems only a biological child truly cares about Dad…”

“That’s not true!” Lin Jiaojiao panicked. She wanted to say that Lin Zhiguo was her father too, but she had been warned last time and didn’t dare call him that now. She could only flush with anger, stammering and unsure how to respond.

Shen Wei seethed with rage!

That little brat was stirring up trouble again!

Suppressing her fury, her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice choked with emotion. “Zhi Guo, it’s not that I don’t want to give money. Sigh! I didn’t sleep a wink last night, worrying about this.”

“You know, as a widow with two children, expenses are high… I really haven’t saved much over the years.”

Seeing the disappointment flicker in Lin Zhiguo’s eyes, she steeled herself and gritted her teeth. “But! We can’t ignore what’s happening back home! I… I’ll go to the finance department tomorrow and advance half a year’s salary to send back to the hometown!”

“It might not be much, but it should help in an emergency!”

Her heart bled at the thought—half a year’s salary!

But sometimes you have to risk something to gain something. As long as Lin Zhiguo was still willing to trust her, he’d be rushing to give her money in the future.

Lin Zhiguo, however, didn’t see through Shen Wei’s scheming at that moment.

Looking at Shen Wei’s weary face, his suspicions were instantly replaced by gratitude and guilt.

Weiwei must still care about him!

She was even advancing half a year’s salary for him… The family must truly be short on money if she couldn’t give him any.

How could he have doubted her?

Filled with both pity and guilt, Lin Zhiguo was moved and wanted to take Shen Wei’s hand. But with so many people around, he had to restrain himself, gazing at her with deep affection.

“Eldest sister-in-law… you’ve worked hard… thank you!”

Shen Wei lowered her head shyly and whispered, “I’m happy to do something for you.”

Lin Jiaojiao lifted her head triumphantly again. “Dad… Second Uncle, I want braised pork!”

“Alright, alright! Second Uncle will buy it for you!” Lin Zhiguo immediately took Lin Jiaojiao from Shen Wei’s arms and carried her to the front to get braised pork.

Shen Wei followed behind, also wearing a look of happiness.

Tongtong watched their affectionate family scene coldly.

Her mind was already calculating rapidly.

Hmph! Advancing her salary? Quite the performance!

But… this reminded her—she had to find a way to get Scumbag Dad’s salary into Mother’s hands!

Even if we’re going to help Mother get a divorce, we have to recover the losses from all these years.

If it weren’t for Grandfather providing full financial support, Scumbag Dad wouldn’t be living this good life today!

Hmph!