Everyone knew how much Si Nian used to like Fu Yang.
Hearing this, Si's Father and Si's Mother both looked at her disapprovingly.
Not being able to marry the person she loved was tragic enough, but now she had to watch him take wedding photos and marry another woman?
It was simply too cruel.
To everyone’s surprise, Si Nian lifted her eyes and smiled, responding, "Sure."
Lin Sisi gritted her teeth, convinced that Si Nian was just pretending not to care—she was probably seething with jealousy inside!
She must be planning to use this chance to get close to Fu Yang again.
When the time came, Lin Sisi would make sure Zhou Yueshen saw Si Nian’s true colors.
Fu Yang himself hated clingy women, and Si Nian’s behavior would surely make both men despise her!
Thinking this, Lin Sisi’s frustration eased a little.
The Si Family didn’t stay long. Despite Lin's father and Lin's mother insisting they stay for a meal, they refused and left.
Looking at how poor the Lin Family was, what decent food could they possibly offer?
They were barely scraping by themselves—staying would only make things awkward.
Once in the car, Zhang Cuimei couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness as she looked at the Lin Family’s dilapidated house. "I wonder if our Nian can get used to living in such a place. She’s always been delicate."
Si's Father also felt a twinge of guilt. They had come to confront the Lin Family, but seeing how they had been forced to send their child to such a rundown village, he couldn’t help but sympathize.
"Let’s help them out more in the future. After all, they raised Sisi for over a decade."
Lin Sisi nearly exploded with anger upon hearing this.
She had grown up in this place—wasn’t she pitiful too?
Useless fools!
After the Si Family left, the atmosphere in the Lin Family lightened considerably.
Zhou Yueshen and Lin's father sat in the yard chatting over tea, while Si Nian stepped inside to put Yaoyao to sleep. There, she saw her two younger brothers standing by the table, staring longingly at the biscuits and candies laid out.
The two boys were about the same age as Zhou Yuedong, but unlike him, they hadn’t faced as much hardship.
Though the Lin Family was poor, they had done their best for their children, and the boys still retained the innocence and mischief of their age.
When Si Nian entered, Lin Yu nudged closer to his older brother and whispered, "Bro, she’s here."
A month ago, they had learned that Lin Sisi wasn’t their real sister—their true sister lived in the city.
Losing their sister had already upset them, and then this new sister wouldn’t even look at them.
Their parents had been so worried their hair turned white, and the villagers all said she looked down on their family for being poor. The boys had decided they didn’t want her as a sister at all.
Now, she had suddenly returned. Though they didn’t fully understand the situation, they knew she probably wasn’t leaving again.
Lin Feng kept his eyes on Si Nian but said nothing.
Si Nian studied her brothers. They were still young, unaware of the bigger picture—they only knew this sister despised them, and Lin Sisi had abandoned them, so their impression of her was far from good.
In this novel, the real challenge wasn’t the male or female leads—it was these little troublemakers.
She settled Yaoyao onto the bed. The Lin Family’s home might have been shabby and bare, but it was spotless. Even in the sweltering heat, not a single mosquito buzzed around.
The bedsheet, patterned with faded peonies, was neatly spread.
After tucking the child in, she turned to her brothers. "Keep your voices down. Don’t wake Yaoyao."
The two exchanged glances and nodded.
Once she left, Lin Yu couldn’t help but poke his brother. "Bro, why do you think she suddenly decided to come back? Does she not think we’re poor anymore?"
He wasn’t stupid—she had refused to return before. Everyone said she looked down on the Lin Family, just like Lin Sisi, who would rather die than come back to this village.
The first time they went to see her, they stood outside her door all day, and she didn’t even glance their way.
Their excitement had turned to disappointment, then anger.
It was because of her that they had lost their money to a thief, making their parents age overnight and forcing their eldest brother to work himself to the bone.
If she despised them so much, why come back now?
The more Lin Yu thought about it, the angrier he got. He had no intention of listening to her.
Si Nian didn’t expect one meeting to change their minds. Seeing Zhou Suisui and her mother busy in the kitchen, she went to help.
"Mom, let me handle this. You go discuss the wedding with Dad."
Lin's mother had been glowing ever since her daughter returned, looking years younger.
She really did want to talk to her husband and son-in-law about the wedding—after all, her husband wouldn’t know the first thing about planning one.
But with so many mouths to feed, she couldn’t just leave the cooking.
Hearing her daughter offer to help, she was stunned. "How could we let you do this? Go sit down, child."
Even Lin Sisi, who had grown up with them, had never been allowed in the kitchen.
Her real daughter, with her delicate hands, was even more precious.
Si Nian smiled helplessly. "Mom, I enjoy cooking. I don’t understand what Zhou Yueshen and Dad are talking about anyway. I’d rather make myself useful. You go ahead—you’re the adult, you know more about these things."
"Don’t worry, cooking isn’t a big deal."
Touched, Lin's mother’s eyes reddened. "You’re too good to us, child."
With a soft chuckle, Si Nian took over. Once her mother left, she pulled pork from the basket and began washing it.
But as she crouched down, a shadow fell over her.
She looked up to see Zhou Yueshen standing in the doorway.
He stepped inside, watching her for a moment before saying, "Let me do it."
"Where are my parents?" she asked.
Zhou Yueshen met her gaze. "Your father went to invite people for dinner. Your mother went to buy groceries."
Their sudden arrival had caught the Lin Family unprepared.
Lin's father, overjoyed, had rushed out to spread the good news.
Neighbors called out, "Old Lin, where are you off to?"
Lin's father: "How did you know my daughter’s getting married?"
Neighbors: "..."
Passersby: "Old Lin, not working today?"
Lin's father: "Nope, my daughter’s back."
Passersby: "??"
In no time, the entire village knew—not only had the Lin Family’s daughter returned, but she was also marrying Zhou Yueshen!
Not only would they avoid paying compensation, but they’d also gained the Zhou Family as in-laws!
Relatives and strangers alike came to congratulate them, while skeptics dropped by to verify the rumors.
One thing was certain—after today, the Lin Family’s fortunes were about to change.
Being on good terms with them now meant being on good terms with the Zhou Family.
By the time Si Nian stepped outside again, the Lin Family’s small yard was packed with people.
The noise inside the house was overwhelming. Worried Yaoyao might wake up and cry if she couldn’t see anyone, Si Nian hurried back to the room.
