“Dad, I’m hungry.”
The eldest daughter quickly walked over, pulling down her sister’s finger, frowning, “Don’t bite your fingers.”
Lin Ya surveyed the empty furnishings in the room and noticed three weak faces and brittle yellow hair under the candlelight. It was clear they had been living a difficult life for the past few years.
Without saying a word, he squatted down and untied the big burlap sack he had brought back. Inside were clothes and shoes bought from a department store, not just thick clothes for adults but also a few sets for children, as he didn’t know whether the original owner’s last child was a boy or a girl.
In addition to the clothes and shoes, there were some milk candies, chocolates, biscuits, canned fruit, hair ribbons, and scarves, hats, and gloves for girls.
These items were all compressed into one sack, which looked light but was something an average man could hardly carry.
Lin Ya started pulling things out one by one, first handing the snacks, biscuits, and canned fruits to the two children. They stared at the items in shock, looking dumbfounded.
“Eat these first to fill your stomach. Tomorrow, Dad will make you something tasty.”
Next, Lin Ya took out a pile of clothes and shoes. Glancing at the old clothes on the bed, he smiled, “Tomorrow is the New Year, and we will all wear new clothes.”
“Where did you get the money for these?” Lin Yuemei asked nervously, worried he might have done something illegal.
“Earned it helping others. Don’t worry, it’s legitimate income.” Lin Ya understood her concerns and explained that he had come across an opportunity. He had a dream in prison where a Taoist priest taught him a technique that could predict people’s fortunes.
However, this technique had a flaw: he could only see it at night after six o’clock.
Lin Yuemei was half-convinced, but when she saw the several hundred yuan he handed her, she trusted him a bit more.
After all, no one would give so much money if his predictions were wrong.
“After the New Year, I’ll take you all to live in the city. The eldest daughter is of age to start middle school, and the second daughter should begin primary school. You’ve had a tough few years.” Lin Ya planned to use his earnings to help Lin Yuemei open a shop, hoping she would succeed in her career and have a better divorce.
He had no interest in romance, especially since she was the original owner’s wife. While the face and body were his, the memories of others had been replaced with his image, which he simply couldn’t accept.
He preferred to remain single.
Lin Yuemei’s eyes turned red, but she said nothing more, only watching her two daughters devour their food with a twinge of heartache.
Over the years, her only solace had been her two daughters.
“Mom, you should eat too.” The eldest daughter fed her fruit from a can while the second daughter brought biscuits to her lips.
She smiled and accepted her daughters’ gestures, her turbulent emotions gradually calming down. After a long time, she felt a sense of relief.
Perhaps it was finally someone holding up a piece of the sky for her.
That night, the three of them enjoyed a rare good sleep, wearing thick thermal autumn clothes and spending the only warm night of the winter together.
Lin Ya slept on the wooden bed set up on the bench wrapped in a padded jacket. He woke up early the next day.
He also gave the clothes he bought for the elderly to Old Li, who was cooking. As for the clothes meant for his brother and sister-in-law, they were left in the room’s box and weren’t intended to be given.
Of course, his brother’s three unruly children didn’t receive anything either.
The original owner had a good relationship with his brother initially. He had secretly read a book he found somewhere to tell fortunes, and the villagers believed in that; sometimes he was even accurate, allowing him to earn a fair amount.
Most of that money went to building this house.
Later, when the original owner went to prison, it was said he lost a significant amount of money. Still, most was what he originally had with Old Li; it was not the money given by his brother.
But since they said so, Lin Ya couldn’t be bothered to argue; it was just some small change after all.
Early in the morning, the eldest daughter donned a pretty bright red new jacket and stunning boots. Lin Yuemei braided her long hair into two twists, with a pink flower at each braid’s end.
The second daughter was similarly dressed, admiring herself in the mirror, unable to contain her vanity.
“Sis! Do I look good?”
“Beautiful!” The eldest daughter had never looked so charming before; her usually steady character now mixed with excitement and a desire to show off.
They planned to boast to the village children.
“After breakfast, let’s visit everyone in turn and show off.” The two sisters exchanged mischievous smiles, their cheeks flushed.
Lin Yuemei watched them with amusement and slipped some milk candies into their pockets, patting the bulging bags with a smile, “If you meet some friendly kids, you can share with them.”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Mom! Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year.” The frail woman donned her jacket, taking one daughter by each hand, “Let’s go, time to eat.”
Even Old Li, who typically didn’t allow them to sit at the table, surprisingly refrained from making harsh remarks, probably due to her younger son’s return.
The eldest daughter noticed her cousin watching her and her sister with envious eyes, provoking a smile on her face that nearly made her cousin cry.
“Mom! I want that too!”
Their aunt glared at her daughter angrily, “What do you want?! Don’t make noise during the New Year! Be careful your father scolds you!”
The cousin angrily left the table, storming back to the room. The two younger cousins showed no interest in their cousin’s mood, puzzled by why she was so upset.
The eldest daughter and the second daughter exchanged knowing smiles.
Lin Ya, wearing dark sunglasses, said nothing to Lin Yuemei, pretended not to see the angry couple across from him.
For breakfast, they had dumplings filled with chives and eggs, and after eating, the older couple stayed home, waiting for the others to come for New Year’s greetings.
Lin Ya took his wife and children door to door, visiting each family to celebrate the New Year.
Naturally, they left early and did not go with others.
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