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It’s just a shame that what they wanted to hook was not her, but the big sponsor behind her, Xia Zheng.

Xia Zheng glanced at her indifferently, his gaze unchanging, and waved his hand to stop the continuous thanks of the Lin family, "I think you’ve misunderstood.

My intention is to settle accounts with the Lin family, not just this little girl.

Although it was in her house where the item was damaged, it was indeed your family who smashed the tofu.

Since you’re all one family, I won’t bother separating the responsibility.

Hurry up and hand over the silver. I still have matters to attend to downtown! "

After saying these words, it was unclear whether intentionally or not, Xia Zheng murmured to himself again, "If it wasn’t all one family, it would be easier.

One hundred taels for the little girl, one hundred taels for you, but since it’s all one family, you three households should split it evenly. "

Upon hearing this, the quick-thinking Lin Jiaxiao and Li Feng’e had already started calculating in secret.

Lin Siyu saw that her beauty trick was not very effective and felt somewhat disappointed, but in just a moment she regained her confidence.

Hmm, with her disheveled and dirty appearance, she certainly couldn’t win his favor.

She would have to dress up properly. With that thought, she didn’t even bother to say a word to Lady Ma and hurried home to dress and make up.

Li Feng’e’s shrewd voice quietly carried over, "If we three families split it evenly, each family would have to cough up seventy taels. Our two families together would have to pay one hundred forty taels! But according to that noble young master, as long as we are not seen as one family with Little Disaster Star, our two families together need only pay one hundred taels in total! That’s forty taels of silver less! "

Watching as Lin Jiazhong’s brothers huddled together to calculate, Lin Yuan already had an idea in her mind.

She looked back at the Young Master, who was arguing with Lao Fan, unsure if he had intentionally appeared to help her, knowing what she was thinking, or if it was merely a coincidence that he happened to say that extra sentence.

"Hey, have you guys reached a decision yet? I’ve got urgent matters to attend to!

" Not knowing what he said to Lao Fan, but Lao Fan flung his sleeve over his head, shooing him to the side.

Xia Zheng raised an eyebrow triumphantly and turned back impatiently toward the Lin family brothers who were still discussing.

At these words, Lin Jiaxiao hurried over to Xia Zheng with a servile smile, more affectionate than if he were facing his own father.

"My lord, noble sir, we have all come to an agreement. We have nothing to do with Little Disaster Star, we won’t pay her share of the silver, only our own."

No sooner had he spoken than all the onlookers in the courtyard were stunned. Not related at all? When did this happen? Such big news and gossip—and they hadn’t heard a word?

But Lin Yuan’s mind was crystal clear. Xia Zheng had already made his statement very clear—if the Lin family members acknowledged they had no relation with Lin Yuan, they could save forty taels of silver.

Forty taels of silver—it turned out that the blood and familial bonds of her family were worth only that much!

"Third Uncle, what are you saying? Since when have we had no relation? Everyone in the whole village is here; you can ask them. We’ve only split the household; we’ve not severed our relationship.

" Although Lin Yuan had long wanted to break off contact with these intolerable relatives, she couldn’t readily agree at this moment.

Agreeing too quickly might arouse their suspicion and reluctance to sever ties.

Moreover, while she could decide on splitting the household, she really couldn’t make decisions about such a big matter as breaking family ties without Lin Jiaxin stepping in.

If there was to be a severance, it had to be thorough, including cutting ties with Lin Jianling as well—that was Lin Jiaxin’s real father and mother.

Even if he could sever the brotherly relation with Lin Jiazhong and his brother, could he so easily renounce the filial duty owed to his real parents?

Lin Jiaxiao’s face chilled even more when he heard Lin Yuan refuse to cut off ties. He scoffed, "Your father defied your mother’s wishes, refusing to divorce her – that alone is unfilial. And the anger you’ve caused over these years... In short, we insist on severing ties with you, severing ties!"

Lin Jiazhong whispered something in Lin Jianling’s ear, and the old man’s already pale complexion turned even whiter, as he eventually closed his eyes and nodded.

Though Lin Yuan didn’t know what the father and son had discussed, she could guess it had something to do with her so-called uncle using his son’s future to pressure the old man.

After all, in their eyes, Lin Yuan’s family was poor as church mice.

If they really had to compensate with silver, it would ultimately be up to him, as the grandfather, to foot the bill.

How would they manage to live after handing over all their silver?

And would there still be money left for the tuition fees of the two grandsons studying in the city?

Lady Yang was even more eager to cut ties with Lin Yuan quickly. She had never liked Lady Liu and her children, and now that her own son’s heart had drifted away because of his wife, she certainly wasn’t willing to part with any silver for this pack of ingrates!

Seeing that the Lin family members had made up their minds to end their relationship, Aunt Wang, who was wholeheartedly in Lin Yuan’s corner, became anxious.

She called out loudly to Lin Jianling, "Grandpa of Yuanyuan, as the head of the family, how can you so readily abandon your second son and his family? If you are truly heartless and sever ties, how will Lin Yuan survive after this? That’s one hundred taels of silver, one hundred taels!

Aren’t you forcing the second son’s family to sell their children? "

As she spoke, Aunt Wang was moved to tears. Touched by her concern, Lin Yuan’s eyes reddened as well as she patted Aunt Wang’s hand.

Lin Jianling seemed to struggle with his feelings, shaking slightly.

He glanced at Lin Yuan, then over at the dilapidated three-room house and disordered courtyard of Lin Jiaxin’s family.

In a soft voice, he said to his eldest son, "Boss, perhaps we could delay paying the tuition for the two boys a bit longer? "

Before Lin Jiazhong could respond, Lady Ma already raised her voice, "Father, we can’t delay anymore.

If we keep postponing, the teacher will start to dismiss Yongcheng and Yong Le.

What if they lose their eligibility to sit for the exams because of it?

What then? Their future is at stake, Father, they are your own grandsons; we cannot delay any further! "

Lin Yuan snorted coldly. Were her sisters not his own granddaughters?

While Lin Jianling was entangled in his predicament, a voice from the doorway broke the deadlock.

"Old village head, please bear witness for us. I... am willing to sever ties."

Lin Yuan had heard this voice for a long time, but now she was startled, turning to look toward the door. Her father, Lin Jiaxin, was being carried out by Lin Changqing. Her mother, Lady Liu, also stepped out, supported by their two younger daughters, and stood firmly beside her husband.

The family members, touched by the look in Lin Yuan’s eyes, realized the magnitude of the situation. Their eldest daughter, their big sister, had almost been drowned by these relatives. To think that being alive and together was the greatest joy.

As for those who spent every day trying to tear them apart and even harm them, they were better off without them.