Page 208

Lin Yuan nodded firmly, "It’s true. I’ve heard that the prisons are gloomy and damp, with no sunlight the whole day through.

Moreover, if you’re locked up with other criminals, there’s a chance of getting beaten.

People like us, the common folk, have neither connections nor silver to support Lin Dashuan, let alone find someone to take care of him there.

I guess, in less than seven years, he would probably. .."

She left her sentence hanging, but Lin Yuan knew that Gui Zhi understood. Not to mention seven years, even one might be too much to bear.

Despite her kindness, Gui Zhi was clear-headed.

Their family had just about enough silver to get by, how could they spare any to pull strings for Lin Dashuan?

So Lin Yuan believed that Gui Zhi would keep this conversation to herself and definitely not tell Lin Ershuan.

However, she would certainly take in Xiao He.

Even after taking in Xiao He, Lin Ershuan and his wife had no thoughts of taking over the family’s house.

The house was allocated to Lin Dashuan when they split the family property and now, naturally, it should be left to Xiao He.

Yet, Lin Dashuan’s house was too dirty and messy to be habitable, and Xiao He barely had a few decent pieces of clothing.

After a simple packing, she was led by her auntie by hand to move to Ershuan’s home.

Unexpectedly, Xiao He gently walked up to Lin Yuan, eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Sister Yuanyuan, my, my dad took away Lin Wei. I, I’m sorry to you."

As she spoke, tears began to well up softly.

Lin Yuan never expected Xiao He to say these words to her, especially since her father was put into prison because of her and her sister. She thought Xiao He would resent her, but to her surprise, not only did she not bear any hatred, she even came to apologize.

Taken aback, Lin Yuan hurriedly comforted her, "Xiao He, it’s not your fault. The one who did something wrong is your dad, not you. You don’t have to apologize to me."

Xiao He shook her head gently, "No, you were kind to me, you stopped my dad from hitting me, and let me eat good food, but my dad treated you all this way, I, I..."

Lin Yuan suddenly understood why Xiao He was so grateful to her.

Lin Dashuan loved drinking, and Lady Chen was lazy and gluttonous, so Xiao He had never had a decent meal since she was little.

Lin Yuan’s casual help had apparently planted such deep affection in Xiao He’s young heart, no wonder she revealed Lin Dashuan’s whereabouts to her yesterday.

Gently wiping away the tears from her cheeks, Lin Yuan earnestly told her, "Xiao He, you are a good child. Your dad hits you, your mom doesn’t want you, it’s their loss for not knowing how to cherish you properly.

With your Uncle Er Shuan and Auntie, they will treat you as their own dear daughter and care for you.

Trust me, your days ahead will be better. "

Xiao He nodded, wiped her tears with the back of her filthy hand, and walked away with her auntie.

Watching Xiao He’s thin silhouette disappear, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but wonder whether Lady Chen felt any reluctance when she abandoned her own flesh and blood. She also pondered whether Lady Chen would ever come back to look for her daughter.

The incident with Lin Dashuan and his wife caused quite a stir in the village. Fortunately, both Lady Liu and Lady Fan were not the types who went out much, and with Lin Yuan and the others keeping quiet, neither of them became aware of the situation. Xiao Linshuang’s abduction was even less known.

However, after this event, Lao Fan began visiting the Lin family’s valley even more frequently.

There was no helping it; after living a long life, he had finally found an apprentice he was fond of, who had almost been kidnapped.

It truly distressed the old man. These days, he brought big bags of herbs every day for Xiao Linshuang to identify, including croton seeds and many other things that even Lin Yuan had never heard of.

But since Lao Fan brought them, she was reassured, trusting that the old man wouldn’t harm her little sister.