Phi-Fic Chapter 419 Awkward Identity
Chapter 419 Awkward Identity
Lin Xiaoyu was learning music, chess, calligraphy and painting from her female tutor in the study. After finishing her lesson and seeing her tutor off, she saw her older sister return. She was stunned for a moment, but when she came to her senses, she immediately ran to her older sister and hugged her tightly.
"Sister, you're finally back! Did they mistreat you? Father said they wouldn't let you come back with him. How did you escape? Shall we report them to the authorities and have them arrested?"
Seeing the tense and worried look in Xiaoyu's eyes, Lin Xiaotang knew that the girl was terrified, so she patted her sister's head to comfort her.
"Xiaoyu, don't worry, your sister is fine. They haven't made things difficult for her. Now they're following your sister to plant medicinal herbs, and they're turning over a new leaf. We need to give them a chance to start over. Don't report them to the authorities for now. Once they've figured things out, they'll naturally confess to the government."
Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, her eyes clear and innocent. "If my sister says not to report it to the authorities, then we won't. I'll listen to my sister. As long as my sister is alright and they haven't abused her, that's fine."
They took my older sister away, and my parents brought my younger brother and me to the capital. I was terrified. Sister, I'm such a coward. I didn't dare stay by your side, and I didn't dare go up the mountain in your place. I'm so useless."
As she spoke, Xiaoyu's eyes filled with tears, and she felt extremely guilty. Compared to her older sister, she was far inferior.
As the two sisters were talking, Ziheng returned from the academy and burst into tears upon seeing her older sister.
His older sister was several years older than him. She had held him and played with him since he was a child, and cared for him dearly. She always gave him the best food and toys. When his older sister was taken away by bandits, he was powerless to help. These days, he dreamed of his older sister every night, and felt extremely guilty and remorseful.
Lin Xiaotang let go of Xiaoyu, stepped forward, took her younger brother's hand, and reached out to wipe away his tears.
"Ziheng, don't cry. Your sister is back safe and sound. A real man doesn't cry easily, understand?"
Xiao Ziheng wiped away his tears and immediately forced a smile that looked even worse than crying. He said stubbornly, "I'm very strong. I just got emotional when I saw my older sister. These tears were clearly just from the wind getting into my eyes."
He's small in stature but stubborn in his words, and obsessed with saving face.
She smiled slightly, not exposing her brother's lie, and reached out to gently pinch his nose.
"Alright, quickly put your bag back in your room. Your older sister will have the kitchen prepare a meal, and we'll have a good meal together later."
Thinking of Uncle Huo, Lin Xiaotang asked the kitchen to prepare a few more of his signature dishes so that he could try them.
At dinner time, Lin Qingchuan brought the food to the backyard and laid out a table full of dishes, which the family gathered around.
Huo Qi walked to the carved archway in the backyard, looking at the happy family, and hesitated.
Speaking of his background, he was originally a bandit from the mountains, and his identity was awkward. How could he dine at the same table as a clean and honest merchant like the Lin family?
In terms of status, he had no relation to the Lin family whatsoever. A table of dishes at Mingcui Tower cost anywhere from tens to hundreds of taels of silver. Their dinner must have been quite expensive. How could he possibly have the nerve to eat there empty-handed with his fists between his legs?
So he turned around and prepared to leave quietly.
Lin Xiaotang saw that the food was already on the table, but Huo Xiaoshu, whom she had asked the waiter to call, had not yet arrived. She kept glancing at the carved archway and caught a glimpse of a corner of clothing.
Something flashed through her mind, and she guessed that the person from earlier was most likely Uncle Huo, who was probably too shy to come over. She immediately chased after him.
"Uncle Huo, why are you leaving again after coming here? Come on, the food is ready and we're just waiting for you."
Huo Qi blushed slightly and said, "Xiao Tang, since you're all having a family reunion, I'm an outsider and not familiar with your parents, so I won't get involved. Or you could have the waiter send me some food to the guest room. I'm not hungry, so anything will do."
Lin Xiaotang immediately guessed that was the case, and she grabbed Huo Qi's arm and dragged him towards the backyard.
"Oh dear, you're not familiar with my parents, but you're not unfamiliar with me either. You've taken such good care of me during the months we spent on the mountain. I already consider you family. As for my parents, they are kind people. After getting to know you and your temperament, they certainly won't reject you. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt..."
As she spoke, she pulled Huo Qi to the backyard.
Unable to refuse their hospitality, Huo Qi, despite his thin skin, could not turn back and brazenly stepped forward to bow to Lin Qingchuan and Liu Shi.
"Greetings, Brother Qingchuan, and greetings, Sister-in-law."
Xiaoyu and Ziheng quickly stood up and bowed to Huo Qi. The two children did not know Huo Qi's identity and thought he was an elder whom their parents and older sister knew and had business dealings with.
When Huo Qi was robbed on his way from Dushui County through Lingyun Mountain, he did not go down the mountain. Therefore, Liu Shi and her two children, Xiaoyu and Ziheng, did not meet him. So when Liu Shi saw the clean-looking young man in front of her, she was not afraid.
It's also possible that this restaurant is their territory, so they feel more confident.
Lin Qingchuan was expressionless and not very good-looking. Xiao Tang had been kidnapped by bandits and taken to the mountains for several months. Even though they treated Xiao Tang well, her reputation was still affected by her time in the bandits' den. He only hoped that Xiao Tang would not have any more contact with the bandits and that this matter would not be spread so that he could find her a good marriage in the future.
He said, “Thank you all for taking care of Xiaotang these past few days. Sit down and eat with us. I don’t have anything fancy to offer, but these are all the restaurant’s signature dishes. Try them and see if you like any of them. When we go back up the mountain, I’ll have the waiter pack a few for you to take back to the brothers up there.”
His polite and distant words were full of subtle hints that he should go back to the mountain on his own and not let Xiaotang go back.
But when he came down the mountain, he promised his older brother that he would definitely bring Xiaotang back.
To be honest, once they get to the capital, whether Xiao Tang goes back or not is really not up to him.
After all, his identity and travel permit were fake. If the Lin family reported it to the authorities, the government would investigate thoroughly and find out. Not only would he not be able to take Xiaotang back to the mountain, but he would also be killed in the capital.
He laughed awkwardly, "I understand what Brother Qingchuan means. It depends on Xiaotang this time. I have no objection if she stays in the capital. If she is willing to go back to the mountain to continue teaching everyone how to grow medicinal herbs and do business, I would certainly welcome her."
Xiao Tang has already done him a great favor by arranging an identity for him so that he can return to the capital to pay respects to his mother. If Xiao Tang is unwilling to go back, he will definitely not force her. Even if he is punished by his elder brother, he will just have to accept it.
This Mingcui Tower is very grand and has a good business. Looking at Xiaotang's younger siblings, all of them have fair skin and wear clothes made of the finest materials. You can tell that they live a life of luxury. Xiaotang deserves an even better life than this because she was willing to give up her maid for her family.
Although the mountain had everything it needed, the conditions were inevitably much harsher compared to the capital, and he couldn't bear to see Xiaotang suffer with everyone else.
Seeing that her father looked unhappy and her mother seemed preoccupied, Lin Xiaotang didn't say anything to avoid making the meal awkward.
She wore a faint smile, her expression serene and composed.
"Dad, Mom, the food will get cold if we don't eat soon. Let's not talk about anything at the table. Uncle Huo is staying in the capital for a few days and won't be back so soon. We'll talk about the return trip later. Let's eat quickly. I've been eating wild game and mushrooms in the mountains for months, and I really miss this kind of food."