Chapter 13: My Brother Has a Wonderful Daughter

Lin Xiaomeng was momentarily stunned, then frowned and asked, “When did this happen? Are you here just to deliver a message?”

“No, my father died the day before yesterday, and he was buried yesterday. We left this morning to come here,” Lin Wei replied.

“Ridiculous!” Lin Xiaomeng slammed the table in anger. “Your father passed away, and your mother didn’t even tell me? She really doesn’t take me seriously. And you two haven’t even finished mourning. If it’s for school, you’ve come far too early.”

Lin Wei gently stroked her brother’s head and handed him two eggs. “Yuan Yuan, go eat the eggs in the yard. Sister needs to talk to Aunt for a bit. I’ll call you back soon.”

Lin Yuan pouted, knowing Lin Wei was about to say things he wasn’t supposed to hear. Although he felt wronged, he obediently went to the yard.

Lin Xiaomeng snapped, “Why are you sending Yuan Yuan away? What could there be that he shouldn’t hear?”

“Yuan Yuan is still young. Some things are better left unheard to avoid psychological trauma,” Lin Wei said.

Lin Xiaomeng sensed there was more to her words and softened her tone slightly, though a chill still lingered in her expression.

“Speak then. What do you want by coming here? You’re not expecting me to take you in, are you? You’ve seen how many people are eyeing this place. If you moved in, there’d be no peace. Besides, your relationship with your mother and me is strained…”

“Aunt, Yuan Yuan and I ran away. My mother wants Yuan Yuan dead. I had no choice but to come find you,” Lin Wei said.

Lin Xiaomeng furrowed her brow. “What do you mean? Yuan Yuan is your mother’s biological son. There must be some misunderstanding.”

“There’s no misunderstanding. If my classmate hadn’t told me, and I hadn’t personally altered Yuan Yuan’s physical exam report, he wouldn’t have lasted a few more days,” Lin Wei explained.

She recounted to Lin Xiaomeng the embellished version of the conversation she had with Uncle Liu.

In short, these people were after stealing Lin Yuan’s kidney.

This was the 1990s, a time when medical technology was not advanced. Losing a kidney was almost like losing one’s life.

Moreover, with Lin’s father gone, Lin Yuan was the only remaining heir.

Lin Wei’s eyes were red from crying. “Aunt, I don’t know what else to do, but I know Yuan Yuan cannot stay with my mother. He would die.”

“Aunt, I’m not exaggerating. If they weren’t after Yuan Yuan’s life, why wouldn’t they take him openly for a matching test? Why sneak him away? I asked my classmate’s mother. Such surgeries rarely succeed. The New County Hospital has never performed one like this. The success rate is minuscule…”

“Aunt, please take Yuan Yuan in. We won’t take up your space. I’ll pay rent for the time we stay and cover Yuan Yuan’s food expenses.”

Lin Xiaomeng looked at her. “You still need to go to school, don’t you? If your mother thought this way, she probably wouldn’t have left you much money.”

“My father’s compensation was thirty thousand yuan. My mother gave me five hundred. But she didn’t know my father earned extra doing odd jobs, and he gave that money to me. It should last a while. I came early hoping to find a job before school starts to earn whatever I can,” Lin Wei said.

In her past life, she had traveled far and wide searching for her brother and had witnessed the world’s changes. She had her plans to earn some quick money during this time.

“So you’ve already planned this? What if I don’t take you in…”

“Aunt, I don’t want to force you because Yuan Yuan wouldn’t feel secure living here either. But we’re truly out of options.”

Lin Wei knew her plea was a form of moral coercion on Lin Xiaomeng, but if it were just her, she could manage anywhere. Bringing Lin Yuan along was another matter.

Perhaps, as her uncle said, she was inherently selfish.

She wanted to take good care of Lin Yuan, but also to fulfill regrets from her past life.

She wanted to repay her aunt for all she had done, yet couldn’t avoid causing her trouble.

A deep shame weighed on her, making it hard to lift her head.

Lin Xiaomeng stared at her in silence for a long moment.

But she knew she wouldn’t refuse.

No matter what dangers lurked behind, she couldn’t abandon her elder brother’s two children.

Still, she was curious. “You’re eighteen. You should know I don’t have a good relationship with your grandparents. We barely saw each other when we were young. Why come looking for me?”

“Dad said blood is thicker than water. We didn’t see each other much because we lived apart, but that doesn’t mean we’re not close. Dad also said you had a hard life alone and told me to always be good to you. I even chose Jiangcheng University because you were there, and Dad and I decided on it for that reason,” Lin Wei replied.

Lin Xiaomeng knew her father was a man of few words. These were not likely his exact words.

But he was kind-hearted. Even unspoken, his intentions were clear.

Finally, Lin Xiaomeng sighed. “My brother truly had a good daughter.”

“All right, you can stay. Don’t worry about rent; I wouldn’t charge my younger relatives. But you see my situation—everyone’s coveting my house. It was like this before you came. If you stay and take up space, they’ll only make more trouble,” Lin Xiaomeng warned.

Lin Wei wasn’t concerned. No matter how much they stirred up trouble, the house legally belonged to Lin Xiaomeng. Since the housing policy of 1993, she had spent everything to purchase this small courtyard.

It had been just over two years, so there shouldn’t be major disputes.

“Aunt, we won’t eye your house. We’ll help protect it together,” Lin Wei promised.

Lin Xiaomeng was visibly taken aback, then her eyes welled with tears.

This house was bought together by her and her late uncle, combining their work positions, seniority, and their two children to secure this small, separate courtyard.

The courtyard had east and west wings, which could be divided into four small rooms.

The backyard had a separate bathroom and kitchen—just right for a family of four.

But shortly after moving in, her uncle died suddenly on a business trip.

On the same day, Lin Xiaomeng’s youngest daughter, barely a month old, died from a neglected fever.

They had the eldest son to hold on to, but two months later, he too died in an accident.

Three lives lost in just three months—who could bear that?

If it weren’t for Lin’s father often bringing her to visit, there would be no bond between them.

Even so, the Lin family grandparents never showed up, and the relationship only worsened.

Lin Wei understood that this courtyard, seemingly simple, was Lin Xiaomeng’s last keepsake and remembrance of her family.