Chapter 43

"Damn, damn thing!"

"You mean you not only called off the engagement with the Ye Family, but you actually owe them five million?"

"Idiot! How could our Lin Family have someone like you! You're just a debt collector!"

Lin Jianyang no longer cared about face, behaving like a scoundrel, he shamelessly caused a scene in front of everyone and flew into a rage at Lin Meng.

He never expected Lin Meng to actually call off the engagement—that was the Lin Family's only chance to break into the upper-class circle!

The villagers were baffled—what Ye Family? What engagement?

How could the ordinary folk of Lin Family Village in Bai Ling Town, Yun Cheng, have an engagement with the wealthy elite of Jing Shi?

Has Lin Jianyang lost his mind?

Upon hearing it was from Jing Shi, a wealthy family, Village Head Zhang Fengnian immediately thought of something.

As it turned out, the Lin Family's connections in Jing Shi were the prospective in-laws through a childhood betrothal.

But now it seems this marriage is off; he actually admires Lin Meng for being able to resist temptation, so decisive and sensible.

But what's with this five million? Could it be that Fifth Master is pressing hard, leaving her no choice but to resort to this?

Village Head Zhang Fengnian pondered left and right, then his old eyes widened as he silently thought, 'Not good.'

Oh dear, it seems he had mentioned to Lin Meng a contact in Jing Shi she could turn to in an emergency.

Could this girl have listened to her words and taken the route of robbing Peter to pay Paul?

While the Village Head regretted his words, Lin Meng, seeing Lin Jianyang's state, clapped and cheered.

Let you scheme, always trying to take advantage, not treating her as a member of the Lin Family.

Now all fantasies have turned to nothing—serves you right!

Lin Jianyang's expression was dazed; all his prior plans were thrown into complete disarray because Lin Meng didn't play by the rules.

Seeing this, Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle exchanged glances, unsure whether to console Lin Jianyang or reprimand Lin Meng.

But the two shared a silent glance, and neither took any action.

Because in the contest between Lin Meng and Lin Jianyang, they had uncovered a lot of hidden information.

Lin Jianyang hadn't told them that Lin Meng had already paid off her grandfather's debt!

Had they known, as Second Uncle and Fourth Uncle, they could have contested Lin Meng's guardianship!

Furthermore, now that Lin Meng has called off the engagement, the Lin and Ye families are worlds apart; trying to rekindle a relationship would be difficult.

Whether the benefits previously promised by the eldest can be fulfilled is still up in the air.

Lin Meng has grown up; she's not easily fooled, not someone who can be pushed around.

Still owing five million, with even more debt—how unlucky!

If possible, they'd all want to cut ties right then, lest Lin Meng fail to repay the money and creditors come after them as relatives.

Seeing Lin Jianyang's schemes come to nothing, Village Head Zhang Fengnian waved his hand and took charge of the situation.

"Alright, alright, everyone disperse—since the memorial rites are over, let's go eat."

The Village Head spoke, and the villagers could only leave regretfully.

What's better than gossiping at a feast? But looking now, Lin Jianyang and Lin Meng surely can't reach an agreement, so the adoption plan will surely fall through.

But just then, Lin Meng suddenly shouted, "Wait!"

Everyone turned to her again; the Village Head twitched his eyelids, 'Auntie, any more business?'

Lin Meng gazed at the dazed Lin Jianyang and said meaningfully:

"Uncle, looking at you like this, you definitely won't let me be adopted, but you caused such a scene on Grandfather's memorial day—you owe me an explanation, at least give Grandfather an accounting."

"If Grandfather down there knew you were going back on your word, he certainly wouldn't rest in peace."

Lin Jianyang trembled all over with anger.

"Stop spouting nonsense! You've done something against the ancestors and still have the nerve to blame me?"

"Heh." Lin Meng sneered, "Going against the ancestors? Is not marrying into the Ye Family considered going against the ancestors? Do the ancestors even know how vastly the two families' standings differ now? As a penniless person, how would I handle the threshold issue if I married into the mansion of Jing Shi's richest?"

"I don't want to marry; no one can force me. I believe even if Grandfather were alive, he'd support me."

As soon as Lin Meng finished speaking, Lin Jianyang couldn't help but jump up and down.

"If you don't want to marry, let your cousin marry instead!"

The words barely left his mouth when Lin Jianyang's face flushed red, realizing he had spoken too hastily.

Lin Meng's face showed understanding: "Oh? So that's your plan—no wonder today you're both holding Grandfather's memorial and pushing for my adoption; you actually want my cousin to snatch my childhood betrothal."

Last time at the old residence, Lin Meng had already exposed their idea of letting Lin Qianqian marry in her place; Lin Jianyang hadn't admitted it then, but now he let it slip.

The villagers gathered forward for more gossip; this time it was even more explosive, each listening with growing excitement.

"Ah? The Ye Family are the richest? My goodness! No wonder Lin Jianyang is so agitated—Lin Meng actually called off the engagement with Jing Shi's wealthiest!"

"Crazy, crazy, Lin Meng is really crazy. If it were me, I'd surely shamelessly try to marry in, regardless of matching families—marrying in would mean a share of the fortune, and even divorcing on the spot would still be a huge profit."

"You're overthinking it—with a family of that stature, you couldn't possibly gain an advantage; if you really married in, you'd likely be devoured down to the bone."

"..."

"Lin Jianyang's schemes are indeed grand, but speaking of which, is Lin Qianqian up to the task? Lin Meng is at least a college student—what is Lin Qianqian? Someone whose father can drag yellow sand and raise fish?"

"Hahaha..."

The outspoken villagers, saying whatever they pleased, only made Lin Jianyang angrier.

Lin Meng pointed at the grandfather's tablet and said:

"Uncle, you should kowtow to Grandfather; then this matter is over, and from now on you needn't worry about my affairs."

The Village Head, seeing this, quickly chimed in: "Jianyang, kowtow to your father; as the eldest son, after the rites you should indeed bow and see off the tablet."

Lin Jianyang glared at Lin Meng with malice, whispering a threat beside her.

"You little brat, you've grown some spine—once today's over, I'll settle the score with you properly!"

Lin Meng pursed her lips, eyes smiling, taking advantage of the moment Lin Jianyang dropped to his knees, she lightly rubbed the gemstone ring.

Lin Jianyang, lacking sincerity, casually knocked his head; just as he finished the last kowtow and was about to rise, his vision suddenly went dark.

When he opened his eyes again, the deceased grandfather's unwilling-to-rest bluish-black face appeared before him, a gloomy wind swept over, and eerie sounds entered his ears.

"Unfilial son, while I was alive I provided for you to marry, buy a new house, purchase a sand‑transport boat, and even contract fish ponds; the money spent on you is not less than seven or eight hundred thousand, if not one million, and this is how you treat me?"

"You worthless creature, I raised you for nothing, and now I'm coming to collect you…"

Lin Jianyang pissed himself in fear; he already felt guilty toward his grandfather, and in broad daylight seeing his grandfather's dead spirit, he was so frightened he spasmed on the spot, continuously begging for mercy, whimpering.

This action truly frightened the villagers; he seemed to be possessed.

Someone shouted "retribution," and immediately everyone thought Lin Jianyang was being blamed by his own grandfather and had suffered retribution.

An elder, seeing the situation was wrong, quickly summoned several strong villagers.

"Not good, Lin Jianyang's hands are unclean; he's been punished by the Netherworld—throw him out quickly, lest we ruin the ancestral hall's feng shui."

The face‑conscious Lin Jianyang was grabbed by several strong men, who lifted his limbs and threw him out of the ancestral hall like a slaughtered pig.

Lin Meng's expression turned cold; finally she looked toward her grandfather's spirit tablet.

"Grandfather, don't blame your granddaughter; it's really that your eldest son is utterly lacking in virtue—I'm using your name to give him a lesson."

I hope the grandfather won't blame her in his next dream…