Chapter 85: Burning a Spirit House for Grandfather

Hearing Lin Meng mention her eldest son, Lin Jianyang and his wife were both visibly startled, looking at each other.

Wang Fang immediately pointed at Lin Meng and retorted.

"Impossible! If it were really as you say, why didn't Chengcheng call to tell us?"

"It must be Lin Meng making things up; besides, they never heard their son was buying a new car—how could they go to a dealership?"

Lin Meng pursed her lips, believe it or not, Lin Haocheng hasn't seen her in years and didn't even recognize her.

Lin Meng calmly looked at Lin Jianyang and his wife, thinking of their son and daughter, she sneered inwardly.

"Cousin Lin Haocheng and cousin Lin Qianqian are both in Jing Shi; Uncle and Aunt really spared no expense, signing Lin Qianqian up for the Socialite Class and funding Lin Haocheng's entrepreneurship."

"I suppose by now Cousin Qianqian has accomplished something and become a wealthy benefactor? Cousin Haocheng should also have succeeded in his business and made a lot of money—why haven't they bought you a car or a house?"

The master building the spirit house hasn't arrived yet; since we're idle anyway, we might as well find some fun to cause trouble for Uncle's family.

As soon as Lin Meng finished speaking, the villagers began to discuss.

"Everyone knows about Lin Jianyang's eldest son starting a business outside, but what exactly is that Socialite Class Lin Qianqian enrolled in?"

"Socialite Class? Even after becoming a socialite, you still have to go to class?"

Many villagers didn't understand, so those who did helped explain.

Wang Dama's daughter-in-law immediately raised her voice and said:

"The Socialite Class is just a bunch of women who want to latch onto wealthy men and marry into rich families; they have no status or background, but through the class they learn tricks to please men, and once they mix in that circle they get a chance to meet all kinds of eligible bachelors."

Wang Dama's daughter-in-law had only heard this online; she didn't know any more secret information.

But after hearing her explanation, the villagers felt their horizons broaden, as if they'd opened a door to a new world, and also as if their already-not-quite-right worldviews shattered.

"What the heck? There's actually such a class? My eldest daughter could have a chance—let's also enroll our daughter in the Socialite Class; even if we can't snag a real tycoon, at least back in the village we could land the daughter of some factory manager."

"Go away, what a terrible idea—this isn't pushing your daughter into a fire pit? Haven't you realized? The Socialite Class is hardly for respectable girls; they're all gold-diggers."

"Gold-diggers? What about gold-diggers for men? The Socialite Class doesn't accept men—is there a Gentleman Class? I think my looks are decent; if I gild myself in the Gentleman Class, couldn't I also keep a rich woman?"

"Get lost! You're not ashamed of losing face, not embarrassed—you've made our ancestors lose all face!"

The villagers discussed half-jokingly, heating up, and no one noticed Lin Jianyang and his wife's faces growing uglier.

Even Lin Jianxiang and Lin Jianshan, who originally intended to follow their eldest brother's lead, each distanced themselves from Lin Jianyang.

Although the villagers aren't all kind and their tongues are vicious, they unanimously agreed that Lin Qianqian attending the Socialite Class was shameful, damaging morals and embarrassing the family.

Wang Fang glared at Lin Meng furiously; Qianqian went to the Socialite Class, or was it her father who pulled strings through several connections to get her in—yet he never told Lin Meng, so who leaked the news?

As public opinion's vortex shifted from Lin Meng to Lin Jianyang, Wang Fang was so anxious she wanted to rush over and pull Lin Meng's hair.

Lin Meng silently retreated to the car, opened the door, gently started it, and drove into her own courtyard.

The villagers love a spectacle; they most enjoy seeing whose scandal is exposed, gathering together to eat melons and gossip.

They actually have no fixed target of hatred; anyone could become their next spectacle.

Before, they always fixed on Lin Meng, because Lin Jianyang's few relatives secretly instigated, saying she didn't understand things, a girl occupying the family's old house—outrageous.

The villagers don't care whether you're an orphan girl or how you're doing; if there's melon to eat, they'll swarm over, sniffing the scent to chatter.

Lin Meng knew the villagers disliked her, even calling her a jinx; a big reason is that several uncles abroad stir trouble, especially the uncle's family, which can't stand seeing her well.

So today she deliberately diverted public opinion onto them, letting them also taste being sprayed with saliva by a crowd of fools.

The outdoor clamor continued nonstop, with not a single sentence aimed at Lin Meng anymore.

Until a small truck drove into the village, the spectators still hadn't dispersed.

Lin Meng walked out of her small courtyard, looked around, and discovered that Uncle and his family had already vanished.

Indeed, being pointed at by so many villagers and gossiped about, who could stand it?

But Lin Meng felt no guilt or sympathy; she was merely returning the favor.

After the contractor and Lin Meng confirmed the order list, they began building the spirit house on the vacant land east of the village.

The villagers gathered again, each saying Lin Meng was filial, openly mocking how her several uncles were outrageous.

Lin Meng didn't say another word to those villagers.

She wasn't happy because the villagers mocked her uncles, nor would she think they were worth associating with just because they gave a few superficial compliments.

They just enjoy laughing at others' misfortunes; today they greet with smiles, but tomorrow they might again condemn Lin Meng because of a provocative remark from someone else or simply because they dislike her.

Lin Meng had long seen through these people's faces—none of them were sincere.

Grandfather's spirit house looked magnificent to outsiders, and the Maybach emblem was made incredibly lifelike.

A pair of paper figures with Grandfather's name written on them were also stuffed into the spirit house.

A blaze ignited, the whole open space warped in the flames, firelight filling the sky.

Lin Meng gazed up at the drifting embers, wondering if Grandfather would come to her in a dream tonight.

At night, Grandfather indeed appeared in her dream.

In the dream, Lin Meng woke up to see that the daytime paper house, once burned away, had become a splendid courtyard behind Grandfather, with a black Maybach parked at the gate—she was overjoyed.

"Grandfather!"

She immediately went forward, and the old man beamed, unable to close his mouth, praising her filial devotion.

"Xiao Meng, Grandfather is lucky to have you—this time we finally live in a luxury mansion and drive a luxury car!"

Lin Meng also felt deeply satisfied; although she knew Grandfather had passed, at least in the dream she let him live well.

"By the way, I also burned a pair of Golden Boy and Jade Girl for you—the girl as a maid, the boy as a driver."

The old man waved his hands repeatedly, "I can't have others in my house; I gave that pair of Golden Boy and Jade Girl away as a favor."

"Huh? There's this operation?"

"Who did you give it to?"

The old man obviously couldn't say more, and waved his hand to change the subject.

"Grandfather is truly happy today—finally he can hold his head high down there; Xiao Meng, Grandfather suffered so many years, and at last he's waited for you."

「By the way, Grandpa still has a heart ailment he hasn't gone to see; could you go see Cuihua for Grandpa? I've always been worried about this child. 」

「……」

Lin Meng woke up early in the morning, and the dream from last night popped into her head.

Grandpa gave her another task, telling her to go see her aunt Lin Cuihua who married far away.