Before his golden finger appeared, Chen Lin had been so anxious over this matter that he could not sleep through the night.
Every moment, he thought about how to quickly increase his strength, then join the War God Temple, or how to obtain the identity of a Demon Slayer Envoy.
After all, he had occupied someone else's body. He had to do something for that person's family, or the sense of guilt in his heart would always linger like a shadow he could not shake off.
Fortunately, the sudden appearance of the golden finger later had finally resolved this worry of Chen Lin's.
It made him let out a long, heavy breath, while also giving him a few more hopes and plans for the future.
After Chen Hongbo drove the donkey cart inside, Chen Lin leaped down from it.
Zhang Shan was already nowhere to be seen on the donkey cart. Back at the alley entrance, he had used family business as an excuse to get off early, so as not to trouble Chen Lin's family.
As Chen Lin looked around the courtyard, a rather shrill woman's voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Ah, A Lin, your injuries are healed? You're back?"
Chen Lin turned around and saw a plump, big-eared woman smiling at him. The look on her face said she had come to watch a good show, without the slightest attempt at concealment.
The moment Chen Lin saw her, information about the woman immediately surfaced in his mind.
Her name was Zhang Guihua. Her husband worked as a shopkeeper at the Chen Clan Patriarch's store, while her son, Chen Ming, trained at the Lieyang Martial Arts School alongside Chen Lin. Since his talent was inferior to Chen Lin's, he had always been overshadowed by him within the clan, which made his mother deeply resent Chen Lin.
Both openly and behind his back, she had spread plenty of bad rumors about Chen Lin among the neighbors.
This year, Chen Ming had taken the martial examination together with Chen Lin.
Although Chen Ming's martial talent was not as high as Chen Lin's, he had still entered the lower division of the Nanqing Martial Arts School this year.
Compared to Chen Lin, who had failed the martial examination, such a result was far more glorious.
Seeing Zhang Guihua's expression, Chen Lin did not need to guess. This woman had not come to ask after his injuries at all; she had come to laugh at him.
Having guessed her intentions, Chen Lin could not be bothered to exchange empty pleasantries with her. He gave an indifferent "Hm?" and turned to head back inside.
Seeing Chen Lin's attitude, Zhang Guihua's face immediately darkened. She spat a thick gob of phlegm onto the ground and snapped, "A brat who couldn't even get into a martial academy—what are you acting so proud for? So what if you're talented? Won't you still have to go back to the fields and dig for food? Hmph!"
Chen Hongbo had just finished tying up the donkey cart when he heard Zhang Guihua's mockery. He immediately fumed, "Zhang Guihua, can't you, as an elder, watch your mouth? What did my A Lin ever do to you for you to slander him behind his back like this?"
"Heh! Whether I watch my mouth or not, what business is it of yours? Wasn't I speaking the truth? Before long, all of you will have to get the hell out of this courtyard. Instead of wasting your breath here talking about me, you'd better hurry back inside and pack up your junk. Otherwise, when you get thrown out, you'll be scrambling around and leave behind some worthless rubbish, disturbing our peace and quiet!" Once Zhang Guihua's shrewish temper flared up, she was not the least bit afraid of Chen Hongbo, and whatever nasty words came to her mouth, she spat them out.
Chen Hongbo pointed at Zhang Guihua, his lips trembling with rage. In the end, he could only say furiously, "You shrew! I can't be bothered to argue with you!"
With that, he turned and returned to his room.
Chen Lin did not take Zhang Guihua's ridicule outside to heart at all. With a golden finger in hand, he would one day stun everyone with his brilliance. As for an ignorant woman like Zhang Guihua, he, a grown man, could not be bothered to waste words on her.
Once Chen Hongbo entered the room, Chen Lin could not help asking, "Father, why aren't Mother and my sister home?"
"Your mother and Lan'er went to the market to buy vegetables. They'll be back soon!" Chen Hongbo forced a smile as he answered, then hurriedly carried the teapot to the kitchen to busy himself.
With nothing to do, Chen Lin sat on a stool for a while, then curiously examined their current home. The Chen family lived on the east side of the courtyard. The two-story house had four rooms in total: three bedrooms, one for Father Chen and Mother Chen, one for Chen Lin, and one for his younger sister Chen Lan. The living room had been divided into a kitchen and a dining area.
The entire house was mainly built of wood, with a small amount of gray brick filling the gaps. There were no ornate carved beams or painted rafters, and it looked simple and plain.
"Brother, you're back?"
Just as Chen Lin was about to go take a look in the kitchen, a clear cry suddenly came from behind him.
Chen Lin turned around and saw a little girl with delicate features and skin as fair as snow looking at him with a face full of delight.
The moment Chen Lin saw the little girl, a brilliant smile immediately spread across his face. During the half month he had spent recovering at the clinic, this younger sister had taken care of him most of the time.
His daily meals, medicinal soup, and changes of clothes had all fallen onto the shoulders of this little girl, who was not even that old. Since Chen Lin had always wanted a younger sister in his previous life, he truly loved this sister from the bottom of his heart.
"Xiaolan, you're back! Are you tired? Where's Mother?" Chen Lin casually took the vegetable basket from Chen Lan's hands and asked gently.
"Mother's behind me." Chen Lan wiped the sweat from her forehead with her little hand, her smile bright.
"A Lin, are you hungry? I bought lots of dishes you like. Wait for me a moment, I'll cook for you right away!" At that moment, a middle-aged woman of short stature and fair complexion entered the house with half a sack of rice, calling out with a smile.
Chen Lin's mother was named Song Qiaoyun. She was a kind and simple woman.
"Mother, let me help you!" Seeing the heavy sack of rice in Song Qiaoyun's hands, Chen Lin hurriedly reached out to help.
"No, no. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, so rest first!" Song Qiaoyun repeatedly waved him off, then pulled Chen Lan into the kitchen.
Feeling the care from his mother and sister, Chen Lin secretly resolved that, one month from now, he would definitely become a member of the War God Temple or obtain the identity of a Demon Slayer Envoy.
He absolutely could not let his family in this world be driven outside the city to live days filled with fear and unease.
Not long after Song Qiaoyun and Chen Lan entered the kitchen, Chen Hongbo was driven out of it.
Seeing his son staring blankly into space again, a trace of heartache flashed through Chen Hongbo's eyes. He walked over, sat beside Chen Lin, and asked gently, "A Lin, what are your plans from here on?"
Although Chen Hongbo knew very well that failing to enter a martial academy had dealt his son a tremendous blow, he still had to ask this question.
Because he felt this was a reality his child had to face next. He did not want his son to keep living beneath the shadow of failing the martial examination.
Although Chen Hongbo felt some regret that his son had failed to enter a martial academy, he did not harbor the slightest blame. He knew clearly that his son had always trained diligently and had always done exceptionally well.
This time, he had failed to enter a martial academy entirely because someone had schemed against him. It was not because the boy lacked strength.
"Father, does your slaughterhouse still need workers?"
Faced with his father's concern, Chen Lin did not answer directly. Instead, he asked a completely unrelated question.
Chen Hongbo was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Why are you asking that?"
"I want to be a butcher for a few days and vent some frustration," Chen Lin gave the excuse he had long prepared.
Chen Hongbo's heart tightened at his words. Then he sighed softly and said, "If you want to vent, I can take you there tomorrow. But you should also think carefully about what path you want to take in the future. Your father may not have studied, but even I know your life has only just begun. Don't let a momentary setback betray such excellent martial talent. In this world, the strong are ultimately revered. I hope you understand that in your heart."
Chen Lin nodded and replied, "Father, don't worry. I understand that clearly."
"Good! As long as you understand." Chen Hongbo patted Chen Lin's shoulder in comfort.
Not long afterward, Song Qiaoyun poked her head out from the kitchen and called to the father and son, who were having a heart-to-heart talk, "Dear, hurry in and get the bowls and chopsticks. Dinner's ready!"
"Coming!" Chen Hongbo immediately stood up with a smile.
Chen Lin also hurried into the kitchen to help carry out the dishes.
"Today's food smells wonderful!" Chen Hongbo praised as he served the rice.
The family of four sat together in warm harmony.
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