Moreover, how would she know how to run a bun shop?
She doesnât even like eating the buns she steams herself.
"But mom, I just want those two shops from Qinâs. Iâve already talked it over with the owner; theyâre willing to sell the shops to me. The owner isnât in An City now, and canât manage it herself. Itâs perfect for me to take over..."
"Really?" Zhuang Jingshuâs expression remained unchanged, but her tone showed impatience, "Is the owner of the bun shop youâre talking about Lin Chuxia?"
Lin Jiayi suddenly looked up, eyes full of shock, her mind blank.
Then she heard the words she least wanted to hear, "I heard that Lin Chuxia is your sister. Are you sure sheâs willing to sell the bun shop to you?"
Lin Jiayi forced a smile more bitter than crying, "Yes... yes, she wants to sell the bun shop to me. Sheâs living in the city with her husband now, and canât take care of the bun shop here, so she wants to transfer it to me."
"But Zhuang Yang said that Lin Chuxia didnât plan to transfer the bun shop. Also, she intended to acquire the An City Vegetable Station earlier but you got to it first. Itâs not exactly first come, though, because Lin Chuxia had already sent someone to contact the government. However, Zhuang Yangâs foreign assets advantage helped him acquire the An City Vegetable Station. Jiayi, do you really want these things, or is it just because they belong to Lin Chuxia? Arenât you sisters? But everything youâre doing seems to be targeting her?"
Zhuang Jingshu asked this just to understand calmly.
During this period of contact, she had grown to trust Lin Chuxiaâs character.
Sheâs a perceptive young girl.
In contrast, her newly acknowledged daughter seemed somewhat mediocre in her perspective.
But itâs okay. What she doesnât understand, I can teach her. What she gets wrong, I can help her correct.
Iâve missed over twenty years of her life, and as long as she is healthy and safe, everything else can be settled slowly over time, slowly made up for.
Just like her previous marriage.
Marrying into such a family wasnât her fault. If she had been by my side, I would certainly have helped her find a good family, choose a proper husband.
And not allow her to suffer in her husbandâs family.
So when she proposed a divorce, I supported her. Even if she doesnât want that child, I unconditionally agree.
Sheâs only in her twenties, and thereâs a long road ahead.
I can pay child support and help fulfill a motherâs duty of care.
If my daughter doesnât want to, I wonât morally bind her to let the child become a burden for her.
With Zhuang Jingshuâs words, Lin Jiayiâs face also turned paler.
She didnât know how Zhuang Jingshu found out so much.
From the moment this woman reached out to the Lin Family, her mother told her about the past, firmly insisting she was the child from back then, this woman never showed suspicion.
She took her for health checks, bought her new clothes, and all kinds of tasty food.
No matter the clothes or the usage, whatever she wanted, she never said no.
She never cared about the situation of others in the Lin Family, Lin Jiayi always thought she didnât care since those people were unrelated to her.
Unexpectedly, she even knew about Lin Chuxia, and knew about her interest in the vegetable station and bun shop was because they belonged to Lin Chuxia.
Lin Jiayiâs eyes suddenly reddened, feeling utterly wronged.
"I didnât mean to target her, but sheâs been targeting me all these years. Since childhood, she always suppressed me, isolated me at home with my brother. Now that you know Lin Chuxia, you should know thereâs also Lin Jiadong in the Lin Family, heâs our brother. Lin Chuxia combined with this brother to always oppose me, bully me. Until now, those two are close-knit, they look at me with scorn. At first, I thought it was just me being unlikable, until after you came, mom, I realized I wasnât a biological child of the Lin Family, thatâs why they didnât like me. Otherwise, why would my adoptive mother treat me better even though Iâm not her biological child, itâs because those two bullied me everywhere. Fortunately, my adoptive mother treated me well over the years; otherwise, I would have been bullied to death by them."
She glanced secretly at Zhuang Jingshu, "Thatâs why after you came, mom, I thought about a small revenge against her. Really, I didnât have any other thoughts, I was just oppressed by her for so many years and felt that finally someone else would support me, so I wanted a little revenge. Iâm sorry, mom, I wonât do it again."
Zhuang Jingshu sighed, the investigation results from Zhuang Yang indeed showed Lin Chuxia was closer with that brother.
Could it be that blood is truly thicker than water?
She couldnât say Lin Chuxia was right, but neither could she criticize her biological daughter in such a situation.
"No matter what, the Lin Family shelters you, thatâs a life-saving grace for us. As for your grudge with Lin Chuxia, if you donât want to stay here, I can take you abroad or to other more developed cities. Thereâs no need to fight over these things," Zhuang Jingshu looked at her earnestly, "Youâre not her match."
She had always been somewhat confident in judging people, this daughter had been spoiled.
And Lin Chuxiaâs abilities were evident.
To pit Lin Jiayi against Lin Chuxia would be harming her.
Lin Jiayi, although she didnât like hearing this from Zhuang Jingshu, knew that she likely passed this hurdle today.
"I understand, mom, let me think about it."
She didnât dare to go abroad, but perhaps other big cities... she could consider.
Zhuang Jingshu saw she was still listening to reason and nodded, "Then go back and think it over. I wonât leave here for now, and once youâve thought it through, we can discuss the next steps."
.....................
After leaving Zhuang Jingshu, Lin Jiayi realized her clothes on her back were soaked.
Mother Lin was waiting not far from her, and when she saw Lin Jiayi come out, she hurried to meet her.
"What did she say to you? Why do you look so unwell?"
Mother Lin really hadnât seen her daughter like this much, like something tremendous had happened.
Lin Jiayi glanced behind her, seeing no one following, pulled Mother Lin into an alley, and opened up, "Mom, she knows about Lin Chuxia, knows Lin Chuxia is one of us, she seems to know Lin Chuxia well. She called me over today to ask why I want to buy Qinâs Bun Shop, and why Iâm targeting Lin Chuxia."
Upon hearing this, Mother Linâs face turned pale, "She... she wouldnât know anything, would she?"
"Youâre asking me who should I ask? Didnât you say it was foolproof?" Lin Jiayi couldnât help but shout.
Thinking back to Zhuang Jingshuâs gaze just now made her heart tremble.
Mother Lin, brought back to her senses by her daughterâs shout, shook her head firmly, "No way, she wouldnât know. Only your father and I know about this, no one else. Didnât she also search for a long time before finding us? If anyone knew anything back home, she wouldnât have taken so long to find us."