OFTLHFRO C100

Chapter 100 Marry Another One?

After hearing the woman’s words, Huo Yan replied coolly, “Did Lin Tianlei not tell you? He and I have long since cut ties, never to deal with each other again.”

At that, Lin Tianlei was about to explode, but was restrained by Zhou Huahua.

“Cousins are still family, why let things get so ugly? Even if you don’t associate with your father’s side, do you mean to sever ties with your mother’s side as well? If your aunt knew of this in the afterlife, she would surely be saddened.”

Luo Mingchen frowned at the mention of Huo Yan’s mother.

“How would you know whether our mother is sad or not? Did she appear to you in a dream, or did you crawl back from the underworld? Cousins are family, true, but cousins who behave like scum—if we don’t end up fighting to the death, that’s already showing restraint. Coming here is nothing but self-humiliation. Take what you brought and get out.”

That saying—“don’t strike a smiling face”—didn’t apply to Luo Mingchen.

Zhou Huahua was stunned by his words.

She thought she had lowered herself enough already. As a woman, surely any man would treat her with courtesy, but Luo Mingchen gave her no face at all.

Lin Tianlei slapped the table and rose. “Watch your tongue!”

“This is my house. I’ll speak however I want. If you’ve nothing else, get out—we’ve no interest in hosting you.”

Zhou Huahua, embarrassed yet perplexed, felt her dignity sting.

Seeing Lin Tianlei take two steps toward Luo Mingchen, Huo Yan asked, “Were you thinking of using your fists?”

Lin Tianlei was reminded that he could not defeat either Huo Yan or Luo Mingchen. He stiffened his neck and forced out, “I was saying I’m leaving. What? Not allowed?”

The abrupt shift was so awkward Luo Mingchen felt both speechless and amused.

Guessing her husband’s thoughts, Zhou Huahua smoothed things over, “Brothers, what family carries grudges overnight? Husband, don’t be so angry—sit down. Let bygones be bygones. Life must go on, must it not? If trouble comes, isn’t it good to have support? Besides, the children are still young. Do you want them to grow up without siblings?”

Luo Mingchen simply stared at her.

Compared to the brainless Yang Cuifen, Zhou Huahua was even more detestable. She looked gentle, but in truth she was like stubborn plaster, impossible to scrape off.

If you wanted to hit her, her words seemed reasonable, her gaze sincere.

All in all, she was someone you couldn’t beat yet couldn’t stand to argue with.

As Luo Mingchen weighed whether to throw them out the door, Zhou Huahua thought she had persuaded him, and continued, “Forgive me for being blunt, but we will one day walk ahead of the children. When that time comes, if their relationships are estranged and they’re left lonely and alone, how could we as parents rest easy?”

Huo Xiang wanted to speak, but was tugged back by Huo Yuhui, so he remained silent.

Huo Xinyue’s eyes darted back and forth, occasionally glancing at Lin Meimei—Lin Tianlei’s daughter.

She remembered this older sister as fierce, someone who had once stolen her candy…

“How are the three of us siblings lonely? Even if we never marry, we can still support each other. If one day I grow old and die, I’ll die in peace. If you can’t rest easy, that’s not my concern. So here’s the choice—will you walk out on your own, or shall I throw you out? Decide quickly.”

After hours of work in the space, Luo Mingchen was starving. He had no patience for her rambling.

Just as Zhou Huahua was about to continue, Huo Yan spoke. “Is Yang Cuifen paralyzed now?”

Both Lin Tianlei and Zhou Huahua froze.

Then Huo Yan added with meaning, “Lin Tianlei, if you wish to marry again, I can assist you.”

Lin Tianlei’s scalp prickled; he roared, “So it really was you who crippled her?!”

Huo Yan answered calmly, “Without proof, don’t fling wild accusations.”

Then he looked to Zhou Huahua again. “Or are you saying you wish to stay faithfully at his side, caring for her without leaving?”

Zhou Huahua, flustered, forced a nervous smile. “We are family…”

Luo Mingchen rose, impatient. “Family, my ass! You only came to get something from us. If we were penniless, would you still be here with your wedding sweets? Even if you said yes, I wouldn’t believe you.”

Saying that, he grabbed one of the children like a chick by the scruff, hauled Lin Tianlei up by the arm, and tossed them both out the hall door. Then he turned to Zhou Huahua and Lin Meimei.

From outside came two cries of pain.

“Are you leaving or not?” Luo Mingchen asked flatly.

As he moved, Huo Yan rose as well, tall frame looming like a mountain.

Zhou Huahua quickly pulled Lin Meimei along, not forgetting to snatch up the wedding sweets as they left.

She wanted to say something about visiting again, but after one look at Huo Yan’s eyes, she wisely shut her mouth.

Father and son clambered up, ready to curse, but when they saw Luo Mingchen holding a kitchen knife from who-knows-where, they shrank back and fell silent.

After driving the four away, Luo Mingchen closed the door. Turning back, he told Huo Yuhui, heavy-hearted, “Next time, make sure who it is before opening the door.”

“…Alright.”

Huo Yuhui truly hadn’t expected Lin Tianlei’s family to show up. He had clearly said his two fathers were busy, but they barged in anyway. If not for Zhou Huahua restraining them, they might even have searched around to take vases and such.

Still, the three children couldn’t be blamed. It had been so long since they’d last seen that family, who would’ve thought they’d come bearing sweets…

Then Luo Mingchen recalled something and asked Huo Yan, “Didn’t you say that poison’s effects would only last a while?”

“Poisons have limits. But if she took the wrong medicine—or if someone deliberately wanted her permanently crippled—then who knows.”

What exactly had happened, they were too far away to know.

Last time Village Chief Yu Hu came by, he hadn’t mentioned Yang Cuifen. He only said Lin Qingfeng, having failed the exam, was ranting daily that it was impossible, blaming Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan for meddling.

To that, Luo Mingchen could only think Lin Qingfeng was giving them far too much credit.

“Then let’s leave them be.”

Who Lin Tianlei married or divorced was his own affair. As long as they didn’t provoke them, it didn’t matter.

Once the crop seeds were prepared, Luo Mingchen glanced at the pile of money in the space. On a whim, he dragged it out, piled it on the bed along with the banknotes in Huo Yan’s hand, and called the three children over to count.

This was all their family’s money…

Seeing the heaps, Huo Xiang’s eyes bulged round as saucers. His mouth dropped open. “Little Daddy! We’re this rich?!”

Luo Mingchen coughed lightly. “Compared to the great wealthy families, it’s still far less.”

Call it a moderately rich household…

Mainly, the Third Prince was too generous—if not gold notes, then stacks of silver. Piled together, it became quite a mountain.

Huo Xiang said solemnly, “We’ll earn even more money in the future!”

“Then I’ll take your good words. Now hurry and help count, see how much we actually have.”

And so the family of five busied themselves, happily counting the little mountain of copper coins.

Sure, Luo Mingchen could’ve tallied it with his perception—but where was the fun in that?

Money was meant to be savored by counting it with your own hands.