Chapter One Hundred and Nine: Address the Matter, Not the Person

Lin Guoshan had already been nursing a bellyful of anger. He had been beaten up, and even the shop had been smashed to pieces. Now, seeing that everyone was pinning their hopes on Chen Huajiang, as though he had been treated by his own family like a useless soft persimmon, someone who could not be relied upon and could not handle anything, his fury flared like a firecracker and went off at once.

What is more, he had long been dissatisfied with Chen Huajiang. First, after Lin Laogen returned from the Kunlun shop last time, he had casually mentioned the business’s earnings, and that had filled him with envy.

At the time, Lin Laogen had merely complained that he was unlucky, that he had not stood on the same side as his son-in-law, Chen Huajiang, and had thus missed out on a profitable windfall.

But to Lin Guoshan’s ears, it sounded as though Lin Laogen was saying he was useless, not as good as Chen Huajiang.

Second, there was what had happened before, especially because his girlfriend Fangfang’s best friend, Chen Yan, was a notorious loose tongue. Every time she showed up, she would bring up the matter at the mass grave.

How the rascal Zhao and Wolf Dog had been lectured by Chen Huajiang and had not dared even to fart.

How Wolf Dog had been beaten by Chen Huajiang and could only swallow his anger and let the matter die down.

In any case, the lead role was always Chen Huajiang. As for Lin Guoshan, he did not even get a name, let alone a supporting role.

At the age when blood ran hot, how could he not be angry? That was also why, when Chen Yan asked him for help this time, he agreed without a second thought.

Didn’t you, Chen Yan, always brag about how capable Chen Huajiang was? Didn’t the whole underworld already know it?

Then why come begging to me? Fine, I’ll help you trample your boyfriend, and let you see just how formidable I, Lin Guoshan, really am.

The result—

Things did not go as planned. He did help Chen Yan break up with her ex, but he also got beaten, and even the stall was smashed.

Everything Lin Guoshan had done was to prove himself, to prove that he was no worse than Chen Huajiang.

But now, the expressions on everyone’s faces felt like slap after slap landing on his own, and the fire in his chest could no longer be hidden.

Everyone stared at Lin Guoshan in astonishment. Even Chen Huajiang was a little stunned. What was this guy doing? Why was he lashing out at him?

“You, you, you— you unfilial wretch! Apologize to your brother-in-law right now!”

“You had a little drink and now you’re throwing a drunken fit here, is that it!”

Lin Laogen trembled with rage, pointing at Lin Guoshan and shouting. Yet, after all, that was his son, so he still tried to smooth things over and find an excuse for him.

After all, who would be drinking first thing in the morning? And Lin Guoshan did not look drunk at all.

“Guoshan, what nonsense are you spouting? Your brother-in-law came to help out of kindness. How can you talk like that?”

Fangfang also grabbed Lin Guoshan’s arm and tugged at him.

She too was shocked by his sudden outburst, but when she spoke, Lin Guoshan only grew angrier.

He stood there and said loudly, “Today, I’m putting my words here. This little matter, I can handle it myself.”

“Chen Huajiang, you don’t need to come here looking for a sense of presence. I, Lin Guoshan, don’t need your help.”

Lin Guoshan looked straight at Chen Huajiang as he spoke, his words firm and forceful.

“You ungrateful beast, I’ll beat you to death!”

Lin Laogen was truly enraged now. Was this brat’s mind filled with lard? Or had some evil spirit taken him over?

He snatched up the carrying pole by the wall and raised it, ready to discipline his son.

“All right, Dad, I understand what Guoshan means.”

“He’s unhappy inside. Letting it out will do him good. I won’t blame him for it, and I won’t take it to heart.”

Chen Huajiang hurriedly stood up and pulled his father-in-law back.

Then he looked at Lin Guoshan and smiled. “Brother-in-law, we’re all family, so there’s no need to speak as if we’re on opposite sides. I understand what you mean too. You can handle this yourself, and you don’t need my help. If I did help, it might only hurt your pride.”

“All right then, I won’t interfere in this matter. If you need anything, though, don’t be polite.”

“Dad, Mom, I’ll head off first. There are still some things at the shop that need taking care of.”

Since Lin Guoshan had made himself so clear, Chen Huajiang could not very well stay any longer. After taking his leave of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, he glanced at his wife and turned to go.

Lin Jiayin’s face darkened. She glared at her eldest brother, Lin Guoshan, so angrily that for a long moment she could not find the words. Only after stamping her foot did she hurry after her husband.

“Huajiang, my brother, my brother—”

“I’m so angry. How could he say something like that? You came in good faith to help him, and he actually treated your kindness like trash.”

“No, I need to go back and make things clear to him.”

Lin Jiayin caught up to her husband, growing angrier by the second. She grabbed Chen Huajiang’s hand and was about to drag him back.

Lin Guoshan’s actions and words had put her in an impossible position from both sides. Wasn’t this just stabbing his own sister in the back?

“Enough, Jiayin. I understand what you mean.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t have any ill feelings toward Lin Guoshan, and I’m not taking it to heart.”

“To me, he is just that kind of person, whether he accepts it or not. And he is your brother too, my elder brother-in-law.”

Chen Huajiang held his wife’s hand, squeezed it gently, and smiled as he comforted her.

“You really don’t blame him?”

Warmth filled Lin Jiayin’s heart. She bit her lip and looked at Chen Huajiang as she asked.

She thought Chen Huajiang was simply saving face for her, indulging her, which was why he had not taken the earlier humiliation to heart.

But she also feared that he was only pretending. Men all cared about their dignity. Just now, in front of so many people, Lin Guoshan had given her husband a scolding. How could her husband possibly not be angry?

“Heh, I really am not angry, and I don’t blame him.”

“When we first got together, just because my elder brother-in-law did not oppose us being together back then, I’ve remembered that kindness for the rest of my life.”

“Whether he has a good temper or a bad one, he’s still the same person. I, Chen Huajiang, judge the matter, not the man.”

Chen Huajiang smiled as he spoke. It was the truth, but there were also some thoughts in his heart that he did not tell his wife.

To judge the matter and not the man was, in itself, a kind of distance. The favor Lin Guoshan had once done him, he would repay. But once that was repaid, the two of them would not have much of a relationship left at all. They would simply be ordinary relatives.

Lin Jiayin did not know this. She only thought her husband was being generous for her sake, and her heart filled with gratitude.

Thinking back to the choice she had made to be with Chen Huajiang, she suddenly felt that she had chosen the right man. It had been worth it.

And so the two of them walked hand in hand along the street, just as they had when they were first courting, strolling aimlessly down the road and taking in the sights.

After wandering around a while, Chen Huajiang saw his wife back to the Red Banner Factory to settle her leave.

“Brother Chen, sister-in-law.”

At the gate, Liang Long nodded to the two of them in greeting. He had a cigarette in hand and was about to offer it to Chen Huajiang out of habit, but when he saw Lin Jiayin beside him, he hesitated and drew it back.

Lin Jiayin rolled her eyes. Liang Long might as well have handed the cigarette to her husband right in front of her. Drawing it back like that only made him look guilty, as though he were trying to fool her.

Still, she knew Liang Long was her husband’s good brother, so she did not say anything. She simply waved a hand and went into the factory.

“Brother Chen, I already told them. Everyone is pretty interested.”

“But since I don’t know the details, I can manage a meal, but I can’t manage cooking. So they want to meet you in person and ask how exactly we should go about this.”

Liang Long handed Chen Huajiang a cigarette and reported back on the matter of helping his comrades find work.

Chen Huajiang nodded. That was only natural. No normal person would hear just a rough outline and immediately invest themselves in a line of work. Anyone sensible would investigate thoroughly before placing a bet.

“All right. How about this: at three this afternoon, call your comrades over and let’s have a meal together.”

“Let’s meet at Lu Family Restaurant. In a few more years, you won’t even be able to eat Lu family cooking anymore, so we might as well try it while we still can.”

Chen Huajiang nodded and made the arrangement with Liang Long.