Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife

Chapter 749: Chapter 749: Stray Dog

Lin Chuxia’s frown deepened, "Just call me Lin Chuxia. We aren’t that familiar with each other, and there’s no way I’d give Lin Jiayi any advice. I have things to do, so I’m leaving first."

After saying this, she bypassed Li Guangyuan and headed straight for the jeep.

Li Guangyuan still wanted to stop her, but a tall figure stepped in front of him.

When he looked up, he met a pair of gloomy eyes.

"Who are you? I’m a relative of Lin Chuxia, and I haven’t finished talking with her."

"Someone like you, a pest, even deserves to talk to her? What kind of relative are you to her? Can’t you see she’s very impatient dealing with you?"

"You..."

Li Guangyuan was caught off guard by how harshly this person spoke.

Weren’t they supposed to say these wealthy people care a lot about appearances?

Someone like this around Lin Chuxia doesn’t worry her about her reputation?

He wanted to argue with the man, but upon meeting those cold eyes, he instinctively closed his mouth.

This man’s gaze was too cold; after years of running a stall at the night market, he had honed the skill of reading people’s expressions.

The man in front of him was not someone to provoke—if he pushed too far, he might indeed get beaten up.

Though reluctant to back down, his pride wouldn’t let him admit defeat, "I have nothing to say to you. You’re just a dog at Lin Chuxia’s side. What’s there to be proud of?"

Gu Peng suddenly laughed, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes, "No matter what, I might be a dog at Lin Chuxia’s side, but no matter how much you wag your tail and beg, she won’t spare you a glance. Do you know what that is called?"

He enunciated three words, "Stray dog!"

"You..."

Facing Gu Peng’s provocative look, Li Guangyuan gritted his teeth and finally held back his anger.

From afar, a young police officer asked him, "Comrade, do you still want to report this? You said your money was stolen, so you need to provide specific clues so we can help you retrieve your money bag quickly."

"Coming, coming," Li Guangyuan responded, glared fiercely at Gu Peng, and turned to run back.

Gu Peng watched his retreating figure and let out a cold snort, "Hah, stray dog..."

By now, Lin Chuxia had already returned to the car.

Old Master He had been sitting in the back seat, staring blankly in the direction of the police station.

When Lin Chuxia opened the car door and got in, Old Master He finally withdrew his gaze.

"Weren’t we supposed to leave them alone? Are you disappointed I didn’t bring them out?"

Old Master He shook his head, "No, I was worried you were delayed in there too long. I know what my two daughters are like—they’re very good at making irrational arguments."

Lin Chuxia chuckled, "Indeed, they are, but no matter how irrational they are, they can’t defy the law. The officers won’t indulge them."

Seeing Old Master He’s visibly low spirits, she simply nodded and fell silent.

Lin Chuxia continued, "She moved everything she could from the house, furniture and television, and sold it all. The officers visited her house, and there was nothing left, probably sold everything off. Those items together were worth around two thousand or more. She’s charged with theft, so prison time is certain. But I’ve spoken with Sun Hao—if she can pay the compensation, let’s reduce the sentence, and maybe after a year or so, she’ll be out."

Old Master He nodded again, "Giving her a lesson is good too. Thank you."

He knew Lin Chuxia did it for him.

"Actually, earlier in life, I was very fond of my two daughters, back when the family was doing okay. In families like ours, traditions were very important, and boys were highly valued. When the eldest gave birth to a girl, my parents weren’t pleased. When the second was born a girl, the elders had a lot of dissatisfaction, and they didn’t like the two girls. I knew it wasn’t the children’s fault, so I thought since their grandparents didn’t care for them, as their father, I should make it up to them. In terms of food, drink, play, and use, as long as I could afford it, I did my best to satisfy them.

Later, their mother couldn’t get pregnant for a long time; my father diagnosed that she was injured giving birth to the second girl and might not be able to conceive again. My mother was anxious and arranged for me to take a concubine, and the following year she bore a son. Even then, I never neglected the three of them."

During the war years, the house wasn’t peaceful, but I never let those two children suffer any harm. I never neglected them..."

Lin Chuxia could imagine it. In her eyes, Old Master He was compassionate and meticulous.

Traveling at such an age, he still remembered to buy a doll for Qi Qi.

One could imagine how considerate he was towards his own daughters.

Old Master He took a deep breath, "I know their mother blames me, and the two girls were influenced by her. No matter how well I treated them, they felt it wasn’t as good as what the concubine and son got, so that when the invaders came and the family suffered, my little son’s mother, the woman I later married, was pushed out by their mother and tragically killed. I wasn’t home that day, and by the time I knew, it was too late. If it weren’t for my son’s grandmother protecting him, he might not have survived..."

Lin Chuxia’s pupils contracted; he only knew He Caiyun and He Caixia had broken Old Master He’s heart, but he hadn’t expected so much more.

Old Master He stared out the window, still murmuring.

"Even after making such a grievous mistake, thinking the two girls were still young, I didn’t drive her out of the He Family’s door. In times of war, human life was as cheap as grass, and life was hard enough. Driving her out would have been driving her to her death. But she didn’t enjoy much because a few years later, during a natural disaster, the family had nothing to eat, and she fell ill and just passed away."

Old Master He glanced at Lin Chuxia, "Afterward, you probably know the story. I was..., and the two daughters were grown. The eldest was married, and the second one had a match made. Not wanting to drag themselves down, they severed ties with me. To show her determination, the second daughter led the crowd in chanting slogans..."

In the end, Old Master He could finally no longer speak, trembling with emotion.

Lin Chuxia raised her hand to gently clasp his wrinkled large hand.

"Master, you’re a good father. You brought them into this world, raised them to adulthood—this is the greatest kindness of all. You don’t owe them anything."

On the contrary, He Caihong and He Caixia were ungrateful, always demanding without considering their father. Upon seeing their father in distress, they quickly cut all ties and even added insult to injury.

But when they saw the potential for benefit, they shamelessly clawed their way back.

Such children are worse than beasts.

"Children are a burden," Old Master He sighed, "Girl, honestly, along the way just now, I’ve had two little voices in my head arguing. One says I shouldn’t care anymore. I’ve already done more than enough. The other reminds me that I’m their father; I brought them into this world. A child’s misbehavior is the father’s fault. Even while you’ve been in there, I’ve been thinking a lot."