MGASC -Chapter 96 Protecting His Family — It’s His Responsibility

Originally, Yingzi and Chen Gang had planned to set up their stall early that morning. But when Chen Gang went to pick up the fish, he saw the Lin family courtyard in complete ruins and was scared out of his wits.

He thought something had happened to Lin Tianyue. Only after asking the neighbors did he learn what had really gone on.

Business was clearly out of the question for now.

He and Yingzi immediately went to the guesthouse.

It wasn’t just Yingzi—Chen Gang was furious and anxious on Lin Tianyue’s behalf too. Life had just started to look up, so how could something this unlucky happen now?

But the moment Yingzi started crying, he hurriedly tugged at her.

“Alright, Yingzi, stop it. Don’t make sister-in-law feel worse. She’s still pregnant.”

After Chen Gang reminded her, Yingzi sniffled a couple more times and realized she was only adding to their distress.

“Sister-in-law, it’s okay, really. Don’t get worked up. Our business isn’t urgent. If you and Brother Yue don’t have anywhere to stay for the next few days, just come stay at my place. If there’s anything you need, just say the word. As long as we stick together, we’ll get through this. Those clowns who want to laugh at us—may they all just drop dead!”

While Yingzi was comforting Zhang Qiao, Chen Gang and Lin Tianyue walked off to a quiet, secluded spot.

“Brother Yue, early this morning someone found Wang Yan’s mother drowned in the river. By the time they pulled her out, her body was already cold—it looks like she’d been dead all night. I also heard that last night, someone saw her heading toward the old house area… I’m guessing this fire was probably set by her.”

Chen Gang lit a cigarette for Lin Tianyue and told him everything he’d found out.

Lin Tianyue stared silently at the cigarette burning between his fingers, his expression cold and grim, not saying a word.

“Damn it! That old witch—she pinned her daughter’s death entirely on us! Why doesn’t she think about the rotten things her daughter did? She was a lunatic! A total lunatic! She actually wanted to drag your whole family down with her! That old hag was vicious to the core!”

Chen Gang kept cursing angrily.

To him, the situation was pretty clear.

After Wang Yan’s death, the bad blood between the Wang and Lin families had already reached its peak. If the Wang family had been reasonable, things might’ve ended there. But if they were malicious, trouble was bound to come sooner or later.

He just hadn’t expected their revenge to come so fast.

Standing in the shadows, Lin Tianyue finally took a drag from his cigarette.

The smoke curled out, highlighting his dangerous-looking face.

So it really was Wang Yan’s mother.

Before leaving, Lin Tianyue had worried about retaliation, which was why he’d specifically arranged for Xiao Wu to stay with Zhang Qiao.

But in the end, he was still one move too slow.

A fire raged in his chest with nowhere to vent.

Just then, Xiao Wu hurried over from across the road. Big and burly, he started trembling the moment he spotted Lin Tianyue from afar.

As soon as he reached them, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Factory director, I’m sorry! I was wrong… I didn’t complete the task you gave me. I—I messed up badly. I’m not even fit to be called human. I’ve let you down, and I’ve let sister-in-law down too. I’m useless at everything—can’t do anything right. Director, punish me! Punish me hard!”

Xiao Wu was terrified. The moment he heard about what had happened to the Lin family that morning, he hadn’t even finished his meal before running over to confess his guilt.

This job was definitely gone—he hadn’t carried out the factory director’s instructions properly.

But what crushed him even more was his conscience. Zhang Qiao had treated him so well, yet he’d nearly gotten her burned alive.

Seeing him now, Lin Tianyue’s anger flared instantly.

He stepped forward and kicked Xiao Wu to the ground. “Wu Hongfei, you still have the nerve to show your face? Tell me—what did I say to you before I left?”

Xiao Wu cried uncontrollably. “You said to watch over sister-in-law. Wherever she goes, I go. Not a single step away. Even at night, I had to keep one eye open and stay outside watching, no matter what, to make sure nothing happened!”

“So you do remember, damn it!”

Lin Tianyue grabbed Xiao Wu by the collar. “Then what the hell did you actually do?!”

“I… I…”

At that moment, Zhang Qiao heard the commotion and came out.

She pulled Lin Tianyue away and made him let go of Xiao Wu.

“That’s enough. This is on me,” she said, full of guilt. “Xiao Wu did his job well. I was the one who felt it was too troublesome to be followed around all the time, so I assigned him other errands. Yesterday, he was running around all day helping me with the trademark paperwork and worked until very late. I saw how exhausted he was, so I told him to go back and rest. Don’t blame him anymore.”

It was only after the fire that Zhang Qiao belatedly realized why Lin Tianyue had insisted on arranging Xiao Wu to stay by her side.

He’d been worried she might face retaliation.

She’d heard everything Chen Gang said earlier.

Wang Yan’s mother was dead. Zhang Qiao couldn’t help but sigh. She’d thought that once Wang Yan was executed, the matter was finally over.

Even if the Wang family held a grudge, with the current crackdown going on, they wouldn’t dare do anything illegal so easily.

But she’d underestimated a mother’s love for her child.

Wang Yan’s mother had been pushed over the edge—she’d gone mad.

A madwoman didn’t care about law or morality. She might not even need to bear criminal responsibility for committing evil acts.

Lin Tianyue was still furious—he didn’t even know whether he was angry at himself or at others.

But he didn’t strike Xiao Wu again.

Instead, he shouted, “Get up! Crying over every little thing—what were you doing earlier, huh?!”

Zhang Qiao went to help Xiao Wu up, but Lin Tianyue stopped her. “Don’t help him. Let him get up himself!”

Xiao Wu wiped his tears and climbed to his feet.

He wasn’t even twenty yet. This was his first job, and he’d already caused a huge disaster. To be honest, he was still just a kid.

He had no idea what to do.

But Zhang Qiao speaking up for him—that kindness, he engraved it in his heart.

“Sister-in-law… I’m sorry…”

“Alright, alright.”

Lin Tianyue said, “So now do you know what you’re supposed to do from now on?”

Xiao Wu sniffed. “I… I’ll resign…”

Chen Gang coughed lightly and whispered to him, “Idiot. The director’s listening to you show your determination.”

“Huh?” Xiao Wu wiped his tears again. Truth be told, he didn’t want to quit.

He’d worked so hard to get this job. He hadn’t done well, but he desperately wanted to make up for it. He was just afraid the factory director wouldn’t give him another chance.

Lin Tianyue’s voice was icy. “From this moment on, stay alert every single minute! If you dare slack off again, get the hell back to your hometown and farm!”

Xiao Wu stared at him in disbelief. “Director… you’re not firing me?”

Lin Tianyue was already irritated and waved his hand impatiently. “Get lost! I don’t have time to deal with you!”

He was angry, but he wasn’t unreasonable.

When it came to protecting his family, he himself hadn’t done enough—so he couldn’t blame others entirely.

It looked like he needed to hire more people.

Right now, there were plenty of people jealous and resentful of him. Who knew what else might be coming next?

He couldn’t afford to take risks anymore.

Zhang Qiao had Yingzi stay behind at the guesthouse to watch the kids, while she, Lin Tianyue, and Chen Gang went back home to check on the situation.

A crowd had gathered at the entrance of the Lin house—neighbors from around the area, as well as merchants who’d previously wanted to cooperate with Zhang Qiao.