Looking for Them
"Who is she to Su Shen?" a villager whispered to his neighbor.
"She's so elegant, just like a socialite who returned from overseas!" another responded, marveling at Gu Zi's appearance.
"I heard from the people in Daqing Village that the biological daughter of the Lin family is now living in the Su family residence," a woman shared.
As soon as this revelation spread, it became clear to everyone that the beautiful woman was indeed the biological daughter of the Lin family.
The discussions buzzed with increased enthusiasm.
The news of Su Shen and Gu Zi coming to Little Lin Village quickly spread throughout the community.
However, as is often the case with such rumors, the story underwent alterations. It was now widely believed that Su Shen and Gu Zi had come to the Lin family to collect debts.
At this moment, someone in the village saw the Lin family's eldest son and daughter-in-law walking back.
They deliberately spoke very loudly to vent their dissatisfaction with the Lin family.
"We really misjudged them. They took other people's money and didn't return it. What's the difference between them and thieves?" the villager exclaimed, his voice filled with resentment.
"Look, each of them is carrying a tattered sack. Who knows who they're pretending to be pitiful for!" another villager chimed in.
"If you do something wrong and your conscience is not clear, then you definitely have to pretend!" a third villager added, further fanning the flames.
Lin Cheng and Li Hua, having heard these derogatory comments, felt embarrassed and disheartened. They lowered their heads and continued walking.
When they were out of earshot, Li Hua timidly addressed her husband, "Ah-Cheng, the Su family is here. What should we do?"
They found themselves in an unfortunate situation.
They had initially gone to the city to work on a construction site, planning to save up money to repay the betrothal gift to the Su Shen.
They didn't expect that their positions would be taken by two people with connections after only a few days.
Having lost their jobs, they had no choice but to come home.
Lin Cheng, attempting to offer reassurance, replied, "Xiao Hua, don't worry. Let's go back and explain everything to Mr. Su. It's not that we don't want to return the money, but we just need some time."
He also felt the pressure of the situation, but seeing his wife's concern made him try to appear more composed.
But thinking about it, their family was really unlucky. They had originally hoped that Lin Miao's marriage would have a good outcome, but they did not expect it to bring about such a big negative change.
They first discovered that Lin Miao, whom they had raised for more than ten years, was not the flesh and blood of their family. Later on, Lin Miao returned to her rich biological parents' side, and she was no longer willing to fulfill the marriage she had begged for.
The entire Lin family went to the city to see their biological sister, but she refused to see them no matter what.
In the end, they found that the 3,000 yuan betrothal gift was missing. They couldn't find it anywhere in the house.
In order to collect money to pay off their debts, they sold their old house and moved into an uninhabited mountain bay.
Meanwhile, Gu Zi and Su Shen labored their way to the foot of the mountain. Finding the Lin family's house was not difficult, as it was the only inhabited dwelling in the vicinity.
The Lin family's abode was constructed on the remnants of an abandoned house. The foundation consisted of old stone bricks and two remaining stone walls.
The other two walls were makeshift, crafted from tattered sacks, and the roof was covered with a large, torn piece of plastic cloth.
Gu Zi was shocked to see the rundown condition of the house. It was hard to fathom how anyone could still live in such a dilapidated structure.
Su Shen called out several times, but no one answered. He said, "They're not at home. They're probably working in the fields."
Gu Zi replied, "It's alright; we can wait. Let me hold Lele for a while." She cradled Su Le and found a clean stone brick to sit on.
As she took in a deep breath, she felt the crisp mountain air refresh her senses.
Su Shen observed her as she sat there, dressed in simple attire. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt, jeans, and a lace sun hat. Her dark hair was neatly tied into two braids, creating an image of grace and beauty.
In that moment, he realized that Gu Zi was not just a privileged young lady; she possessed the grace and elegance of a princess, residing within a castle. A young miss might throw tantrums, but a princess would forever exude dignity and poise.
Gu Zi was undoubtedly that princess.
However, Su Shen didn't want her to wait outside and said, "Please wait for me here with Lele. I'll go up and look for them."
Just as he was about to ascend, the sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears, and a man and a woman appeared in front of them.
Su Shen turned to Gu Zi and introduced them, "This is your biological brother, and the person beside him is his wife."
Lin Cheng and Li Hua, visibly anxious, greeted their guests. Lin Cheng addressed Su Shen, "Mr. Su, please come in and have a seat."
Lin Cheng couldn't help but steal a glance at Gu Zi, and in an instant, he recognized the resemblance between her and their mother when she was young.
However, Gu Zi' s demeanor was that of an affluent young lady, an air of nobility that made him hesitant to meet her gaze..