The Princess of Northern Land
Chapter 303 Ask for help(6)_1

Chapter 303: Chapter 303 Ask for help(6)_1

"Ziyin." Upon seeing her, Uncle He Fuxing’s face turned completely red, and he bashfully lowered his head.

Lin Ziyin was surprised to see them ages so intensely in just half a year, their hair turned grey. In the heavy snow, they were still wearing thin jackets with cotton seeping through the holes.

"Is that Ziyin?" A young man who was talking to Lin Changshu looked at Lin Ziyin with surprise.

Looking over, Lin Ziyin found that he had a striking resemblance to her uncle, so she guessed he must be one of her cousins.

"Ziyin, this is your eldest cousin," Lin Changshu introduced him to her.

Zige was also holding a young girl’s hand while speaking, she chimed in, "This is your cousin, Chun Ling." She proceeded with introducing the rest of the people.

Her uncle’s entire family had come, eleven of them in all. There were three children among them, two boys about the same age as Changting, who were timidly looking at Lin Ziyin. The other child was a girl who was being held by her second cousin sister-in-law, her face covered with frostbite scars. Overwhelmed by the crowd inside the house, she hid her face in her mother’s bosom, not daring to peek out.

"I’ve been saying, Uncle should have brought his family out long ago. What was the point of staying in such a home?" Lin Zige spoke with indignation.

"What happened?" asked Lin Ziyin, who always liked to get a clear understanding of things. With so many people, it was obvious that they were seeking refuge in her family’s home. In this snowy weather, with their thin clothes, they wouldn’t be out unless something big had happened.

"Our family has been driven out. We’ve cut off relations with others and have nowhere to live, so we..." Eldest cousin He Dingyi choked on his words and couldn’t continue.

Both of Ziyin’s cousin sisters-in-law lowered their heads, their eyes brimming with tears.

"They are bad people, they mistreated Grandma," a child suddenly spoke up. "Grandma almost got pushed into the river and drowned, and they hit Grandpa."

"Is what the child just said true?" Lin Ziyin asked sternly.

"They were too much. Normally, we did all the work in the house, and all the silver we three brothers earned from working outside was given to them. When winter came and there weren’t many jobs, they started to cause trouble seeing Dad’s leg wasn’t well," her second cousin said angrily.

"Mother went out to fetch water and was almost pushed into the river and drowned by Auntie. If it weren’t for the neighbour who saw and helped her change into dry clothes and then made her some ginger tea...," the second eldest cousin choked up, unable to continue. "Dad argued with them, but he was beaten up and was accused of being disobedient and unfilial. The dispute reached the clan elder and cut off our relations. They are some heartless people - we weren’t even allowed to take anything, apart from the clothes we were wearing upon leaving. On a snowy day, they didn’t even leave any food for the children, and Mother was sick, too."

"It’s good that you’re here now. The priest will come tomorrow, and he will take a good look at Auntie," said Lin Ziyin, noting the signs of illness on Aunt Yin’s face.

"Big brother, the courtyard of Changting’s house is currently empty. Let’s house Uncle and his family there temporarily," Lin Ziyin suggested.

"No, Ziyin," He Fuxing hurriedly intervened, "It’s not right for us to move in before the owner. You go around the village and see who has a spare room. Just help us find a place to stay temporarily. Come spring, and we will go out to work and pay back the silver."

"Please, cousins, help us secure a rental. Come spring, we will definitely find work to repay the silver," the eldest cousin also insisted, "We certainly cannot move into Changting’s courtyard."

"Why not stay at my place?" Wu Dayou suggested. "My courtyard is also big enough."

"We, the whole family, cannot impose on your hospitality, renting a house would be enough. But right now, we don’t have any silver. If Ziyin could help us secure a place, that would be enough," insisted He Fuxing, stubbornly refusing to move into Lin Ziyin’s house.