Chapter 366: Chapter 366: The Truth About Mother’s Death
Lin Qi said, “I have already severed ties with the Lin Family.”
Jiang Li was somewhat surprised, “What happened?”
Lin Qi said, “It’s a long story, but in any case, I’m no longer a part of the Lin Family now.”
Jiang Li furrowed her brows and glanced at Huo Tingdong, hesitating, “Actually, there are some things I shouldn’t tell you, especially in front of your brother-in-law, since family scandals should not be spread abroad, and my mother also asked me not to tell you, fearing that you would think our Jiang Family is trying to instigate discord between you and your father. But… Qiqi, do you know? The circumstances of your mother’s death weren’t that simple!”
Lin Qi asked, “What did your mom tell you?”
Jiang Li said, “My mom said that your mom was infuriated to death, she didn’t die of illness!”
Lin Qi was somewhat surprised.
Jiang Li said, “My mom is definitely not making this up! After your mom passed away, there was a lot of gossip about her death, with all kinds of explanations going around, but in fact, everyone in the Jiang Family knows the truth behind the cause of your mom’s death! But you were too young at that time, and everyone in the Jiang Family was looking out for you, so you didn’t understand. I didn’t understand either, until I grew up, and it was brought up casually one time that my mom finally told me.”
Lin Qi was aware of this.
The relations among the sisters-in-law in the Jiang Family were not good, but several aunts and Mrs. Lin got along quite well.
Back then, everyone in the Jiang Family was furious over Mrs. Lin’s death, causing a big commotion with the Lin Family, especially when Lin Cheng quickly married Zhou Qin soon after Mrs. Lin’s death. This made the grudge between the two families even worse, and from then on, they went their separate ways.
Lin Qi said, “All I knew was that my mom had died from an illness.”
Jiang Li seemed to want to say more but hesitated when she glanced at Huo Tingdong, showing some concern.
Huo Tingdong smiled, “You don’t have to be wary of me, I’m not an outsider.”
Jiang Li then looked towards Lin Qi.
Lin Qi said, “Sister, just say it directly.”
She was also eager to know what truth the Jiang Family members actually knew.
Jiang Li said, “My mom told me that your mother didn’t die from an illness. It was because your dad had an affair and she killed herself out of despair, but that irresponsible dad of yours lied to you, saying it was an illness!”
Lin Qi opened her mouth in disbelief, “That’s impossible… I was summoned to her bedside when my mom passed away.”
Jiang Li frowned and asked, “Do you still remember what your mom looked like at that time?”
After a moment of thought, Lin Qi nodded, “I remember.”
Huo Tingdong’s expression suddenly turned grave as if guessing something and glanced at Jiang Li.
Jiang Li, who was perceptive, immediately began to stammer upon seeing the change in Huo Tingdong’s expression: “That… it might be…”
Lin Qi looked at Huo Tingdong, then at Jiang Li, and instantly grasped Jiang Li’s hand: “Sister, keep talking, don’t worry about upsetting me, I can take it.”
Jiang Li said, “Your brother-in-law truly cares for you deeply, he probably guessed it too! He’s afraid that you can’t handle hearing these things. Although it was a long time ago, you’re pregnant now, what if you get distressed?”
Lin Qi replied, “Keep talking. I really want to know. What exactly was so strange about my mother’s death back then?”
Jiang Li sucked in a breath of cold air, steadied herself, and resumed where she had left off: “When your mother was dying, you were by her bedside, right? Do you still remember what she looked like then?”
Lin Qi said, “At that time, her face was devoid of color, very weak. She was covered with a thick blanket. When I was called to her bedside, she looked at me, just kept crying, and her words were feeble, she uttered a few breathless words, then she passed away…”
Jiang Li said, “Of course she had to be covered with a thick blanket! Because all her bones were broken. When your mother had her accident, we all rushed there. It was my mother who saw what state your mother fell into. By the time she was brought to the hospital, she kept coughing up blood, even bleeding from her nose. The doctor said there was no saving her, that she could pass away at any time. Before your mom took her last breath, your dad had already summoned the Funeral Master to take care of your mom’s appearance; by the time you got there, the preparations were nearly done! Your dad lied to you that she died of illness, but in fact, your mom died from falling off the building!”
Lin Qi’s eyes widened in shock, somewhat in disbelief: “How could that be… Why would my mom jump off a building?”
Jiang Li said, “You were still young then. Your mom had cancer, but it was uterine cancer, and she had surgery, didn’t she? Her uterus was removed. It was also around that time that your mom found out that your dad was having an affair. Your mom and dad fought over a divorce, but your dad forced your mom to leave without taking anything, not a single penny, and he insisted that you be taken with her. Unable to cope with that, she jumped off the building, sustaining serious injuries, and was sent to the hospital that same day. The doctors declared her condition hopeless, and she held on just long enough to see you one last time before she went…”
Lin Qi’s face went stiff with severity.
She hadn’t sorted through her thoughts yet, but tears uncontrollably began to fall.
Lin Cheng had always told her that her mother died of illness. Had Jiang Li not told her, she would never have known that her mother had committed suicide by jumping off a building!
Jiang Li continued, “At that time, when our family arrived, demanding an explanation from the Lin Family, the Lins were hesitant to provide one, evasive and ambiguous, simply claiming it was an argument that accidentally resulted in a fall from the building. My mom was demanding to call the police, but even when the police came, it was to no use. Afterward… because of this incident, a grudge formed between our two families, and we in the Jiang Family unanimously believe that your mom was driven to her death by your dad… But after all, we were outsiders, and such matters were not for us to intervene in…”
After a pause, Jiang Li added, “Less than a year after your mom’s death, didn’t your dad marry that woman? That woman brought a daughter with her, initially saying she wasn’t her biological child but a stepdaughter. And then? Hah… your dad is inhuman! I heard that your mom’s grave is still unmarked to this day…”
Her voice suddenly cut off.
Jiang Li realized she had inadvertently spoken too much and frowned in annoyance.
Lin Qi inquired, “What about my mom’s grave?”
Jiang Li said, “This is also something I heard through the grapevine, I’m not certain, don’t take my word for it…”
Lin Qi took a sharp intake of breath, “Sister, please tell me! Now that you’ve come this far, what else do you know that I don’t? Just tell me everything truthfully!”
Jiang Li said, “This is something my dad heard… He said that your dad is superstitious. Back when he married your mom, he compared your mom’s birth chart and said it was auspicious for the Lin Family. Indeed, after they got married, it seemed to prove true as your dad’s career prospered. After your mom passed away, your dad encountered several sinister events, and his business wasn’t going well, so… he sought a Taoist. That Taoist said something about your mom being a vengeful ghost causing trouble, but also that your mom’s destiny was to prosper the Lin Family, and if she were to reincarnate, she couldn’t continue to bless the Lin Family generation after generation… So, your dad had your mom’s grave dug up, as for your mom’s ashes, I don’t know where they are now…”