456: The retribution of selfishness

Xiao Xiaolooked at Aunt Lin's desperate attempts to defend her son, a wave of helplessness washing over her. Many elderly people, even if their children are unfilial, are unwilling to see them punished.

Indeed, those who are pitiable must have something hateful about them. Although this kind of thing is an internal family issue, it does not mean that the law cannot intervene. Since Xiao Xiaoencountered such morally corrupt behavior, she would not let it go unaddressed.

Lin Haoangrily said, "Who exactly are you?"

"I am Lu Tianming's daughter, my name is Lu Xiaoxiao."

Lin Haoonly felt his legs go weak, almost unable to stand. Having been adopted by Lin Damawhen he was young, he naturally knew who Lu Tianmingwas, and even more so, what kind of existence the woman in front of him was.

"Little, Little Boss!" Lin Damawas also stunned at the same time, muttering the words.

Lin Damaherself was a minor character. Thirty years ago, as the neighborhood committee Damaof the Shelter, she used her acquaintance with Tian Mingto seek benefits and take advantage of small gains everywhere.

As a Damaof the base, some material distribution had to go through her hands. Over time, relying on the little power she held, she also made quite a bit of money.

When she was in Space City, Lin Damastill wanted to get a spot for consciousness backup, hoping to achieve immortality, but the Comprehensive Management Departmentin Space City had extremely strict reviews, and the list had to be publicly displayed. In such matters, no amount of connections would help, unless she went directly to Tian Ming.

Lin Damawas unsuccessful, so she took her two adopted sons and all her savings, returning to the ground to participate in the Blue Star's ecological restoration.

Besides this one nursery, there were five other nursery bases around Donghai Citythat belonged to Aunt Lin. She was smooth in her dealings and was also among the first group of people to enter the Shelter. The contracting of ecological engineering restoration was also taken up by her and her two sons.

Life was getting better and better, but her health was not as good as before. Her two sons asked Lin Damato transfer her assets to their names, but Lin Damarefused.

Lin Damawas using the inheritance of property to make her sons support her in old age, with whoever worked harder getting more inheritance. But her two sons had conspired, agreeing to support her together, but treating her like a dog, giving her scraps to eat, cutting off her contact with the outside world, and installing an anti-loss locator on her. After all, once the old woman died, the property would be divided equally.

If she was well cared for, with current medical technology, living to over a hundred years old would be easy. Lin Damaregretted it so much her intestines turned green; what she had adopted were not sons, but two ungrateful wolves.

As her physical ailments became more severe, Lin Damabecame even more afraid to resist her sons. Even if Xiao Xiaostood up for her, she didn't dare, because even if the Security Bureaucame to investigate, they wouldn't find any concrete evidence, and she couldn't bear her sons' retaliation afterward.

After learning Xiao Xiao'strue identity, Lin Damawas like someone who had found a savior, trembling as she knelt down.

"Little Boss, you must uphold justice for me. These two ungrateful wolves I raised, they restricted me from seeing a doctor, wouldn't let me live in a nursing home, and only gave me one meal of pre-made food every day. Even the Moss nanny robot that took care of me was an offline version. I'm like I'm in prison; they're just waiting for me to die a natural death and then divide my property."

Unexpectedly, Lin Hao'sreaction was even more agitated: "Old woman, don't slander me! What did you say when you gave us brothers pre-made food back then? You said, although it wasn't tasty, it was nutritionally complete. This nursery, my brother and I worked ourselves to death, and you? You weren't even willing to give us a share. All the public accounts are yours. Don't you have any idea how we treated you?"

"Wait!" Xiao Xiaoraised her hand, stopping the two from continuing to quarrel.

Lin Haodared not act presumptuously again and quickly said, "Little, Little Boss, this old woman adopted us with a very clear purpose: to have someone to rely on in old age. My brother and I, I was adopted at 13, my brother at 12. At first, she treated us well, but ever since we went to Space City, she changed. She didn't hit or scold us, but she often starved us, and if we didn't obey, there was a punishment. When we returned to Blue Star to build the nursery, my brother and I worked day and night, but she didn't give us a single cent."

Xiao Xiaofrowned and said, "Is what you're saying all true?"

"I, Lin Hao, swear to heaven, if I'm lying, may I die a terrible death, and may my wife and children all perish."

Lin Damaremained silent at the side, looking as if it was highly likely that what Lin Haosaid was true.

Lin Haocontinued, "Five years ago, we secured a big order, the urban forest farm greening project. We worked for three years, wanting some shares, but this old woman wouldn't give us any, not even a little. She also desperately pushed us to have children to earn the Comprehensive Management Department'sbirth subsidies. The nursery's operating expenses, my brother and I covered with birth subsidies, and for the project funds, she stubbornly refused to give us any."

The more Lin Haospoke, the angrier he became, finally raging, "My younger brother, Lin Yun, wanted to kill this old woman, but I stopped him. After all, she raised us, and we didn't go down the most evil path. Now that her life has become like this, it's all her own doing, her retribution."

Xiao Xiaolooked at Lin Damaand asked, "Grandma, is what your son said all true?"

Lin Damalooked up at Xiao Xiao, then at the furious Lin Hao, sighed deeply, and said, "Some of what he said is true, but not all of it."

Xiao Xiaofrowned, motioning for Lin Damato continue.

Lin Damacontinued, "I did adopt the two brothers, and at the time, I was thinking of having someone to rely on in my old age. When we were in Space City, the pressure of life was great, and I was indeed a bit strict with them, but that was also so they could learn skills and have a good future. As for starving and punishment, there were reasons for all of that."

"After returning to Blue Star, we managed the nursery together. I indeed didn't give them money, that's because I wanted to save the money to buy them cars and houses in the future. The urban forest farm greening project was something we took on together, and I knew they worked hard, but at that time, the nursery was just starting, and money was needed everywhere. I had no choice."

At this point, Lin Damashed tears of regret: "I know I'm sorry to the two brothers, but I truly never intended to abuse them or covet their money. I just wanted to live a few more years, to help them for a few more years. I didn't expect them to hate me so much…"

After hearing this, Lin Haobecame even angrier: "Nonsense, Little Boss, don't listen to her rambling. You can check her accounts, and see if those expenses were spent on us brothers. She talks a good game, but in reality, she's stingy."

Looking at Lin Hao'sfurious face, Xiao Xiaoshook her head. It seemed the old saying was true: even an honest official has difficulty settling family disputes. However, with Bai Yiming, this matter could be left for him to worry about.

"Alright, wait for the police to arrive. It's a fact that you abused an elderly person. As for the rest, someone will naturally investigate it thoroughly."