Chapter 48: Uncle Lin Loves Being Called Brother Lin Most of All

“Then I’ll just buy from someone else.”
“Niece, this is the only pig farm in town. If you want to buy, you’ll have to go to the city.” The owner put on a cheerful face. “By the time you go to the city and come back, it’ll be dark. Driving up the mountain at night is tough—you might not even notice if the piglets fall out of the truck.”
“Lin You, say something.”
Xia Yan knew the owner meant no harm, but she couldn’t help stomping her foot in frustration.
“This is how you speak to your elders?”
Lin You’s words nearly took Xia Yan’s breath away—clearly, he was angry because she hadn’t listened to him earlier.
“Uncle Lin, please, say something for me. Thank you.”
Xia Yan said through clenched teeth.
Li Guoxiang, beside her, couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. Now he finally understood why his own commander had become so talkative; with a family member like this at home, it would be strange if his personality didn’t change.
Lin You nodded solemnly and turned to the pig farm owner. “Boss, just do as she asks. Otherwise, she’ll camp out here and refuse to leave.”
The owner’s smile vanished, replaced by urgency. “Come on, Captain Lin, you’re her elder. If the younger generation insists on making a mistake, why don’t you stop her? Aren’t you afraid her father will come looking for you?”
“Her father isn’t here. If he wants to find me, he’ll have to take the train.”
Lin You’s tone was calm, no longer anxious as when he was persuading Xia Yan earlier.
“I... Oh, forget it. If you’re asking, and I still refuse, people will say I don’t know how to do business. But I’ll say it again: when you get back, make sure you keep a dog—a fierce one.”
Xia Yan thought of the “wolfdog” Lin You had brought home that morning and nodded vigorously. “Don’t worry, Uncle Lin brought back a wolfdog from the army this morning. Its eyes are blue—just looking at it is scary, especially at night, its eyes glow like ghostly flames.”
The owner finally nodded in satisfaction. “Niece, your uncle must remind you: if something happens again, you need to stop. This time, I won’t charge you for the piglets.”
“Really? Uncle, you’re so kind!”
Seeing her mischievous look, Sun Liu laughed, remembering how his son had just eyed Xia Yan.
“Niece, let me ask you: do you have a boyfriend? If not, what do you think of my son? If you become my daughter-in-law, you’ll have unlimited pork.”
“Boyfriend?”
Xia Yan grinned and looked up at Lin You. “Uncle Lin, do you think I have one or not?”
He was about to explain their relationship when a loud, hearty voice rang out from nearby, “Dad, where’s my benefactor?”

Xia Yan turned at the sound—and what a sight.
The newcomer was about Xia Yan’s height, around five foot three, but at least three times her girth. In these times, being so round was no easy feat—she truly lived up to being the pig farm owner’s daughter.
“Lili, slow down, your benefactor’s right here, he won’t run away,” Sun Liu pointed at Lin You.
Sun Lili tried to open her eyes, squeezed together by her cheeks. When she saw Lin You, Xia Yan noticed a gleam in her gaze—no exaggeration, it was as penetrating as Sun Wukong’s fiery eyes after breaking Taibai Jinxing’s alchemy furnace in Journey to the West.
Xia Yan genuinely admired Lin You at that moment. How did he rescue someone as large as Sun Lili from the water? He must have incredible strength.
“Benefactor, I’ve finally found you.”
Sun Lili trotted over, lowered her head, and put on a shy, girlish expression.
Lin You looked incredulous. What on earth had this woman been through? She wasn’t this big when he rescued her; how had she grown three sizes in three years?
“Ahem, Comrade Sun, ‘benefactor’ is a bit much.”
“Then can I call you Brother Lin?”
Sun Lili’s eyes lit up, eagerly awaiting his response.
Lin You glanced at Xia Yan from the corner of his eye and saw her covering her mouth, laughing quietly.
“Why don’t—”
“Sister, Uncle Lin loves being called Brother Lin. Go ahead!” Xia Yan jumped in before Lin You could speak.
Lin You knew this girl would seize her chance for payback, but he hadn’t expected it so soon. Regret welled up in him; if only he hadn’t teased her earlier.
“Xia Yan! Are you itching for trouble?”
“You love being called an elder, so I’m just doing what you like!”
Lin You: “...”
“It’s getting late, boss. Please help us load the piglets onto the truck.” He had no choice but to change the subject.
“Hey, Brother Lin, you just got here and you’re leaving? Stay for a meal before you go.”
Ever since Lin You rescued her, Sun Lili had been yearning for him day and night. Over time, her longing turned into appetite, and her once shapely figure became what it was now.
She wasn’t interested in any other man, so dieting never crossed her mind.

The man she thought she’d never see again suddenly appeared at her home. Sun Lili had prepared countless things to say to him on the way back, but now, hearing he was about to leave, she panicked.
“Sister, it’s no trouble. The mountain road is tough to drive.”
Lin You politely declined.
“But... Dad, say something to persuade Brother Lin to stay!”
“Captain Lin, just have a meal. If it gets late, you can stay overnight—we have plenty of rooms.”
Sun Liu knew his daughter’s feelings; if Lin You could be his son-in-law, nothing could be better.
“No, there are children at home.”
“What? You have children?” Sun Lili’s face paled, disappointment flooding her. She staggered, nearly losing her balance, and Sun Xiaowu hurried to steady her. Thankfully, he practiced often, or he might not have managed to hold up his sister.
“Then niece, how about you stay for a meal?”
With the son-in-law out of reach, Sun Liu turned his attention to Xia Yan.
“Ahem... Boss, she’s not really my niece—she’s actually my girlfriend.” Lin You saw Sun Liu’s intention and decided not to hide it, lest more misunderstandings arise.
“What?!”
Sun Liu was shocked; he hadn’t even recovered from losing a son-in-law, and now his prospective daughter-in-law was gone too.
Sun Xiaowu wore the same expression as his sister.
“I knew it! Who calls their uncle by name if they’re really a niece? So that’s how it is. Looks like our Sun family isn’t lucky enough. Xiaowu, help Captain Lin catch the piglets.”
As he said this, Sun Liu forced an awkward smile.
“Captain Lin, come, sit inside for a while—it’ll take some time to catch the piglets.”
This time, Lin You didn’t refuse; instead, Xia Yan proposed to make a round at the town market to buy some things for the trip home.
“Be careful on your own, and come back as soon as you’re done.”
“Don’t worry, I’m grown up—nobody’s going to kidnap me.”