A young man from another world returned to his hometown.

Chapter 86 Tears Behind Bars, A Belated Realization

Section Chief Ma parked his motorcycle by the roadside, and Lin Jiayao, who had received the message, also came over. Xier sat by the roadside with the two little ones, eating snacks and playing while counting the passing cars.

Lin Yan glanced at the iron gate but showed no intention of going in. He simply listened silently from the outside. Although there were layers of walls blocking his view, his magic allowed him to hear every sound from inside.

Section Chief Ma went in first to find out what was going on. Not long after, he came out, stood next to Lin Jiayao, lit a cigarette, and started discussing. Lin Jiayao's brows immediately furrowed, and Lin Yan also turned to the side.

"Zhou Derong is still trying to argue his way out of it."

Section Chief Ma sighed.

"He said the stove was placed there by someone else, that he was just passing by, and that he needed to find a lawyer. He thought there would be no evidence after the fire."

Lin Jiayao snorted coldly, and Section Chief Ma paused, his expression thoughtful.

"But Lao Liu... is different... He confessed to everything when asked questions. The investigators said that after Uncle Liu went in, he didn't argue at all and voluntarily confessed to all the details, even his supplier."

Lin Yan knew about Liu Family Village; some of his relatives had married into the village.

The two people arrested inside were involved in the same matter, but they had completely different attitudes.

Just as the group was discussing outside the door, a heart-wrenching cry came from the temporary reception area next to the iron gate.

Aunt Liu sat on the bench, covering her face with her hands, her shoulders heaving as she cried, her floral top trembling with sobs.

A woman nearby tried to comfort her and handed her a tissue, but Aunt Liu didn't take it.

About twenty minutes later, staff came out and said that family members could communicate briefly through the window.

Aunt Liu stood up, her legs trembling. She staggered a step before grabbing the wall to steady herself. She stopped crying, a strange expression forming on her face, and stepped inside.

Separated by a thick layer of glass, Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu sat facing each other. Neither of them spoke immediately. Uncle Liu's hair was messy, and stubble had sprouted on his chin. His face looked as if he had been drained of all his emotions.

He looked up at the woman across the glass, the woman he used to complain about and despise.

"You've arrived."

Aunt Liu's eyes immediately reddened again. She picked up the microphone, her voice hoarse.

"You dead man...you dead man..."

Uncle Liu did not argue, but kept his head down and remained silent for a while before speaking.

"Wife, listen to me. Stop complaining. I'll just tell you a few things, and you'll remember them."

Aunt Liu paused for a moment, nodded, and wiped her face.

"That brat, you can't spoil him anymore. My whole life has been ruined by this idea. I worked so hard to save money for his wedding, thinking that was the right thing to do as a father, that carrying on the family line was all I needed to do for my ancestors. But...sigh..."

Aunt Liu did not answer, and tears fell silently again.

"Let him go to a vocational school to study properly, and he's not allowed to play video games anymore. He needs to be a down-to-earth person."

Uncle Liu paused, his voice trembling.

"And... what about Xiaohui? Is Xiaohui alright?"

"She's doing well... The physical education exam for the high school entrance exam is coming up soon, and her teacher said she's working very hard at school."

Uncle Liu closed his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed, and tears, which had been welling up in his eyes, finally spilled down his cheeks.

"Now there's an opportunity in town, that technical school, that's a rare opportunity. You should let both of your children go to school. You should thank Boss Lin for selling everything he owns... You must let both of your children go to school. You absolutely cannot force Xiaohui to get married again."

Aunt Liu couldn't speak a complete sentence; she just kept nodding.

……

As I walked out of the office building, the sun had already begun to set in the west, casting long shadows.

The group walked around the corner of the building, preparing to head towards the parking lot. Section Chief Ma, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped.

"There are people over there."

Lin Yan followed his gaze and saw a small, thin figure huddled against the wall at the corner of the building, wearing a faded school uniform, with his back pressed against the wall.

It's Liu Xiaohui.

Standing next to Liu Xiaohui were two adults: her homeroom teacher, Ms. Cheng, and the grade head.

"Xiaohui, listen to your teacher, if you give up on this path..."

"Teacher Cheng."

Liu Xiaohui's voice interrupted the homeroom teacher.

"I'm not going to study anymore."

The class monitor was getting anxious, but after trying to persuade him for so long, he didn't know what to repeat.

"Xiao Hui..."

"Teacher, I still have several years of schooling ahead of me. My mother lives alone, and my brother is in such a state... I want to go to the city to work."

The homeroom teacher was so anxious that she spun around in circles.

"What kind of work do you do? How much do you earn in a month?"

Liu Xiaohui did not answer the question; she remained silent, clutching the hem of her clothes even tighter.

Lin Jiayao stood not far away, not walking over, just watching from a distance.

He remembered that late night.

"I don't want to get married! I want to study!"

That voice was so bright and dazzling, but now, this girl's stubborn fire from back then has been doused with cold water by reality.

Lin Yan gestured for his cousin to go forward.

……

When the grade leader and the homeroom teacher saw Lin Jiayao, they paused for a moment, then took a half-step aside.

"Boss Lin!"

Liu Xiaohui sensed someone approaching, saw Lin Jiayao, but didn't say anything, just turned her gaze back to the ground.

Lin Jiayao squatted down in front of her, level with her.

"What kind of work do you plan to do now that you're going out to work?"

Liu Xiaohui paused for a moment, then choked up as she spoke.

"...Assembly line workers, or waiters, go wherever people are needed."

"The little money you make from working outside won't change anything each month, except for helping your mom pay some interest."

Lin Jiayao just wanted to make things clear.

"Your father's fines and the return of stolen goods—you want to take responsibility for the mistakes your father made, which is admirable. But the road ahead is long, and you can't give up on these most promising years."

Liu Xiaohui paused for a moment as she twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers.

"If you go to work on an assembly line and spend your whole life tightening screws, your dad won't think you're being filial. He'll only feel more guilty because he knows that it's because of him that you couldn't go to school."

Lin Jiayao looked at her calmly.

"The real way you can save this family is not by going out to work, but by reading books, learning real skills, and standing up with dignity."

Liu Xiaohui's voice was very low, almost inaudible. Children in rural areas are mostly precocious, and she certainly knew that the big boss in front of her had the ability to help her, but she was afraid to ask for help.

Just then, a large hand covered her head.

"Don't worry! The Tamura Group has officially established the Future Spark Scholarship, which covers students in technical schools. Students with excellent grades will have their tuition, accommodation, and meals fully waived."

Looking at the assembled adults, Liu Xiaohui's eyes flickered.