Estrangement

Mother Lin and Li Hua exchanged a glance, their faces reflecting a shared reluctance to keep Gu Zi in the dark. Turning to face Gu Zi, Mother Lin began to explain the situation.

"There are all sorts of rumors," she began, "But that's just how it is in places like this. Lin Laoyao and his wife have been spreading word that we've shown them no mercy, claiming that we've deliberately set their son, Lin Jie, up for prison. They say we want to ruin their family. Not everyone believes it needs to go this far, so many have begun to distance themselves from us."

Mother Lin had indeed heard many idle comments, some of them spoken directly to their faces. Their sarcastic undertones were clear to anyone who listened.