The patriarch of the Lin family and father of Lin Dayou and Lin Dagong. He is deeply biased toward the eldest son Lin Dagong's family throughout the story. He remained silent during Lin Dayou's accusations, only smoking his pipe. During the violent confrontation, he grabbed a long bench and then a stool to strike Lin Dayou, accidentally hitting his own grandson Lin Wentao on the back of the head, causing severe injury and unconsciousness. Later he tried to dismiss the villagers' complaints as a family matter.
