Chapter 89 I can redeem her.

"Xinghe? Son, how did you get so soaked?!"

At the entrance of the Lu family home, Lu's mother was just about to instruct the servants to bring an umbrella to Lu Xinghe when she saw her son walking back looking dejected.

Braving the heavy rain, I was soaked to the bone.

"Oh dear, what happened? What if I catch a cold?"

Madam Lu was heartbroken and immediately ordered the servants to prepare dry clothes and towels. She also ordered people to boil ginger soup and light a brazier. The whole courtyard was in a flurry of activity.

Lu Xinghe numbly allowed the servants to perform a series of actions on him, his eyes vacant, like a puppet on strings.

Upon seeing this, Lu's mother felt a pang of unease and quickly stepped forward.

"My son, what's wrong with you? Don't frighten your mother."

Hearing the commotion, Mr. Lu also came over from his study. Seeing his son's appearance, he guessed what had happened.

He stepped forward and tentatively asked, "Is it because of the Su family girl?"

Lu Xinghe's eyes gradually focused, and upon hearing this, he raised his head and looked directly into his parents' eyes.

"Father, Mother, didn't you say before that you came to the capital to propose marriage to the Su family?"

"But it's been several days already, have you hired a matchmaker? What about the betrothal gifts? Have they been prepared?"

Lu's mother was speechless when asked the question. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say for a long time.

Seeing this, Lu Xinghe questioned, "You... didn't intend to propose marriage from the very beginning?"

Mr. Lu sighed, knowing that the matter could no longer be hidden, and told him everything.

“Xinghe, I know you are unhappy. Your marriage to the Su family girl was a verbal agreement between your grandfather and the old man of the Su family, and there was no marriage certificate or proof. But even so, your mother and I have never forgotten it over the years.”

"Then why?" Lu Xinghe asked, puzzled.

“But times have changed.” Mr. Lu’s tone became serious.

"Now that you are serving in the army, your future is bright. But your cousin... she is, after all, a servant in the Marquis's household. Although my Lu family is not a wealthy and powerful family, we are a respectable scholarly family that has always valued farming and reading. If you marry a woman of slavery, how will you be able to hold your head high in the army and in front of your colleagues? Do you still want your future?"

Lu Xinghe retorted, "So what if she's a servant? Little Fish is simple-minded and straightforward, far superior to those pretentious noble ladies who only know about romance and poetry."

"Besides, being a slave in the Marquis's mansion is only temporary. I can redeem her."

"Foolish!" Father Lu scolded, "Her parents were servants of the Marquis's mansion. Even if your cousin redeems herself, it will never change the fact that she was born into slavery. It's like a stain on a person's body, which can never be changed in a lifetime."

Lu's mother chimed in at the opportune moment: "Yes, son, I know you like Xiaoyu, and that child is a good one, but liking someone can't put food on the table!"

"Think about it, what kind of place is that Marquis's mansion? The young master caused such a commotion for Xiaoyu recently, I heard it even alarmed His Majesty. We can't afford to offend them. What if... what if we anger a powerful figure? How could our Lu family bear the consequences?"

Father Lu patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Xinghe, a real man should prioritize his future and his family. He should let go of his romantic feelings when the time is right. That girl from the Shen family has a respectable and wealthy family background, and she is devoted to you. She is the right match for you."

Lu's mother nodded in agreement.

As Lu Xinghe listened to his parents' words, every single one concerned with family, future, and responsibility, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness wash over him.

He smirked, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "So, your future and your family are more important than my lifelong happiness, is that it?"

After saying that, he ignored his parents' unpleasant expressions, got up, and went back into the house.

Lu's mother wanted to chase after him to say a few more words of advice, but Lu's father stopped her, saying, "Forget it, let him calm down by himself."

...

For three consecutive days, Lu Xinghe spent his time in the tavern, drinking from day to night, using strong liquor to numb himself.

He had transformed from a bright and handsome young man into a disheveled, unshaven drunkard reeking of alcohol. His eyes had become empty and numb. He was no longer the dashing young man he once was.

That night, the tavern closed, and the waiter practically pushed him out.

"We're closing up shop."

"Wine...bring me more wine...I want to drink more, I'm not drunk..." Lu Xinghe was drunkenly pushed to the door by the waiter, and he still wanted to turn back.

Then, with a 'bang,' the guy slammed the door shut, almost pinching his nose.

He wandered the streets drunk, his money pouch catching the eye again.

Several teenagers had been eyeing him for a while. Seeing that he was out of his mind, they exchanged glances, rushed forward, snatched the money bag from his waist, and ran away.

They disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Hey! Stop right there, you little brat, give me back my money..."

Lu Xinghe, drunk, tried to chase after him, but his legs felt unsteady, and he fell to the ground with a thud after only a few steps.

The children who had run away turned back and made faces at him.

"You little thief, trying to run away? I'll..."

He struggled to his feet, covered in dust, filled with shame and indignation.

Just then, a woman led a seven or eight-year-old child past him. Lu Xinghe, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, noticed that the child's figure resembled the thieves from earlier. A surge of lust rose within him, and he lunged forward, grabbing the child's arm.

"Fine! Now let's see where you run! Give me back my money!"

He roared, making a move to 'teach' this arrogant child a lesson.

The child was frightened by his appearance and burst into tears.

The woman standing nearby was stunned at first, then flew into a rage, rushed forward, forcefully shoved Lu Xinghe aside, tightly shielded her child behind her, and began to curse loudly:

"You damned drunkard! What's wrong with you! Who stole your money? You scared my son! You dare touch him again, and I'll fight you to the death!"

Lu Xinghe stumbled from the push, becoming even more enraged, and shouted relentlessly:

"It was him! He stole my purse! You're all in cahoots! Give me my money back!"

"Pah!" The woman trembled with anger. "Who saw my Gouwa steal your money? You're slandering me with empty words and scaring my child. I'm going to report this to the authorities and let the magistrate judge this matter."

The commotion attracted a crowd of onlookers, who pointed and whispered among themselves at Lu Xinghe.

"How can you believe the words of a drunkard? He must be slandering that mother and child."

"That's right, Aunt Li is the kindest person, she would never instigate Gouwa to rob silver."

"That's right, this drunkard is definitely trying to extort money from us."

"That wretched drunkard, get rid of him!"

As soon as he said that, several women carrying baskets raised their hands and threw vegetable leaves at Lu Xinghe.

The scene was quite chaotic at one point.

Just then, a clear, loud, and slightly anxious voice rang out from behind.

"Ma'am, please wait!"