Chapter 49: My Mother's Family Asks for Money

Lu Qiniang wanted to embroider on the bed sheets, but gave up after trying twice.

She's just not cut out for it.

She also tried to save face by saying that it wasn't entirely her fault for being clumsy, but that there were too many people coming and going in the house, always interrupting her.

This is not a lie.

Nowadays, no matter how closed the door is to visitors, the Zhang family is always crowded with people.

Many times, when people come, especially old acquaintances, how can you really not see them?

Even if you don't want to accept anything, you still have to come in and have a drink of water.

Lu Qiniang was miserable because of this and looked forward to Zhang Heyao's return every day.

Zhang Heyao must be able to deal with these people calmly and easily.

"Who's here again?"

She had just seen off a former neighbor who had moved away several years ago, and who had come to see her specially. Lu Qiniang drank a sip of water and before she could take a breath, she heard the door outside being pushed open again and someone else walked in.

She pushed open the window, saw who was coming, and her expression suddenly became complicated.

The person who came was her fourth uncle Lu Zhong.

When she was at home, only her fourth uncle was nice to her and treated her equally.

Lu Qiniang will never forget that every time Lu Zhong brought back some wild fruits from the mountains, she would always have a portion for herself.

Lu Zhong is a simple and honest person.

He is not only good to Lu Qiniang, he is good to everyone.

But no matter what, Lu Qiniang thanked him.

When she saw Lu Zhong, Lu Qiniang could guess his purpose without him saying anything.

"Fourth Uncle," Lu Qiniang invited him to have tea and said bluntly, "If you are here to speak for my parents, then you should leave immediately."

Lu Zhong: “…”

He had a lot to say and was just thinking about where to start, but he was blocked like this.

He smiled awkwardly and said clumsily, "Look at this, look at this..."

"Fourth Uncle, you're confused! You shouldn't have come here. How come you've forgotten the bullying you suffered when the family split up?"

Lu Zhong scratched his head and said, "Well, we are all family, so it doesn't matter if it's more or less."

Lu Qiniang was speechless and rolled her eyes. "How can I say good things about you? It's only because Fourth Aunt has a good temper. If it were someone else, I would have given up on you long ago. You suffer every day."

Because the two were only ten years apart in age, Lu Qiniang saw Lu Zhong more like an older brother and spoke to him directly.

"I told you long ago to cut off ties with them. You know that. They don't dare to come to your house to get scolded, but you asked me to come? Are you stupid?"

Lu Zhong could only smile awkwardly, unable to speak.

Lu Qiniang continued, "Okay, your nephew-in-law is coming back as an official, but we don't know what rank he will be. We have to keep our family stable. Being an official has its own difficulties—"

"That's right, that's right."

"Don't count on him, you have to count on your niece. If I don't live well in the future, I can't help you. If I live well, I will definitely help you if I can. But my parents? Haha, just tell them this. I won't support them when they are alive, and I won't bury them when they die. I won't give any benefits to others, but I won't give them any benefits. I feel sick just looking at them!"

She clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment.

"Abandoned mother..." Lu Zhong's eyes were filled with pleading, "You also need a mother's family, right?"

"Over the years, no matter how hard it was, I never begged them, because I knew it was useless. Now that I'm doing well, I need a family again? I want them to take advantage of me? Fourth Uncle, do I have 'big fool' written on my forehead?"

Lu Zhong had so much to say, but I couldn't find a single word.

"Abandoned Mother, don't be angry, don't be angry. It's Fourth Uncle who doesn't know how to speak and what to do. Look, I was the one who told me to spread this message. I didn't spread good words..."

"You can't talk or do things, but you're the only one among the Lu family I'm willing to care for," Lu Qiniang said. "If anyone else had come today, I wouldn't have let them in. Fourth Uncle, I remember your kindness. When I was seriously ill, you and Fourth Aunt were the only ones in the Lu family who came to see me, bringing eggs they'd saved from their teeth. I still remember it!"

She remembers clearly every bit of kindness others have shown her and never dares to forget it.

"After you go back, if they blame you for not getting things done properly, tell them you are incompetent and let them do it themselves. Don't take all the responsibility on yourself."

Lu Qiniang couldn't bear to see such an honest man like Lu Zhong suffer any loss, so she had thought of everything for him.

Lu Zhonghan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go back first. You're busy."

Lu Qin's mother asked Daya to bring him two boxes of snacks that others had given her.

Lu Zhong said he didn't want anything.

Lu Qiniang frowned, forced the food on him, and pushed him out the door.

Daya asked her, "Mom, if my dad comes back in the future, what if they come to visit? My dad is an official after all, and he has to be respectable. I'm afraid that when he comes back, I'll have to give them some money as before."

"That's different. We used to be servants in the Zhou Mansion, and we were afraid of what the master would say. Now we are the masters ourselves, and I won't give them a cent." Lu Qiniang said, "If they want to sue, go ahead. No matter how much I say, it doesn't make sense for me to marry off my daughter and support them."

Lu Qiniang insisted on her own opinion.

She doesn't compromise.

You didn't raise her, pushed her into the fire pit, and still want to continue to take advantage of her?

You wish!

"We still have to be careful about them talking nonsense outside."

"I know. I've thought about it a long time ago." Lu Qinniang said, "They are just bullies at home. When they hear about officials, they are so scared that their legs tremble. Wait until your father comes back and ask him to find someone to scare them. I guarantee they will be scared into being as quiet as quails."

Daya was amused by her vivid metaphor.

This smile, with curved eyebrows and shallow dimples, is so eye-catching that it is impossible to take your eyes off it.

"My eldest daughter is so pretty." Lu Qin's mother couldn't help but say, "Before, I always felt it was a pity that you and Hu Tou didn't end up together. Now that your father is back, your status is higher, so you won't have to worry about finding a husband. It's just the two of us at home today, so tell me the truth, don't be shy, what kind of man do you want to find?"

Daya lowered her head and said nothing.

Lu Qi Niang pulled her hand and said, "Don't be shy, tell the truth, I won't tell anyone else."

"Mom, can you really tell the truth?" Daya said softly.

"Yes! Why not! Is there anything you can't tell me? It's okay. Whether you like someone who is much taller than us or not as tall as us, as long as you say it, I won't laugh at you."

"Did I really say that?"

"explain!"