Chapter 48: I No Longer Hate Him
He moved swiftly, reaching the door in just a few steps.
"I'll go call a car. Brother, can you look after Dad?"
He opened the door as he spoke.
The door had barely opened a crack when Lu Weidong shouted from behind.
"Don't call her! Take me straight to town!"
He would never dare to expose his buttocks to a strange woman.
He was very anxious and wished he could leave this place immediately, the sooner the better.
But she was worried about being seen on the street, and even more afraid of being asked how she got hurt.
He could only endure the pain and urge the people around him to leave quickly.
Shen Cuifen looked at the mess in the room and couldn't be bothered to do anything more.
She had had enough of the chaos in the house.
She knew in her heart that this trip to the town hospital would probably take several days.
This is a good opportunity for her to take a good rest.
There was a commotion outside. Judging from the sound, it seemed that Lu Fuquan had found a villager's oxcart and was taking Lu Weidong to the town hospital.
Several neighbors were still whispering among themselves at the door.
Shen Cuifen didn't go out; she didn't want to watch the commotion anymore, nor did she want to get involved in anything.
With everyone gone, the house is finally quiet.
Shen Cuifen had just picked up a mouthful of porridge when she slipped into the kitchen on the way.
As soon as he entered the door, he stared at the pot, his eyes darting around, a hint of ulterior motive on his face.
"Mom! Wasn't the trap I set last night amazing?"
As he spoke, his eyes were already fixed on the steaming vegetable paste in the pot.
He was starving, but too embarrassed to ask for food directly.
"It's alright! It would be even better if it could feed the pigs and chickens."
Shen Cuifen replied with a smile.
She knew the child wanted some food again, but she didn't point it out; she just casually remarked.
Lu Zhongshun nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice. "Then... Mom, can I have a bowl of porridge?"
He had already seen it; there were several pieces of egg floating in the bowl.
The aroma was so enticing that he could hardly resist it.
Shen Cuifen nodded, and he immediately jumped up to find a bowl to serve rice.
He found a clean bowl, then a spoon, ladled out a bowl of hot porridge, sat down at the table, and began to eat.
"The three of you should stop interfering in things between me and Lu Weidong."
Shen Cuifen took a sip of the porridge and looked at the three of them seriously as she spoke.
She looked at Lu Zhongshun, and also at the two children standing by the stove.
Children shouldn't have to bear the burdens of adults' grievances.
She knew that the children might not understand yet.
But some things, if we don't say them now, it might be too late later.
Furthermore, Lu Zhongshun's behavior was simply too much.
Today he dares to use a pair of clips against his own father, tomorrow he might turn on his own mother.
Although she is not his biological mother.
But if the child doesn't change this temperament, he might cause even bigger trouble in the future.
This trend must be nipped in the bud.
She didn't want to see her children go astray, nor did she want to see them become cold and heartless.
Even if Lu Weidong is a terrible person, you can't teach children like that.
No matter how wrong he is, he is still the child's father.
She felt guilty about how the child treated him.
The reason she didn't stop her last night was because she wanted Lu Xiuye to vent her emotions.
She knew that Lu Xiuye was holding back a lot of anger, and if she didn't let her vent, something bad might happen.
Otherwise, she was really afraid that Lu Xiuye would cause trouble by holding it in.
That's why she didn't stop it, but she knew in her heart that this couldn't continue.
"Mom... if I don't tease Dad anymore, will you still feed me?"
Lu Zhongshun asked cautiously.
"Study hard and work diligently, and your family will always have food to eat."
"And you, Xiuye."
She turned to look at Lu Xiuye and said, "I only hope one thing for you now: study hard, get into high school this semester, and leave this small county town in the future."
"If we can go out, we'll take Mom to see the world."
"As for Lu Weidong, I'll handle that; you don't need to worry about him."
To be honest, she had never thought that far into the future.
She just wanted to pass the exam and leave, to live in a different place, and to settle down in the county town; that would make her content.
"Mom! I promise I'll study hard!"
She had heard Dr. Chen mention that Shanghai was full of tall buildings and cars, and that you could even eat steak there. There were many things she had never even heard of before!
Shen Cuifen's eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously.
"Great! Next time we go to Shanghai, we'll also visit Beijing!"
"Fourth Sister, can you take me there?"
Lu Zhongshun smiled and stepped forward, his face full of flattery.
Without saying a word, Lu Xiuye reached out and tapped him on the head.
"Get out of here! If you want to go out and see the world, you have to work for it yourself! I'm not your free ticket!"
Lu Zhongshun covered his head and grimaced.
"Fourth sister! I told you I'd try my best, okay? Why did you hit me on the head? If you really make me stupid, how will I study!"
His pitiful look made Shen Cuifen and her two daughters laugh.
In fact, Lu Xiuye didn't exert any effort at all; Lu Zhongshun was just pretending.
"Oh dear! Cuifen! I'm starving! Come quick!"
As the group was chatting and laughing, a groaning sound suddenly came from outside.
The sound was intermittent, sounding like someone was whimpering softly, with a hint of pain and a sense of helplessness.
Shen Cuifen's expression changed, and she frowned slightly. She immediately recognized that it was Lu Qiming calling out.
Although the voice was weak, it was enough to disrupt the atmosphere at the dinner table.
Lu Zhongshun bit his lip, secretly glancing at Shen Cuifen with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
But he quickly lowered his head and continued to eat the rice in his bowl, his movements becoming more hurried than before.
Lu Xiuye and Lu Xiuwei exchanged a glance.
They wanted to say something, but ultimately didn't speak; the words stuck in their throats.
Shen Cuifen took a deep breath and broke the silence: "Zhongshun, after you finish eating, go get a bowl of porridge and take it to your grandfather."
This old man was the only person in the family who had never bullied her.
Of course, it's also possible that one is paralyzed in bed and unable to move.
In any case, at least he didn't lay a hand on her, nor did he stand by and watch like the others.
She and Lu Qiming were not related by blood.
I can just ignore him; it's understandable to me.
Besides, she had served him for over a decade without receiving a single kind word; instead, she was beaten black and blue by Lu Weidong.
Looking back now, she felt no burden at all.
But it's different for the children; that's their own grandfather.
She can't raise her child to be a cold-blooded person.
Otherwise, the tragedy of the previous life will be repeated sooner or later.
Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is a principle passed down from our ancestors.
She recalled how Lu Zhonghe, Lu Zhongshun, and Lu Fuquan had treated her coldly and ruthlessly when they grew up, and none of it was without reason.
She was so capable that she took on everything herself and never let them interfere.
Children who have never taken on responsibility naturally lack feelings.
Lu Zhongshun didn't say anything more and just nodded.
After finishing her meal, she took the bowl inside to feed Lu Qiming.
"Mom, you...you really don't hate Grandpa?"
Lu Xiuye asked in a low voice.
She sat next to Shen Cuifen.
Shen Cuifen looked at her and said softly, "How could I not hate him? I took care of him for more than ten years. When Lu Weidong hit me, he didn't dare to utter a sound. I still remember it to this day. He didn't even say a word to persuade me."
"But he's in a pretty bad situation now. I can ignore it, but you can't."
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