Chapter 136 Suspicious Details About the Compensation Fund
As was customary, Lu Xun concealed his presence and followed behind them.
Yun Zhao rode on Hua Hua's back, following beside Lu Xin Nian.
She looked up at Lu Xinnian with curiosity.
"Sister Lu, you're so amazing! You're not even afraid of our Huahua!"
Lu Xinnian looked at her with gentle eyes and patted her head lightly.
"It's not that I wasn't afraid, it's just that I lived with distant relatives in the Northwest when I was a child."
Their family used to keep snow leopards, which were very fierce towards bad people, but towards their own family members...
It's like a kitten; these wild animals, when domesticated, become remarkably intelligent.
It won't hurt people randomly, so I'm afraid, but I also know it won't hurt people randomly.
She said something that made him feel comfortable, and Yun Zhao nodded happily.
"Did you hear that, Huahua? Sister Lu praised you for being so clever!"
Hua Hua gave a timely "hmm," which drew frequent glances from Lu Xinnian.
This tiger is really special; it actually looks like it can understand human speech.
On a rooftop not far away, Lu Xun overheard their conversation and couldn't help but lower his eyes.
Upon arriving at Lujia Village, the villagers had already learned of what had happened at the county government office, and for a time, everyone stayed indoors.
Lu Xinnian's family lived in a remote corner of Lujia Village, so she led Yun Zhao around the perimeter to enter.
The yard is surrounded by a simple fence, and some corners are already missing.
This family was clearly very lazy; they didn't even bother to repair the broken fence.
Lu Xinnian seemed to be used to it all along, and walked straight forward, pushing open the door.
"Zhaozhao, why don't you wait for me outside?"
Although she had some doubts, her words carried a sense of certainty.
She didn't want to go in by herself.
Yun Zhao understood, tilted her head back, and smiled to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, Sister Lu, Zhao Zhao is waiting for you outside the courtyard~"
Lu Xinnian forced a bitter smile, then stepped inside.
With no one in the courtyard, Lu Xinnian went straight into the main house.
Everyone in the room was startled, but when they saw who it was, they rolled their eyes.
"Lu Xinnian, what's wrong with you?"
"Aunt, where is the fifty taels that Yuan Shijie gave you?"
Lu Xinnian got straight to the point.
The uncle and aunt looked somewhat embarrassed, and the aunt nudged the uncle.
Uncle Lu Ze, who was always afraid of his wife, chuckled twice and explained in a flattering tone, "Xin Nian, ..."
Your second brother needs this money to participate in the imperial examination. Look, the agreement has already been signed, so please stop making a fuss, okay?
Lu Xinnian had lived with them for many years, so she understood the meaning behind their words perfectly.
"I just want to ask one question: what are your own thoughts on this matter, Second Brother?"
Seeing that she was still fixated on the matter, her aunt lost her patience.
She grabbed Lu Ze and pulled him in front of her, her face darkening.
"What would your second brother think? Would he be expected to go out and tell everyone he was... In short..."
This matter must not be leaked! Your second brother still needs to carry on the Lu family line, so you must accept it.
"Once your second brother passes the imperial examination in the spring, I'll find you a good family outside the capital to make up for it, okay?"
Seeing their faces, Lu Xinnian didn't mince words and said directly, "What Yuan Shijie did..."
The magistrate of Yangguan County has learned of this, and both father and son are now imprisoned.
Magistrate Yang of Yangguan County sent me back to ask you a question: are you willing to present the signed document as evidence?
Furthermore, it proves that only Yuan Shijie affixed the official seal, not Lord Yuan himself.
Upon hearing this, the aunt immediately shouted angrily.
"No way! Lu Xinnian, you heartless wretch, do you want your second brother dead?"
Lu Xinnian's eyes were filled with disappointment.
She never thought they would care about her. Was she really going to let her second brother swallow this insult for just fifty taels of silver?
"When did my second brother get into trouble? It's just that you're asked to return the fifty taels to prove that Yuan Shijie stole the official seal."
This signed document says that you sold me to him, and the bad reputation is also my reputation.
That would send him to prison, and he'd likely be sentenced to execution in the fall! Don't you want to avenge your second brother? Just for a mere fifty taels?
"How much can revenge feed you? Wouldn't I be sad if my son got into trouble?"
"It's all because of you! Where do you think you, young lady, get your food from every day?"
"Hey, stop talking!"
Lu Ze quickly pulled his wife aside, telling her to stop talking.
He then tried to persuade his niece, "Niannian, for your uncle's sake, please don't argue with your aunt, okay?"
In the past, if he said that, Lu Xinnian would swallow her anger and stop arguing.
This time, however, Lu Xinnian was unwilling to give in.
"Uncle, Aunt, let's lay everything out on the table. How much pension did my father receive back then?"
Who knew that her aunt would turn on her after she said that.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lu Ze immediately stopped his aunt, pulled her aside, and whispered something to her.
Lu Xinnian quickly stepped forward and pulled the person away.
"Just say what you have to say. Why are you hiding it? Does Auntie intend to embezzle my father's pension?"
Her aunt had always disliked her, and her words immediately angered her aunt.
"You brat!"
She abruptly shook off Lu Ze's hand, charged fiercely at Lu Xinnian, and shouted, "So what if your father is dead?"
What does this have to do with me? What silver? When did I ever take it? But you...
"I've raised you all these years, and now you're ungrateful and want to harm my son!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Lu Ze hurriedly covered his wife's mouth and then coaxed Lu Xinnian gently.
“Your aunt is just talking nonsense. Niannian, why don’t you go back to your room first? We can discuss this further after your uncle has finished talking to her, okay?”
Lu Xinnian immediately sensed that something was wrong.
"Wait, what does Aunt mean by that? What do you mean by 'never received any pension'? Uncle,"
"Didn't you say all these years that your niece was too young and that her pension would be managed by her aunt?"
Aunt Chen Shiyan also sensed something was wrong and turned to glare fiercely at Lu Ze.
"What does she mean by that? I've never seen any pension or welfare payment before?"
Now Lu Xinnian understood.
Lu Ze embezzled the money himself without even informing his wife!
Lu Ze knew something was wrong, so he stepped aside to block her and gently pinched his wife's hand.
Chen Shiyan quickly understood, suppressed her resentment, and focused on uniting against the external forces.
She screamed and cried out, pounding her chest in protest.
"Ah! My life is so bitter, Lu Xinnian. As your aunt, what wrong have I done by taking charge of things for you?"
We've worked so hard to help you and raise you, and now you want to harm your second brother?
"And you still blame me, your aunt? I'm not going to live anymore! I've raised such an ungrateful wretch all these years!"
Lu Xinnian was taken aback when she suddenly started crying and begging for help. She hadn't expected her to change her attitude so suddenly and was momentarily stunned.
"Me? Didn't you just say you didn't know about the pension?"
"I'm just a country woman, what would I know about pensions? I think your Lu family just looks down on my background."
You uncle and nephew ganged up on me and my son! My son, my life is so bitter!
Chen Shiyan changed the subject, crying her heart out.
Lu Ze quickly said, "Niannian, go back to your room first. I'll try to persuade her... Ahh! There's a tiger!"
Before he could finish speaking, he abandoned his wife and niece and ran away.
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