The late spring wind already carried a hint of heat, making people feel a little restless.
In Lu Zhaoan's newly purchased small house, Lu Zhaoan's mother, Lin, sat in the main room, somewhat dazed, gazing blankly outside.
As Lu Zhaoan closed the door and turned to walk inside, this was the scene he saw.
Lin was very happy to see Lu Zhaoan. "You're back."
Her voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't spoken in a long time. Lu Zhaoan quickly stepped forward, helped Lin Shi to sit down on a chair on the side of the main room: "Why did you come out again? The doctor said that you've only just been able to stand up, so you can't overexert yourself. You can only get up and walk around for a maximum of one hour each day. Too much of a good thing is bad!"
Lin shrank back like a child caught doing something wrong. Lu Zhaoan couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
My mother has been bedridden for years, long since losing the dignity of a lady from a prominent family. And her former hazy mind now makes her sometimes lucid and sometimes confused.
A mother won't remember the things she did when she was confused, but when she sees the mess she made when she's sober, she feels helpless and guilty, just like a child.
Lu Zhaoan softened his voice: "Shall I help you back?"
Lin nodded blankly.
Lu Zhaoan's nostrils twitched, and he smelled a faint burnt odor.
Did you go to the kitchen?
Lu Zhaoan raised his voice and shouted, "Lotus pod! Lotus pod!"
Lianpeng was the only maid Lu Zhaoan brought with him when he left the Lu family, and she was there to stay by Lin's side and take care of her. However, now that there are only Lianpeng and Afu in their household, they are somewhat unable to take care of her, and Lianpeng cannot always be by Lin's side to look after her.
Lianpeng rushed over in a hurry, still clutching a rag in her hand: "What's wrong, sir?"
"Kitchen! Kitchen!"
Lu Zhaoan was furious. Was his mother confused, and was Lianpeng confused too? Why wasn't he looking at his mother? Couldn't he even smell such an obvious burning odor?
Seeing Lianpeng run away, Lu Zhaoan straightened Lin Shi's body: "Mother! What are you doing in the kitchen?"
Lin's eyes were somewhat flustered, her pupils darting around, but her lips trembled as she uttered a sound. Her eyes welled up with tears.
When Lu Zhaoan saw the fine lines at the corners of Lin's eyes, his heart softened again—what was he doing?
He hurriedly released his grip on Lin's shoulder.
Madam Lin murmured softly, "Silver ear fungus, Jinchuan, I like it..."
Lu Zhaoan felt a pang of sadness, followed by a deep sense of guilt.
This is his mother, a mother who, even in her delirium, still thinks about the white fungus soup he loves to drink—this is his biological mother. And what is he doing?
He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his heart, and choked out, "Mother... Mother! Why did you have to do this, Mother!"
Madam Lin simply gazed at him with loving eyes, but remained silent.
-
Lu Zhaoan became a frequent visitor to the Gu family. Not only Gu Pingsheng, but also Mr. and Mrs. Gu were alerted and secretly observed him several times.
Especially Mr. Gu, who has been unemployed since the incident and is now enjoying a leisurely life. Whenever Lu Zhaoan comes to the Gu family, he always secretly watches from afar, and occasionally pretends to casually pass by. This earns him a resentful look from Gu Yaoniang, who is dissatisfied but dares not complain, and in return, he receives the proper greeting from Lu Zhaoan every time.
Mr. Gu watched coldly and understood about 70-80% of it.
He privately told Madam Gu, "I think that young man from the Lu family is not bad."
Madam Gu said with concern, "This is a major life event. Shouldn't we discuss it with that person?"
That one, of course, is Wang Chengxian.
Mr. Gu then frowned and said, "Who is he? We're not related or acquaintances. Why talk to him about these things? It'll only make us a laughingstock."
Madam Gu had no choice but to give up. However, she couldn't help but think it over and over again and felt that it was inappropriate.
The day was just like any other. Lu Zhaoan had barely sat down when Gu Yaoniang, after exchanging only a few words with him, began to berate him and tell him to leave.
Lu Zhaoan had long since developed a thick skin, so there was no way he would just leave. He continued to rack his brains to talk to Gu Yaoniang.
Gu Yaoniang had no choice but to feel somewhat pleased.
Lu Zhaoan continued chatting idly about all sorts of things, and suddenly brought up the Wang family.
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