Chapter 33: Paying Respects to Mother Lu
Chapter 33: Paying Respects to Mother Lu
Lu Jiajie brought over a basket of paper money and candles. After setting them down, he handed an envelope to Lu Jiaxin.
Lu Jiaxin didn't take it.
Lu Jiajie said, "There's 300 yuan here. Xin Xin, didn't you say you wanted to buy leather shoes? You can go buy them tomorrow with this money."
Lu Jiaxin refused, her expression cold as she said, "Fifth Brother, I know you mean well, but from now on, I won't take another penny from him."
She had to maintain her stance, or that selfish Lu Hongjun would think that she would relent at the sight of 300 yuan and continue treating her as he had before.
"Xin Xin..."
Lu Jiaxin didn't want to hear what he had to say. She waved her hand and said, "Ding Jing and Zhao Siyu tried to harm me and ruin my future, yet he doesn't pursue it. Fifth Brother, to be honest, I already wanted to cut ties with him the day I returned to Si Jiu City. I only gave him another chance because he's my father and raised me. But you've seen how he's behaved; he doesn't deserve it."
Lu Jiajie sighed. "Xin Xin, I understand how you feel. But if you keep butting heads with Third Uncle, you'll only be letting that mother-daughter pair benefit."
"Fifth Brother," Lu Jiaxin said, "I know he must have quite a bit of savings. If the price is tolerating that venomous pair of mother and daughter jumping around me every day, then I'd rather not have it."
"A good man doesn't eat from his family's wealth, and a good woman doesn't wear clothes bought by her husband's family. Without his savings, I believe we can still live a prosperous life."
Lu Jiajie didn't persist in persuading her. His sister was still angry, and continuing would only add fuel to the fire. It would be better to wait until she calmed down before trying to reason with her again.
Sighing, he thought to himself that he was also being stubborn.
Lu Jiajie didn't want to go back, so he stayed in the hutong for the night. The meals here were nutritious, and that evening, Xue Mao cooked three dishes and one soup—braised fish, stir-fried beans with chili, stir-fried hollow vegetables, and spare rib seaweed soup—with half a pot of rice.
One bowl of rice was enough for Lu Jiaxin, but Lu Jiajie and Xue Mao were big eaters. They devoured the four dishes and the entire pot of rice.
Lu Jiajie burped contentedly and said, "Xin Xin, it's still most comfortable here with you."
He was good at flattering people, adapting to situations, and lowering himself when necessary, so he had lived quite well at Ma Jia's for the past few years. However, Ma Lili's attitude toward him had changed after her tubal ligation, although it was still within tolerable limits. But when Ma Dajie suddenly brought up the idea, Ma Father started giving him the cold shoulder.
Lu Jiaxin asked, "Brother, is Sister-in-law still refusing to agree?"
Lu Jiajie smiled broadly and said, "She agreed to move out. But she doesn't want to rent; she wants to buy a house. Xin Xin, we have you to thank for this."
He had also secretly calculated their savings and felt that they could at most have 1,500 to 1,600 yuan. Although the two of them worked, they had to pay living expenses and occasionally buy things for the family. On top of that, they had to support two children, so their expenses were quite high.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiaxin immediately said, "Brother, it's best to buy a house near the school so that Qiang Qiang and Xiao Feng can easily go to school in the future."
The winters in Si Jiu City were bitterly cold, and if the school was too far away, it would be a daily struggle to cycle there. Adults could endure it, but the children might not be able to handle it due to their weaker bodies.
Lu Jiajie slapped his forehead. How could he have forgotten about this? He planned to call Lu Hongjun tomorrow to discuss this matter.
In the seven years since he had come to Si Jiu City, he had gotten used to seeking out Lu Hongjun whenever something happened, and each time, Lu Hongjun had helped him. This time, as he planned to buy a house, he had also immediately informed Lu Hongjun.
And so, whenever there was something that needed to be done on Lu Hongjun's end, he would also be the first to know.
Lu Jiaxin was about to leave with Xue Mao when she noticed Lu Jiajie still lingering in the courtyard. She asked, "Brother, why aren't you off to work yet?"
Lu Jiajie smiled and shared that he had taken a leave of absence. "You two are heading out to the suburbs. What if you encounter bad people? Let's go; we'll get there and back early."
Although San Uncle hadn't explicitly said so, he knew that was what he meant. Even if Lu Hongjun hadn't hinted at it, he still intended to accompany Lu Jiaxin. Just a few months ago, a young woman traveling to her relative's home in the suburbs had been assaulted in broad daylight! While the recent crackdown on crime had driven many wrongdoers into hiding, he wouldn't be at ease unless he accompanied them.
After two and a half hours, Lu Jiaxin stood before her mother's tomb. Seeing the photo on the tombstone, her tears flowed uncontrollably like a breached dam.
Lu Jiajie placed the dumplings and a bowl of white meat in front of the grave. He then took out white candles from the basket and lit them before finally offering incense.
Lu Jiaxin took the incense, knelt on the ground, and wept as she kowtowed. After finishing her kowtows, she inserted the incense into the ground before the grave, wiped her tears, and knelt to burn the paper money.
Once Xue Mao had finished offering incense, Lu Jiajie pulled him away. They hadn't walked far, just around the bend, when they stopped.
Seeing Lu Jiaxin crying like a tearful mess, Xue Mao frowned and asked, "Fifth Brother, why did you pull me away? Sister is still inside."
Lu Jiajie's voice was low and somber as he replied, "Xin Xin almost lost her life to that venomous mother-daughter pair, and Third Uncle won't stand up for her. She has a bellyful of grievances that she can't share with us, so she can only confide in Third Aunt."
Ever since their return, this little girl had been putting on a strong front. But he and his older brother knew that she was suffering bitterly like a bitter herb. She just didn't like to complain, bearing these pains silently by herself.
Noticing that Lu Jiajie and Xue Mao had moved away, Lu Jiaxin looked around to ensure no one was nearby. She wiped her tears and, in a voice only she could hear, said, "Auntie, little Xin, rest assured. I will make that pair of jackal and wolf pay."
Seeing her eyes swollen like peaches, Lu Jiajie handed her a handkerchief. "Don't be upset. Third Aunt will watch over you from heaven."
Lu Jiaxin choked up and said, "I know. Let's go back."
(End of Chapter)
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