Chapter 386: Lu Hongjun Gets a Beating
Chapter 386: Lu Hongjun Gets a Beating
In May, Lu Jia Guang, taking advantage of the holiday, invited Lu Jia Zong to return to their hometown with him. They brought Lu Da Bo and Da Bo Po to Si Jiucheng.
As previously agreed, Lu Yun and his wife followed with their children. Lu Jia Yao and his wife also wanted to go, but Lu Da Bo and his wife did not agree. Who would take care of the crops in Si Jiucheng if they all left? For Lu Da Bo and Da Bo Po, who had toiled in the fields their entire lives, grain was more important than life itself.
Although Lu Jia Guang had told them about the size of the house beforehand, Lu Da Bo and Da Bo Po were still astonished when they saw it.
Lu Da Bo scolded him, "Jia Xin is younger than Ping Ping and An An. How could you accept such a large house from her? Are you not ashamed?"
Lu Jia Guang and his wife dared not refute, accepting the scolding.
Lu Er Sao spoke up for them, "Father, Mother, Jia Xin bought the house before telling her older brother and sister-in-law, and the house is in the names of Lu Ping and his three siblings. Since the house has been bought, we can't return it, especially after spending so much on renovations and furnishings. It would be a bigger loss to sell it now."
Lu Da Bo paused, then said, "Then the money must be returned to Jia Xin. If the two of you can't repay it, Lu Ping and the other three siblings will have to."
Lu Jia Guang readily agreed, "Father, Mother, you must be tired from the journey. Please go inside and freshen up, then we'll get you something to eat."
When they entered the bedroom and saw the furniture, Lu Da Bo scolded him again for being extravagant, "Your colleagues will think badly of you when they see how luxurious your furniture is."
Lu Jia Guang did not tell them about being reported to avoid worrying them.
Lu Er Sao explained, "Father, Mother, the furniture in the front yard and this room were bought by Jia Xin. But don't worry, her older brother and sister-in-law paid for it."
Lu Da Bo thought the money would be returned to Lu Jia Xin, and his heart finally eased a little. However, when he entered the bathroom and saw the installed water heater, he again criticized it as being too extravagant.
Lu Jia Guang also felt that it was a waste of money, but now that it was installed, could he really take it down? However, after living there for a while, he found it extremely convenient.
The elderly couple, persuaded by their children, each ate a bowl of vegetable noodles. After finishing, Lu Da Bo put down his bowl and chopsticks and asked, "Jia Guang, didn't you say that the two families bought houses next to each other? Take me to see your Third Brother."
Lu Jia Guang, afraid that he would be angered, said, "Father, I'll ask Xiao Jie to go and call Third Uncle over."
Lu Da Bo could tell from his expression what he was thinking and coldly hmphed, "If you won't take us there, then your mother and I will go ourselves."
Ever since he found out what Lu Hongjun had done, he had been seething with anger. But being separated by such a long distance, there was little he could do but fume. Now that he was here, he was determined to see his third brother and find out what kind of woman he had married that had bewitched him so.
Lu Er Sao also tried to dissuade them from going, but Lu Da Bo was stubborn and insisted on going. In the end, he even scolded everyone present. The only one who could persuade him otherwise was Da Bo Po, who also expressed her desire to see what this 'fox spirit' looked like.
With no other choice, the group could only accompany the elderly couple.
Lu Hongjun was playing with his newly bought hwamei bird when he saw Lu Da Bo and Da Bo Po. Surprised and delighted, he exclaimed, "Big Brother! Big Sister-in-law! Why are you here?"
Then he called out to the kitchen, "Su Fen! My big brother and sister-in-law are here! Come out quickly!"
It was Sunday, so Tang Su Fen and her six children, along with their two daughters-in-law, were all at home. With so many people to feed, she had called her second daughter-in-law and youngest daughter to help her in the kitchen.
When Lu Hongjun called out, Tang Su Fen immediately came out with her second daughter-in-law and youngest daughter, and Huang Jian She and the others also emerged from their rooms.
As Tang Su Fen stepped out of the kitchen, intending to invite Lu Da Bo and the others to sit down, Lu Da Bo raised his walking stick and swung it at Lu Hongjun.
Everyone was stunned, and it wasn't until Lu Hongjun's cries of pain that they snapped back to their senses. Lu Jia Guang wanted to stop him, but Lu Yun held him back.
Lu Hongjun never expected to be hit at his age. Dodging the blows, he shouted angrily, "Big Brother, what are you doing?"
The eldest, Huang Jian She, seeing Lu Da Bo's actions, immediately pulled his heavily pregnant wife back into their room and closed the door. The second brother, Huang Jian Jun, seeing Lu Hongjun running towards him, quickly retreated into his room, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Tang Su Fen dared not step forward but urged Lu Jia Guang and Lu Er Sao to stop Lu Da Bo.
Lu Da Bo had his limits; he only hit Lu Hongjun's buttocks, where there was more meat, so it would hurt for a few days but wouldn't cause any real damage. He struck three times and then stopped, a cold smile on his face. "Old Third, look at this bunch. Not one of them comes to your aid; they all scurry back to their rooms. And yet, you open your heart to them. You're truly blind, body and soul."
Lu Hongjun's face fell. While he didn't expect them to support him in his old age, their complete lack of concern now that he was in trouble was another matter.
Tang Su Fen's heart sank as she realized that the old man's actions were intended to drive a wedge between Lu Hongjun and his children. She forced a smile and said, "Big Brother, let's go inside and have some tea."
Lu Da Bo paid her no heed; he looked at Lu Hongjun and asked, "Old Third, do you know why I hit you?"
It could only be because of Lu Jiaxin. Because of her, only Jia Zong still treated him with the same respect as always, while Jia Guang and Jia Jie held less favorable opinions of him.
Lu Da Bo said, "Jiaxin was driven to Hong Kong by you. She's still so young, and now she's all alone in an unfamiliar place. Your big sister and I worry about her being bullied there every day. And what about you? Not only do you not worry, but you also force her to buy you a house. Lu Hongjun, when did you become so callous, unable to distinguish between close and distant relatives?"
By the end, he was truly heartbroken.
Lu Hongjun dared not argue with him. Not only had Lu Da Bo raised him, but he was also plagued with illnesses. If he said something that upset him, and something happened to him, Lu Hongjun would be the sinner.
"Big Brother, let's talk inside."
Lu Jia Guang was also afraid that he would be upset, so he hurriedly persuaded him, "Father, let's go inside and talk slowly."
Lu Da Bo glanced at Da Bo Po and then entered the main room.
Once everyone was seated, Da Bo Po looked at Tang Su Fen and said, "This house belongs to my niece. You and Hongjun have hosted a banquet, so there's no problem with you staying here. But your two sons are already married, and it's not appropriate for them to continue living here."
"Also, I just noticed that your daughter-in-law is about to give birth. It's not auspicious for your Huang family's child to be born in my niece's house. It will bring bad luck to my niece. You must move out today."
Tang Su Fen saw that they had come with ill intentions and did not explain that Huang Jian She and his brother did not live here. Instead, she said, "Big Sister, this is our Third Uncle's family matter. It's not your First Uncle's place to interfere."
Hearing this, Lu Da Bo asked angrily, "Lu Hongjun, tell me, can your big sister and I interfere in your family's matters?"
Lu Hongjun was brought up by Lu Da Bo, and he was no different from his parents: "Of course, but..."
Lu Da Bo said firmly, "But what? Isn't this house bought by Jiaxin? Aren't their children surnamed Lu? Lu Hongjun, I'll leave these words here today. If their children bear your surname Lu, then they can be born here. If they don't, then get out immediately. If you can't bear to leave, then I'll strike you from the family register. From then on, whether you do well or ill has nothing to do with us."
(End of Chapter)
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