Chapter 396: A Desperate Gamble
Chapter 396: A Desperate Gamble
Lu Jiaxin glanced at the figure in the distance and immediately signaled to Zong Jinghua to put away the wooden coffin. While the treatment of coffins in this era wasn't as strict as in later years, it was still inappropriate to display one so openly in public.
Captain Du and Secretary Ruan were startled by the sudden appearance of the interloper, and their faces drained of color when they recognized him. "Ding Tongping, what are you doing here?" Secretary Ruan demanded.
He had just confidently assured Comrade Lu that everything was under control and that the Ding family would not cause any trouble. Yet, here they were, facing Ding Tongping himself.
Unafraid, Ding Tongping roared back, "Mu Niang was my wife! Without my consent, none of you can move her grave. Otherwise, I will die here today!"
According to custom, Miss Lu's actions were indeed inappropriate. But who could blame her when the county leaders were backing her wealthy family?
Lu Jiaxin sat back down on the mat and slowly sipped her water, appearing unperturbed.
Secretary Ruan spoke up, "Comrade Ding Tongping, it has been almost forty years since Gu Lanlan's passing. In these four decades, you haven't visited her grave even once. Now, Miss Lu wants to fulfill her filial duty by relocating Comrade Gu Lanlan's grave to Port City. Won't you grant her this wish?"
Less than three months after Gu Lanlan's death, Ding Tongping had remarried. His new wife had quickly borne him a healthy baby boy, and he had forgotten all about Gu Lanlan. He had even allowed his new wife to mistreat Ding Xiaoxia, his daughter with Gu Lanlan.
Ding Tongping glanced at Lu Jiaxin and then shouted, "No! Mu Niang was my first wife, and I intend to be buried with her when I die."
If they allowed Lu Jiaxin to relocate the grave now, they would never have another chance to benefit from this opportunity. That's why he had to make his stand now.
Captain Du turned to Lu Jiaxin, noting her calm expression. He was furious with Secretary Ruan for mishandling the situation, but he had no choice but to intervene at this critical juncture. "Comrade Ding, Comrade Lu's relocation of the grave has already been approved by higher-ups. No one can stop it. However, if you have any reasonable requests, we will do our best to accommodate them."
Once upon a time, Ding Tongping had been deeply infatuated with Gu Lanlan. But nearly four decades had passed since her death, and any love he had felt had long faded away. This time, he had come here with an ulterior motive—to seek some benefit for himself.
Without further ado, Ding Tongping voiced his demand, "If you want to move the grave, you must give me fifty thousand yuan!"
He Bing thought he was delusional. Their boss had refused to give him any money, hence the donation of one million yuan to the county. There was no way they would give him fifty thousand, let alone five thousand.
Captain Du immediately objected, "Fifty thousand is too much! Comrade Ding, you're being unreasonable. That amount is out of the question. Please be more realistic."
Ding Tongping pulled out a knife from his pocket and held it to his wrist, right over his pulse. "Fifty thousand, not a cent less. Otherwise, I'll die here today."
No amount of persuasion from Captain Du could make Ding Tongping budge. It was only after Secretary Ruan stepped in that the demand was lowered to thirty thousand, and even then, Ding Tongping refused to compromise any further.
Both men then turned to Lu Jiaxin.
With a blank expression, Lu Jiaxin asked, "Captain Du, Secretary Ruan, is this what you meant when you said there wouldn't be any problems?"
Captain Du had thought this would be a mere formality, never expecting such a turn of events. Suppressing his anger, he said, "Comrade Lu, we apologize for our mishandling of this matter. But we cannot have bloodshed during the grave relocation, as it would be considered inauspicious. What do you think we should do?"
Lu Jiaxin scoffed inwardly. They were essentially asking her to give in to Ding Tongping's demands.
Du Captain didn't want to agree, but at this point, aside from acquiescing to Ding Tongping, there was no better option.
Secretary Ruan remained silent, and his silence implied consent. He felt that the Ding family was so poor that they couldn't even feed themselves. As Lu Jiaxin was their granddaughter, and quite wealthy, she should help Ding Tongping out.
Lu Jiaxin said expressionlessly, "Captain Du, Secretary Ruan, I can give him the three thousand. However, if I do, it means you've gone back on your word, and I won't be donating the remaining fifty thousand."
Captain Du's face turned green.
A cold sweat broke out on Secretary Ruan's forehead. If the remaining fifty thousand wasn't donated, the road construction would come to a halt halfway through, and the village wouldn't get electricity. His position as the village secretary would be in jeopardy.
He Bing wasn't surprised. If their boss had been willing to give Ding Tongping money, there wouldn't have been a need for the donation to the county in the first place. However, he was taken aback by the incompetence of the people here, who couldn't even keep an eye on an old man. Or perhaps it wasn't incompetence, but willful ignorance.
Ding Tongping knew that Lu Jiaxin was donating money to build a road in the county seat, but he didn't know how much. Hearing that it was as much as fifty thousand, he was shocked, afraid, and angry. "Lu Jiaxin, you're so unwilling to spend a little of your money to save your uncle. How can you be so heartless?"
Lu Jiaxin looked at the small knife in his hand and said coldly, "You want to die, don't you? Then go ahead and stab yourself! Rest assured, no one will stop you. When you're dead, I'll buy you a high-quality coffin, as a sign of my filial piety as your granddaughter."
Ding Tongping had long known that she had a heart of stone, but even as he was about to die, she remained unmoved. Tears streamed down his old face as he said, "Jiaxin, it was Grandfather's fault in the first place. What do you want me to do for you to forgive me?"
Lu Jiaxin scoffed, "In the first place, you relied on your status as the village chief's son to forcibly marry my grandmother. After you brought her home, you didn't treat her well, which led to her early death. My mother suffered all kinds of hardships in your Ding family and was driven to escape. You've committed such sins, and yet you want to enjoy a comfortable life with my money? There's no such cheap deal in this world."
Pausing for a moment, she continued, "However, for the sake of my grandmother, I'm willing to take a step back. You want three thousand, and I can give it to you now. Brother Gu, give him the money."
Ding Tongping was a little agitated, and the hand holding the knife trembled.
Captain Du, upon hearing this, was so frightened that he quickly shouted, "Comrade Lu, wait a moment. Let's talk to Comrade Ding some more."
Lu Jiaxin saw that Jin Artisan was still busy and remained silent. Not saying no meant she was willing to give them time to talk.
Ding Tongping saw Secretary Ruan approaching and once again held the knife to his wrist, at the position of the artery. "Don't come any closer, or I'll die here."
Secretary Ruan bluntly said, "Ding Tongping, go ahead if you have the guts. A dead man has no fears. Who are you trying to scare with your threat of death?"
Before Ding Tongping could respond, Secretary Ruan continued, "If you die, you'll be at peace, but what about your two grandsons? Have you thought about how they'll live in the village from now on?"
He felt that Lu Jiaxin, as a young lady, would be more likely to soften her heart. He never expected her to be so unyielding. In this situation, he couldn't smooth things over anymore.
Ding Tongping could tell that this was a threat. If he died here today, his two grandsons would have a hard time in the village in the future. However, his family was currently penniless, and without any support, his grandsons might not even be able to find wives. He couldn't give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn their lives around.
(End of Chapter)
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