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Chapter 571: Unwanted and Unloved
Chapter 571: Unwanted and Unloved
Although Peng Jiagen was adopted out, he was already sixteen at the time. Now that his biological father is gravely ill, anyone with a conscience would come to take care of him. However, it is unreasonable to force him to come if he doesn't want to. As for his two cousins, according to family customs, they are expected to take care of their parents when they are ill, but they are not required to contribute financially.
Watching them shirk their responsibilities, Lu Jiaguang was furious: "We're not asking them for money, but they won't even come to take care of him. What's the point of having them?"
Lu's second aunt, aware of the situation, echoed his sentiments with a targeted comment: "What's the use of having daughters? Their father is ill, and they neither provide money nor care. We should have given them away when we had the chance."
Lu Jiaguang felt that her words were unfair and replied unhappily: "Jiagen has a large son, but you sent him away. Look at him now. His own father is ill, and he won't even come to take care of him, let alone provide travel expenses."
As the second aunt tried to interject, Lu Jiaguang, feeling irritated, interrupted: "Second Uncle hasn't even had his surgery yet. After the operation, he'll need constant attention for his daily needs. How can one person manage both his finances and his health? Second Aunt, what are we going to do then?"
Regarding Lu's second aunt, she had already spent several days in the hospital before the surgery, complaining about various aches and pains. It was unrealistic to expect her to take on the caregiving responsibilities afterward.
Lu's second aunt expressed her helplessness as an elderly woman who couldn't read or write.
Lu Jiaguang, suppressing his anger, said, "Before Jiajie returns, Jiazong and I will take turns caring for Jiacai for a couple of days."
With the help of hired help, the hospital quickly arranged for the surgery. Knowing that Lu Jiaxin didn't get along with her in-laws, they refrained from informing her about the procedure.
After the surgery, Lu's second uncle quickly regained consciousness as the anesthesia wore off. It was expected that he would experience various discomforts post-surgery, and while some might endure it stoically, he chose to vocalize his complaints incessantly. The patients in the adjacent beds couldn't tolerate the disturbance and strongly requested a room change.
Left with no choice, the hospital discussed the situation with Lu Jiaguang and transferred his second uncle to a private room, albeit at a higher cost. Fortunately, Lu Jiajie was earning an income, which helped alleviate the financial burden.
The transfer to a private room only prevented disturbances to others, as Lu's second uncle continued to trouble his family. Lu Jiacai went without sleep for two days and three nights, exacerbating his already fragile state from the previous ordeal. He was the first to collapse. Lu Jiaguang, accustomed to office work, had a weaker constitution and succumbed to a fever after two nights of caregiving. Lu Jiazong, on the other hand, possessed a sturdy physique from his manual labor, so the burden of caregiving fell heavily on his shoulders.
Caring for one's parents is a responsibility and obligation, but the situation was different with an uncle, especially one with five children of his own. Yet, here he was, relying on his nephew to take care of him through the night. Adding insult to injury, Lu's second uncle was ungrateful and complained about the porridge and vegetables prepared by Lu Jiazong.
Lu Jiazong, already discontent, seized the opportunity to voice his frustration. With a cold expression, he said, "If Second Uncle is dissatisfied with my care, then let's ask Jiagen and Hehua to take over!"
Although Lu Jiacai had initially refused to help, he returned after cooling off. However, Lu Jiazong chose to leave the hospital directly. Left with no choice, Lu's second aunt could only call Lu Jiaguang for help.
What could Lu Jiaguang do? If it were their father, Lu Jiazong would have been physically forced to take responsibility. But this was their uncle, and he had five children of his own. It was unreasonable to compel him, lest it affect the relationship between the brothers. The only option left was to hire a caregiver.
Lu's second aunt objected to the idea, arguing that hiring help would cost money and that the caregivers might not provide adequate care: "Shanzi and Ayun are both young and strong. Let them take care of your second uncle."
A slight chill ran through Lu Jiaguang's heart as he replied, "They're both busy and don't have the time. Jiajie will be back soon. Let's hire a caregiver for the time being! You don't have to worry about finding a caregiver; I'll ask Xiaojie for help."
However, the hired caregiver only lasted half a day before fleeing, choosing to forgo their wages rather than continue working.
Wang Xiaojie was fuming with anger. She turned to Lu Jiaguang and said, "Just because they spent some money, they act so arrogantly towards others. If you didn't know any better, you'd think they were some high and mighty individuals."
"I won't bother asking anyone else; I can't bear to lose face like this," Lu Jiaguang replied.
"Jiamei is right to ignore them. Who would want to associate with people who are disliked and despised by all?" Wang Xiaojie added.
She knew that Lu's second uncle and aunt were unpleasant people, but she never expected them to be so troublesome. Despite visiting twice before the surgery, they only stayed for two minutes in the hospital room after the operation before leaving.
Lu Jiaguang felt helpless too. "Jiajie won't be back for another three days, and Jiacai is still coughing. I can't just leave them unattended, can I?"
Wang Xiaojie could only suggest, "Jiaguang, let's just forget about it this time. From now on, if they fall ill again, we won't take full responsibility. He has his own children; it's not our place to take care of him."
When Lu Hongjun was ill, her husband had taken care of him as well, and there was nothing wrong with that. Firstly, Lu Hongjun had been kind to them in the past, and secondly, he was very cooperative and didn't insult others. Unlike Lu's second uncle, who was a handful.
Lu Jiaguang remained silent for a moment before speaking, "I'll talk to Father about this. From now on, we'll let Jiajie and Jiacai handle their matters. We can lend a hand, but we won't take on the bulk of the work."
Lu's second uncle and aunt were known for being difficult, and Wang Xiaojie had already asked two more people to help, but they all left before finishing half a day's work, even with increased pay. The hospital aides were also unwilling to take on this task.
In the end, Lu Jiacai had no choice but to care for his father despite still being unwell himself. He endured until Lu Jiajie returned, and then he went home to rest for a day and a night, as he was truly exhausted.
Lu Jiajie, however, would not tolerate their behavior. When Lu's second uncle started insulting him, he said, "If you continue to insult me, I will leave. And if I leave, I won't pay for your medical expenses anymore."
Lu's second uncle was unfazed by the threat and continued his tirade. To his surprise, Lu Jiajie turned and walked away, only to return with a caregiver. The caregiver was deaf, so they simply did their job and ignored the insults.
When Lu Jiacai woke up and saw this, he asked in surprise, "Why aren't you at the hospital taking care of Father?"
Lu Jiajie explained, "I hired a caregiver to look after him, and Mother is there too. He won't die. You're too soft-hearted. If they insult you after all the hard work you've done, just leave. Let them experience some hardship and see if they dare to insult you again."
"But what if something happens?" Lu Jiacai asked, concerned.
A cold glint flashed in Lu Jiajie's eyes as he replied, "If he dies, we'll take him to the funeral home, cremate him, and bring his ashes home. Then we'll give him a grand funeral."
After everything that had happened, Lu Jiajie had long since lost any warmth towards his uncle. If a father could be unkind, then a son could be unforgiving. Paying for his treatment was already the limit of his tolerance.
"People will gossip and judge us," Lu Jiacai said worriedly.
Lu Jiajie responded firmly, "As long as our consciences are clear, that's all that matters. Big brother, quit your job. From now on, work with me. I'll pay you a higher salary, and no one will bully you."
Among his siblings, only the eldest brother had a sense of responsibility and duty. The other three were truly disappointing. Oh well, he didn't plan on having much to do with them in the future anyway.
Lu Jiacai was delighted by the offer. "I called my boss a couple of days ago to ask for an extension on my leave, but he said he'd already found someone to replace me. I was worried, but now I feel relieved."
Lu Jiajie felt that his brother was too honest and couldn't help but think ahead for him. "Lu Xing and Lu Mei aren't cut out for academic studies. Let them learn a skill so that they can have an easier life in the future. As for the younger two, make sure they focus on their studies. In families like ours, education is the key to success."
The Lu family understood the importance of education, so regardless of gender, they ensured that all their children received an education. Even when his wife objected, believing that their daughter didn't need so much education, Lu Jiacai insisted. Unfortunately, their daughter, Mei, indeed struggled with her studies, and they had to let go of that dream.
"Alright," Lu Jiacai agreed.
(End of Chapter)
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