Chapter 60: Saving a Life is Better than Building a Seven-Story Pagoda

Chapter 60: Saving a Life is Better than Building a Seven-Story Pagoda

The Lu family was delighted to learn that Grandma Hu had confessed, feeling that their previous efforts had not been in vain. Lu Dabao's wife was especially grateful, pressing her palms together and thanking the heavens for bringing retribution upon the evildoer.

Lu Dabiao couldn't help but scold her, "They've been trying to eradicate all feudalistic superstitions, and yet here you are, spouting that nonsense again."

It was a good thing that no one paid attention to such things anymore. If someone had reported him a few years ago, he might have even lost his position as the brigade secretary.

Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "Dabo, don't scold her. If it weren't for her and Xiao Qiu reminding me that harming others brings bad karma, I might not have thought of this idea."

It turned out that most of the people from the Lu family believed in ghosts and gods. Although Lu Jiaxin herself did not, even after transmigrating into this world, she respected others' beliefs.

Lu Dabiao had nothing more to say.

Avoiding Lu Jiaxin, the women of the Lu family chatted about the case. Lu Dabo's wife was the first to express her confusion, "Is her nephew incapable of finding a wife? Why did she have to resort to abducting someone else's daughter?"

As it turned out, Dabao's mother did know the reason. She had run into an acquaintance at the morning market who told her, "He's not a fool; he's a perfectly normal young man."

Grandma Hu had six nephews. For some unknown reason, the first five either met with accidents, fell ill, or went missing, leaving only the youngest one remaining.

Dabao's mother explained, "Hu Laotai's family lives in a remote mountain area with very little land. Their men have all encountered misfortunes one after another, and many people believe that their family is cursed. So, even though her nephew is strong and healthy, he can't find a wife because no one wants to become a widow."

Lu Dabo's wife asked, "In such a poor place, can the men from the village find wives?"

This, Dabao's mother didn't know. "She knew about Jiaxin's identity and saw that she was pure and easy to deceive, so she had evil intentions. It's a good thing Jiaxin escaped, or her life would have been ruined."

Lu Dabiao's second wife angrily cursed, "That old woman deserves a thousand cuts."

As the women chatted, the second wife's mother-in-law approached. She had come to find Lu Jiaxin, and as soon as she saw her, she asked, "Jiajie said that you're living in a big house now, with twelve rooms."

With those words, everyone's gaze fell on Lu Jiaxin. They had known that Lu Jiaxin had moved out, but they had no idea she had moved into such a large house.

Lu Dabiao was aware of this matter, as Lu Jiajie had told him about it. He took out his pipe, knocked it, and asked, "What's it to you, Erfang's mother? Why are you asking about this?"

The second wife's mother-in-law pushed her eldest grandson, Lu Wang, forward and said, "Jiaxin, working the fields is too tough. I've always wanted your fifth uncle to take Wang to Si Jiucheng to find a better future, but your fifth uncle has been saying that he doesn't have a place for Wang to stay. Jiaxin, since your house is so big, let Wang stay with you for now. Once your fifth uncle finds him a job, he can move into the company dormitory."

That sense of entitlement made Lu Jiaxin laugh. She suddenly understood why Lu Jiajie had previously said that the house could not be rented out or lent to relatives.

Although Lu Dabiao frowned, he didn't stop them, and the others remained silent. With over a dozen rooms, there would be more than enough space for them when they visited.

Lu Jiaxin smiled, her expression filled with mockery. "Second aunt, when Dabo enlisted in the army, you were envious and kept pestering my father to let Jiajie enlist as well when he came of age. My father pulled some strings and got him a spot, but during the political review, it was discovered that Jiajie had a record due to a previous fight. Instead of blaming Jiajie for his impulsiveness, you blamed my father for only caring about the first wife and neglecting the second wife's family."

Not only were the younger generation unaware of these matters, but even Lu Dabo's wife and her sister-in-law had no idea.

The second wife's mother-in-law paused for a moment before forcing a smile and saying, "Jiaxin, I've never said those things. It's all just gossip made up by outsiders."

Lu Jiaxin despised relatives like her second aunt the most. When she was younger, the relatives in the countryside would often say that she, as a daughter, couldn't carry on the family lineage, and they would constantly urge her father to have another son. Even if he didn't work, it wouldn't matter as long as he could make money. Her father hadn't been influenced by their words, but her grandparents had listened to them.

Because of this, she never gave those despicable relatives any face. "I'm my father's only daughter, and he has no sons. You can tell my father that as long as they can find a job for Fifth Uncle in Si Jiucheng, they can adopt him into our family. In the end, my father went to great lengths to get Fifth Uncle into the shoe factory, but when you saw that it was a done deal, you changed your mind and made a big fuss. Eventually, the matter was dropped."

The smile on the second wife's mother-in-law's face faded, and she argued, "It was your mother who wanted to adopt Jiajie, not me. I never agreed to it."

Lu Jiaxin scoffed, "My mother always told me that having me was enough for her. She strongly opposed the idea of adoption, but my father wanted a son to carry on the family name. Second aunt, I understand if you don't want to adopt Fifth Uncle now that he's made something of himself, as you're probably expecting him to support you in the future. But my mother is no longer around, so why are you still trying to smear her name?"

Lu Hongjun's outdated way of thinking expected his son to support him in his old age, but when Lu's second uncle's family changed their minds, he was angry yet worried about the potential damage to his reputation, so he let it go. However, Lu's mother never intended to rely on her children for support. Her kindness towards Lu Jiaxin and Lu Jiajie was driven by her hope that they would support her daughter in the future. With the backing of her brother, Lu Jiaxin believed her in-laws would not dare to bully her.

Lu Dabao never expected his niece to hold such deep resentment towards the second wife's family. It was only then that he realized she hadn't visited them since her return.

Naturally, Lu's second aunt denied having any ill intentions.

Lu Jiaxin scoffed and said, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. First, you want Lu Wang to stay in my house, then you'll find excuses to keep him there. Eventually, when Lu Wang gets married and has children in my house, you'll have a legitimate reason to take over my property."

The second aunt denied the accusation and turned it back on Lu Jiaxin, accusing her of being disrespectful. She threatened to ask Lu Jiajie about his teachings when he returned.

Lu's mother maintained a harmonious relationship with the second wife's family by constantly yielding to them. Her goal was to encourage Lu Jiajie to take better care of the original body. However, since Lu Jiaxin didn't need their support, she had no intention of indulging the second wife's family.

Lu Jiaxin replied with a smile that was more of a smirk, "Second aunt, if you swear that you never had such thoughts, then perhaps someone will take care of you in your old age. Otherwise, you'll be left to fend for yourself."

Lu's second aunt dared not swear because she indeed had designs on Lu Jiaxin's house. In their minds, a married daughter was like water spilled out of the house, so such a large house should naturally be passed on to a male heir of the Lu family. As for the fact that Lu's mother bought the house, they believed her money ultimately belonged to Lu Jiajie anyway.

Lu Dabao thought it was reasonable for relatives to help each other out, so he had no issue with letting Lu Wang stay with Lu Jiaxin temporarily. However, the idea of taking over Lu Jiaxin's house was unacceptable to him. He immediately scolded them, "Old second, you're already so old, yet you're still up to these tricks. Take Awang and get out of here!"

Seeing Lu Dabao's anger, the second aunt was frightened and left with her grandson.

Lu Jiaxin, however, wasn't going to let the matter drop. She raised her voice and said, "My mother is kind and generous, but I'm not like her. I'm petty and vengeful. Whoever dares to lay a finger on my belongings will have their hands chopped off."

Hearing these words, Lu's first aunt felt that Lu Jiaxin was too aggressive. She pulled her into the house and said, "Child, how can you say such things? What will people think of you if this gets out?"

Lu Jiaxin retorted, "Aunt, do you think I can just let it go if I refuse her request? Who knows, maybe tomorrow when we leave, she'll try to push Awang into the car with us."

Of course, even if Lu's second aunt attempted such a thing, Lu Jiaxin wouldn't allow Lu Wang to stay with her. It wasn't out of cold-heartedness but a recognition that such behavior shouldn't be indulged, or it would only encourage more of the same.

The first aunt was left speechless. Given the second aunt's temperament, she was indeed capable of such an action. However, Lu Jiaxin's sharp response was also concerning. The first aunt spoke with a mix of concern and exasperation, "Child, a woman shouldn't be too strong-willed. If you're too assertive, your in-laws might not be able to tolerate you."

Lu Jiaxin lowered her head and softly replied, "Aunt, I don't intend to marry. When my mother was alive, everyone praised my father for loving his wife and child. But less than a year after she passed away, he remarried, and I became a bullied stepchild."

"Men are all fickle and untrustworthy. I've decided not to marry and will live alone. When I'm old and immobile, I'll end my own life."

The first aunt's face turned green at the thought. "Child, your views are too extreme. Your father is an exception; there are still many good men in this world."

She didn't deny the existence of good men, but how could one know their true nature before something happened? While she wasn't opposed to the idea of marriage, her standards for a partner were high, and she wouldn't settle for anyone less capable or wealthy than herself. A romantic relationship was fine, but marriage was a different matter. With the numerous cases of spousal murder in recent years, she had no intention of becoming a victim.

Lu Jiaxin didn't want to continue discussing the topic with her first aunt. The generational gap between them was too wide to bridge. She yawned and said, "Aunt, I'm tired."

Having only caught a brief nap the previous night, she was exhausted.

The first aunt immediately went to find Lu Dabao and relayed their conversation. After sharing her concerns, she sighed, "Old Lu, Lu Jiajie has really harmed this child. If Xiao Xia could see her now, she would be heartbroken."

During their previous visit, Lu Jiaxin had been well-behaved and obedient, a stark contrast to the guarded and thorny person she had become. While these thorns protected her, they also hurt those around her.

Lu Dabao didn't know how to handle the situation. He reasoned, "She's been through a lot recently and holds a grudge against Lu Jiajie, so her thoughts are a bit extreme. It's fine. Tomorrow, I'll call Lu Jiaxin and ask them to visit her more often. She'll be fine in a few years."

However, Lu Dabao's wife disagreed. "Lu Jiaxin became like this because of Lu Jiajie. As the saying goes, 'the one who ties the bell to the tiger must take it off.' Lu Jiajie needs to be the one to comfort and reassure Lu Jiaxin."

Lu Dabao felt that a dual approach would be most effective. "I'll call Lu Jiajie tomorrow. If he doesn't listen, we'll go to Si Jiucheng in a couple of months.

Chapter 60: Saving a Life is Better than Building a Seven-Story Pagoda

Lu Dabiao's wife suggested, "Let's go visit them again at the end of the year. Guang hasn't been able to come home for the holidays these past few years, so we can spend the new year with him this time."

Lu Dabo's father, Lu Dabo, also wanted to go, but his wife was worried about their home and reluctant to leave their beloved pets. He didn't want to go alone, and he didn't like the food his daughter-in-law cooked, but now that his wife had agreed, he had no objections.

In the evening, Lu Jiaxin met Zaohua again on the slope behind the village. Perhaps due to being hungry for three days, the girl looked pale and unwell.

Zaohua, leaning on Xiao Qiu, asked, "Aunt, are you leaving tomorrow?"

Lu Jiaxin nodded and asked, "Zaohua, I heard from Xiao Qiu this afternoon that your mother has finally agreed not to force you into marriage."

It was only when Xiao Qiu visited Zaohua at noon that she fainted from hunger that anyone realized what was happening. It was the neighbors' condemnation of Zaohua's mother's cruelty that finally made her relent.

Zaohua let out a bitter laugh and said, "My mother said she won't force me to marry for the next two years, but after that, I'll still have to get married."

She didn't want to marry; she wanted to return to school, continue her studies, and take the university entrance exam. But for her, the dream of attending university now seemed out of reach.

Lu Jiaxin said, "I asked my uncle about it this morning, and he said that the annual school fees for high school are around 300 yuan. That's 900 yuan for three years. Zaohua, I can sponsor you to finish high school."

Zaohua couldn't believe her ears. Did Aunt Jiaxin just offer to sponsor her high school education? It felt like she was hallucinating.

Xiao Qiu was both surprised and delighted. "Aunt, are you saying you'll sponsor Zaohua's high school education? Are you joking with us?"

Lu Jiaxin found this amusing. "Why would I joke about this? What do I have to gain from tricking you?"

Zaohua snapped out of her daze and expressed her gratitude. "Aunt Jiaxin, I appreciate your offer, but I can't accept your sponsorship."

Xiao Qiu's mouth moved faster than her brain. "Why not? If you accept Aunt's sponsorship, you can go back to school and take the university entrance exam in three years!"

Zaohua felt that Aunt Jiaxin had her own difficulties. Her biological father had remarried, and her stepmother was vicious, trying to ruin her future. In such a situation, she couldn't bring herself to accept Aunt Jiaxin's help.

Understanding Zaohua's reluctance, Lu Jiaxin admired her noble character. "You don't have to worry. That mother and daughter won't be able to harm me anymore, and my father's money will be mine in the future."

Zaohua asked in a trembling voice, "Aunt, are you sure it won't be a burden on you?"

Lu Jiaxin smiled and assured her, "Don't worry, if I couldn't afford it, I wouldn't offer. Zaohua, Uncle has promised to go and talk to your mother tomorrow. Once she agrees, you can go back to school."

Lu Dabo, having served as the village chief for over a decade, still carried considerable influence. He would definitely be able to persuade Zaohua's mother.

Zaohua knelt down and kowtowed three times to Lu Jiaxin, her face streaked with tears. "Aunt Jiaxin, I'll be forever grateful and will repay your kindness."

Lu Jiaxin helped her up and said with a smile, "You don't have to repay me by becoming a cow or a horse. Just focus on your studies when you return to school and pass the university entrance exam to set an example for the girls in the village."

Xiao Qiu had a strange look on her face. Aunt Jiaxin was about the same age as her, yet she spoke like an elder. Well, she was indeed an elder.

Noticing Zaohua's pale complexion, Lu Jiaxin advised, "This was a special circumstance, but from now on, you must take care of your health. Your health is the foundation of your revolution, and if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to get into university."

Zaohua nodded vigorously, looking like a bird plotting its next meal.

After dinner, Lu Jiaxin placed 15 large banknotes in front of Lu Dabo. "When Zaohua's mother agrees to let her return to school, give this money to her."

She didn't give the money directly to Zaohua because she was concerned that Zaohua's mother might take it away. She knew all too well how greedy people could be.

Lu Dabo frowned and said, "Jiaxin, hasn't your father agreed to this yet?"

Lu Jiaxin paused for a moment before replying, "If Zaohua doesn't continue her studies, her mother will eventually force her into marriage. Who knows what might happen if she becomes desperate? By sponsoring her education, I'm essentially saving her life. Uncle, as the old saying goes, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. If my father doesn't agree, I'll sponsor her myself."

"How are you going to sponsor her? Where will you get the money from?"

Lu Jiaxin replied nonchalantly, "I'll earn it! In just over a month in the ancient capital, I went from having nothing to saving more than 300 yuan. Even after buying a train ticket, I still have over 200 yuan left!"

Lu Dabo's face turned stern. "Focus on recovering your health first, and then you can go back to school. No more street vending."

Lu Jiaxin immediately assured him, "Uncle, I know what's important. Rest assured, I'll sponsor Zaohua without affecting my own well-being."

Lu Dabo was relieved but didn't want Lu Jiaxin to earn money on her own. "Your focus should be on getting better and studying. Don't worry about anything else. I'll discuss this with your father, and he'll likely agree."

"Okay."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end