Chapter 613: Armless and Legless
Chapter 613: Armless and Legless
Lu Er's wife followed Lu's eldest wife back home, fuming as she spoke, "What's up with Qian Xiaoxiao? She threw out all of Tang Sufeng's belongings, but now she's letting her move back in?"
Qian Xiaoxiao's actions were only making things worse; it would have been better if she hadn't interfered at all.
Lu's eldest wife knew Lu Jiaxin's temperament; she was not one to suffer in silence. If you wronged her, she wouldn't let you off easily: "Don't be angry. Let's just wait and see for now."
Lu Er's wife nodded.
Lu's eldest wife said, "Later, ask your second brother to come with you to the hospital to visit San Uncle. Then, both of you should apologize properly to San Uncle and Jiaxin."
Lu Er's wife nodded in agreement. However, when she returned to the shop and asked Lu Jiazhong to go to the hospital, he dared not go, and only after being scolded did he reluctantly agree to go.
When the couple arrived at the hospital room, they were surprised to find Lu Jiazhong barred from entering by Yan Yijun, who said, "I'm sorry, but the boss has instructed that you are not allowed in."
Lu Jiazhong had been feeling guilty ever since he was released from the Commission for Discipline Inspection. When he heard that Lu Hongjun had coughed up blood and was rushed to the hospital, he slapped himself twice. And when he heard that the surgery was successful, he knelt down on the spot.
Lu Er's wife glared at Lu Jiazhong before pushing the door open and entering the room. She was astonished to find that the room was not only spacious but also had a television and a companion bed.
Lu Jiaxin turned her head, acknowledged her with a "Second Aunt," and then turned back.
Lu Er's wife walked to the bedside and was shocked to see Lu Hongjun's hands and feet restrained. "Jiaxin, why are San Uncle's hands and feet tied up?"
"He kept trying to pull out the tubes, so we had to restrain him to prevent him from doing so. Because he was in pain and kept kicking his legs, we had to tie those down as well."
Seeing Lu Hongjun's constant struggles, Lu Er's wife felt a pang of pity, but she also knew there was no better option. "Jiaxin, you've been taking care of him all day. Let your second brother take over for the night."
Lu Jiaxin replied coldly, "That's not necessary. I've already hired a caregiver, and I'll have someone else here to supervise the caregiver as well."
Lu Er's wife sighed and said, "Jiaxin, I know you're upset with your second brother. But in that situation, your second brother is just an ordinary citizen. He was scared, so he told them everything."
Since Lu Jiaxin had brought it up, she continued, "Tang Sufeng guessed that my father had given something to me, but she didn't know what it was. It was Lu Jiazhong who told her it was a batch of antiques. My father is in this state now, and Lu Jiazhong bears undeniable responsibility for it."
If he hadn't let it slip to Tang Sufeng and had only mentioned it during the interrogation, it wouldn't have been a problem. After all, in such a place, not just someone with poor psychological endurance like Lu Jiazhong, but even those with training often couldn't withstand it.
Lu Er's wife's face burned with shame.
Lu Jiaxin didn't say anything harsh; there was no need to: "Second Aunt, I'll take care of things here, so you don't have to worry."
After a moment of silence, Lu Er's wife said, "Jiaxin, Qian Xiaoxiao threw out Tang Sufeng's belongings, but now Tang Sufeng is causing a fuss and she's letting her move back in."
Lu Jiaxin was unaware of this development, but she trusted that Qian Xiaoxiao would handle it appropriately: "I understand the situation. Second Aunt, you're needed at the shop, so you should go back."
Seeing her attempt to smooth things over, Lu Er's wife felt even more frustrated. Jiaxin used to be so close to them; it was all Lu Jiazhong's fault, that fool—he was truly going to drive her to her grave with anger.
In the evening, as Huang Jianzhu was returning home from work, someone suddenly called out his name. He turned to respond and was struck on the shoulder, causing him to fall to the ground.
Tang Sufeng, who was feeding her grandson, heard the shopkeeper's wife, Ju, calling out, so she opened the door and forced a smile, "Sister, is there something you need?"
Ju sao said, "I just got a call from your daughter-in-law, saying that your son is injured. Your daughter-in-law was crying hysterically on the phone, so it must be serious."
Tang Sufeng left her grandson with a woman she was close with and hurried to the hospital. It was only when she arrived and met her daughter-in-law that she learned Huang Jianzhu's life was not in danger, but his left leg had been broken by someone.
The doctor explained that Huang Jianzhu had suffered a comminuted fracture, a very severe injury that required surgery; otherwise, he would be disabled for life.
Tang Sufeng exclaimed, "We'll do it! We'll have the surgery..."
Huang Jianzhu's wife sobbed, saying they had no money. It wasn't that they lacked funds, but she wanted Tang Sufeng to pay, as their money would eventually be spent on Lao Er and Lao San anyway.
Tang Sufeng took out the hundred-something yuan she had on her and said, "Da Bao's wife, this is all I have. With Lu Hongjun in this state, he won't be able to earn any money from now on."
Huang Jianzhu's wife took the money disdainfully and continued crying. "Mom, I really don't have any money. We invested ten thousand yuan, and we haven't gotten a single cent back. Mom, if we can't afford it, then let's just not treat it."
Tang Sufeng couldn't bear the thought of her eldest son becoming disabled, so she assured, "Da Bao's wife, you must take good care of Jianzhu. I'll go back and find someone to borrow money from."
On her way home, Tang Sufeng realized she had forgotten to ask how Jianzhu's leg had been injured. But there was no rush; she would find out later in the evening when she visited the hospital.
Only then was Huang Jianzhu's wife satisfied.
What Tang Sufeng didn't expect was that when she arrived home, she found that the bedding and clothes she had painstakingly moved into the house had been thrown out again.
She walked up and knocked on the door, but instead of her family, several burly men emerged. Among them was a man with a face full of knife scars, who asked menacingly, "Old woman, if you break the door of my house, I'll chop off your hand."
Tang Sufeng's face turned ashen. "This is my house."
The scarred man pushed Tang Sufeng, sending her tumbling to the ground. "What do you mean, your house? This is my house now. I bought it today. Scram, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Tang Sufeng now understood. Lu Jiaxin had decided to sell the house since she refused to move out. And she had sold it to thugs like these, ensuring Tang Sufeng wouldn't dare to cause any more trouble.
The scarred man pointed at the pile of belongings by the door. "Get your junk out of here quickly, or I'll just dump it all in the landfill."
Tang Sufeng dared not argue about the furniture and appliances. "I still have things in the room. Let me get them, and I'll leave."
The scarred man didn't make things difficult for her and allowed her to go in and retrieve her possessions. They weren't really possessions, though—they were the jewelry Lu Hongjun had bought for her, as well as the savings she had kept hidden away.
Once she had the box, Tang Sufeng also wanted to take the pots, pans, rice, flour, and vegetables from the kitchen.
The scarred man clenched his fists threateningly. "If you don't stop yapping, I'll beat you up."
One of his underlings said, "Boss, this old lady doesn't look like she can take a beating. If we hurt her, she might blame us for it. I heard she has a son who works at the water plant. Let's just go beat up that brat instead."
Huang Jianye worked at the water plant, and Tang Sufeng was terrified at the thought. She dared not linger any longer.
Huang Jianzhu's wife and child were at the hospital, and their grandson was with his other grandmother, so there was no one at home. Tang Sufeng hired two tricycles and had her belongings taken to Huang Jianye's place.
However, when they arrived, Huang Jianye was not there. After asking the neighbors, they learned that he had been involved with a vixen from the alleyway. His wife's lover had shown up and chopped off Huang Jianye's left arm, and he had been sent to the hospital. The attacker had fled.
Tang Sufeng's vision darkened, and she collapsed on the spot, leaving only the wailing cries of her grandchildren.
(End of Chapter)
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