Although Lu Mingyang thought this in his heart, he didn't say it out loud. No matter what, his maternal grandparents were still kind to them, and it was better not to add to their troubles at this time.
Shen Meng's words made the two young children burst into tears. Suddenly, hearing a noise outside, she sat up abruptly and took out the land deed, some family receipts, and the last bit of money from under her pillow.
"Mingyang, Mingliang, come here. Mingyang, I'm sorry, and I'm sorry for failing your father's wishes. This is our family's land deed, grain coupons, and this fifteen yuan. This is all the money we have left. Keep it safe. After I'm gone, you must take good care of your younger brother and sister. I don't want to leave this mess to burden you, my child. But look at your grandmother and your uncles and aunts. They're all eyeing your things. I'm really scared. If you can't survive in the Lu family after I'm gone, go to the Shen family. If the Shen family doesn't want you, you'd rather beg than stay in the Lu family. There's no way to survive there!" "Ah, Jiaxuan, Jiaojiao, please have mercy! You've taken over our house! After I'm gone, please give these children a chance to live! I beg you!"
Lu Mingyang was called to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and a wad of stuff was suddenly shoved into his hand. Then he saw the woman who had been half-dead just moments before actually sit up and sway as she got off the kang. It looked like she was about to kneel before her grandmother, uncles, and aunts standing at the door. He was startled and hurriedly pulled Mingliang aside to make way for the wicked woman. He and Mingliang were still children; they couldn't bear her kneeling. A mother kowtowing to her son was considered a bad omen.
"Xiaomeng, what are you doing? Get up! Even if the sky falls, your father will support you. I'd like to see who dares to bully my granddaughter! Humph, your Lu family says you treat my daughter like your own, but all you do is seize the brick house of the eldest son for your youngest son to live in? Even favoritism has its limits. Don't be so heartless!"
Liu Sanjin was so angry that he almost fell backward, pointing at Shen Meng and starting to curse.
"Shen Meng, you little hussy, what nonsense are you spouting? When did Jiaxuan and Jiaojiao ever take over your eldest son's house? Wasn't it agreed that they'd stay there temporarily for their wedding to make it more lively? If you weren't happy, you should have said so earlier. What kind of show are you putting on now, as if the whole Lu family is bullying you? Don't you know who in the whole Lu family village can bully you? Mingyang, Mingliang, Mingkai, my dear grandchildren, look at your mother's behavior! You'd better stand up for your grandmother!"
"Yes, yes, sister-in-law, what are you saying? Didn't we agree that it was just a temporary stay for their wedding this year? Mother pays you rent every month, two yuan a month. Don't even mention our village, even in the provincial capital, a high-rise apartment costs about the same. Now you're saying it's forcibly taking over? That's really unreasonable!"
Lu Jiaxuan was a little angry, but he was so busy arguing that he didn't see Liu Sanjin and Zhou Jiaojiao's guilty expressions.
"But third brother, my Zhenping gives me three yuan a month for my old age, he hasn't neglected our parents, and moreover, it's been more than half a year, and I haven't seen a single penny! Jiaxuan, who did you give this money to?"
Lu Jiaxuan: "."
Didn't he just say it was from his mother? Why is she asking him again? Is she deaf?
"Daughter, daughter, how are you? Don't worry, the upright official is here, the village chief and the party secretary of Lu Family Village are here, they will stand up for you, daughter, if you have any grievances, tell them, sob sob. What happened? Why are you still getting off the bed? Old man, don't you know our daughter is seriously injured?"
Shen Meng was being supported by Shen Fugui, so weak that she could barely stand, her forehead wound was still bleeding, her face was as white as a ghost, and her clothes were wrinkled. She was completely different from when she was carried back. They immediately looked at Liu Sanjin.
With Lu Changzhu not home, Liu Sanjin was in charge. When they and several other villagers took Shen Meng home, Liu Sanjin said she was fine and didn't even need a doctor. But now she looks like she's about to die.
Regardless of Shen Meng's character, she was Lu Zhenping's wife, a legitimate military spouse. He was serving in the army, protecting the country. If his wife died under mysterious circumstances, they would be held accountable by their superiors.
"Auntie, what happened? Zhenping's wife was perfectly fine when we left. How did she become like this?"
Liu Sanjin, who was usually good at putting on a good show in front of outsiders, was now being questioned by a junior, her old face turning red, and she didn't know what to say.
Seeing this, Zhou Jiaojiao quickly said, "Brother Debang, my sister-in-law was fine before. Aunt and Uncle Shen talked to her in the room for a while, and then she suddenly became seriously ill. Jiaxuan brought her food, but she wouldn't eat and suddenly ran out. My mother, my second brother, and my sister-in-law rushed over to see her, and she said she was going to die
. It's really embarrassing for you all!" "Yes, yes, Debang, Hongfa, Xiaomeng was cursing and swearing at Jiaojiao when she got home, you all saw it. Now she's acting like she's going to die. I understand that in-laws love their daughter, but everyone knows how much I love Xiaomeng and her children. I'm sorry to the organization, I'm sorry to my son, I'm wrong as a mother-in-law. Xiaomeng, stop making a fuss, go to bed quickly. Tell your mother what you want to eat or use, and I'll make it for you."
Liu Sanjin, his arm being lifted by Zhou Jiaojiao, instantly realized what was happening and quickly said this to Li Debang and Zhang Hongfa.
The two village officials, dragged over by Wang Guizhi, immediately changed their expressions upon hearing Liu Sanjin's kind and benevolent words, realizing Shen Meng was ungrateful.
Shen Meng narrowed her eyes. "Old man," she thought, "not only do you want to throw the blame on my parents, but you also want me to carry this filthy mess. Heh, since that's how it is, I'll show you today that when people in the 21st century get going, they can wipe you clean."
"Village Chief, Party Secretary, thank you for making this trip. Although I was nearly killed by the production team's ox, with a gaping wound on my forehead, and although no one from the production team has come to call a doctor or even come to check on me, although I haven't had a drop of water or a bite to eat, and my children are starving and catching sparrows outside, and although my parents, despite their advanced age, have been beaten and scolded, I'm still alive. The production team and my in-laws have been incredibly kind to me; after all, I'm not dead. But Jiaojiao was scolded by me and will have to continue living in my house, leaving my child hungry. At least the ox wasn't seriously injured by my attack, so I'm still very grateful."
These words made everyone in the room blush, gasp for breath, and tremble.