Over the years, every time Lu Guoheng received his salary, Liu Qingying and her daughter would “borrow” more than half of it.
Song Jinhe hadn’t known about this at first, assuming Lu Guoheng had been giving the money to Zhou Yufen.
It was only later, when Liu Qingying came to borrow something and let it slip, that Song Jinhe forced the truth out of Lu Guoheng.
Lu Guoheng said that Liu Qingying had a hard time raising a child alone, and since he had promised his brother, he had to help her with life’s difficulties.
He also said that Liu Qingying was pitiful, and as her sister-in-law, Song Jinhe shouldn’t be too calculating.
At that time, Song Jinhe laughed through her tears. She managed the household chores every day, keeping everything in perfect order.
Lu Guoheng saw it all but never once asked if she was tired, nor did he show any concern when she fell ill while caring for the sick Zhou Yufen.
Yet he thought Liu Qingying was pitiful and felt sorry for her raising a child alone.
Song Jinhe was so distraught she wanted a divorce, but Lu Guoheng said the child was still young and needed a complete family, urging her to think of their child.
When she finally convinced herself not to divorce, Lu Guoheng told her that his mother was old and in poor health, and she shouldn’t be told these things to avoid upsetting her.
Divorce was impossible, and if Zhou Yufen collapsed from the shock, Song Jinhe would still have to care for her.
No matter how difficult it was, Song Jinhe had to keep it secret.
Thus, Zhou Yufen remained unaware of the matter.
Sensing Lu Guoheng’s warning gaze tinged with nervousness, Song Jinhe smiled.
She looked at Zhou Yufen and said directly, “You still don’t know, do you? Your precious son has only given me money a few times over the years. The rest—more than half—has been lent to the pitiful Liu Qingying and her daughter.”
She emphasized the word “lent” heavily.
Zhou Yufen instantly screamed, “What? More than half lent to that widow!”
As she spoke, she seemed unable to bear the shock, clutching her chest as if about to collapse.
Lu Guoheng’s heart raced, and he hurriedly supported her.
Lu Xiaoran also rushed over anxiously, shouting, “Grandma!”
Lu Guoheng glared furiously at Song Jinhe:
“Have you forgotten Mom’s poor health? She can’t handle shocks! You promised me you wouldn’t mention this!”
Remembering his earlier irritating words, Song Jinhe threw them right back at him.
“I just said it casually. Who knew it would affect her so much?”
Lu Guoheng fumed, “You!”
Song Jinhe’s words were utterly irresponsible.
As an adult, shouldn’t she know what not to say?
Just as Lu Guoheng was about to blame her, he suddenly found the words somewhat familiar.
A few minutes earlier, he had said something similar to Song Jinhe.
Lu Guoheng’s face turned ashen; no matter how angry he was, he couldn’t criticize her now.
Otherwise, he’d be slapping his own face, admitting he had indeed neglected Song Jinhe too much.
Clenching his jaw, Lu Guoheng looked down worriedly at his mother. “Mom, are you okay? Let me help you inside to rest.”
Song Jinhe glanced at Zhou Yufen clutching her chest, showing no concern.
She deliberately said, “Hurry and take Mom inside, then come with me to Liu Qingying’s to get the pendant.”
“That Ya Ya of hers is in and out of the hospital every other day. If we don’t go today, she’ll surely lose my pendant by tomorrow.”
Lu Guoheng’s face immediately showed a frustrated expression.
“Mom is already in this state, can’t you just quiet down…”
Before he could finish his words, Zhou Yufen, who had been so furious she seemed about to faint moments ago, straightened up.
“That damned vixen Liu Qingying actually dared to swindle so much money from you! I’m going to get it back right now!”
“If we wait any longer, that sickly person in her family will spend it all!”
Zhou Yufen gnashed her teeth as she spoke, scanned the courtyard, picked up the shovel leaning against the wall, and rushed out of the house.
Her retreating figure and aggressive stance looked exactly like she was going to beat Liu Qingying to death.
Lu Guoheng, as her son, knew Zhou Yufen’s temper all too well.
With one look, he knew things were definitely going to escalate.
Lu Guoheng frowned deeply, his gaze toward Song Jinhe carrying a hint of reproach.
If she hadn’t spoken out of turn earlier, things wouldn’t have developed to this extent.
Though he thought this, Lu Guoheng also knew now wasn’t the time to blame her.
Qingying had always been delicate. If he arrived too late, something might happen to her.
Suppressing his anger, Lu Guoheng averted his gaze and hurriedly chased after his mother.
Song Jinhe completely ignored his accusatory look, grabbed the bewildered Lu Xiaoran, and smiled gently.
“Remember to get my pendant back when we get there, or you’ll get another beating when we return!”
Having been beaten so many times in just one day, Lu Xiaoran now flinched whenever Song Jinhe got too close.
With both adults gone, no one could protect him.
All the bravado he’d shown earlier, tugging at his father’s clothes to punish the bad woman, had completely vanished.
He swallowed hard and nodded hurriedly, afraid that any delay in his response would earn him another slap.
Song Jinhe was quite satisfied with this reaction and dragged him out the door.
At Liu Qingying’s doorstep.
Zhou Yufen, who had arrived first carrying the shovel, was already pounding on the door.
The shovel, still caked with mud, slammed against the wooden door again and again, making it creak and groan.
“Liu Qingying, you shameless vixen! Get out here now!”
Zhou Yufen shouted at the top of her lungs while fiercely beating the door.
“You swindled so much money from my Guoheng! If you don’t return it today, I’ll smash your door to pieces!”
Her Guoheng worked so hard every day, barely managing to earn that money.
That money was meant for her precious grandson’s future marriage!
Liu Qingying was just a widow who brought misfortune to her husband. Her Guoheng was kind-hearted, usually helping her out occasionally.
She had turned a blind eye to it all.
But she never expected this vixen Liu Qingying would have the audacity to swindle her Guoheng’s money!
And such a large amount at that!
Zhou Yufen currently felt like scratching that vixen-like face of Liu Qingying’s until it bled.
Burning with rage, she put even more force into pounding the door.
“Stop pretending! I know you’re home! Get out here now!”
Zhou Yufen’s loud voice and the commotion she caused quickly drew a crowd within minutes.
“What’s going on with the Lu family making trouble again?”
“Who knows? They were causing a scene at their own place at noon, and now they’re at the Liu family’s doorstep.”
Auntie Yang, who had been driven away in shame and anger by Zhou Yufen earlier, remarked with a sneer.
Someone nearby nudged her arm, whispering gleefully:
“Looks like Sister Zhou is really furious this time. Must be something serious.”
It was that time of day when everyone was returning from work.
Hearing the noise, people gathered around.
Seeing that Liu Qingying still hadn’t come to open the door, Zhou Yufen, enraged, threw aside the shovel, sat on the ground, and began wailing while slapping her thighs.
“My life as an old woman is so bitter! I worked so hard to raise my son, and just when he finally made something of himself and I could enjoy a comfortable life, that vixen Liu Qingying went and swindled all my son’s money!”
“How will our family survive from now on!”
In the kitchen, Liu Qingying, who overheard Zhou Yufen pouring out her bitterness, stood frozen in place, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Damn it!
How did that wretched old woman find out about this!
“Mommy, what should we do?” Ya Ya was on the verge of tears from worry.
Liu Qingying had intended to wait for Lu Guoheng to come and handle the situation, but the murmurs outside grew louder and louder. If she didn’t go out now, her reputation would be completely ruined.
Gritting her teeth, she hid the freshly cut pork, then removed the jade pendant from Ya Ya’s neck and tucked it into her pocket.
Only then did she push the door open and step outside, sobbing.