Chapter 51: Trouble Caused by Money Lending
Translator: c.o.keZero Editor: Rainystars
The Second and Third Born were playing with Soot and Marble. Due to the commotion the Fourth Born made, they grew scared and ran to the front gate as well to cry, “Mommy, if you don’t come back you’re going to become a dog.”
Lu Jiao’s face dropped and she quickened her steps. She was only visiting her mother. Why did they act like it was life and death?
The next time she goes home, she will bring them to save herself the emotional ha.s.sle.
The Apricot Flower Village was the neighboring village. The two villages, however, were separated by a mountain. In order to go home, Lu Jiao had to detour by taking the small road on the north side of the mountain. Because of the detour, it took at least two hours for her to get home.
The original host did not have the physical capacity to make the trip. Lu Jiao, however, didn’t mind. She roamed her way to the Apricot Flower Village.
Nothing unexpected happened on her journey.
Similar to the Xie Village, the Apricot Flower Village was a large village. The Lu surname was prominent here so the moment Lu Jiao appeared, everyone greeted her.
Lu Jiao answered them without rushing, earning her many compliments. Everyone praised her to be the fitting image of a scholar’s wife and commented that she was very different from before.
Lu Jiao followed her memories. Her home was right in the center of the village and it was easy to find.
The Lu family yard was large. The building itself, however, was rather damaged. There were three old mud houses in the middle, and three small rooms on each side. At the front of the yard was a fenced area where chickens were raised.
Lu Jiao was checking out the yard when someone walked out from the center mud house.
This guy was her younger brother, Lu Gui. The moment Lui Gui saw Lu Jiao, he frowned unpleasantly, “What are you doing back home?”
Lu Jiao’s face dropped. Honestly, she knew that this brother didn’t like her and she didn’t have much to say about him either. If it weren’t for Lady Tian, she likely wouldn’t come back.
Towards these Lu family members, she didn’t feel any familial ties.
Collected, she started to walk towards him, “This is my home. Why can’t I come back?”
Lu Gui was angry to hear those words, “Because of you, the entire family is unhappy. What more do you want?”
Lu Jiao knew right away that the family found out Lady Tian gave her money in private.
Silently, Lu Jiao sighed in relief. Thank G.o.d she came back today with money. If she didn’t, Lady Tian would get bullied even more.
Lu Jiao strolled into the living room. Lu Gui extended his arm to block her path but she glared at him, which scared him off.
The family, however, was astounded at her arrival. Everyone from the different rooms all converged together in the living room.
Someone came out of the east bedroom – Lu Jiao’s father, Lu Danian.
Lu Danian was a little angry when he saw Lu Jiao. However, he still greeted her, “Jiaojiao, what are you doing home?”
Lu Jiao didn’t even acknowledge him.
Lady Tian from the east bedroom heard the noise and sat up straight right away, “Jiaojiao? Is Jiaojiao back?”
Lu Jiao walked to the bedroom with her basket, “Yes, mother, I’m home.”
Lady Tian was on the bed and looked a little weakened. Her eyes were very red, a sign that she had cried.
Lu Jiao grabbed her hand and asked, worried, “Mom, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Lady Tian shook her head, “It’s nothing. My health is good. It’s been tiring doing housework these days so I’m lying down to rest.”
She didn’t want to talk about it and merely checked out Lu Jiao from head to toe. She found Lu Jiao to be slimmer and her heart ached, “Jiaojiao, why have you lost weight?”
Lu Jiao rubbed her own face. She’s been eating less and moving more so she lost a little weight. However, since she was very chubby before, the weight loss wasn’t obvious. Who knew Lady Tian could tell right away?
“Mom, it’s good to be thinner. Thinner looks better.”
Lady Tian’s eyes reddened even more, “Jiaojiao, life must’ve been hard for you. That entire household now relies on you. It must be hard.”
She then patted Lu Jiao’s head and asked, “How come you found time to come here today? What about Yunjin? What about the four babies?”
Lu Jiao smiled, “I’ve asked others to take care of them. Don’t worry.”
Lu Jiao then pulled out 10 taels of silver from her sleeve and put it in Lady Tian’s hand, “Mom, I was worried that the family isn’t happy with you because of the five taels of silver you gave me. So I came to return the money the moment I earned something.”
Why would Lady Tian accept that? Determined, she shoved it back.
“Yunjin needs medicine. Take it back and buy him medicine. I have money.”
Lu Jiao knew very well that Lady Tian was so exhausted because the family had been treating her poorly. Or else there was no way she would be lying here in the middle of the day.
Lu Jiao leaned in and whispered into Lady Tian’s ear, “Mom, I found a ganoderma up in the mountains and sold it for 200 taels of silver. I have money now. Here’s 10 taels of silver – five to return the ones you gave me, and five for you to spend on yourself.”
Lady Tian was in disbelief and gawked at Lu Jiao, “Really?”
Lu Jiao convincingly nodded and Lady Tian was overjoyed. Her face flashed with color.
But she didn’t take the whole 10 taels of silver, “I’ll just take the five.”
Lu Jiao wanted to argue with Lady Tian, but she frowned at her, “Just give me five for now. You are in need of silver. Once Yunjin’s legs heal, I will keep whatever money you give me.”
Since Lady Tian appeared so serious, Lu Jiao knew she wouldn’t take the money. No choice, she put the silver back.
Lady Tian got out of bed and went outside. Currently, in the Lu family’s yard, stood Lu Danian, their three sons and two daughter-in-laws.
Lady Tian showed off the five taels of silver to Lu Danian, “Here you go. Jiaojiao came to return the money.”
She then added, “I must’ve been blind back then to think that you would protect me if we married.”
Lu Danian didn’t expect Lady Tian to get so angry publicly. Awkwardly, he stuttered, “Jiaojiao, it’s not that we don’t want to help. We are just too poor.”
Lu Jiao’s eldest sister-in-law, Sun Mei, sighed in relief at the sight of silver. She smiled, “Sister, it’s just that mother didn’t tell us before lending out money. We only lectured her a little.”
The second sister-in-law, Hu Xiang chimed in as well, “We know we were wrong. We didn’t necessarily mean that you needed to return the money right away.”
Lu Jiao glanced at the original host’s brothers, Lu Ping and Lu An. It looked like everyone here today had blamed Lady Tian over five taels of silver.
The expression on Lu Jiao’s face was no longer pleasant. So the whole family came together to bully Lady Tian.
She scanned around the yard and said, “Mom lent me five taels of silver behind your backs – that is wrong. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I am here today to apologize to all of you. After all, this whole thing started because of me.”
Lu Jiao apologized in a serious manner to the entire Lu family, making everyone’s face redden. Everyone here felt like they’d been slapped.
After Lu Jiao issued the apology, she spoke up again. This time, however, her voice was cold.
“I have more to say. If mom lent me five taels of silver for me to spend lavishly on unnecessary food and drinks, you can blame her. However, she lent me the money to help out her son-in-law, who’s bedridden due to injuries. What kind of crime did she commit for lending me that money?
You are my family. Since you are not willing to help during my rough patch, then I will offer you nothing when my situation improves.”