Chapter 194: Ran Away

When Li Meng heard what Old Lady Lu said, she immediately lost her temper. “Mom, if you’re going to be like this, don’t blame us for not taking care of you and Dad when you’re old. When we needed help, you didn’t care about us.”

Old Man Lu rarely came home, and as soon as he did, he walked into a scene like this—he hadn’t even had a proper look at his eldest grandson yet.

Pushing the door open and entering the house, Old Man Lu glanced at his wife and said, “If you’re going to say we never helped you, then first pay back the fifty yuan your mom gave you for New Year’s.”

Li Meng felt a little guilty when she saw Old Man Lu. “What money? We’re all family, why be so petty? Dad, you can’t just listen to Mom. Even if it’s not for anything else, for the sake of your eldest grandson, you should help us out.”

She never mentioned the fifty yuan again.

Old Lady Lu thought to herself, When the eldest daughter-in-law first married into the family, she was so generous—she didn’t even blink at spending hundreds of yuan. Now she’s quibbling over fifty. It’s just that our eldest son is useless—he’s made his wife stingy.

Old Man Lu really did dote on his eldest grandson, but he couldn’t just ignore the rest of the family for the child. “Eldest daughter-in-law, I do love my grandson, but you and your husband have to live your own lives. Whatever you two plan, that’s your own business. Your mom and I don’t have any money.”

He continued, “As for helping out, your mom and I have already done our part. When you have money, remember to pay it back. That way, if anyone says you’re not filial to us in the future, you can at least hold your head high.”

Old Man Lu had been away for nearly a year and had seen a lot. Li Meng’s tricks didn’t work on him anymore.

Li Meng protested, “Dad, you can’t do this. You’re always favoring the second and third sons.”

Old Man Lu replied, “Your second brother and his wife don’t need my help. As for the third, I’m eating at his place—I can’t eat his food and then work for you. I just can’t do that.”

He added, “Your mom did that before, but I can’t let the third feel neglected again.”

Li Meng fell silent. Even her father-in-law knew about her mother-in-law coming home to cook during her confinement. Hugging her child, she left without another word.

She didn’t even ask if Grandpa wanted to see the baby.

Old Lady Lu looked at her husband, feeling bad for him. “You didn’t even get to enjoy your eldest grandson.”

Old Man Lu replied, “No matter how much I love him, we shouldn’t lower ourselves. If they can’t behave properly, it’s because we didn’t raise them right. We shouldn’t spoil them anymore.”

Old Lady Lu blamed herself. “It’s my fault. Why did I have to come home just for a bowl of porridge?”

Old Man Lu’s face darkened. Should they starve themselves just to save face for their children? “Enough. I’ll make you something to eat.”

Old Lady Lu said, “We have plenty of grain at home. I won’t starve.”

Old Man Lu couldn’t help but grit his teeth. “All the good food’s been fed to the livestock.”

Old Lady Lu couldn’t hold back her tears. She didn’t dare say that she’d spent over five yuan while taking care of her daughter-in-law during confinement. In the countryside, five yuan wasn’t a small amount.

Not to mention, she’d given ten yuan when her eldest daughter-in-law gave birth.

Old Lady Lu said, “Why didn’t you tell me how hard it was to earn money when you came home? If I’d known, I would’ve been more frugal.”

Old Man Lu replied, “It wasn’t this tough when I was with the second son’s family. It’s just that the third recently bought a new mixer. We don’t have much saved up, so I’m working more to help out.”

He added, “Don’t listen to the third’s complaints. It’s not that hard. Money is meant to be spent to make you happy. Just think of it as spoiling the grandson.”

After so many years together, they knew each other’s tempers well. Even if Old Lady Lu didn’t say it, Old Man Lu understood—helping out the eldest always cost money.

Old Lady Lu said, “If we don’t give the money, knowing our eldest, he’ll hold a grudge.”

Old Man Lu stood firm. “The second daughter-in-law was right—when you have several sons, you don’t have to worry about one being unfilial.”

Old Lady Lu couldn’t help but laugh. “There are only three sons, and you talk like that. It’s my fault for not having more.”

Old Man Lu said, “Don’t let those two get you down. Let’s make something to eat. While I’m home, let’s get all the chores done so you don’t have to climb up and down by yourself.”

Old Lady Lu cheerfully went to cook. “There’s nothing to do. Now that you’re home, just rest.”

This is what it means to have a lifelong partner—who else would care for you like this? One wants to do all the chores, the other doesn’t want their spouse to lift a finger. After working hard outside, it’s time to rest at home.

Meanwhile, Li Meng had gotten nothing from Old Lady Lu. Eldest son Lu was still complaining, “I told you, they’re biased. I’ll go talk to her.”

Li Meng thought, If you really had the guts, you would’ve gone already. She just said, “Dad’s home.”

Lu Feng immediately quieted down, his tone changing. “We’ll do what we can with what we have. Otherwise, we could go to town and see how things are.”

He was clearly looking to escape, but could he really?

Li Meng knew there was no hope of her husband becoming the next big shot. She thought, Dad’s always working in town—hiding there won’t help.

She didn’t say anything, worried Lu Feng would just hide out in the village.

So when Old Man Lu came home, he didn’t even see his eldest son—the couple had already left in a hurry.

By the time Old Lady Lu found out, they’d already rented a place in town and moved out of the village.

Old Man Lu thought, That brat got off easy. If I catch him, I’ll give him a beating.

The only good thing was that now, no one could say the eldest son ran away just to avoid his father.

The villagers weren’t used to losing a place to buy oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

Old Lady Lu thought about opening a little shop in the village herself, so she’d have something to do when Old Man Lu wasn’t home.

But then Sister-in-law Sun from next door quickly set up a small stall right outside their door, beating her to it.

Old Man Lu said, “There’s plenty of work at home. How would you have time for that? When the second daughter-in-law has a baby and the third gets married, you’ll have to help with the grandkids.”

The future sounded so bright that Old Lady Lu smiled. “That’s true. I do wonder how the eldest daughter-in-law is doing with the baby.”

After all, it was still her grandson—she couldn’t help but worry.

Old Man Lu’s face darkened. The couple moved away without even telling the family. Really ungrateful.

Old Man Lu changed the subject. “How come the second son and his wife haven’t had any news? Maybe you should go visit them in the city.”

Old Lady Lu said, “I’m not going. I’ve barely been to town twice, let alone the city. I’d just embarrass the kids.”

Old Man Lu said, “Your son has a big house in the city, and you haven’t even seen it yet.”

Old Lady Lu was tempted. “But the fields at home aren’t done yet, and there are chickens and pigs. I can’t just leave.”

Old Man Lu said, “You could ask someone to look after things for a few days. Otherwise, I’ll have the third son come home every day.”

Old Lady Lu said, “I feel bad for my youngest. Don’t make him run around like that. The second son and his wife know what they’re doing. When Fang Yuan gets pregnant, I’ll go help out. But I’ll have to discuss it with the in-laws—if they go, I won’t.”

Old Man Lu said, “Fang Yuan’s straightforward. Don’t overthink it.”

Old Lady Lu glanced at her husband. “I really like Fang Yuan, but I’m a little scared of her. She can turn on you in a second.”

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