176 A Handsome Man and a Beautiful Lady
The four little ones were so furious they didn’t want to speak to their grandma. However, they kept in mind what their mom taught them – they shouldn’t butt heads against their elders.
The four little ones were now in a bad mood. They grabbed their bowls and tried to get away so they could eat alone outside. They didn’t want to see this grandmother of theirs.
Sadly, Lady Ruan was unaware of this. When they saw the four little ones move, she scolded with a mean face, “Sit down. You need to settle down when you eat. What kind of behavior are you exhibiting right now?”
She then turned around to lecture Lu Jiao, “These are the children you’ve been raising? Look at how bad they act.”
Lady Ruan spat out food as she ate and talked. This time, even Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao lost their appetite.
Xie Yunjin suppressed the exasperation he felt and asked, “Mother, what is the reason for your visit?”
Lady Ruan forced a smile and said, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking at home… I think your wife is too busy taking care of all of you so I decided to help you out.”
She was very worried about that contract and wanted to find it and take it back. With that thing existing, she couldn’t sleep well.
Lady Ruan didn’t bring that up of course and pretended to be a caring mother who wanted to help out.
She had no idea that her statement depressed Lu Jiao and the four little ones.
Lu Jiao wondered why the affair between Xie Laogen and Widow Wang still remained a secret. If Lady Ruan knew, there was no way she would be here today provoking them.
Since Lady Ruan didn’t do anything out of line, Lu Jiao couldn’t exactly kick her out.
After breakfast, Lu Jiao went to do the dishes while Lady Ruan grabbed a chair and sat by the door. Like a commander, she pointed around, “Though you’re young, it’s time for you to work. We are rural people and nobody should just sit around.”
She then instructed, “First Born, get me some sugar water.”
“Second Born, my shoulders hurt. Give me a shoulder rub.”
“Third Born, go get a broom and sweep the yard. Look at how dirty it is.”
“Fourth Born, get that sheep – that’s a sheep, right? Go feed that sheep.”
The four little ones remained unmoving inside the yard and pretended they didn’t hear. It wasn’t that they weren’t willing to do work. Normally, they would help Lu Jiao get water or do the dishes.
It was that the manner Lady Ruan acted made them not want to do anything. Who was she to act like a director?
Since they didn’t move, Lady Ruan’s expression changed right away. She stared at the four little ones and was ready to get mad.
Lu Jiao came out of the kitchen and smiled, “Mom, aren’t you here to help me out? How come you’re asking the kids to do work? They’re so little, what can they do? How come you aren’t doing anything?”
Lu Jiao continued, “Mom, help me sweep the yard. Afterward, you can chop up some firewood for us. The dog house needs cleaning too. You can do that after chopping up the firewood.”
Lu Jiao then loudly said to the four little ones, “Hurry and feed Soot and Marble. In a bit, your grandma will be cleaning their house.”
The four little ones shouted back, “Roger, mommy.”
The Second Born took the opportunity to stick out his tongue at Lady Ruan and yell, “Grandma, thank you so much for cleaning the dog house for us!”
Lady Ruan almost puked out blood from anger. She furiously glared at Lu Jiao but didn’t dare to make a scene. After all, Xie Yunjin had the contract she and Xie Laogen signed.
Lu Jiao ignored Lady Ruan and went to the east bedroom. It was time to learn the Hundred Surnames from Xie Yunjin.
She had the surnames memorized but she wanted to learn how to write them from Xie Yunjin.
Inside the east bedroom, Xie Yunjin naturally heard the noises outside. He didn’t blame Lu Jiao. Once he saw her enter, he gestured for her to sit.
Lu Jiao sat by the desk and Xie Yunjin sat in his wheelchair beside her.
Lu Jiao felt like they were sitting too close together so she nudged her chair to the side a little.
Xie Yunjin interpreted that as she was shy and softly chuckled. His eyes were dark as he stared at her and there was some affection in his tone as he spoke.
“What’s wrong?”
Lu Jiao shook her head. She felt so uncomfortable all over and wondered if he was flirting. How did their relationship transform into something like this? Didn’t they agree to separate soon?
Lu Jiao didn’t know what the problem was and decided to remind Xie Yunjin of their agreement.
Just then, Lady Ruan entered and saw those two sitting side by side.
Lady Ruan’s face dropped. Though the image of those two sitting together was a beautiful image, Lady Ruan didn’t like seeing it.
She didn’t want a daughter-in-law as unfilial as Lu Jiao.
Lady Ruan made a crying face, “My third son, look at your wife… she told me to chop wood and clean the dog house. How is that acceptable?”
Though Lady Ruan didn’t dare to fight against these two, her teeth were clenched. She’s never had to endure such humiliation all these years.
Now, her only option was to swallow the teeth that came off from clenching too hard. Her eyes reddened as she stared at Xie Yunjin, hoping he would take her side.
Xie Yunjin glanced at her and breathed, “Weren’t you the one who said you were here to help her out?”
Lady Ruan was stifled and disgust filled her heart.
Honestly, she’s hated this son of hers ever since he was born. She’s never felt the slightest closeness towards him and never wanted to even go near him. She couldn’t believe her in-laws favored this boy, which enraged her even further.
The people Lady Ruan hated the most were her in-laws. This was because her in-laws were against her marrying Xie Laogen. They told Xie Laogen that she was not a virtuous woman and would bring hardship to the family.
She only ended up marrying Xie Laogen because she seduced him. And the reason why Xie Laogen was adamant about marrying her was that he got a taste of the forbidden fruit young. Against his parents’ wishes, he set out to marry her.
After all these years, Lady Ruan still felt hatred towards her in-laws, who had already passed away.
Inside the bedroom, Xie Yunjin no longer acknowledged Lady Ruan and turned to teach Lu Jiao.
“Yesterday, we got to this spot: Kong, Cao, Yan, Hua, Jin, Wei, Tao, and Jiang. Repeat after me.”
Lu Jiao also ignored Lady Ruan and repeated after him.
By the door, Lady Ruan gaped at the two people who thought nothing of her. The rage inside her heart raced to her throat and almost ripped out. In the end, she held it back and went outside.
She didn’t leave Xie Yunjin’s home and instead, went into the kitchen and cursed at those two.
Of course, she only dared to do it silently.