Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Dad, Are We Really Not Going Anymore? Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Dad, Are We Really Not Going Anymore? “If you ask me, Lu Youxi has always been outrageous, but this time, Uncle and Aunt have gone too far.” Lu Youzhen sneered, “They didn’t say a word and tried to sneak off to the Imperial Capital by themselves. It’s one thing if they don’t think of us, but how could they not consider how much Grandma and Grandpa miss Brother?”
“Moreover, besides going to see Brother, Grandpa and Grandma have never left Hetai Town in their whole lives.” Lu Youzhen saw Old Master Lu and Old Madam Lu’s expressions shift and spoke with even more enthusiasm, “Uncle goes off to see the world in the big city, doesn’t he think about Grandpa and Grandma? Even if there were unpleasantness before, they are still his parents, aren’t they? Without Grandpa and Grandma, who would he be?”
Ge Guifen finally reacted, “You’re right.”
“Dad, Mom, let’s not talk about other things; this is a good opportunity to see Youbang. We can see Youbang without spending our own money—how great is that!” Ge Guifen said, “Besides, many things can’t be explained over the phone; we should meet Youbang face to face to see if there’s a way to save Zhenjia. The lawyers in the Imperial Capital are impressive too; we can go find a lawyer!”
Old Master Lu and Old Madam Lu were very hesitant about finding a lawyer.
Lu Youbang said that hiring a lawyer cost a lot of money.
They didn’t want to spend this money.
If Ge Guifen had money, she could pay, but they didn’t want to touch the money Lu Zhenjia had earned before.
Old Madam Lu thought that since Lu Zhenjia would be out of prison after a few years, why bother spending that money?
After discussing it, Old Master Lu and Old Madam Lu took Ge Guifen to Lu Zhenguo’s home.
“Zhenguo!” Old Madam Lu was the first to step over the threshold and come in.
Lu Zhenguo was surprised by how they came, even more surprised at Old Madam Lu’s nice attitude toward him.
Liu Yushu watched them warily.
Lu Youxue stayed close to Liu Yushu, afraid that Old Madam Lu would lay a hand on her.
“Dad, Mom, what brings you here?” Lu Zhenguo asked, somewhat bewildered.
“Listen to yourself, you’re our son; can’t we come see you?” Old Master Lu sighed, holding his smoking pipe. “Your brother is already in jail; now we only have you left—can’t we come to see you?”
Liu Yushu thought coldly that perhaps they realized they couldn’t count on Lu Zhenjia anymore, so they remembered Lu Zhenguo and wanted to rely on him again.
If they were to return, Liu Yushu resolved to really divorce Lu Zhenguo and leave with Lu Youxue.
They were going to the Imperial Capital to find Lu Youxi!
But Lu Zhenguo was no longer so easily fooled, “Dad, Mom, you’re here to see me, so why is Sister-in-law here? She can’t be missing me too, can she?”
Ge Guifen spat, how unpleasant if word got out!
Ge Guifen smiled and said, “Elder Brother, Sister-in-law, I heard that you’re planning to visit Youxi during the National Day holiday!”
Lu Zhenguo frowned, “Who told you that?”
They hadn’t disclosed a word outside their family.
Lu Zhenguo looked at Lu Youxue, could it be that Lu Youxue couldn’t help going out to brag?
Lu Youxue quickly shook his head, his lips pressed tightly together.
He was just afraid of causing trouble for Lu Youxi, so he kept quiet and didn’t tell anyone.
“It’s all over the village! They say Youxi is so filial and capable, planning to take you to play in the Imperial Capital within just a month.” Ge Guifen’s face was full of smiles, “Elder Brother, it’s not decent of you to keep this from us. I’m fine with it, but Dad and Mom are getting older; they’ve never been out of Hetai Town. You’re going to the Imperial Capital, why not take Dad and Mom to enjoy themselves too? They raised you with difficulty, and now that they’re at this age, you can’t let them never have visited our country’s capital, can you? People would point fingers at your back and say you’re not filial!”
“You say that, but I wonder who could say I’m not filial.” Lu Zhenguo had held onto a bit of hope, thinking maybe the elders really missed him.
After all, blood is thicker than water.
But after hearing Ge Guifen’s words, Lu Zhenguo’s heart sank to the bottom.
Disappointment swept over him with a bitter smile; they weren’t missing him.
They had come because they saw advantages.
“Go and ask around the village, who doesn’t know about our family’s troubles?” Lu Zhenguo said coldly.
“Lu Zhenguo!” Old Madam Lu stomped angrily, “Are you taking us or not? We raised you, you go to the Imperial Capital and don’t even think of us, ask your conscience if you’re doing the right thing?”
“We’re getting old; you should let us meet Youbang.” Old Master Lu said.
“Taking you is not a problem; if you have money, pull it out yourselves and come along with us,” Lu Zhenguo said.
“We don’t have any money!” Old Madam Lu was immediately anxious.
“Elder Brother, we can’t compare with Youxi’s achievements, and besides, taking Dad and Mom to the Imperial Capital, why should they have to pay themselves? Where does that make sense?” Ge Guifen said sharply.
“But we can’t use Youxi’s money!” Lu Zhenguo retorted angrily, “The money is Youxi’s, and it’s only enough to take us!”
“Isn’t Youxi’s money also the family’s money?” Old Madam Lu raised her voice, “What’s wrong with her taking her grandparents out for a trip? Why is she so unfilial! Is she deliberately trying to spite us?”
“We’re not going!” Lu Zhenguo shouted angrily, “If you want to go, go yourselves! We’re not going, alright?”
Liu Yushu was shaking with anger, they had no shame!
Lu Youxue’s eyes were red with anger.
Liu Yushu turned and strode to the wall, picking up a broom to chase them out, “We’re not going, what are you still doing here? If you’re so eager to see Youbang, go by yourselves! Youxi has no money, and we have no money!”
“Yeah, get out!” Lu Zhenguo also helped Liu Yushu chase them out.
After driving the four of them out the door, Lu Zhenguo slammed the door shut.
Lu Zhenguo sat helplessly in the yard, scratching his head.
“You know, when they talked about dividing the family, they wouldn’t even let us live in a house, wanted us to pay rent.” Lu Zhenguo said to Liu Yushu, his eyes red, “Now that they know we’re going to the Imperial Capital, they come to us, wanting us to take them along and treat them!”
Lu Zhenguo angrily pulled at his hair, “If I were earning the money myself, that would be one thing; I’d gladly take the parents out for a trip, I would own up to that. But this money is Youxi’s!”
Liu Yushu sighed in relief; since they hadn’t been living with the Lu Family’s elders and without Lu Zhenjia feeding him nonsense, Lu Zhenguo had indeed become much clearer-headed.
Liu Yushu quickly said, “Exactly, Youxi got a scholarship, barely spending it on herself, so we could go to the Imperial Capital and gain some experience, let Youxue get familiar with the environment there. Usually, they maltreated Youxi, so why should they come spend her money now?”
Lu Zhenguo took a deep breath and exhaled, “It’s hard to say who leaked this out.”
“Dad, are we really not going?” Lu Youxue’s voice was choked, his eyes red, almost on the verge of tears.