Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Money Still Needs to Be Repaid Chapter 80: Chapter 80: The Money Still Needs to Be Repaid “What for?”
“Are you saying let them go back on their word to look for Lu Zhenguo?”
She really did feel more relaxed not having to serve those two old goods, but what if they decided to give Lu Zhenguo’s current house to him?
Ge Guifen was still eyeing that house, hoping to get it for Lu Youbang.
Even if Lu Youbang worked in the Imperial Capital in the future, having a house and land back home was a solid foundation!
She didn’t mind having a falling-out with those two old goods right now.
After all, they had already had a falling-out with Lu Zhenguo – the house was out of the question for him.
After these two old goods were gone, wouldn’t the house be all Youbang’s?
Right now, she could take a bit of a loss as long as there were substantial benefits later.
Besides, now that Lu Zhenjia was in jail, she wouldn’t endure in front of these two old goods like before, silently fuming.
From now on, she would be calling the shots in this house!
Lu Zhenguo indeed knew about this, but he didn’t intervene.
Actually, there were a few times when he felt a pang of sympathy and considered going to see them.
But as soon as he stepped out the door, he would hear the villagers chatting.
“Lu Zhenjia’s family really is something, there’s always some fresh drama every day.”
“Yeah, our village hasn’t been this lively in a while, and now that it is, it doesn’t seem to stop.”
“Aren’t Foolish Hu’s parents and Foolish Hu making a scene at the Lu Family’s doorstep every day? Old Madam Lu only now remembered Lu Zhenguo, wanting to find him for help.”
“Pfft, why should he? If Lu Zhenguo helps them, he’s a spineless wretch!”
“Exactly, if he helps them, I’d lose respect for him! Have those two old goods at the Lu family and Lu Zhenjia’s couple forgotten how they treated their own family? Has he already forgotten?”
“They didn’t even provide him with a place to stay, having to pay rent for living in his own house. They spent all the money for their children’s education on Lu Youbang. Lu Zhenjia also wanted to force himself on Lu Youxi; these beastly acts, if Lu Zhenguo could still forget and offer help, he should brace for divorce!”
“Right, anyone would be intolerable of this. Lu Zhenguo’s wife has been very fair, if it were my other half, we would have divorced eight hundred years ago.”
“Heh, never mind your other half, we shouldn’t be as foolish as Lu Zhenguo either.”
Lu Zhenguo, feeling his face burn with shame at these words, turned around and headed back home.
*
Time flew by quickly, and Lu Youxi would set off for university in the Imperial Capital the next day.
Grandma Xu was somewhat reluctant to part with Zhou Shuyan; having him around had brought a lot of liveliness to the home these past days.
Zhou Shuyan took out an envelope and gave it to Grandma Xu, “Grandma Xu, back then when you and Lu Youxi saved me, it was you who advanced the medical expenses. This is to repay the medical fees you fronted for me.”
Zhou Shuyan had originally wanted to give Grandma Xu more money, to ease her life a bit.
But after spending some time together, he knew she would definitely refuse.
Grandma Xu was the kind of person who insisted on living off her own hard work, to eat according to one’s own ability.
Unexpectedly, Grandma Xu didn’t even accept that, telling Zhou Shuyan: “During the time you stayed here, you’ve done so much work for me. Honestly, the wages I gave you weren’t much, yet you always did an excellent job, never complaining about the labor. The work you did was worth far more than the wages I paid you. What you did extra has long since made up for the medical fees.”
“I know that the average income here is quite low, and my medical expenses were quite high, how could that possibly even out?” Zhou Shuyan smiled, “Besides, if we really do the math like that, you haven’t even taken into account the rent. I’ve been living here this whole time, and you said you would deduct rent from my wages, but I’ve calculated it, and you never deducted it.”
“You child…” Grandma Xu was at a loss to Zhou Shuyan.
Zhou Shuyan stuffed the envelope filled with money into Grandma Xu’s hands, “Please take it, so I can have peace of mind.”
Grandma Xu, left without much choice, accepted, “Okay.”
Naturally, Lu Youxi had to return home as well.
There was packing to do, and she wanted to talk with her family.
As Lu Youxi’s husband, Zhou Shuyan also went back with her.
Just after leaving Grandma Xu’s house, Zhou Shuyan called out to Lu Youxi and gave her an envelope filled with money.
“This is to repay the medical expenses I owe you,” Zhou Shuyan smiled.
Lu Youxi raised her eyebrows, “Didn’t we agree, when we got our marriage certificate, that we called it even?”
“It can’t be considered even,” Shuyan shook his head, “My promise to help you was in thanks for saving my life. The money still needs to be repaid.”
“Okay, then.” Lu Youxi didn’t argue with him and gladly accepted the money.
This money was originally meant for Lu Youxue’s educational expenses.
But she had other plans in mind.
After all, with this money alone, it wouldn’t be enough to bring her parents and Lu Youxue to the Imperial Capital.
Back at home, besides giving Lu Youxi instructions, Liu Yushu also made sure to remind Zhou Shuyan to take extra care of her.
Lu Youxue had red, teary eyes as he looked at Lu Youxi, like a little dog left behind.
Lu Youxi pinched his cheek, “Once I’ve settled in the Imperial Capital, I’ll bring you all over there. We won’t be separated for too long.”
“But mom and dad said that living in the Imperial Capital is too hard. You’re already struggling just to study there; if you bring us over, the pressure would be too great. And the rent in the Imperial Capital is high too; it’s not right to let our brother-in-law pay for it; it’s not fair for him to take care of our family like that,” Youxue sniffled and said, “I think so too. So, mom and dad said not to put too much pressure on you, we can move over later. Once mom and dad save up some money, when it’s about right, we’ll come find you so we don’t add to your burden.”
Lu Youxi looked at Liu Yushu and Lu Zhenguo, somewhat taken aback.
In her previous life, she went to the Imperial Capital with nothing.
She relied on scholarships for her tuition and worked part-time jobs for living expenses.
She also had to rush her studies, not allowing herself to fall behind.
She was so busy she could barely cope with anything else.
And because of her poor relationship with her family, she never thought of bringing them to the Imperial Capital.
Lu Zhenguo and Liu Yushu had never taken Lu Youxue to find her in the Imperial Capital either.
She didn’t know if, in her previous life, they were silently saving money, hoping to find her.
But in her previous life, they probably couldn’t save any money.
After all, in that life, they didn’t break ties with the Lu Family’s elders or Lu Zhenjia’s family, so any saved money was likely demanded by them.
But this life was different. She saw more clearly the effort and sacrifices her family made for her.
“Okay,” Lu Youxi nodded, “Mom and Dad are working hard here, and I’ll work hard in the Imperial Capital. That way, we can bring you over even sooner.”
Lu Youxi didn’t share her plans.
If she said they could be together in a short time, it meant she had a way.
But if she said it outright, Lu Zhenguo and Liu Yushu might not accept it.
It was just as well for Lu Zhenguo to try to save money. With that kind of pressure, if the Lu Family’s elders came asking for money again, Lu Zhenguo would have some reservations.