92 Refuse to Look for even one more Second
Widow Li heard Lady Tian’s cursing and couldn’t help but get angry. She wanted to curse but when she saw Lu Jiao’s cold stare, she was scared off.
She snapped around her head, and she left. Behind her, Luo Wangcai and Shen Xiaoshan didn’t dare to stay.
After the three took a few steps, Lu Jiao shouted from behind, “Stop right there.”
Widow Li Luo Wangcai and Shen Xiaoshan trembled. The three of them looked back.
Widow Li forced herself to ask, “You, what do you want?”
Lu Jiao walked over and stared at her coldly, “If it weren’t for your old age, I wouldn’t forgive you for what you did today. I must warn you once again that if you dare to come here to harass me again, I won’t forgive you.”
Lu Jiao then glared at Luo Wangcai and Shen Xiaoshan. The two of them shook their heads.
“It wasn’t us. We came here because of mother.”
The two men then tried to drag Widow Li out, afraid that she might hit them for saying that.
Outside the trellis, a crowd started to form. They commented angrily, “If your daughter didn’t come home, you should go into town to look for her. Why would you come into someone’s home? What does she owe you?”
“Yunjin’s wife went into town today to discuss Yunjin’s surgery tomorrow. She doesn’t have time to think about your daughter.”
“Maybe Shen Xiu ran away. She didn’t want to marry Luo Wangcai in the first place. She probably looked for an opportunity to run away today.”
“I think she escaped as well. Why else would she disappear?”
The villagers’ words made Widow Li and Luo Wangcai’s faces drop. They started to wonder if Shen Xiu actually ran away. After all, she really wasn’t okay with the marriage.
After she chatted with the crowd a little, Lu Jiao returned to the room to sleep.
Tonight, the four little ones behaved well and didn’t chase her for a story.
“Mommy, go to sleep early. Tomorrow you have to send daddy into town for surgery.”
Lu Jiao smiled, “Okay. You guys go to sleep too.”
The First, Second, and Third Born all went to sleep with Xie Yunjin in the east bedroom. The Fourth Born, Lu Jiao, and Lady Tian slept in the west bedroom.
The next day, a pack of people came to the Xie family yard. At a glance, there were about 40 to 50 people. They were all people from the Xie clan – one per family.
Lu Jiao stared at the group and her head pounded. They were going for surgery today, not going for a fistfight. What was the use of having so many people?
She called the Clan and Village Leaders aside to talk, “There are way too many people. If we go into town, people will think we are going for a fight. That’s a bad look. I think we should bring fewer people.”
The Village and Clan Leaders agreed with her after thinking about it. They discussed and decided to only allow the head of a few families to tag along. Even after that elimination, there ended up being around 20 people.
The Village Leader’s oxcart arrived bright and early. Xie Yunjin on the other hand ate breakfast and was all ready.
Lu Jiao gently voiced, “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. The surgery will be a success so don’t stress. Being in a good mental state helps with the surgery.”
Xie Yunjin stared at the woman beside him. This woman’s face had slimmed down and her original double chin had shed to only one. Her eyes appear larger now as a result. It became more obvious that she had beautiful eyes.
Xie Yunjin watched her and thought of his Second and Third Born. Those two looked just like this woman. At first, he was confused as to who they looked like. As it turned out, they looked like their mom.
As Xie Yunjin thought about all that, Lu Jiao was ready to carry him onto the oxcart.
Xie Yunjin stopped her. There were so many people outside – he was embarrassed to be carried by Lu Jiao.
“Let the brother-in-law carry me out.”
Lu Jiao didn’t say no and went to ask Lu Gui to carry Xie Yunjin into the oxcart.
Lu Gui, be careful.”
After Lu Gui picked up Xie Yunjin, Lu Jiao went to the side of the room to take out an old blanket and sheet. She went outside quickly and laid them onto the oxcart before she gestured for Lu Gui to put Xie Yunjin down. She covered Xie Yunjin with the sheet.
The clan members who wanted to accompany Xie Yunjin all came over to say hi.
“Yunjin, relax, your surgery will be a success.”
“Yeah, you are destined for good fortune.”
“Don’t worry. I heard that Dr. Qi is the best doctor in the Capital City. To him, your injury’s nothing.”
Everyone’s comforting words made Xie Yunjin smile. Staring at this clan, Xie Yunjin silently decided to generously show his appreciation if he ever does establish himself outside the village.
Just then, from a little further out, a shrill and hard voice arose, “My third son, I am here to take you to surgery.”
Inside the oxcart, Xie Yunjin showed exasperation.
Outside, Lady Ruan brought her entire family over except Xie Erzhu and his wife.
There was Xie Laogen, Xie Daoqiang and his wife, Xie Yunhua and Xie Lan.
Lady Ruan and her family walked up to Xie Yunjin and spoke to him in a kind tone, “My third son, do not worry. We will all be there for you. Your legs will heal quickly.”
Xie Laogen was quick to chime in, “Son, relax. Since Dr. Qi has decided to operate, your legs will be fine.”
Xie Daqiang also forced himself to squeeze a smile, “Third brother, once you are well again, we shall share a drink.”
Chen Liu put on an almost flirtatious expression, “Third brother, knowing that your surgery was today, the entire family stayed up all night thinking about you.”
Chen Liu’s words made everyone else frown. Since Xie Yunjin was going to heal soon, his family was now trying to butter him up. Who were the ones to kick him out of his own home again?
Despite their annoyance, nobody breathed a word. After all, Xie Yunjin was Xie Laogen’s son and they may just make up in the end. If they speak now, they may end up hurting their own relationship with Xie Yunjin.
After Chen Liu’s words, Xie Laogen’s fourth child, Xie Yunhua walked over. With his eyes red, he said, “Third brother, everything before was my fault. Once your legs heal, I will apologize to you properly.”
Xie Lan responded, “Fourth brother, third brother has always spoiled us. He would never blame you.”
Xie Yunjin gaped at this pair of twins coldly and sneered. He spoiled them so much in the past just for them to turn into ungrateful brats. He will never give anything more to this group of people.
Xie Yunjin closed his eyes suddenly, refusing to look at them for even one more second.
By the oxcart, Lu Jiao announced, “It’s late. Let’s leave right away. Dr. Qi is expecting us this morning.”
Just as Lu Jiao was about to get into the oxcart, the quadruplets rushed up to her and shouted in unison, “Mommy.”