222 Good Judgment of Character
Before the First Born could speak, Lu Jiao walked out from her room. Huzi wrapped himself around Lu Jiao’s legs, “Auntie! I want a toothbrush!”
Lu Jiao patted Huzi’s head, “Sure. I’ll make you and Taozi one each. In exchange, how about you stop being mad at your cousins?”
Huzi glanced at the four little ones and decided they were good people. Yesterday, he ignored them all day and they didn’t get mad at him. These little cousins were pretty cool. The person who was wrong was his mother.
Yes, that must be the case. Huzi smiled and nodded, “Yes, I won’t be mad at them anymore.”
He then ran back and offered the four little ones, “I’ll take you to see how grandma makes tofu later!”
“Okay.”
The children made up.
Lu Jiao went to get herself some water to wash up with. The Fourth Born acted like Lu Jiao’s tail and followed her around. Lu Jiao remembered what happened last night and didn’t acknowledge him.
The little man felt bad and his eyes turned red. He walked up to the sink with Lu Jiao and stood still.
“Mommy, I did something wrong yesterday.”
Lu Jiao almost giggled. So he knew.
She turned to the Fourth Born, “Tell me, what did you do?”
Since Lu Jiao didn’t seem too angry, the Fourth Born gained courage and grabbed Lu Jiao’s neck, “I told grandma how you and daddy were separating.”
Lu Jiao scolded, “You’re a boy. You shouldn’t gossip.”
The Fourth Born’s eyes turned even redder and he hugged Lu Jiao, “I… I know I was wrong. I won’t talk so much in the future. I just wanted grandma to talk you into staying.”
Lu Jiao giggled. This little guy knew how to be tactful. It appeared that the children were starting to get more creative with their ideas.
Lu Jiao rubbed the Fourth Born’s head, “I’ll forgive you this once. In the future, don’t gossip like an old granny, got it? You’re a boy, you need to act like a man and do everything openly and honestly. Don’t be like a girl and talk nonsense.”
Since Lu Jiao wasn’t mad, the Fourth Born smiled and nodded, “Mommy, I got it. I won’t talk so much anymore.”
Lu Jiao wiped his face with a cloth and smiled, “Okay, go on and play with your brothers. After breakfast, we’ll be going home.”
The Fourth Born didn’t really want to leave. He asked, “Mommy, we are leaving so soon? Can’t we stay for two more days?”
It wasn’t that Lu Jiao didn’t want to stay. It was just that there were just so many people here that it was a lot of trouble. The Lu family had to cook so much food just for them.
“If you want to stay, you can stay for a few more days.”
The Fourth Born declined and grabbed onto Lu Jiao’s arm, “If mommy goes back, I go back. I don’t want to be apart from mommy.”
“Okay, then go play.”
The Fourth Born finally went to play with his brothers.
The Lu family prepared a lot for breakfast. Other than porridge, and noodles, they also made buns, soybean milk, and even stir-fried some vegetables. Lu Jiao knew the family was already busy and now even more so having to cook more lavishly. She decided to leave after breakfast.
Lady Tian and the aunts heard her plan and asked her to stay for a few more days.
“There’s not much to do at home anyways. You should stay.”
Huzi had just started to play with the four little ones and didn’t want them to leave. He said to Lu Jiao, “Auntie, stay for two more days. I want to play with my cousins.”
Lu Jiao smiled, “Then you can come visit me. Your cousins have lots of toys they can play together with you. At my place, we also have two dogs, a sheep, and two rabbits.”
Huzi’s eyes brightened and he nodded, “I want to go!”
First aunt Lu slapped her son’s head, “What are you talking about! Your aunt has four sons. With you troublemaker around, her home would be a mess!”
Lu Jiao laughed, “Lu Gui is coming back with me this time to help me with the children. It’ll be fine.”
The aunts were aware of Lu Gui’s plan to work for Lu Jiao. They looked towards Lu Gui.
Lu Gui smiled, “Sister-in-law, it’s okay, let Huzi go. When I get a chance, I’ll send him back. Look at how obedient and good my sister’s children are – it’s all because they were raised well by my sister. Once Huzi returns, I guarantee he’ll be respectful and well-mannered.”
Those words convinced the first aunt. She checked with Lu Jiao, “Would it be too much work?”
Lu Jiao responded, “It’s no trouble.”
Huzi then cheered happily and asked the four little ones, “Do you want to play with your older cousin?!”
All children enjoyed playing. The news of Huzi visiting made the four little ones grin happily, “We do!”
All the kids were over the moon.
Lu Jiao said to Xie Yunjin, “I forgot to mention something to you. Lu Gui wants to work for me. Temporarily, he’ll take care of the children. In the future, I’ll find something else for him to do.”
Xie Yunjin raised an eyebrow and his eyes stayed on Lu Jiao. This meant she had accepted Lu Gui? If she was able to accept Lu Gui, why couldn’t she accept him?
Xie Yunjin’s felt unspeakably hurt and everyone could sense his silence.
Everyone at the table thought his reaction meant he didn’t want Lu Gui to go and nobody knew what to say.
Lu Jiao didn’t initially think it was a big matter that had to be discussed. After all, Lu Gui was going to help her out with the kids.
She didn’t expect Xie Yunjin to stay silent. Subconsciously, she turned to look at Xie Yunjin.
Lu Gui spoke first, “If brother-in-law doesn’t want me there, I won’t go.”
The atmosphere turned awkward then. Xie Yunjin snapped back and his lips stretched out, “It’s not that I don’t want you to be there. I’m just thinking of how I can repay you in the future for helping us out so much.”
His statement made everyone sigh in relief. Lu Gui laughed, “Brother, I don’t need you to repay me with anything. I just want to follow my sister and help her out. My sister is a lucky person. I’m certain life will be good if I follow her.”
Lu Gui chuckled out of happiness.
Xie Yunjin studied him. Though his brother-in-law was a little simple-minded, he had a good judgment of character.
Based on what he knew about Lu Jiao, she was a great doctor and she’ll one day become renowned for her knowledge. Lu Gui will truly have a better life working for her than staying in the countryside.
Xie Yunjin smiled, “Brother, you have a great judgment of character.”
Everyone at the table laughed. The second brother, Lu An looked towards Lu Jiao, “Sister, don’t forget about me.”
Lu Jiao glanced at him, “I know.”
After breakfast, the family got the oxcart and was prepared to go home. Not only did Lady Tian prepare tofu, but she also packed eggs and chicken. Before leaving, she gave the four little ones red pockets – one tael of silver each.
Lu Jiao didn’t stop her. Her mother just wanted to treat her well.
If Lu Jiao didn’t accept her kindness, she would feel bad. Only when her generosity was accepted, would she feel happy.