Chapter 11
Mentally Exhausted
As Lu Jiao thought this over, Lady Tian hurriedly went up to her and started to check Lu Jiao’s hands. After she made sure her daughter was fine, she sighed in relief.
“Thankfully I arrived on time. Or else you would’ve been taken advantage of.”
To Lady Tian, her daughter will forever be the young wife who got bullied by her mother-in-law.
Lu Jiao sensed Lady Tian’s sadness deeply and naturally pulled on Tian’s hand, “Mother, why are you here?”
“I was worried so I came to check in on you.”
Then, Lady Tian reached out her hand and took something from her younger son’s hand. She handed it to Lu Jiao.
“I brought you a chicken and 20 eggs. My son-in-law isn’t well. Remember to kill the chicken and feed it to him.”
The Lu family wasn’t rich. On the contrary, they were actually very poor. However, Lady Tian had always left the best for Lu Jiao. The original host was used to that.
To Lu Jiao however, this made her feel awful. Since she decided to love Lady Tian, she didn’t want a bad relationship between the in-laws. Plus, her little brother, Lu Gui, was already 18 years old.
Because they were too poor, he still hasn’t gotten a wife. However, since Lu Gui knew how to read, he got a job at a restaurant in town. Every month, he would receive a decent income.
“Mom, bring these home. You don’t need to give these to me. I haven’t been filial and continued to take from you. That’s unacceptable.”
Lu Jiao’s words made Lady Tian stare at her. She didn’t speak for a long time.
Lu Jiao’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that she had blown her cover?
Tears started to form in Lady Tian’s eyes as she patted her daughter’s head, “My Jiaojiao has finally learned to care for her mother. I am so happy.”
She then wiped her tears dry and smiled, “It’s okay. We have more at home.”
Lu Jiao knew the situation at home. However, since Lady Tian brought these over, there was no way she’d admit that they didn’t have this at home. Oh well, Lu Jiao will think of another way to repay her family. Better yet, she’ll figure out a way for the family to make a living.
Lu Jiao decided not to reject this and took over the eggs and the chicken.
“Mom, let me put these in the kitchen.”
She then hollered at Lu Gui, her little brother, “Brother, go sit inside with mom. I’ll get you some water.”
Though the Lu family lived in the neighboring village, there was a mountain between the villages. For Lady Tian and Lu Gui to come here today, it must’ve taken them two hours. The love Lady Tian felt for her daughter softened Lu Jiao’s heart.
She poured some sugar water for Lady Tian and Lu Gui. As she poured, she caught the four little ones sneaking a peek. When she caught them, they all retracted their heads.
Lu Jiao found this funny and took out two more bowls. She poured them some sugar water and said to them, “Alright, I made two bowls for you guys. You four can share.”
She took the water to the main hall but discovered that her mother and Lu Gui went to the east bedroom.
That made sense. The mother-in-law and brother-in-law should check out their injured son-in-law when they visited.
Lu Jiao took the water into the east bedroom. At the door, she heard her mother speak to Xie Yunjin.
“Son, Jiaojiao knows better now. In the future, she will live a settled life with you. The past is in the past. I just want you two to live harmonious and raise your four children into honorable people. That’s the most important thing.”
Lady Tian remembered to ask Xie Erzhu for his opinion, “Second uncle, am I right?”
What else could Xie Erzhu say? He nodded and quickly agreed, “You’re right.”
Tian glanced at her expressionless son-in-law. Honestly, she was a little scared of this man. However, for her daughter, she forced herself to continue.
“Jiaojiao was too young before. She’s grown up now and will do better and better. Son, please forget all the unpleasantness from the past.”
Outside the door, Lu Jiao couldn’t bear to listen any longer. She had already agreed with Xie Yunjin that they’d separate once his legs heal. Wouldn’t he think otherwise if her mother vouched for her like this?
Lu Jiao quickly stepped in, “Mom, brother, you’ve traveled far. Come and have some water.”
Lu Gui took it over but Lady Tian didn’t take it. She said to Lu Jiao, “Go and feed some to your husband.”
Lu Jiao didn’t want to get too close to Xie Yunjin since that guy wanted to kill her.
But Lu Jiao shouldn’t worry about him killing her now. Because of what happened with their son, Xie Yunjin must now be considerate of their sons. In the future, as long as she didn’t ask for it, he likely won’t kill her.
Despite this, Lu Jiao didn’t want to be too close to Xie Yunjin.
“Mom, you drink this. He’s not thirsty.”
Lady Tian refused and insisted that she fed her husband.
Helpless, Lu Jiao looked over to Xie Erzhu, “Second brother, can you feed Yunjin some water.”
Xie Erzhu was about to take over the water when Lady Tian stopped him, “Jiaojiao, don’t bother the second uncle with everything. Do everything yourself. Go feed my son-in-law some water.”
Her son-in-law was injured. This was the best time to mend this young couple’s relationship.
Though her son-in-law was paralyzed, he was a scholar. It may be tiring in the short term, but things will get better once their kids grow up. They have four kids after all.
Lu Jiao glanced at Lady Tian then glanced at Xie Yunjin. She signaled to Xie Yunjin to decline this offer.
Sadly, Xie Yunjin acted like an idiot and didn’t move. Instead, his eyes were fixated on Lu Jiao.
Lady Tian rushed, “Kid, I’m telling you to feed your man some water. What are you standing around for?”
Lu Jiao had no way out and forced herself to go over there. Just then, the four little beans burst in and as they walked, they licked their sweetened lips, “The water’s sweet. Yummy.”
“Yeah, before, daddy used to feed us sugar water. But it’s been so long since we last had it.”
The four little ones rushed over to Xie Yunjin’s bedside, “Daddy, the water is sweet. It’s so yummy.”
“Drink it. It’s sweet.”
Xie Yunjin’s eyes darkened somewhat. He remembered everything Lu Jiao had said in the courtyard just now.
She was logical, fearless, and didn’t back down.
This woman seemed to have completely transformed. How did his mother-in-law educate her so successfully?
Xie Yunjin thought it over as he soundless stared at Lu Jiao.
Lu Jiao felt his gaze on her and felt uncomfortable. She then helped feed him water.
Lady Tian smiled in satisfied then waved her hand at the quadruplets, “Babies, come to grandma.”
The four little ones liked Lady Tian because Lady Tian always brought them snacks when she visited. However, normally, the moment grandma left, the evil woman would take away their food.
“Grandma.”
Lady Tian hugged the children and kissed each and every one of them. These four beautiful babies were truly good-looking. They all looked like her son-in-law.
Though they were poor, having these four kids around and educating them were more valuable than everything else.
Lady Tian took out four candies from her pocket.
“Here, let me feed you some candy.”
On the side, Lu Gui put down his bowl and took out two rice cakes from his pocket, and handed them to the First and Second Born.
“Here, this is a gift from your uncle. You guys share.”
Lu Gui loved the quadruplets but he disliked his sister. She was so annoying. Every time he visited the Xie village, he would hear bad things about her. Lu Gui found her humiliating. So every time he visited her, he would stay quiet.
If it weren’t for the fact that he worried for his mother, he wouldn’t even come with her. However, his four nephews truly brought him joy.
He held onto their hands and smiled, “Let’s go, I’ll feed you rice cakes.”
“Yes, yes.”
The four little ones were taken outside. Inside the room, Lu Jiao had fed Xie Yunjin the entire bowl of sugar water. She was now covered in sweat from exhaustion.
How mentally tiring!