Chapter 182 - 182 Don't be a Good Person
182 Don’t be a Good Person
Lu Jiao marched into the living room and found an adult and four children staring at her. They looked guilty.
Lu Jiao asked, “What is it? Why are you acting strange?”
Lu Jiao noticed the empty living room and asked, “You ended the lesson this early?”
The four little ones’ eyes flicked to their dad, who asked a question in response, “Did my brother ask you to go check out the leech pond?”
Lu Jiao nodded. The Xie Village had cleared off an area to use as the temporary space for leech keeping.
Since the opportunity to keep leeches was rare and no accidents should be allowed, Lu Jiao would make time to provide Xie Erzhu with guidance every day. By now, Xie Erzhu had learned a lot.
“Yes, he was scared the leeches would die so he’s being very careful.”
Xie Yunjin asked caringly, “Do you think my brother can handle everything?”
Lu Jiao smiled, “Your second brother is very by the rule. He’s great at leech-keeping. He remembers everything I taught him. Without accidents, he’ll learn everything in no time.”
Xie Yunjin couldn’t help but feel ecstatic for his brother. His second brother’s life will now improve gradually.
Since it was late, Lu Jiao decided to bring the four little ones into the mountains.
She said to the children, “Since your studies finished early, let’s go up the mountain. We can play for longer today.”
Unexpectedly, Xie Yunjin said, “There’s no need to bring them today.”
Xie Yunjin was terrified that the four little ones would let it slip and tell Lu Jiao his secret so he stopped her.
Lu Jiao raised an eyebrow, “What is it? Is something the matter?”
The four little ones curiously stared at Xie Yunjin. Why didn’t their dad want them to climb the mountain? They only recently learned how to climb trees and shoot arrows. They were expected to practice more up there.
Xie Yunjin spoke directly to Lu Jiao, “Don’t you have matters to discuss with Aunt Guihua? Aunt Guihua is harvesting herbs right now. It’d be inconvenient for you to bring the children with you.”
Lu Jiao got the message right away. He wanted her to go to Aunt Guihua and hint at her to keep an eye on the neighbor.
Lu Jiao’s eyes sparkled and she agreed right away, “Okay, then I will go up the mountains alone.”
The four little ones felt much disappointment and with their puppy eyes, they stared at Lu Jiao. It was obvious how much they wanted to go.
Lu Jiao felt bad and was about to offer to take them when Xie Yunjin asked, “I’d be too lonely at home. Can you stay with me just for today?”
The First Born was the first to accept that. The others wanted to go to the mountains but found their dad to be too pitiful. Oh well, they should stay at home with their dad.
“Okay, we’ll stay with you, dad. Mommy, you can go alone but promise to come home early.”
Lu Jiao thought Xie Yunjin suggested this all because of Aunt Guihua and didn’t think too much.
She smiled and patted the children’s heads. After she got her basket and ax, she went up the mountain.
Since she didn’t bring the children, she was able to move far more efficiently. On the way up, she ran into numerous people who were harvesting herbs and politely chatted with them. It didn’t take a lot of effort for her to find out where Aunt Guihua was.
Lu Jiao casually walked around the mountain, harvesting herbs along the way. The medicinal herbs in her space had all been cleaned up. She will save those that could produce seeds and make medicine out of those that could not produce seeds.
These days, after the children go to sleep, she would go into her space and busy herself for two hours.
“Huang Qin, go home first with that basket. I’ll go soon after.”
Lu Jiao heard voices and looked up to find Aunt Guihua giving orders to her daughter-in-law, Huang Qin.
Huang Qin put the basket on her back and started to descend the mountain. When she saw Lu Jiao, she happily greeted, “Lu Jiao, you’re here to harvest herbs as well?”
Lu Jiao nodded. Aunt Guihua was over the moon to see Lu Jiao and greeted her while laughing, “Jiaojiao! You’re here for herbs too?”
Lu Jiao nodded, “People come and ask me for treatment these days so I want to have some stuff stocked up.”
Aunt Guihua pulled her aside and whispered, “Jiaojiao, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about but I’m worried you’d think poorly of me. You are such a good person with a good heart, however, it doesn’t mean you should share your kindness with everyone. You should not treat those who do not pay you and even give them medicine. Some people cross the line once they get a taste of what’s free and nice. There are people out there who would go to you for advice even when they’re not really sick.
You have a whole family to take care of and you shouldn’t spend all your time treating people for free. Aren’t you tired? Sometimes, even when you do help them, they have nothing nice to say about you.”
Lu Jiao recalled the two old people from this afternoon.
“Aunty, you’re right. Let me tell you, this afternoon, two troublemakers came to my home and made a scene. I was furious.”
Lu Jiao acted very pissed off.
Aunt Guihua’s energy was fueled by this piece of gossip and she grabbed Lu Jiao, “What happened? Tell me.”
Lu Jiao told her what happened.
“I may know some medicine, but I cannot cure every illness. Just because I didn’t know how to cure him, they made a scene at my home. It’s hard being a good person sometimes.”
Honestly, Lu Jiao knew what that old man had – he had rheumatism.
Rheumatism was already hard to treat. Given how arrogant and entitled they acted, Lu Jiao got annoyed and decided not to provide treatment.
Aunt Guihua slapped her own leg, “I told you! This was bound to happen. Some people are just like that. Don’t just treat everyone like you did before.”
Aunt Guihua suddenly remembered the villagers and changed the subject, “Of course, you should still take care of the Xie villagers. Us villagers all know you treat us with kindness and we will repay you. Those outsiders don’t deserve your consultation. You shouldn’t do it for free! They really think you have nothing better to do with your time.”
Lu Jiao answered with a smile, “Then I will do as you suggested. I will not treat those people anymore. They are truly maddening.”
Aunt Guihua thought she managed to convince Lu Jiao and her mood was over the moon. The two of them chatted and searched for herbs.
As they strolled, Lu Jiao taught Aunt Guihua a few types of herbs, which successfully boosted Aunt Guihua’s happiness level to the max.