Chapter 149 - 144 Unveiling
As she spoke, Xia Yuan didn’t know whether to cry or to laugh. Having such a confused mother was indeed a stroke of fate for Lu Aiguo. She couldn’t help feeling secretly relieved that her mother-in-law was no longer around. Otherwise, it would have been uncertain if she could have even entered Lu Aiguo’s family, and even if she had, it’s doubtful she would be living such a peaceful and tranquil life now...
"After that, your dad never did go back to school. Because of this, your second grandpa and grandma held a grudge against him for quite a while. But even as they were angry, they still worried he might go hungry, and would often have your eldest aunt drag him back home to eat. Whenever he left, they’d give him food to take back with him. Your dad got smart; whenever he brought food home, he would never mention who gave it to him. He would just say he earned it somehow."
As Xia Yuan spoke, she noticed that both Lu Yun and Shitou’s eyes were wide with astonishment. She forced a smile and said, "I suppose even Shitou hasn’t heard these stories, right? How could your dad not distinguish between right and wrong? He wasn’t influenced by your grandma at all. Yet, he’s been holding these words in for years, not daring to divulge them to anyone."
"During the times when your eldest aunt visited, she often talked about the things that happened when their siblings were young. She still says that it was really difficult for her to bring your dad home for meals at your second grandma’s behest. Your second grandma thought it was all because your second aunt always had a snooty expression when your dad came over, which was why he didn’t want to visit often. Behind closed doors, she scolded your second aunt countless times over this."
"The most serious incident happened once when your second aunt, for some reason, berated your dad for freeloading. Actually, she wasn’t wrong. But it enraged your second grandma so much that she slapped her hard and then chased her with a bamboo stick, hitting her several times. If it weren’t for the fact that your dad reacted quickly and shielded her with his body, your second aunt might well have been beaten to death by her mother-in-law."
Xia Yuan still remembered the strange look on Lu Aijiao’s face when she mentioned this incident. But she could understand—it was indisputable that the aunt was very good to Lu Aiguo, perhaps too good; it’s normal for her own children to harbor resentment in their hearts.
"They say your second aunt was completely stunned at the time. You know, your second grandma has always been indulgent with her children, treating both her sons and daughters equally, never raising a finger to them. It was so unexpected for her to strike with such severity that time. I heard your second aunt’s face was swollen for several days. It caused your second aunt to dislike your dad even more after that. However, she didn’t dare to target him so openly anymore and couldn’t say such things out loud again."
"You see, despite everything, they grew up together, and the familial bond between cousins is just different. Look, even as adults, they still care for each other deeply. Whenever they have something to offer, they are generous to your dad. Not even blood siblings can always be this generous."