Rebirth: He refused to Divorce Again-Chapter 1532: Qiaoqiao Decisively Pushed the Problem to Lu Hao
"Auntie, I’ve finally understood your words. So it’s Sister Li who supports your entire family. How can you speak without conscience..." Chu Chengfeng didn’t take Lu Hao seriously at all, mocking as he spoke.
Lu Hao’s expression turned even worse.
He stared gloomily at his mother but suddenly stopped avoiding it. He turned to look at Sister Li, who was silently working with her head down, and said in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, I’ll take care of this matter."
Sister Li looked up at Lu Hao, then glanced at her mother-in-law, who was staring at her venomously. Years of oppression made her instinctively shrink her shoulders.
No longer daring to meet Old Lady Lu’s gaze, she hurriedly lowered her head in panic.
Gu Qiaoqiao, with her hand on the windowsill, clenched it slightly. It seemed that today’s issue wouldn’t be easily resolved.
She touched Mu Xinxin’s hand, and Mu Xinxin understood, pulling Old Lady Lu aside and smilingly said, "Auntie, go have a seat, let’s discuss this slowly. We’ll surely find a satisfactory resolution."
Old Lady Lu smiled broadly, "Xinxin knows how to speak, not like that wretched woman over there, who never utters a fart, without any family, just a bringer of misfortune. Worthless as she is, she still dreams of opening a noodle shop in the Imperial Capital. How could she possibly manage that?"
Then she turned to Chu Chengfeng, seemingly advising seriously, "Young man, don’t partner with this wretched star. You’ll surely lose money. With misfortune like hers, no one would give her anything even if she begged; she’s doomed to starve..."
Old Lady Lu has always loved gossiping, so venomous and cutting remarks come rattling off her tongue.
Lu Hao’s face turned pale with anger.
Old Man Lu, who had been drinking tea with Brother Li San, stood up and pointed at Old Lady Lu, "What are you talking nonsense to the children for?"
"How am I talking nonsense?" Old Lady Lu, naturally not convinced, grabbed Mu Xinxin beside her, "Marry a daughter-in-law like Xinxin, who not only has a wealthy background, but also is educated, a college student. The eldest’s wife can’t even read a page; that’s shameful..."
Mu Xinxin’s smile froze on her face. Though timid and shy, she’s not so blinded by love to be a fool. This was her first encounter with such a brazen Old Lady Lu, and such a judgmental Lu Family. Even if she could overlook it for love, her family would never agree.
She slowly released her hold on Old Lady Lu’s hand.
Sister Li brought down the knife on the cutting board with a thud, her face as pale as a sheet.
Lu Hao shouted furiously, "Shut up!"
Instinctively, he looked at Mu Xinxin, and upon seeing Mu Xixi’s expression, his heart sank...
Meanwhile, Gu Qiaoqiao hastily smoothed things over with an apologetic tone, "Oh dear, a perfectly good thing has turned into a critique session on Sister Li. Auntie, it’s hard for Sister Li to earn a living for you all, so please mind your words, don’t cause resentment. Don’t be upset; we can discuss opening that noodle shop later..."
Old Lady Lu flinched under her youngest son’s roar, and upon hearing Gu Qiaoqiao’s words, she realized her words had been too blunt, the kind that should only be uttered at home.
As they say, family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public.
Her youngest son must be angry.
She said no more, glaring at Sister Li fiercely instead, only to find the shadow in Sister Li’s eyes terrifying her so much that she hurriedly sat onto a chair.
Sensing the shame, she was about to erupt again, but seeing her son’s expression, she obediently closed her mouth.
Lately, cursing Li Gufen as a wretched woman had become a habit, forgetting to hold back in front of her son.
No one noticed the flicker of ruthlessness in Li Gufen’s eyes, but Gu Qiaoqiao did.
She frowned, then directly turned to Lu Hao, putting away her smile, and said seriously, "Lu Hao, this was originally your family matter, and we were reluctant to interfere. But as it started because of us planning to open a noodle shop, we can’t wash our hands of it. So I ask you, what do you intend to do?"
She simply passed the problem to Lu Hao.
In a family like this, if Lu Hao doesn’t have a say, future troubles remain.
Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t particularly care about the Lu Family’s well-being, but Mu Xinxin got entangled in this because of her, so she couldn’t just stand by.
This is also being responsible for Mu Xinxin.
Lu Hao finally calmed down, he was originally a smart and responsible person. Having left home early, he always felt indebted to his parents and family, and his visits home were always brief, missing these happenings, and the sister-in-law never mentioned anything to him.
When his sister-in-law was eighteen, all her family died of illness, leaving her an orphan, but she was an adult by then, getting married to his elder brother through introduction, with no dowry or bridal gifts. However, his sister-in-law is hardworking; she can handle both house and farm work, especially skilled in cooking. She married in when he was ten, and he left for the army a few years later, with visits getting less frequent.
He remembers his mother always being dissatisfied with his sister-in-law, talking in dismissive tones, but his sister-in-law has a good temperament, never talking back, and naturally avoiding disputes.
Only now does he realize the so-called family harmony was actually his sister-in-law swallowing her grievances.
His mother’s words were too harsh.
When did she become so harsh and venomous, or had she always been like this, and he just hadn’t noticed?
Lu Hao felt guilty.
The sister-in-law was a major contributor to this family and shouldn’t be treated like this.
There’s also the matter of Mu Xinxin, this always shy girl, witnessing her future mother-in-law’s disdain and harshness for the first time is surely unacceptable to her, right?
And what about his future?
He came back this time intending to tell his family to return to their hometown soon; he’s about to be transferred to another base. No matter how good things are here, there’s no land or house, and he finally understands that in a household of seven, only the sister-in-law earns, while Cousin Zao Hua in the noodle shop only collects money, never helping. After hearing his sister-in-law’s words last night, he was extremely shocked and angry.
His allowance had almost all gone to supporting this family, and with his sister-in-law’s earnings supporting a heap of freeloaders, this couldn’t continue.
Thus, he’d already made up his mind that after resolving the sister-in-law and Chu Chengfeng’s matter, and also the elder brother and sister-in-law’s issue, regardless of the outcomes, his parents and sisters must return to their hometown.
Hence, he didn’t apply strong measures to prevent them from coming to the noodle shop, never expecting that a moment’s hesitation would lead to such consequences.
How would those in front view him after all this?
Blindly filial and ignorant, enabling the abuse of a defenseless sister-in-law alongside his family?
