Chapter 11: Rebellious Youth

Wool Textile Factory.

Lu Ping’an pounded on the Shen family’s door. “Shen Hongxing, get out here!” He’d been beaten by his grandfather and uncle yesterday and couldn’t wait to settle the score with Shen Hongxing during his lunch break. 

This hypocritical woman, claiming to cancel their engagement while secretly complaining to his uncle! He wouldn’t let her off this time.

Shen Jiaojiao, still in bed, was startled by the banging. She yelled, “Crazy!”

Lu Ping’an, outside, couldn’t hear her. He continued banging, “Shen Hongxing, don’t hide! I know you’re home!” He’d seen her old bicycle downstairs Shen Jiaojiao’s old bicycle, which she’d given Shen Hongxing because she couldn’t bear to see her walk over an hour to school every day.  Shen Jiaojiao walked to school herself.

Shen Hongxing had cried for days over the bicycle.  Looking back, she felt petty and inferior to Shen Jiaojiao in every way.

Shen Jiaojiao, hearing Lu Ping’an scolding Shen Hongxing, quickly got dressed and opened the door.

“Shen Hongxing, you think you can hide by not opening the door?” Ignoring Shen Jiaojiao, Lu Ping’an went straight to Shen Hongxing’s storage room, kicking the door open.  It was empty.

“Where is she? Where did Shen Hongxing go?” Lu Ping’an asked Shen Jiaojiao, suppressing his anger.

Shen Hongxing didn’t work. After graduation, Shen’s parents had her do housework. Besides cooking and cleaning, she revolved around him.  She hadn’t been to the supply and marketing cooperative for three days.

Shen Jiaojiao had been watching him since he entered. Lu Ping’an was usually mild-tempered. This was the first time he’d been this angry.  She pretended to tremble.  “Ping’an, what’s wrong? Jiaojiao is so scared!”

Realizing he’d frightened Shen Jiaojiao, Lu Ping’an suppressed his anger. His voice softened.  “Jiaojiao, I’m sorry. Don’t be afraid. I’m just angry with Shen Hongxing.”

“Ping’an, did your sister do something to upset you again?” Shen Jiaojiao slowly leaned into Lu Ping’an’s arms.

Lu Ping’an hugged Shen Jiaojiao, completely at ease. “Yesterday, she followed me to the cinema. I didn’t take her to the movie, and she told my grandfather and uncle, so they beat me up!”

Shen Jiaojiao feigned concern. “Oh, Ping’an, they beat you? Where? Are you okay?” Tears welled up in her eyes. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gone to the movies with you, your sister wouldn’t be so angry. It’s all my fault! Ping’an, please don’t be angry with your sister. She told your uncle because she loves you so much!”

Lu Ping’an wiped away Shen Jiaojiao’s tears. “Silly girl, how is it your fault? It’s her fault, Shen Hongxing’s fault!”

“Where is she?”

Shen Jiaojiao sniffed. “Sister is still angry that you didn’t accompany her to buy wedding supplies that day. After you left that night, Mom and Dad tried to comfort her, saying they’d give her everything, but she wouldn’t stop… then…”

“Then what?” Lu Ping’an’s voice rose.

Shen Jiaojiao averted her gaze, her lips moving but no words coming out.  Lu Ping’an was desperate. “Jiaojiao, what happened to her?”

Shen Jiaojiao finally cried, “She beat me up, and she even beat Mom and Dad! They’re her parents!”

Lu Ping’an’s anger flared.  This woman was out of control. He wouldn’t be Lu Ping’an if he didn’t teach her a lesson.

“Jiaojiao, tell me where she is now.”

“Ping’an, you won’t hit your sister, will you? She didn’t mean to!” Shen Jiaojiao pretended to plead for Shen Hongxing.

“She’s at…”

Fifteen minutes later, Lu Ping’an and Shen Jiaojiao arrived at the beach.  Looking at the dilapidated ship, Lu Ping’an was incredulous. “She’s living here?” Shen Hongxing was the factory director’s daughter.

She had the best of everything at the Shen family. It’s easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but hard to go the other way. He doubted she’d live like this.

“I heard it from someone else!” Shen Jiaojiao smirked.  That night, after Shen Hongxing left the Shen family, she had the factory guard follow her.

She needed to know Shen Hongxing’s whereabouts to better damage her relationship with the Shen family and Lu Ping’an. 

Yesterday at the cinema wasn’t a coincidence; she’d orchestrated it.  She’d persuaded Lu Jiaoyang to get some movie tickets a few days earlier…

Lu Ping’an’s original plan wasn’t for yesterday.  She’d heard Shen Hongxing was selling shawls near the cinema and deliberately took Lu Ping’an there to show him Shen Hongxing’s supposed hypocrisy.

“Shen Hongxing, I know you’re here! Get out here now!” Lu Ping’an shouted from outside the boat.

The people inside came out in masse, surrounding Lu Ping’an and Shen Jiaojiao.  The leader, a girl with a cigarette dangling from her lips, said, “Who the hell are you?  Calling out our boss’s name? Don’t you want to live?”

“Oh, Ping’an, they’re so scary!” Shen Jiaojiao hid behind Lu Ping’an, whispering, “They look like trouble. Your sister wouldn’t live with them!”

“Hey, you b*tch, who are you calling trouble?” A bald man stepped forward to attack Shen Jiaojiao.

Lu Ping’an quickly shielded Shen Jiaojiao. “Don’t misunderstand. We mean no harm. We just want to talk to Shen Hongxing. Call her out.”

“Tsk…” The bald man spat, pointing at Lu Ping’an. “Who do you think you are? You can’t just see our boss whenever you want!”

Lu Ping’an’s temper flared. He’d been polite, yet these thugs were still so arrogant.

“Look, I’ve been polite. Don’t push me.  Do you know my uncle could have you all arrested with a single word?”

Shen Hongxing emerged from the ship.  She walked towards Lu Ping’an, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Only incompetent men rely on their uncles for power.”

She didn’t understand.  Why were the Lu family members so different? Lu Jiaoyang was upright and just.

His father, while not helpful, at least didn’t hinder his brother. 

Why was Lu Ping’an so clueless?  Did he inherit it from Qin Xianglan?