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Ye Lian sneered, sarcastically saying, “Don’t spread rumors. He’s showing gratitude for saving Wang Jianjun’s life. It’s not unusual for a woman to ask Lu Jiangting for help with such a big renovation project, is it?”
“I’ll say! Helping her with the renovation is one thing, but what about taking a cake to Fang Qing’s house to celebrate her son’s birthday?”
“Oh, it’s just a birthday. In a few years, I’ll have my 50th birthday party, and you all can come and celebrate with me.”
“It’s different. Fang Qing’s son calls Lu Jiangting ‘Dad.’”
What?
Ye Lian’s sarcasm faltered, “What? That little brat calls that scoundrel Lu Jiangting ‘Dad’?”
“Yes, Old Mrs. Liu, who lives next to Fang Qing, overheard everything. Something about Chen Chen not having a father and wanting a father to be with him on his birthday. Old Mrs. Liu didn’t hear everything clearly, but that’s the gist of it.”
“So, that day, Lu Jiangting was Fang Qing’s son’s father. I wonder what else he did that day besides being a father.”
Ye Lian trembled with anger. Even so, that scoundrel still wants to coax her daughter into marrying him.
How dare he?
Ye Lian threw the washed shoes into the basin and angrily carried it back inside.
While angrily watching the shoes left on the balcony, she shouted outside the house, “Dawei! If that scoundrel Lu Jiangting comes again, throw him out! Don’t let him step into our courtyard again!” She shouted angrily.
“What happened?” Lin Dawei came out of the house.
Ye Lian recounted what she had overheard while washing shoes by the pond. Lin Dawei was furious.
“That scoundrel! I wondered why he had to lend money to that widow. It turns out he’s having an affair with her.” He grabbed the carrying pole by the door, “I’ll go break his legs.”
Lin Yuyao came out of the house and said, “Dad, don’t go. It’s a good thing––let it be.”
Lin Dawei was stunned, “It’s a good thing? What do you mean?”
“Yes, let him live with Fang Qing. That way, he won’t bother me anymore. She wants to repay her debt of gratitude, he’s willing to support her and her son. We outsiders shouldn’t interfere.”
What?
“My daughter is right, that’s reasonable.” Lin Dawei put down the carrying pole.
“But what about our three hundred yuan? Dawei, go and get it back from him,” Ye Lian said.
Lin Dawei picked up the carrying pole again.
But Lin Yuyao knew that he didn’t have any money right now, and if he went, he would only get entangled with them again.
“Dad, don’t go. He doesn’t have any money right now.”
“Even if he doesn’t have money, he has to pay me back.”
“How can he pay if he doesn’t have any money?” She stopped Lin Dawei and said, “I have their IOU––don’t worry. If he dares not to repay, I’ll go to his army and make a fuss. I’ll make sure Lu Jiangting loses his job and that they cancel Fang Qing’s pension. Let’s see if they dare not to pay.”
A person with nothing to lose is not afraid of those who have something to lose. This is how they can seize their lifeline.
“Okay, let’s listen to our daughter.”
They had decided to let Lu Jiangting and Fang Qing be, letting them live their own lives.
But they didn’t think so.
The next day, Lu Jiangting came again.
This time, he didn’t bring fruit candies but two large cabbages.
Lin Yuyao: … Is he really that broke?
“Yuyao, these are cabbages my mother grew. Try them.”
“No need. We have plenty of cabbages at home; we use them to feed the pigs.”
Lu Jiangting: …
“I heard you were Fang Qing’s son’s father yesterday? Congratulations! You have a son and a wife all of a sudden.”
Lu Jiangting’s face changed, “Yuyao, who told you that?”
“Everyone is saying it.”
Lu Jiangting was stunned to speak.
What gossipmongers!
“Don’t listen to them, it’s not true. Chen Chen had his birthday yesterday, and I just went to see him.”
“Oh, whatever. It doesn’t concern me.”
“How can it not concern you? I’m afraid you’ll misunderstand, so I came to explain.”
“Okay, I’ve heard you. You can leave now.” She threw a basin of water at him.
To avoid the water, Lu Jiangting jumped far away.
Lin Yuyao closed the courtyard gate.
Lu Jiangting shouted from outside, “Yuyao, why did you shut me out? Open the door quickly.”
His voice didn’t make Lin Yuyao open the door, but it startled Lin Dawei, who was cleaning chicken droppings in the backyard. He came out with a shovel, and the chicken droppings were so shocking that if Lu Jiangting hadn’t run fast enough, he would have been splashed all over.
“Damn you, shameless thing! Do you have the nerve to come to my daughter after being someone’s father? Who do you think you’re fooling? Dare to come again or I’ll feed you a mouthful of chicken droppings.”
Lu Jiangting fled in disgrace.
Back home, he was scolded by his parents again.
“You know Yuyao minds your relationship with that widow, yet you still deal with her! Now, everyone is saying that the widow’s son calls you dad, and yesterday you not only played the father but also the man. No wonder she threw chicken droppings at you.”
“Mom, those gossips are making things up, it’s not true at all.”
“Hmph.” His father, Lu Cong, coldly snorted, “I only know that flies don’t land on a seamless egg. If you didn’t do these things that lead to misunderstandings, would people say these things about you?”
Lu Jiangting had no way to refute him. He felt the misunderstanding was huge and was anxious.
Lending money to Fang Qing wasn’t a big deal, but being misunderstood as having an affair with her was a different story.
He couldn’t sit still at home, and after much deliberation, he went to find Lin Yuyao again. This time, he hid in the shadows, waiting until her parents had gone to work before approaching her.
“Yuyao, you’ve really misunderstood this time. I have nothing to do with Fang Qing. I…”
“Shut up.” Before he could say more, Lin Yuyao interrupted him, “You have nothing to do with Fang Qing. You know how many times you’ve said that? Whether you have anything to do with her has nothing to do with me. Let’s end this. I’m giving you face, don’t force me to tear things apart.”
Lu Jiangting also got angry and, in a fit of rage, revealed the matter of the marriage certificate.
“You’re so resolute about our years of relationship? You even called Old Zhou and asked him to send back the marriage certificate.”
Lin Yuyao’s heart sank, “What did you say?”
“Hah, you know what I said.” Lu Jiangting sneered, “I’m telling you, I won’t allow this misunderstanding between us, so… I asked Old Zhou to submit the marriage certificate.”
Lin Yuyao’s eyes widened in disbelief, pointing at him, “You… how dare you…”
Lu Jiangting grabbed her hand, pulling her closer,
“Yuyao, don’t get angry with me about Fang Qing anymore. Let’s live a good life together, okay?” He grinned.
“No! no! no!” Lin Yuyao forcefully broke free, tears welling up in her eyes, “I’ve told you I don’t want to be with you anymore. Why do you have the right to make decisions for me?”