Chapter 29

“Guests who came to eat the wedding banquet didn’t get a single slice of meat, and then Yin Zhihua had an aunt with sticky fingers. She sneaked into the kitchen and found the meat Shen Guixiang had hidden in the cupboard.”

“Well, there was meat but it wasn’t cooked and served on the table.”

“His aunt was someone who could never get enough of cheap things. She didn’t get any meat, so she thought about taking back the one yuan wedding gift money from the guests.”

“She simply grabbed the two pounds of meat and, in front of several tables of guests, ran out to confront Shen Guixiang, demanding that since no meat was served at the wedding banquet, Shen Guixiang should return all the wedding gift money from her family.”

“Shen Guixiang was unwilling.”

“Then Yin Zhihua’s aunt said she was taking the meat back.”

“Shen Guixiang tried to take the meat back, and a fight broke out. Yin Zhihua’s older sister and Lu Jiaojiao stepped forward to break it up, and their faces got scratched badly.”

“Poor Lu Jiaojiao, her face had only just healed from the last time Shen Guixiang scratched her, and now it was even worse.”

“They didn’t even bring the meat back to add to the dishes, and it turned into such a big scene. Yin Zhihua’s sister was so angry, on their way back to the county she even swore that if it weren’t for Shen Guixiang, she wouldn’t care about Yin Zhihua or Lu Jiaojiao anymore.”

“A good wedding banquet turned into a disaster. Lu Jiaojiao was crying so hard, I’m telling you, the drama in the commune—watching the flower drum opera or the movies—wasn’t even half as intense.”

“They made such a huge scene, now the whole commune is watching the He family and Lu Jiaojiao’s joke.”

Lu Baiwei asked her cousin Tang Yunling, “Lu Jiaojiao’s face got scratched up again, didn’t Liu Chunhua feel bad?”

“Of course she feels bad, how could she not? Liu Chunhua even fought with Shen Guixiang. Your father couldn’t stop it, and Lu Wenhua was pushed and fell, breaking his arm.”

It was the most delightful news for Tang Yunling that the Lu family had fallen into misfortune.

Tang Yunling said with glee, “Your brother broke his arm, don’t go asking you for medical expenses later.”

Lu Baiwei thought her cousin might be blessed with luck, but this time Tang Yunling’s words were cursed.

Just after she said that, a voice came from outside the health station.

“WeiWei , is WeiWei  home?”

Lu Baiwei thought about rushing to close the door.

Unfortunately, Liu Chunhua and Lu Wenhua arrived too quickly.

She dragged Lu Wenhua into the house, walking up to Lu Baiwei: “WeiWei , quick, take a look at your brother’s hand. Is it dislocated?”

“I heard last time Liu Zaicheng had a dislocated hand, and you fixed it with a quick snap.”

Liu Chunhua urged her, “WeiWei , quickly set your brother’s dislocated hand.”

“Can’t fix it!”

Lu Baiwei glanced at Lu Wenhua, who was whining in pain, and said, “Liu Zaicheng’s hand was dislocated, but Lu Wenhua’s hand is broken. We need to hurry to the commune health station, if we wait too long, his hand might be useless.”

“How could it be broken? It’s dislocated, right? You better take a good look and set it back.”

Lu Baiwei was really annoyed.

She yelled at Liu Chunhua, “Do you understand what I’m saying? If you don’t want Lu Wenhua to lose a hand, stop wasting time here.”

Lu Baiwei had never spoken to her this way before.

Lu Baiwei had never spoken to her like this before.

Liu Chunhua was stunned.

“WeiWei , why are you speaking to Auntie like this?”

“Even if I’m not perfect, I’m still your stepmother by name. Being a stepmother is hard. These past two years, after I brought you back to the family, we’ve supported you for two years. I haven’t treated you harshly.”

“Look, your brother has broken his hand. He’s rich, so take some money and let me take him to the commune hospital.”

“Yes, you haven’t treated our WeiWei  harshly.”

Tang Yunling rolled her eyes in disbelief and sarcastically retorted at Liu Chunhua: “You’re the one who sent WeiWei  back to live in the leaky shack, had her help earn work points, and asked her to help raise your son.”

“And now, when your son breaks his hand, you come asking WeiWei  for money to treat him?”

“Oh, wow, where do you get the nerve?”

“Lu Wenhua is your son, not our WeiWei ’s.”

“If you can’t afford to raise him, then don’t have kids. Now you want WeiWei  to pay for his treatment? Do you want me to go tell the commune that you’re asking her for money?”

Lu Jianguo valued his reputation above all else.

He had already given Liu Chunhua a cold shoulder over the incident with Lu Jiaojiao stealing the radio.

If Tang Yunling spread the word about Liu Chunhua coming to ask for medical expenses, Lu Jianguo’s face would be ruined, and there would be trouble with him later.

Liu Chunhua was angry for not getting the money. Ignoring Lu Wenhua’s pained cries, she grabbed him roughly.

“Let’s go, what are you standing there for? No one’s treating you like a brother.”

“Go ahead, no need to stay!”

Liu Chunhua turned and dragged Lu Wenhua away, and Lu Baiwei shouted after them.

Tang Yunling took the opportunity to strike again: “Hurry up and get to the commune hospital. Don’t let your precious little darling end up with a useless hand. He’ll be a broken little cripple.”

“You… you guys…”

Liu Chunhua was almost livid.

She wanted to curse Tang Yunling and wish ill on Lu Wenhua.

But Tang Yunling kept running her mouth, threatening to spread the story of her coming to ask for money everywhere.

Liu Chunhua could only vent a few curses and didn’t know what else to do in the moment.

She was thinking of getting Lu Jianguo to slowly deal with Lu Baiwei, but first, she had to get her son to the hospital.

She turned around and gave them a fierce glare before pulling Lu Wenhua away, though deep down, she was still unwilling.

Lu Baiwei had become more assertive because of Tang Jinghe’s support.

It was Tang Jinghe, using his position as the team leader, who had arranged for her to move into the two rooms in the commune’s health station after she married He Ting.

If she hadn’t passed the exam to be the team health worker, would she still be living in those two rooms?

If she doesn’t pass the exam to become the health worker in the commune, will she still be able to live in those two rooms?

At that time, she’d have to go back and beg her father, Lu Jianguo!

Liu Chunhua’s eyes glinted with a hint of malicious calculation: “WeiWei , whether you pass the health worker exam is still up in the air.”

“Now that you’ve become so bold and no longer recognize your father or your brother, don’t regret it later.”

“What do you mean by that? Are you threatening WeiWei ?”

Tang Yunling was livid.

Liu Chunhua was dragging Lu Wenhua away, but Tang Yunling was about to chase after them when Lu Baiwei grabbed her arm.

“WeiWei , what did she mean by that?”

“Is she trying to mess up your plans to be a barefoot doctor in the commune? Or does she want to report you to the commune?”

“No, she’s definitely up to something. We have to be cautious.”

Lu Baiwei wasn’t afraid of Liu Chunhua reporting her.

The only thing she’d done wrong was moving into the two rooms at the commune health station before officially receiving her barefoot doctor certification.

Yin Zhihé’s second uncle, a relative, worked as a cadre in the commune.

Liu Chunhua’s threats surely had some ulterior motive. Lu Jianguo, her father, might appear like an honest man, but he was devious beneath the surface.

He could very well be giving Liu Chunhua advice, possibly targeting Yin Zhihé’s second uncle, who had influence in the commune.

“Cousin, I’ve been thinking about it. I haven’t passed the barefoot doctor exam yet, and I’m worried someone might bring up me living in the two rooms at the health station with He Ting.”

“I think, before I officially start as a barefoot doctor, I should pay the rent for these two rooms.”

With the money she earned from selling yam, Lu Baiwei had quietly saved over 500 yuan.

She didn’t want trouble.

Paying the two yuan rent for the rooms would save her a lot of hassle.

Earlier, it was said she hadn’t passed the exam for barefoot doctor yet, so she needed to pay the back rent. Now, Lu Baiwei had changed her mind.

With the 500 yuan saved up, and since she wasn’t short on money, she decided to pay the rent directly. She asked Tang Yunling to help her pay it to the commune.

Lu Baiwei thought that once the rent was paid, there’d be no issues. Even if someone wanted to attack her, they wouldn’t have anything to use against her.

But, as the saying goes, you can’t guard against every eventuality. Her attempt to get the barefoot doctor certification still hit a snag.