Chapter 16

In the evening, Lu Baichuan, who was on a business trip, returned home. He was very happy to see his son whom he hadn’t seen for a long time.

After dinner, everyone left the table. Lu Jingzhe went back to his room to get the wine he brought back for Lu Baichuan. As soon as he left, He Shanshan immediately pushed the bowls and chopsticks in front of Xia Qingning and told her to wash the dishes.

Xia Qingning had been sick and not at home for the past two days, so He Shanshan had been washing the dishes. Now that Xia Qingning was back, she naturally wouldn’t wash them anymore.

Xia Qingning knew that these chores had always been done by the original body. He Shanshan had long been accustomed to ordering the original body around, pushing all the chores onto her.

But now she wasn’t the original body, and she wouldn’t let them order her around anymore.

“What are you standing there for? Go wash the dishes.” He Shanshan urged when she saw her not moving. She didn’t forget to remind her deliberately, “Oh, and don’t forget, my bowls and chopsticks need to be washed separately.”

Xia Qingning looked over and saw that He Shanshan had a beautiful white porcelain bowl in front of her, completely different from the rough bowls with auspicious characters and mandarin ducks that everyone else used.

She was asking her to wash them? Okay, she’d wash them for her.

Xia Qingning’s lips curled into a subtle smile. She seemed to comply and stood up to start collecting the bowls and chopsticks. When she picked up the bowl in front of He Shanshan, she suddenly slipped her hand, and the bowl fell directly to the ground.

There was a “clatter” as the two bowls smashed together. The bowl with the auspicious characters and mandarin ducks was unharmed, but He Shanshan’s white porcelain bowl shattered into several pieces.

“Ah, my bowl!” He Shanshan saw her beloved bowl shattered and her temper flared instantly. She immediately stood up and shouted at Xia Qingning, “Xia Qingning, is your hand broken? You can’t even hold a bowl steady!”

Xia Qingning was about to speak when she saw Lu Jingzhe walking out of the room. She suddenly raised her hand to support her forehead, her body swayed twice, as if she was about to fall.

Seeing Xia Qingning swaying, Lu Jingzhe immediately stepped forward and supported her.

“What happened?” Lu Jingzhe asked.

“Nothing, just, my head is a little dizzy. I didn’t hold it steady and dropped the bowl.” Xia Qingning stood up straight, supporting her head.

At this time, Wang Mingfang, who had heard the noise, walked out of the room. Seeing Lu Jingzhe supporting Xia Qingning, she immediately said with concern, “Oh, what happened?”

Lu Jingzhe ignored her. He looked at Xia Qingning and saw that her face was indeed not looking well. He said in a deep voice, “If your head is dizzy, go back to your room and rest.”

“But…” Xia Qingning said with a look of difficulty, “The dishes haven’t been washed yet.”

Lu Jingzhe frowned slightly, then said:

“Is there no one else in the house? Do these dishes have to be washed by you?”

Xia Qingning still looked troubled and said seemingly unintentionally, “But before, cooking, washing dishes, washing clothes… all the housework was done by me.”

Wasn’t she clearly “complaining”? Wang Mingfang, who was standing beside her, looked embarrassed and quickly tried to smooth things over:

“Oh, Qingning, we all live under the same roof. How can we divide the housework so clearly? It’s not like whoever has time does it?”

“Oh, so for the past few years, Auntie and Shanshan haven’t had time, only I have time.” Xia Qingning’s voice was soft, and there was no hint of blame. It was as if she was just stating a fact. Then she said obediently, “I’ll go wash them.”

“Leave them!” Lu Jingzhe raised his voice, his cold eyes swept over Wang Mingfang and He Shanshan. He said coldly, “If no one washes them, I’ll wash them later.”

Hearing this, Wang Mingfang immediately smiled ingratiatingly and said to Lu Jingzhe flatteringly:

“What are you saying? How can you wash them?” Then she turned to He Shanshan, “Shanshan, you child, how can you be so clueless? Go wash the dishes quickly.”

He Shanshan looked at the “weak” Xia Qingning, her face was distorted with anger. In the past, whether she was sick or injured, as long as she could breathe, she did these things. Why couldn’t she do them now that Lu Jingzhe was back?

“Then I’ll trouble Shanshan.” Xia Qingning timely showed a look of apology and said apologetically, “I accidentally broke your bowl just now. I’m sorry.”

She was clearly trying to continue to annoy He Shanshan. He Shanshan’s face turned green. She was about to lash out when Wang Mingfang pulled her aside.

“Oh, it’s just a bowl. We can buy another one.” Wang Mingfang said generously.

“Then I’ll go back to my room to rest.” Under He Shanshan’s resentful gaze, Xia Qingning turned around gracefully and went back to her room.

Lu Jingzhe didn’t say anything else. He carried the wine and went to Lu Baichuan’s room.

“She’s faking it. She’s just faking it.” He Shanshan’s breath was stuck in her throat. After Lu Jingzhe left, she dared to yell at Wang Mingfang.

The shrewd Wang Mingfang could tell that Xia Qingning was faking it, but as long as Lu Jingzhe believed it, it was true.

Why hadn’t she realized before that Xia Qingning was so good at pretending and talking? Wasn’t she always stupid and easily fooled? Did she take some magic pill and suddenly become smart?

“Also, Lu Jingzhe bought her two cans of malt extract today. I wanted to drink some, but he wouldn’t let me. He let her take them all back to her room.” He Shanshan felt wronged when she thought about it, and continued, “She also broke my bowl on purpose. Ever since Lu Jingzhe came back, she’s been acting so smug. Not only does she dare to disobey me, but she also deliberately opposes me!”

Looking at her wronged daughter, Wang Mingfang patted her back and comforted her:

“Mom knows you’re wronged. Don’t worry, Lu Jingzhe won’t be home for long. Just endure it for now. When he goes back to the army, we’ll deal with her properly.”

Although He Shanshan was a hundred percent unwilling, she could only obediently go wash the dishes. Looking at the white porcelain bowl that Xia Qingning had broken, her beloved bowl, a flash of hatred crossed her eyes. She thought to herself: When Lu Jingzhe leaves, let’s see how she can still be so arrogant.

Xia Qingning in the corner heard every word of the mother and daughter’s conversation. Humph! They still wanted to deal with her? Xia Qingning curled her lips into a slight arc. Let’s see who deals with who.

Lu Jingzhe carried a bottle of wine into Lu Baichuan’s room. He placed the wine on the table and said to Lu Baichuan:

“Dad, I brought you a bottle of wine back.”

Lu Baichuan looked at his son walking over and said, “You haven’t been back for four years, and you think you can get rid of your dad with a bottle of wine.” He picked up the wine and looked at it, surprise mixed with a smile. He said with satisfaction, “Wow, Huaguo Maotai, this is good wine, this is good wine.”

Lu Baichuan was a cheerful and open-minded person. He was wronged during the movement, suffered a lot, and went through much hardship, but he never felt sorry for himself or gave up.

Later, he was rehabilitated and resumed his work, and he never complained.

His life had its ups and downs, but he didn’t experience great joy or great sorrow. He was always calm.

At the same time, he was a man who valued feelings and promises, otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought the original body to the city.

“I knew you’d like it.” Lu Jingzhe said. In front of his dad, he always felt relaxed. They weren’t like father and son, but more like friends.

“How’s your health been these past few years?” Lu Jingzhe asked with concern.

“It’s been okay, okay. I can eat and sleep.” Lu Baichuan said with a smile. Then he asked, “How are your two uncles? Did the injuries they sustained on the battlefield leave any aftereffects?”

“They’re mostly okay. Only Second Uncle’s leg hurts occasionally on rainy days.” Lu Jingzhe replied in a low voice.

Lu Baichuan sighed softly, “The steel plate is embedded in the bone. It’s inevitable.” Then he continued to ask, “How long are you staying this time?”

“A month.” Lu Jingzhe replied.

“That’s good.” Lu Baichuan nodded repeatedly. After a moment, he looked at Lu Jingzhe and asked: