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Chu Yue couldn’t help but sigh. “Those who are pitiful must have something to be hated about. When stealing, didn’t you think about having elders above and children below? Now that you’re in trouble, only then do you think of it.”
Lu Dagui was anxious and hurriedly grabbed Lu Xinghe’s arm.
“Then I’ll go to your house to help with the new house and use my labor money to offset the two taels of silver. Is that okay?” Seeing that Lu Xinghe didn’t speak, Lu Dagui almost kneeled down. “I was possessed when I did something like this. I know I’ve done many wrong things in the past, and I really won’t do it again. Please give me a way out. I really can’t go to jail. Otherwise, what will happen to my son, Tiedan?”
At that moment, a strong man hurriedly ran over, holding a child around four or five years old.
“Not good, Lu Dagui, your son Tiedan has something stuck in his throat. He’s almost gone.”
The onlookers quickly made way. Lu Dagui took his son from the strong man’s hands, looking at his red face and limp body, and was completely panicked.
“Tiedan, what’s wrong with you? Don’t scare your father. Now I only have you.”
Seeing the child’s condition, Chu Yue didn’t think too much. She quickly stepped forward, took the child from Lu Dagui’s hands, laid him on her arm, holding his neck with one hand while patting his back with the other.
After about three or five pats, the child spit out a fruit pit and then cried loudly.
Chu Yue let out a breath of relief and handed the child back to Lu Dagui.
“He’s fine now.”
Lu Dagui took his child and hurriedly thanked Chu Yue.
The people around, who had been watching, also relaxed. If it weren’t for Lu Xinghe’s wife being quick-witted, Tiedan might have been lost after choking on such a large fruit pit.
“Lu Dagui, look at the mess you’ve made. It was bad enough that you were doing small things in the past, but now you’re sneaking into other people’s houses. If it weren’t for Xinghe’s wife today, your son might not have made it.”
“Exactly, this is called returning good for evil. You stole from others and still refused to pay back. How shameless!”
“A life saved, that’s a huge favor.”
Lu Dagui felt mixed emotions. After all the wrong things he’d done, these people still didn’t hold grudges and, at a critical moment, saved his son.
After years of muddling through, this incident seemed to have suddenly awakened him.
Lu Dagui knelt in front of Chu Yue and Lu Xinghe, his expression sincere.
“I was wrong before, and I apologize for the things I’ve done. But my family really doesn’t have that much silver. Can you give me some time? I promise I won’t run away. Even if I have to work like a beast, I will repay the money.”
The village chief seemed a little reluctant and helped plead, “Xinghe, we’re all from the same village, please consider…”
Lu Xinghe glanced at the village chief and then looked back at Lu Dagui.
“From today on, go help with the new house at my place to work off the debt. Just don’t have any more bad ideas. Next time, I won’t be so easy to talk to.”
Lu Dagui hurriedly bowed, “Okay, I understand. Thank you, thank you!”
Lu Xinghe turned to leave.
“Don’t bow anymore. First, take care of your son. We’ve already started working this afternoon.”
“Got it.” With red eyes, Lu Dagui picked up his son and stood up. “Tiedan, I’ll take you home first.”
The crowd looked at Lu Dagui, and he seemed like a completely different person from before. They all sighed and made way for him.
If he could truly reform, being family, no one would want to kick him out.
Now his wife had run off, and the child was pitiful.
As the father and son walked out of the yard, Lu Dagui asked while walking, “Tiedan, where did you get the fruit? How did it get stuck in your throat?”
Tiedan, with red eyes, replied, “I saw Grandpa take father away. I was worried about father, so I followed him. Later, I saw a fruit pit by the roadside, with some leftover fruit still on it. I was so hungry, I… “
Upon hearing this, Lu Dagui suddenly wiped his tears.
“It’s my fault. I didn’t take good care of you. Let’s go home, I’ll get you something to eat. After you’re full, don’t run around the house. I’ll cook for you when I come back in the evening.”
Tiedan lowered his head.
“Father, did Mother leave because I didn’t listen? Will you also leave me because I am troublesome?”
Lu Dagui, feeling a pang in his heart, rubbed his son’s head.
“Mother leaving is because I wasn’t good enough, it has nothing to do with you. From now on, I’ll work harder. I won’t leave you…”
The father and son grew farther away, and their voices grew softer.
The crowd couldn’t help but sigh. If Lu Dagui could truly turn his life around, it would be a good thing.
Lu Jianqi watched his nephew’s figure, sighed, and after saying goodbye to Lu Xinghe, returned home.
Everyone dispersed, and the yard became quiet again. Chu Yue looked at Lu Xinghe and said, “Husband, continue reading. I’ll bring you dinner from the old house later.”
Lu Xinghe nodded and turned to go inside.
Chu Yue glanced at the room, then sat down under the eaves with her sewing basket and continued sewing Lu Xinghe’s pouch.
While reading at his desk, Lu Xinghe looked out the window. Seeing the young girl with a serious expression, a trace of unnoticeable fondness appeared on his lips.
After finishing the pouch, and with still some daylight left, Chu Yue decided to go to the nearby mountains to gather some fruits.
The wild fruits here were sour, but at least they could be made into preserves. Just as she was about to leave the yard, Lu Xinghe called out to her.
“Yueyue, where are you going?”
Chu Yue hurriedly looked inside the house and replied, “Husband, I won’t go far. I’ll just wander around nearby to pick some fruits.”
Lu Xinghe put down the book in his hand. “The fruits in the mountains are so sour, and they can’t fill you up. What’s the point of picking them?”
Chu Yue turned around and opened the courtyard door.
“I’m not going to eat them directly. I want to pick some to make preserves.”
Lu Xinghe got up and left the house. “Then I’ll go with you.”
Chu Yue quickly waved her hand. “No need for you to come along. I’ll go by myself. You still need to study. The imperial examination is coming up next year. You should use this time to write a few more essays.”
Without giving her a chance to argue, Lu Xinghe stepped forward, took the bamboo pole from her hand, and held her hand as he led her out of the house. He turned around and closed the door behind them.
“Examinations depend more on accumulation, insight, and perspective. It’s not just about memorizing books and writing a few essays. Picking fruit won’t take long. After we’re done, we can go to the old house and help mother.”
Chu Yue thought Lu Xinghe’s words made sense. “You’re right, husband. I believe you’ll definitely pass next year.”
Lu Xinghe’s lips curled up slightly. “You have so much confidence in me?”
“I just believe in you.”
“What if I don’t pass?”
“It doesn’t matter. We’ll try again next time.”
Lu Xinghe smiled, tightened his grip on her hand, and walked toward the direction where he remembered the fruit trees were.