Chapter 39

Crazy. This kid, Lu Chen, was really crazy. He was acting just like a bandit!

Once this matter was over, Lu Dashan was absolutely certain he would never associate with Lu Chen again. He would also take this opportunity to expose Lu Chen’s true nature in front of everyone and completely sever ties with him!

Thinking about never having to deal with Lu Chen again, Lu Dashan suddenly didn’t feel so upset about letting them see the box.

It was no big deal. After today, he would just hide his money elsewhere!

At this moment, Lu Dashan had completely forgotten about the withdrawal slip that was at the very bottom of the box. His mind was only focused on solving this issue with Lu Chen.

Soon, he entered the room and pulled the small box containing the money out of the wardrobe before opening it.

Lu Chen’s attention had already locked onto the wardrobe as soon as they entered the room.

Before Lu Dashan and Jiang Guihua returned, Meng Yinyin had already told him about the scene when Lu Xiujun had borrowed money from her parents. He also knew that the small box contained a withdrawal slip that had been sent over from the military.

That withdrawal slip belonged to his father and their whole family!

But it had been taken by Lu Dashan all these years.

In that moment, Lu Chen didn’t feel much anger. If anything, it was more of a feeling of resolution, as if he had expected it all along.

So when Lu Dashan opened the small box, Lu Chen’s eyes flashed. Before either Lu Dashan or Jiang Guihua could react, he swiftly grabbed the box from Lu Dashan’s hand.

Lu Dashan was startled and immediately shouted, “Lu Chen, what are you doing? Are you trying to steal money in broad daylight—!”

But Lu Chen didn’t even spare him a glance. He lowered his head and quickly scanned the box, effortlessly finding the withdrawal slip.

Then, he took it out.

The slip was yellowed from being at the bottom of the box for so long, and the paper was fragile. Lu Chen had to handle it carefully, or he feared it might tear.

Despite this, his movements were swift. Once he had the important withdrawal slip in his hands, he casually shoved the box back into Lu Dashan’s arms, discarding it as if it were trash.

When Lu Dashan finally got his box back and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he noticed the piece of paper Lu Chen was holding. His expression changed dramatically!

That paper! That paper!!!

That was the proof of his withdrawal from years ago!

At that time, he hadn’t thrown it away with the other documents. He’d kept it, as Jiang Guihua said, because if it weren’t for his brother’s pension, they’d have never earned so much money in their lifetime of farm work.

So, that money had been a symbol of their peak in life, even though they hadn’t earned it themselves.

For the sake of vanity, they had kept that receipt.

Over time, Lu Dashan and Jiang Guihua had forgotten about the paper. It was only when Lu Chen found it that they remembered it even existed.

Upon realizing what the paper was, panic and fear set in.

Because only he knew how dangerous it would be if this thing saw the light of day!

“That’s mine, Lu Chen. Give it back to me!”

At this point, Lu Dashan had completely lost his reason. His only thought was to get that withdrawal slip back and destroy it as quickly as possible!

He even regretted keeping that paper now!

But Lu Chen was stronger and taller than him, and with Meng Xuan standing nearby, Lu Dashan couldn’t even get close. The moment Lu Chen grabbed the paper, Meng Xuan stepped forward and blocked him.

“What are you doing?”

Meng Xuan lowered his head and looked at Lu Dashan. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, giving the appearance of a smile, but to Lu Dashan, it seemed more like mockery.

What was he mocking?

Lu Dashan’s mind was still in a fog, and he couldn’t think clearly.

While Meng Xuan was stopping Lu Dashan, Lu Chen had quickly read through all the words on the receipt.

After reading it, his expression didn’t seem to change much, but his eyes had already turned bloodshot.

He raised his head, carefully holding the paper in his hand, and looked at Lu Dashan.

His voice was cold, like snow falling in the depths of winter.

“Receipt—what’s going on?”

Lu Dashan knew that Lu Chen had seen the information on the receipt. His heart felt like it had been plunged into an ice pit, and his mind went blank. All he could think was, “It’s over.”

“I’m asking you—what’s going on?!”

Even though he already had a good idea of what had happened, Lu Chen still wanted to hear Lu Dashan admit it out loud. He wasn’t naively hoping that Lu Dashan would realize his mistake and apologize. He simply wanted him to admit his wrongdoing and have it made public.

When Lu Dashan heard Lu Chen’s question again, he still couldn’t say anything.

Beside him, Jiang Guihua shared the same expression. The couple had never expected that the secrets they had been hiding for so many years would be exposed at this moment.

But their disaster was far from over. Just as Lu Dashan was starting to regain some composure and was about to ask everyone to leave so he could speak privately with Lu Chen, suddenly the brigade leader’s anxious voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

“Did you really see Lu Chen smashing down the door at Lu Dashan’s house?”

“Yes! We both saw it with our own eyes!”

“Yes, yes, Brigade Leader. Who knows what’s going on inside now? You should hurry up and try to stop it!”

As they spoke, a group of people rushed into Lu Dashan’s house.

Inside, there were a few people standing in Lu Dashan’s room. There were no signs of fighting or chaos, but the atmosphere was rather strange.

The brigade leader’s heart had been in his throat, but it sank again, though only halfway.

He glanced at the tense standoff between Lu Chen and Lu Dashan before choosing to ask Meng Xuan, who was standing nearby.

“Comrade Meng, can you tell me what happened here just now?”

The brigade leader chose to ask Meng Xuan for a simple reason: Meng Xuan had been there the shortest amount of time. He wasn’t particularly close to anyone, so he was unlikely to take sides.

Secondly, he was a soldier, and everyone naturally trusted him.

Meng Xuan didn’t disappoint him. He explained the situation logically, even recounting how he and Meng Yinyin had “accidentally” learned about Lu Dashan lending money to Wang Chengwu.

After hearing this, especially after learning that Lu Chen had found a certain document in Lu Dashan’s box, the atmosphere between the uncle and nephew became even tenser. The brigade leader’s heart jumped again.

He quickly thanked Meng Xuan, then walked over to Lu Chen and Lu Dashan. In Lu Dashan’s desperate gaze, he patted Lu Chen’s shoulder and asked:

“Lu Chen, what’s that thing in your hand? Can you show it to me?”

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment before loosening his grip on the receipt. He gave a soft hum and slowly handed it to the brigade leader.

The brigade leader’s expression changed several times as he looked at the receipt. First disbelief, then shock, followed by anger. Finally, he looked at Lu Dashan with contempt, as if he were a piece of trash.

Then, a roar of anger erupted.

“Lu Dashan! Are you even human?!”

Those who had hurriedly brought the brigade leader over were standing by the door. They didn’t see the contents of the paper, but from the brigade leader’s furious expression, they could guess what was going on. Their intuition told them that it must be something shameful, something that could ruin Lu Dashan’s reputation for good.

And right now, the brigade leader was about to explode.

The amount on the receipt was from the army, and it was so large that anyone with a brain would know it was money that Lu Dashan, a mere farmer, could never have earned.

With his farming income, it would be impossible for him to save that much money in a lifetime.

So, those few thousand yuan, which were meant to be Lu Chen’s father’s death compensation, money earned with a life, had been quietly taken by Lu Dashan!

And judging by Lu Chen’s current expression, he probably didn’t even know about the money until now!

In other words, Lu Dashan had kept the money for himself and didn’t give a single cent to Lu Chen!

To call him an animal would be an insult to animals!

The brigade leader had never been this angry before.

He clenched the receipt tightly and gritted his teeth as he addressed Lu Dashan.

“This is a serious matter. It’s not just a problem for your family; it concerns the reputation of our entire brigade!”

“I will report this to the commune and even to the town.”

“Lu Dashan, you better think carefully.”

Facing Lu Dashan’s pleading eyes, the brigade leader coldly made his decision.

“Brigade leader, it’s not like you think. I didn’t…”

Lu Dashan, of course knew what this meant. If the matter were exposed, he would truly be finished!

No, he couldn’t allow that!

However, just as he was about to speak and try to explain, Meng Xuan suddenly spoke up.

“Brigade leader, there is one thing I haven’t said yet, that is, I actually have another purpose for coming here this time, which is——”

“To represent the military and investigate this matter thoroughly!”