【Wait, isn’t this a plot hole? In that era, even kissing could be considered hooliganism and get someone arrested. How are these gamblers not being thrown in jail?】

【Sister, they do get caught and paraded through the streets, but they just don’t learn their lesson. They’re like pigs who don’t fear boiling water—shamed in public and then right back to gambling. What can be done?】

【Why not just lock them up for good and be done with it?】

Lu Qingyuan saw these comments pop up and couldn’t agree more.

But the reality was, they wouldn’t be locked up permanently because they were considered victims, not the organizers.

If they had been the ones running the gambling den, they definitely would have been jailed.

However, that was only if the organizers didn’t have powerful backing.

Unfortunately, the gambling dens Grandma Yao’s brothers got involved in were run by people with connections. So every time the police cracked down, it was just the gamblers who got arrested and paraded around, while the organizers always managed to slip away.

Grandma Lu, caught up in thoughts about Grandma Yao’s family drama, actually seemed more energetic than before. She sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun while pondering over the situation.

“Mother, should I go check on them again?”

Seeing how concerned her mother-in-law was, Mother Lu suggested.

“Don’t go,” Grandma Lu stopped her. “That shameless woman will probably cling to you and try to dump her relatives on us.”

Since their families were related, should they refuse or not?

【Grandma is sharp! That old woman is indeed plotting this! Look, she’s already sending her son over to discuss it!】

Lu Qingyuan shivered at that comment. No way!

She quickly chimed in, “Mom, Grandma, we mustn’t let those gamblers get involved with our courtyard. My brothers and Jiasheng and Lusheng should stay far away from them.”

“You’re right,” both Grandma Lu and Mother Lu nodded in agreement.

“If Grandma Yao sends Fifth Uncle over, we mustn’t agree to anything.”

Lu Qingyuan warned them.

“Absolutely,” Mother Lu said firmly. “No matter who comes, we won’t say yes.”

Just as she finished speaking, Fifth Uncle appeared at the courtyard gate.

He was of medium height, with dark skin, and bore a slight resemblance to Father Lu and his brothers—they all shared the same ancestors, after all.

“Aunt.”

Fifth Uncle stood at the entrance, his face flushed red. “Our house is full. My mother asked if we could borrow your place for a few days.”

“Old Fifth,” Grandma Lu gestured for him to come in. He hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.

Lu Qingyuan went to pour water, while Mother Lu brought over a wooden stool for him to sit on.

【Is he a total mama’s boy?】

【For sure! He listens to his mother about everything. Tsk, poor Fifth Aunt, marrying a man like that.】

【Speaking of mama’s boys, Tan Chang’an is also one in disguise. Good thing our heroine already has a fiancé. I wonder who’s going to end up dealing with him.】

【Hopefully, someone who can put his entire family in their place!】

Lu Qingyuan handed Fifth Uncle a cup of water and then stood behind Grandma Lu, openly watching the floating comments above his head.

“Old Fifth, if it were really just for a few days, I wouldn’t have any objections. But be honest with me—are they really only staying for a few days?”

Grandma Lu’s sharp eyes locked onto him.

Fifth Uncle lowered his head, staring at the enamel cup in his hands.

“Let’s not talk about anything else. The ones who came are all your uncles, cousins, and nephews, right? I don’t see any of your aunts here—they must have gone back to their maiden families for now. So, the ones staying over are all men. That’s not convenient for our household.”

“That’s right, Fifth Brother,” Mother Lu sighed. “It’s not that we don’t want to help, but we truly can’t afford to.”

Once they moved in, they wouldn’t leave easily.

Whether it was Grandma Yao or her maiden family, they were all difficult people to deal with.

Fifth Uncle’s face grew redder, turning a deep, dark shade.

As a junior, Lu Qingyuan knew it was best to listen in such situations rather than speak.

So, she remained quiet, merely observing Fifth Uncle and the floating comments above his head.

“Not just our home—I don’t think your family should take them in either.”

Grandma Lu, still fond of this nephew, offered him sincere advice.

“Old Fifth, you can’t just think about your mother. You also need to consider your wife and your children!”

Fifth Uncle slightly lifted his head.

“Yanyan is at the age to discuss marriage. With so many boys in the house, how is that convenient for her? And Qinghong is still young. If he gets involved with those things, his whole life will be ruined!”

“That’s right, Fifth Brother. You really have to think this through. If they stay, it won’t be just for a month or two. It could be years before they leave.”

Mother Lu thought there was one possible way—they might leave after Grandma Yao passed away, right?

“But my mother… she won’t listen to me.”

Fifth Uncle’s face was filled with distress.

Lu Qingyuan turned away, not wanting to look at him. But as she did, she noticed Fifth Aunt standing at the courtyard gate.

There was a red handprint on her right cheek, and that side of her face was slightly swollen.

“Fifth Aunt…”

Lu Qingyuan hurried forward, pulling her into the courtyard. When Mother Lu saw the mark on her face, she gasped and rushed over. “Did Grandma Yao hit you? How could she do that!”

This matter was caused by Grandma Yao’s own relatives being useless. How could she take it out on her daughter-in-law?

Lu Qingyuan fetched a stool for Fifth Aunt to sit on.

Fifth Uncle saw that his wife had been hit. His mouth moved slightly, but in the end, he said nothing.

Fifth Aunt covered her face and began to cry.

Her sobs were heart-wrenching, making everyone present feel a pang of sorrow.

Mother Lu and Grandma Lu were both distressed, holding her hands and comforting her.

Jiasheng and Lusheng stood to the side, unsure of what to do. They had never seen an elder cry so miserably in front of them.

Lu Qingyuan turned around, bolted the courtyard door, then sat down with the two little boys, one in each hand.

Feeling the warmth of their aunt’s hands, Jiasheng and Lusheng instinctively clung tightly to her like small animals seeking comfort.

“Don’t cry anymore. Mother was just… too upset because of Uncle and the others.” Fifth Uncle tried to console Fifth Aunt, but his words only made Fifth Aunt cry harder. “The biggest regret of my life is marrying you!”

“…Stop crying. I’ll try to make them leave.”

Fifth Uncle said stiffly.

“Today. I want them gone today,” Fifth Aunt’s voice trembled, but her tone was firm. She knew her mother-in-law and those uncles too well. Once they settled in, they wouldn’t leave easily. “If they don’t leave, I’ll divorce you. I’ll take our children with me, marry someone else, and let them call another man ‘Father’!”

“How can you say that! They are my children!” Fifth Uncle panicked.

【Unbelievable. He didn’t say a word when his wife got slapped by his mother. He wasn’t worried when his wife threatened to leave. But now that his children might call another man ‘Father,’ he’s suddenly furious.】

【Divorce! Fifth Aunt is such a good person. She deserves better!】

【The comment above, this is the 1960s. Divorce is a huge scandal, and it would affect the marriage prospects of the women and children in the family. Fifth Aunt is most likely just using it as a threat. Divorce probably won’t happen.】

Lu Qingyuan pressed her lips together and looked at Fifth Aunt.

“If you don’t kick them out today, I will absolutely divorce you!”

Fifth Aunt wiped her tears away. “No matter what, I won’t back down. Your mother has gone too far, really too far! I’ve endured it for so many years. I absolutely won’t put up with it anymore!”

“Old Fifth, don’t break your wife’s heart.”

Grandma Lu said coldly.

“What happened today was completely unreasonable on Aunt’s part,” Mother Lu held back her anger. “Fifth Brother, if you still just blindly follow her orders, then I really don’t think you’re much of a man!”

Fifth Uncle froze. He instinctively glanced at the three younger members of the family sitting nearby.

When he met Lu Qingyuan’s cold gaze, he realized that even the younger generation thought he was in the wrong.

He let out a sigh, got up, and said, “I’ll go back and talk to her. You… you stay here for now. Aunt, Sister-in-law, please take care of her.”

“It’s no trouble,” Mother Lu waved her hand. “The real issue is you. If you give in, then nothing we do will matter.”

Fifth Uncle looked at Fifth Aunt. She turned her head away, refusing to meet his gaze.

After he left, Lu Qingyuan locked the courtyard door again.

“Do you really want a divorce?” Mother Lu asked.

Fifth Aunt, who had been crying moments ago, suddenly composed herself. She coldly wiped away the last of her tears.

“I’ve had enough of this kind of life. Once Yanyan is married and Qinghong is old enough to take care of himself, I really don’t want to live with him anymore.”

“Old Fifth’s personality… it’s hard to change,” Grandma Lu shook her head.

Fifth Aunt sighed. “Yes, it’s hard to change.”

Lu Qingyuan brought over a basin of warm water, wrung out a towel, and gently pressed it against Fifth Aunt’s face. Fifth Aunt smiled at her. “Good child.”

At that moment, Lu Qingyuan suddenly felt an overwhelming sadness.

【Unbelievable. That mama’s boy went back and told his mother to let his uncles find another place to live. Now his mother is looking for a rope to hang herself!】

【Haha! She’s using a waistband! That flimsy thing can’t hold up. She barely got it over the beam before it snapped!】

【Now she’s trying to bang her head against the wall! But it’s just a wooden wall. She needs a stone one if she really wants it to work!】

【I knew it! Look at that mama’s boy kneeling so naturally. His mother’s crocodile tears are coming even faster now.】

Seeing this, Lu Qingyuan felt a chill in her heart. It seemed that Fifth Uncle still couldn’t stop Grandma Yao.

She turned to Fifth Aunt. “What if Fifth Uncle can’t persuade Grandma Yao?”

“I’ve already thought about it,” Fifth Aunt sneered. “I can’t count on him. I plan to ask the team leader to let me rent the old house where Third Great-Uncle used to live. I’ll take Qinghong and Yanyan there.”

Third Great-Uncle’s family had built a new house elsewhere, so their old home was currently vacant.

“If you need anything, just let us know,” Grandma Lu held her hand firmly. “I may be old, but when it comes to dealing with that foolish woman, I’m more than capable.”

“Don’t let her dirty you,” Fifth Aunt said with a light chuckle, gently gripping her thin, calloused hand in return. “I just want to stay as far away from her as possible. Let her precious son take care of her.”

Without waiting for Fifth Uncle to come back and tell her whether he had succeeded or not, Fifth Aunt took Mother Lu with her to find the team leader.

The slap mark on her face was still visible. Along the way, whenever someone asked about it, she openly shared all the nonsense happening at home.

It didn’t take long for word to spread throughout the Guangfu Production Team that Fifth Aunt’s mother-in-law had lost her mind and done something foolish.

Naturally, Father Lu and the others heard about it too.

When they got home and saw Fifth Aunt helping prepare dinner, they exchanged glances but didn’t ask any questions. Instead, they simply urged her to eat more and even told Lu Qingming to bring Lu Qinghong and Lu Yanyan over for dinner.

“Yanyan has been coming and going early these days, barely staying home. As for Qinghong, I sent him to my parents’ place for a while, so no need to call him back. Let’s just sit down and eat,” Fifth Aunt said with a smile.