Chapter 69: Old Love and New Plan

Meanwhile, at the old Lu family house, an atmosphere of oppression and annoyance hung in the air. When they heard that Lu Cheng had miraculously stood up and that Lin Yuexi had become the village’s barefoot doctor, Liu Cuifang felt a buzzing in her head. Regret gnawed at her heart like a million ants. She stood rooted to the spot, her eyes filled with disbelief and regret, muttering, “How come that Lin Yuexi got the better of it? If we hadn’t signed that separation agreement, Lu Cheng would still be in our family. Wouldn’t all the good things about being a barefoot doctor be ours?”

“Right! What does Lin Yuexi know? Even the county leaders have taken notice of her medical skills. I tell you, she’s just a lucky cat that stumbled upon a dead rat. Third brother being able to stand up might have nothing to do with her at all. If she can do this barefoot doctor thing, I can do it too…” Li Xiuyin said angrily.

As for Lu Zhengdong, the head of the family, he sat silently in a corner, puffing on his dry pipe. Although his face didn’t show much expression, his furrowed brows and frequent sighs betrayed his inner turmoil.

Liu Cuifang paced back and forth in the room, her steps chaotic. She weighed the pros and cons in her mind. She desperately wanted to go to Lu Cheng immediately. After all, he was her son, raised by her own hands. But the thought of being unceremoniously chased away by him during her last visit, the humiliation and embarrassment of that scene flashing before her eyes, made her stop in her tracks. But if she didn’t go to him, the resentment felt like a heavy stone pressing down on her chest, making her unable to eat or sleep.

“Head of the family, say something! Are we just going to watch Lin Yuexi enjoy the benefits of our third son?” Liu Cuifang finally couldn’t help but complain to Lu Zhengdong.

Old Lu snorted, knocking his pipe against the bowl, “What else can you do? It was like that last time. What good would you get if you went again?”

Liu Cuifang was even angrier when she heard this. “You just know how to sit there and puff on your pipe. You have no ideas! That’s my son, born from my womb. Can I just let it go?”

“Humph, that’s your son born from your womb, Liu Cuifang. You have the nerve to say that…” Lu Zhengdong snorted in response.

Lu Jian Guo gently persuaded from the side, “Mother, why don’t we wait a little longer and find a suitable opportunity?”

Liu Cuifang glared at her, “Wait? If we wait any longer, he’ll be even more estranged from us!”

With that, she sat down on the edge of the kang, her hands constantly tugging at her clothes. Her mind was still engaged in a fierce battle, her furrowed brows never relaxing.

“Is this the Lu family?” Just then, a female voice broke the heavy silence.

“Yes, it’s the Lu family. Who are you?” Li Xiuyin walked over and saw a girl with a delicate appearance, carrying a bucket of malted milk, peeking in at the door.

“Hello, I’m Xia Ziying, Lu Cheng’s high school classmate. I heard that Lu Cheng is injured and at home. I came to visit him…” The girl said.

“Oh, you’re Third brother’s classmate! Please come in, please come in. I’m Lu Cheng’s elder sister-in-law, Li Xiuyin. You’re Xia Ziying, right? We both have the same character, Ying. It seems we’re destined to meet.” Li Xiuyin said quickly.

She had heard from her mother-in-law that Lu Cheng had a female classmate who really liked him and often visited him. Later, after Lu Cheng was forced to marry Lin Yuexi, Xia Ziying was heartbroken for a while. After Lu Cheng got married, he had some problems with Lin Yuexi. Xia Ziying had even tried to get Lu Cheng to divorce Lin Yuexi and marry her. But later, Lu Cheng didn’t return for five years, so Xia Ziying stopped bothering him. Now, Xia Ziying’s visit to the Lu family was definitely not just a friendly visit. She was here for Lu Cheng.

Thinking about this, Li Xiuyin loudly called out to her in-laws in the inner room, “Father, Mother, Ziying, Third brother’s classmate, is here…”

As soon as Liu Cuifang heard this, a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes. Wasn’t this like someone sending a pillow when she was about to fall asleep? She immediately stood up from the edge of the kang, as if she had grasped a lifeline, and quickly went to greet her. “Oh, it’s Ziying! It’s been so long since you last came. Come in, come in and have a seat!” Liu Cuifang’s face was full of a warm smile, completely gone was the worry and annoyance she had just shown.

Xia Ziying handed the bucket of malted milk to Liu Cuifang and then smiled as she entered the room, politely greeting everyone. Her eyes scanned the room, as if looking for something.

“Ziying, you’re here. Why did you bring anything? You’re so thoughtful. It’s been so long, and you still remember our Lu Cheng.” Liu Cuifang held Xia Ziying’s hand and said warmly.

“Lu Cheng is my classmate. Of course, I remember him. And I heard he was injured, so I came to see him.” Xia Ziying replied.

“Yes, Lu Cheng is a poor child. Although he has repeatedly won awards in the army and even became a battalion commander, he still suffered such a serious injury. He almost lost his life. But thankfully, he can now stand up…” Liu Cuifang said, secretly observing Xia Ziying’s expression.

“Really? That’s great. I’ve been so worried about him.” Xia Ziying’s face showed a look of surprise.

“Ziying, you know, Lu Cheng married that Lin Yuexi five years ago. She’s not only uneducated, but she’s also a shrew. He doesn’t like her at all! So we’re all worried that she won’t take good care of Lu Cheng.” Liu Cuifang began to smear Lin Yuexi in front of Xia Ziying.

“Oh? Is that so?” Xia Ziying frowned slightly.

“It’s true! That Lin Yuexi doesn’t know anything. She just makes a mess of things. I don’t know how Third brother agreed to this marriage in the first place!” Li Xiuyin chimed in.

“Humph, what does it mean that Lu Cheng agreed to the marriage? She just shamelessly forced herself on him. Now, she’s using Lu Cheng’s connections to become the village’s barefoot doctor. She’s also instigating Third brother to be unfilial to us!” Liu Cuifang said angrily.

Xia Ziying listened to Liu Cuifang and Li Xiuyin’s words, secretly rejoicing in her heart. She felt this was an opportunity, a chance to get close to Lu Cheng again.

“That… Auntie, where is Lu Cheng now? I want to go see him.” Xia Ziying asked.

“He should be in his new house. Ziying, you can go see him. Help us persuade him to stop being with that Lin Yuexi.” Liu Cuifang seized the opportunity to say.

“That… wouldn’t be right. Lu Cheng is already married. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go and persuade him.” Xia Ziying pretended to hesitate.

“What’s wrong with that? You and Lu Cheng are classmates and good friends. He’ll definitely listen to you.” Liu Cuifang said eagerly.

“Alright, then I’ll go see him, but I’m just going to check on his injuries. I won’t get involved in anything else.” Xia Ziying said.

“Good, good, good. I’ll take you there…” Liu Cuifang said happily.