Chapter 538: Chapter 521 Second Sister-in-law Lu Apologizes (2)

Second Sister-in-law Lu spoke again of Big Uncle Lu and Big Aunt’s attitude, “After dad and mom learned about this matter, they scolded me severely, then said they would find a suitable wife for Lu Yun.”

After finishing her words, she smiled and said, “Lu Yun is lazy, but as long as he gets a strong wife who can keep him in line, he will work hard under her reign.”

Expecting him to be as diligent as Shanzi is impossible, but as long as someone can control him and he can complete the tasks assigned to him properly, that’s fine. Not like before, when Peng Family’s girl would coax him into slacking off together.

Jiaxin reminded, “Just being formidable isn’t enough, the girl must also be virtuous and come from a family with good values.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu expressed that Big Aunt had said the same, so they settled on her maternal elder sister’s grand-niece, “That girl is good-looking, feisty, and capable. She was raised under the watch of my great-aunt and they know her through and through–no way she’s a mistake.”

Jiaxin did not comment on this. For one, she hadn’t met her, and secondly, it was acceptable as long as the parents oversaw the marital decision and the person involved agreed. Although Lu Yun was entering his second marriage, he had no children and the family’s conditions were good, plus Second Sister-in-law Lu was an enlightened person. Marrying into such a family wouldn’t be bad.

Jiaxin asked about Tang Sufen’s instigations, “I heard Second Brother is very dissatisfied with this?”

Second Sister-in-law Lu cursed Lu Jiazong, “Don’t bother with him, he’s never clear-headed. Jiaxin, let me tell you something heartfelt. Being given a lot is not necessarily a good thing, just the way it is now is quite fine. Giving them a house has settled them in the Forty-nine City, having a shop provides them with the means to support a whole family, and that’s enough.”

After saying this, she continued, “Jiaxin, when you said initially that Third Uncle still had money and possessions, I thought to myself that after Third Uncle’s hundredth year, Shanzi should keep the money and you should have the possessions.”

“It’s not that I have a high level of enlightenment or that I don’t love money, but I feel that whatever Third Uncle has hidden so well must surely be a treasure. Something happened in the village a couple of years ago, where a family had a treasure, and the young ones couldn’t keep their mouths shut, letting others find out about it. Luckily, only things were stolen, and nobody was hurt.”

“That treasure, they say, was a Qing Dynasty incense burner. Given Third Uncle’s personality, whatever he has hidden must be even better than that Qing Dynasty incense burner. There are those who would commit murder or arson for money, and if word got out, I fear Shanzi’s entire family would be in danger. So even if Third Uncle doesn’t give these things to you, after he’s passed a hundred years, we won’t want them either.”

Jiaxin looked at Second Sister-in-law Lu with newfound respect and sincerely said, “Second Sister-in-law, Second Brother must have accumulated good karma in his past life to have married you.”

To draw lessons from what happened in the village and have such crisis awareness is extremely rare; and then to control the desires within and make a choice is truly commendable.

Second Sister-in-law Lu shook her head and said, “Don’t praise me like that, I learned it from watching how Big Uncle handles things. Jiaxin, don’t bother with what Second Brother thinks, he has no say in the house now.”

Should he continue behaving this way, not only would Jiaxin feel alienated and eventually cease contact with them, but his eldest son and daughter-in-law would also grow disheartened and estranged.

Jiaxin said, “Second Sister-in-law, had you been like this earlier, you wouldn’t have had to suffer Peng Family’s humiliations.”

To put it coldly, had Peng Xiangye’s father died trying to save Lu Jiazong, then it would indeed be right for the Lu family to support them more. But the man didn’t die nor become disabled; he merely laid in bed for two or three months, and the compensation provided was already more than enough.

After a bitter smile, Second Sister-in-law Lu said, “There were many considerations back in the countryside, plus my parents-in-law were in charge, I didn’t dare to overstep them.”

But now that’s not a concern anymore. With the in-laws not around, and big brother and big sister-in-law backing her up in keeping Lu Jiazong restrained, the second household is now under her control. Should Lu Jiazong dare to grumble, she would send him rolling back to his hometown.

Jiaxin understood. When the in-laws were in charge, trying to climb over a man’s head meant not expecting to live comfortably in that home; at that time, one had to learn to show weakness. It could only be said that Second Sister-in-law was a smart woman, just born at the wrong time otherwise she would have truly been a powerful figure.

Second Sister-in-law Lu spoke again about Xiao Qiu, “Ever since she was scammed last time, she’s now set on making money and even plans to take over another shop: ‘Someone tried to introduce her to a match, but she’s unwilling and says she’ll wait until after she’s 23. Now, she only wants to make money, and then buy the shop’s location.'”

Lu Jiaxin felt it was good. From what she knew, Xiao Qiu had already bought a house, a bungalow with four rooms, and her next goal was to buy a second shop.

If it had been earlier, Lu Jiaxin might have given the clothing shop to Xiao Qiu, but now she had changed her mind. Gratitude turns to grudges over the smallest gifts of rice, she thought, deciding that she would help Xiao Qiu depending on the situation, but she couldn’t keep giving money or houses anymore.

“Being financially secure gives you plenty of confidence. That way, if you get married and your husband’s family treats you badly, you can just move into your own house and not have to tolerate it.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu nodded and then brought up Lu Tao’s situation, “Taozi has found himself a partner, the niece of his boss. This girl’s father is a leader in the Education Bureau, and her mother is a corporate cadre. Her family background is quite good, but she is an only child. I asked Big Brother to find someone to inquire about her, and they said she is fine except for some minor quirks.”

Lu Jiaxin hadn’t met the girl and didn’t feel it was right to comment, “If you’re not sure, have Lu Tao arrange for you to meet her, and see if the girl really is being petulant out of love. Second Sister-in-law, sometimes rumors aren’t true, just look at what was said about me in the family housing.”

Sometimes what you hear isn’t the truth, and what you see isn’t always real either, let alone when you haven’t even met them.

Second Sister-in-law Lu shook her head and said, “If we meet officially, it would be hard to object later. I want to go and find out for myself and then find an opportunity to make contact with the girl.”

After speaking, she explained, “Jiaxin, dealing with one Peng Xiangye has already left me exhausted; if another ill-tempered daughter-in-law comes along, I won’t be able to handle it.”

Lu Jiaxin felt there was no problem with that. Marriage after all affects two families; it’s prudent to be cautious, “Go ahead and do it. Otherwise, if the girl turns out to be not good, you’ll regret it again.”

Although she never spoke of it, from her words, it was evident that she regretted not stopping the marriage between Peng Xiangye and Lu Yun back in the day.

“Then I’ll arrange everything at the shop.”

Lu Jiaxin felt she should be discreet about it, “Don’t tell Lu Tao; catching him unawares will let you see his truest side. Oh, and don’t let Second Brother know either, otherwise he’ll definitely tip him off.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu was initially startled, then she smiled bitterly, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I really wouldn’t have thought of that. Jiaxin, thank you!”

She had Second Sister-in-law Lu stay for dinner, and after the meal, she had her driver take her back. Once she left, Lu Jiaxin couldn’t help saying, “Raise sons for one hundred years, and worry for ninety-nine.”

She wondered if she would be in the same state of mind when she had her own children one day? Well, as long as she raised her children to be independent and self-reliant, she shouldn’t have these worries.

As she was thinking, the phone rang. Miao Na picked it up and broke out into a smile, “Boss, it’s Mr. Nie on the line.”

“Ah Zhan…”

Miao Na, hearing her coquettish voice, shuddered, then quickly left the living room–as it was simply too cringeworthy for her to bear.