Rebirth Counterattack with Space
Chapter 170 - 162: Scapegoat

Chapter 170: Chapter 162: Scapegoat

"It’s my fault, I never imagined the third sister-in-law would do such a thing."

Lu Erbo Niang’s tears suddenly fell like beads cut loose from a string. She spent her life being strong, seldom willing to cry in front of her children. Now, revealing such a vulnerable side unexpectedly, it couldn’t help but make everyone’s nose sour.

...

"Grandma, it’s all my fault for making you sad." Seeing Lu Erbo Niang cry, Lu Yun secretly heaved a sigh of relief. It was good that she could cry it out, for she feared a great shock would lead to some unfortunate incident.

"How could Grandma blame you?" Lu Erbo Niang finally got her emotions under control, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around Lu Yun. "Good child, it’s thanks to you that Grandma knows now; otherwise, your second aunt would have had to bear a lifelong stigma."

"Yes, who could have imagined the third aunt to be such a person? We also owe Xiaoyun our thanks. This year, your second aunt should give you double the New Year’s money," Lu Aimei added.

Lu Yun just gave a silly smile.

Lu Erbo Niang recovered her composure remarkably quickly. Next, she pulled Xia Yuan close and asked her in detail. Now that everything was out in the open, Xia Yuan no longer covered for the third sister-in-law and recounted what she knew.

After listening, Lu Erbo Niang scoffed, "I must blame my own stupidity for not thinking ill enough of her. When it came to my own experience, I could not even guess such simple human intentions. Wasn’t she just afraid that Aiguo would return to the second branch and from then on disregard her?"

Xia Yuan sighed to herself. She and Aiguo had also privately speculated that this was indeed what the third sister-in-law from the Lu Family feared.

"There’s a saying, ’A pitiable person must have a detestable reason.’ Her whole life, her family was unreliable in the first half, yet marrying into our Lu Family was a great match. The third brother treated her with an open heart. Our main and second branches also treated her with consideration and care. For her sake, our second branch even gave up our son.

One would think that even a cold-hearted person could see that we’re not like her unreliable brother. But what did she do? She chose to guess and be suspicious of us, just as she was with that good-for-nothing brother of hers. In the end, how are she and her brother any different?"

Lu Erbo Niang cried and laughed, "If I had known it would come to this back then, I wouldn’t have let Aiguo stay with the third branch for another day. What do her life and death have to do with me? If your grandfather and your dad knew she would act this way, they certainly would never have agreed to leave Aiguo with the third branch."

"Grandma, don’t be upset anymore. Our teacher once told us something that I think fits perfectly with my dad-- ’Heaven, when about to place great responsibilities on a man, always first tests his resolution, exhausts his body, starves his flesh, leaves him destitute, and unsettles everything he undertakes. This is to stimulate his mind, toughen his nature and enhance capacities that are otherwise not used.’"

When facing Grandma, Lu Yun dared not speak as cryptically as she did with her parents and Shitou; she tried to keep it as simple as she could, "Look, Grandma, so many people in the village praise my dad for being promising. It must be because he suffered hardships when he was little, right?"

"You child, your dad said you score a hundred in every exam. Maybe you’ll be even more successful than your dad, right? Listen, just the comforting words you speak make one feel warm and soothed."

After listening to Lu Yun’s words, Lu Erbo Niang truly did feel more at ease. How many years had her sisters-in-law passed away? Now, no matter how angry or resentful she was, it would only make herself uncomfortable.

Thinking along these lines naturally calmed Lu Erbo Niang’s heart.

Amending the family tree was swiftly handled, merely a matter of making a note, and once finished everyone couldn’t be happier.

In light of the family elders being invited, along with the head household and their daughters and sons-in-law coming to dine in celebration, after lunch, the head household and Lu Aiguo moved all the furniture, dishes, and utensils to the second household. The women from the head household also came early to help.

With many hands making light work, and the ample supply of pork, chickens, ducks, fish, canned meats, rice, fruits, and vegetables brought back by Lu Aiguo and others, nothing was lacking.

Therefore, at dinner, three tables were set, each bearing over a dozen heaping dishes of rich food, the feast so lavish it was no less splendid than the New Year’s Eve dinner. Additionally, to accommodate the elders’ teeth, all the meat dishes at the main table were either stewed or boiled until tender, perfect for the elderly.

After the meal, everyone was gratified and the gathering was immensely lively.

When they went to bed that night, Lu Second Uncle’s wife recounted Lu Third Aunt’s past actions to Lu Second Uncle. At first, Lu Second Uncle could hardly believe his own ears, and afterwards, he deeply regretted his past leniency.

No one could blame Lu Family’s Third Aunt for her convincing act of feigning weakness, which she did so skillfully, that she deceived everyone. But regrets were useless now.

When Lu Second Uncle heard what Xiaoyun had advised Lu Second Uncle’s wife, he sighed, "Xiaoyun is right. The saying goes, ’the finest sword is forged through the hardest grind,’ and ’the plum blossom’s scent comes from the bitter cold.’ The same principle applies. Haven’t there been numerous examples since ancient times? People are forced to reveal their true potential. It seems Xiaoyun will be someone remarkable in the future. The Su Family doesn’t even realize the rare treasure they’ve lost."

"That’s why cause and effect exist. Maintaining a heart inclined to good is still worthwhile; we can’t just abandon righteousness and embrace evil because of the misdeeds of some, can we?" Lu Second Uncle’s Wife said not only to Lu Second Uncle but also to persuade herself.

"Exactly, the hardest thing in life is to maintain one’s true nature," Lu Second Uncle agreed, nodding. The couple exchanged a glance and finally came to peace with the past.

New Year’s cleaning, pig slaughtering, going to the New Year’s market, buying fireworks, pasting couplets, steaming New Year’s cake, staying up late on New Year’s Eve, giving New Year’s greetings, receiving lucky money, visiting relatives... the festivities continued until the fifth day. Lu Aiguo and his companions didn’t cook separately but ate together with everyone at the second household.

Throughout this period, Lu Yun and her mother took the opportunity while cooking to add health-strengthening Elixir to the food, albeit the lowest grade, but nonetheless significant with frequent use.

After the fifth day, once the visiting relatives had mostly departed, Lu Aiguo finally found the time to inform Lu Second Uncle and his wife before taking Xia Yuan, Lu Yun, and Shitou on an excursion up the mountain.

Once in the mountains, the group first visited the hot spring pool at their secret base. Having previously improved their physiques through medicinal baths, even Xia Yuan and Lu Yun moved swiftly, not slowing the group down in the least.

After spending a night at the secret base, luxuriating in the hot springs, Lu Yun did not forget to collect plenty of hot spring water into her space.

In the following days, the quartet ventured deeper into the mountains. Utilizing the space and their spiritual power, they harvested a bounty of game and forest fruits until reluctantly, they began their return journey on the thirteenth day of the first month.

Descending the mountain, the spoils were divided among the head and second households, as well as to sisters Lu Aijiao and Lu Aimei, with the remainder stored in Lu Yun’s space.

After the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth, it was finally time to head back to Haicheng.