Rebirth Counterattack with Space
Chapter 277 - 269 Rotten Peach Blossoms

Chapter 277: Chapter 269 Rotten Peach Blossoms

Lin Meizhu’s family wasn’t made up of vegetarians. They came knocking on the door with a vengeance.

After a bout of chaos, no one knew who had pushed and accidentally injured Tian Xiaoju, causing her to hit her back and become paralyzed.

After such a big disaster, Lin Meizhu’s family shrank away, and Lin Meizhu herself stopped pursuing Xie Changgen, who also didn’t dare to make any more fuss. As a result, he even went to persuade Tian Xiaoju. With no one to stand up for her, she had no choice but to accept her bad luck.

Afterward, Lin Meizhu could still bluff Tian Xiaoju by taking care of her for a few days. But how could there be a filial son at the bedside of a chronic illness, let alone between this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair with "deep-seated enmity"?

When Xie Changgen heard the news and hurried back, he saw his mother, who was almost completely neglected and lying there in filth. Fortunately, it was winter, and the time was short enough that bedsores hadn’t developed yet. But after just half a month of sometimes having a meal and sometimes not, Tian Xiaoju was already starved and out of shape.

Xie Changgen couldn’t afford to argue with Lin Meizhu. He beat Xie Changzu harshly and declared that their brotherly relationship was completely severed for life. Then he hired Xie Aijiao’s mother-in-law and several other women from the village who were familiar with her to thoroughly clean Tian Xiaoju. He also arranged for a sanatorium to send a vehicle to pick her up.

Since the family was no longer in need of money, there was no need for Xie Changgen and Lu Aimei to obstruct anything. Besides, how could Xie Changgen have received the news and been able to afford the substantial expenses for Tian Xiaoju’s placement in the sanatorium without their support?

Staying in the sanatorium with professionals to take care of her, Tian Xiaoju couldn’t stir up any more trouble.

Lu Aimei, to set an example for the children, would follow Xie Changgen every so often with the two kids to visit her. But their visits were limited to just that. They never stayed long, each visit lasting no more than ten minutes.

Once in the Magic Capital, Xie Changgen’s spring had returned, but unluckily, it was bad luck in romance. Despite his age, he was entangled by a good-looking widow, said to be the daughter of a cook who had once worked in Xie Changgen’s household.

Only then did his family learn about Xie Changgen’s past.

In fact, the family had speculated about his unusual background as soon as he had taken out those gold and silver valuables back then. It was Xie Changgen who had been kept in the dark the whole time and was utterly astonished.

"Your second aunt’s father-in-law claims he has no feelings for the widow; he only lent her a hand due to past ties. After all, she’s an old acquaintance who grew up helping out in your second aunt’s father-in-law’s household with her mother. Running into her, it’s hard to see an old friend in trouble and not offer a helping hand."

When Lu Yun asked, Xia Yuan couldn’t help but gossip, though she was actually worried for Lu Aimei, "Honestly, your second aunt isn’t opposed to her father-in-law finding someone else; it’s just that ’once bitten, twice shy.’ Sigh, other families don’t have so much trouble; it’s probably because their household’s feng shui isn’t suited for mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to live together."

"Mom, that saying you used, ’once bitten, twice shy,’ really hits the mark. As the saying goes, ’It’s only a veil separating a woman’s pursuit from a man,’ and aren’t most men fond of women who are frail and pretend to be pitiable? Tsk, you’re afraid that what started as nothing could develop into something over time."

Lu Yun wasn’t as optimistic as her mother. That widow, with her aging years yet acting like a young maiden, putting on airs of frailty and grievances, reminded her of Tian Xiaoju’s ploy. At that time, worried at what she suspected to be an act, she had advised Xie Changgen to talk to their father.

However, Xie Changgen returned saying that his father had no intention of remarrying and that Lu Aimei was overthinking it.

Everyone thought that since Xie Changgen wasn’t interested, they could rest easy. Yet the widow began to show up every other day, one day bringing soup, the next day delivering stewed meat, always under the pretext of Xie Changgen’s childhood favorites.

"Exactly. ’Heaven rains and mothers marry off;’ it’s really not easy for your second aunt to outright prevent it."

Xia Yuan sighed, with the elixir her daughter had come up with, people’s lifespans would increase, and it seemed a matter of time before Xie Changgen would remarry. Still, at the very least, Lu Aimei’s future mother-in-law should be someone reasonable who didn’t cause trouble, right? She couldn’t bring herself to like the widow based on Lu Aimei’s descriptions.

"Don’t worry, Elder Xie is very clear-headed, and not the type to lose his senses over lust. If things really don’t work out, we can just buy two sets of neighboring houses, and living apart could be better," Shitou added while driving.

"Shitou’s right," Xia Yuan agreed wholeheartedly, "Really, it’s not a big deal. It’s just a stepmother-in-law, if we get along, that’s great, if not, we’ll just live apart."

"That’s true, can’t worry about these things in advance," Lu Yun yawned behind her hand.

"Tired?" Xia Yuan asked, hugging her sympathetically.

"Not tired, I managed to squeeze in a week’s worth of spiritual power cultivation this morning; I’m in good shape, just feel uneasy without getting a proper lie down and sleep," Lu Yun smiled as she stated the facts.

"Then when we get back, you can sleep first, and then we’ll see," Xia Yuan said, her heart aching, then remembered Shitou hadn’t slept for several days too, "And Shitou, when we get back, both of you go get some sleep."

Sleep? When is there ever free time for that?

Shitou smiled wryly, "Mom, I’m not tired at all, plus, I’ve already agreed to go to the army base with Grandpa later, just let Xiaoyun get some sleep when we’re back."

"...It’s your own body, to push yourself like this... Anyway, you decide," she said.

Xia Yuan wanted to be more forceful, but then she thought of how Shitou had grown up, and the words just wouldn’t come out.

"I will definitely make time for a nap today," Shitou heard the dissatisfaction in Xia Yuan’s voice and took a step back, volunteering.

"Mmm, even if you’re busy or not tired, you must learn to take care of yourself for Xiaoyun’s sake," Xia Yuan was finally satisfied, knowing this was Shitou’s compromise.

Shitou nodded at those words, "I will, don’t worry."

"Mom, when do Great Grandpa and Great Grandma plan to take the medicinal bath?" Lu Yun quickly changed the subject.

"Tonight, your dad, your grandparents, and I will all stay to watch over them. By the way, how did Shitou’s grandparents and uncle fare last night? Did they have any difficulties adapting?" Xia Yuan shifted to ask about the Pei Family’s reaction.

"Because we had warned them in advance, even though it was very uncomfortable, they endured. They have strong wills. After feeling the effects, we don’t have to worry about them not persevering," Lu Yun said as if it were typical.

"When I first submerged, it was indeed hard to bear." Xia Yuan thought about how she felt she had done something incredible by persevering through it. Those who haven’t experienced it can’t understand that kind of painful yet joyous sensation.