Chapter 41: You Are My Son

Chapter 41: You Are My Son

Shen Meng was panting heavily while holding Xiao Kai, catching her breath when she heard Wu Xianglan’s fawning voice again.

"Oh, Jinghao, look, you're angry again. Technically, we haven't officially split the household yet. Even if we eat from separate stoves, everything in Sister-in-law's house belongs to the Lu family. How can I say it's wrong for me to take some of the dough soup Sister-in-law left for you? I'm just eating a little with Yongqiang and Yongli. This is the Lu family's grain, after all. Jiahe and I work in the fields to earn work points; we're manual laborers, so what's wrong with us having one meal?"

"You... do you even realize how ridiculous you sound? You bring your two children to Sister-in-law's house, and the moment you arrive, you're either overturning pots or rummaging through her cupboards. How is that any different from robbery?"

Wu Xianglan's expression shifted. Looking at Xie Jinghao made her feel uncomfortable as well. She thought to herself that for such a long time, Xie Jinghao had always brought Xiao Gang here, which meant she was just coming here to eat all the good food for herself. As for needlework, it wasn't that she didn't know how to do it; even if she didn't ask for scraps of cloth, she would have been happy if Xie Jinghao gave her a bowl of dough soup every few days!

It must be that Xie Jinghao had been spreading rumors about her and Jiaojiao, otherwise, how could such a good job have fallen to her?

"Xie Jinghao, don't talk nonsense! When did I ever steal Sister-in-law's things? Hmph, you're the one who brings your son here every day to take advantage of her. Sister-in-law is kind and too embarrassed to say anything to you, but you have no shame, coming here every day to mooch. Since you dare to act like this, how do you have the face to lecture me? Let me tell you, Mingyang is the eldest son of the first branch. Even he doesn't drive me away, so what right do you have to speak?"

Xie Jinghao was so angry that the baby in her womb kicked her several times. Seeing that his third aunt was looking unwell, Lu Mingyang quickly stepped forward, glared, and said fiercely, "Get out! Don't come to our house! Third Aunt, you only came here because my mother allowed it. What right do you have to come here? What right do you have to eat our family's food? My mother has already applied to the village to split the household, and Grandma knows it too. Once my father returns after the New Year, this family will definitely split. While my father is away, I, as the eldest son, have the final say. Leave now! If you don't leave, I'll call for help, and the village chief and others will have to settle this for me."

Wu Xianglan's face turned bright red from being scolded by a child. People in the Lu family said Lu Mingyang was Lu Zhenping's eldest son, but in their hearts, no one truly acknowledged it. After all, Lu Mingkai was Lu Zhenping's legitimate son.

Not only did Liu Sanjin have her doubts, but the others in the Lu family also wondered: if Lu Mingyang and the other "outsider" children were to inherit Lu Zhenping's estate in the future, would the Lu family's nephews and nieces be able to get a share? After all, they were the legitimate bloodline of the Lu family, much closer than these adopted outsiders.

Shen Meng was an ambitious woman; she likely couldn't stand to see her son's inheritance fall into the hands of outsiders. In the past, Shen Meng had beaten and scolded the children constantly—wasn't that because they weren't her biological children? She had hoped to wear them down so that everything in the house would eventually belong to her own son.

Thinking this way, Wu Xianglan grew bolder and lost all restraint.

"You're the eldest son, but at the end of the day, you're from an outsider household. Mingyang, you're a smart boy, so don't blame your second aunt for being too blunt. After all, in your branch, only Mingkai is..."

"Shut your filthy mouth! I was wondering why it smelled so bad in the courtyard; it turns out someone hasn't brushed their teeth in years, and the stench is wafting out!"

Shen Meng, panting heavily, kicked the door open while leading Mingkai. Her big toe throbbed from the impact. She turned her gaze toward the fierce Lu Mingyang. The moment Wu Xianglan mentioned "outsider household," the boy's expression had changed, and now his entire small frame was trembling.

Shen Meng set Lu Mingkai on the ground, preparing to have a serious confrontation with Wu Xianglan. Suddenly, in a flash, a small figure lunged forward, knocking Wu Xianglan down. This was immediately followed by Wu Xianglan's pig-like screams.

Everyone else was startled. Xie Jinghao felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and, unable to stand, slumped onto the ground, groaning heavily.

"Jinghao! Jinghao, are you alright?"

"Sister-in-law, I'm fine. Quickly, make Mingyang get up, or something terrible will happen!" She held her stomach with one hand and pointed tremulously at Lu Mingyang with the other.

Shen Meng turned around and rushed to pull Lu Mingyang away. In her dim vision, she saw Lu Mingyang's ruthless eyes, and she was suddenly reminded of the gaze she had encountered when she first transmigrated into this world.

Lu Mingyang had never changed. The wounds he had suffered in his heart had never been healed; he had merely hidden them. It was only because Shen Meng had become better to him recently that he had suppressed his true nature.

He had dreamed of having such a wonderful mother, a father who was away serving in the military but always thinking of them, and the laughter of his younger siblings. Even if he and his mother weren't that close, a family like this was the home he dreamed of and longed for.

Now, in front of his siblings and his mother, this woman insisted on tearing off that veil, saying he wasn't a child of the Lu family, that he was an outsider. Why? Why did she have to do this?

Lu Mingyang bit down hard on Wu Xianglan's arm until he tasted blood in his mouth.

Feeling excruciating pain in her arm, Wu Xianglan beat at Lu Mingyang's body. Seeing their mother being bitten, the terrified Yongqiang and Yongli also rushed forward to strike him.

Seeing everyone bullying their brother, Lu Mingliang and Lu Mingfang joined the fray.

Shen Meng was worried sick. She grabbed one child by the collar and pulled him behind her, then finally slapped Lu Mingyang's face hard, trying to wake him from his trance.

"Mingyang! Mingyang, don't be afraid, Mother is here! No one can bully you! Lu Mingyang, let go immediately! If you bite your second aunt and something happens to her, our family will have to pay compensation!"

"Mingyang, good boy, Mother is here. You are your father's eldest son, and no one can say anything. Let go! Lu Mingyang, if you don't let go, Mother won't recognize you anymore!"

After repeated calls and slaps, Lu Mingyang finally released his grip. His mouth was covered in blood as he stared blankly at Shen Meng.

"Mother... Mother won't recognize me?"

Shen Meng felt a pang of heartache. After living together for over half a month, her feelings for the children were nothing but pure heartache. She had done her utmost to care for them, hoping they would forget their past pain and trauma. Time is not a cure-all; forgetting is.

She had been using accumulated kindness to help them forget their pain, but that wretched Wu Xianglan had used a single stick to make them remember everything all over again.

She didn't even spare a glance at Wu Xianglan, who was rolling on the ground in pain.

Shen Meng knelt on one knee, trying to meet Lu Mingyang's eyes at the same level. She took his arms in her hands and said softly, "Mingyang, Mother will never stop recognizing you. You are Mother's child, Mother's son. I can promise you this: from now on, if anyone dares to say a single word that you are not the son of Lu Zhenping and me, Shen Meng, I will fight them with my life! No one! Not your father, not your grandmother, not any of your uncles or aunts—no one! I only recognize you. Don't be afraid, son, Mother is here!"

Speaking in a gentle, soothing voice, Shen Meng slowly pulled Lu Mingyang into her arms, holding him tightly in an attempt to calm him down.

Wrapped in the warmth of her embrace, Lu Mingyang suddenly shuddered. With his clear eyes, his cheek pressed against the woman's face and hair, his nose tingled, and tears cascaded down his face.

"Mother... Mother..." he sobbed.