Chapter 11: One Cannot Be Too Concerned with Face

Chapter 11: One Shouldn't Be Too Concerned with Face

Shen Meng leaned weakly against the kang cabinet, watching Zhou Jiaojiao and Lu Jiaxuan’s indignant expressions. She felt a sense of satisfaction. In her past life, the original owner was indeed vicious, but were they any better?

On the surface, they were calm and indifferent, never fighting or grabbing, but how could the beneficiaries be innocent? Especially regarding the harm done to Lu Mingkai—they knew their own children had hurt him, yet they merely offered a perfunctory apology. But for Lu Mingkai, it had cost him his life.

She looked at the child before her, who was kept clean and well-cared for, and felt a tug of pain in her heart. She assumed it was the lingering consciousness of the original owner at work. She clutched her chest and silently promised her: whatever debts were owed would be repaid, and whatever needed to be made up for, she would help rectify. It was, in a way, a repayment for the original owner giving her a second life.

As soon as these thoughts settled, Shen Meng felt her entire body lighten.

One shouldn't be too concerned with face. If you care too much about face, you have too many reservations, especially when outsiders are present. Lu Bangde and Zhang Hongfa, seeing that Liu Sanjin had agreed to pay and that the house had been vacated, felt a weight lift off their shoulders. The matter could finally be considered resolved.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry. Jiaxuan and I will move out right away. We had actually discussed moving out early to let you and the children move in, but we’ve been so busy lately that it kept getting delayed. Tonight, Jiaxuan and I will help you and the children move over. To thank you for your magnanimity, I’ve prepared some brown sugar and eggs; I’ll bring them over to you in a bit!"

Even though she was ten thousand times unwilling, Zhou Jiaojiao couldn't refuse at this moment. If she were the reason the woman died with regrets, the blame would be too great. Since she couldn't change the outcome, she had to put on a good show in front of the village chief and the party secretary.

After saying this, she grabbed Lu Jiaxuan and hurried out.

Shen Meng’s lips twitched. She looked at Lu Debang and Zhang Hongfa and said, "I’ve troubled the village chief and the party secretary with this trip. For the sake of Zhenping, I’ll have to be shameless and trouble you two leaders once more. When we move over, my mother said the grain was stored together. Although the children and I don't do much field work, we should still be entitled to some grain based on our work points. Father, please take Mingyang with the village chief and the others to divide up my and the children's share of the grain. Mingyang is grown now; he needs to stand on his own two feet and manage his own household. After all, he is Zhenping’s eldest son."

When "eldest son" was mentioned, Lu Mingyang felt an inexplicable urge to straighten his back.

Liu Sanjin was so angry she saw stars. She truly wanted to tear off the mask of civility, but with outsiders present, she couldn't. Deep down, she was also afraid that Shen Meng might actually die; she still had great faith in Lu Changhong’s medical skills.

Wu Xianglan wasn't very happy about it. There was enough grain at home, and she had been planning to secretly siphon some off to her maiden home later. But as soon as she met Shen Meng’s gaze, she immediately lowered her head.

Forget it, forget it. She’d wait until the woman was dead. By then, she’d be able to get a share of the eldest branch’s belongings. Amitabha.

Lu Jiahe hadn't spoken the whole time because what Shen Meng said didn't affect him. Whether it was his mother’s money or his younger brother’s house, it had nothing to do with him. But the grain was a different story. He was the main laborer in the family and earned the most work points. His mother had said that the eldest branch moving out wasn't a formal division of the family. Since it wasn't a division, why should he share his grain?

"No way. That grain can't be touched. It was all earned by us men working. Why should it be divided for you? The grain cannot be divided. You and Mingyang can just come back to eat; the family hasn't been divided yet."

Shen Meng’s eyes turned red, and she began to cough violently, looking as if she were about to breathe her last. This gave Wu Xianglan a fright, and she immediately hammered Lu Jiahe a few times.

"Stop talking! Sister-in-law is already like this. I just heard Dr. Lu say that if she develops a fever tonight, she might not make it through the next few days. Say less! If she dies with grievances, she’ll come knocking on our door in the middle of the night," she whispered into Lu Jiahe’s ear.

Lu Jiahe gave Wu Xianglan a shove with his elbow, pushing her aside.

"Move aside. When men are talking, there’s no place for you to interrupt. I said the grain can't be touched, so it can't be touched. Shen Meng, how many work points do you and those little brats earn in a day? Always opening your mouths to eat. Let me tell you, Mother might be afraid of you, but I’m not. You want to divide the grain? Don't even think about it."

Zhang Hongfa’s eyes darted around. He had brought Lu Debang over because Wang Guizhi’s wailing had been heard by too many people—he couldn't avoid coming. Secondly, he wanted to curry favor with Lu Zhenping. His younger brother was turning sixteen soon and would be eligible for military recruitment. If he could get selected, he would need someone to look out for him in the army. With a ready-made connection here, he wanted to build a good relationship.

"Jiahe, you can't say it like that. Your sister-in-law just said that when your family eats, you don't call Mingyang and the others, and the hungry children are out catching sparrows to eat. Your sister-in-law is so severely injured now; if you don't divide any grain, are you expecting them to drink the northwest wind?"

Lu Jiahe was a bully only within his own home. He naturally didn't dare to shout at the party secretary, but when it came to grain, he still stiffened his neck and said, "That was just because we couldn't find them this time. Next time I’ll go find them myself; they won't go hungry. The grain cannot be divided."

"That’s a bit unreasonable. I was just thinking, Zhenping’s wife was hit by the production team’s ox, after all. The production team can't just do nothing. How about this: the production team will provide ten yuan and thirty catties of fine grain as compensation. Zhenping’s wife, take good care of your health and don't overthink things. Zhenping is away in the army and we don't know when he’ll be back. You must take care of yourself and wait to see him again!"

Shen Meng silently pinched her thigh, and tears streamed down her face.

"Thank you for your concern, leader. Thank you. But about the matter of dividing our grain..."

"No! If you want to divide the grain, you’ll have to step over my dead body!" Lu Jiahe’s chest heaved with intense anger, and Wu Xianglan couldn't hold him back.

"Divide it! I’m making the call. If you don't divide it, Bangde and I won't care anymore. Auntie Wang and Uncle Shen can take this to the commune and let everyone see how your Lu family is forcing Zhenping’s wife to her death while he’s away. There are some things I didn't want to spell out, but don't treat everyone like fools. Only a fool would believe your deceptive words. Auntie Liu, wouldn't you agree?"

Shen Meng: "..."

She felt like he was implying something about her—very definitely!!!

Zhang Hongfa didn't want to be harsh, but Lu Jiahe was being stubbornly unreasonable. If he didn't show some authority, his position as party secretary would be for nothing.

Liu Sanjin shivered all over. She pointed at Lu Jiahe and hurriedly said, "Divide it! We’ll definitely divide it! Jiahe, don't say another word. Your sister-in-law is already so badly hurt, shut your mouth! And you—are you dead? Watching your husband bully your sister-in-law? Drag him away! Heh, well, in-law, you and Mingyang come with me to divide the grain. In-law, take good care of Xiao Meng. I’ll send the money over in a bit. Be good, now! Good child."

After saying this, she hurried away with the others, fearing that if she stayed any longer, Shen Meng would make more demands. Only after everyone had left did Shen Meng let out a long sigh of relief.

First battle after transmigrating: a minor victory.

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