Chapter 178: You pathetic loser, why are you afraid of her?
Shen Meng walked home as snowflakes began to fall. She wore a thick scarf, a large, fluffy one, wrapped tightly around her neck and head, and sturdy officer’s boots on her feet. She caught a snowflake, watching it melt in her palm, and sighed. Unknowingly, so many days had passed.
Amidst the drifting snow and wind, she stood there, exuding a unique charm.
Lu Zhenping had waited a long time for Shen Meng, and was about to go out looking for her when he saw her. The day had been chaotic, and he was quite distressed, but now, looking at Shen Meng, his agitated heart was suddenly calmed. Their eyes met across the distance as Shen Meng turned, their loving gazes lingering for a moment, filled with a burning intensity.
Lu Zhenping slightly opened his arms. Shen Meng smiled knowingly, quickly walking towards him. Just as she was about to rush into his embrace, she heard a shout from behind, “Aa …!”
“Big Brother, you have to help me! My sister-in-law tricked me out of over seven hundred yuan! Seven hundred yuan! That’s money my sister and I saved for over two years, working tirelessly! She just took it from us! Big Brother, we are your own sisters. You can’t just stand by and watch!”
“Yes, Big Brother! Sister-in-law is so unconscionable! How could she swindle my sister out of so much money on New Year’s Day? She just wants to make things difficult for us! Big Brother, please help us!”
Lu Zhenping: “. . .”
Shen Meng: “. . .”
Such a terrible cry! Doesn’t she know we’re in the middle of a moment? Really disruptive! Why now of all times? So annoying!!!
Shen Meng didn’t embrace him. She was incredibly agitated. Looking at Lu Miaomiao and Lu Lanhua, her displeasure grew.
“Get out of here! Shen Meng swindled money? What unconscionable nonsense! If heaven is watching, it should strike those who feign virtue and deceive others with thunder! When did I trick you? Lu Lanhua, tell me, was it you who tricked me, or was it I who tricked you? I haven’t even settled my account with you yet, and you come here? Perfect! Let’s settle this properly.”
Lu Lanhua’s face stiffened. She and Lu Miaomiao had spent so much money, and got nothing in return. They were extremely resentful. They had come to Shen Meng’s doorstep, hoping to get their money back. Knowing Shen Meng was afraid of her brother finding out about her selling the job, they hoped to leverage their tears and cries to get the money back. They were hoping to get away with this.
“What settling of accounts? What are you talking about, Sister-in-law? I don’t understand. Don’t you remember what we discussed today? If you don’t want Big Brother to know about this, then quickly return my money. Otherwise, this will get messy, and neither of us will look good!”
Lu Miaomiao dared not speak. She had secretly taken half of the money for the job, and the rest had come from Liu Sanjin. She had already decided that she had no part in this. She simply wanted to buy the job with her sister. If her sister lost the job, she would let her repay the money. She just didn’t want to lose out.
“Whether or not it looks good is none of your concern! Lu Lanhua, ask around! Who has an iron-clad job that can be sold for a few hundred yuan? My brother has already told me, city jobs, even the most secure ones, cost at least two to three thousand yuan. You want to buy my job for a few hundred yuan? Do you think I’m a fool? Zhenping, quickly get on your bicycle and report this! We can’t let this dishonest Lu Lanhua go! She cheated a military family out of a job! Let her go to jail! Now!”
“Understood!”
Lu Zhenping agreed very readily. Though he didn’t know what Shen Meng was up to, he was very obedient.
“Big Brother, what ‘understood’? Don’t be afraid of her! My sister and Lanhua, and all of us in the Lu family, will support you. You’re a grown man, why are you so afraid of your wife? Where’s your former bravado? Your military officer’s spirit? You pathetic loser, why are you afraid of her? If she dares to divorce you, will you not want her? I can introduce you to a virtuous young lady in the city, wouldn’t you like that, Big Brother?”
“I only want Meng. Lanhua, you’ve always been a liar, a thief. Even after you got married, you’re still this way. If you don’t want to change, I’ll find a good place for you to learn some manners. And about what you said just now, this is your first warning. If I hear it again, I’ll beat you.”
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Lu Miaomiao was terrified. She knew her brother was afraid of his wife, and her sister was poking at his sore spot. This was asking for trouble!
“Big Brother, Sister-in-law, I don’t know anything! My sister dragged me here! I have to side with one of you, which is difficult! This has nothing to do with me! I’m leaving, I’m leaving!”
Lu Miaomiao was good at talking her way out of trouble, but when pushed, she ran faster than a dog.
Shen Meng lifted her chin, glaring at Lu Lanhua. She glanced at Lu Zhenping, who swiftly entered the courtyard. The two outside could hear the sound of the bicycle lock unlocking. Lu Lanhua immediately turned and fled back towards the Lu family home.
She moved closer to Lu Lanhua.
“I’ve given you a proper receipt, we’ve settled the transaction. You got what you wanted, and now you want to extort more money from me? Hmph! Money is my life! You want my life? No way! Lu Lanhua, you dare to play tricks on me? Just wait. The Public Security Bureau chief is a comrade of your brother’s. I’ll send him a generous gift to look after you.”
Her gaze was intimidating, and her presence powerful. Lu Lanhua was terrified and involuntarily took two steps back. Hearing Lu Zhenping’s bicycle bell ring as he approached the gate, she quickly turned and ran back to the Lu family home, disappearing from sight.
“Ugh, pathetic. Absolutely no challenge.”
Lu Zhenping peeked outside, seeing only Shen Meng. He touched her shoulder.
“Let’s go home. Didn’t get my hug just now. Let’s continue inside.”
The couple was already very familiar, so Shen Meng wasn’t embarrassed. She had wanted to spend a peaceful New Year’s Day, so after making dumplings, she carried a pile of new clothes and went to the children’s room, placing New Year’s money at the bottom of each set of clothes.
Looking at the clean courtyard and the couplets on the gate, she stretched in the yard.
“A new year, a new beginning, Shen Meng. You’ve had a good year. Keep up the good work next year!”
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