Chapter 161: Between Us, You’re the Dog, Right?

Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Between Us, You’re the Dog, Right?

An Hui was livid over Fan Wenfang’s comment about him "not being her own flesh and blood."

Her marriage to Lu Deyao had been arranged by the organization.

At the time, Lu Deyao had just been promoted to deputy regimental commander. He was young, promising, and had a distinguished military record. The only downside was that he had a five-year-old adopted son.

She was a young, unmarried woman in the prime of her life, and the idea of becoming a stepmother the moment she walked through the door did not sit well with her.

Later, she learned that the eldest son’s biological father was her husband’s old squad leader, who had died saving her husband’s life. The rest of his family had been wiped out by the foreign invaders, leaving him as the sole survivor.

Taking pity on the boy’s tragic background, she let go of her reservations and raised him as her own son.

"When the eldest was seven, he got chickenpox, and I didn’t dare shut my eyes for three days and three nights. When he was eight, he broke his leg, and I carried him on my back over two mountains, walking all night to get to the county health center."

"When she gave birth to Tingting, she hemorrhaged badly. I cared for mother and daughter around the clock, so exhausted I felt like my hair was turning white."

"All these years, I may not have poured out my very heart and soul for their family, but I certainly haven’t treated them any worse than the second or third sons. And she dares say something like that to stab me in the heart!"

His heart aching for her, Lu Deyao handed her a towel. "Don’t be angry now, okay? You’ll make yourself sick."

An Hui took the towel and smacked him with it several times. "And isn’t this all your fault? Just looking at you makes me mad!"

"Okay, okay, it’s all my fault. I’ll call the eldest right now and give him a piece of my mind. We’ll see about this woman he married!"

"What good will scolding him do? Not a single one of them gives me any peace!"

"You’re right. All three of those damn kids deserve a scolding. I’ll go make the call right now."

Fan Wenfang, for her part, felt deeply wronged.

She had nearly died giving birth to her daughter, and she had raised her through countless hardships.

’If something really happened to her, how could she go on living?’

She called her husband, hoping he would send someone to Menghai to bring their daughter back.

Unexpectedly, not only did her husband not support her, but he also berated her for being heartless.

’All she wanted was for her daughter to come home sooner. What had she done wrong?’

...

Jiang Moli slept restlessly, feeling as if a pair of eyes were watching her from the darkness.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Lu Cheng sitting by the bed, staring at her intently.

She was dazed for a couple of seconds before glancing out the window. "What time is it?"

Lu Cheng glanced at his watch. "Almost five."

Jiang Moli stretched and met his gaze with an amused smile. "Even if we’re eating at someone else’s house, you didn’t have to come back this early, did you?"

Lu Cheng said, "Dad called. He said Mom was upset by our sister-in-law."

Jiang Moli was instantly wide awake. She sat up in bed. "Tell me everything."

"Our sister-in-law thinks we’re the ones stopping Tingting from going back, so Mom said a few things to her..."

After hearing the whole story of the argument between her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jiang Moli had had enough.

’Lu Tingting was refusing to go back because she was hopelessly infatuated, so why should she be the one to take the blame?’

She got out of bed, went next door, and woke Lu Tingting up.

"Get dressed. You’re coming with me to make a phone call."

Lu Tingting wasn’t fully awake yet, her face a mask of utter confusion. "What phone call?"

"To explain clearly to your mother exactly why you’re not going back."

"I’m not going!"

Jiang Moli grabbed her by the collar and hauled her up. "It’s not up to you. Let’s go!"

Lu Tingting struggled desperately, thrashing about like a hog that refused to be wrangled.

Jiang Moli wasn’t about to coddle her. She pinned the girl on the bed and gave her several hard smacks on the rear.

Lu Tingting shrieked, "Aah! Jiang Moli, you damn woman! How dare you hit me? Third Uncle, help me!"

Outside the door, Lu Cheng turned and went back to his own room.

’When a wife was disciplining a child, the men didn’t interfere.’

’That was a tradition in the Lu Family.’

After dealing with Lu Tingting, Jiang Moli returned to her room, where Jiaojiao greeted her with a wagging tail.

Lu Cheng handed her a wrung-out towel. "Feeling better? If not, you can take it out on Jiaojiao."

The puppy raised its little head in disbelief. ???

"WOOF WOOF!"

’Between the two of us, you’re the real dog, aren’t you?’

When Lu Cheng asked why Lu Tingting wouldn’t go home, Jiang Moli told him to ask Lu Tingting himself.

Lu Cheng went next door.

When she saw him, Lu Tingting’s expression was aggrieved and resentful. "Third Uncle, you just watched her beat me like this and didn’t do anything!"

"Your third aunt only disciplines you for your own good. You don’t see her disciplining anyone else."

With that, he asked why she wouldn’t go back home.

Naturally, Lu Tingting refused to say.

Lu Cheng looked at her. "Because you won’t go home, your mother and Grandma got into a fight. Grandma is so angry she’s made herself sick."

Hearing this, Lu Tingting quickly asked, "Is Grandma okay?"

Seeing that she still knew how to worry about her elders, Lu Cheng’s tone softened slightly. "Pack your bags. I’ll take you to Kun City tonight to catch your ride. Go home early, so everyone can stop worrying about you."

"I don’t want to go back yet!"

"Why not?"

She knew that if she didn’t give a clear reason today, she would definitely be sent away by force.

Lu Tingting mumbled something unintelligible.

"What was that? Speak up! Have you not eaten today?"

All of Lu Cheng’s patience for women was reserved exclusively for Jiang Moli.

"I like Teacher Shen!"

Lu Cheng returned to their room, closed the door, and walked over to Jiang Moli, who was combing her hair. "Why didn’t you tell me earlier that Tingting has a crush on Teacher Shen?"

Jiang Moli shot him a look. "It was so obvious. You couldn’t see it, and now you’re blaming me?"

"I’m not blaming you. I’m just a little surprised. I always thought of Tingting as a little girl. In the blink of an eye, she’s all grown up and ready to leave the nest."

Jiang Moli gave him a wry smile. "I think you’re forgetting that I’m only a year older than Tingting. You didn’t exactly hold back when you made your move on me, did you?"

Lu Cheng was left speechless.

It was a fact that he was several years older than his wife. He said, "That’s your fault. You’re just too beautiful. You enchanted me so completely that I lost my senses. I couldn’t think about anything else except marrying you before someone else snatched you away."

Jiang Moli glared at him.

But in Lu Cheng’s eyes, even her glare was captivating and lovely. The more he looked at her, the more he adored her.

"I think we should just send Tingting back early to keep our sister-in-law from fighting with Mom."

Jiang Moli replied, "Leave it to me. Don’t worry about it."

Lu Cheng looked at her. "What are you planning to do?"

"I have my ways. Can I use the phone tonight?"

"Yes."

Once they were ready, they headed out to Feng Meihua’s house for dinner.

Passing by Lu Tingting’s room, Jiang Moli raised a hand and knocked.

Lu Tingting opened the door. When she saw who it was, her face soured like she was looking at a pile of dog crap.

Her tone was aggressive. "What do you want?"

"Come on, I’m taking you out to eat."

"Don’t think I’ll forgive you just because you’re offering a carrot after using the stick..."

"Fine, don’t go."

Jiang Moli turned to leave.

Lu Tingting yelled angrily at her back, "Hey! I wasn’t finished talking! Have you no manners?"

"I have a straw hat and a wool cap, but I’m afraid I’m fresh out of top hats. Want to borrow one of those instead?"

On the small hill across from the guesthouse, Jiang Qing was digging for wild vegetables with a basket on her back, but her eyes were fixed on the guesthouse.

When she saw Jiang Moli, Lu Tingting, and Lu Cheng emerge from the guesthouse together and head toward the family residential area, the anxiety that had been plaguing her all afternoon finally subsided.

At this hour, the post office would be about to close. Even if Lu Tingting went to town now, she wouldn’t make it in time.

’She had basically gotten away with secretly sending that telegram.’