Chapter 678: Chapter 677 Unable to Decide
Old Lady Zhou didnât really want to sever ties with the Lu Family; after all, there were still several youngsters, and they were all of marriageable age. If she were to break with Madam Lu now, what would become of the children of the big house?
Thatâs why, seeing how Lu Da was speaking in such a soft tone, her expression somewhat relaxed.
"I said it before, I didnât want them to go bother that family, but they wouldnât listen, and now they have caused a huge disaster. What can I do? They have to swallow this lesson, even if they donât want to. They should understand what it means to âignore the warnings of the elders and suffer right before their eyes,â" said Old Lady Zhou.
"What kind of lesson is this? They have suffered enough, being locked up for a full ten days. Mother-in-law, do you really want to watch them die?" Old Lady Lu spoke up, saying, "Even if you donât care for Zhen Zhu, Xueli is your own flesh and blood. Could you really bear the pain of a parent burying their child?"
Old Lady Zhouâs heart skipped a beat, and her wrinkled lips pursed.
It took her a long while to say, "Itâs just ten days or half a month of being locked up; how could they lose their lives? Theyâre strong."
Although thatâs what she said, her heart didnât have much confidence especially in this harsh winter after the New Year, when the north wind was still bitterly cold.
"Itâs easy for you to talk without experiencing it yourself. You havenât seen them; theyâre hardly recognizable as people," Old Lady Lu was truly sad, wiping away her tears as she sobbed.
Lu Da coughed and said, "Mother-in-law, theyâre not really about to die, but dragging this out isnât a solution either. This weather isnât like the summer; that place is chilly and damp. If we keep them locked up like this, their health will definitely deteriorate, and what will they do then?"
Before she could speak, he continued, "Besides, Xueli had always worked with a pen, never having suffered much hardship. Now... can he really withstand it? Now that he has lost his official position, he will have to learn to handle the work and land of the family. If his health is ruined, what can he achieve? Wonât it just make the children suffer? You might not worry about the eldest, but what about the young ones? Yongyong is only six years old; can you bear it?"
It must be said, Lu Daâs words hit Old Lady Zhou right where it hurt; her lips tightened and tears glistened in her eyes.
"How can I not feel reluctant? But what can I do? This is fate. How can I decide their fate?" Old Lady Zhou dabbed the corner of her eye, choking up, "Ever since they dismissed my advice and stepped into that household, their fate was no longer in their hands but in the hands of others!"
Listening to this, Lu Da felt his heart pounding uncontrollably.
"You should plead for them." Old Lady Lu burst out, "You are Zhou Yingmeiâs own mother, that girlâs grandmother. If you plead for them, canât it be done?"
"How easy do you think pleading is? If they were going to respect this old face of mine, would they have locked those two in the cells?" Old Lady Zhou scoffed.
Old Lady Lu choked and, after a pause, said, "If they really wonât listen, then accuse them of being unfilial."
"Where do I go to accuse? Do they even care about that bit of reputation anymore?"
This wonât do, that wonât do; Old Lady Lu grew agitated and raised her voice, "So, youâve decided to do nothing and let them fend for themselves?"
Old Lady Zhou remained silent.
Zhou Xueli then spoke up, "When my older brother got into trouble, Wufu sent someone to say that the Lord County Magistrate would make the final decision, and they wouldnât lose their lives. We should wait patiently."