Chapter 361 – The Lu Family in These Years
It was noon, and they hadn’t gone far. They found a state-run restaurant nearby and sat down for a meal.
Once they were seated, Lu Qiu took the initiative to speak, “Second Sister, you didn’t answer earlier. Have you been doing well these years?”
Lu Xia nodded, “I’ve been alright!”
Seeing her response, Lu Qiu hesitated for a moment and continued, “I heard you got married…”
Lu Xia smiled, “Indeed, I got married. My husband and I returned to the city together.”
“I see!”
Without pressing further, Lu Qiu realized that Lu Xia didn’t want to discuss it. However, she also understood that Lu Xia’s husband wasn’t the countryside person their family had thought. She could tell by Lu Xia’s appearance that she was living well.
So, she began to voluntarily share about the Lu family’s recent years.
“Mom and Dad have been doing alright these years. Dad is still working in the warehouse. However, because he’s getting older, he slipped and fell while moving goods some time ago. Although it wasn’t serious, the factory transferred him to the warehouse as a security guard to lighten his load. He has fewer responsibilities now, but he occasionally has to do night shifts.
Last year, when Lu Dong graduated from high school, in order to avoid going to the countryside, Mom gave him her job. So, he now works at the textile factory. But since textile work is primarily done by women, he got transferred to the warehouse for loading and unloading work, which brings him closer to Dad.”
Lu Xia nodded, “What about you?”
Lu Qiu and Lu Dong were the same age, both turning 18 this year. Lu Dong took over their mother’s job, and based on what Lu Qiu was implying, their father didn’t assign her any work.
Seeing that Lu Qiu was doing well, she probably didn’t end up in the countryside, right?
Lu Qiu smiled when she heard Lu Xia’s question. “I didn’t attend high school. After finishing middle school, I entered a vocational school. This is my final semester, and I’ll be assigned a job after graduation.”
Hearing this, Lu Xia was somewhat surprised and gave her a quick glance before nodding, “That’s good.”
And why wouldn’t it be good? Just a few years ago, only those recommended by workers, farmers, or soldiers could attend university. Vocational schools were considered a significant educational achievement. Moreover, they were difficult to get into. Many people who couldn’t enter vocational schools ended up attending high school. Furthermore, after graduating from vocational school, job assignments were guaranteed – it was a fantastic opportunity!
The original host had also wanted to take this path. She could have succeeded, but due to the conflict between Lu Chun and their parents, and because the family didn’t know her grades and wasn’t particularly inclined to let her study, she ultimately didn’t attempt the exam. Instead, she accompanied Lu Chun to high school.
Never did she expect that Lu Qiu would quietly attend a vocational school. It had to be said that this sister of hers was truly extraordinary.
Lu Qiu smiled slightly in response to Lu Xia’s exaggeration. Although she didn’t say much, confidence gleamed in her eyes.
“It’s alright. Actually, I wanted to attend a nursing school, but I didn’t get in. I ended up in a teacher’s college. After graduating, I’ll probably become a teacher.”
Lu Xia nodded, “That’s good. Being a teacher is a relatively easy job.”
Then Lu Qiu continued, “As for the eldest sister, she recently gave birth to her third child. All of them are girls. Since she couldn’t have a son, she hasn’t had a good time at her husband’s family.
In the past, she had our family’s support, so she and her husband lived separately. But ever since Mom gave her job to Lu Dong, she didn’t have much money and couldn’t help the eldest sister anymore.
The eldest sister caused a scene at home, but over the years, apart from Mom, everyone else got tired of her tantrums and stopped paying her any attention. So, she had to move back in with her mother-in-law’s family.
Since the family doesn’t care about her anymore, she’s not doing well. She recently had another daughter. According to Mom, her mother-in-law had her doing chores before she had even finished her postpartum confinement.”
When she reached this point, Lu Qiu asked Lu Xia again, “By the way, Second Sister, do you have children now?”
Lu Xia nodded, “Yes, I have a child, a three-year-old!”
“Is it a boy or a girl?”
Lu Xia glanced at her, “A boy.”
Lu Qiu was surprised. Seeing how beautiful and youthful Lu Xia still looked, she hadn’t expected that she was already the mother of a three-year-old. Suddenly, she felt a bit envious. “Then you must be very happy, Second Sister.”
Lu Xia smiled. That was indeed the case, but she didn’t elaborate.
Lu Qiu didn’t press for more information.
Afterward, the two of them silently finished their meal.
*
Chapter 362 – Selfishness
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After the meal, the two of them left the restaurant.
Before parting ways, Lu Qiu glanced at Lu Xia and sighed, “Sometimes, I envy you, Second Sister.”
“Hmm?”
Lu Qiu looked at her, realizing she was struggling to remember what Lu Xia used to be like.
With a smile, she said, “When we were kids, I didn’t like you much. I thought you were too weak. I knew what kind of people Mom and Dad were when I was very young. I never expected them to like me more. I only thought about how to gain benefits, so I tried to please them.
But you weren’t like that. You just worked hard without getting anything in return. I thought you were naive back then!
Later, you changed, started to rebel, and even played a trick on Big Sister when you went to the countryside. That’s when I thought you were pretty good.
But when I heard that you got married so quickly, I was surprised. However, I didn’t believe what Big Sister said about you marrying a country bumpkin just to avoid work.
Sure enough, seeing you like this now confirms that I was right!”
Reaching this point, and noticing that Lu Xia hadn’t responded, Lu Qiu chuckled in self-derision. “Second Sister, do you also think I’m too selfish, calculating with my own family members like this?”
Lu Xia shook her head, not because she thought otherwise, but because she didn’t really care.
Lu Qiu paid no mind to what she thought and continued, “Actually, there’s nothing wrong with it. I’m just that kind of person. Just as I might have guessed that you wouldn’t marry a country guy, I also knew that you probably wouldn’t return anytime soon. So, I didn’t contact you later. I knew that you wouldn’t be of much use to me at that time.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Xia furrowed her brow. “Why are you telling me all this?”
Lu Qiu smiled, “Don’t worry, Second Sister. I’m not trying to establish a connection with you now that you’re doing well. I just realized after seeing you that you’re different from us. Most of us in the Lu family, including me, are selfish.
Like Mom – no matter how much she likes Big Sister, she still gave her job to Lu Dong. Dad may seem honest, but everything we do at home depends on his mood. And as for Big Sister and Little Brother, they’re entirely self-centered.
Maybe… you’re the only one in the family who still has some human touch. That’s why I’m feeling a bit sentimental.”
Lu Xia didn’t know what to say in response.
However, Lu Qiu didn’t mind whatever she was thinking. She laughed, “Sorry for talking too much. Maybe it’s because so much has happened recently. I’m currently the only daughter in the family who seems to have a promising future. So, Mom and Dad are looking for a suitable match for me, intending to fetch a good price. That’s why I’m feeling sentimental.”
Lu Xia nodded, not expressing any opinion on the matter. She also didn’t intend to ask or offer assistance. She didn’t want to get involved in the Lu family’s affairs anymore. Just as stated in Mother Lu’s letter, she had severed the ties, treating them as strangers from now on.
Today was just a matter of repaying a favor, which led to her talking to Lu Qiu for so long. But she wouldn’t do this again in the future.
Seeing Lu Xia’s expression, Lu Qiu could guess her thoughts.
She sighed inwardly, but smiled on the surface. “I’ve talked too much. I won’t disturb you anymore. Goodbye!”
Lu Xia nodded in acknowledgment and rode away on her bicycle.
Watching Lu Xia’s departing figure, Lu Qiu sighed. Maybe they had all misunderstood. This Second Sister was likely the most promising one in the family.
Thinking about how Mom, Dad, and Big Sister usually criticized Lu Xia, Lu Qiu chuckled sardonically. She really wished she could see their expressions when they found out the truth.
I hope that Lu Qiu and Lu Xia do rekindle a relationship. I like this sister. She’s realistic and has self awareness. She knows she’s selfish, but she also knows her limits.
I think she and Lu Xia would get along a lot more now than the original Lu Xia
Ugh. I really like this little sister. MC was definitely too disappointed in this family… it’s unfortunate she never gave this sis a chance.
I get you mc but like cmon haha she’s also in a pretty horrible situation but unlike the original owner of your body she actually has a brain and sadly she saw that her best option was to become this calculating girl that only sees relationships as something she can gain or lose from, just transactions …. which isn’t that far off most of the time tbh, but it shouldn’t be like that for family at least.
I was hoping you’d help her but welp, it is what it is.
Also again I want to point out the always present irony on these type of novels where even if the Female leads are always advocating that females are just as good and all this girl power bs at the end of the day their first child is always a boy, every damn time, and that always fuckkng irks me hahah.
Yeah there’s not 1 example I can think of were the first child is a girl and I’ve read a lot of these shitty dogblood Chinese dramas, and not even just the going back to the 60’s or ancient China ones, most of the modern time ones also always have a male kid … and there’s nothing wrong with that but like it’s the giant level of irony that even these authors always give them a male kid first and then after that our amazing female leads turn into brood mares and pump out another 2-3 girls that will be protected by their brother.
Yes! It irks me to no end as well! Shows that the bias towards boys is still going strong culturally.
“My Evil Imperial Wife is Too Arrogant”
They have a daughter as their eldest child. There’s also many CNs in which the MC have dragon-phoenix twins as her firstborn. There’s also CNs I’ve read in which the MC’s eldest daughter inherited her and he ML’s position/wealth while her brother(s) has (have) to fend outside. There’s even one or two modern setting CNs I’ve read in which her firstborn child is a daughter. It’s just that it’s been long time ago and I forget the tittle.
If you only have read CNs in which the MC has a boy for her first born, maybe your reading list need more variety. Also, whenever the MC give birth to boy, you wouldn’t see the expected joy of a family who prefer son over daughter . In some case, you could even see disdain/disappointment toward the son in some CNs just because he’s born as male, especially from the ML. In some other CNs, the reaction would be so flat you can feel their indifference toward the boy. You can see how very pleased they’re whenever the MC have daughter(s) that they’re evidently prefer daughter over son. The best acceptance the MC’s son could receive from his parents, is if his parents genuinely treat him as well as they treat his sister.
Boo. I’m sad that there probably won’t be any relationship between these two. I really like Lu Qiu, and her honesty about her own nature here is really refreshing.
Lu Xia nodded, “That’s good. Being a teacher is a relatively easy job.”
As someone studying to become a teacher, there’s no way in hell that teaching is a relatively easy job. 🙂
Being a selfish person isn’t bad. It’s actually human nature to preserve itself or it’s community of interest for survival. The fact that the third sister was self aware was an indication that she wasn’t a bad person in it’s core nor she was malicious. As they said those people who question themselves for being bad are the people who have moral bottom line and conscience.