Chapter 76: Old Blind Uncle Second

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Shangqing County, Xiahe Village.

“Are you sure you saw him return alone to this house?” Lu Jin asked cautiously.

“No mistake about it. He and those others parted ways after they left,” Yuan Fang replied.

“Good. Yuan Fang, catch that chicken for me,” Lu Jin ordered.

“Huh, Young Master, but… weren’t we here to visit Second Uncle? Why catch his chicken?” Yuan Fang protested.

“You really don’t understand basic etiquette, do you? If you’re visiting Second Uncle, you can’t show up empty-handed, can you?” Lu Jin retorted, annoyed.

Yuan Fang, baffled, was full of questions.

Under Lu Jin’s urging, chaos broke out at the entrance to Second Uncle Lu’s house—chickens and dogs scattering everywhere.

“Who are you people? Why are you catching my chicken?” Just as Yuan Fang grabbed the chicken, a woman burst out from inside.

“Is your husband Lu Er?” Lu Jin asked.

“Yes, do you know him?” the woman wondered.

The original Lu Jin had been aloof and rarely left home, so she truly didn’t recognize him, let alone now that Lu Jin had changed so much.

“Lu Jin, what are you doing at my house?” Before Lu Jin could answer, another figure emerged from inside, standing at the door, trembling with fear.

Ah! Isn’t that Second Uncle?

“Second Uncle, look at what you’re saying! Aren’t you my elder? I came to see you,” Lu Jin said with delight.

“Then why are you catching my chicken?” Second Uncle Lu asked, retreating into the house.

“I came to visit, so I thought I’d bring you an old hen to help you recover your health! You wouldn’t refuse, would you?” Lu Jin smiled even wider.

Second Uncle and his wife were stunned at the sight of Yuan Fang holding a squawking rooster.

Lu Jin ignored their bewildered faces, squeezing past them straight into the house.

Once inside, he sat grandly on the couch, appearing more comfortable than at his own home.

“Second Aunt, don’t just stand there. Hurry up and dress that chicken and put it on to stew. I want to have a proper chat with Second Uncle.”

“There’s nothing for me to talk to you about. Have Lu Yuanrong come and chat with me instead,” Second Uncle said, trying to muster his courage. It seemed Lu Jin really had come to settle scores, and the companion even had a knife—how frightening.

“What are you saying, Second Uncle? Yuan Fang, take Second Aunt to deal with the chicken. If she won’t, deal with her yourself!”

“Eh?” Second Aunt was stunned. Was he serious? She glanced at Yuan Fang, who looked like a sturdy young bull.

Yuan Fang shivered under Second Aunt’s gaze, nearly dropping his knife.

“Second Uncle, does Second Aunt usually play so rough?” Lu Jin asked in surprise.

Second Uncle finally reacted, pouncing on his wife like a tiger, pinning her to the ground: “You wretch! Stealing a man right under my nose!”

He beat her while cursing, and she howled in pain, fighting back whenever she could.

For a moment, the house was as lively as a stage play. Xiao Bai and Yuan Fang had never witnessed such a spectacle, stunned and unresponsive.

They looked nervously at their young master, only to see him sitting calmly, pouring himself tea.

“Young Master, shouldn’t we… stop this?”

“Even the most impartial judge can’t resolve family disputes. Just make sure no one dies,” Lu Jin replied.

Second Uncle Lu spat blood in anger—shouldn’t you at least intervene so he could stop himself?

“Yuan Fang, teach Second Aunt some technique. This way of fighting won’t do,” Lu Jin commented as he watched.

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Yuan Fang: “…”

“Second Aunt, grab him with your left hand,” Lu Jin said, seeing Yuan Fang was hopeless and taking charge himself.

“Pull his ear!”

With these tips, Second Aunt fought like she was divinely aided, and Second Uncle was driven back step by step.

Second Uncle was at his limit—no one was helping, and Lu Jin was even coaching his wife!

Lu Jin watched as the fight ended, both sitting on the floor: the woman’s hair wild, crying loudly, the man’s face swollen and bloody.

“Enough, you’ve fought, now get up and get to work. The chicken is still waiting, you see, growing impatient!” said Lu Jin.

Second Uncle was dumbfounded—after all that, Lu Jin was still concerned about the chicken? With his servant holding it, of course, it was impatient.

Seeing both unmoved, Lu Jin sighed. Wasn’t there any proper hospitality for guests? What kind of upbringing was this!

“Second Uncle, tell me, what now? Look at how you’ve bullied Second Aunt—she’s all ruffled up,” Lu Jin said, full of righteous indignation.

“I’m beating my own woman, what’s it to you…” Second Uncle panted, furious. How could his face be scratched up like this?

“Yuan Fang, loosen Second Uncle’s bones for me!” Domestic violence and he still claimed the right?

Second Uncle: “…”

Before he could protest, Yuan Fang kicked him to the ground, leaving him curled up and howling.

Was Lu Jin being unreasonable and bullying him? No. Since experiencing the kindness from his uncle and aunt, Lu Jin had felt the warmth of family. The original parents, long gone, must have been much the same.

Second Uncle’s mistreatment of Lu Jin’s parents was a fact. Lu Jin couldn’t pretend not to know—some punishment was inevitable.

Facing the turbulent times ahead, Lu Jin needed to learn to use his strength, and adapt to the world’s cruelty. Today, it would begin with this minor Second Uncle.

“Speak now, how did you bully my parents…” Lu Jin’s expression was grave.

Curled on the floor, Second Uncle was stunned, never imagining this was the reason Lu Jin had come.

“Never bullied them, that’s all nonsense from Lu Yuanrong…”

“Yuan Fang!”

A few more kicks and Second Uncle had no strength left to cry out. He never imagined Lu Jin could be so ruthless now.

His wife, crying on the floor, saw her husband nearly beaten to death and rushed to shield him—what a calamity this visitor was!

“I’ll speak, I’ll speak, just stop hitting him,” she pleaded.

“What are you saying, Second Aunt? If he dies, you could remarry, couldn’t you?” Lu Jin said quietly.

“I’m too old to marry anyone else. Lu Er’s just a scoundrel, not capable of anything big…” the woman sobbed, explaining.

Lu Jin understood her meaning: Second Uncle wasn’t truly evil, at least not a murderer or arsonist. He’d merely taken advantage when Uncle went to war and Father was weak, bringing thugs to harass tenants, and only money would make him leave. Like a petty troublemaker at a construction site.

Such was his way—whenever he needed money, he’d hassle Lu Jin’s father, until Uncle returned.

But this made Lu Jin hate him all the more—not only for his father, but also recalling his own past life, where some people seemed born to be wicked, too cowardly for big crimes but endlessly committing small evils, preying on the honest.

Did honest people ever dig your ancestors’ graves?

In his previous life, Lu Jin endured bullying in silence. But now, he refused to tolerate it, even without the Shen family, he would stand up.

“Yuan Fang, Second Uncle still hasn’t learned his lesson. Let him taste your methods again.”

“Lu Jin, really, no, you can ask your uncle. We only took advantage—never dared anything big. The patriarch keeps us in line,” Second Uncle pleaded, crawling over and clutching Lu Jin’s leg, sobbing.

Lu Jin stood up, hands behind his back, and kicked Second Uncle again until he curled up like a shrimp. Why must he always bring trouble?

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Lu Jin wanted Yuan Fang to break Second Uncle’s arm or leg, but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Taking one of your fingers isn’t too much to teach you a lesson, is it?” Lu Jin asked coldly.

Second Uncle instinctively wanted to beg for mercy, but seeing the look in Lu Jin’s eyes, he fell silent. Truly, retribution had come!

“Will you still call yourself Second Uncle?”

“Never again! You’re my Second Uncle now,” Second Uncle whimpered. He was a coward, bullying the weak and fearing the strong—he only wanted to get rid of this calamity as quickly as possible.

“And the chicken?”

“It’s yours… I’m giving it to you,” Second Uncle stammered.

“What if you go back on your word?”

“I won’t. Truly, it’s yours, please take it.”

“Very well, I won’t refuse your generosity. If you want someone to come find me again, just know—next time, there may be casualties!”

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare…”

Lu Jin ignored him, heading straight for the door. Soon after, he heard Second Uncle’s anguished cries, pausing briefly before exhaling and striding away.

…

Returning home, Lu Jin saw his uncle, aunt, and Shen Yanxi chatting, all smiling. Lu Jin was a bit bewildered—how had the conversation gone?

“My child, where did you get that chicken?” Bai Li Rou hurried over to greet Lu Jin as he entered, spotting Yuan Fang still holding the big rooster.

“Second Uncle insisted on giving it as an apology, said Aunt should use it to restore her health.”

“You’re just making things up,” she replied, though secretly pleased. Even if it was nonsense, her son truly cared about her.

Lu Yuanrong glanced over but said nothing, urging Lu Jin to sit down.

“It’s nearly dark. Where’s Cai Wei?” Lu Jin asked.

“She’s in her room, don’t worry about her,” Bai Li Rou said, pulling Lu Jin along and instructing the servants to take away the rooster.

“Jin’er, we talked with Xi’er, and it’s settled. Living in Jianglin suits you, better than staying in Shangqing…” Lu Yuanrong said.

Lu Jin looked curiously at Shen Yanxi. He’d gone out to think and vent, but had found no solution—was it really settled?

“Uncle and Aunt are reasonable and care about us,” Shen Yanxi smiled.

“Jin’er, what are your plans now?” Lu Yuanrong asked awkwardly.

“Uncle, I don’t intend to take the imperial exams anymore…” Lu Jin confessed.

“Alright, if you don’t want to take them, then don’t,” Lu Yuanrong comforted him.

Was it really that easy? The three things Lu Jin dreaded most about returning home were: what to do about his wife, how to explain marrying into the family, and how to say he wouldn’t take the exams. And now, all resolved?

“My child, do whatever you wish. If you need anything, ask the family—don’t ever wrong yourself,” Bai Li Rou said, truly treating Lu Jin as her own son, always fussing over him. No wonder Lu Cai Wei complained about favoritism; even Lu Jin felt it.

He glanced at Shen Yanxi beside him—everything was perfect.

How lucky he was in this life; how could he waste it!