Chapter 203: Why be generous to others, only to suffer oneself?

In a remote border town, on the most arid Gobi beach, inside a crude earthen house, a figure bent at the waist, head covered in dust and face grimy, turned his head; his lips were cracked and bloody.

"Lu special envoy, do you still have water at your place? My grandson has had a fever for two days, he's lost consciousness, I've begged many households, but there's no water left."

Outside the door, a sharp-eyed old woman wearing a headscarf held a water jug, her face full of pleading as she came to ask for water.

But her eyes darted around, trying to spot something, so she could leave with it as well.

"Auntie, I have no water either; yesterday you already took my weekly water ration, so why are you coming again today?"

Lu Mingyuan's voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows, horribly unpleasant.

His body, from lack of water, felt heavy-headed and light-footed, his consciousness a bit fuzzy.

He knew the Gobi beach of the remote border town was extremely barren, but he never imagined that not only material resources were scarce, but also people's minds.

From the day he arrived here, that old woman had set her sights on him.

First she showed concern about his background, and upon learning he had no wife, she kept trying to push her widowed daughter-in-law into his house.

After he sternly refused her, she began to come occasionally crying poverty, gradually taking his personal supplies.

At first he could bear it; they were just external possessions.

But gradually, the old woman began to push further.

Almost every day she came, and nearly all the luggage and supplies he had brought were taken away by her under various pretexts.

Now her designs have turned to his food and water supply!

During this time he also reflected on his own lack of principles; he shouldn't have been so unprincipled and temperless, giving whatever others wanted.

Originally she was a poor, struggling household, but now his home is empty—he is the truly needy one!

Exactly, why has it come to this?

Why did he used to feel pity for that old woman?

Why be generous to others, only to suffer oneself?

He had been thirsty for two days before he finally understood the principle—

The old woman's hardship is not his fault!

Why should he sacrifice everything for others' suffering?

Thinking this, he couldn't help but recall the past, when he and his wife were loving and harmonious, a celebrated couple in the staff quarters, a model marriage!

His wife bore him a son, and her radiance remained.

Back then, what he heard most were colleagues' envy, praise from others in the staff quarters, and admiration from passersby.

His wife, in every respect, was flawless!

What did he do?

Not long after his wife gave birth to their daughter, he took in a comrade's orphan.

Obviously, he had many ways to care for his comrade's orphan, yet he chose the worst possible method.

This directly caused their marital relationship to break apart; his wife insisted on divorcing, taking their daughter with her, and for fifteen years there was no word—until he heard news of his wife, only to learn from her daughter herself that she had already passed away!

What did his second marriage to a comrade's widow bring him?

Ill repute, and she gave him a green hat.

Ha ha ha, abandoned by all.

Suddenly he had an epiphany, understanding why his father had stopped scolding him; he packed up and went straight to the Sea Island to join his children.

His father thought he was beyond help and didn't want to waste any more breath on him.

As for his children, needless to say, they didn't even invite him to their wedding, such a major event; to this day he still doesn't know who his daughter-in-law or son-in-law is!

Everything is the fruit of his own sowing; he can hardly blame his blood relatives for it.

If he is destined to rot in the mud, then let him stay away from the children, so as not to bring them trouble.

"Lu special envoy, you came from the Capital to help us peasants escape poverty; my family is destitute, we have nothing, I can only turn to you—you can't ignore us!"

The old woman argued unreasonably, but it didn't matter; all she wanted was benefits, and as long as she got them, she would give up anything.

"I, I,"

Lu Mingyuan choked on his anger, his vision went dark, and he suddenly collapsed face-first.

"Ah, don't pass out—first tell me where you've hidden your supplies, hey, hey—"

The old woman kicked him in the back; no reaction, she kicked again, still no reaction.

She pursed her lips; this person is truly as weak as a kitten, not even as good as the previous one.

Anyway, he's just fainted, not dead yet; she'll ignore him for now and first rummage through the house for hidden things.....

In the end, the old woman found nothing, and she left with a sullen face.

Until night, Lu Mingyuan woke from the cold, and only then did he fortunately manage to save his life.

After this incident, no matter how the old woman acted pitiful when she came to him, he hardened his heart.

Gain wisdom from loss.

Having stumbled so many times over women, he resolved for the rest of his life never to remarry a woman!

Food Factory Jiashuyuan—

Late at night, when all was quiet, a household in the shanty area still had its lights on.

The old woman's harsh scolding filled the ears, and the noisy nearby households all sighed and complained.

Someone with a foul temper, already brandishing a kitchen knife, came to the Zhou family demanding an explanation; the Zhou father and son were too timid, hiding indoors and refusing to go out.

Moreover, they ordered the sole pregnant woman, Zhang Xuemei, to go out and send the neighbors away.

Although Zhang Xuemei was afraid, to achieve their goal she went out with her belly protruding, smiling apologetically—

"Sorry, Big Brother Li, my mother-in-law has been addled since her food poisoning, always like this, and we are also very sorry.

"Please, be magnanimous and don't quarrel with her over trifles."

The man's anger eased a little when he saw Zhang Xuemei holding her big belly.

He raised and lowered the kitchen knife in his hand; even if he were more foolish, he also couldn't use the knife on a pregnant woman and child—what would that make him?

He was unreasonable with his words, muttering a few complaints.

"I say, the Zhou Family is really timid—two grown men won't come out, leaving you, a pregnant woman, to apologize; how bizarre!"

"Tonight, out of consideration for the pregnant woman, I'll let it go—but if I still hear that old lady's noisy scolding tomorrow night, nobody will be able to save face."

"Yes, yes, Brother Li, don't worry—I guarantee there'll be no noise tomorrow night; if there is, you won't have to say a word—I'll stake my life on it."

Zhang Xuemei nodded repeatedly, coaxed the person and sent them away.

Other neighbors also had complaints; hearing this exchange, they all went home to continue lying down and sleeping.

After all, tomorrow is Monday, and they have to go to work.

If one goes to work lacking energy, carelessly putting one's hand into the machine and not pulling it out, the hand will become disabled.

Some people who nap on the job will have their wages deducted.

So, because of the resentment, if the Zhou Family doesn't settle that old lady's matter, the neighbors will have no way to cope.

After Zhang Xuemei closed the door with her good temper, the Zhou Family father and son finally spoke up, but only muttered complaints, saying those neighbors meddle too much.

"Alright, tonight's hurdle is cleared; what about tomorrow night?"

When Zhang Xuemei said this, the Zhou Family father and son looked at each other, speechless.