Chapter 65: Can one repay a debt of gratitude by ending up in bed?

When Lu Xiu Bai arrived at the guesthouse in high spirits, his grandfather and younger sister had already finished dinner.

"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle."

The scene turned slightly quiet; only his stomach was making a protest.

"Grandfather, you didn't bring me along for dinner?"

After saying this, he glared at Jiang Ye with an accusatory gaze without hesitation.

"Why would I wait for you? This food was brought by your brother-in-law. It's perfectly fine for him and Manman to show filial piety to me. When was there ever a rule that I had to bring you along?"

Old Master Lu had sharp eyes; his grandson-in-law loved his granddaughter, and thus showed him filial piety. He wouldn't be bossy toward his grandson-in-law just for the sake of a dim-witted grandson who lacked a screw or two.

"Brother, you have your own ration. Why don't you just go to the canteen to eat? Why are you glaring at my Brother Jiang Ye?"

Shen Man subconsciously protected her husband. This matter was originally her brother's fault; if she were to "abet the evildoer," it would be unfair to Brother Jiang Ye.

If she made him lose face in front of her family now, how would he "hold his head high" in the future?

Seeing that his grandfather was already looking for his cane, Lu Xiu Bai instantly cowered, lowered his head to admit his mistake, and promised:

"I—I won't glare at your Jiang Ye next time."

But in his heart, he thought, *Hmph, Jiang Ye, the grudge of stealing my sister! *

*You just wait for me. Don't think about sleeping tonight; you're coming with me to dig holes! *

Jiang Ye lowered his eyes, concealing the joy in his heart.

In both his past and present lives, he had protected countless people, yet very few were able to defend him so unreservedly.

If love is a seed, it sprouted in their hearts the moment they met.

Then, at this moment, the seedling in his heart was sprouting rapidly under the irrigation of love, forming flower buds, flowers blooming on the path...

"Grandfather, Sister, I've explained the misunderstanding with Yan Ting, and now we've decided to be together!

I went to the Political Commissar's office this afternoon to submit my marriage application, and I've also reserved the small courtyard next to Sister's. We'll be neighbors from now on~"

Lu Xiu Bai announced the good news, waiting expectantly for praise from his family.

Old Master Lu tapped his cane and said earnestly:

"That's more like it. Consider it making up for your past mistakes; at least you didn't lose our Lu family's granddaughter-in-law."

"Exactly, exactly. Brother, don't provoke Sister Yan Ting again in the future—oh no, don't make your sister-in-law angry."

Shen Man chimed in, joining her grandfather in criticizing her brother, reminding him to restrain his temper in the future and not say things that would make his sister-in-law angry or annoyed.

Only when he saw his grandson looking dizzy and sallow from hunger did Old Master Lu end his "criticism and education."

"Alright, it's getting late. Manman and I need to rest. You and Jiang Ye go back to the dormitory first. You don't need to come over if there's nothing to do; it saves me the annoyance of looking at you."

They were definitely grandfather and grandson; this tone of disdain felt as familiar and intimate to Lu Xiu Bai as always.

Because, from childhood to adulthood, his grandfather had always spoken the most disdainful words to him, while behind his back, he was shielding him, sheltering him from the wind and rain, and blocking the underhanded tricks of his stepmother...

"I know, Grandfather."

Lu Xiu Bai waved goodbye reluctantly. Only after getting on his brother-in-law's bicycle did he giggle out loud:

"Hehe."

Grandfather is here; I'm never going back to that house again!

"Brother-in-law, take me to the canteen. I'm hungry."

Look at that, how capable he was—he could openly order his superior around.

"Mm."

Jiang Ye did not refuse; he readily carried the other man and pedaled away.

"Brother, tell me about the situation at home. I want to understand a bit more so I can react if I ever meet Mr. Lu and his wife."

Come to think of it, he had only heard a few scraps from his wife about how the arranged marriage had been snatched away by the Lu family's stepdaughter; his wife hadn't said much else about the Lu family's situation, only a few words here and there.

"That's a long story. It has to start from a battle my father participated in fifteen years ago..."

Although family scandals shouldn't be spread, Jiang Ye was no longer an outsider; he was his brother-in-law.

Telling Jiang Ye about the situation at home was also a precaution.

The more Jiang Ye listened, the more his brows furrowed, enough to crush a fly!

Can one repay a debt of gratitude by ending up in bed?

He wasn't even afraid of his fallen comrades climbing out of their graves to point at Mr. Lu's nose and curse him!

From the very beginning, Mr. Lu was wrong.

There were many ways to repay a debt of gratitude, yet he chose the most foolish one: taking in the widow and daughter of a comrade to live in his own home!

If Mr. Lu had been single, that would have been understandable.

But he was a married man; he didn't uphold his marital duties!

No wonder his mother-in-law had resolutely divorced him and taken his wife away.

Not to mention that this era was ashamed of extramarital affairs.

Even in the dynasty where he lived in his past life, if a wife had not committed one of the seven grounds for divorce, and a husband bypassed his legal wife to engage in concubinage or keep a mistress, it would still be condemned!

He truly despised Mr. Lu's behavior; he was unworthy of being a husband and unworthy of being a father!

"My father is blind and foolish. He divorced my mother for a woman who was inferior to her in every way. His brain is full of crap."

When Lu Xiu Bai mentioned his biological father, it was full of sarcasm—a perfect example of "father is not kind, son is not filial."

From a very young age, he understood one truth: if a father is not kind, the son is not filial; it is only natural!

"That woman acted very well in front of people. She even wanted to ruin me and kill me with kindness, but I didn't fall for her tricks.

And that daughter of hers, Lu Manman, is the same as her mother—best at acting weak and pitiful..."

Mentioning this stepsister made him feel disgusted.

"Do you know why I ran away from home and joined the army as soon as I came of age?"

"Tell me."

Jiang Ye slowed down, a hint of killing intent hidden in his eyes, which he suppressed.

Killing with kindness was often a bloodless means of ruining a child.

Such filthy methods were common in the inner chambers of his past life.

That stepwife was indeed highly skilled!

"I overheard the private conversation between that mother and daughter. The old one was instigating the young one, saying that in two years, when the young one came of age, she would sleep with me.

Afterward, she would say I pushed her down, and that way, my father would become the target of public criticism!

If I didn't marry the young one, the old one would spread the story, making the Lu family lose all face and ruining my reputation!"

Lu Xiu Bai sneered. This was the scheme of the stepmother and daughter; their wishful thinking was truly something!

If he had stayed in the Capital, stayed in the Lu family, his chastity might not have been preserved!

Tell his father?

His father had long since become Lu Manman's father!

If he spoke up, he might be bitten back, accused of having delusions, and accused of slandering his stepmother and her daughter!

Tell his grandfather?

His grandfather had some heart and lung problems at that time and had to go to the cadre sanatorium every few days for instrument-assisted treatment; he couldn't be agitated.

He acted first and reported later, signed up for the army, left a letter for his grandfather, and left directly.

Over these years, he only sent telegrams to his grandfather to ask about his health, never mentioning this matter, just for fear that once the old man knew, he would be angered into a cerebral hemorrhage and pass away...

"You did very well, protecting yourself and not letting your grandfather worry."

Jiang Ye offered a rare word of praise; he simply felt that his brother-in-law had a bitter life and was a little bitter melon.

Lu Xiu Bai proudly lifted his chin; that was true, he was a very traditional man.

A man's chastity is also very important!

He wouldn't let that stepsister take advantage of him; if he were to give it, it would be to his future wife...