Lu Gu knew nothing of this. Lu Daxiang cared too much about face to speak of Ye Yuzhen’s past to anyone.
Running into Xu Yanrong three days ago had dredged up these old memories, and after being turned away by the Li family, Lu Daxiang returned home in a foul mood.
Having been married to Du Hehua for years, she had long pried the truth about Ye Yuzhen out of him and knew why he was upset. But she had bigger plans, since Lu Wen was unreliable for now, why not turn to Lu Gu? She coaxed Lu Daxiang, saying that after raising Lu Gu for so many years, now that the Shen family was prosperous, it was time for him to show some filial piety. Otherwise, he’d be an ungrateful wretch deserving of divine punishment.
Ever since cozying up to the Li family, Lu Wen occasionally sent servants to Anjia Village with gifts for Du Hehua, sometimes even Lu Daxiang. Gradually, they had more money to spend, living more comfortably than before, even becoming picky about food and drink.
Naturally, they spent recklessly. In previous years, the grain from their fields would last the winter, but now they craved rice at every meal, looking down on porridge. Thinking Lu Wen would provide, they indulged without care until the first snowfall left them nearly out of food.
They had even dressed up to visit the Li family, only to be dismissed at the door.
With supplies running low, Lu Daxiang was swayed by Du Hehua’s words. Today, the two conspired and headed straight for Qingxi Village.
Since Du Hehua had once beaten Lu Gu, she hid behind a tree to avoid provoking him, just in case Lu Gu softened and gave Lu Daxiang something.
Shen Xuanqing and Shen Yaoqing were stunned, who knew there was such a backstory?
Only now did Shen Xuanqing understand why, whenever Du Hehua called Lu Gu a "bastard," Lu Daxiang never argued. That word was an insult not just to Lu Gu but to Lu Daxiang himself, who would be laughed at behind his back.
Lu Daxiang’s silence showed he had been convinced by Du Hehua’s whispers, convinced Lu Gu really was a bastard. Before, Shen Xuanqing had thought Du Hehua was just hurling random abuse, never imagining there was such a history.
But he didn’t believe it. Lu Gu was gentle and kind-hearted, without a trace of malice. If Ye Yuzhen had raised him to be so well-behaved, she surely wouldn’t have done anything disgraceful.
Seeing Lu Daxiang’s dark expression, still fuming over Ye Yuzhen, and Du Hehua’s venomous sneer, Shen Xuanqing remembered how Lu Gu had been reduced to tears and called a "bastard" - a vicious insult. He also recalled how Du Hehua had once driven Lu Gu to attempt suicide by jumping into the river and struck him on the temple so hard he passed out, taking a long time to recover.
Old and new grievances piled up. If he hadn’t seen these two today, it might have been fine, but since they had delivered themselves to his doorstep, Shen Xuanqing didn’t hesitate. Another heavy punch landed squarely on Lu Daxiang’s face, knocking out another tooth.
"You’re blind and stupid, doting on a real bastard as your own son while letting your flesh and blood be abused and nearly killed. Guzi didn’t hold your past against you and just told you to leave, that’s his kindness." Shen Xuanqing tightened his grip on the door bolt and sneered. "I’m not him. If you hadn’t come, we’d have kept our distance as agreed. But since you’re here, are thieves supposed to steal and walk away unscathed?"
Earlier, he had let the dogs bite because he couldn’t hit a woman, but this vile shrew had slandered Lu Gu as a bastard so thoroughly that even Lu Daxiang believed it. Who knew how much suffering Lu Gu had endured under her hands?
Inside the main room, Lu Gu held a dog’s head in his arms, wiping Guaizi’s face and eyes with a handkerchief.
Shen Xuanqing had told him to stay inside, and though anxious, there was nothing he could do. Seeing blood on Guaizi’s mouth - different from the blood of prey, he felt a twinge of fear and took out a handkerchief to clean the teeth and muzzles of the dogs that had bitten someone.
Dahei had the worst temper, so he didn’t dare touch his fangs. Guaizi and Dahui, however, were docile in his hands, staying still as he wiped their teeth and even opening their mouths wider when asked.
Since the handkerchief was already dirty and there were plenty more in the house, he rinsed it in water and decided to clean Guaizi’s face properly, as the fur was a little soiled.
Earlier, when Shen Xuanqing set the dogs on them, Lu Gu had seen the wounds on Lu Daxiang and Du Hehua’s legs. The two, living comfortably now, wore padded clothes, and the torn cotton showed little blood - likely not serious injuries. Only Guaizi and Dahei, who had bitten harder, had more blood on their muzzles and teeth.
He had called the dogs back, partly out of fear and partly to prevent Shen Xuanqing from getting into legal trouble if things went too far.
Lu Gu’s mind wandered. Earlier, he had heard Shen Xuanqing walk behind the wall, was he saying something or preparing to hit them? For a moment, he considered standing by the wall to listen, but Shen Xuanqing had told him to stay inside, so he dismissed the thought.
After cleaning Guaizi, he noticed Xiaohuang tugging at his pant leg playfully. He scooped the pup onto his lap to wipe his face, but before Guaizi could whine in jealousy, two agonized howls came from outside, startling him and turning him pale. He set the pup down and hurried out
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