Chapter 41: Something Happened to the Eldest Sister

Chapter 41: Big Sister in Trouble

"Stealing an old lady's underpants? That's utterly shameless!"

The elderly women of Dayu Village were all on edge. They, too, liked to sew pockets into their underpants to stash their money and valuables. Who would have thought a thief specializing in underwear would emerge in the village?

The village chief summoned everyone to the threshing ground. Upon hearing the news, he was so incensed he almost laughed. "Whoever took it, return it immediately! Have you no shame? There's nothing you won't stoop to. Let me be clear: if I find out who committed such a wicked act, I'll make sure the entire village sees your face!"

After delivering his warning, he left.

Someone asked Granny Lu, "Are you sure you didn't just misremember?"

Granny Lu's eyes were swollen from crying. The two hundred yuan she had saved over the years were all in there. Now it was all gone—it was simply unbearable!

"No, I check every day," Granny Lu insisted. Those were valuable items; she inspected them at least once a day.

Aunt Lu, standing nearby, also cursed, "That damned thief—whoever did this is so wicked, they'll die a terrible death!" She had to loudly condemn the culprit to avoid being suspected by the prickly old woman.

Lu Zhaodi felt a slight discomfort.

The aunties around her asked, "Were you home all day today?"

Lu Zhaodi replied, "I went out to sell vegetable buns and just got back." She quickly distanced herself from the situation.

Lu Xiang was the first to venture out selling goods, and Lu Zhaodi had followed suit. Some wanted to ask if such goods could actually sell, but they held back out of respect for Granny Lu, who was wailing over her lost money.

Aunt Lu and Uncle Lu had gone to work in the fields, leaving Granny Lu alone in the front yard. She was furious: "Unless the money grew legs and ran away, how could it just disappear?" The whole thing was bizarre.

The crowd chuckled awkwardly but didn't join Granny Lu in cursing. Since she had been home all day, it was unlikely an outsider had taken the hidden money. People started eyeing Aunt Lu and Uncle Lu with suspicion.

Few people suspected Lu Zhaodi. She had hidden the money in her sleeve—no one would find it. She offered a few perfunctory words of comfort, then looked up to find Lu Xiang and Fu Qinhui, but they had already disappeared.

Back in the Fu family courtyard, Third Sister-in-Law Fu remarked, "Who would've thought Granny Lu had so much money? All that money just fell into a thief's hands."

"Exactly, over two hundred yuan! Who would've guessed?"

They chatted while working. Today, there were even more braised duck parts than yesterday.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu buttered up Lu Xiang, "I wonder what kind of luck our fourth brother has, to marry a girl like Xiangxiang—so pretty and such a good cook."

Lu Xiang said, "Third Sister-in-Law, you're making me blush."

Second Sister-in-Law Fu, not to be outdone by the third sister-in-law's praise, added, "Absolutely! Our Xiangxiang is much better than that Lu Zhaodi!" Mentioning Lu Zhaodi, she wondered, "She used to be plain but spirited. What happened to her lately? Now it feels like she's always scheming something."

Seeing Lu Zhaodi's eyes darting around made her inexplicably dislike the girl. At such a young age, how had she become like this? Lately, they had earned a little money thanks to Lu Xiang and were eager to curry favor with her.

Lu Xiang didn't say much. From a distance, she saw Sister Hong approaching. "Xiangxiang, you need to go home quickly. Something's happened to your eldest sister!"

Hearing this, Lu Xiang rushed out immediately.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu, quick-witted, nudged Fu Qinhui and said, "Fourth Brother, go with her and see. Family has to look out for family—we can't let her face this alone."

Fu Qinhui quickly followed.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu craned her neck to watch. She loved gossip, but there was still work to do. She asked Sister Hong, "Xiao Hong, what happened to the fourth brother's wife's family?" She remembered that Lu Xiang's eldest sister had married into another village.

Sister Hong sighed, "Don't even ask. Her eldest sister, Lu Ping, has been beaten black and blue." Although conflicts were common in these parts, such a severe beating was rare.

The sisters-in-law all cursed Lu Xiang's brother-in-law for being inhuman.

...

When Lu Xiang arrived home, she heard her mother wailing from a distance.

Lu Xiang was the youngest daughter. After she married, only her parents were left at home. Of all the daughters, only Lu Xiang remained in the village. With the family feud with the main Lu household, they had no one to turn to in times of trouble. They had no choice but to seek Lu Xiang's help.

Entering the house, Lu Xiang saw her eldest sister, Lu Ping. At thirty-two, half of Lu Ping's hair had turned white. Her face was bruised, her eyes swollen and red, barely able to open. Her body was covered with whip marks from a belt, and she had brought her five-year-old daughter, who also bore signs of abuse.

"Mom, what happened to eldest sister?" Lu Xiang gasped in shock.

Father Lu said, "It was that beast Xue Shengli who beat her." He was breathing heavily, his voice trembling. A man who had lived honestly all his life, he was so enraged by his daughter's suffering that he wanted to confront his son-in-law.

Father Lu was beside himself with anger, while Mother Lu was weeping hysterically. With no one to take charge, Lu Xiang said, "Qin Hui, bring our tricycle. We need to take eldest sister to the clinic to treat her wounds."

Only then did Mother Lu snap out of it, frantically searching for money. Lu Xiang picked up her little niece. The child was five but felt light as a feather. Lu Xiang's heart ached.

Soon, Fu Qinhui brought the tricycle, and they carried Lu Ping to the clinic.

After explaining the situation, the clinic doctor urgently began treatment. Lu Xiang and Mother Lu, as female relatives, helped remove Lu Ping's clothes. Beneath, old wounds layered over new ones. Even the experienced female doctor was appalled and cursed in anger.

The clinic doctor pried open Lu Ping's eyelids and shone a small flashlight into her eyes, but there was no reaction. "Take her to the county hospital immediately. We can't handle this here."

Hearing the doctor's urgent tone, the Lu family didn't dare delay. Fortunately, they had the tricycle. Fu Qinhui pedaled furiously, while Lu Xiang and the others ran alongside. They rushed straight to the emergency room at the county hospital.

Lu Xiang insisted that her little niece be examined as well. The child had superficial injuries but was severely malnourished.

Lu Xiang bought a bottle of glucose from the hospital and fed it to the little girl. She asked her niece, "What's your name?" Her eldest sister had married into another village and lost contact. Though she was her biological niece, this was Lu Xiang's first time meeting her.

"Xue Jianhuo," the little girl whispered softly.

Lu Xiang thought she had misheard. She asked again. After confirming what she heard, a wave of fury surged within her.