Chapter 21: Chapter 21: This dead girl, full of cunning! Chapter 21: Chapter 21: This dead girl, full of cunning! Lu Youzhen nodded emphatically, “Originally, the grandparents didn’t agree with Lu Youxi attending university. They wanted her to marry directly.”
Lu Zhenjia nodded; he was all too familiar with the thinking of the Lu Family’s elders.
They believed that since Lu Youxi was a girl, education was a waste, and it would be better for her to marry and bring in so dowry.
In the future, Lu Youxi’s dowry could be used for Lu Youbang to marry a bride.
As for Lu Youxue, he was still young. They could consider the money for his marriage after Lu Youxue had grown up.
“But after Lu Youxi argued with the grandparents, she challenged and convinced them. They agreed that if she could get into Jing University, then she could pursue higher education,” Lu Youzhen recounted what he had seen at the Lu Family ho, “and at that ti, Aunt Liu and Aunt Lin from uncle’s family were also present. Lu Youxi even had them witness the agreent, preventing the grandparents from reneging.”
“I can’t believe Lu Youxi actually got into Jing University. When she brought the acceptance letter ho, the grandparents didn’t say a word.” Lu Youzhen anxiously asked Lu Zhenjia, “Dad, the grandparents won’t really just let Lu Youxi go to Jing University, will they?”
“Even if your grandparents agreed, I won’t let her succeed!” Lu Zhenjia said grimly, grinding his teeth.
“But, that’s Jing University,” Ge Guifen reminded worriedly. “Can mom and dad really oppose her to the end?”
“Just because it’s Jing University, we can’t let Lu Youxi go there,” Lu Zhenjia said darkly, “Once Lu Youxi attends Jing University, Youbang will no longer be the only high achiever from our family or even our village in Jing University. How can we then expect uncle’s family to keep funding Youbang?”
“It’s not just about Youbang’s educational expenses, but also his future job, and marrying a bride—those too would require uncle’s financial support,” Lu Zhenjia added, “As long as Youbang is the most successful child in our family, uncle will have to keep paying for him! But if Lu Youxi also studies at Jing University, it won’t be possible to deny her education. Then with all the family’s money spent on Lu Youxi’s education, what will be left for Youbang?”
“Dad’s right!” Lu Youzhen nodded vigorously, “When I was there, I even heard uncle and aunt say they’d break the pot to sell iron to fund Lu Youxi’s education. Moreover, uncle said, as long as Lu Youxi continues her studies, he will continue funding her. I estimate if Lu Youxi could make it to a PhD, uncle would support her through that as well.”
“How can that work?” Ge Guifen panicked upon hearing this, “Then wouldn’t Lu Youxi beco a bottomless pit? What about our Youbang then?”
“Exactly!” Lu Zhenjia looked up fiercely, his eyes fixated on the door, “And if Lu Youxi goes to university and doesn’t marry, there’ll be no dowry. Without her dowry, what will we use for Youbang’s bride?”
“You’re right!” Ge Guifen realized, “So, what do we do now? How do we stop Lu Youxi? She got into Jing University and even had neighbors witnessing it.”
“What does a neighbor’s witness count for? They just enjoy watching the drama; can they really intervene in other people’s family matters? Even the village chief can’t interfere when we teach our children behind closed doors!” Lu Zhenjia’s narrow eyes glinted maliciously, “Let alone Jing University, I won’t let her attend any university. She’ll obediently marry and provide a dowry for our Youbang!”
Lu Youxi didn’t know about Lu Zhenjia’s plan when she took her admission letter and left the Lu household.
As she went out, she heard Lu Zhenguo calling from behind, “Youxi, where are you going? Why are you still carrying the admission letter? Don’t lose it!”
At that mont, Old Madam Lu also appeared at the entrance of the main house, saying viciously, “Showing off with that admission letter, huh! You got into Jing University and now you don’t even rember your own surna, parading around with that letter!”
Old Master Lu ca over too, knocking his smoking pipe against the doorfra, and whispered to Old Madam Lu, “Did she take the admission letter to see the village chief for so sort of witness?”
“This damn girl, always so cunning! Seeking the village chief as a witness, she’d shout it so the whole village knows we won’t let her study!” Old Madam Lu cursed, “She isn’t even ashad!”
Liu Yushu heard Old Madam Lu’s words and thought to herself, ‘You’re ashad of not letting the child study.’
You have the nerve to do it, what does Lu Youxi have to be embarrassed about?
Ignoring the conversation behind her, Lu Youxi left the house.
The Lu Family’s elders thought she had taken the admission letter to see the village chief.
Lu Zhenguo and Liu Yushu thought the sa.
Lu Zhenguo supported Lu Youxi studying but felt that taking the admission letter to the village chief was a bit much.
He only realized what was happening when he heard the words of the Lu Family’s elders and hastened after Lu Youxi, only to be grabbed by Liu Yushu’s arm. “Zhenguo, where are you going?”
“I’m going after Youxi!” Lu Zhenguo said. “I can’t let her go to the village chief! Our family isn’t preventing her from studying, it’s really too shaful for her to take this matter to the village chief!”
“Zhenguo!” Liu Yushu hurriedly said, “Youxi wouldn’t do that!”
“That’s hard to say!” Lu Zhenguo shook off Liu Yushu’s hand, “Youxi is too opinionated now; she might just do it!”
But by the ti Lu Zhenguo ca out the door, Lu Youxi was already out of sight.
As Lu Zhenguo looked around, he heard from the backyard Old Madam Lu saying, “What can’t she do? She’s made it so the neighbors know, why wouldn’t she tell the village chief? That dead girl would sha our family into oblivion! I always say girls are too outgoing—even if surnad Lu, they won’t consider the family’s interests, not as reliable as Youbang!”
Lu Zhenguo clenched his teeth and hurried towards the village chief’s house.
But Lu Youxi hadn’t gone to the village chief’s house at all; instead, she went in the opposite direction to Grandma Xu’s house.
Her quick steps took her out of sight from Lu Zhenguo as she turned the corner from the Lu household.
Lu Youxi arrived at Grandma Xu’s house, where the yard gate was wide open. Just as she approached the gate, she saw Zhou Shuyan chopping wood in the courtyard.
In the heat of sumr, Zhou Shuyan had removed his shirt, wearing only long pants with the legs rolled up to reveal his ankles.
As he raised the axe high and brought it down forcefully, the muscles on his back tensed and moved.
Sweat dripped from his nape down to his shoulders and then along his back to his waist.
Lu Youxi’s gaze unconsciously followed the beads of sweat, settling on his narrow waist.
Strangely, despite the man’s slim waist, it conveyed a sense of strength.
The muscles along the waist looked especially graspable.
It was Lu Youxi’s first ti seeing him shirtless; she usually saw him clothed.
She had always thought Zhou Shuyan was thin.
But unexpectedly, when he took off his clothes, he had an impressively fit physique, muscular yet not excessively so, displaying strength but also full of aesthetic appeal.
It was exactly the type of muscle Lu Youxi liked—smooth lines, not just blindly pursuing bulkiness.
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