I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 67: Worst Case, I’ll Just Stop Living

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Worst Case, I’ll Just Stop Living

As soon as the kids heard that the bicycle their mother had just bought was for their Uncle Zhenping, they immediately rejected the idea. Lu Mingliang had been thinking about practicing on it secretly when his mother wasn’t looking, but before he could even get a feel for it, Fourth Aunt wanted to take it away. How could he agree to that?

"No, no, this is what my mother bought, why should it be for Uncle Zhenping to ride? Let Uncle Zhenping buy his own for work, this is ours, it belongs to our family, my brothers, sisters and I still want to ride it, I won’t give it, I just won’t give it."

Zhou Jiaojiao clicked her tongue, "Mingliang, you can’t be so unreasonable. Your Uncle Zhenping needs it for work, don’t act like a spoiled child."

Hearing his younger brother’s protest, Lu Mingkai also became unhappy. He suddenly hugged the handlebar and started bawling.

"It’s mine, it’s my family’s, my mother bought it, wuuu... I won’t give it to you, won’t give it to anyone."

Although Lu Mingyang and Lu Mingfang didn’t cry, they also stood in front of Shen Meng, preventing Zhou Jiaojiao from taking the bicycle away.

Passersby coming home from work saw the children crying and couldn’t help but stop to see what drama was unfolding in the Lu Family today.

"Elder sister-in-law, look at the children, let me push it back first. I’ll appease them later. Jiaxuan will be here soon, he’ll familiarize himself with it in the afternoon, and he’ll be able to ride it to work tomorrow."

"Are you kidding me? I used five industrial tickets and spent US$ 180 to buy a bicycle so I could shuttle Mingliang and the kids to and from school on rainy and snowy days. How did it become buying it for Lu Jiaxuan? His going to work is none of my business. If you want a bicycle so badly, you and your husband can figure out how to buy one yourself. I’ve never heard of coveting what already has been divided from your elder sister-in-law’s share, and still want to bring it back home to get used to it, dreaming of pie in the sky?"

The moment Shen Meng finished speaking, Lu Mingliang stopped his tears, stopped howling, wiped his nose with his sleeve, and began to stare at Fourth Aunt with his siblings.

Zhou Jiaojiao’s face turned pale. She did not expect Shen Meng to say such things in front of so many people.

"Elder sister-in-law, I know you bought the bicycle on big brother’s orders. He sent you the industrial tickets and subsidies, wasn’t it for Jiaxuan’s job at the commune? It’s important. You mustn’t create trouble now. When big brother comes back, you won’t be able to explain it!"

Zhou Jiaojiao’s words reminded the onlookers, that’s right, Shen Meng seldom goes to work, what did Zhenping buy his wife a bicycle for? It must have been for his younger brother who was about to start work. They shouldn’t give her, a lazy wife, something to play with at home, right?

"Exactly, I heard that Jiaxuan was about to start work at the commune, didn’t expect it to be true, the bicycle is likely really for Jiaxuan. Going to work is serious business, Shen Meng, what’s all this fuss about? And dragging the kids into it, spoiling them rotten."

"Indeed, she hasn’t been seen going to work for over a month, originally because she was injured. But look at her now, hopping and jumping around, where does she look hurt? She just stays at home eating and drinking without working, how did Zhenping end up with such a wife, he’s truly hit bad luck."

"That Jiaojiao is much more diligent, all of them are daughters-in-law of the Lu Family, but don’t know how to learn from Jiaojiao, be filial to the in-laws, hardworking in the fields, this is what makes a good daughter-in-law. Look at this, what a shame. I am glad my daughter-in-law is not like that, otherwise, I might as well be dead."

Zhu Juying and her daughter Lu Xiangxiang were carrying hoes on their way home when they heard the children crying and hurried over to see. After asking the bystanders, they learned that Zhou Jiaojiao’s husband was going to start working at the commune and had come to take the newly bought bicycle from the elder sister-in-law.

After hearing Zhou Jiaojiao’s words, mother and daughter exchanged incredulous looks.

"Well, you can’t just say things like that. Zhenping’s wife had a serious injury at first, and everyone saw it. Moreover, Chang Hong personally examined her and prescribed medicine. It was said that she even went to the county hospital for a follow-up. Her body hasn’t recovered yet, and now people are saying she’s lazy and not working again. What’s this, trying to rush her to meet King Yan?"

"Mom, you’re right. My Sister-in-law Meng still hasn’t recovered. Just yesterday, she asked Dad to help tidy up the private plots. How could she go to work like that? If she gets sick from overexertion, she’ll have to spend money on treatment again. Gossiping is just a waste of breath, but if Sister-in-law Meng takes it to heart and something happens, you can’t bear the responsibility."

Lu Xiangxiang gratefully acknowledged Shen Meng’s remembrance of her upcoming marriage. Although it was compensation, the money was enough, and there was no need for cotton tickets, let alone so many. People normally wouldn’t know what to do to save up for so many cotton tickets over many years. It must be because her father mentioned it in passing, and it was remembered.

Zhu Juying and Lu Xiangxiang’s conversation was overheard by some. Some snickered and awkwardly made up excuses to leave, while others stayed standing, wanting to see if Shen Meng would truly give the bicycle to the fourth branch of the family. If the bicycle was indeed given, they wondered if they too could come to borrow something without returning it!

There were indeed quite a few people harboring such thoughts, even Lai Zi’s wife’s eyes shone when she stared at Shen Meng.

Shen Meng, filled with gratitude, smiled at Zhu Juying and Lu Xiangxiang, then turned her head to face Zhou Jiaojiao.

"You can push the bicycle away if you like, for 20 cents a day, following the production brigade’s rules. Our bicycle is brand new, in mint condition. It’s a good deal for your family."

"What? Elder sister-in-law, what are you saying? How can you ask us for money? This bicycle was bought by elder brother for Jiaxuan. Are you seriously not giving it to me?"

"Can’t you understand human speech? I said I bought it myself. What does Lu Zhenping have to do with it? If he truly dares to spend this much money and industrial tickets to buy a bike for your fourth branch, I’ll just leave him right away. Carrying the burden of a few children on my own. Our family doesn’t think about sustenance yet runs off to provide for someone else. What, such great love? You’re in a hurry to be a father to others? I’m laying it out here today. If Lu Zhenping comes back and dares to make me give the bicycle to your fourth branch, I will immediately drag him to get a divorce. Heh, Zhou Jiaojiao, then you and Lu Jiaxuan can regret you’re on the wrong side of this, because of your desperate grip on elder brother and elder sister-in-law’s bicycle, forcing a family apart. If you really want to do this, just go ahead and write to Lu Zhenping to file a complaint. Let’s see if I’m afraid."

After finishing her piece, Shen Meng pushed the bicycle into the yard. Lu Mingyang and the other children were scared to death. They had been living peacefully for some time, and this bicycle was bought by their mother for them. If it really caused their parents to divorce, they would be children without a mother again.

At this thought, all the children shivered simultaneously, with Lu Mingliang reacting the fastest.

He knelt before Zhou Jiaojiao with a "plop."

"Fourth Aunt, my fourth uncle has already been helped by my father to find a job. Why do you still want to snatch the bicycle that my mom bought for us? Do you also want to take over our family’s brick house? Boo-hoo-hoo, no, please, we can’t be without a home!"

Lu Mingyang stood there, stunned, suddenly feeling a pain in his thigh. He watched as a small hand quickly withdrew and stared seriously at Zhou Jiaojiao.

"Fourth Aunt, the bicycle costs so much money, there’s no way my father could buy it for my fourth uncle. Don’t get the wrong idea."

Thinking of how recently his mother had braided his hair, cuddled with him to sleep, taught him how to brush his teeth, bought him a backpack and notebooks, and made so many beautiful clothes for him.

Lu Mingfang thought that if her mother left, as a girl, she would surely end up not going to school and might just as well be married off early, ruining her life.

She had heard from her teacher that girls shouldn’t marry early. They should gain knowledge, broaden their horizons, work hard to earn their own living, and respect their parents. She wanted to honor her mother and let her spend the money she earned to live a good life.

The young girl’s eyes were bloodshot as she bared her teeth at Zhou Jiaojiao.

"Alright, Fourth Aunt, you want to break up our family, not letting us siblings live well. Before you were married, you already took two of my mother’s cotton blankets. After marrying in, you kept devising ways to ask my mother for money. Now, my father has also managed to find work for my fourth uncle, yet you still want to grab our family’s bicycle. If you don’t let us live peacefully, I won’t let you either. If it comes down to it, I might as well not live anymore."

No one expected Lu Mingfang to explode. The little girl flung her backpack and ran towards the main road, shouting as she ran.

"I’m going to the commune to report you, to report you to the commune, making sure fourth uncle can’t work. I’ll jump in the river, go to the Police Station to report you."