Live Punching Bag

Auntie Hong looked at Lu Ning with tears in her eyes.

Lu Ning looked at her, her heart aching.

"Auntie Hong, you watched me grow up and took care of me, and I treat you as my mother. Is there anything you can't tell me?"

Auntie Hong lowered her eyes, her tears dripping onto the back of Lu Ning's hand.

"Miss… I, I was fired by the Lù family."

Lu Ning pursed her lips and fell silent.

She turned to look at Lu Jingzhi. "Jingzhi, do you want to go to the next table over to read?"

Lu Jingzhi looked at Lu Ning and shook his head. "Sister, can I listen?"

He simply sat there, unwilling to leave.

Lu Ning did not say anything else and silently allowed him to stay.

"Auntie Hong, tell me everything that happened."

Auntie Hong nodded, not daring to raise her head to meet Lu Ning's eyes.

"A few days ago, Second Young Master brought the little Young Master over, and the little Young Master ruined the dress which the new Miss had just made for herself, even spilling paint over it.

"The new Miss found out, but the little Young Master said that it was me who did it. I tried to explain myself but the Second Young Master didn't believe me and, and even hit me.

"The new Miss then had me wash that dress. If I can't clean it, she… she said she'll fire me.

"However, the dress was stained with so much paint, it can't be returned to its original color.

"The new Miss asked me to reimburse her, but I've used all my money for Cai'er's illness. Thus, I couldn't afford to compensate her for such an expensive dress.

"Later on, the Third Young Master said I didn't need to compensate her. However, he also didn't allow me to work at the Lù household anymore, he wanted to fire me. I begged them not to, but they wouldn't listen."

Lu Ning's eyes were red as she held her hand tightly. "What about Grandpa? Did you ask Grandpa?"

Old Master Lù is strict, but he's always impartial regarding such matters. Surely he wouldn't fire Auntie Hong just like that.

Auntie Hong pursed her lips to prevent herself from crying.

"Old Master—, Old Master complained that it was noisy, so he had someone give me severance pay and chased me out."

As she spoke, she started crying sadly.

Lu Ning's face turned pale.

This new Miss certainly referred to Lù Yue'an.

Second Uncle's youngest son was born when he had entered old age. Thus, the entire family pampered and spoiled him, turning him into such a troublesome and deceitful child. However, the entire family knew very well what he was like—how could they be fooled by a child who was only a few years old?

Their main goal must have been to chase Auntie Hong away.

Lu Ning suddenly found it absurd.

She understood, she knew too well.

Auntie Hong was innocent. If they wanted to drive her away, they would do so using any reason.

Lù Yue'an did not want to see the person who had taken care of Lu Ning remain in the Lù family, while Second Uncle spoiled his son and would parrot whatever his son had said.

And, with Lu Ning being the shame of the Lù family, the Old Master was naturally unhappy to see anyone that was related to Lu Ning. Since he found an excuse, it was a matter of course to have her sent away quickly.

They could not vent their anger on Lu Ning, so they used others as live punching bags to take their frustrations out on.

Truly, what an incredible family.

On the spur of the moment Lu Ning wanted to burst out in laughter. For so many years she had watched them—even though they rarely showed sympathy, they had always played it by the book, even to the extent that they seemed unfeeling. However, she always felt that they were not bad people at heart.

So it was not that they were not bad people. She simply did not see it.

The Old Master knows very well what Auntie Hong's family situation is like. How many days could the severance pay last? To think he would implicate an innocent because of something that's already long past!

Lu Ning felt a chill run down her spine. Her blood seemed to have turned icy, and her face was frighteningly pale.

Lu Jingzhi looked at her and tugged at the corner of her shirt with worry.