CHAPTER 548: CHAPTER 543: DRUGGING

After all, Zhou Yunmei and Luo Dashan have been husband and wife for a lifetime. Even though Luo Dashan, due to his lack of education, might lose his temper and hit her sometimes, lecturing her.

But all along, Luo Dashan has been pretty good to her, tolerant and loving. He lets her make decisions on household matters, and after so many years together, even if there’s no romantic love, there’s still affection. She’s worried that Xu He might harm Luo Dashan.

She looked at Xu He and tentatively asked, "Xu He, how do you plan to treat your dad? You’re not thinking about killing him, are you?"

Xu He looked at Zhou Yunmei as if she were a fool and said, "Mom, where is your mind going? Even if I were cruel enough, I wouldn’t have the guts. Murder is a crime; how could I dare to commit murder?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunmei felt that made sense and she breathed a sigh of relief.

But she was still not at ease and pursued further, "Then tell me what you plan to do with your dad; otherwise, I won’t feel at ease."

After thinking, Xu He casually said, "Mom, I just plan on the day when the date is set to buy some laxatives for dad to eat, to make him have a stomach upset for a few days so he can’t leave the house. In at most two or three days, our business will be settled and dad will probably be fine by then."

Pausing, she said, "At that time, dad can’t go, you just proactively say you’ll go with me, promising there won’t be any trouble, just casually coax him. As long as he agrees, that’s it."

"Just like that?" Zhou Yunmei immediately agreed upon hearing Xu He mention it was only some laxatives, "Alright, that’s settled then."

After everything was discussed, Zhou Yunmei found out from Luo Dashan that Luo Honglan’s engagement was five days later, and Luo Dashan planned to go there one day earlier.

The night before setting off for the provincial city, Luo Dashan was packing up at home.

After all, it is a trip to the provincial city and he was going to meet his future mother-in-law. Luo Dashan carefully prepared two sets of new clothes; he certainly couldn’t let his future in-laws look down on the Luo family.

After packing his clothes, he thought that he must visit his grandchildren, whom he had never seen since they were born.

So, he called Zhou Yunmei, "Give me some money. I want to visit Ruirui and Yaoyao, to buy them some gifts."

As soon as it came to money, Zhou Yunmei started to rant, "What’s there to buy? Fang Pingying is so wealthy, those children lack nothing."

Luo Dashan said, "Just give it to me. What they have is theirs. What I give is my gesture of love."

"Just take it, take it. After all, we don’t have much money left." Since she couldn’t argue with Luo Dashan, Zhou Yunmei grudgingly pulled out 50 yuan, muttering under her breath, "And there’s still Luo Zhiming’s account to worry about."

Speaking of Luo Zhiming’s troubles, Luo Dashan frowned and gestured outside, "Don’t just fixate on that money. If you’re really worried about Zhiming’s debts, hurry up and push them both to go out and earn money. Sitting at home all day, the money won’t come knocking on the door."

Since Zhou Yunmei had her worries, she naturally didn’t want to argue with Luo Dashan on this matter, casually saying a few words and then not continuing the conversation.

Luo Dashan put the money in his luggage bag and, thinking a bit more, also took some local products from home, like peanuts, red dates, as well as home-cured bacon and some sun-dried fish that he planned to take to Fang Pingying’s house.

Originally, Luo Dashan thought that after going to the city, he would buy some things, but since Luo Zhiyong and Fang Pingying divorced, Luo Zhiyong hadn’t sent any money back. The family had to wait until the harvest to have money, and with Luo Zhiming’s debts still unpaid, living was not easy; saving every penny was necessary.

After all, visiting Fang Pingying’s house now was different from before. Before they were family, whether bringing things or not didn’t matter as the old couple were supported by Fang Pingying and her husband. But now he was a guest, going there he couldn’t just show up empty-handed, so he brought some local specialties from his own house.

While Luo Dashan was packing these things, Zhou Yunmei didn’t speak, letting him do as he pleased, even handing him things along the way.

Once everything was packed, Zhou Yunmei sat down on the edge of the Kang (a traditional Chinese bed), sighed deeply, her expression somewhat aggrieved, yet she remained silent.

Luo Dashan, seeing Zhou Yunmei like this, also felt somewhat sorry.

He was used to Zhou Yunmei making a fuss when she had problems, but her submissive demeanor this time made him feel guilty.

He then also sat on the edge of the Kang, patted Zhou Yunmei’s shoulder and said, "Old partner, don’t sigh anymore. I’ll be back in a few days."

"What else could you do if not come back? I’m not worried about you not coming back." Zhou Yunmei sighed, and with a somewhat melancholic tone said, "I’m just sad. After all, our daughter has been with us since I carried her in my womb for ten months until she turned sixteen. Even though I may not have treated her as well as Zhiming, I still feel pain for her. Now she’s getting married and I can’t even see her, this really bothers me."

Pausing, she added, "Plus, I don’t even know what kind of in-laws they are. Our Hong Lan is so honest. If she finds a tough family, who knows if she’ll end up being scolded and beaten by her in-laws every day."

Hearing this, Luo Dashan fell silent for a while, almost relenting to let Zhou Yunmei go, but thinking it through, he steeled his heart, "Me going there is the same. I and Zhiyong will give her good advice. Besides, there’s a lot to handle at home, we need someone here to keep an eye on things."

"By the way, I specifically want to go see Yaoyao and Ruirui. You’ve seen them a few times, but I haven’t seen them even once. I’ll just swing by to see them this time."

After saying this, Luo Dashan lit his tobacco pipe, took several deep puffs, unaware that he was choking on the smoke, coughing continuously.

"Fine, you go then." Seeing this, Zhou Yunmei knew her opportunity had come. She spoke, then stood up saying, "I’ll get you a cup of water. Use that pipe less often; it causes you to cough all the time and wastes money."

Luo Dashan was more agreeable today, nodding immediately, "Alright, I’ll smoke less from now on."

Zhou Yunmei turned to get water. While in the kitchen, she took out the packet of Medicine Powder given by Xu He from her pocket, hesitating whether to mix it in.

Just then, Xu He walked in from outside, took the medicine powder from her hand, poured it into the tea, and whispered lowly, "Hurry and bring it over, don’t let dad suspect anything."

Xu He’s medicine powder was potent. It was probably after dinner, not even midnight yet, around 11 PM when Luo Dashan started complaining of stomach pain, needing to use the restroom.

Following that, he went to the toilet seven to eight times throughout the night. By morning, Luo Dashan was completely weakened, his body unwell.

Yet, he still insisted on going to the city. Seeing his condition, Zhou Yunmei said, "You’re like this; can you even go? What if something happens on the way, what then?"

"Yes, dad, I’ll get you some anti-diarrheal medicine." After saying that, Luo Zhiming pretended to go fetch medicine for him.