Lu Tam was here to borrow grain.
When Han An Nuong opened the room door and entered the small courtyard, Lu Tam immediately tiptoed, his pair of eyes staring intently, peeking into the room. Han An Nuong quickly blocked him.
Lu Tam resentfully rubbed his hands: "Mistress Han, are you eating?"
This meaning, how could Han An Nuong not understand? It was clear he wanted her to invite him to eat together.
After all, before this year of great disaster, when every household had a little extra, if someone came to the door at mealtime, they would be invited in for a few bites.
However, at this current time, Han An Nuong had to cook based on their remaining grain. Furthermore, Uncle's appetite had increased recently; where would there be surplus grain for others to eat?
"Just finished eating and washing the dishes. Didn't know Bro Lu Tam would come so late, for what reason?"
"Mistress Han, there's something you don't know. A few days ago, my mother had some money. She originally wanted to go to the county town to buy some grain, also for Mistress Han. But unexpectedly, Hu Nhi suddenly got a fever. I could only spend the money to invite a doctor to treat Hu Nhi." Hu Nhi was Lu Tam's son's pet name.
"Hu Nhi is sick? Is it serious?"
"Not serious, he's fine now."
"Then indeed, treating Hu Nhi's illness is important." Han An Nuong nodded lightly.
"But treating Hu Nhi's illness spent all the money. Now there isn't a single bite to eat in the house. So I came to find Mistress Han, to borrow some grain again." Lu Tam finally stated his purpose.
"Indeed." Han An Nuong understood in her heart. Regarding Lu Tam's earlier claim about Hu Nhi being sick, she didn't believe it one bit. She showed a troubled expression: "Bro Lu Tam, my family is also about to starve. We really don't have grain to lend you."
Saying so, seeing Han An Nuong unmoved, Lu Tam then raised his hand to wipe his eyes, snot and tears streaming as he said: "Hu Nhi is suffering! Before he was even one year old, his mother ran off with another man! So pitiful..."
"Bro Lu Tam, really, my house truly has no grain to lend you." Han An Nuong knew well that lending grain to Lu Tam was like throwing meat buns at a dog – a one-way trip. How could she dare to lend?
Hearing this, Lu Tam frowned. Seeing he couldn't break through Han An Nuong here, he resorted to his old trick, shouting towards the room: "Bro Mac! Bro Mac..."
Saying so, he even wanted to go around Han An Nuong and rush into the room. Han An Nuong hurriedly blocked him, but how could a woman's strength compare to a man's? Caught off guard, she was pushed to the ground by Lu Tam.
Just then, Tran Mac suddenly rushed out from the house, holding the wood-chopping knife. Lu Tam hadn't even recovered his senses when he saw Tran Mac kick out. Although Tran Mac was weak and sickly, he was tall. Especially after this period of training, his body was strong, his aura imposing. Lu Tam, on the other hand, hadn't eaten a full meal in a long time, his face sallow. He was directly knocked to the ground by Tran Mac's kick.
Tran Mac helped Han An Nuong up, protected her behind him, looked at Lu Tam who was kicked to the ground by him, pointed the knife at him, and angrily shouted: "Damn your mother! Daring to bully my sister-in-law! Are you f***ing looking to die?"
Tran Mac had heard everything Lu Tam just said. Han An Nuong hadn't been married into Phuc Trach Village for long, perhaps didn't understand Lu Tam well, but the original owner knew him very clearly.
Lu Tam's given name was just Lu Tam. His mother gave birth to three brothers, but the eldest and second died young in succession, leaving only him alive. Therefore, Old Mistress Lu doted on him extremely, giving him all the good food and drink, afraid he'd be cold or hot, not even letting him do a bit of hard work. This led to Lu Tam developing a habit of eating and lazing around since childhood. When Old Man Lu passed away, their life immediately fell into hardship. When Lu Tam grew up, Old Mistress Lu spent all her savings to get Lu Tam a wife. However, after this wife married in, not only did she not have a single good day, but Lu Tam also still didn't want to improve himself daily, even leaving all the farm work at home for his wife to do. That wife was also someone who could endure grievances, thinking that after having a child, Lu Tam would change. But unexpectedly, after giving him a child, he was still like this every day. His wife really couldn't bear it anymore. After the child was weaned, she took advantage of the dark night and ran away. Because of this, the Lu family became the laughingstock of the entire village. Laughing that Lu Tam couldn't even keep a wife. And this was clearly Lu Tam's fault, but Old Mistress Lu thought her daughter-in-law was promiscuous and unvirtuous, running off with a man from another village. When her grandson could walk and talk, she would speak ill of his mother before him every day, even attributing his father's lack of ambition to his mother. This matter was as clear as day to the entire village.
Tran Mac was not the original owner. Because his father was a "battlefield boss" (likely a tough, worldly man from his past life or upbringing), Tran Mac had been exposed to all sorts of people in society since he was young. He knew well that when dealing with people like Lu Tam, one couldn't be polite. The weaker you are, the more people feel you are easy to bully, and they will walk all over you.
Lu Tam lay prone on the ground, only feeling his stomach churning, couldn't stop retching bitter water. In his eyes, Tran Mac was just a sickly weakling, a bookworm who could be easily manipulated, whose words were also refined. When had he ever seen him speak so crudely? Lu Tam said, "I didn't do it on purpose. According to seniority, you should call me older brother. How can you talk to me like this, and even kick me..."
"Uncle..." Han An Nuong was also startled by Tran Mac, hurriedly grabbed Tran Mac's hand holding the knife, afraid he would act recklessly. However, her heart felt a strong sense of security.
Tran Mac naturally wouldn't act recklessly, just wanted to scare Lu Tam a bit. He ignored Lu Tam, his face cold as he said: "You motherf*cking thief! I'm asking you what you're calling out? What are you wailing for? Crying at a funeral? Cursing me to die, huh?"
Lu Tam was a typical bully of the weak and fearer of the strong. Facing such a "fierce" Tran Mac, looking at the gleaming wood-chopping knife in his hand, his momentum immediately weakened: "Brother Mac, you've misunderstood. I came to borrow grain from you."
"Don't have any, not lending." Tran Mac refused without any mercy.
Hearing this, Lu Tam didn't dare say more. After nodding lightly, he rubbed his chest, got up, and wanted to leave.
"Wait." Tran Mac called him back.
"Is there anything... else?" Lu Tam's face changed slightly; he was truly frightened by Tran Mac.
"When will you repay the grain you borrowed before?"
"Hmm?" Lu Tam was stunned. Not lending grain and hitting him was one thing, but now also wanting him to repay grain? This was bullying too much. However, he didn't dare be fierce with Tran Mac, said embarrassedly, "My family also has no grain."
"I don't care if you have grain or not. I'm asking you when you will repay?"
Lu Tam: "..." This is too unreasonable. No grain, how to repay?
"After... after some time." "How long is that?" "Just after some time." "Specifically, how many days?" Tran Mac said coldly. "One... month..." "Hmm?" Tran Mac raised his eyebrows. "Ten days?" "Good, ten days then. When ten days are up, I will personally go to your house to demand the grain from you," Tran Mac said.
Lu Tam said nothing. Seeing there was nothing else, he clutched his chest and left dejectedly.
Looking at Lu Tam's back, Tran Mac's face was calm: "Indeed, a big fist saves trouble." Recovering his senses, he saw Han An Nuong staring blankly at him.
"Sister-in-law, how was I?"
"Uncle, you were too... awe-inspiring."..