As a scholar, Lu's father was steadfastly stubborn and old-fashioned, harboring an untouchable moral line in his heart.
Wang Jiao's behavior had crossed her father-in-law's moral line.
He saw Wang Jiao as a person of no virtue.
Thus, no matter what Wang Jiao said, he refused to accept the half-basket of charcoal she offered.
Although Wang Jiao had attained an age almost comparable to Lu's father in her previous life, her unchallenged and sheltered life devoid of experiences and adaptability caused her failure.
Fearing that the charcoal would upset her parents, she flung the basket along with the charcoal into the river, watching them sink.
Others who saw this would denounce her as wasteful. However, her soul originated from decades later, having enjoyed wealth and prosperity unknown to anyone in this era. Thus, a half-basket of coal was immaterial to her.
How much could half a basket of charcoal be worth after all?