Chapter 11: A Modest Home
Chapter 11: A Modest Home
Lu Jiaxin knew the exact address of the house, but being unfamiliar with Si Jiucheng, she didn't know its precise location. Fortunately, Lu Jiaguang and Lu Jiajie were well-versed in the area and offered to guide her and Xue Mao there on their bicycles.
Liao Xiangmei, having other matters to attend to, returned home after getting the address.
Sitting at the back of the bicycle, Lu Jiaxin curiously observed the streets on both sides. Si Jiucheng of four decades ago looked vastly different from what she knew. Tall, lush trees lined the roads, and the houses were low and dilapidated, with a crisscross of electrical wires overhead. These were the marks of a bygone era!
Along the way, Lu Jiaxin didn't spot a single car; everyone was either on a bicycle or walking. She felt a twinge of regret that she didn't have a camera to capture these scenes, for such photos would be incredibly precious in four decades.
As they passed by an elementary school, Lu Jiaxin was surprised to see its name—Guoming Elementary School. This very school would later become a key primary school in Si Jiucheng, renowned throughout the country. Parents who didn't want their children to fall behind would go to great lengths to get them enrolled here.
"Big brother," Lu Jiaxin asked, "isn't my house far from here, is it?"
"Not far at all. We'll get there after turning the next corner," Lu Jiaguang replied.
Just as Lu Jiaguang had said, they turned into an alley a couple of minutes later and soon found the house by its address.
Seeing the clean exterior walls and the sturdy gate, Lu Jiaguang furrowed his brows in confusion. "Xinxin, are you sure this is the place? You haven't gotten the address wrong, have you?"
The house didn't look like it had been unoccupied for a long time.
"Mom gave me this address, so it can't be wrong," Lu Jiaxin asserted.
Lu Jiajie smiled and said, "Xinxin, why don't you try opening the door with the key? If it opens, then we'll know for sure."
As it turned out, the original body hadn't remembered the address incorrectly. Lu Jiaxin quickly unlocked the door, but as she pushed it open, her eyes widened in surprise.
Before her lay a courtyard, measuring about thirty square meters. There was a path down the middle, with two flower beds on the left, filled with vibrant, green vegetables. On the right stood a jujube tree, beneath which sat a stone table and stone stools.
Lu Jiaguang was equally astonished by the courtyard. Previously, when Lu Jiaxin had mentioned a small house, he had imagined a couple of rooms, never expecting it to be a siheyuan—a traditional Chinese quadrangular residence.
Noting the spotless courtyard, Lu Jiaguang asked, "Jiaxin, did Third Aunt hire someone to clean this place regularly?"
Lu Jiaxin shook her head, unsure. "Mom didn't tell me. But since Mrs. Xie helped buy this house, maybe she arranged for someone to clean it."
Lu Jiaguang knitted his brows. "Are you sure it was Mrs. Xie who helped buy this house?"
Third Aunt had sacrificed her life to save the Xie family's only son, and after her death, they hadn't shown themselves at all. He felt that the Xie family was ungrateful and inconsiderate, and he couldn't help but feel resentful on behalf of Third Aunt. However, it seemed that there might be more to the story than he knew.
Lu Jiaxin understood his misunderstanding of the Xie family and offered an explanation. "Big brother, Mom told me on her deathbed that if I ever encountered difficulties or life-threatening situations, I could seek help from the Xie family. But she asked me not to interact with them on a regular basis."
The original body had been too young to understand, but Lu Jiaxin grasped her mother's intentions. At that time, the Xie family's patriarch had already restored his reputation and was on the rise. If the two families interacted frequently, the ultimate beneficiaries would be Lu Hongjun and the Lu family.
The more they relied on the Xie family's favors, the less they would owe them. If they refrained from frequent contact, however, the Xie family would be more inclined to help the original body in times of dire need, as long as the problem didn't involve illegal or criminal activities.
Lu Jiaguang paused for a moment before understanding what she meant. "Third Aunt really went to great lengths for her sister. It's just a shame that she left too soon; otherwise, you wouldn't have had to go through all this hardship."
The main room of the siheyuan had three rooms, with two rooms each on the east and west sides. There were also three rooms in the front, a room on each side, a firewood room, and a kitchen. Such a residence, in the future, would be worth over a hundred million.
Xue Mao quietly followed them on the tour, marveling at the house in his heart. He guessed that only the wealthy landowners of the past could have lived in such a grand residence, but he dared not voice his thoughts aloud, as it would be impolite.
Lu Jiajie patted Lu Jiaxin's shoulder and said enviously, "Little sister, congratulations! At such a young age, you already own such a large house."
He had been working at the factory for seven years and still hadn't been assigned housing. His family of four still lived with his in-laws, and the occasional sour remarks from his older sister-in-law and her husband had become more frequent lately. Their changing attitude made his living situation increasingly uncomfortable. When would he be able to own a house like Jiaxin's?
Having experienced more in life, Lu Jiaguang offered a word of caution. "Nowadays, housing is tight for everyone. With such a large house, you might attract unwanted attention. Xinxin, if anyone asks to borrow or rent your place, don't agree to it. If you find it hard to refuse, just say that I won't allow it."
There was no way Lu Jiaxin would ever agree to such requests. What if she lent the place to relatives or friends, and they overstayed their welcome? As for renting it out, there were plenty of lucrative business opportunities at the moment, so she didn't need to rely on a bit of rent money.
Lu Jiajie, ever the thoughtful one, added, "Big brother, with the current social unrest, and Jiaxin's house being so spacious, what if it attracts the wrong kind of attention..."
Lu Jiaxin had a solution in mind. "We can set up some traps in the corners of the walls. If anyone dares to climb over, they'll be sent straight to jail."
She wasn't really worried about harassment from thugs, as the area was close to an elementary school, which would help maintain law and order.
Lu Jiaguang approved of the idea and said he would find someone to inquire about it when he got back.
"Big brother," Lu Jiaxin said, "we can move in after giving this place a good cleaning. Can you bring over the furniture and bedding for my room today?"
Only the main room of the house had furniture; the other rooms were empty. She had a place to sleep, but Xue Mao didn't.
She then explained the urgency of her request. "I've told everyone in the compound about what Ding Jing and Zhao Siyi did. Now, the whole compound knows. Ding Jing hates me to the core, so if we wait until tomorrow, there might be nothing left."
Considering Lu Hongjun's attitude, Lu Jiaguang also felt that the sooner, the better. "I'll see if I can borrow a vehicle. If I can, we'll bring your things over this afternoon."
Lu Jiajie smiled and said, "Big brother, I took a day off, so let me handle this!"
He was just an ordinary worker at the shoe factory, unlike Lu Jiaguang, who was a leader with more responsibilities. Taking time off was easier for him. Of course, his main reason for slacking off at work was his lack of ambition in the shoe industry.
"Big brother, fifth brother, thank you," Lu Jiaxin said gratefully.
Lu Jiaguang's heart twinged with sadness. "Silly girl, what are you thanking us for? I'm your brother; it's my duty to take care of you."
Lu Jiajie, on the other hand, patted her shoulder and smiled. "From now on, don't say such things. It feels too distant for a family to be thanking each other."
The two brothers set off to arrange for the move, leaving Lu Jiaxin and Xue Mao to clean the house.
(End of Chapter)
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