Chapter 128: First Meeting
Chapter 128: First Meeting
The woman on the phone was neither her sister-in-law nor her aunt-in-law, so Lu Jiaxin couldn't guess who it might be.
Auntie Pang asked, "From the sound of her voice, there should be three or four dozen people, but she has a lovely voice. Jiaxin, could it be your stepmother?"
Lu Jiaxin chuckled, "Auntie Pang, you're overthinking this. She wouldn't dare to call me."
Ding Jing was the type to strike through indirect means, and even if she wanted to harm Lu Jiaxin, she wouldn't dare to do it herself. And as for Zhao Siyu, after that beating, she wouldn't dare show her face in front of Lu Jiaxin again.
The phone rang again shortly after they arrived at the shop. Lu Jiaxin answered, and a voice as sweet as a nightingale came through. Curious, she asked, "May I ask who's calling?"
"It's Su Hongying."
Lu Jiaxin had only heard of Su Hongying but had never met her, and even now, she had no idea what she looked like. "Aunt Su, is there something you need from me?"
Su Ya said, "Do you have time now? I have something I'd like to discuss with you. If you're free, I can send someone to pick you up."
She even offered to send a driver to fetch her, indicating that this matter was not meant for others to know. Lu Jiaxin replied that she had the time, "How long will it take? I can wait by the roadside."
Su Ya said, "No need for that. He also brought some things with him. Jiaxin, my health isn't very good, and I can't stand the cold wind, or else I would have come to find you myself."
"It's fine, it's the same for me."
Over forty minutes later, the driver arrived with two large bags of fruit, one of which contained Lu Jiaxin's favorite cherries.
After thanking the driver, Lu Jiaxin and Qian Xiaoxiao set off with him.
This was Qian Xiaoxiao's first time riding in a car, and she couldn't help but look around in awe. Lu Jiaxin, on the other hand, remained calm and collected, gazing out the window at the passing scenery.
The cold wind howled outside, causing the trees along the roadside to sway. There were few pedestrians on the road, and only a handful of cyclists, all of them bundled up against the cold. On such a frigid day, most people opted to take the bus instead of braving the elements.
After about half an hour, the car arrived at a large gate, and the driver stopped the car and got out, saying, "I'll just go and register. You two wait here for a moment."
Lu Jiaxin rolled down the window and stuck her head out, spotting two soldiers standing guard at the gate, each holding a long wooden staff. The sight of those staffs caused her heart to beat a little faster. Hmm, she still hadn't mastered her cultivation enough.
Qian Xiaoxiao was scared out of her wits and grabbed Lu Jiaxin's arm, whispering, "Sister Jiaxin, where are we? Why are there soldiers standing guard with wooden staffs?"
Lu Jiaxin gently patted her hand and whispered back, "This place is where retired high-ranking officials live. It's quite strict here, but we're law-abiding citizens, so there's nothing to be afraid of."
Hearing this, Qian Xiaoxiao's heart began to race even faster.
Soon, the driver returned and drove through the gates, stopping only when they reached a small Western-style building. Opening the car door, he said, "Comrade Lu, we're here. Please get out."
Qian Xiaoxiao was so nervous that she didn't dare to look around as she followed Lu Jiaxin out of the car. The two of them passed through an iron gate and into a courtyard filled with pine trees, none of which were taller than a meter or so, as far as Lu Jiaxin could estimate. However, the outside world was a blur of white, while the courtyard was a vibrant green, creating a stark contrast.
"Are you Miss Lu? Come in quickly. The lady of the house is waiting for you inside."
As they stepped into the house, a wave of warmth washed over them. The room was heated, and Lu Jiaxin lamented the fact that Guangming Road didn't have central heating yet. She had returned to Siyu City too late to have it installed now. As a result, she had spent most of her time in recent days either studying or exercising, with the rest spent huddled under the covers to stay warm.
It didn't matter if she stayed in bed for long periods due to her weak physique, but Qian Xiaoxiao and Xue Mao couldn't do the same.
Lu Jiaxin and Su Hongying, both fiery individuals, were so heated that they even felt overheated when lying on the kang bed at night.
Seeing Lu Jiaxin's vibrant complexion, Su Hongying smiled and said, "Jiaxin, you're looking well. Before the New Year, He Yuan mentioned that your recovery was going well, and now I can see he wasn't exaggerating."
Youth truly is an advantage. After just over three months of recuperation, you've bounced back so impressively. Unlike me, I've been constantly taking medicine and nourishing my body, but with little improvement.
Upon seeing Su Hongying, Lu Jiaxin understood why Xie Kaishao had gone through so much trouble to marry her. Su Hongying wasn't the type of stunning beauty who captivated everyone with her charm, but rather, she exuded a gentle and delicate aura that made people want to protect her.
"Aunt Su," Lu Jiaxin said, "since returning to Siyu City, I've been diligently taking my medicine every day. In addition, I've been consuming nourishing foods like pig liver and jujubes."
Qian Shifu had sent back a variety of items, including precious herbs like ginseng and deer velvet antler, as well as furs such as deer and gray fur. However, Lu Jiaxin hadn't touched any of those furs; she just couldn't bring herself to use them. As for the medicines, she had consulted with a doctor, who advised her that dietary supplements were sufficient and additional medicinal supplements weren't necessary.
Su Hongying nodded and said, "That's good. You're still young, so it's best to focus on dietary nourishment. Jiaxin, I heard from He Yuan that you're exceptionally talented in painting. Coincidentally, I painted something yesterday, and I'd like your honest opinion on it."
Lu Jiaxin immediately understood that the request to critique the painting was merely a pretext to get her away from the kitchen and the aunties. Playing along, she said, "I love plum blossoms the most, Aunt Su. Where is your painting?"
"Then follow me," Su Hongying replied.
Lu Jiaxin gave Qian Xiaoxiao a subtle signal, then followed Su Hongying upstairs. One had to admit, Su Hongying was indeed a beauty. Her every movement and gesture exuded elegance and charm.
They entered a room filled with books, and Su Hongying invited Lu Jiaxin to sit down, explaining, "It's a bit noisy downstairs with all the servants, so let's talk up here."
Lu Jiaxin nodded in understanding and then took the opportunity to thank Su Hongying for her help regarding the local hoodlums: "Aunt Su, thank you and Uncle Xie. If it weren't for my older brother mentioning it, I wouldn't have even known about it."
Su Hongying laughed and said, "As soon as you returned, your Uncle Qin was concerned that some unsavory characters might try to take advantage of you, so he asked the leader in charge of this area to keep an eye on you. But how did the news of you receiving the 200,000 yuan deposit from Su Heyuan get out?"
Lu Jiaxin took a deep breath and briefly explained what had happened, "My fifth brother, Lu Jiajie, is great in every way, except that he has a loose tongue. This time, my older brother gave him a good scolding, and I hope he'll change for the better from now on!"
Su Hongying was surprised to learn that it was Lu Jiajie who had let the information slip; his mouth was far too loose-lipped. However, since this was a family matter, she didn't feel it was appropriate to comment further. "Jiaxin, has your mother ever told you about your grandmother?" she asked, changing the subject.
Lu Jiaxin was taken aback by the sudden question about her grandmother. However, a thought quickly flashed through her mind, and she asked, "Aunt Su, do you mean that my grandmother's siblings have returned from overseas and are now looking for their relatives?"
Su Hongying was stunned by the insightfulness of this young woman. "Why would you think that?" she asked, impressed.
Lu Jiaxin explained, "My grandmother only had my mother as her child. Later, she was mistreated by her stepmother, and my grandfather knew about it but did nothing. After my mother started working, she cut off all contact with them. My grandmother had four siblings, but due to changes in the family, they were separated. Now that many people from Hong Kong and the islands are returning to the mainland to search for their relatives, and with you suddenly asking about my grandmother, I couldn't help but make that connection."
Suddenly, Su Hongying understood why her nephew wanted to bring this young woman into their fold. Clearly, she was a rare talent with her keen instincts and clear logic. However, realizing that this plan might not be feasible, she immediately shifted her strategy and considered taking Lu Jiaxin to Hong Kong.
(End of Chapter)
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