Chapter 13: A New Home
Chapter 13: A New Home
Lu Jiaxin thought that Lu Hongjun would ignore her after taking the 10,000 yuan, but she never expected him to proactively furnish her new home with so many things.
Looking at all the items, Lu Jiaxin felt a mix of emotions. The original owner of the body only resented Ding Jing and Zhao Siyu, while harboring filial piety towards Lu Hongjun. It was undeniable that as long as there were no conflicts with Ding Jing, Lu Hongjun treated the original owner well and was always generous with money.
Lu Jiajie carried the bedding to her room and said with a smile, "Xinxin, if there's anything else you need, just make a list. If you're uncomfortable asking San Uncle directly, I can help you get it."
"Xinxin, you're San Uncle's biological daughter. In the future, you'll be responsible for taking care of him in his old age. It's only right that you ask him for money or things. If you don't, you'll only be benefiting those two."
In fact, these items were obtained by Lu Jiajie from Lu Hongjun.
Initially, Lu Hongjun intended to distance himself from Lu Jiaxin for a while and didn't plan on providing her with anything else, thinking that giving such a large sum of money was already more than enough. However, he couldn't ignore Lu Jiajie's persistent requests. Lu Jiajie would often bring up how Zhao Siyu only fawned over Lu Hongjun because of his money and power, and how she would show her true colors once he retired and lost his influence. He reminded Lu Hongjun that in his old age, he could only truly rely on Lu Jiaxin.
The actions of Zhao Siyu indeed made Lu Hongjun wary, and in the end, he accompanied Lu Jiajie to the department store.
Lu Jiaxin glanced outside and saw that Xue Mao and the other two men were in the courtyard. She asked in a soft voice, "Fifth Brother, is it okay to buy so many defective products from the department store?"
It wouldn't be a problem to buy a few discounted items, but she was concerned about getting so many things at once. Lu Jiaxin hated trouble, and she would rather slowly acquire things on her own than risk any complications.
Lu Jiajie was initially taken aback but then laughed and said, "We're buying them, not taking them for free. As long as we pay, we don't have to worry about anyone causing trouble."
Lu Jiaxin frowned and asked, "Fifth Brother, doesn't my father often buy defective products from the department store? If someone reports him, and the higher-ups send people to investigate, it could become dangerous."
Even if they were to have a falling out, they were still father and daughter, and their relationship wouldn't change. If he were to be caught, it would undoubtedly implicate her as well. At that time, running her business might become much more troublesome.
Lu Jiajie thought that she had grown up and should be aware of certain things by now. "Xinxin, the allocation of defective products in the department store is based on job positions and ranks. San Uncle has been working in the department store for many years, but he rarely buys anything from there. This is a special case, and no one will bother reporting it."
"That's good, then," Lu Jiaxin replied.
It was already past five o'clock by the time they finished moving everything. Lu Jiaxin invited Lu Jiajie and his two friends to a small restaurant for dinner. She ordered five dishes and one soup—chestnut and pork tower, braised shrimp in oil, red braised pork, stir-fried pig liver with Chinese cabbage, sauced cucumber shreds, and carp tofu soup. She also ordered a bottle of wine.
Xue Mao's heart ached as he watched them spend so much money.
Lu Jiajie felt that Lu Jiaxin had changed a lot. In the past, when they ate out, she would order dishes that she liked. But now, she ordered mostly meat dishes and a bottle of wine, clearly catering to their preferences. In just over a month of being out in the world, she had learned to navigate social relationships.
The restaurant owner was skilled, and the portions were generous. Lu Jiajie and his friends enjoyed their meal heartily.
Standing at the intersection, Lu Jiajie bid farewell to his friends, "It's getting late, and you guys have to ride your bikes back, so I can't let you drink too much. I'll treat you again on Sunday, and we can drink to our heart's content then."
Jiaxin also thanked the two men, "Brother Qiang, Brother Sheng, thank you so much for your help today."
The two men came because of Lu Jiajie's face, but Lu Jiaxin was polite and grateful towards them. She treated them to a meal with meat, shrimp, and wine.
Jiaxin's considerate nature was evident, and Ah Qiang, one of Jiajie's friends, smiled and said, "Little sister, if there's anything you need in the future, just ask. I guarantee I'll help you however I can."
Lu Jiajie waved his hand dismissively, indicating that Ah Qiang was getting too familiar. "She's my little sister, so cut the flattery. It's getting late, and you should head home. Your wife will give you an earful if you're late again."
The other friend, Ah Sheng, jokingly accused Jiaxin of abandoning them after they had helped her.
After seeing the two friends off, Jiaxin asked, "Fifth Brother, aren't you going back?"
Jiajie had no intention of returning just yet. "You and Xue Mao are both still young. How can Big Brother and I rest easy? I'll stay here for a few days to help set things up. Once the traps are in place and you've gotten to know the neighbors, I'll head back."
Jiaxin was more than happy to have her brother stay. Being in a new place with unfamiliar surroundings and less-than-ideal security, she felt a sense of relief having him around in this spacious home.
On their way back, they passed by a public toilet, and the pungent smell made Jiaxin feel nauseous. Even though she could use a chamber pot at home, the thought of having to rely on public facilities was distressing.
"Fifth Brother," Jiaxin asked, "my house doesn't have a toilet. I want to build one. Do you know anyone who can help me get it done soon?"
Jiajie's mother-in-law's house also lacked a private toilet, and they usually relied on public facilities. However, given the spacious yards in this neighborhood, building a toilet on the premises wouldn't be an issue. "I'll ask around, and you should also inform the neighborhood committee," he suggested.
Jiaxin was surprised by this. "What? Do I need to inform the neighborhood committee if I want to build a toilet in my own home?"
Jiajie found her reaction amusing and explained, "You're planning to start construction, so of course, you need to inform them. Plus, if you want to connect your toilet to the sewer system, you'll need to know where the pipes are located."
Jiaxin realized she had made an assumption, forgetting that the modern conveniences she was used to might not be available in this era.
Upon returning home, Xue Mao and the others had already locked the gate after entering the courtyard.
Jiajie walked in and gazed at the spacious courtyard, a hint of envy in his eyes. "It's great to have your own home. I wonder when I'll be able to afford my own place."
Jiaxin was aware that her fifth brother earned a meager salary of just over eighty yuan a month, and she knew that with such an income, owning a home was an impossible dream.
After a moment's thought, Jiaxin asked, "Fifth Brother, do you know what Xue Mao and I used to sell at our street stall in the ancient capital?"
"What?" Jiajie asked.
"Cold noodles and egg pancakes," Jiaxin replied. "They might not seem like much, but the profit margins are quite impressive."
Jiajie recalled his friend mentioning the lucrative nature of running a business, and his interest was piqued. "So, how much did you make in a day?"
A smile played on Jiaxin's lips as she answered, "On our best day, we made forty-six yuan. Even on our slowest day, we still managed to earn twelve yuan. In just twenty-four days, we not only supported ourselves but also saved over three hundred yuan."
Jiajie was stunned. "What? You earned that much?"
After all, his monthly wage was only eighty-six yuan and eighty cents. In contrast, Jiaxin and Xue Mao's street stall could bring in nearly half of his monthly salary in a single day.
As the government relaxed policies, private factories were springing up, and the days ahead for state-owned enterprises looked increasingly bleak. It wouldn't be long before the state could no longer shoulder the burden, and a wave of layoffs would ensue.
Jiaxin wanted to encourage Jiajie to leave the shoe factory and start his own business, so she deliberately goaded him. "I'm physically weak, so I only sell in the mornings. If we sold breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we'd make even more."
Jiajie opened his mouth in surprise, but the words that formed in his mind remained unspoken.
Jiaxin could see that he was tempted but held back by apprehension. However, she was confident that with a little more encouragement, he would take the plunge.
(End of Chapter)
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