Chapter 252: Good News
Chapter 252: Good News
Lu Jiaxin and Gu Wenfeng flagged down a taxi on the street. Before they could even speak, the driver anticipated their request to hire the cab for half a day and declined, stepping on the accelerator to speed away.
Learning from this, when they hailed the next taxi, Lu Jiaxin quickly mentioned the offer to hire the cab and assured the driver that she would pay in green bills. Fearing that the driver might not believe her, she took out a stack of the bills from her bag.
After confirming the address, the driver agreed to take them without hesitation, but with one condition: "The road to your destination is rough, so I'll need to add twenty more green bills to the fare."
Indeed, a section of the road leading to the cemetery was in poor condition, and the driver's request for an additional fee was reasonable, as the rough terrain could cause significant wear and tear on the precious vehicle.
"Alright," Lu Jiaxin agreed.
Lu Erso and her husband, Lu Jiazong, had set up a stall on Xiushui Street, and as more vendors joined them, their business thrived.
As Lu Erso flipped a fruit pancake for a customer, she wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "Husband, we should prepare more ingredients tomorrow. Last Sunday, we sold out by 11 a.m. and spent the rest of the afternoon resting at home."
The couple was diligent and hardworking. They started their day in the early morning, selling breakfast outside the school gates, and then moved to their stall on Xiushui Street from 10 a.m. until 2 or 3 p.m.
"Sure," Lu Jiazong replied. They didn't mind the hard work as long as there were customers. A bustling business made all their efforts worthwhile.
From a distance, Lu Erso spotted Xiao Qiu and called out, "What are you doing here? Who's watching the store while you're away?"
Initially, the couple had planned to bring the elderly couple over after the Chinese New Year, but the plan had to be scrapped when the eldest daughter-in-law became pregnant. With family planning regulations strictly enforced in Beijing, they couldn't make the trip. As for Lu Yun's wife, she was put off by the early mornings, as they would have to start work before 5 a.m. Lu Sanso's wife wanted to come, but Lu Erso wasn't keen on having her around, knowing her lazy and unreliable nature. Any misstep resulting in a loss of business or trouble would be their problem.
Excitedly, Xiao Qiu shared her news: "Mom, Aunt Jiaxin is back! She's already home."
Lu Erso was so startled that she nearly dropped the fruit pancake onto the griddle. "Who told you that nonsense? Your Aunt Jiaxin has her college entrance exam in July. How could she possibly be back?"
"It's true," Xiao Qiu insisted. "Aunt Ping called me and said Aunt Jiaxin is back, and she has a tall, handsome man with her."
"What nonsense is she spouting now? Your aunt is only seventeen and still has to take her college exams. That woman can't stop spreading false rumors," Lu Erso scolded.
However, given that Aunt Ping had taken the time to call Xiao Qiu specifically, there was a high likelihood that the news was true.
Unfazed by her mother's anger, Xiao Qiu pleaded, "Mom, Aunt Ping told me that the man looks like Aunt Jiaxin's bodyguard. Mom, please watch the store for me while I go home to see Aunt Jiaxin."
Glancing at the ingredients nearby, Lu Erso knew that her husband wouldn't be able to manage the stall on his own. "Let your father take care of the store. I'll stay here and sell the fruit pancakes and dumplings. Once I'm done, I'll head back."
Her dumplings were famous in the area for their crispy exterior and tender, juicy filling. "Sure, go ahead," Lu Jiazong agreed. Their hard work was paying off, and their income had doubled. Together, they now earned seventy to eighty green bills a day, and on weekends, when they stayed until 5 or 6 p.m., their earnings could reach over a hundred. The more they earned, the more motivated they became, despite the exhaustion.
Xiao Qiu couldn't wait to get home. However, when she arrived, the door was still locked. She opened it and rushed into the master bedroom, where she found two suitcases and several bags, confirming that Lu Jiaxin had indeed returned. Overjoyed, she immediately called Lu JiaGuang: "Uncle, Aunt Jiaxin is back. With just over a month left until the college entrance exam, I wonder why she's returned now.
Lu JiaGuang smiled and explained, "The exam schedule in Hong Kong is different from the mainland. Your little aunt finished her exams five days ago."
He hadn't mentioned this to Lu Jiazong and the others, not because he was deliberately hiding it, but because they hadn't asked him about it. He had called them on the day of the exam, but hadn't heard back and assumed that she hadn't performed well. He never expected that she would return so soon.
Xiao Qiu exclaimed in surprise and then laughed, "I was wondering how Little Aunt could be back when the college entrance exam is just around the corner. So, it's because she already took her exams."
"Isn't your little aunt at home?"
"No, I only saw her luggage. She must have gone out for something. Uncle, please come over with Auntie after work. We'll have dinner here tonight."
Lu JiaGuang couldn't wait until after work; he was eager to find out about Lu Jiaxin's exam results. "Call me as soon as your little aunt returns."
"Okay," Xiao Qiu agreed and went out to buy groceries. Usually, she was very frugal with money, but this time she bought chicken, duck, fish, and meat. She even carefully selected a piece of beef shank.
Lu Jiaxin endured a bumpy one-hour car ride to the outskirts of the city, her bottom sore from the journey. Upon arriving at her destination, she carried the incense and offerings to the cemetery, with Gu Wenfeng accompanying her. As for the driver, he waited on the main road.
The area around the grave was spotless, not a single weed in sight. Lu Jiaxin wasn't surprised, as Lu JiaGuang and Lu Jiazong had visited during the Qingming Festival and would have removed any overgrown vegetation.
Lu Jiaxin carefully arranged the offerings she had brought and then lit the candles and incense, finally burning the joss paper.
Kneeling before the grave, Lu Jiaxin devoutly held the incense to her forehead and silently prayed: "Jiaxin, you wanted to get into university to redeem yourself, and you wanted your dad to divorce Ding Jing. I've helped you achieve both."
"Auntie Ding, Grandma has always cared for Grandmother Ding. After she took me in, she treated me like her own granddaughter. Rest assured, I will protect her and ensure she lives out her remaining years in peace."
After kowtowing six times, Lu Jiaxin stood up.
Gu Wenfeng said, "Jiaxin, let me offer incense to Mrs. Lu as well."
Lu Jiaxin disliked this address and corrected him, "Not Mrs. Lu, but Ms. Ding."
Lu Jiaxin's mother wouldn't have minded Lu Hongjun remarrying; she had foreseen this outcome. However, she would undoubtedly hate him for favoring his new wife and stepdaughter, which ultimately led to her own daughter's death. Lu Hongjun would have to answer to Lu Jiaxin's mother when the time came.
Gu Wenfeng was taken aback for a moment before he understood, "Yes, let me offer incense to Ms. Ding."
If not for the special circumstances, Lu Hongjun wouldn't even be worthy of Ms. Ding.
After Gu Wenfeng finished offering incense, the two of them left the cemetery. Along the way down the mountain, Lu Jiaxin suddenly said, "After some time, I'll hire a feng shui master to find a auspicious burial site in Hong Kong. Then, I'll have Mother's remains relocated there so I can visit her grave during the New Year and Qingming Festival."
Gu Wenfeng said, "Your father probably won't agree to that. You should be prepared for his objection."
Lu Jiaxin scoffed, "After remarrying and nearly causing my death, how can he have the face to disagree? Moreover, given his nature, he'll probably remarry soon. If such a person were to be buried with my mother, she would haunt me in my dreams every day."
Knowing Lu Jiaxin's mother's personality, she would have definitely divorced Lu Hongjun if she had known about his lustful nature. Alas, there are no ifs in life.
Gu Wenfeng nodded but didn't say anything further. Although he didn't know how much money Lu Jiaxin had made, he assumed it was in the tens of millions. If she made up her mind, no one could stop her. His earlier remark was just a reminder, in case Lu Hongjun's side objected and caused a fuss later, which would be troublesome.
(End of Chapter)
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