Chapter 267: Happiness is the Most Important Thing
Chapter 267: Happiness is the Most Important Thing
Gu Wenfeng waited for three days before Qian Xiaoxiao arrived with her belongings.
Lu Jiaxin, noticing Qian Xiaoxiao's haggard appearance, remarked, "I told you to fly, but you insisted on taking the train. Even with your sturdy build, such a journey must have been exhausting."
Qian Xiaoxiao's return to her hometown was out of necessity. Her foster mother had been suffering from chest pain but refused to go to the hospital, and after two months, her condition hadn't improved. There was no other choice but for Qian Xiaoxiao to make the trip back.
"The doctor said it's pericarditis," Qian Xiaoxiao explained with a hint of helplessness. "She needs a week of intravenous medication and then oral medication. It's treatable, but it's going to be a hassle, and she'll need to avoid any strenuous activities from now on to avoid affecting her lifespan."
Qian Xiaoxiao had used all her persuasive skills to get her foster mother to agree to the check-up, and then she took her straight to the provincial hospital. Only after hearing the doctor's assurance that her condition could be cured did she feel relieved. It was a timely intervention; had it been delayed by another year or so, the outcome might have been very different.
"As long as it can be cured, that's all that matters," Lu Jiaxin said.
The next day, Lu Jiaxin accompanied Qian Xiaoxiao to Yang City. By the time Lu Hongjun found out, they were already on the plane.
Lu Hongjun was furious. He immediately called Lu JiaGuang's office. "Is Jiaxin back in Hongcheng?"
Lu JiaGuang nodded. "Yes, something came up in Hongcheng, and she had to go back to handle it."
"Did she leave any money with you?" Lu Hongjun asked.
Lu JiaGuang paused before answering, "Jiaxin has been enduring silently for the sake of my career, keeping quiet about that woman's misdeeds, and tolerating the resentment from your younger sister for Jiajie's sake. Before she left, she also helped Jiazong and his wife, who are now earning over a thousand yuan a month. Uncle San, Jiaxin resents you because of your own actions, not because of any fault of hers. By acting this way, you're not only hurting Jiaxin but also upsetting the rest of us."
Lu Hongjun fell silent. He didn't know how to respond. Every time they met after Gu Wenfeng's return from the ancient capital, they ended up arguing because he was angry that his daughter wouldn't obey him. But now, with Ding Jing in the picture, he had started to feel a bit afraid, and when he faced Jiaxin, he felt a sense of panic.
"Jiaxin had an urgent matter to attend to, so she rushed back," Lu JiaGuang explained. "She didn't leave any money with me, but she will keep her promises. Uncle San, please don't be suspicious."
Hearing such words about his own daughter made him uncomfortable. If Jiaxin heard them... For the first time, he felt that Jiaxin was right to go to Hongcheng; otherwise, how could she bear it?
After a moment of silence, Lu Hongjun said, "I'm getting old, and I'm afraid she won't take care of me in the future."
"You can rest assured about that," Lu JiaGuang reassured him. "Jiaxin isn't that kind of person. Even if you've made mistakes in the past, she won't abandon you, her own father, for the sake of her reputation."
Lu Hongjun tried to explain, "Living in the compound, people are always talking behind my back. I'm getting on in years, and I just want some peace and quiet, so I thought it would be better to move out sooner."
"Jiaxin will definitely buy the house by the end of the year," Lu JiaGuang said. "But if you want to move, you'll have to wait until the housing reform is finalized. Otherwise, the unit will reclaim the house."
Lu Hongjun indicated that the house would be registered under Jiaxin's name at that time, and the unit had no reason to take back his house. "I've worked for the unit for over thirty years. It's unreasonable to leave me homeless in my old age."
Lu JiaGuang suggested they not rush things and decide later based on the situation.
Upon arriving in Pengcheng, Lu Jiaxin checked into the best hotel and called Nie Zhan, but no one answered. So, she called Su Heming, and this time someone picked up. "Are you busy? If not, let's have dinner together tonight."
Gu Wenfeng was mainly concerned about her safety and didn't dare to wander around. Su Heming was now a factory director and had bodyguards with him.
Su Heming was surprised and asked, "Weren't you supposed to stay in Siyujiu City for a while? What brought you here so soon? Did you have another fight with your dad?"
He had never seen such an unreasonable father. If it were him, he would have ignored the man and walked away.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "I was hospitalized three times last year, and my three cousins took turns taking care of him. They all sided with me, so he wouldn't dare to pick a fight with me."
Su Heming thought Lu Hongjun was foolish and scoffed, "They're only taking turns to take care of him because they're getting something out of it. Otherwise, who would bother with him? When he's bedridden in the future, he'll have no one to rely on but you."
Lu Jiaxin smiled faintly, "Yes, everyone knows that he will depend on me when he's old, yet he still hopes that his nephews will take care of him. Forget it, let's not talk about him. It's ruining my mood."
"So, if it's not because of a fight, something must have come up?"
"Yes, something came up in Hongcheng that needs my attention. It's complicated to explain over the phone, so I decided to come back and discuss it in person."
Su Heming brought him to the same restaurant they had visited before. Once they were in a private room, he said, "I've asked Xue Mao from the kitchen to join us."
As a regular customer, the restaurant staff knew that Su Heming and Xue Mao had a close relationship. This was the reason why Xue Mao had never been bullied during his time learning to cook here.
Xue Mao entered the room, and Lu Jiaxin was pleased with what she saw. In the year since she had last seen him, he had not only grown taller but also filled out, looking much more robust. This was a good sign, as she had previously been concerned that he might not have the strength to handle the pots and pans.
Xue Mao was both surprised and delighted to see Lu Jiaxin, "Sister Jiaxin, when did you get to Pengcheng?"
Lu Jiaxin couldn't help but chuckle at his croaky voice, going through the changes of puberty, "I arrived about an hour ago. So, you've been learning here for a year now. How do you find it?"
"It's great," replied Xue Mao. "My master and fellow apprentices have been very kind to me..."
Su Heming thought the boy was rather simple-minded. After all, Lu Jiaxin had paid a substantial sum as a gift to the master, and those fellow apprentices surely knew that Xue Mao had a powerful backer in Su Heming. Anyone with a brain wouldn't dare to bully him.
"How's your cooking coming along?" asked Su Heming.
Xue Mao smiled broadly, "I've mostly been learning how to chop vegetables, which is the basic skill for any chef. Last month, my master said I had mastered the basics, and now he's teaching me how to cook."
Su Heming hadn't known that Xue Mao had already started learning how to cook. He asked, "What dishes have you learned? On your next day off, cook us a meal and show us your skills."
"I can cook right now if you'd like," Xue Mao offered.
Su Heming rolled his eyes at the boy, "Do you really think I'd pay good money to eat a meal cooked by an apprentice like you? Tomorrow's your day off. Come to my place and cook us a feast."
Lu Jiaxin was rather surprised by this; the boy had clearly learned to consider the financial implications.
After chatting for a while, Lu Jiaxin could tell that Xue Mao was happy with his life here, so she said, "You should get back to work now. We can continue our chat after your shift."
"Okay," Xue Mao agreed.
After Xue Mao left, Su Heming asked, "Aren't you going to take him back to Hongcheng with you?"
Lu Jiaxin shook her head, "He only loves cooking and is willing to devote himself to learning it. He's not interested in anything else. In this life, being able to do what you love is a kind of happiness. He's happy here, so let him stay."
"That's also because you're his patron," Su Heming pointed out. "Otherwise, it wouldn't be so easy."
Lu Jiaxin smiled, "If it weren't for him, my grave would probably be overgrown with grass by now. For that alone, I should ensure he lives a peaceful and prosperous life."
A life debt was something that could never be fully repaid.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
