Chapter 353: Unexpected News
Chapter 353: Unexpected News
The hottest day of summer was finally coming to an end, and everything seemed to be enveloped in a drowsy silence. In the Muggle community, the cars that usually gleamed on the driveways were now dusty, and the once lush green lawns had turned yellow due to the severe drought, which had led to a ban on watering hoses.
However, the lawn at Ryan's Home remained lush and green. As a self-proclaimed Plant Master, making the lawn look beautiful was a simple task.
Inside, however, the environment was starkly different, with chaos reigning supreme. The family was preparing for an important trip, so numerous suitcases and cabinets were open, making the house look like it was being packed up for a move.
Why was the house in such a state? The reason for this mess could be traced back to the first day Liam returned home.
That day, Liam dragged his suitcase back home, exhausted, only to find that his parents were not there. He let himself in and waited. It wasn't until the evening that he saw his parents enter the house, their faces weary but relaxed.
"Oh, heavens, we completely forgot it was the day our son was coming home. We've been so busy these last couple of days", Mother Sally exclaimed, slapping her forehead as she noticed the table set in the Great Hall.
"It's fine, I can take care of myself", Liam said, placing the last dish on the table. "By the way, why are you back so late? Is something going on?"
"Something important", Mr. Lambert said, hanging his suit on the rack and wiping the sweat from his face. "Let's talk after dinner. This is a serious matter that requires a more formal discussion."
"What? You're planning to move to China for the next few years?" After dinner, they all sat in the living room to chat, and Mr. Lambert's first words left Liam stunned. Although he had hoped his parents would find a safe place after Voldemort's return, he never imagined they would decide to leave on their own before he could find a suitable solution.
"Yes, and it's not just us. The Granger family is doing the same. We went to the embassy together today to get our visas", Mr. Lambert added, dropping another bombshell.
What was going on? Although things seemed to be improving, Liam wanted to understand what had happened. Fortunately, Mr. Lambert provided a clear explanation.
The story began with Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban during that summer vacation. During that summer, Liam's family and the Grangers had discovered a treasure, which they later exchanged with French students for over two million pounds. After splitting the money, each family received a little over a million pounds.
With that money, Liam's parents embarked on a world trip as soon as the holiday ended. The final leg of their journey was a visit to China, where they planned to spend some time and visit Liam's grandparents, who had retired there.
In China, Mr. Lambert received an unprecedented warm welcome in the town where Liam's grandparents lived. The town, located near Linzan, was surrounded by mountains and was quite far from the city. Despite the good roads, the lack of local specialties meant that life there was not very prosperous.
Mr. Lambert saw a great business opportunity and decided to invest there. Although a million pounds might not seem like much in a big city, in a small town in the south in 1993, it was a astronomical sum. With the support of various parties, the investment quickly paid off.
"What did you invest in, Dad?" Liam asked, curious. He knew that foreign investment was welcomed in those days, and his father, being a well-known author and a descendant of the local people, naturally received a warm welcome.
"Nursery and Herb Farm." Mr. Lambert finally revealed, "It's a rapidly growing industry with a high demand for many products, but there aren't enough suppliers. After conducting some research, we discovered that the mountainous area back home is quite suitable for growing these things, so I decided to invest in them."
No wonder his father had written a few letters in third grade asking if he, the Wizard, had any secrets for growing trees and herbs. At the time, Liam had mastered Dave’s plant-growing abilities and came up with several good ideas, which he mailed to his father.
"Thanks to you", his mother Sally said, "the plants grown using your methods have fewer diseases, are easier to manage, and grow better than others. Thanks to these plants, we've made a lot of money over the past two years. Because of this, we plan to move to China temporarily to be closer to the business. After all, our business is in a period of rapid growth, and there will be all sorts of issues if we're not there to manage it."
"And you're growing up", Sally added, patting Liam on the head, "I believe you can take care of yourself. Besides, you can visit us in China during the holidays."
"Father, your Edward Adventure Series is very popular, right? Are you going to stop writing it?" Liam had read the series and found it reminiscent of Indiana Jones and National Treasure. His father had been boasting about the series' popularity in his letters.
"I can still write in China", Lambert said casually. "A change of environment can actually be beneficial for writing. I can send the manuscripts to the publisher when they're ready."
"Then, what about the Grangers?" Liam asked, curious about the reason behind their move.
"It's also related to investments. When I came back from China, I mentioned the opportunities there to Mr. Granger at a bar. He and his wife spent a couple of months researching and even visited China for two weeks."
"And then?" Liam prompted.
"After they returned, they bought several patents and licenses from his alma mater and former classmates. They opened a manufacturing plant in Linzhan City to produce dental supplies and equipment, and also set up a dental clinic. You see, in that region, dental care is usually part of a hospital's wing, and there are very few specialized dental clinics. They are moving there because the business is growing rapidly, and they need to be on-site to manage it. Professional managers are helpful, but at this stage, many issues can only be handled by them."
"Alright, I get it." Liam thought, money could indeed change fate, especially a lot of money. But this was good; he wouldn't have to worry about his family's safety if anything happened.
The next morning, the Lambert family called a taxi and loaded up with their luggage, heading to Heathrow Airport in London. In the waiting hall, they met the Granger family, who seemed to be on the same flight.
"Alright, I hear you'll be staying with a classmate next week, which is great. But this week, you need to take care of yourselves. Remember to lock the doors and turn off the water, electricity, and gas before you leave", the parents began to give detailed instructions, which Liam and Hermione listened to attentively.
"Alright, that's it. We're about to board. If anything happens, help each other out. I believe you can take care of yourselves." With that, they pulled their luggage and left.
Liam and Hermione watched their parents until they were out of sight before leaving the airport and taking the bus back to their neighborhood.
(End of Chapter)
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