https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-366-A-Quiet-Schemer-s-Calculations/12576752/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-368-A-Grand-Affair-for-Tomb-Sweeping/12576754/
Chapter 367: The Grand Mansion
Chapter 367: The Grand Mansion
This time, Lu Jiaxin wasn't returning to sweep the tomb alone; she was bringing Gu Xiuxiu along. The original plan was for her to relocate the tomb during Qingming, so she asked Mei Gu and Hong Gu to accompany Xiuxiu on the trip. Since the Feng Shui master chose the date in the sixth lunar month, they arranged to travel to Si Jiucheng together.
He Bin and Zhang Sinnng were already waiting outside the airport, having made the necessary arrangements in advance. For the sake of convenience during their trip, Lu Jiaxin decided to purchase a Toyota Crown sedan after careful consideration. He Bin was the one who went to make the car purchase.
The grand mansion had been beautifully restored, and this time, they didn't stay in a hotel. Instead, they drove straight to the five-section mansion by Shichahai.
After the mansion's renovation, Lu Jiaxin had hired people to watch over it, but since the owner was absent, the front gate had remained closed. However, as Lu Jiaxin and Gu Xiuxiu were expected to return that day, the front gate was left open early in the morning.
While the car could have driven straight in, Lu Jiaxin asked the driver to stop at the entrance and then helped Gu Xiuxiu out of the vehicle.
When Hong Gu, Mei Gu, and the others disembarked and saw the front gate, they were left stunned.
The mansion's entrance was grand and majestic, with the four majestic characters "Lu Family Mansion" hanging in the center. The calligraphy was powerful and vigorous, shimmering in the sunlight, making the entire place look extremely imposing.
"Today's weather is nice," Lu Jiaxin said to Mei Gu. "Let's walk Auntie in and take a look at the mansion's scenery along the way."
Mei Gu readily agreed.
Beyond the front gate lay a spacious courtyard, with pine and cypress trees planted along the walls. The buildings featured intricate carvings, and the round columns, doors, and windows were all adorned with exquisite patterns.
Hong Gu's eyes widened in amazement. She had heard from Mei Gu that the house in Si Jiucheng was large and beautiful, but she hadn't expected it to be so luxurious. Her previous impression of Si Jiucheng, formed two years ago, was that it was rather drab and gray, and she never imagined that this mansion would be so extravagant.
In the first courtyard, Lu Jiaxin kept the main hall for entertaining guests. The second courtyard was for her own residence, furnished with antique furniture acquired through her connections, including a magnificent canopy bed in the bedroom that captivated her the moment she saw it. The third courtyard was prepared for Gu Xiuxiu, taking into account her old age and occasional mental confusion. It was furnished with sofas and round tables and chairs, and any sharp corners were wrapped in cloth for safety, creating an environment similar to her bedroom in Hong Kong City. The fourth courtyard had a stage where Gu Xiuxiu could dance or invite people to perform operas or storytelling. The fifth section had no specific arrangement yet, but with its proximity to the large trees and the pond in the back garden, it offered a cool and comfortable ambiance, perfect for summer residence.
The most enchanting part of this mansion was undoubtedly the back garden, featuring pavilions, terraces, small bridges, and flowing streams. The scenery within was meticulously crafted to emulate the beauty of the Suzhou gardens.
After taking in the sights, Mei Gu asked, "Miss, you must have spent a lot of money to renovate this mansion, right?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "Auntie funded the initial expenses. Buying and renovating the property cost around 200,000 yuan. Afterward, I spent about 100,000 yuan."
Mei Gu had a good eye for value and asked skeptically, "This entire mansion, inside and out, only cost 300,000 yuan? How is that possible?"
Lu Jiaxin laughed and explained, "Yes, it's 300,000 yuan in Chinese currency, which is roughly equivalent to 1 million Hong Kong dollars. But that amount only covers the purchase and renovation of the property. The furniture and decorative pieces would have cost far more."
Just that canopy bed alone was worth several hundred thousand yuan, not to mention the furniture made from golden sandalwood and purple sandalwood; the furniture in her courtyard alone was worth over 200,000 yuan.
Mei Gu felt that this was more reasonable. The furniture in the second courtyard and the old lady's room didn't look cheap at all, and 300,000 yuan wouldn't even come close to covering their cost. While the mainland might be relatively poor, there were many intelligent and discerning individuals. With Lu Jiaxin as a prime example, Mei Gu dared not underestimate anyone from the mainland again.
There was a large pond in the mansion, big enough for boating. The pond was filled with water but enclosed by a wire mesh fence.
Lu Jiaxin explained to Mei Gu, "I wanted to drain the pond for Auntie's safety, but He Bin said that water represents wealth, and draining it would be a bad omen. So, we enclosed it with wire mesh for safety."
"Mei Gu, He Bin has already hired two professional caregivers. You and I will each take one of them to assist in taking care of Auntie, which should make things easier."
Mei Gu agreed that this arrangement was excellent.
For dinner that evening, they invited a chef skilled in Shanghainese cuisine. Gu Xiuxiu had been longing for Shanghainese food the most while in Hong Kong City, and she had even mentioned it to Lu Jiaxin a few times.
Gu Xiuxiu ate with great relish, and if not for Mei Gu's watchful eye and timely intervention, she would have overeaten.
After finishing her meal, Gu Xiuxiu put down her bowl and chopsticks and hurried off to the back garden.
Gu Wenfeng said, "Boss, Ms. Gu's condition seems to be worsening."
"There's nothing we can do," Lu Jiaxin said. "This disease is incurable."
Even decades later, there would be no cure, and the best they could do was control it with medication, only to see the symptoms worsen over time until she no longer recognized anyone.
Seeing the sadness on Lu Jiaxin's face, Gu Wenfeng quickly changed the subject. "Boss, didn't you mention wanting to hire a few bodyguards last time? Are you still considering it? If so, I can have them come for an interview tomorrow afternoon."
He knew that Lu Jiaxin had to return to school on Monday and would be leaving the day after tomorrow to avoid any delay.
He Bin had already hired three sturdy men to guard the mansion, but as they were recruited through the hotel manager, Lu Jiaxin wasn't entirely reassured. She intended to hire some retired soldiers.
Lu Jiaxin nodded. "Let them all come. If they're good, we'll keep them all."
"I'll inform them later today, and they can come for the interview after lunch tomorrow."
"Alright."
That night, Lu Jiaxin slept in the canopy bed, expecting that she might have trouble sleeping. To her surprise, she fell asleep quickly and soundly. The next morning, when she woke up, she heard that Lu Jiaguang and the Lu Jiagong triplets had arrived with their entire families, not a single member missing.
They hadn't come the previous day as they knew Lu Jiaxin and Gu Xiuxiu must have been exhausted from the long journey.
After freshening up, Lu Jiaxin went to the front courtyard. As she entered the main hall, she was greeted by a roomful of people, not just the triplets but also their children.
The moment Lu Ersao saw her, she eagerly asked, "Jiaxin, I heard from the guard at the door that this mansion has five sections. When did you buy such a large mansion, and why didn't you ever mention it?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and explained, "This mansion was bought for me by Auntie. We began renovating it as soon as we purchased it, but because the mansion is so large, the work only finished last September."
Then she added, "I'm going to have breakfast now, and you're welcome to explore the place. Just remember not to go to the third courtyard, as Auntie lives there, and she might get upset if you disturb her."
Lu Ersao was curious about the size of the mansion. "Jiaxin, then I won't stand on ceremony."
Lu Jiaxin laughed. "We're family. Being too formal would make things awkward."
(End of Chapter)
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