https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-368-A-Grand-Affair-for-Tomb-Sweeping/12576754/
Chapter 369: Disagreement Over Adoption
Chapter 369: Disagreement Over Adoption
This was Lu Jiaxin's first time performing the rituals, but she had now become very adept at it. She lit the candles, set out the offerings, and burned the joss paper before kneeling down to pray with incense in hand.
The children had been reminded to remain silent, and they did so throughout the entire process, creating a solemn atmosphere. After paying their respects at the tomb, the group began their descent down the mountain.
As they made their way down, Lu Jia Guang finally asked, "Jiaxin, when do you plan to relocate the tomb?"
"The Feng Shui master calculated it to be on the 19th of June in the lunar calendar. Luckily, I'll be on summer vacation then," Lu Jiaxin replied.
"What about your grandmother's side of the family? Has everything been taken care of with them?" Lu Jia Guang inquired.
"Yes, everything has been communicated. We just need to wait for the appointed time to relocate the tomb," Lu Jiaxin assured him.
Lu Jia Guang offered a word of caution. "Jiaxin, it might not be that simple. Take the Ding family, for example. They're so poor they can barely feed themselves, and they have nothing to lose. When you relocate the tomb, they might create a scene or even resort to desperate measures. What will you do then?"
Without even lifting her eyelids, Lu Jiaxin retorted, "The Ding family are all trash. The sooner they die, the better, as they'll save the country's grain supply. Big brother, I'm a Hong Kong citizen now, and I plan to focus on business rather than politics. The moral standards that apply to others don't apply to me."
The notion of being blood-related or being one's elder was all nonsense to her. Sometimes, family could be more detestable than bandits. If it weren't for Old Man Ding being a useless drunk, Lu's grandmother and mother wouldn't have passed away so early, and the original body she now inhabited would surely still be alive.
Lu Jia Guang decided to drop the subject.
For lunch, Lu Jiaxin had made arrangements at a well-known hotel. With so many people, one private room wasn't enough, so they booked a large and a small one.
Lu Jia Guang wanted to speak to her privately, so he sent Lu Ping, Xiao Qiu, and the other children to the smaller room next door. After they had left, he finally spoke up. "Jiaxin, you told Jia Zong that you don't want the compound house? You should talk to him about it."
Lu Jiaxin repeated what she had said to Lu Er Sao: "It's not just the house. I don't want any of the things he has in his possession. But rest assured, I will fulfill the promises I've made."
Lu Jia Guang continued, "Previously, San Shu wanted to adopt Jia Jie, but it didn't work out because Er Sao objected. Jiaxin, your second brother and I have discussed it, and we plan to have Lu Tao adopted by your branch of the family. What do you think?"
Lu Jiaxin was taken aback by the suggestion. "Who came up with this ridiculous idea?"
Lu Er Sao pointed at Lu Jia Zong and said, "It was him. He said San Shu wanted a son to carry on the family line, and we can't just take the house from the third branch of the family without giving something in return. Since we have three sons, we can afford to give one up for adoption."
"Have you asked Lu Tao if he agrees?" Lu Jiaxin questioned.
Lu Er Sao admitted that she hadn't consulted Lu Tao yet. "It's just a matter of registering him under the third branch of the family. Everything else will remain the same. He probably won't object."
"What about Da Bo and Da Bo Ma? Do they agree?" Lu Jiaxin inquired.
"They're both on board with the idea," came the reply.
"I disagree," stated Lu Jiaxin firmly. "Are you still going to insist on this if I don't agree?"
Lu Er Sao quickly assured her that if Lu Jiaxin disagreed, they would drop the matter altogether. She had originally thought that this arrangement would benefit Lu Jiaxin without causing any harm.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "Our branch of the family isn't vying for any imperial throne that requires a male heir. Furthermore, Lu Tao is a government employee, and that woman he's married to is no simple lady. She might very well use this against him to control him."
Lu Er Sao was shocked by her words and almost slapped herself. "Jiaxin, thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have ruined Tao Zi's life."
Lu Jia Zong also fell silent, not daring to utter a word.
Lu Da Sao quickly added, "That won't happen. With so many of us in the family, we won't let her bully our children."
Lu Jiaxin scoffed. "Big brother, second brother, my father only cares about his own pleasure. Whether the woman he finds is a scorpion or a venomous snake, it doesn't matter to him as long as he doesn't get stung."
Lu Jiajie frowned and asked, "Are you really going to give that shameless family the house?"
Lu Jiaxin let out a soft laugh and replied, "Don't worry, he won't dare. He's a self-interested individual, and while he can let them live in the house, he won't give it to them. Doing so would harm his own interests."
After saying this, she turned to Lu Er Sao and said, "Second Aunt, you saw my Shichahai residence today. I truly don't care about the compound housing. Second Aunt, go ahead and kick Huang's second child and his wife out. Let Shanzi move in with his wife and children. That place has a good location and is safer than any house they could buy outside."
As for the gossipy neighbors in the compound, she wasn't worried about them. Second Aunt didn't have anything to be blamed for, and besides, everyone gets talked about; it's only an issue if you let it bother you.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiajie immediately said, "Second Aunt, since Jiaxin has offered, don't refuse. If you can't bring yourself to kick them out, I'll do it for you."
Lu Jiazong smiled and said, "Jiaxin, then I'll shamelessly accept."
Lu Er Sao glared at him and added, "Jiaxin, we can't take your house for free. We'll pay you the market price."
Knowing her stubbornness, Lu Jiaxin smiled and agreed, "Wait until the housing reform, and when the house is officially under your name, then you can give me the money. For now, just live there."
With housing reform turning public housing into private housing, the residents, who were usually employees of the unit or enterprise, would get to purchase the homes at a very low cost.
Considering Lu Hongjun's temperament, Lu Jiaxin said, "If Dad disagrees, tell him that this is my decision. If the Huang family doesn't vacate the compound housing for Shanzi's family, I'll sell the Chaoyang residence and make him move into the compound housing."
This move would effectively cut off any support.
After the meal, Lu Jia Guang and Lu Jiazong left with their wives and children. Lu Jiajie, however, didn't return home and instead accompanied Jiaxin back to Shichahai.
Once they entered the courtyard, Jiaxin asked Zong Jinghua to take the two children to play in the back garden. His daughter was about the same age as Xiao Feng'er, so he had experience with children. As for Gu Wenfeng, Jiaxin gave him the day off.
Jiaxin looked at Jiajie and smiled, asking, "You've been brooding all day. What's on your mind?"
Jiajie stood up, his face filled with guilt, and said, "Jiaxin, I'm sorry."
Jiaxin was perplexed as to why he was apologizing out of the blue.
Jiajie was apologizing for the previous incident: "Xinxin, you took me into your business and even lent me money to buy a house. Not only was Ma Lili ungrateful, but she also resented you. I was foolish and handled the situation terribly. Jiaxin, I'm sorry for making you suffer."
Even after two years, he was still apologizing for this matter, and Jiaxin asked, "What happened?"
Jiajie let out a bitter laugh, "Dad and Mom saw that Jiazong and the others were making money, so they kept calling and pressuring me to find a job for Big Brother. I found him a job in Yang City, but he's too frugal and sent all his earnings back to Big Sister-in-law. I never expected Dad and Mom to ask me to have my friend withhold Big Brother's salary and give it to them. How could I possibly do that? I never thought they would scold me for being useless and worthless, blaming me for being bullied by the Ma family."
The knives wielded by family cut the deepest.
Jiajie continued sadly, "Second Sister and Third Sister saw that Big Brother was making money in Yangcheng, so they asked me to bring their husbands there too, and I agreed and found them jobs. I never expected Second Brother-in-law to have an affair once he had money, and Third Brother-in-law to pick up gambling. Second Sister and Third Sister blamed me for not keeping an eye on them, and now they resent me."
Lu Jiaxin...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
