Chapter 370: Border Trade
Chapter 370: Border Trade
Lu Jiaxin had never interacted with her two paternal cousins from the second wife's side, but she knew they were diligent and capable women who could handle any household task. She was unaware of their true nature, though. As for Lu Jiajia and Lu Jiajie, they were always under the watchful eye of their paternal uncle, Lu Dabuo, and would be punished if they stepped out of line.
Being the village head, Lu Dabuo had the final say in his household. Not only did the second uncle and aunt not dare to interfere, but they also had to agree with his decisions.
Lu Jiaxin sympathized and said, "Since you're settling down in Si Jiucheng, there won't be many opportunities to meet anyway."
Lu Jiajie, feeling disheartened, also declared that he would no longer get involved. He was tired of the whole situation, which involved his brother-in-law, not even a nephew. "I even heard my mother say that she wanted to come and help take care of my children. But I dare not let them do that," he said, wiping his face.
Putting others aside, he himself disliked them. Aside from their insatiable greed, they also had dirty mouths, always blaming others when something went wrong and never acknowledging their own faults.
"You don't have to be discouraged," Lu Jiaxin said. "It's normal for siblings to help each other out in times of difficulty, but there's no point in trying to help those who can't help themselves."
Lu Jiajie nodded in agreement. "I've made it clear that they shouldn't involve me in family matters anymore. I won't get involved. I've discussed this with my brother, and from now on, I'll cover their medical expenses if they get sick and provide them with a living allowance if they can't work. He and my sister-in-law will be responsible for taking care of them."
From now on, he wouldn't go back unless necessary, as he had truly been hurt by the situation. It was also because of this personal experience that he now understood that Jiaxin's earlier situation had been mishandled.
"It's good that you can see that," Lu Jiaxin said.
Fortunately, the two brothers had been raised well by their uncle, Lu Dabuo, and had not turned out badly.
This time, Lu Jiajie had come along with Jiaxin to ask for her advice on another matter. "A friend of mine invited me to join him in doing business with the Soviets in the north at the beginning of the year," he explained. "He said that they lack everything, and it's easy to make money there. I refused because I'm unfamiliar with that place. Jiaxin, you're well-informed. Is doing business there really that profitable?"
Lu Jiaxin, always keeping a close eye on international affairs, was indeed knowledgeable about the situation in the Soviet Union. "They lack everything right now," she confirmed. "If you can get your hands on domestic goods and sell them there, you'll definitely make a profit. However, the problem is that both countries have foreign exchange controls, and there isn't a unified banking system for trade settlement. If you want to engage in smuggling, you can only do so through bartering. There are only two options for the goods you acquire in exchange: selling them locally or bringing them back here."
"Transporting goods there and then bringing back the goods you exchange for—the journey is filled with risks. It's no exaggeration to say that you're risking your life for money."
"It's understandable for those who are desperate to try and find a way out. But you're already making a decent living, and you'll be able to earn even more in the future. There's no need to put your life on the line."
"Your wife's parents are as good as nonexistent, and if something were to happen to you, what would become of Qiangqiang and Xiaofeng'er? They would be left as orphans, vulnerable to anyone who wants to bully them."
Lu Jiajie had been tempted by the idea at first, but he ultimately decided against it, considering that doing business in a foreign land would mean losing contact with his family, and the two children would be left without proper care. After much deliberation, he finally let go of the idea, though he still felt a twinge of regret.
After hearing Jiaxin's words, Lu Jiajie's doubts vanished. "Jiaxin, you're truly well-informed," he said.
"In business, time is money," Lu Jiaxin replied. "The northern trade is just beginning, and it will gradually grow in scale. You have the capital, so you can't afford to take risks, but there are those who are willing to take risks but lack the funds. Of course, it all depends on your discernment; otherwise, they might kick you out once they start making a profit."
Lu Jiajie was glad that he had tagged along, despite his initial reluctance. Otherwise, he would still be agonizing over the decision.
Although his younger sister was younger than him, she had a good understanding of the situation.
Lu Jiaxin asked, "Are Qiangqiang and Xiaofeng adapting well to living with their uncle and aunt?"
Lu Jiajie expressed that the two children loved staying with Lu Jiaguang and his wife. He had also heeded Lu Jiaxin's suggestion to hire a female tutor for the children. Additionally, Song Daniu's workload had increased, but her salary had gone up by fifty percent. The Lu Jiaguang family treated her politely, and she felt content with her work. As for Wang Xiaojie, while she helped take care of the children, her household chores had been reduced by half, making her life much easier than before.
"She hasn't come looking for the children, has she?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiajie's face took on a mocking expression. "She's pregnant, and I heard that she pulled some strings to get a B-ultrasound to confirm it's a boy. Now, all she cares about is the child in her belly, and she doesn't even remember Qiangqiang and Xiaofeng."
"It's good if she has another son. That way, she can keep her savings and the house, and she won't have to rely on Qiangqiang and Xiaofeng for money when she's old," Lu Jiaxin commented.
Lu Jiaxin nodded and then yawned. "I heard from your second aunt that Qiangqiang and Xiaofeng are becoming more and more sensible."
Lu Jiajie smiled and said, "The two children have indeed become much more sensible. Jiaxin, you must be tired. Go ahead and get some rest. It's getting late, and I should take the children back as well."
Lu Jiaxin admitted that she was indeed feeling a bit sleepy. "The backyard garden is quite large. Let the children play a bit longer if they enjoy it."
"Okay," Lu Jiajie agreed.
After waking up from their afternoon nap, Gu Wenfeng's guests had arrived. A total of six people stood there, tall and sturdy like evergreen pines.
Lu Jiaxin said, "First, please introduce yourselves."
Gu Wenfeng, standing by her side, added, "Just tell us where you're from, how old you were when you joined the army, your military specialty, how many years you served, and the reason for your discharge. Oh, and whether or not you're married."
The six men introduced themselves one by one as instructed.
After listening to their introductions, Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "Room and board included, you'll each receive 300 yuan a month. If you perform well, there will be a year-end bonus, and you'll receive three sets of work uniforms per quarter. What do you think of these terms?"
The six men naturally had no objections. This salary was considered high, even in Siming City, especially with room and board included and three sets of clothes per quarter.
The oldest among them, Jing Ziyang, took the initiative to ask, "Boss, may I ask what our specific duties will be?"
Lu Jiaxin explained, "Your job is to protect my aunt and this mansion. By the way, my aunt has dementia, so you must be extra cautious when she wants to go out."
After finishing, she pointed to Jing Ziyang as the leader of the six. "I'll be leaving tomorrow, so I'll leave everything here to you. If there's anything, just give me a call. I'll have Mei Gu, the housekeeper of this mansion, give you my phone number later."
Subsequently, Lu Jiaxin called for Mei Gu and introduced Jing Ziyang and the other five men to her. "At least two people should accompany my aunt when she goes out. If you need to go out, make sure someone follows you as well. The security in Siming City is generally good, but there are still quite a few bad people around."
Mei Gu frowned, looking a little worried. "Miss, I can't understand what they're saying."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and reassured her, "Don't worry, I've arranged for an assistant to come and help you later. She can also teach you Cantonese if you're interested in learning." She then turned to Jing Ziyang and the others, "If you want to learn Cantonese, my assistant can teach you. If you learn it well and my aunt returns to Hong Kong, you're welcome to come with her."
Jing Ziyang, who had initially been concerned about losing his job when the elderly lady returned to Hong Kong, lit up at the prospect. "Rest assured, Boss. We will definitely study hard."
(End of Chapter)
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