Chapter 390: Returning Home
Chapter 390: Returning Home
The Feng Shui master had calculated that the best date to relocate the grave was on the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, which corresponded to July 25th on the Gregorian calendar. Lu Jiaxin's classes ended on July 16th, and after making all the necessary arrangements in Hong Kong, she flew back to Sichuan.
Having informed Mei Gu in advance, she was greeted at the airport by Xing Zifeng, who addressed her in Cantonese.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "I still need to continue learning beyond just the basics."
"Yes, boss," he acknowledged.
As she had anticipated, Gu Xiuxiu did not want to return to Hong Kong after spending a month in Sichuan. Although the material conditions here were not as abundant as in Hong Kong, the house was spacious, and when she felt lucid, she could take a stroll around Shichahai or the nearby parks. At her age, she craved company, and the bustling atmosphere at Shichahai and the parks brought her joy, even if she just sat there doing nothing.
Upon arriving home, Lu Jiaxin first went to see Gu Xiuxiu. To her surprise, instead of failing to recognize her again, Gu Xiuxiu welcomed her warmly and invited her to sit by her side.
Holding Lu Jiaxin's hand, Gu Xiuxiu said affectionately, "Jiaxin, you've lost weight again. While studying and making money are important, you must also take care of your health."
Lu Jiaxin couldn't help but laugh. During the vacation, she had been frequently invited out to eat by Nie Zhan, and as a result, she had gained six pounds. However, she was used to such comments. During her university days, whenever she returned home during the holidays, her grandmother would always remark that she had become thinner.
"Jiaxin, you've worked hard during this time," Gu Xiuxiu said.
Lu Jiaxin was a bit taken aback by her lucidity. "It's not hard at all. I'm actually enjoying the combination of studying and putting what I learn into practice."
After exchanging a few more words, Gu Xiuxiu noticed her tired expression and decided to end the conversation. "You should go and rest now. We can chat more later."
Back in her own courtyard, Lu Jiaxin took a shower and then called for Mei Gu. "Aunt, do you know why Grandma's mental state has improved so much?"
Previously, Lu Jiaxin had wanted to try traditional Chinese medicine and had asked someone to arrange for a renowned doctor. She had called Mei Gu to take Gu Xiuxiu to the appointment. They had gone, the medicine had been prescribed, but unfortunately, due to its bitterness, the cognitively impaired Gu Xiuxiu had refused to take it, even breaking over ten bowls in the process. In the end, they had no choice but to continue with Western medicine.
Mei Gu nodded and explained, "Ever since the elderly madam came to Sichuan, she has been more lucid than she was in Hong Kong. The doctor said it's because her mood has improved."
While there was no cure for her illness, it was a blessing that she could remain lucid for longer periods.
Lu Jiaxin nodded in agreement. "Since Aunt enjoys going out, let's take her for walks on nice days, or invite performers to the house for storytelling and opera."
Mei Gu's face lit up with a smile. "When the elderly madam doesn't feel like going out, we can invite people to perform here. Whether it's storytelling or opera, she enjoys them both."
After a moment's hesitation, she added, "Miss, if possible, please let the elderly madam stay here. I heard that there's heating in the winter, and with the spacious house, she can still enjoy listening to stories and watching opera."
It wasn't just the elderly madam who enjoyed storytelling and opera; Mei Gu and Hong Gu loved them too. They had even been learning to sing opera from a Yue opera teacher, and although their skills were not impressive, they were delighted with the experience—something they wouldn't have had the opportunity to do in Hong Kong.
It seemed that they had become quite attached to life in Sichuan, and Lu Jiaxin smiled as she replied, "We'll discuss this again when winter comes. If Aunt's body adapts to the climate here, then she can stay; if not, we'll have to go back to Hong Kong and return next spring."
Mei Gu nodded eagerly.
After her afternoon nap, Lu Jiaxin found Shan Zi and Da Mai waiting for her in the living room with their three children. Before returning, she had informed Lu Er's wife, so it was no surprise that the couple had come to visit.
Despite being seven years older than Lu Jiaxin, Shan Zi still felt nervous in her presence. "Cousin—"
Da Mai was also influenced by Lu Jiaxin's presence, stuttering as he addressed her as "Aunt."
Lu Jiaxin chuckled, "Why are you so scared? I'm not a tiger that will eat you."
Da Mai felt a little embarrassed and then pushed the two children standing next to him forward. "Nuannuan, Goudan, this is your Grand Aunt. Greet her properly."
Nuannuan shouted out 'Grand Aunt' crisply, and even the three-year-old Goudan managed a response, though it was a little clumsy.
When Lu Jiaxin first visited her hometown, she felt a little uncomfortable being addressed as 'Grand Aunt' by Nuannuan, but now she had gotten used to it. She waved at the two children, beckoning them over. "Come closer, Grand Aunt wants to see you."
Nuannuan pulled Zi Yu to stand in front of Lu Jiaxin and said, "Grand Aunt, you're looking more and more beautiful."
Lu Jiaxin laughed out loud. This child had such a sweet tongue. Before coming, she had prepared gifts for all three children—a golden padlock pendant for each of them.
When Da Mai saw the golden padlock pendants that Lu Jiaxin took out, he was stunned. Once he came back to his senses, he quickly stepped forward to stop her. "Aunt, no, these are too valuable."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "Why not? These are just a small token of my affection. In Hong Kong, it's customary for elders to gift gold jewelry to children."
Of course, only wealthy families could afford to give gold as gifts.
After Da Mai left with the three children, Lu Jiaxin smiled and asked, "So, how are you finding life in the compound? Are you settling in well?"
After Lu Shan was adopted by Lu Hongjun, he had asked the Huang Jianjun couple to move out of the compound, but they seemed to have ignored his request.
When Lu Er's wife found out, she waited until they finished work and then, together with Lu Jiaxiong and Lu Shan's couple, paid a visit to the compound.
Upon seeing them arrive, the Huang Jianjun couple immediately shut the door.
Lu Jiaxiong kicked the door open with the help of his two sons, then dragged the Huang Jianjun couple out of the house, along with their belongings. The commotion was quite intense, and the police even showed up after someone reported it.
Lu Er's wife was fearless. She explained the whole situation to the police and presented the agreement that Lu Hongjun and his daughter had signed, proving that the house was intended for Lu Jiaxin's son's family. The Huang Jianjun couple were trying to occupy the house, and she naturally disagreed with this.
The house had been allocated to Lu Hongjun by the department store, and the police summoned him. To prevent him from siding with Huang Jianjun, Lu Er's wife repeated what Lu Jiaxin had said before. If this house wasn't given to Lu Shan's family, then the one in Chaoyang District would be vacated for them.
Lu Hongjun had always wanted to give this house to Lu Shan, but he couldn't get past Tang Sufen's objections. Now that Lu Jiaxin had made her intentions clear, he naturally agreed with Lu Er's wife, stating that the decision regarding this house was up to Lu Jiaxin.
Also, because Lu Hongjun had made his stance clear, the Huang Jianjun couple moved out of the compound that very night. As Huang Jianjun's parents occupied the other two rooms in their house, the couple had no choice but to move to Chaoyang District and live with Lu Hongjun.
When Lu Dabo and his wife learned about this, they paid a visit the next day and successfully drove the couple out.
Tang Sufen's life with Lu Hongjun had been smooth sailing, and she believed she could control him. However, she never expected Lu Jiaxin to be so easy to get along with, and the eldest branch of the Lu family was like a band of bandits; she was no match for them. The consecutive blows to her plans enraged her, and she fell ill from the stress.
Lu Shan smiled and said, "The compound's house is bright and spacious, and the vegetable market is right next door. There's also a bus stop nearby, so it's very convenient."
He never dreamed that one day he would live in a multi-story building. In the first few days after moving into the compound, he and Da Mai often felt like they were dreaming. From time to time, they would pinch themselves to prove that it was real.
(End of Chapter)
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