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Chapter 526: Old Man Nie's Retirement
Chapter 526: Old Man Nie's Retirement
Lu Jiaxin stayed in Pengcheng for two days and told Su Heming that if Lu Jiajie looked for him in the future, he should refuse to deal with him. However, Lu Jiajie had built up some business connections over the years, and if he played his cards right, he could still make a comeback.
Upon returning to Hong Kong, Lu Jiaxin learned from the butler that Old Man Nie had been discharged from the hospital. She had missed him during her previous visit, so she decided it was time to pay him a home visit.
When Nie Zhan returned, Lu Jiaxin asked for his opinion. Some patients needed peace and quiet and were not suitable for receiving guests, so it was best to check with him first.
Nie Zhan said, "My grandfather isn't at the old mansion. He was discharged from the hospital yesterday, but he went back today."
Lu Jiaxin frowned and asked, "Who's bothering him at this hour? Hasn't he learned his lesson?"
Nie Zhan quickly explained that it wasn't that his grandfather was being bothered, but that his mother had returned, and his grandfather didn't want to see her because she was a constant source of worry. So, he chose to stay in the hospital instead.
"Actually, my grandfather's health isn't fit for discharge," Nie Zhan continued. "But he said he felt uncomfortable in the hospital. We had no choice but to let him leave since he refused to eat otherwise."
"Is your mother's return at this time a coincidence or a deliberate arrangement?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Nie Zhan laughed and said, "It wasn't planned. Her husband wanted to develop his career in Hong Kong, so she came along. But my grandfather has made it clear that if she wants to stay in Hong Kong, he will cut off her living expenses and let her work to support herself or have her husband provide for her."
Lu Jiaxin found that hard to believe. "Her husband is a dentist. No matter how much money he makes, he won't be able to support your mother's lifestyle."
The annual living expenses of two million Hong Kong dollars were indeed a substantial sum, even if they were in Hong Kong currency. Not just in the present day, but even three decades later, those with an annual income of two million in Hong Kong would still be a minority.
Nie Zhan nodded and said, "So, they're flying back to Switzerland tomorrow. I've told her that if she behaves herself and stays in Switzerland, I'll give her an additional one million Hong Kong dollars in living expenses every year. But if she insists on staying in Hong Kong, I won't give her a single cent, and she'll lose the family fund's living expenses as well."
A million dollars meant nothing to Nie Zhan, so Lu Jiaxin didn't comment further. "Did you say something to upset your grandfather?"
"He always thought the bank issue wasn't that big of a deal," Nie Zhan explained. "He believed that as long as I helped, we could resolve it. But the problem is so huge that even if I wanted to use Wansheng Real Estate to fix it, it wouldn't be enough."
"When I left, your grandfather seemed fine. I think your eldest brother must have told him the truth, and he couldn't take the shock and fainted. But this stroke seems to have made him see things differently. He said that from now on, the company will depend on us, and he wants to retire and enjoy his old age." Lu Jiaxin said, sounding half-convinced.
Nie Zhan spoke with certainty, "My grandfather has a straightforward personality. When he says he wants to retire and not meddle in company affairs, he means it."
Regardless of the reason, it was a good thing that the old man was willing to let go completely. At least he wouldn't keep pestering Nie Zhan to help Nie Jingwen. Nie Zhan had tried to feed him, but he wouldn't swallow, and the consequences had been disastrous. Helping him might only drag Nie Zhan down with him.
"My grandfather has given me all the shares of Wansheng Architecture and Container, worth over 700 million," Nie Zhan said.
"All of it to you? Didn't he give any to Nie Jingwen and the others?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Nie Zhan shook his head. "My grandfather has made many investments over the years, and he's distributed those among my eldest and second eldest brothers. He also has a lot of collectibles, and he told me that I can choose a few pieces that I like, and the rest will be left to the three brothers."
Lu Jiaxin had no objections. Not only had Nie Zhan already received the lion's share of the inheritance, but even if there were no external possessions, as the eldest, it was within the grandfather's rights to decide how to distribute his belongings.
The next day, Lu Jiaxin accompanied Nie Zhan to the hospital to visit his grandfather.
As soon as Old Man Nie saw her, he warmly invited her to sit by his bedside, and they began to chat.
Initially, Lu Jiaxin was cautious, but as Old Man Nie talked about fashion, jewelry, and real estate—topics that interested her—she gradually lowered her guard. Later, the conversation turned to the economy and policies of Hong Kong, then extended to America and Western countries. Fortunately, Lu Jiaxin kept up with the news by reading the newspaper every day, and with her background in finance, she was able to follow the discussion.
After chatting for over an hour, a nurse brought in some medicine. Old Man Nie took his medication and was helped to the bathroom by Nie Zhan. Afterward, Old Man Nie told Nie Zhan that patients needed ample rest.
Old Man Nie wanted to continue chatting with Lu Jiaxin, but the medicine made him yawn constantly, and he soon fell asleep.
Lu Jiaxin and Nie Zhan waited until he was sound asleep before heading home. On the way back, Lu Jiaxin suddenly sighed, "Aging is truly frightening."
No matter how powerful one was in their youth, being plagued with illnesses in old age was a pitiful state. Thinking of Ms. Gu's current situation, Lu Jiaxin's heart softened, and she said, "Make time to visit your grandfather often. At his age, he's actually quite afraid of being alone."
She had no emotional attachment to Old Man Nie, and whether he lived or died made no difference to her. However, Nie Zhan was different; he had been raised by the old man, and their bond was strong. If something happened to Old Man Nie one day, Nie Zhan would surely regret not visiting him more often. That was how people were; when someone passed away, their loved ones tended to remember only the good times they shared (unless the person had been truly evil).
"I can see that your grandfather likes you," Nie Zhan said. "You can come with me next time."
Lu Jiaxin wasn't interested. "Your grandfather chatted with me to test how much I know. He wanted to find out if I truly run my own companies or if I'm completely dependent on you."
Nie Zhan didn't disagree. "If you don't want to go, then don't. By the way, the news of you obtaining Emperor Yongzheng's seal has somehow spread."
"There's no such thing as a wall that doesn't leak," Lu Jiaxin said nonchalantly. "I don't mind people knowing since I paid a hefty price for it."
The items given by Lu Hongjun, like the jade cabbage and the Guanyin statue, were national treasures. If they were ever exposed, someone would undoubtedly covet them. Even if Lu Hongjun claimed they were legally obtained, things could get messy if someone decided to stir up trouble—it would be impossible to explain the situation clearly no matter how many times they tried.
"Today, Guo Sanshu called me to ask if we were keeping the seal for our collection or planning to sell it," Nie Zhan said. "If we're selling, he's willing to offer one million Hong Kong dollars."
That was indeed a generous offer, but Lu Jiaxin had no intention of selling. "Will it affect our business if we don't sell?"
Nie Zhan laughed at the suggestion. "What are you thinking? According to your logic, we wouldn't be able to do business with anyone after a conflict."
They clearly distinguished between business and personal matters. It was common for them to fight fiercely in the business arena one moment and then collaborate on a lucrative project the next. After all, a massive project couldn't be handled by a single company, and partnering with others to share the risk was always the best option.
"I guess I'm being shallow," Lu Jiaxin admitted.
"It's not your fault," Nie Zhan said with a smile. "You grew up on the mainland during the planned economy years, so how could you have been exposed to this world? I, on the other hand, have been immersed in this environment since I was a child."
(End of Chapter)
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