https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-573-The-Premiere-of-Noble-Families-/12580377/
Chapter 572: The Sweet Smell of Career Success
Chapter 572: The Sweet Smell of Career Success
News of Lu Jiabing's antics, even while ill, had reached Lu Jiaxin through Aunt Mei. His behavior had not only irritated his sons, Lu Jiacai and Lu Jiajie, but had also driven his eldest son and Lu Jiazong to keep their distance.
Aunt Mei informed Lu Jiaxin, "Your second uncle has been discharged from the hospital and is now resting at Lu Jiajie's place. Lu Jiajie and Lu Jiacai have gone to Yangcheng, so your second aunt is left to care for him."
Lu Jiabing was now able to get out of bed, and Lu Jiajie had continued to hire the deaf mute to care for him. However, he was only responsible for tending to Lu Jiabing; the chores, like laundry, cooking, and cleaning, fell to Lu Jiabing's wife.
Lu Jiaxin was uninterested in the goings-on of the Lu family and asked, "How's Grandma doing lately?"
"The old lady has been well-behaved recently," Aunt Mei replied. "She's been enjoying her outings more and more. Each time she goes out, I make sure Xing Ziyang and the others accompany her closely."
"Yes, it's good to have them around so that Grandma doesn't get lost," Lu Jiaxin agreed.
After a brief chat, as Lu Jiaxin was about to head out for a walk, her phone rang again. This time, it was Yu Meitung.
As soon as Yu Meitung heard Lu Jiaxin's voice, she asked, "Jiaxin, did you know that Shimeng is pregnant?"
This was news to Lu Jiaxin. "She started trying for a baby as soon as she returned from Siyou City. With her health, it was only a matter of time before she conceived. However, we shouldn't announce the pregnancy during the first three months. It's a custom, so please don't tell anyone else. Otherwise, her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law might blame her for spreading the news."
Yu Meitung agreed and then complained, "They say marrying into a wealthy family is a blessed life, but with those two matriarchs looming over you, I'd rather not marry at all. It's too suffocating."
"If you don't want to marry, there are plenty of others who will," Lu Jiaxin said. "Besides, Shimeng seems to be doing just fine. Don't say things in front of her that might upset her."
Yu Meitung laughed dryly. "I'm not stupid. Of course, I'd only praise Hu Zhifang in front of Shimeng! But I'll never be a wealthy socialite like her. I'm aiming to become a senior designer at Wufu Jewelry and earn a million-dollar salary."
Why bother with marriage? Once you have a child, your freedom is gone. It's much better to focus on your career and enjoy the sweet smell of success—the satisfaction of promotions and pay raises that money can't buy, all without having to grovel.
Lu Jiaxin smiled gently. "Then good luck to you."
After expressing her thanks, Yu Meitung asked, "Jiaxin, with the big moves you've been making with Green Forest and the newly acquired fashion brand, when will it be our jewelry company's turn?"
"Do you know how many people have been fired as a result of these changes?" Lu Jiaxin replied. "Do you still want this wind to blow into the jewelry company and risk it blowing on you, leaving you to look for another job?"
Yu Meitung laughed heartily. "I participated in a jewelry design competition, and the director said that if I win a prize, I'll be promoted to deputy head of the design department, with a 30% raise! With my design talent, the company wouldn't dare to fire me."
Lu Jiaxin had been considering inviting Yu Meitung for a weekend shopping trip, but after hearing this, she changed her mind. "Then good luck to you."
As it was customary not to announce a pregnancy during the first three months, Lu Jiaxin didn't call Zong Shimeng to offer congratulations, nor did she plan to tell Nie Zhan.
Two days later, Nie Zhan mentioned something to Lu Jiaxin. "Brother Fang called me today to ask for that doctor's name and address. A friend's wife has been unable to conceive for many years, and he wants to recommend the doctor to them."
Knowing Zong Shimeng's personality, Lu Jiaxin was certain that she wouldn't hesitate to share the doctor's address if she heard about a woman struggling with infertility. "Is he asking for the address on behalf of his mistress?" she asked.
"Just say you don't know, and if they ask me, I'll deny it too."
"I already refused, saying that you would give me a hard time if I helped him." Nie Zhan replied, knowing that those around him were aware of his fear of Lu Jiaxin. Thus, he simply feigned helplessness, claiming that he couldn't assist in this matter, lest he be barred from entering his own home.
Lu Jiaxin didn't mind being seen as a shrew. "It's better that you didn't say anything. There are plenty of renowned doctors in Hong Kong City, so it's unlikely they won't find one who can cure her."
Nie Zhan hesitated but eventually shared what he knew. "The miscarriage damaged her body, and the doctor said it would be difficult for her to conceive in the future. However, if a skilled physician helps her to regulate her body, her chances of getting pregnant will increase."
Lu Jiaxin scoffed, "This world is truly unfair. Men have their way with multiple women, yet it's the women who end up hurt, while the men emerge unscathed and are even revered as playboys."
Nie Zhan dared not continue this topic. "Do you want to play golf with me on Saturday?"
"No, you go play with your friends. I've made plans to go horse riding with Li Huini," Lu Jiaxin said. With Shi Meng taking care of her pregnancy, Shi Xinyu returning to Star City, and Yu Meitung busy preparing for her competition, she felt it was important to make more friends so that she wouldn't be alone when she wanted to go shopping.
Nie Zhan, of course, had no objections.
Lu Jiaxin recalled Mei Gu's words from earlier and asked, "Has your mother caused any more trouble? If there's something going on, don't hide it from me."
Nie Zhan could only smile bitterly. He hadn't wanted to bring this up, to spare Lu Jiaxin from worrying. But since she asked, he had no choice but to tell her. "She wants my brother to transfer all the money to her at once. When he refused, she came to me. But with a signed contract on white paper, there's no going back."
This arrangement was made to safeguard against the possibility of Antonio tricking her out of the money. Thus, a contract was signed to pay her annually until the full amount was transferred. With the sale price at 120 million, it would take 40 years to complete the payments at 3 million per year! If she lived to be over 90, Nie Zhan would accept it.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiaxin frowned and said, "This money can't be handled according to your brother's method. We need to find a more secure way to manage it."
"Flowers don't bloom forever, and if something happens to him midway and he can't pay up, it'll become your problem again."
With Nie Zhan's income, giving Nie Manlin 3 million a year wasn't a big deal. But the thought of giving her money to support a man with questionable intentions disgusted him.
"I took paintings, porcelain, and a box of eastern pearls from my brother, valued at 4.8 million. I didn't give him this money. Instead, I invested it in stocks in America and bought the Coca-Cola stocks that you recommended."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiaxin fell silent. The items left behind by Nie Zhan's mother were worth 120 million, but in reality, they were worth much more, and they were priceless treasures that money couldn't buy. This 4.8 million was Nie Zhan's safeguard.
Perhaps Nie Jingwen felt that this was hush money. Regardless of the reason, getting a third of the money was enough. If her concerns came true, forget about the appreciated value of the stocks; just the annual dividends would be enough to cover Nie Manlin's expenses. This was probably also why Antonio wanted to get his hands on the money.
Nie Manlin was indeed a romantic, but the wealth of a wealthy family wasn't so easily calculated. In mainland TV dramas, a man might marry into a woman's family, endure humiliation for a few years, and eventually seize his wife's family fortune. But once she reached that position and mingled with the wealthy, she realized it was impossible. It might work with people of modest means, but not with big tycoons. If their children were incompetent, the family would make early plans, and the idea of someone plotting to seize their family fortune and rise to the top was nothing but a dream.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
