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Chapter 605: Getting Him Tipsy to Pump Him for Information
Chapter 605: Getting Him Tipsy to Pump Him for Information
Lu Hongjun was indeed a capable man. When Ding Jing was arrested, he was called in to assist with the investigation and emerged unscathed. This time, when the department store's finance chief was detained, he was once more summoned to aid the inquiry and returned without a hair out of place. Those unaware would attribute his luck to integrity; those in the know were astonished by the formidable backing he seemed to have.
Tang Sufen used to think she had Lu Hongjun all figured out, but this recent incident made her realize she had underestimated him. Consequently, she humbled herself and attended to him like a doting wife. The couple's relationship soon reverted to its affectionate beginnings.
When Huang Xiaoyu came to visit her mother, she noticed this change. Not only did Tang Sufen prioritize Lu Hongjun in everything, but she also cooked only his favorite dishes, neglecting to prepare any of Huang Xiaoyu's preferred foods. Though displeased, Huang Xiaoyu dared not show her discontent in front of Lu Hongjun.
After Lu Hongjun finished his meal, he leisurely set down his bowl and chopsticks and strolled out, exuding an air of contentment.
"Mom," Huang Xiaoyu asked, "did she give you all her pension?"
Tang Sufen shook her head. Ever since Lu Shan was adopted into the third wife's family, Lu Hongjun had been giving her only half of his pension. He kept the other half for himself, and it turned out he had been saving it, accumulating a sum of three thousand yuan.
"He only gives you half his pension, yet you treat him like royalty. If others didn't know better, they'd think you were his hired housekeeper. Otherwise, who would let a broom fall without picking it up or expect their mother-in-law to brew their tea?"
Tang Sufen went out and closed the door before lowering her voice. "You little rascal, stop blabbering if you don't know anything. I'm doing this for your sake and your brother's."
Huang Xiaoyu wore a skeptical expression.
Tang Sufen didn't elaborate, only instructing her daughter to trust that she knew what she was doing. She explained that Lu Hongjun had connections that could be leveraged to secure a better job for her younger son, as his current work was both exhausting and poorly paid. As for the eldest son, they had already obtained the house and swindled five thousand yuan from him, so the cunning couple didn't need to worry about them anymore.
Huang Xiaoyu tugged on her mother's arm. "Mom, please tell me what's going on!"
Knowing her daughter's loose tongue, Tang Sufen was reluctant to divulge too much for fear of complicating matters. However, Huang Xiaoyu proved to be more astute than she anticipated. A few days later, during a vacation, Huang Xiaoyu took Tang Sufen out shopping for clothes and then to a private room in a restaurant for a meal.
Tang Sufen had a weakness for alcohol; even a small amount would make her tipsy and prone to divulging secrets. Huang Xiaoyu was well aware of this trait and coaxed her mother into drinking several cups, waiting for her to become inebriated before commencing her interrogation.
"Mom," Huang Xiaoyu asked, "why was Lu Hongjun released so quickly this time?"
Tang Sufen, feeling a little tipsy, replied, "Lu Hongjun has many comrades-in-arms from his military days, and many of them now hold high positions. His swift release this time is likely due to their intervention."
"Is that so? So, you're not entirely sure, then."
"There's also talk that Lu Jiaxin pulled some strings," Tang Sufen said uncertainly. "They say I should improve my relationship with her, but that girl doesn't give me the time of day. How am I supposed to improve our relationship?"
Knowing how wealthy Lu Jiaxin was, Tang Sufen wanted to mend their relationship, but the young woman didn't even spare her a glance. She sighed, regretting her misjudgment of Lu Jiaxin when she married Lu Hongjun.
"But Lu Jiaxin is in Hongcheng," Huang Xiaoyu pointed out. "How could she have helped from there? You don't even know if she's involved."
Tang Sufen wasn't clear on the details, but someone had indeed suggested Lu Jiaxin's involvement. "They say Lu Jiaxin has opened several companies in Hongcheng, and they're supposedly quite large, with branches in the mainland as well. And the man she found for herself is impressive, too—he's the young master of a wealthy Hongcheng family, overseeing a company worth over a billion yuan."
Huang Xiaoyu was taken aback. "But didn't you say that all the family property went to his older brother and that he was just an employee in the family business?"
Tang Sufen didn't deny this and said, "That's what Lu Hongjun told me at first. Looking back now, he probably said that to prevent me from targeting Lu Jiaxin."
A fervent light flashed in Huang Xiaoyu's eyes. "Mom, do you mean that Lu Jiaxin is very capable, and her fiance is even more so?"
Tang Sufen nodded. It was rare to find someone under thirty who oversaw tens of billions in assets, not just in Hong Kong but across the entire mainland.
Huang Xiaoyu said, "Mom, I want to go to Hong Kong City. It was impossible before, but Lu Jiaxin is so influential that she could definitely take me there."
Hong Kong City was a place where opportunities for wealth abounded, and she was determined to make a fortune there.
Tang Sufen shook her head. "Impossible. She dislikes me and your brothers. She won't take you to Hong Kong City. Xiaoyu, focus on your work and find a good husband. Don't entertain such unrealistic thoughts."
Huang Xiaoyu asked, "Mom, didn't you say that Lu Hongjun gave all his cherished antiques to Lu Jiaxin? Where did those antiques come from?"
Tang Sufen shook her head to indicate her ignorance. "Lu Hongjun is very tight-lipped about it. I asked him several times, but he wouldn't say. Later, I even tried to get him drunk, but he still didn't spill anything."
"So, the story about the antiques is false?"
Tang Sufen asserted, "That part is definitely true. The Lu family was willing to adopt Lu Hongjun's son because of those antiques, which are said to be worth a fortune. Later, when Lu Hongjun gave the antiques to Lu Jiaxin, Lu Jia's father was furious and even argued with Lu Hongjun. After Lu Jiaxin found out, she distanced herself from them."
Huang Xiaoyu then inquired about the Lu Jia Guang family, but as Wang Xiaojie had always been wary of them, Tang Sufen didn't know much about their situation.
Finally, unable to extract any more information, Huang Xiaoyu poured two more cups of wine for Tang Sufen, getting her thoroughly drunk. She then called a taxi and sent her mother back to Chaoyang District.
Upon returning home, Lu Hongjun frowned at the smell of alcohol on Tang Sufen. "Why did you let your mother drink so much? Who will take care of her now that she's drunk?"
It was a minor inconvenience that no one was around to cook, as they could easily eat out at a small restaurant, but taking care of a drunk person was another matter.
Huang Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Uncle, don't worry. I'll take care of her."
Lu Hongjun gave her a strange look. Ever since Huang Jiantang lied and manipulated Tang Sufen into stealing and selling two antiques, he had doubted the character of all six of Huang's children. While he maintained a polite facade when interacting with them, he was actually on guard. Nowadays, he kept his money, valuables, and even health supplements locked up, with the key always on his person.
Seeing that he was about to leave, Huang Xiaoyu stopped him and said, "Uncle, I want to go to Hong Kong City. Please help me! Uncle, once I make a fortune there, I'll definitely take good care of you."
Lu Hongjun looked at her as if she were a fool. "Your mother worked hard to raise all of you. Ever since she moved out, you only come by when you need something. Otherwise, we don't even see a ghost of you. With your attitudes, none of you will take care of your mother in her old age, let alone me. I may be old, but I'm not senile."
His biological daughter, though estranged from him, had promised to ensure his well-being in his later years. His eldest nephew lived nearby, and his grandson was also filial. Thus, he had no worries about his golden years. So, when Huang Xiaoyu promised to take care of him, he didn't believe a word of it.
In the past, he had liked them by association with Tang Sufen, and their infrequent interactions had seemed pleasant. However, after witnessing so many incidents, he now saw that only Tang Sufen's youngest daughter had a conscience, while the rest were untrustworthy. But Tang Sufen refused to believe him, thinking that he was trying to drive a wedge between her and her children, so he didn't press the issue.
(End of Chapter)
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