Chapter 615: The Outcome
Chapter 615: The Outcome
Lu Shan nodded and said, "Aunt, Da Mai said that he will bring the children to visit their great-grandfather after they finish school."
Before coming to the hospital, Da Mai had repeatedly instructed Lu Shan not to mention his in-laws in front of Lu Jiaxin. His mother-in-law was kind, but his father-in-law was another story. It was best not to bring up the topic of spouses at all.
Lu Jiaxin waved her hand and said, "Hospitals are full of bacteria and viruses. Don't bring the children here. When Grandpa is discharged and resting at home, bring the children to visit him then."
Lu Shan was taken aback, then said, "Aunt, Mai and I plan to rent a flat next to the noodle shop. That way, it'll be more convenient for us to take care of Grandpa."
Lu Jiaxin shook her head and said, "The area next to your noodle shop is not only noisy but the housing isn't great either. The Chaoyang residence is quieter and has everything he needs. It's a better environment for him. I'll hire two caregivers to take turns looking after him, and an additional auntie to do the laundry and cooking. If you're willing, you can move there with your children. If it's inconvenient, you can visit whenever you have time. Don't worry, your Uncle's family lives nearby, so you won't be mistreated."
She would also ask Xing Ziyang to drop by the Chaoyang residence from time to time, so the caregivers and the auntie wouldn't dare slack off. As for Auntie Hong and Auntie Mei, they were already keeping an eye on the caregivers at her aunt's place, so she couldn't rely solely on their conscience. With this double assurance, she could rest easy.
Lu Shan hesitated and said, "I'll discuss this with Mai when I get home."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "It's a child's responsibility to take care of their parents. Don't overthink it. If Mai feels it's inconvenient, you can still bring the children to visit your grandfather often."
After chatting with Lu Shan for a while, Lu Jiaxin headed home. With people taking care of her father, there was no need to have so many family members at the hospital. Of course, the main reason was that she didn't want to stay, as she didn't feel any emotional attachment.
Not long after Lu Jiaxin returned home, she received a call from Xie Kaixiao. His secretary had called the hospital and, upon learning that Lu Jiaxin had returned home, called to confirm, so as not to make a wasted trip.
"Yes, I'm home," Lu Jiaxin said.
Half an hour later, Xie Kaixiao arrived. The guard at the door was a retired soldier who had difficulty finding work due to a limp. Thanks to Gu Wenfeng, he now had a job.
The guard was startled by Xie Kaixiao's license plate but didn't let that influence his duty. He checked the driver and inspected his documents thoroughly, as Xing Zifeng had only mentioned that there would be a guest later without providing any details.
Only after confirming everything was in order did the guard grant permission for the car to enter.
After the car drove in, the guard scratched his head and muttered to himself, "A big shot has arrived, but why hasn't the boss sent anyone to receive him?"
Lu Jiaxin's cold attitude toward Xie Kaixiao was due to her displeasure over Lu Hongjun's situation. If it weren't for their close relationship, she would have refused to see him altogether.
Seeing her sullen expression, Xie Kaixiao said, "Jiaxin, I was doing research in a place with poor signal last week. That's why I only found out about your father's situation the next evening."
The problem was that by the time he found out, Lu Hongjun had already been arrested, and they had solid evidence of him selling supplies. By the time Xie Kaixiao wrapped up his work and rushed back, Lu Hongjun was already in the hospital, fighting for his life.
Fortunately, the timely medical attention had saved him. If he had died, who knows what kind of trouble it would have caused. Although Lu Hongjun wasn't a likeable person, he was still Lu Jiaxin's father, and blood ties mattered, even in a strained relationship.
Aunt Mei led the female workers as they brought in tea, snacks, and fruit, then quietly withdrew.
Lu Jiaxin looked at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes, as she asked, "Are you saying they deliberately kept this from me until the last moment? Why?"
Xie Kaixiao explained, "I was transferred to the Planning Committee three months ago.
Lu Jiaxin was taken aback. The Planning Committee was later reorganized into the Development and Reform Commission, which meant that Xie Kaixiao had been promoted again. More importantly, being transferred to this unit indicated that he was a reformist.
Xie Kaixiao continued, "The Eastern Automobile Factory has already invested 100 million, and you will need to invest an additional 400 million in the future. Nie Zhan intends to build the Peninsula Hotel in Siyucheng, and he also has three other projects in collaboration with Yangcheng. All of them are large-scale projects with investments of several hundred million each."
Frowning, Lu Jiaxin asked, "Are you saying that someone is jealous of you and wants to drive a wedge between us? But how does it benefit them if I withdraw my investment from Nie Zhan?"
"They don't share the same ideology as me," Xie Kaixiao replied.
Lu Jiaxin immediately understood. With reformists, there were bound to be conservatives. It was clear that this time, the conservatives had deliberately kept her in the dark. There were many unanswered questions, but she chose not to ask further. Political struggles could be complex and far-reaching, and she had no desire to get entangled in them.
Xie Kaixiao's visit was also to inform her of the organization's decision regarding Lu Hongjun's case. "Your father has been charged with two crimes: one is the illegal sale of supplies, and the other is the illegal sale of cultural relics. According to the investigation, he has been secretly selling essential supplies for the past 18 years, making illegal profits of 68,000 yuan. As for the sale of cultural relics, there is no evidence, so that charge doesn't stand."
Lu Jiaxin was not surprised by the outcome. She had already suspected that her father was involved in the illegal sale of supplies. His position had provided him with the opportunity to divert scarce resources. Making a profit of 68,000 yuan over more than a decade, averaging a few thousand yuan per year, didn't seem like a huge amount. But over a decade ago, an ordinary worker's annual salary was only a few hundred yuan.
Xie Kaixiao looked at Lu Jiaxin and said, "In his current condition, he will be sentenced but will be granted medical parole. Therefore, the case will not be publicly tried. Jiaxin, your father's illegal profits must be returned to the state, and all retirement benefits will be revoked."
One could say that Lu Hongjun was lucky. The country was currently focused on economic development, so the charge of selling supplies wasn't as severe as it would have been a decade ago. If he had been discovered back then, even the most influential people couldn't have saved him, and he would have faced a firing squad. Of course, they also took into account Lu Jiaxin's reputation, so they didn't impose a harsher punishment.
Lu Jiaxin had no objections to the handling of the case and indicated that she would send someone to deliver the money today. "What about the housing unit? The department store compound is also included in this batch of housing reforms, and my nephew has already paid for it."
Xie Kaixiao looked at her and said, "That's also one of the benefits that will be revoked."
Lu Jiaxin explained, "That particular housing unit was given to my nephew, Lu Shan. I need to clarify this with him. If it were mine, I would definitely give it up."
"They will all be reclaimed," Xie Kaixiao said. "Jiaxin, this punishment is already very lenient."
Lu Jiaxin nodded and brought up the matter of the antique items. "Uncle Xie, I plan to donate the collection my father gave me to a museum in a few years."
Whenever she traveled to a new place, she enjoyed visiting museums to admire the treasures left behind by her ancestors. Aside from keeping a few pieces that she particularly liked, she donated the rest to museums and even contributed funds for their construction.
Xie Kaixiao smiled and nodded in agreement.
Not only was he aware of the antiques Lu Hongjun had collected, but he also knew that Lu Jiaxin had been secretly acquiring antiques, specifically seeking out rare and valuable pieces. With the booming antique trade, even transactions involving national treasures were left untouched by the government, as long as they didn't leave the country.
Lu Jiaxin's acquisition of national treasures was for her personal collection rather than resale, so he turned a blind eye to it. As long as these treasures remained in her possession and within the country, he had no objections.
(End of Chapter)
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