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Chapter 617: A Load Off One's Chest
Chapter 617: A Load Off One's Chest
The couple left the house, and Lu Shan lowered his voice and said, "Da Mai, how can we take Auntie's house on Guangming Road? That house would cost seven to eight thousand, if not more."
Da Mai said, "Since Auntie offered it to us, it would be impolite to refuse. There are plenty of rooms there, and when Grandpa is discharged from the hospital, we can bring him back to live with us."
Lu Shan shook his head and said, "That's not necessary. Auntie mentioned sending Grandpa back to the Chaoyang residence to recuperate. We can hire two caregivers and a housekeeper, and we can take the children to visit him often."
Da Mai glared at Shan and said, "They say you're thick-skulled, and you really are. Auntie's arrangement is to spare us any trouble, but considering Grandpa's condition, he would surely prefer to live with family. Having only caregivers and a housekeeper around, lying in bed alone without seeing any family would be lonely."
Lu Shan pondered for a moment and agreed, "Then we'll ask Grandpa where he'd like to stay when the time comes."
Da Mai said, "No need to ask. We'll bring him home after he's discharged. If he finds it too noisy once he's recovered, he can always go back to Chaoyang."
Lu Shan had no objections.
The next day, Lu Jiaxin went to the hospital and found only the caregiver and Xing Ziyang in the ward; neither Lu Shan nor their aunt was present. Upon inquiring, she learned that her aunt had taken an early flight back to Hong Kong.
Xing Ziyang explained, "There's some business in Hong Kong that requires the boss's attention. She'll return once it's settled. As for Comrade Lu Shan, he went to the Housing Administration."
"What's the business at the Housing Administration?"
Xing Ziyang smiled and said, "My boss has gifted the house on Guangming Road to Comrade Lu Shan. Today, he and his wife went with a lawyer to transfer the property."
Of course, there was a condition attached to this gift—the house could be lived in but not sold.
Lu Jiaxin immediately sensed that something was amiss. Otherwise, her aunt wouldn't have handed over the Guangming Road property to Lu Shan so readily. "Have him call me when he comes to the hospital," she instructed.
"Will do," Xing Ziyang replied.
After completing the property transfer at the Housing Administration, the next step was to move. Da Mai said, "Shan, I'll have Mom pack our things. We'll hire some help for the move in two days."
Ever since the news of Lu Hongjun's arrest spread, the residents of the compound had been giving them strange looks. A neighbor with whom she was on good terms quietly told her that some people in the compound felt that since Lu Hongjun had committed a crime, the house should be taken back, and that it was unjust for a single worm to occupy such a large dwelling.
Da Mai understood that for now, it was all talk and no action because the verdict was still pending. Once the judgment was passed and her grandfather was convicted, they wouldn't be able to stay there anymore. With the Guangming Road property now in her name, it was best to move as soon as possible, as she had no desire to continue seeing the ugly faces of the compound's residents.
"Alright," she agreed.
As soon as Da Mai entered the compound, she spotted an old lady giving her a disdainful look and even heard her muttering in Mandarin about how this family still had the audacity to live here.
On any other day, Da Mai would have endured it, as she hadn't found a suitable house yet and didn't want to create trouble before moving out. But with their move just two days away, there was no need to continue biting her tongue.
Da Mai looked directly at the old lady and said, her face impassive, "We're moving out this week. But even if we vacate the house, it won't be available to your family."
Auntie Zhao's face turned ashen.
One of the neighbors, an amiable middle-aged lady with whom Da Mai was quite friendly, happened to be resting that day. She had just returned from grocery shopping and was chatting in the courtyard when she heard this exchange. Concerned, she asked, "Da Mai, has there been any news about your grandfather's situation?"
Da Mai, her voice strong and steady, replied, "No, there hasn't. But my aunt feels that the atmosphere in the compound isn't conducive to the children's growth, so she's given us the house on Guangming Road."
Moving to Guangming Road would also mean transferring the children, Da Bao and Nuniu, to a new school, but fortunately, the school was just across the street, making the transition very convenient.
Away from here, a bit of a distance from school, the children suffer during the winter."
The people gathered together for a chat were surprised by these words. The woman asked, "Are you saying Jiaxin gave you the house on Guangming Road?"
Da Mai patted her bag and smiled brightly, "Yes, we went to transfer the ownership today. I just got the property certificate."
After finishing, she deliberately lifted her chin at Zhao Damma, her face full of schadenfreude as she thought, 'You were so jealous of us living in a big house, but now we're moving to an even better one. This should make you furious, you old hag.'
Upon returning home, Da Mai instructed her mother to start packing. "Let's get our things ready today and tomorrow. We'll move in two days. The courtyard over there is spacious, and the kids will have more room to play."
The neighborhood on Guangming Road was filled with private residences, and even if the neighbors knew about Grandpa's wrongdoing, they wouldn't make their lives difficult. Ever since Lu Hongjun's arrest, Da Mai's mother hadn't dared to take the dog downstairs to play due to the hostile glares from the other residents.
Da Mai's mother happily agreed. Initially, upon hearing that the house would have to be returned to the government, she had been very upset. But now, it seemed their misfortune had brought them unexpected fortune in the form of the Guangming Road residence. She had visited the house a few times when Lu Jiaxin's family had lived there, and aside from the appliances, she, as an elderly person, much preferred living in a single-story house; it felt more spacious and down-to-earth.
Lu Shan went to the hospital and, after receiving Lu Jiaxin's message, stepped out to make a call. "Yes, Aunt said that the compound house needs to be returned to the government. The Guangming Road house is empty and lacks a homely feel, so she's giving it to us since we have nowhere else to go."
Lu Jiaxin, understanding her aunt's kindness toward her nephew, had decided to gift them the house. "Aunt said that Grandpa's crime of reselling supplies is undeniable and that he will be found guilty. However, considering his dementia and paralysis, he won't be sentenced to prison. Instead, all welfare benefits will be revoked. The compound house has to be returned, his pension canceled, and medical expenses won't be reimbursed from now on."
Lu Jiaxin felt both surprised and relieved. "Is that all?"
The cancellation of the pension and the inability to have medical expenses reimbursed, along with the loss of the house, would have been devastating for an ordinary family. But for his uncle, it hardly made a difference, as Lu Jiaxin was there to support him in his old age.
Lu Shan wasn't sure if that was all. "That's all Aunt told me. Oh, and because of Grandpa's incident, Goudan and Gouseng won't be able to join the military or work for the government in the future."
Lu Jiaxin felt that this outcome was already very good. "They can still receive a good education and go to a good university. From there, they can become doctors, lawyers, or even start their own businesses. Shan, think about the life you had six years ago and compare it to now."
Six years ago, he and Da Mai had been farming in the countryside. They never could have imagined that they would not only obtain urban household registrations but also own a large house and a substantial storefront.
Lu Jiaxin continued, "Shan, we should learn to be content. Yes, being adopted by your third uncle means that the children won't be able to join the military or work for the government. But they will have access to the best education and will find it much easier to get into a good university compared to the rural students. As long as they get into a top university, they'll be able to find good jobs afterward."
Both Lu Ping and Lu An had been able to get into university because of the excellent education they received and the lower admission thresholds for students from their city compared to those from other provinces. It would have been much harder for them to achieve this if they had stayed in their rural hometown.
Lu Shan was awakened by these words, and he immediately apologized for his momentary lapse in judgment.
Lu Jiaxin reminded him, "You must always be vigilant and not let yourself fall into the same path as your father."
Lu Shan shuddered and vowed never to become like his father.
(End of Chapter)
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