Chapter 64: Securing the House
Chapter 64: Securing the House
Little did Lu Jiaxin expect that after not vomiting on the way from the county to the city, she would end up feeling sick and vomiting again on the journey from the city to the provincial capital. By the time they arrived and stepped off the bus, her legs felt weak, and she felt dizzy.
Zhao Dajun looked at her with concern and suggested, "Comrade Lu, I think I should take you to the hospital to get checked out!"
Lu Jiaxin waved her hand dismissively. "No need, I'll be fine after I rest for a bit."
It was just motion sickness, and she would be alright once it passed.
Half an hour later, after Lu Jiaxin felt a little better, she and Zhao Dajun headed to the rented room. Just as Zhao Dajun was about to knock on the door, it opened.
Xue Mao had been about to go out to buy something and was both surprised and delighted to see them. "Sister, you're finally back! Come in."
As the two stepped inside, Xue Mao closed the door behind them, as was his habit.
The moment they entered the courtyard, Lu Jiaxin asked eagerly, "Did you get the house?"
Xue Mao hesitated, feeling a bit reluctant. "Don't worry, sister. Gu Wenfeng has bought the house. It cost two thousand and six hundred yuan. I went to see that old house. It's very dilapidated and would need to be demolished and rebuilt if anyone is going to live there. But it's quite spacious; we could build over a dozen rooms if we rebuild."
"Is the deed in your name?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Before she had left, she had specifically instructed Gu Wenfeng to put the house in Xue Mao's name. She only wanted the antiques from the secret chamber; the house itself was of no concern to her. It was different for Xue Mao; having a house would give him a sense of belonging and security, even if he didn't live in it.
Xue Mao was about to bring up the very same topic. "Sister, the house is indeed in my name. But I don't want it. You spent the money on it, so it should be yours."
"Do you think I'll ever come to live in the ancient capital in the future?" Lu Jiaxin asked.
Xue Mao knew that she wouldn't.
"I know that owning your own house is your greatest wish. That way, you won't constantly dream about being driven away by others. Xue Mao, you saved my life, and now that I have the ability, I want to help make your wish come true."
Xue Mao still refused. "Sister, I'll buy my own house when I earn enough money."
Lu Jiaxin frowned. "Do you think my life isn't worth a house?"
When it came to debating, Xue Mao stood no chance against Lu Jiaxin. He thought for a moment before saying, "Sister, if Father and the rest of the Lu family find out, they'll definitely be angry."
Lu Jiaxin waved off his concern. "It's my money, and I'll spend it as I please. They can have their opinions, but they'd better keep them to themselves. If anyone dares to scold me, kick them out and cut off all contact with them."
She despised nothing more than people trying to boss her around. In her previous life, her parents had given her space and freedom and never interfered in her affairs, but some of her relatives always liked to stick their noses in where they didn't belong. Whenever she encountered such situations, she never hesitated to put them in their place. If her own parents didn't meddle, who were they to do so? In this life, Lu Hongjun had already lost the qualification to interfere in her matters, and the rest of her relatives certainly had no say.
Zhao Dajun thought her temper was too fierce and that she would definitely suffer for it in the future.
Xue Mao hesitated before saying, "Sister, if you offend all your relatives and friends, you won't have anyone to turn to when you need help in the future."
Lu Jiaxin wasn't worried. "You don't have to worry about that. Those who truly love you will only offer advice if they think you're doing something inappropriate; they won't blame or resent you. As for people like Second Uncle and Second Aunt, who only want to take advantage of you, no matter how well you treat them, they won't be grateful; they'll only try to take more and more from you."
She had always lived by the principle of live and let live; as long as others were reasonable, she could coexist peacefully with them. But for those who weren't, she believed in giving as good as she got.
Knowing that he couldn't change her mind, Xue Mao changed the subject. "Sister, have they found the human trafficker?"
"Yes, I made sure she confessed to her crimes. Although the case hasn't gone to trial yet, the police said she'll be looking at a minimum of twenty years in prison."
Finding the human trafficker was not without its challenges, and Zhao Dajun's expression grew complex as he recounted the story. "Lu Jiaxin can draw. She sketched the trafficker's appearance, and we were able to track her down in Feng County within two days. Her drawing was incredibly accurate, almost identical to the trafficker's actual appearance."
No wonder she had been insistent on returning to Feng County; she had been confident in her ability to identify the culprit. Impressed, Gu Wenfeng mused, "That girl is truly clever."
Zhao Dajun agreed. "Yes, she is. That old woman thought she was a ghost and confessed everything. However, Lu Jiaxin has a stubborn streak and a fiery temper. I tried to advise her a couple of times, but she stopped listening to me. Gu Wenfeng, I think she needs someone to guide her and keep her in check, or who knows what she might get up to in the future."
Gu Wenfeng disagreed. "Everyone has their flaws. While Lu Jiaxin's temper is indeed short, she is inherently kind-hearted."
Xue Mao had not only rescued her but had also received a house in return. Although the house was dilapidated, with future earnings, it could be rebuilt, providing Xue Mao with a place to start a family.
Zhao Dajun concurred with this assessment. "She has a good heart. When she heard about a girl from the village who couldn't afford to attend the best high school in the county despite being accepted due to a change in family circumstances, she offered to sponsor the girl's education. Before leaving, she left enough money to cover expenses for half a semester and promised to send more at the start of each term."
Although Lu Jiaxin had conversed privately with Lu Dabai, Zhao Dajun's sharp ears had allowed him to overhear their entire conversation.
Gu Wenfeng, recalling the information he had gathered, added, "I heard that Lu Jiaxin used to be obedient and well-behaved, but her stepmother's entry into the family changed her temperament. There's a reason for her behavior; at her core, she's a good person. We shouldn't be too hard on her."
Zhao Dajun held no grudge against Lu Jiaxin and was merely concerned that her temperament might lead her astray.
Gu Wenfeng acknowledged the validity of Zhao Dajun's worries and, after a moment's thought, said, "When we get back, I'll speak to the chief about it."
Reassured by Gu Wenfeng's words, Zhao Dajun nodded in agreement.
As the two men talked, Xue Mao emerged from the kitchen with a smile on his face. "Brother Gu, Brother Zhao, dinner is ready. You can wash up and eat now."
The purchase of Sun's house had not been without its obstacles, and they had even attracted the attention of some local thugs. However, after Gu Wenfeng single-handedly took on six of them and had them sent to the police station for harsh punishment, no one dared to target them again.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
