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Chapter 676: Mixed Blessings Among Relatives
Chapter 676: Mixed Blessings Among Relatives
Lu Jiaxin was unaware of this little incident, and since it wasn't exactly something to be proud of, the Lu family certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to tell her. However, Lu An called to express his gratitude for the gift, mentioning that Luo Chan loved it very much.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "I believe Luo Chan liked it very much, but how could you possibly like jewelry? Aren't motorcycles more your style?"
Lu An quickly replied, "Uncle San intended to give me a motorcycle as a wedding gift, but I turned it down. He has no income now and relies on you, Aunt, for support. How could I accept such an expensive gift?"
He paused before continuing, "Also, if Uncle San gives me a motorcycle for my wedding, wouldn't he have to give something of similar value when Lu Tao and Lu Cheng get married? If he doesn't, they might hold it against him and even me."
Motorcycles these days cost several thousand yuan. While Aunt had given a generous amount this time, it wouldn't be feasible to depend on her for future purchases. It simply wouldn't be proper. Of course, he hadn't considered these things himself; it was Lu JiaGuang who had pointed them out to him.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "Not bad. You're already thinking about reciprocating gifts and maintaining good relationships."
Lu An's face turned red as he honestly replied, "Aunt, don't tease me. These are all things my dad brought up. I think his concerns are valid—it's better to have few but equal gifts to avoid jealousy. When Lu Tao and Lu Cheng get married, if Uncle San can't afford to give them equally valuable gifts, they might resent both him and me. I don't want a motorcycle to come between the bond of brothers."
Lu Jiaxin was well aware of this, but she was pleased that Lu An had taken her cousin's words to heart. After all, he was still in his early twenties and had a mature head on his shoulders. "I bought you a few books on crime-solving. Work hard, and if you achieve good results, I'll pull some strings to have you transferred back to Si Jiu City."
Upon graduating from university, Lu An was assigned to work in Jinshi, away from Si Jiu City. However, Jinshi wasn't too far from Si Jiu City, and he could still visit once a month. As a teacher, Luo Chan had vacations and breaks, so the distance wouldn't affect them too much. Of course, it would be ideal if he could be transferred back. That way, they wouldn't have to live apart, and career prospects in Si Jiu City were undoubtedly better.
Lu An wasn't naive and understood the importance of family connections in such matters. With a beaming smile, he said, "Thank you, Aunt."
Luo Chan was in the yard, washing some items, and seeing him emerge from the study with a joyful expression, she asked, "What did Aunt say that has you so happy?"
Normally, she would have joined Lu An for the call, but she had heard that Lu Jiaxin had a temper, so she worried that she might inadvertently say something to upset her. Hence, she stayed outside.
Lu An didn't hide anything from her and shared, "Aunt said that as long as I work hard and achieve good results, she'll pull some strings to have me transferred back to Si Jiu City."
Luo Chan was surprised. "But didn't Aunt move to Harbour City a long time ago? How does she still have connections in Si Jiu City?"
Lu An didn't mention the donation, as it would eventually come to light anyway. Bringing it up now might seem like he was showing off. "Although Aunt moved to Harbour City a long time ago, she still has investments and connections in the mainland. If she says she can get me transferred back, then she must be confident about it."
At this point, he smiled and added, "Aunt appreciates hard work and ambition. It was because of her encouragement and support that my brother and I were able to get into our dream universities. Even Lu Zhang and Zhen Zhen have now set their sights on the universities they want to attend."
Lu Zhang aimed to enroll in the University of Political Science and Law, while Zhen Zhen had her heart set on the Central University of Finance and Economics. With Lu Zhang's grades, getting into the former was well within reach as long as he performed as expected. Zhen Zhen's grades were less stable, and getting into the Central University of Finance and Economics would be a challenge. Nonetheless, having a goal meant she would strive towards it without needing constant prompting, which was a relief for their parents.
Luo Chan envied her sincerely: "Aunt Lu is really good to you guys."
She had thought that the Lu family's strong emphasis on education was due to the in-laws teaching their children, but she never expected it to be the doing of her husband's kind sister. Ah, it was truly a case of different people, different fates. Lu An's sister-in-law was so wonderful, but her own was the complete opposite. Whenever there were difficulties or troubles, her sister-in-law would seek help from her own family, and whenever there was good news, she wouldn't even consider them. What disgusted Luo Chan even more was how her sister-in-law had tried to set her up with the son of her leader at work, praising him excessively as if their entire family would regret it forever if she didn't marry into them. However, upon further inquiry, Luo Chan found out that her leader's son had only graduated from a vocational school and was a team leader in the factory, someone who was completely unsuitable for her. Her sister-in-law was simply trying to climb the social ladder by selling her off.
Lu An smiled and said, "My sister-in-law treats us very well. But if we were lazy and didn't strive for improvement, she wouldn't bother with us either."
Not afraid to air her family's dirty laundry, Luo Chan said, "Tomorrow when we return to your parents' home, if your aunt says anything strange or unpleasant, just ignore her. Also, tell your dad that if she comes to him or you for help in the future, just find any excuse to turn her down."
"Your aunt doesn't treat you well?"
Luo Chan snorted coldly, "My parents wanted to support my education, but she said that a married daughter is spilled water, so why waste the money? It would be better for me to start working and earning money to contribute to the family instead. My parents didn't listen to her, so she went to stir up my grandparents. Thankfully, my parents were firm in their decision and continued to support me through high school."
Now that university students received subsidies and were guaranteed job placements, getting into university was like a carp leaping over the dragon's gate, securing a worry-free life.
In fact, Luo Chan had wanted to cut ties with her sister-in-law ever since she found out about her scheme to sell her off for personal gain. But her mother-in-law had stopped her, saying that it would reflect poorly on them if they severed ties with a relative just because she was doing well for herself. It would make them seem cold-hearted and could affect Luo Chan's prospects of finding a good match.
Lu An despised such people the most. As a woman herself, he hated how her sister-in-law constantly suppressed and belittled girls: "Let's not associate with such a person in the future."
Luo Chan smiled and said, "Alright, let's not have anything to do with her from now on."
In the past, she had hesitated because she was worried about her reputation and how it would affect her chances of finding a partner. But now that she was married and her in-laws were so open-minded, there was no need for her to endure any mistreatment.
"Achoo... Achoo!"
Lu Jiaxin, who had just sneezed twice in a row, wiped her nose with a tissue and muttered to herself, "I wonder who's badmouthing me behind my back."
Nie Zhan had been about to suggest going to the hospital for a check-up, but upon hearing this, he quickly changed what he was about to say: "Jiaxin, I'll be going to Russia next week."
This trip was to discuss the construction of a new factory. The Soviet Union had focused heavily on heavy industry at the expense of light industry, resulting in shortages of many essential goods. Nie Zhan's trip to Uzbekistan was to establish a new cannery, as the region was abundant in agricultural resources necessary for canning.
Knowing that the Soviet Union would be dissolving the following year, Lu Jiaxin hadn't initially considered building a factory there. However, it was an opportunity presented by Khrushchev. After some thought, she decided to give it a try. She would invest a portion of the money, and the bulk of the funding would come from local banks. If the factory went bankrupt, it wouldn't matter much as the loss wouldn't be significant. But if it survived until after the dissolution, it could become a golden goose.
Lu Jiaxin said, "Make sure to specify that the loan is in rubles, and the repayment should be in rubles as well. That way, we won't be caught off guard if the ruble depreciates and they demand repayment in another currency."
Nie Zhan smiled and assured her, "Rest assured, if we borrow in rubles, we will definitely repay in rubles."
Jiaxin had used half of the profits she made from trading the Nikkei index to invest in the ruble. Since the Soviet Union implemented the dual exchange rate system, the ruble had already depreciated by more than half, and given the current trend, it would likely continue to fall. In such a situation, he certainly wouldn't consider repaying in any other currency.
The third update will be a bit later, dear readers, so please check back tomorrow!
(End of Chapter)
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