Chapter 719: Lu Jiajie's Extra Chapter 5

Chapter 719: Lu Jiajie's Extra Chapter 5

Lu Feng failed her college entrance exam. Lu Jiajie suggested that if she couldn't get a job after retaking the exam, she could start working. Lu Feng had always been indecisive, and if she didn't want to retake the exam, she would be content with working.

Yao Hongmei disagreed, believing that Lu Feng had a solid foundation and could still get into university with a retake. Even if she couldn't get into a bachelor's program, she could still make it into a college.

Lu Qiang also supported the idea of retaking the exam. He felt that there was a significant difference between graduating from high school and university, and after his persuasion, Lu Feng decided to retake the exam.

After a year of retaking the exam, Lu Feng was accepted into the Guangzhou Higher Normal College. Having been cared for and protected by Lu Qiang since childhood, she followed his lead and decided to settle in Guangzhou.

Lu Jiajie had been traveling back and forth between Guangzhou and the capital city, and with both children settling in Guangzhou, he planned to move there after his wife retired. However, Ma Lili felt differently. She was saddened by the news, believing that her son was going to Guangzhou to escape her, and now her daughter was doing the same. The children weren't raised by her, so she couldn't oppose their decision, and she couldn't even attend their graduation banquet.

Although Lu Feng's exam results weren't as good as Lu Zhenzhen and Lu Qiang's, at that time, the college still assigned jobs to its graduates, and upon graduation, she could become a teacher.

Even though Lu Jiajie was now a wealthy boss, he still hoped that his children would work in an office, away from the sun and wind. To celebrate, he hosted a graduation banquet with twenty tables, inviting relatives and friends.

When Lu Feng started university, Yao Hongmei still couldn't get used to it. From time to time, she would call out 'Xiao Feng'er'. On this day, she called out the name again and only realized afterward that her daughter had gone to school.

When Lu Jiajie entered the room, he found Yao Hongmei sitting there in a daze. He became anxious and quickly went up to her, asking, "Hongmei, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Yao Hongmei snapped out of her daze and smiled, "Nothing's wrong, I'm fine! It's just that Xiao Feng'er has started school, and my heart feels empty."

After a pause, her expression grew more somber as she said, "When you go to the border city, I'll be the only one left at home, feeling even lonelier."

Lu Jiajie had no choice. With the Soviet Union's collapse, things were still chaotic there, and his business had been thriving. He couldn't bear to give up such a profitable venture.

After some thought, Lu Jiajie said, "Why don't we get a dog? It can keep you company and guard the house."

Yao Hongmei felt he was being impractical, "Having a dog isn't easy. You need to get a license, take care of it, and take it for walks regularly."

Whether it's a child or an animal, once you take on the responsibility of raising them, you can't just give up halfway, abandon them, or throw them away when you get tired of them.

Seeing her disagreement, Lu Jiajie suggested, "Mom and Dad have a spare room. When you go to the border city, you can stay with them for a while."

Yao Hongmei thought it was a good idea, "Alright, I'll stay with them for a while when the time comes."

Over the years, she had to work and take care of the children, and although she visited her parents monthly, she never stayed overnight. Of course, the reason she agreed to stay with them was that her life was now comfortable, and she wasn't worried about what others might say if she stayed with her parents. Otherwise, the gossipy and meddlesome neighbors in the residential compound would have a field day.

After staying with her parents for half a month, Yao Hongmei woke up one morning and smelled the fragrance of fried dough sticks, which suddenly made her feel nauseous. She rushed to the courtyard and started vomiting.

Yao's mother was extremely worried. After she finished vomiting and rinsed her mouth, she insisted on accompanying her to the hospital for a check-up.

Yao Hongmei didn't object to going to the hospital. She wasn't one to avoid doctors, and vomiting like this meant she definitely needed to see one. Otherwise, a minor illness could turn into a major one, "Mom, I just have an upset stomach. I can go to the hospital myself."

Her elderly mother was frail and had difficulty walking, so Yao Hongmei didn't dare let her accompany her to the hospital.

Seeing her determination, Yao's mother gave in, saying, "If anything happens, call me right away."

Yao Hongmei nodded in agreement. However, she thought it was just a stomach issue, and she could just get some medicine from the hospital.

The doctor was very responsible and carefully asked about her symptoms, suspecting that she might be pregnant. However, due to the one-child policy, even if she was pregnant, she couldn't give birth, so the doctor didn't explicitly say so. Instead, he gave her a prescription and asked her to get a blood test and other examinations first.

Yao Hongmei didn't carefully examine the prescription and wasn't aware that it was for a pregnancy test. But she recognized the blood test results, having given birth before.

When Yao Hongmei saw the blood test results, she initially suspected they had been mixed up, but after confirming with the lab technician that there was no one with the same name, she became confused. By the time she returned to the doctor's office, she was dazed. She handed the prescription to the doctor, "Doctor, this prescription shows a positive result, and a positive result means pregnancy."

Her meals were regular, and her daily routine was normal. She rarely even got a common cold, let alone stomach issues. It was because she had undergone tubal ligation that she never considered the possibility of pregnancy.

The doctor, seeing her anxiety, took the prescription and, after examining it, nodded, "You are pregnant, five weeks. Schedule a surgery as soon as possible!"

With the one-child policy in place, it was clear that the woman was already a mother, and this pregnancy couldn't be kept.

Yao Hongmei said, "But I had a tubal ligation thirteen years ago. It's impossible for me to get pregnant."

The doctor's expression changed, and after a moment, he said, "Tubal ligation isn't a hundred percent foolproof. Since the test confirmed pregnancy, there's no mistake. Comrade, the earlier the procedure, the less harm to your body."

Yao Hongmei held the blood test results, her heart filled with mixed emotions, and she returned to her parents' home. On the way back, she thought a lot, and by the time she was close to home, she had made a decision.

As soon as she got off the car, Yao Hongmei went to a small store to make a phone call. Hearing that Lu Jiajie wasn't home, she controlled her emotions and said, "When he returns, ask him to call me back. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him."

"Okay.

Upon returning home, Yao's mother noticed her worried state and asked, "What's the issue? Is it serious?"

Yao Hongmei didn't hide anything and replied, "It's not a stomach problem; I'm pregnant, and the baby is already five weeks old."

Yao's mother's first reaction was that the hospital made a mistake: "Didn't you get a tubal ligation? How could you get pregnant? The hospital staff is so irresponsible; how could they make such a mistake?"

Yao Hongmei shook her head and said, "The doctor suspected I was pregnant based on my symptoms and ordered a blood test; there's no mistake."

After saying this, she touched her belly and added, "Even after my tubal ligation, I can still get pregnant; it's the will of heaven. Mom, I want to give birth to this child."

Yao's mother disagreed: "Jiajie already has two children; you don't meet the conditions for having another baby. If you insist on giving birth, your workplace will fire you."

Yao Hongmei had already thought about this on her way back: "Jiajie has earned quite a bit these years; even without working, I can still support both of us."

Seeing that Yao's mother wanted to continue persuading her, Yao Hongmei's eyes welled up as she said, "Mom, after Yangyang left, I never thought about having another child. After marrying Jiajie, I also treated Qiangqiang and Xiao Feng'er as my own children. But now, heaven has sent this child to me; it's heaven's blessing to me, and I must give birth to this child."

Not only did she want to give birth to the child, but she also wanted to protect him and ensure he grew up safely, nurturing him to become a useful person to society.

Yao's mother sighed and said, "Then wait for Jiajie to come back and discuss it. If he agrees, then give birth."

Initially, when her grandson met with an accident, her daughter was completely devastated, and it took over two years for her to recover. After seeing her, she tried to persuade her several times, and eventually, she agreed, but on the condition that the other party would raise the child, so she wouldn't have to give birth again. She had tried to persuade her, but she didn't listen, and now both of them have given up, and she's pregnant again at this critical juncture.

Yao Hongmei wasn't worried: "The Lu family values multiple children; Jiajie will definitely want this child."

Just as she said, Lu Jiajie was delighted to hear about her pregnancy: "Hongmei, this child is hard-won; let's give birth to him!"

Yao Hongmei spoke softly: "If I give birth to this child, my workplace will definitely fire me. Without a job, I won't have any income, and I won't have a pension when I get old."

Both of them had failed marriages, and he understood Yao Hongmei's true concerns. Lu Jiajie said, "Don't worry; I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

To reassure Yao Hongmei, Lu Jiajie not only bought her a house but also gave her 200,000 yuan: "From now on, I'll give you 3,000 yuan each month for household expenses."

With Ma Lili's situation in mind, Lu Jiajie, after marrying Yao Hongmei, didn't give her control over the finances but provided sufficient household expenses each month. Yao Hongmei had her own job, and the monthly allowance Lu Jiajie gave her, after deducting expenses, was even more than her salary, so he didn't ask much about the money he earned.

With the 200,000 yuan and a house in hand, Yao Hongmei felt at ease. With this security, she wasn't afraid of any future changes.

For such a significant event, Lu Jiajie would definitely inform his adult children. Lu Qiang, upon learning the news, was thrilled: "Dad, this is a huge deal!"

He and his sister would settle here in the future. If their stepmother wasn't willing to come, she would have to stay in the Capital City, and it might be less convenient when they grew old. But now, things were different; with this child, they would be in the Capital City in the future, and he and Xiao Feng'er wouldn't have to worry.

Lu Jiajie was also concerned that he might be rejected, but seeing his genuine joy and relief, he was reassured. The eldest son's peace of mind would reduce many disputes in the future. As for the money in his hands, the majority would go to Qiangqiang. Firstly, it was a promise made earlier, and secondly, he was only forty and could still work for at least another twenty years.

Xiao Feng'er, upon learning about this, was worried: "Brother, if Mom has her own child, will she stop loving us?"

She had changed her address for Yao Hongmei a few months after she entered the family, but she never called Lu Qiang 'Dad' and continued to address him respectfully. Although she didn't change her address, she held Yao Hongmei in high regard.

Lu Qiang found her question childish but patiently explained: "In the future, you'll only go back during summer and winter vacations. Once you start a family and have children, you might not even go back once a year. Aunt Yao having her own child is a good thing for Dad and us."

Xiao Feng'er still had a concern: "What about the family's money?"

Lu Qiang didn't say anything about how good men don't eat separate meals and good women don't wear their wedding dresses twice. "Dad bought you a house in Jinyuan Garden, and when you get married, he'll give you a generous dowry. Dad always keeps his promises; he won't go back on his word regarding your matters."

"What about you?"

Lu Qiang smiled: "After I graduate from university, I'll start my own company, and I'll ask Dad for some startup capital at that time."

Although Lu Jiajie said that he would hand over the business to Lu Qiang after his university graduation, Lu Qiang wasn't optimistic. The situation on the other side wouldn't remain chaotic forever, and once it stabilized, the border trade business would become difficult.

After more than two months, Lu Jiajie took Yao Hongmei to Guangzhou. The family planning policy in the Capital City was strictly enforced, and Yao Hongmei was worried that she might be caught and forced to have an abortion. Guangzhou, with its large population flow, was relatively more relaxed, so the couple decided to stay there to nurture the pregnancy.

For Yao Hongmei's safety, Lu Jiajie directly rented a large apartment and hired two people: a live-in aunt to take care of Yao Hongmei and another aunt to do the laundry and cooking.

Lu Qiang and Xiao Feng'er visited during the weekends. Both had already accepted that they would soon have a younger brother or sister, so they were still very affectionate towards Yao Hongmei.

After ten months of pregnancy, it was time for delivery. Yao Hongmei was already thirty-seven years old, and despite her usually well-maintained health, her age was a factor, and she endured a lot of pain during childbirth. Fortunately, Lu Jiajie had already arranged for a postpartum nurse, and the baby would drink formula milk, so she didn't have to worry about breastfeeding. Her postpartum recovery was going well.

Yao Hongmei's parents, siblings, and friends all lived in the Capital City. Coming to Guangzhou to give birth was a reluctant decision, and she couldn't wait to return as soon as the baby was two months old. If not for concerns about the baby's young age and the long train journey, she would have gone back right after the postpartum confinement.

When sending them to the station, Xiao Feng'er still felt a bit reluctant to part. She caressed the baby's little face and made a final plea, "Mom, you and Haohao should stay in Guangzhou. Don't go back."

Yao Hongmei smiled and said, "I'm not used to living here. When you come back for the holidays, I'll ask Aunt Li to make your favorite Beijing-style shredded pork."

Xiao Feng'er thought to herself that it had just been the start of the semester, and there were still four months until the holidays!

Yao Hongmei's relatives and friends only learned that she had resigned not to follow Lu Jiajie to settle in Guangzhou, but to give birth, when she returned with the baby.

After so many years of reform and opening up, everyone's thoughts had changed, and they all wanted to become rich. It was common knowledge that Lu Jiajie was a wealthy boss who could make money. So, when her relatives and friends heard that Yao Hongmei had resigned to give birth, they all felt that she had finally made a smart decision. Without a child, Lu Jiajie's earnings would all go to his first son in the future; now that she had also given birth to a son, she could get half of the property in the future.

Yao Hongmei was quite disdainful of these statements. No amount of money would help if the child wasn't raised well. As long as he was nurtured to success, he could build a future for himself.

Upon returning to the Capital, the first thing on the agenda was to purchase necessities for the baby. The couple went shopping with the baby and then headed to a nearby restaurant for a meal.

As they arrived at the restaurant, a skinny man emerged from inside. He opened the door and bowed deeply to a big-bellied man, saying, "Mr. Wang, be careful."

Yao Hongmei was startled when she saw this man, and a mocking smile appeared on her face.

The skinny man escorted Mr. Wang to his car and wiped the sweat from his forehead, preparing to go back for something. But when he turned around, he saw Yao Hongmei pushing a baby stroller. He looked at the fair and chubby baby in the stroller with a complex expression and asked, "Yao Hongmei, is this your child?"

Yao Hongmei had once hated this man so much that she wanted to skin him alive, but so many years had passed, especially seeing his current pathetic state, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction. She smiled and said, "Yes, this is my son. He's three and a half months old now."

After saying this, she introduced Lu Jiajie, "This is my husband. He's currently in the border trade business, earning around one to two million a year. And you? What business are you in now? I bet you're making a lot."

Lu Jiajie immediately recognized the man upon hearing this.

The skinny man had initially looked down on Lu Jiajie for his dark skin and robust build, but he never expected him to be such a wealthy boss. He forced a smile and said, "I'm in the furniture business, and it's going well."

Lu Jiajie smiled and took the baby stroller, saying to Yao Hongmei, "You two chat, I'll take the baby inside to order some food."

Yao Hongmei disagreed and pouted, "You always order a whole table of dishes, and in the end, we can't finish them all and have to throw them away. Let me order this time."

"It's not about the money."

Yao Hongmei frowned and said, "It's not just about the money, but wasting food is shameful. Be more careful in the future, and don't let the child pick up bad habits."

Lu Jiajie quickly stepped forward and opened the door, allowing her to push the baby inside. As for the skinny man, the couple seemed to have forgotten about him.

Once inside the private room, after Yao Hongmei finished ordering, she said, "That guy just now was my ex-husband. He was so arrogant and cocky during the divorce, and now look at him."

Lu Jiajie showed his disdain, "A person who even calculates his bedmate is someone without morals or virtue. No one dares to have a deep relationship with such a person, and their business won't last long."

Yao Hongmei nodded in agreement and changed the subject.

After lunch, when the couple returned home with the baby, they saw Ma Lili at the entrance. It seemed like everyone had come out to be a nuisance today.

Ma Lili looked at the baby in the stroller with a hint of worry in her eyes, "Yao Hongmei, didn't you get sterilized and can't have children anymore?"

Just as Yao Hongmei was about to speak, Lu Jiajie interrupted, "If you dare come here again, it won't just be the small shop that gets smashed."

Ma Lili's face changed slightly, "So it was you who did it."

Lu Jiajie coldly hummed, "If you dare to approach Qiang and Xiao Feng'er again, I'll not only break your husband's legs but also take back the house. If he becomes disabled due to your greed and ends up homeless, don't you think they'll hate you to death?"

Ma Lili's face turned deathly pale.

"Get out."

After Ma Lili stumbled out of the alley, Yao Hongmei asked, "What did she do?"

Lu Jiajie explained, "She found out the phone number of Xiao Feng'er's school and called her class teacher, saying she missed the child. Xiao Feng'er answered her call and cried again."

Yao Hongmei sighed, "After all, she's the mother of two children, and the blood relation can't be severed."

However, Lu Jiajie didn't agree, "If she didn't want the two children and never visited them after the divorce, now that the children are in university, she wants to reap the benefits. Where in the world can you find such a cheap deal? Unless I die, she shouldn't think about getting close to the children."

Yao Hongmei didn't persuade him further but reminded him to be cautious and not break the law.

Lu Jiajie assured her, "Don't worry, I'm just scaring her. I won't actually do anything."

With a wise wife, a successful eldest son and daughter, and a cute youngest son, Lu Jiajie was living a happy and fulfilling life. This wonderful life had just begun, so how could he possibly dirty his hands for those rotten people and put himself in danger?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end