Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire-Chapter 184 - 173 Rely on Oneself

Chapter 184: Chapter 173: Rely on Oneself

Chapter 184 -173: Rely on Oneself

Aunt Mei knocked on the door and, upon seeing Lu Jiaxin, introduced herself before signaling that Guh Xiuxiu had returned and was asking her to come downstairs to talk.

Jiaxin noted her gentle demeanor, and the faint smile on her face was comforting. However, her attire was very traditional; she wore her hair in a bun and was dressed in a long gown with long sleeves, sporting a green bracelet on her left wrist. Her dress and demeanor indicated she was a person of strict propriety.

As the saying goes, “Respect begets respect.” After thanking her, Lu Jiaxin followed her downstairs.

Guh Xiuxiu smiled at the sight of Jiaxin and asked, “Who bought you these clothes?”

Today, Lu Jiaxin was dressed in a white T-shirt paired with a light green skirt, a youthful ensemble fitting for her age.

Jiaxin replied, “I buy my own clothes and match them myself.”

Guh Xiuxiu had investigated her and knew that nobody had coached her; it seemed she had figured it out on her own, as if bestowed by providence. She had Jiaxin sit down near her and after carefully sizing her up, said, “You look well, but you still need to replenish your vital energy after your injury.”

Jiaxin shook her head, “The doctor said I could eat bird’s nest and fish maw, but I shouldn’t eat ginseng and deer antler as they are too potent. My body can’t withstand such strong supplements.”

“The doctor, knowing I was coming to Hong Kong, even drafted a diet for me with a list of many foods to avoid. I can eat ‘cold’ foods like crab, shrimp, and conpoy duck soup for lunch, but I should eat them in moderation.”

Frowning, Guh Xiuxiu turned to Aunt Hong and asked, “Did you have the kitchen prepare crab, shrimp, and conpoy duck soup for Jiaxin’s lunch?”

Aunt Hong didn’t expect that Lu Jiaxin would be knowledgeable about medicine, leaving her at a disadvantage. She explained, albeit stiffly, “Lin Sheng had just received a batch of fresh seafood, so I went over there after answering the phone and forgot to remind them not to serve Miss Cousin the ‘cold’ foods.”

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Guh Xiuxiu thought she had genuinely forgotten and reminded her to be more careful in handling matters before inquiring about He Yanyan’s claims, “What did she say that made you so angry you hit her?”

Not blaming her satisfied Jiaxin. If she had started by accusing her of being wrong to hit someone, she would have grabbed her bag and left immediately.

Feigning surprise, Jiaxin said, “How could I possibly hit Miss He? Who is spouting such nonsense?”

Guh Xiuxiu knew there was something fishy about the accusation. According to the information she had, although Jiaxin was young, she was thorough in her actions and wouldn’t behave so childishly.

At Guh Xiuxiu’s insistence, Jiaxin detailed the whole incident, “Aunt, when she came to find me, she was, after all, the Second Miss He, and I had no prior contact with her, no reason to believe she could take me shopping for clothes.”

If she were a blood relative, a beloved granddaughter, it would make sense for her to show such close concern. But she had nothing to do with He Yanyan, so this eagerness surely meant some trickery was afoot.

Guh Xiuxiu, looking at Aunt Hong and furrowing her brow, asked, “Jiaxin and Yanyan didn’t actually come to blows. Yanyan’s injury was an accident, so why did you say it was Jiaxin’s fault?”

Hanging her head, Aunt Hong spoke softly, “Madam, the Second Miss He meant well, and despite her quick temper, she’s a good person.”

Lu Jiaxin was not one to put up with nonsense. She raised her voice, “What good intentions? Aunt Hong, do you really take me for a fool? She looked down on me for being from the Mainland, thinking I was a country bumpkin, intending to make a mockery of me. I bet she even invited others to join in if I’m not wrong.”

In the hearts of ordinary citizens of Hong Kong, the Mainland is synonymous with poverty and backwardness, and they are quite rejective of those coming from the Mainland, even more so for the daughters of wealthy families. Some with better breeding will be polite and won’t make this disdain apparent; those like He Yanyan, who are widely known for their bad temper, would consider it an insult to be sent to Central.

Guh Xiuxiu looked at Aunt Mei and said, “Call the old house and ask if Yanyan went to Central alone today, or if she had arranged to meet others for shopping.”

Once she learned that He Yanyan had arranged to go shopping with three classmates, and all three of them were daughters of wealthy families, Guh Xiuxiu immediately had a good idea of the situation.

Guh Xiuxiu patted Lu Jiaxin’s hand and said softly, “She told me yesterday that you are unfamiliar with Hong Kong and wanted to show you around so you can blend in with your classmates quickly once you start school. It’s my fault, I thought she genuinely wanted to be friends with you.”

Lu Jiaxin dared not become friends with such a woman, she said, “Aunt, Second Miss He said I eat from the He Family, live in the He Family’s home, and use the He Family’s things. The reason I came to study in Hong Kong is to get into Hong Kong University Business School, which I can’t apply to from the Mainland. Aunt, rest assured, I will bear the cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees on my own and won’t use a penny of your money, let alone the He Family’s.”

Guh Xiuxiu wasn’t visibly annoyed and still spoke with affection, “That girl always speaks without thinking, you shouldn’t take it to heart. Moreover, this place is your aunt’s home, it has nothing to do with the He Family.”

Upon hearing this, Aunt Hong’s heart skipped a beat, but Aunt Mei remained impassive.

Lu Jiaxin understood, she might smile on the surface but she took these words to heart and cared about them deeply. She wasn’t interested in what the He Family was like, but she wouldn’t give them anything to criticize: “Aunt, I have money, I can afford the tuition and fees.”

Guh Xiuxiu liked her independent spirit, not relying on others. She instructed Aunt Mei to bring over some materials and said, “Here is the information for twenty famous schools in Hong Kong. Take it and look over it, and choose one you like.”

The moment she heard famous schools, Lu Jiaxin’s mind instantly visualized an idol drama that was popular throughout Southeast Asia. She accepted the materials politely and said, “Aunt, the elite schools are basically populated by the children of officials, wealthy merchants, celebrities, and elites from all walks of life. Having just arrived from the Mainland, these people would definitely look down on me. It’s quite probable that if I talk a bit more to a male classmate with a background, I’d be labeled as someone trying to climb the social ladder, which could lead to bullying.”

The truth was, she hadn’t considered attending an elite school at all. Firstly, these schools have many rules, and secondly, the pressure would be immense. She had come to Hong Kong to attend university only incidentally; her primary goal was to do business and make money.

“Bullying?”

Lu Jiaxin explained, “It means that when there’s inequality of identity and status, they mock, comment, or even insult and ridicule, and some go as far as to physically ‘teach me a lesson’. Simply put, it’s the strong bullying the weak; if someone has poor mental resilience, they can’t take it and might choose extreme actions.”

Many bullied children committed suicide, some later became criminals, and others were trapped in that shadow for life, with only a few able to break free.

Guh Xiuxiu looked at her with a smile playing at her lips, “Are you afraid of being bullied?”

Lu Jiaxin shook her head, “I’m not afraid, but there’s no need to force myself into a circle that isn’t a good fit, that’s just asking for discomfort. There’s a saying I like very much: ‘Where the paulownia grows, the phoenix descends; where the flower blooms, the butterfly comes.'”

What she meant was that when the paulownia tree grows tall, it will naturally attract the phoenix; when the flowers are fragrant, the butterflies will come of their own accord. As long as she makes money in business and owns her own listed company in the future, she won’t have to ingratiate herself, as those people will actively bring her into their circle. Of course, the circle she was referring to was the business and financial circle.

The smile on Guh Xiuxiu’s face could no longer be concealed, and she sent Aunt Mei to fetch another set of materials, “This is a list of twenty schools I’ve picked out, all of them are quite good. They each have detailed introductions, you can choose for yourself.”

To get Lu Jiaxin into an elite school, she would still need to ask for help. But it wasn’t so troublesome for a government-funded school; she could arrange that herself.

Lu Jiaxin accepted the materials and thanked her sincerely.