Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire-Chapter 68 - 62: Persuading at the Doorstep

Chapter 68: Chapter 62: Persuading at the Doorstep

Second Uncle Lu and Second Aunt followed Lu Jiajie in the car to the provincial city, and after the car started, Second Aunt said, “Jiajie, you have the keys to Jiaxin’s house. When we reach the Forty-nine City, your dad and I will stay there.”

What’s the point of staying outside and wasting money? With so many rooms, you can stay anywhere.

As soon as Lu Jiajie heard this, cold sweat broke out, not expecting his parents to really set their sights on the house: “Mom, that’s Jiaxin’s house. Without her approval, you can’t stay there.”

Second Aunt looked at him and thought he was too useless: “Look at how spineless you are. We’re the elders, if we move in, is she going to kick us out?”

Lu Jiajie now deeply regretted letting slip about the house in the first place, so he made up an excuse: “Jiaxin did give me the keys, but I gave them to Big Brother before coming back.”

“When we get to the Forty-nine City, ask your Big Brother for them.”

...

Lu Jiajie certainly wouldn’t do such a foolish thing, he said, “Dad, Mom, I wouldn’t dare. If you want to stay, go ask Big Brother for the keys yourself.”

Big Brother had said before not to lend it to relatives to stay, and he thought at the time it was an overreaction. Now it seems, he was just being prepared!

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Second Aunt Lu scolded Lu Jiajie for being useless, for all this time not having won over Lu Hongjun, and now those “fox spirits” from outside were taking all the advantages. This wouldn’t do, the youngest’s job and property had to stay with the Lu Family’s descendants.

Big Uncle Lu returned the handcart and called Lu Hongjun to tell him about Lu Jiaxin sponsoring Zao Hua.

Lu Hongjun laughed in anger: “Big Brother, since she wants to sponsor that girl, let her pay. I want to see how capable she is.”

If a capable student emerged from their family, even if it were a girl and she sponsored her, he should have been consulted first, rather than her going ahead without his consent.

Big Uncle Lu’s tone suddenly turned sour, asking, “Do you mean you won’t handle it?”

Lu Hongjun knew his character; if he dared say he wouldn’t handle it, by tomorrow he would be at the Forty-nine City looking for him: “Big Brother, let her pay first, and if there’s no money left, then I’ll pay.”

To decide on sponsoring Zao Hua without consulting her opinion was clearly a sign of disrespect. His pampering and concessions had made the girl increasingly unreasonable; she needed to be taught a lesson.

Big Uncle Lu also felt that Lu Jiaxin’s actions were inappropriate, so he didn’t object to Lu Hongjun’s words, only trying to smooth things over: “Jiaxin has suffered such a great grievance this time, you should comfort her well. Otherwise, if there’s estrangement between father and daughter, it will be too late for regrets.”

Lu Hongjun was impatient with his preaching, he was nearly sixty, he didn’t need anyone telling him what to do: “I know, I still have things to handle, hanging up now.”

Back at home, Big Uncle Lu told Big Aunt about this.

Big Aunt was both angry and anxious: “Jiaxin still needs her father’s support, what capabilities is she showing off? Old man, if Jiaxin doesn’t know any better, shouldn’t you at your age?”

“Don’t worry, I just asked Hongjun, and he agreed to sponsor Zao Hua, but only if Jiaxin gives in. Later, I’ll go talk to Zao Hua’s mother and have a good chat.”

Big Aunt was still unhappy, questioning what kind of father would do this. His daughter is wronged, yet he still sides with the other woman, and now to do a good deed, he still insists on his daughter giving in. Thinking of Xiao Qiu who had been accompanying Lu Jiaxin these days, she had her called into the room for a thorough questioning,

Knowing that Lu Jiaxin had already made a promise to Zao Hua, she felt that the child was too bold and acted without discretion. For such a significant matter, even if one had the intention, it should have been discussed with the elders first.

Lu Jiaxin returned to the Forty-nine City, and since she couldn’t be found to receive a scolding, Big Aunt Lu scolded Xiao Qiu instead, “Your guts are getting bigger by the day, to hide such an important matter from your family.”

In fact, Xiao Qiu had anticipated that she would be blamed when the matter came to light, but as long as Zao Hua could go to school, she wouldn’t regret being scolded or beaten.

Seeing her granddaughter’s attitude, Big Aunt Lu was at a loss. She said to Big Uncle Lu, “My dear, when you see Da Gen’s wife later, you must tell her that it’s the third child who is sponsoring Zao Hua’s education. Also, this money can only be used for Zao Hua’s studies, otherwise, we won’t be involved.”

Big Uncle Lu understood her concern and replied, “You’ll come with me. We definitely can’t give the money to Zao Hua’s mother; once it’s in her hands, it won’t come out again. When school starts, we’ll give thirty yuan for the first month and ten yuan every month during the school term so she can’t get any ideas.”

A widow’s doorstep is ripe for gossip, and if he went alone to Zao Hua’s Home to talk, who knows what rumors might arise. Having his wife accompany him would leave the villagers with less to speculate about.

Big Aunt Lu didn’t refuse, but feeling that she wasn’t eloquent, she decided to leave the task of persuading Da Gen’s wife to Big Uncle Lu, “Let’s go together. You handle Da Gen’s wife, and I’ll have a good talk with Zao Hua.”

Since they had spent the money, they had to ensure the child remembered Jiaxin’s kindness.

When the old couple arrived at Zao Hua’s Home, her mother was cooking.

Zao Hua’s mother had blackened a spot on her forehead after bumping into the stove. When she saw the two elders, she invited them in, and because it was so hot, she wiped her sweat with her hand, leaving several black streaks on her face:

Big Aunt Lu, who particularly valued cleanliness, couldn’t help but turn her head away at the sight. Despite looking disheveled, the house was clean and tidy.

Big Uncle Lu sat down after entering the house and got straight to the point, “Jiaxin heard that Zao Hua passed the exam to attend the best high school in the county but had to drop out due to a family emergency. Feeling that it was a pity, she called Hongjun about it. Hongjun said he’s willing to sponsor Zao Hua to continue her studies.”

Zao Hua’s mother was stunned for a moment but then refused, “Uncle Tie Jun, please thank Hongjun for me, and thank him for his good intentions. But with my family’s current situation, if Zao Hua goes to school, there will be no one to handle the chores here.”

Big Uncle Lu was previously known as Iron Head. After the nation initiated literacy campaigns, he actively studied, and then, following the lead of Lu Hongjun, he changed his name to Tie Jun. It was also because of his passion for learning cultural knowledge that he later became head of the production brigade.

Big Aunt Lu frowned and said, “How can there be no one to work? You and Youliang are still here. And as for Man Cang, he can work in the mornings and after school.”

Saying there was no one to work was just an excuse; Zao Hua’s mother simply didn’t want her daughter to continue her studies. Two hundred yuan a year would only cover miscellaneous and book fees; the family would still need to provide food. If it had been a son, she would have been willing to support him, even to the point of exhaustion, but a daughter would eventually marry into another family. The hardship and suffering of raising her would, in the end, benefit another household. She had tried to persuade her husband of this before, but, unfortunately, he had not listened.

At this moment, Zao Hua and her two brothers came in. The elder brother, Lu Youliang, didn’t speak.

Little Brother Lu, Man Cang, said, “Mom, I’ll stop studying. Let big sister go instead! Her grades are so good; she’ll definitely get into university. I can’t focus on my studies; I’ll stay and work at home.”

Big Uncle Lu was gratified. Man Cang cared deeply for his sister, but compared to him, Youliang was far behind.