After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future
Chapter 419 - 416: Arranging Work

At seven in the morning, the plane landed at the island's airport.

"After more than two months, I'm finally back in the country."

Lu Ya let out a long breath, set foot on the motherland's soil, and felt inexplicably at peace as she smiled, "It's not far anyway, I'll just take the high-speed train back."

"Sister, why not let Yifan take you?" Lu Liang called over Zhuo Yifan; their hometown didn't have an airport, and it was faster to take the high-speed train.

"I'm not a child. I needed guidance when I didn't speak the language abroad, but do I still need someone to accompany me now that I'm back home?"

Lu Ya glanced sideways. There was a direct high-speed train to Lu Island, and her husband would pick her up at the station. Lu Liang should look after himself.

Going home, she would probably be grilled by her parents, and she would tell them honestly about her whereabouts during the past two months.

If she couldn't bring Su Wanyu back home by tomorrow, no matter how much she defended Lu Liang, it would be of no use.

Lu Liang nodded with a smile, and Su Wanyu suggested, "Sister, the high-speed train station on Lu Island is outside the island. Let's take you there first."

She then turned to Zheng Xiaoxuan, with a beaming smile, "Is China much more developed than you imagined?"

Zheng Xiaoxuan nodded subconsciously, unable to resist asking, "Is the development here always this good?"

Cars and buses flowed like a stream, buildings towered into the sky, and the streets were clean—quite different from what she had seen in videos.

"Well, the environment should be similar, but as a second-tier city, Lu Island's infrastructure is more complete."

Su Wanyu pointed across the water to where her home was, less than two hundred kilometers from Raoping.

They could take Zheng Xiaoxuan to visit her ancestral home for a good tour after finishing their busy schedule in the coming days.

On the way to the high-speed train station, Su Wanyu helped her download several main apps, and she transferred some money to her.

She said, "As long as you can speak Chinese and have Alipay, WeChat, and Meituan, you can travel anywhere in the country with just a smartphone."

"Is it that amazing?"

Zheng Xiaoxuan was so surprised she was at a loss for words, suddenly feeling like a cave dweller who had stepped into the future.

No need for cards, no need for cash, as clothes, food, housing, and transportation can all be booked online—it really did feel like arriving in a future world.

"Brexit will bankrupt the United Kingdom eventually. If you want a better future, you could consider coming here," Lu Liang said with a smile.

The vestiges of The Sun Never Sets Empire would run out one day, and when the London Bridge falls, it would be just about time.

The rebellious hearts of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland were a secret everybody knew, now it was just the queen holding things together.

Born in '26, the queen was now 91, and even if she lived to a hundred, there were only nine years left.

"I'll take a look," Zheng Xiaoxuan sneaked a glance at Su Wanyu and her child.

Lu Liang was very busy and flitted from one romantic interest to another, but she wasn't without opportunity—to move in while he was vulnerable.

Seeing this, Lu Ya shook her head and sighed. She thought she could manage, but it was really too much—a matter for Lu Liang to resolve himself.

Before, she had discussed this with Zheng Xiaoxuan and had been dumbstruck by her response.

"I'm not into women, it's just that the person I like happens to be a woman."

Sometimes, Lu Ya even felt she was too open-minded, actually accepting that reasoning.

Crossing Jimei Bridge, they quickly reached the Lu Island North Station. Lu Ya, carrying her luggage, left without looking back, quite nonchalantly: "I'm off."

"Lu, you're so cool," Zheng Xiaoxuan's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Lu Liang had a hint of suspicion in his eyes—don't tell him his sister was the object of affection now?

Zheng Xiaoxuan, as if she saw through his dirty thoughts, snorted coldly, "Mr. Lu, what are your plans for me?"

"First, to the hotel. I've already arranged a room for you. Once we finish our business, we'll come find you."

Lu Liang had to visit his father-in-law—a scene where outsiders couldn't be present—so he left Fang Shiyu to keep Zheng Xiaoxuan company.

"I couldn't care less about your family drama," said Zheng Xiaoxuan with a nod, gesturing for Fang Shiyu to help with her luggage.

"Xiaoxuan, see you later. Later on, I'll introduce my parents and my brother to you."

Su Wanyu waved goodbye, whispering, "I just told Yuchen to find a reason to keep mom and dad at home."

"That's good, then later we can all have a meal together."

Lu Liang drove first to the front of a shopping mall, where Xu Jiawei had already prepared the threesome of offerings: cigarettes, tea, and liquor.

Two packets of Zhonghua cigarettes, two bottles of Moutai, and two pounds of pricey tea—light gifts but full of sentiment, the thought was what counted.

Better gifts were affordable too, but unnecessary. He, Lu Liang, still had some clout after all.

They soon arrived at the apartment complex where Su Wanyu lived. Her family owned three properties—one for the parents, one for her brother, and one for herself.

However, both her brother's and her own apartments were usually rented out, given that they were both studying elsewhere and hadn't settled down.

"Are you nervous?" Su Wanyu, with her right arm holding the little one and her left hand holding Lu Liang's, felt his palm was a bit sweaty.

"How could I be? You're the one who's nervous."

Lu Liang gave her a look, almost laughed, he had even been to the White House and met Old Te, how could he be nervous.

"Oh," Su Wanyu murmured with a mischievous smile. Seeing Lu Liang nervous made her suddenly not nervous at all.

As the doorbell rang, rushed footsteps could be heard from the other side, "Sis, what's going on?"

As the door opened, the voice abruptly stopped.

A young man in his twenties, eyes wide as if he had seen a ghost, exclaimed, "Liangzi?"

Su Wanyu gave him a look, shedding her usual gentle demeanor, and scolded, "That's no way to speak."

"What should I call him?"

The young man saw the baby in his sister's arms and his head suddenly buzzed, tentatively saying, "Shouldn't I be calling him brother-in-law now?"

"Either is fine," Lu Liang nodded with a smile.

"Move it, stop blocking the way."

Su Wanyu pushed her brother aside and led Lu Liang into the house, just in time to see their parents sitting in the living room.

A man, a woman, a baby, the expressions on the faces of the two parents were just like the young man's—buzzing in their heads.

They knew their daughter had dated Lu Liang, but hadn't they broken up? How could it be that, in the blink of an eye, there was already a child?

"Uh... Mr. Lu, please, take a seat."

Su Jianfeng was the first to react, although it took him a moment to use a respectful title.

Strictly speaking, Lu Liang was a shareholder of the upstream enterprise of their family's garment factory.

Downstream from Ningde Era there was a company called Lu Island Tungsten Industry, and their garment factory mainly produced work clothes and protective gear for this company.

"Who is this child?"

Su Jianfeng looked at the soundly sleeping baby, who had somewhat long hair and a delicate appearance; it must be a girl.

"Mom and dad, this is Siqing, my and Yu's baby," Lu Liang said with a smile tugging at his lips, his confidence returning upon seeing his father-in-law's demeanor.

He briefly mentioned that they had some conflicts last year, which was why Su Wanyu went abroad to study, and later they reconciled and accidentally got pregnant.

Lu Liang intentionally omitted a lot of details, as well as the order of breaking up, reconciling, and getting pregnant.

Unable to hold back, Su Wanyu's mother asked, "Yu, how old is the child now?"

"45 days, just under a month and a half."

Learning the birthdate, the couple looked at one another, roughly calculating the time of conception.

"Now that you're reconciled, that's good, that's good," Su Jianfeng said with a smile, the first to respond again.

Lu Liang might be hiding something, but it didn't matter; now that he was willing to bring his daughter back and meet with them, it showed his acknowledgment.

Su Jianfeng trembled with excitement and suddenly felt his scalp tingle. From now on, their family would have an exceptionally influential son-in-law.

"When are you planning to get married?" Su Wanyu's mother asked, her heart aching as she looked at her daughter.

At that, everyone, including Su Wanyu, couldn't help but steal glances at Lu Liang, hoping for an answer from him.

"With the company being particularly busy these past few years and the business not being especially stable, I was thinking about waiting until things settle down before we catch up on the wedding."

Lu Liang was sincere, having prepared his response in advance. Being busy with work was a universal excuse, and indeed, he really was busy.

The lady's brow furrowed, about to press further, but Su Wanyu interrupted, "Mom, Lu Liang really has been busy these past few years, plus my studies are not finished yet."

"Right, how's Yuchen's exam prep going lately?"

She quickly changed the subject, willing to wait for Lu Liang as long as necessary, if he didn't want to get married.

Su Yuchen was startled, enjoying the drama unfolding, wondering how the topic suddenly shifted to him. He stiffly said, "It's alright, I guess."

"You think 'it's alright'? I've been considering sending him to teach in rural areas for a few years; the success rate might be higher that way," Su Jianfeng said with disappointment.

"Yuchen is applying for a government job, right? Does it have to be Lu Island? Have you considered going somewhere else?" Lu Liang asked with a smile.

Before Su Family's parents could respond, Su Yuchen blurted out, "If it's not on Lu Island, anywhere is fine."

He had been eager to venture out, having never left Hu Jian Province.

Su Family's mother was about to speak up, but Su Jianfeng patted her hand, signaling her to remain silent.

Before, they had no money or connections, naturally preferring their son to stay close by. But now, if Lu Liang was willing to help, it was very possible to get his son a position in Modu.

And with his support, the future seemed bright.

"Actually, now that transportation is so developed, there is no need to stick to Lu Island. Young people should venture out more," Su Jianfeng said with a coaxing smile.

"How about Xiang City then? That place should develop well in the coming years, and it'd be better since I'll be there too, to look after things."

Even as his father-in-law, Lu Liang couldn't help but show a hint of appreciation on his face. He could arrange a position in Lu Island, but being so far, he couldn't easily look after things.

But in Xiang City, as long as Lu Liang was around, and as long as Su Yuchen didn't break any laws, he'd at least be a department-level official in the future.

"Sure, the Jiangnan Water Town, I've heard it has fewer typhoons, and the climate is very nurturing."

Su Jianfeng was overjoyed, his eyes crinkling with happiness.

"Let me ask and see if there are any departmental quotas coming up there."

Lu Liang picked up his phone and called Zeng Shaofang at Xiang City Xiangcheng Tax Bureau to say he had a brother applying for a government position.

"Yeah, I'll check."

As Lu Liang held the phone, he asked, "By the way, Yuchen, which university and what major?"

After learning about the college and major, he said with a smile, "Fuda 211 Engineering College, majoring in Business Administration."

"Su Yuchen, from Lu Island. Alright, excellent. Should he apply in November, right?"

"Thank you, Director Zeng. I'll treat you to tea in a few days, well, that'll be all for now."

Ending the call, Lu Liang said with a smile, "That's lucky. In November, the Xiang City Xiangcheng Tax Bureau still has a slot open. Just get him to apply, and as long as he passes the written test, he should be through."

"Mr. Lu, that surely seems too kind."

Su Jianfeng's smile was harder to suppress than an AK.

He had only hoped for his son to get a secure government job in a local office. He wanted that iron rice bowl for him, a steady job regardless of the economic climate.

He never imagined, Lu Liang would directly secure a position in the tax department for his son, especially in a top-six national city like Xiang City.