Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire
Chapter 275 - Chapter 275 Chapter 264 Elderly Care Agreement

Chapter 275: Chapter 264 Elderly Care Agreement Chapter 275: Chapter 264 Elderly Care Agreement Lu Jiaxin knew as soon as she saw Lu Jiaguang and Lu Jiajie arrive together that Lu Hongjun had agreed to her terms. In fact, she would have preferred if Lu Hongjun had refused, so that later on, no matter what, she would have had sufficient reason to not care.

Lu Jiaguang said, “Jiaxin, Third Uncle has agreed to give you everything he’s been hiding.”

Lu Jiaxin hummed in response, “Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law have just finished cooking, let’s wait until after we’ve eaten before discussing it!”

Lu Jiajie said with a guilty face, “Jiaxin, I’m sorry, I didn’t expect the Ma family and Lili to hold such a grudge against you, and to speak of it in front of the children.”

If it weren’t for Jiaxin’s support, he’d still be in the shoe factory by now. Although the shoe factory had raised its wages, it was only one hundred yuan a month. What could that amount of money do?

Lu Jiaguang’s face darkened.

Lu Jiaxin repeated her mantra, “You handle your own domestic issues, don’t bring them here and ruin the mood for everyone.”

During the meal, sensing the tense atmosphere, Second Sister-in-law Lu brought up a lighter topic, “Big Brother, Ah Shan called me yesterday, saying that mother has agreed to come to the Forty-nine City.”

Lu Jiaguang replied, “It’s good if she’s willing to come, otherwise, I’d have to take leave to pick her up.”

“What’s the matter with Big Aunt?”

Lu Jiaguang explained, “Lately, she’s been having intermittent chest pains, but the local hospital can’t seem to diagnose the problem. She wanted to go to the provincial hospital, but the doctors in the Forty-nine City are surely better than those there.”

“Then she should come early for an examination.”

Since there were matters to discuss, no alcohol was drunk, and the meal concluded quickly. The siblings then headed to the study while Second Sister-in-law Lu didn’t join, instead cleaning up with Xiao Qiu.

Xiao Qiu said she could clean up by herself, “Mom, go and listen too, see how they’re planning things.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu replied, “This isn’t about discussing how to care for your grandparents, but about your great-uncle, what am I going to do there? It’s also because your great-uncle was too heartless and hurt your younger aunt’s feelings. Otherwise, in a couple of years, he would have definitely been taken to Hong Kong to enjoy his days.”

Xiao Qiu also felt indignant on behalf of Lu Jiaxin, saying, “Great-uncle raised Zhao Siyi for six years, spent a lot of money on her, and even arranged a job for her. It should be the two of them together providing for his old age.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu said dismissively, “Your great-uncle is sharper than anyone, how could he possibly expect Zhao Siyi to take care of him in old age? Don’t let it be that in the end she will be expecting your great-uncle to take care of her!”

The four sat down, and Lu Jiaxin was the first to speak, “Big Brother, where are his things?”

Only then did Lu Jiaguang realize he had forgotten to ask, “Don’t worry, if he promised, he won’t go back on his word.”

Lu Jiajie snorted coldly, “If he goes back on it, I will never bother with him again. Let Zhao Siyi take care of him in his old age and till his end!”

Lu Jiazong saw himself as an audience member and expressed no opinion.

Lu Jiaxin said, “I can buy the house, but it must be registered in my name. Also, the house he’s living in now, the state is carrying out housing reform, and state-owned housing can become private after a sum is paid. That house must also be registered in my name.”

Lu Jiajie blurted out, “It definitely should be in your name. Third Uncle is planning to remarry, and if that house stays in his name, it’ll end up benefiting some other woman.”

Lu Jiaguang and Lu Jiazong also thought that was right.

Lu Jiaxin saw that they all agreed and continued, “Two hundred yuan a month for the retirement fund, plus hiring an auntie to do laundry and cooking, and I will pay the auntie’s wages.”

Lu Jiazong felt that it was too much and said, “Jiaxin, it’s enough that you buy a house and hire an auntie, don’t give the retirement money. Third Uncle’s pension is more than enough to cover his expenses.”

Lu Jiaguang shared the same sentiment: “You should take care of the wages of the hired help and the expenses for his medical treatments and medications. You can’t give the retirement money; your dad’s pension is quite generous, and there’s no need to give him extra.”

Lu Jiajie was also of the same opinion. The more you give, the more others benefit in the end.

Lu Jiaxin nodded and said, “If he gets sick and has to be hospitalized in the future, and we need to hire someone to take care of him, it’s okay if the cost is a bit higher. You all also have your jobs; we can’t always trouble you.”

Later on, she wanted to recruit a private secretary to help her handle these trivial matters. This was the good thing about Hong Kong; as long as you have money, there are people who can help you get things done effectively.

Lu Jiaguang did not refuse and said, “Then we will hire someone when the time comes, but we still have to take turns visiting to prevent the hired help from slacking off.”

During the previous few rounds, it was his turn to take care of things. Working during the day and staying up all night took its toll on his health. Now that he wasn’t young anymore, he couldn’t handle sleepless nights. Once someone was hired, they would just need to pitch in a little, which wouldn’t be as exhausting.

Lu Jiazong thought it was a waste of money, but since Lu Jiaguang had agreed, he kept quiet.

After discussing Lu Hongjun’s retirement plans, Lu Jiaxin brought up the matter of relocating a grave: “Before Qingming Festival next year, I will move my mother’s grave away.”

Lu Jiaguang had been rebuffed earlier and didn’t speak, and seeing that he was silent, neither did anyone else. If the eldest brother had no objections, naturally, they did not want to be the ones to offend anyone.

Lu Jiajie suddenly said, “Eldest brother, second brother, Jiaxin, I want to divorce Ma Lili.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiaguang scolded, “Divorce what? You’re busy outside all day long, and it’s your fifth brother’s wife who’s looking after the two kids. If you get divorced, who will take care of the kids?”

The thought of divorce wasn’t new; he had considered it every time they fought, but always gave up the idea for the sake of their children, until now when he could no longer tolerate it. Lu Jiajie spoke of his distress: “Big brother, every few days she picks a fight with me, demanding that I hand over the money for her to manage. Given her family’s situation, how can I dare to give her the money? If I give it to her, it will end up in the hands of Yan Fang and his wife in no time.”

“But if I don’t give her money, she starts arguments claiming I’m keeping a mistress outside, spending all the money on some fox spirit. If it were just that, I’d endure it for the kids. But she has been swayed by her family to believe that all of this chaos is Jiaxin’s fault, that if Jiaxin had lent us the money, we as a couple wouldn’t have fallen out. They are clearly the instigators and yet, they blame Jiaxin, even sowing discord in front of the kids,” he said, pausing for a moment before continuing: “This time she badmouthed Jiaxin in front of the children, what if next time she speaks ill of you, eldest brother, or you, second brother? Will she go on to undermine my relationship with the kids in the future?”

Lu Jiaxin gave a sneer, “It’s not a possibility; it’s a certainty. If she can alienate the kids from you and the Lu family members, in the future, they’ll be completely devoted to the Ma family.”

They say it is better to dismantle ten temples than to destroy a single marriage, but with someone like Ma Lili, it’s better to get the divorce over with!

Lu Jiaguang couldn’t utter another word against it and lapsed into silence before asking, “Divorce isn’t something you can just say and it happens. How will you arrange things with the kids?”

“Qiangqiang will be with me; Xiao Feng with her.”

Lu Jiaguang continued, “Qiangqiang is with you, but you need to do business. Sometimes you’re out of town for a month; who will take care of the child then?”

Lu Jiajie responded, “I am planning to have Aunt Ah Le live with us at home. When I’m away, she can help take care of Qiangqiang properly. Qiangqiang is big now and can take care of himself.”

Aunt Ah Le is trustworthy, so letting her take care of Qiangqiang put Lu Jiajie’s mind at ease.

Such an arrangement seemed appropriate, but with Lu Jiaguang’s traditional thinking, he couldn’t bring himself to agree with Lu Jiajie’s divorce outright.

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