Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire
Chapter 330 - Chapter 330 Chapter 319 One Bowl of Water

Chapter 330: Chapter 319 One Bowl of Water Chapter 330: Chapter 319 One Bowl of Water That evening, Lu Hongjun told Lu Jiajie, “Aunt Tang has already agreed to not register the marriage. We’ll set up three tables when the time comes. We won’t host it at home since it wouldn’t accommodate everyone, so we’ll go directly to a restaurant and reserve three tables.”

This outcome was within Lu Jiajie’s expectations. After all, the other party had something to ask for and would not give up just because of this requirement. “Third Uncle, when will you move back then?”

Lu Hongjun shook his head and said, “Aunt Tang mentioned that after we’ve had the banquet, she’ll move over. You should let Aunt Song go; she can take care of the few of us and our daily needs.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiajie immediately refused, “Third Uncle, I don’t want people poking fun at my backbone. It’s better if you move back with her to the family compound.”

What a joke, allowing a woman with ulterior motives to live in their home could negatively influence Qiangqiang and Xiao Feng. Anyway, he would not go to Yangcheng City this year and planned to take the kids to and from school himself, leaving everything else to Aunt Song.

Lu Hongjun had no desire to move back to the family compound. He went to ask Lu Jiaguang, “When will Jiaxin buy the house for me? Jiajie doesn’t want to live with Aunt Tang, and I need to move out.”

The people in the family compound were all too gossipy, which he found annoying. Ever since he moved out, he lived much more comfortably.

Lu Jiaguang explained, “Jiaxin said she would come back by the end of the year. It’s already August now; in just four more months, things will be settled. If you really don’t want to live in the family compound, you could rent a place outside just like Jiajie for the time being.”

Lu Hongjun did not pronounce the ill-omened words of losing out on money; he was aware of how capable Lu Jiaxin was in doing business. “Forget renting, Aunt Tang is quite frugal and definitely wouldn’t be happy about renting when there is a house available. Well, it’s just four months, I’ll bear it for now!”

Meanwhile, Tang Sufen’s eldest daughter, Huang Xiaoyu, found out that the two didn’t plan to register the marriage and asked confusedly, “Mom, didn’t you say that when a woman gets married, she has to register? Otherwise, she’ll be like our cousin in the countryside, who only had a banquet without registering with the man. When the man went back to the city and registered with someone else, it was useless for her to make a scene because they’re the legal husband and wife.”

Tang Sufen replied, “It must be his nephews disapproving. It’s fine; at this age, not registering isn’t a problem. Once we’ve had the banquet, you sisters and your younger brother can move into the big house with me.”

She was willing to live with Lu Hongjun, but was she really after the man himself? Of course, it was his pension and the big house she was eyeing.

Huang Xiaoyu frowned and said, “But I heard that big house is supposed to be left to his own daughter.”

Tang Sufen retorted, “Don’t rush about who gets the house; that’s many years from now. For now, your elder brother’s wedding is what’s important. He’s been unable to get married because the house is too small. Once we move away, your elder and second brothers can have a room each, which will make it easier to find wives.”

Huang Xiaoyu voiced her concern, “Mom, I’ve heard that Uncle Lu’s daughter is quite formidable, and it was she who had his previous wife sent to jail. When she comes back and fights with us for the house, will we be able to contend with her?”

Tang Sufen wasn’t worried at all, “If she could send that woman to jail, it’s because the woman broke the law. I’m living a just and honest life, she can’t harm me. Besides, she’s settled in Hong Kong and has now been admitted to Hong Kong University; she probably won’t come back often.”

Hearing about Hong Kong, Huang Xiaoyu expressed her yearning, “Mom, I also want to go to Hong Kong.”

Tang Sufen scolded her, “Hong Kong isn’t as great as they say, just seducing young girls like you. There, without friends or relatives, you might get sold by those people, and then no one would hear you when you cry for help. You better go to work and stay put; in a couple of years, I’ll find you a good match through my connections.”

Yet, Huang Xiaoyu’s desire to go to Hong Kong was not extinguished by her mother’s words.

Soon, Lu Hongjun and Tang Sufen held their banquet. He did not invite any leaders or colleagues from the department store, but did invite a few friends he made after retirement. Lu Jiaguang was away on a business trip and didn’t return, while Wang Xiaojie, Lu Jiazong, and Lu Jiajie attended. On Tang Sufen’s side, a good number of neighbours were invited, and comparatively, she had more attendees than Lu Hongjun did.

After the meal, Lu Jiazong returned to Xiushui Street. Second Sister-in-law Lu had initially not wanted her husband to go, knowing that Tang Sufen was around the same age as her and feeling extremely uncomfortable about it. However, when Lu Jiaguang called, she still honored his request for the sake of his pride.

Second Sister-in-law Lu asked with a drooping face, “What does that woman look like?”

Lu Jiazong expressed his disdain, indicating that she was not very attractive.

Second Sister-in-law Lu was somewhat surprised, “Jiajie said that woman was pretty and fashionable, which is why your Third Uncle lost his senses after meeting her.”

Lu Jiazong said without hesitation, “Not pretty, nowhere near as good-looking as you, my wife. That woman knows how to dress up, looking all shiny with makeup. But what kind of woman spends her days in makeup? It shows she’s not the type to bring peace of mind.”

The Lu Family was wealthy, and with Big Uncle Lu being the village party secretary at the time, Lu Jiazong and his brothers were highly sought after for marriage. Second Sister-in-law Lu was fresh and radiant in her youth, and Lu Jiazong had taken one look at her and been smitten.

After hearing the former part of his statement, Second Sister-in-law Lu felt greatly comforted inside, assured that her husband, though reserved, held her in his heart. When she heard the latter part, she snorted coldly, “If that woman were truly down-to-earth, would she have fallen for your Third Uncle? I just hope that after getting the money, she will take good care of him.”

“Ah, I wonder if Jiaxin will be upset when she finds out?”

That was something Lu Jiazong wasn’t sure about, but normally, she certainly wouldn’t be pleased.

Second Sister-in-law Lu felt it was pointless to dwell on the matter, “The shop opposite our stall is preparing to sell, and I want to buy it.”

“Ah, that’s going to be a lot of money.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu mentioned she had asked about the price and was short eight thousand yuan, “Later, I’ll talk to Xiao Qiu and borrow the eight thousand from her first. Once we make the money, we can pay her back.”

After Xiao Qiu received a thirty percent share, Second Sister-in-law Lu opened a separate account and deposited all the money Xiao Qiu earned into it.

Lu Jiazong said, “Pay her back? She’s our own child. Why would we need to pay back the eight thousand yuan?”

Second Sister-in-law Lu asked, “If we buy this shop, who do you plan to give it to in the future?”

Without a second thought, Lu Jiazong said, “Definitely for Shanzi, our eldest. He’s going to take care of us in our old age and see us off at the end.”

Second Sister-in-law Lu didn’t argue with his words but stated, “If it were money we spent or used up, then sure, we wouldn’t pay it back. But since the shop will be left for Shanzi, why should Xiao Qiu pay for it?”

“If we parents don’t treat our children equally, we can’t expect them to support each other later on. It will be good enough if they don’t become enemies.”

Her own parents had been far too partial to her youngest brother, causing resentment from her brother and sister-in-law. The situation escalated over the family home dispute, and they stopped having any contact with her youngest brother. Every time her mother saw her, she would complain and cry, even wanting her to mediate. By this point, she felt helpless! Learning from her parents’ mistake, she strove to treat her four children with complete fairness.

Lu Jiazong was scolded into silence.