Chapter 153: Chapter 144: Return Gift
Aunt Hong and Doctor Xu brought a lot of things when they visited again, all tonic delicacies, including fish maw, official bird’s nest, and sea cucumber. These sea cucumbers were more than twice the size of those Lu Jiaxin had bought herself.
Upon seeing these items, Lu Jiaxin realized that they must have been brought from Hong Kong, and it was only because Aunt Hong felt assured by her resemblance to Madam Guh that she handed them over. This is human nature, after all, seeing with one’s own eyes is always more convincing than hearing from others.
Aunt Hong said, “Miss Cousin, these foods are very nourishing. You are weak now and should eat more to recover faster.”
Lu Jiaxin tactfully refused, “I am on medication, and there are many things I cannot eat. I’ve heard that Madam Guh isn’t well either; it’s better to keep these items for herself.”
“There’s plenty at the old lady’s home; these were specifically bought for you.”
Lu Jiaxin still refused, stating that she could not accept rewards without merits, and gave her the prepared money, “This is for the color TV and refrigerator. I’m sorry, I don’t have any foreign currency, so I can only give you Hua currency.”
Aunt Hong was taken aback; she hadn’t expected Lu Jiaxin to refuse not only the tonics but also to insist on returning the money for the appliances. She pushed the money back to Lu Jiaxin, smiling, “Miss Cousin, before I came here, Old Lady Guh said to me that whatever you lacked or needed, I should arrange for you.”
Lu Jiaxin sincerely said, “Aunt Hong, my mother often said not to casually accept things from others. Even if the results prove Madam Guh is my aunt, I can’t accept so many items from her. Whatever I lack, I will find a way to earn money and buy it myself.”
Like a television and a refrigerator, it wasn’t that she couldn’t afford them; she simply didn’t need them yet. She had a radio and listened to the news every day, as well as to BBC broadcasts. As for the refrigerator, the winter in the Forty-nine City served as a natural fridge, so she planned to buy one when it got hotter.
Aunt Hong’s smile grew even broader upon hearing this, “No need for any proof; I already know you are definitely the old lady’s granddaughter. Miss Cousin, these were specially purchased by the old lady to nourish your health. There is a saying – gifts from elders should not be refused; Miss Cousin, you shouldn’t let down the old lady’s kind heart.”
With things said to this extent, Lu Jiaxin found it hard to refuse any further.
Aunt Hong took out a camera and was about to take a picture of Lu Jiaxin, commenting that her clothes were too plain, “Miss Cousin, do you have any brighter-colored clothes? Young girls look prettier in bright attire.”
Lu Jiaxin had colorful clothes but didn’t want to change, “I think this outfit looks good, let’s just take the picture !”
She couldn’t deny that the clothes fit well and suited her figure, but they were just too pale in color. Aunt Hong said, “Old Lady Guh loves brightly colored clothes; they look attractive and lively.”
Lu Jiaxin responded with an ‘Okay’ and said, “Go ahead and take it.”
What Madam Guh liked to wear was her business, not Lu Jiaxin’s. She wanted to wear what she liked and do what she wanted; she wouldn’t let anyone dictate her choices.
Aunt Hong thought she had quite a temper.
After the photo was taken, Lu Jiaxin said she was tired and needed a nap, “I take a nap at this time every day; without it, I won’t have any energy in the afternoon or evening.”
She was not very fond of what had happened earlier and didn’t feel like dealing with Aunt Hong any longer. Given the situation, even if she went to Hong Kong, she wouldn’t plan on living with Madam Guh.
After leaving, Aunt Hong shook her head and said, “I need to speak to the old lady about Miss Cousin’s temperament.”
She wasn’t even willing to change into a colorful outfit. Once she went to Hong Kong and entered the He Family, if there were conflicts with Miss Sun or Young Master Sun, it would be Old Lady Guh who would have a hard time.
Doctor Xu was Madam Gu’s private doctor, and his thoughts were different from Aunt Hong’s, “Aunt Hong, Miss Cousin and Miss Xing’s temperaments are completely different, and the old lady might prefer the latter.”
Xing Yujun was gentle and compliant, always soft in her approach; from her service to Old Lady Gu, he had never seen the girl lose her temper. And yet, what happened? A few sweet words from He Shengbin of the third branch were enough to mollify her, and she almost caused Old Lady Gu’s death. With such a precedent, if Miss Cousin were of similar temperament, the old lady would have her reservations.
Xue Mao asked in surprise, “Sister Xin, why did they leave just like that? After giving us such valuable gifts they should have stayed for dinner.”
Lu Jiaxin yawned and said, “They are not used to our local dishes. Alright, I’m sleepy. You go busy yourself with your things!”
The color TV and refrigerator were big items, and many people in the alley had seen them, not to mention Fatty Aunt. Everyone thought Jiaguang would come over to inquire after work, but no one saw him even as it got dark.
The next day, as soon as it was faintly light, Aunt Hong and Doctor Xu came over to knock on the door. Doctor Xu drew blood from Jiaxin, carefully stored it, and prepared to leave.
Lu Jiaxin handed Aunt Hong a square-shaped red box carved with peonies, and when Aunt Hong looked puzzled, she explained, “This is for Madam Gu. I hope she will like it.”
Having received so many things from Madam Gu, she knew she had to give something in return. After thinking it over last night, she decided that returning jade ornaments was the best. She would not touch the jewelry left by Mrs. Lu, but the Mutton-fat Jade jewelry Su Heming had given her was just right.
Aunt Hong, who was accustomed to seeing fine things, was a bit surprised to see the box. She accepted it with both hands, “A gift from Miss Cousin, the old lady will definitely like it.”
Because they were in a hurry to catch a flight, the two left quickly.
After seeing off her visitors, Jiaxin washed her face and started practicing the Eight Silk Brocade with Xiaoxiao. After a few months of persistence, now she was getting quite proficient.
Sitting in the car, Doctor Xu looked at the quaint box and said, “Aunt Hong, this box’s texture and color look just like the old lady’s dressing table, don’t they?”
Aunt Hong nodded and said, “The old lady’s dressing table is made of huanghuali wood, and so is this box.”
Doctor Xu did not think it was a coincidence; he felt that this girl had great elegance. With the state Old Lady Gu was in now, she needed a determined younger relative by her side, someone not easily manipulated by others.
After having breakfast, Jiaxin went to the telephone office. As soon as the call connected, she said, “Su Heming, sorry, but I re-gifted the thing you gave me.”
Su Heming, knowing the whole story and finding it both funny and pathetic, said, “And here I thought you were calling so early in the morning because there was something important. Once a gift is given to you, it’s yours. You don’t have to tell me what you do with it.”
Jiaxin said, “If I re-gift something you gave me, I should at least tell you.”
Heming wasn’t concerned about her passing on his gift but was curious who she gave it to, “Whose face is big enough to make Sister Jiaxin give away jewelry worth tens of thousands?”
In Peng City, a whole set of Mutton-fat Jade jewelry was worth tens of thousands, but if taken to a jewelry store in Hong Kong, it could easily fetch five times that. His elder brother had reminded him to hold on to his old items and jade decorations, not to give them or sell them away.
Jiaxin said, “It was Madam Gu. She arranged for someone to come to the Forty-nine City to take my blood for DNA verification in Hong Kong to see if we are related by blood. She sent me many supplements and even bought me a color TV and a refrigerator. With all that she gave me, I had to give something in return, and what you gave was just perfect.”
“Madam Gu, ah, no wonder,” he said.