Chapter 536: Chapter 519 Guh Xiuxiu Gets Injured
After visiting Old Master Nie, Lu Jiaxin went to the Patek Philippe boutique in Seaport City. She liked watches, and upon hearing about a new model, the Lu Residence had received a phone call from the store.
Some wealthy women prefer the store to send the goods to their homes for selection, but Jiaxin liked to pick them out at the store and take the opportunity to do some shopping.
Afterward, Jiaxin bought some clothes and ended her shopping spree at Five Auspicious Jewelry. She had a fondness for watches and wasn’t too demanding about jewelry, so the offerings at Five Auspicious Jewelry usually met her needs.
After eating out, Jiaxin returned home and went upstairs to rest. When she came down after waking up, the butler told her that Gu Xiuxiu had been hospitalized.
The butler said, “Boss, I’ve just received a call, Madam Guh got injured while trying to climb out of the second-floor window.”
Jiaxin was stunned. Climbing out of the second-floor window? What was this all about! But she didn’t have time to think further and immediately rushed to St. Maria Hospital.
Gu Xiuxiu was fond of St. Maria Hospital and usually came here for treatment. Since St. Maria Hospital was also good and she liked it, Jiaxin had no objection to not going to Recuperate Hospital instead.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Gu Xiuxiu’s left leg had already been bandaged. It was only after asking Aunt Hong that she learned Gu Xiuxiu had tied bed sheets to the window and slid down. Unfortunately, a maid spotted her and screamed, causing Gu Xiuxiu to be startled and sprain her ankle upon falling to the ground.
At that moment, Jiaxin doubted her own eyes. Was this the behavior of someone not of sound mind? But then again, maybe the villa in Mid-mountain was too small, which is why she had tried to run away.
Aunt Mei said, “Miss Cousin, the old lady now wants to go out not only during the day but also at night. Last night, she was fussing about going out to dance.”
With such antics, she and Aunt Hong were really worn out. They had thought she was asleep, but she had actually tried to escape through the window, clearly trying to run away through the back garden.
Jiaxin rubbed her forehead in frustration. She had seen news reports about how hard it was for children of those with dementia, thinking that hiring a few more people for care would not be a problem, but she didn’t expect it to be so troublesome.
Aunt Mei said, “Miss Cousin, let’s just take the old lady back to the Forty-nine City. The residence there is bigger, and there’s a park next door for walks. We can take her out for a stroll in the morning and evening.”
“The house in Shallow Bay will be ready in March; once we move there we’ll have more space to move around.”
Aunt Mei shook her head and said, “The residence in Shallow Bay might be larger than this, but it’s not as spacious as the Forty-nine City residence. Plus, that place has bungalows, unlike here with high-rise buildings. Today she climbed out of the window, what if next time she jumps off the rooftop?”
She had indeed been frightened today and had not expected someone to actually climb out of the window.
Jiaxin said, “It’s very cold in the Forty-nine City right now; if she goes there, she’s bound to get sick. Let’s wait until Aunt’s foot heals before we discuss it.”
To her surprise, that very night Gu Xiuxiu suddenly became lucid and called Jiaxin to demand to return to the Forty-nine City: “Jiaxin, I can’t live in this birdcage; I want to go back to my grand residence with five courtyards.”
From the day she was brought back to Hong Kong until now, nearly two months had passed in a daze, and this was the first time she was lucid.
Jiaxin said, “It’s very cold in the Forty-nine City now; I’m worried about your health. Also, with your injured foot, it’s not good for you to move. I’ll take you back once your foot has healed.”
Gu Xiuxiu was unwilling and said, “No, I want to go back now. Even if I die, I want to die at home, not in a hospital.”
Seeing that Jiaxin was silent, she added, “Jiaxin, if you don’t make arrangements, I will have someone buy a ticket right now, and I’ll go back by myself tomorrow.”
Jiaxin felt helpless; there was no problem in buying a ticket, but by tomorrow, Gu Xiuxiu would likely not be lucid again: “Tomorrow won’t work; it’s too rushed. How about three days from now? Aunt, if you and Aunt Mei go back to Hong Kong, they’ve turned off the heating in the residence there. We need to notify the relevant departments to turn the heating back on. Moreover, since nobody has lived there for so long, both the inside and outside of the house need cleaning, don’t you think?”
Guh Xiuxiu stated she could take care of these matters in one day, repeating her earlier words, “I’ll return the day after tomorrow. I don’t want to stay in that bird cage anymore; I want to go back and live in my spacious house with five courtyards.”
Lu Jiaxin, in order to stabilize her, could only agree.
Once Guh Xiuxiu’s foot was bandaged, she could go home, but she was dead set against it, insisting on going directly back to the Forty-nine City from here.
Lu Jiaxin was perplexed and asked Aunt Mei why she was so averse to returning to the Mid-mountain Villa, her home.
Aunt Mei said somewhat helplessly, “The rooms here are half the size of those in the Forty-nine City and the residence isn’t enclosed. Every time she steps out, two people follow her, which she dislikes. She constantly complains that we’re imprisoning her and even says that unlawful detention is a crime and threatens to call the police.”
Lu Jiaxin was feeling overwhelmed. She now understood why the children of those with dementia were at their wits’ end–she had already hired four caregivers, in addition to Aunt Mei and Aunt Hong, and the bodyguards would also help keep an eye on things. Despite this, there were endless problems every day.
“But if we go back to the Forty-nine City and encounter trouble, you all will be living in fear again.”
Aunt Mei indicated that they had overreacted last time and it wasn’t really a big deal, “With the bodyguards there, they can’t harm us. Miss Cousin, I know you’re filial, but at Old Mrs.’ age, it’s better to indulge her wishes!”
“Let’s wait until her leg’s better before sending her back, shall we?”
Aunt Mei shook her head and said, “Better to send her back the day after tomorrow! Otherwise, when she comes to her senses, she’ll start making a fuss again. It won’t be a big deal for us, but I worry she might injure herself again.”
Lu Jiaxin didn’t argue and simply said, “Next month, I have to go back to work at the company, and I’m going to be quite busy. Aunt’s matters will have to rely on you and Aunt Hong.”
She wouldn’t return to the Forty-nine City unless it was a life-or-death matter. Unlike in Hong Kong, where she could rush to the hospital immediately if she twisted her ankle, she wouldn’t consider going back if she was in the Forty-nine City.
Aunt Mei nodded in agreement.
Lu Jiaxin was certain to discuss such a major issue with Nie Zhan, “Not only Aunt, but Aunt Hong and Aunt Mei also prefer the big house in the Forty-nine City. Well, if they like it and want to go back, then let’s go back!”
Hearing this, Nie Zhan became curious, “I’ll come with you! I’m also eager to see just how big that house with five courtyards really is.”
Lu Jiaxin cheerfully responded, “A house with five courtyards, in ancient times, could only be inhabited by princes or ministers of at least Second Rank. But the most valuable thing is that it’s well-preserved; I only had it renovated.”
A big house with five courtyards wasn’t just spacious, it was also a symbol of status and position in the past. However, being able to buy this house was also a matter of chance; even with money, one might not be able to purchase it.
Nie Zhan’s face broke into a smile, “So, you agree that I can go with you to the Forty-nine City?”
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, “My consent is useless; you won’t be able to go.”
As it turned out, Lu Jiaxin’s words were prophetic. On the morning of the departure, Nie Zhan received a call from Old Master Nie, asking him to come to the old family home stating there was something important to discuss.
Lu Jiaxin gave him a little push, smiling and saying, “If your grandfather says it’s important, you should hurry over!”
With no other option, Nie Zhan could only plan to visit another time.