Big Aunt selected a girl named Lin Zhizhi for Lu Yun, an eighteen-year-old, delicate flower with a spirited essence. The moment Lu Yun set eyes on her during their meeting, he was taken by her. Conversely, Lin Zhizhi, who was reluctant due to his age and the fact that it was his second marriage, only agreed after repeated persuasion from her family.
Once Lin Zhizhi relented, the two families immediately set the wedding, with the date arranged for the sixth day of the third lunar month. Second Sister-in-law Lu couldn’t make it back, as returning would mean closing her noodle shop. A small business like hers, closing for over ten days would lead customers to think it had gone under, never to return.
Lu Hongjun had already planned to return to his hometown with the arrival of spring. When he learned that Lu Yun’s wedding was set for just ten days later, he discussed it with Hongjun. Second Sister-in-law Lu might not be able to return, but Lu Jiazong definitely had to; it was a matter of family obligation.
After purchasing the tickets, Second Sister-in-law Lu bought a gold bracelet for him to take back, instructing him to give it to the bride on the day after the wedding as a first meeting gift from her as the mother-in-law.
Second Sister-in-law Lu always tried to be fair to her three sons. On the night she accompanied Lu Hongjun back to their hometown, she went to the family compound, partly to see her children, and also to give Maizi a gold bracelet as well.
Maizi immediately tried to refuse the gold bracelet, saying, "Mom, I can’t accept this. You’ve been running the household all these years and haven’t even bought any jewelry for yourself. Keep the bracelet for yourself; if I want one, I’ll ask Shanzi to buy it."
Which woman doesn’t like gold jewelry? It’s not only valuable but also respectable. However, she never bought any because her days were either spent busy in the shop or at home taking care of the kids, leaving no occasion to wear it.
Second Sister-in-law Lu placed the bracelet in Maizi’s hand, saying, "I’ve prepared one for Second Son’s Wife, and I will give one to Taozi’s future wife; how could I possibly leave you out? Take it quickly."
Hearing this, Maizi finally put on the bracelet.
Da Mai’s mother greeted Second Sister-in-law Lu and then got busy in the kitchen. She would do laundry, cook, and look after children from dawn to dusk, which was easier than fieldwork back home. Additionally, she earned sixty yuan a month. She sent thirty yuan back to Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free!
Cradling Nannan, Second Sister-in-law Lu asked, "Have you called your aunt recently?"
Da Mai shook her head and said, "Auntie is so busy; it’s not good to disturb her without reason."
While that thought wasn’t wrong, the issue was that Jiaxin, being far away in Hong Kong, couldn’t come and go as she pleased. Second Sister-in-law Lu said, "Jiaxin treats Madam Gu so well, and you visit her every weekend with the kids. You should also keep an eye on her condition. If those bodyguards or caregivers are slacking, you can tell your aunt."
Da Mai nodded, saying, "Shanzi visited two weeks ago, and they were taking good care of the old lady, so we didn’t call Auntie."
Second Sister-in-law Lu felt that her daughter-in-law had handled things well, especially since Shanzi wasn’t that meticulous: "Maizi, when you speak with Jiaxin, talk more about the kids’ schooling. Neither you nor Shanzi have much education, but Jiaxin is well-read and has broad insights. It’s always right to ask for her advice on learning matters."
With the noodle shop, there’s no worry about the children’s educational expenses. It was just that none of their family had much education, so their knowledge was limited. When the kids grew older, they weren’t sure how to guide them, and that’s where Jiaxin excelled.
Seeing Maizi’s hesitation, Second Sister-in-law Lu said, "Daughter-in-law, if you encounter difficulties, we can think of solutions together without bothering Jiaxin. But education is a serious matter; you must ask Jiaxin more about it, as it concerns the children’s entire future."
Pausing for a moment, she said, "Maizi, initially, Lu Ping, having finished his junior college, wasn’t planning to study further. It was your aunt who inspired him to take up postgraduate studies. After getting into graduate school, she encouraged him to apply abroad, even promising to cover all his expenses if he got accepted at a foreign university. Let’s not even talk about studying abroad; being a graduate student puts you two steps higher than a junior college graduate. The benefits and treatment once he enters a workplace will be incomparably better."
"And Lu An, he didn’t even pass the junior college entrance exams the first year. Big Aunt wanted him to attend a school run by Big Uncle Lu’s company and then work for the railway bureau. Your aunt talked to him, Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free! Big Uncle and Big Aunt didn’t object, and a year later, he was admitted into the Public Security University. Once Lu An graduates from university, he’ll be assigned a cadre position, which is far better than just being a railway worker."
"Big Aunt told me, with the examples set by Lu Ping and Lu An, Lu Zhang and Zhenzhen are studying hard these days. They’re determined to get into university and will not accept anything less."
Maizi wasn’t aware that the two younger ones were studying so diligently, influenced by their older brothers.
Second Sister-in-law Lu said, "Running a noodle shop might earn more than a salaried job, but it’s hard work, and not many people respect us for it. But getting an education and working in an office doesn’t require getting up early and staying up late, and it’s much more respectable and garners respect."
Her words deeply moved Da Mai. She didn’t mind working hard herself, but she didn’t want her children to endure the same hardship: "Mom, I’ll follow your advice and stay in contact with Auntie to talk about the kids."
Seeing that she had taken the advice to heart, Second Sister-in-law Lu shifted the conversation to Big Uncle Lu and his spouse. With meaningful work to do, Big Uncle Lu was enjoying life these days, and his health had improved significantly.
Three days later, Lu Hongjun arrived back home. As Big Uncle Lu had been informed in advance, Lu Jiayao, along with Lu Yun, came to pick him up.
When they reached the entrance of the village, they found a large group of people there to welcome him, including the two highest-ranking elders of the clan. Moreover, they set off firecrackers in welcome, a level of honor he hadn’t received the last time he came back.
Seventh Uncle, the elder with the highest seniority, took his hand and said, "Hongjun, you have raised a wonderful daughter. She has brought honor to the entire Lu family."
Seeing so many people welcoming him, Lu Hongjun knew that it was all thanks to his daughter. He smiled and said, "It’s a pity Jiaxin is busy; otherwise, I would have brought her back with me."
Seventh Uncle said, "With so many things keeping Jiaxin busy, it’s best not to trouble her to come back for the time being. Let’s have her come back for the ancestral tribute next year, we’ll have to call her back then."
Lu Hongjun didn’t dare commit on Jiaxin’s behalf: "Seventh Uncle, I’ll let her know before the tribute; if it’s not too much trouble, she’ll come back."
The implication was that if something important came up, she might not be able to.
Thinking of Jiaxin’s reluctance to Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free! Let’s go back and eat first; we can talk more later."
Seventh Uncle, crafty with age, picked up on the deflection: "You, having traveled for several days, should really go back and rest well. We can have a good chat tomorrow."
The crowd escorted Lu Hongjun to Big Uncle’s house and then dispersed.
After everyone from the clan had left, Big Uncle inquired, "Third brother, did Jiaxin tell you anything before you came back?"
Lu Hongjun admitted he was powerless in this matter: "You know Jiaxin’s temperament; she won’t be forced into doing something she doesn’t want, otherwise, she’ll turn hostile."