By the end of August, the list of Lu family members going to Hong Kong for the engagement party was finalized. Sister-in-law Lu would bring Lu Ping and Lu An, while Lu Zhang and Lu Zhenzhen wanted to go but were refused, though it was promised that they could go when Lu Jiaxin got married. Besides them, only Lu Shan would go; Da Mai had to look after the shop and wouldn’t be going, originally wanted Gou Dan and Nannan to go too, but Sister-in-law Lu thought it wasn’t sensible for Lu Shan to care by himself, so the proposal was vetoed.
Huang Xiaoyu knew Lu Hongjun was going to Hong Kong, so she came up with an idea and came to talk to Tang Sufen: "Mom, please let Uncle Lu take me to Hong Kong."
"Mom, the salaries in Hong Kong are really high. I heard even sweepers earn three to four thousand, and even converted to Hua currency, it’s over a thousand. If I go to Hong Kong and work there, you won’t have to worry about my siblings’ tuition and living expenses anymore, nor need to submit yourself within the Lu Family."
Tang Sufen wanted to visit Hong Kong herself but couldn’t fulfill that wish: "I also want him to take you to Hong Kong, but it’s not his decision. It’s Lu Jiaxin who handled the paperwork, and once they reach Yangcheng City, someone will guide them to Hong Kong."
"Lu Jiaxin doesn’t like me and won’t let me attend her engagement party, so how could she permit you to go? You might as well give up this thought!"
Huang Xiaoyu refused to give up and pleaded with Lu Hongjun but was still fruitless.
Lu Hongjun said, "Xiao Yu, stop fantasizing all the time, focus on your work, and then find a good family to marry into."
Take her to Hong Kong? How could that be possible? If he dared to suggest it, that girl would immediately turn hostile. Haven’t you noticed both the second and fifth brothers weren’t invited!
No matter how nicely Huang Xiaoyu spoke, Lu Hongjun remained unmoved and wouldn’t confront him, instead she blamed Tang Sufen: "If you had gotten along well with Lu Jiaxin from the start, not only could you have gone to Hong Kong in a couple of months, but I could have stayed there to seize the opportunity."
Tang Sufen thought she was daydreaming: "Stay in Hong Kong to work? If she were to Find your next favorite novel on NovelHub today! On weekends, honestly go and meet people; if you still can’t find someone suitable, I won’t care anymore, anticipating you becoming an old spinster."
Huang Xiaoyu hated being called an old spinster, and angrily left, then complained to her brothers and sister-in-law. She truly felt that she couldn’t go to Hong Kong all because her mom didn’t know how to act.
The eldest son thought she made sense: "Lu Jiaxin is so wealthy; even if just a tiny bit slips from her fingers, we’d have enough to eat and drink for life. But mom offended her, and now we’re getting no benefits at all."
The second son, Huang Jianye, however, said something fair: "Lu Jiaxin almost lost her life to that woman with the surname Ding, no matter who marries Uncle Lu, she’d dislike him and wouldn’t be close. So, it’s not mom’s fault."
Huang Lao Da didn’t listen, and on Saturday morning went to find Tang Sufen. Because the money from selling snuff bottles and brush washstands was given to Huang Jianshe’s couple, and he wouldn’t return it, Lu Hongjun declared never to allow him to step into the home again, lest he break his legs.
Tang Sufen said, "Going to Hong Kong, don’t even think about it."
Huang Lao Da meant that although it’s understandable they couldn’t go, Tang Sufen as a stepmother by rule should have a place at the main table, yet she wasn’t invited to the engagement party, which was absurd.
Tang Sufen said, "By rules, the groom’s family should bring lavish gifts on the engagement visit! But Lu Jiaxin and that man set the marriage date first and then told the family. So don’t bother with rules on her, she’ll throw a fit you can’t afford."
Huang Jianshe perplexed by this said: "Mom, what’s with you? Why are you afraid of her now?"
Tang Sufen is indeed afraid of Lu Jiaxin now: "It’s said by Old Lu that Lu Jiaxin suspected something from Wang Xiaojie’s description about her, then spent a lot to investigate her. Surprisingly, they discovered she was impersonating her cousin and attending university."
"Lu Jiaxin sent the impersonating student and her father to jail. Authorities investigated and caught several others; none of those involved in the case escaped. Serious offenses led to imprisonment, minor ones got deferred sentencing depending on future behavior. Jianshe, we can’t afford to provoke her."
Huang Jianshe was aware of the impersonation affair since it made headlines and stirred public debate, but didn’t expect Lu Jiaxin was the one fueling it: "Mom, what exactly does Lu Jiaxin do in Hong Kong to make so much money and be so formidable?"
It’s said in conversations between Lu Hongjun and Lu Jiaguang, which Tang Sufen overheard: "She’s rumored to have opened several factories. The goods from Hong Kong arriving here are snapped up, sure enough she makes a profit."
"What kind of factories?"
Tang Sufen pondered and said: "She opened a garment factory, not sure about the others, haven’t heard Lu Hongjun mention them, perhaps he’s not informed either!"
After all, the relationship between father and daughter is so strained that Lu Jiaxin doesn’t tell him anything. Relatively, Lu Jiaguang knows more, but he’s tight-lipped, not mentioning a word.
The mother and son chatted for quite a while before Huang Jianshe went back.
By noon, Lu Hongjun said: "Today, Huang Jianshe came to see you; he must be asking for money again?"
Tang Sufen immediately denied, saying her son came to visit her: "We haven’t met for so long, this child misses me."
Lu Hongjun couldn’t help but laugh: "Miss you? If he were truly filial, why would he exploit your trust to swindle money? Tang Sufen, while you’re still of use, they’ll sweet-talk and placate you; when you’re no longer useful and can’t earn, you’ll be but a burden they’ll shun away."
Tang Sufen felt cursed and angrily rebuked Lu Hongjun.
Lu Hongjun said: "If you won’t listen, hope you don’t regret it in the future."
Tang Sufen truly isn’t worried. As long as Lu Hongjun is well, she won’t lack food or drink. Relying on oneself for retirement, why would they dislike her! Nor could they possibly consider her a burden.
Seeing she wouldn’t heed, Lu Hongjun said no more.
On Sunday, after breakfast, Wang Xiaojie arrived: "Third Uncle, the car is waiting outside the alley, let’s go!"
Tang Sufen noticed Lu Ping and Lu An were there, and couldn’t help asking: "Going for what?"
Wang Xiaojie smiled and said, "Isn’t it two months until Jiaxin’s engagement? I’ve asked someone to find a tailor shop, scheduled today to take them for measurements."
Tang Sufen was terribly jealous but dared not speak harshly nor sarcastically. Otherwise, Lu Ping’s words could choke you.
Ever since Lu Hongjun fractured his leg, they got used to having Xing Ziyang drive them out. With frequent trips, fuel costs surged, so Xing Ziyang called Lu Jiaxin for her opinion; she said the car could be used but to manage fuel expenses.
While measuring, Lu Shan said: "Big Aunt, why do we have to make clothes here? We can just buy a couple of suits from the market."
Wang Xiaojie said: "Clothes here look much better than ones sold on Xiushui Street."
Tailored clothes fit more sharply and the fabrics are very comfortable. Of course, for someone frugal like Lu Shan, as long as they’re wearable, he’s fine with it.