Chapter 704: Chapter 687: Su Heyuan Becomes a Father
Lu Jiaxin received a call from Zong Shimeng, saying Hu Huihui has given birth.
Upon hearing the news, Lu Jiaxin asked with a smile, “Is it a boy or a girl?”
Since the due date was pushed back so many days, everyone thought it would be a girl. The couple didn’t mind whether it was a boy or a girl and didn’t do a test, so they didn’t know the sex.
Zong Shimeng smiled and said, “It’s a boy.”
There’s a saying that boys arrive early and girls arrive late, which was why Zong Shimeng thought this baby was likely a girl. But these things aren’t always certain.
“Was the delivery smooth?”
“Smooth, very smooth.”
Hu Huihui insisted on exercising during her pregnancy, so the birth went smoothly; it took five hours from the time she was admitted to the hospital to the delivery. A natural birth, and it’s the first child, so five hours is pretty quick.
Lu Jiaxin checked her watch and called Nie Zhan, “Sister-in-law has given birth, I’m going to the hospital to visit her, won’t be home for dinner tonight.”
Given the relationship between the two families, it’s only natural to go as soon as you hear the news.
“Then let’s have Italian food tonight.”
After the secretary bought everything necessary, Lu Jiaxin went to St. Maria Hospital. Before the birth, Zong Shimeng had suggested she go to Recuperate Hospital, but Hu Huihui’s friend’s mom was here and had a reputation as a gynecology expert, so the Hu Family went with it.
When Lu Jiaxin arrived at the hospital, she found only Zong Shimeng and Hu Huihui, who was getting an IV, in the room; the baby wasn’t there. She tiptoed to the bedside and asked softly, “Sister-in-law, are you alright?”
Hu Huihui replied with a grimace, “It hurts so much.”
Everyone says childbirth is painful, she was prepared but didn’t expect it to be this painful.
Zong Shimeng was worried she might scare Lu Jiaxin and make her reluctant to have kids, so she quickly added, “It’s indeed quite painful during delivery, but after recuperating for about three or four days, it gets better.”
These words are somewhat misleading; young people recover quickly, but it’s not the same as you get older.
Hu Huihui glanced at her but didn’t say anything further.
Lu Jiaxin changed the topic, “Where’s the baby? Why hasn’t the baby been seen?”
Hu Huihui smiled, “Heyuan took the baby for a bath. Jiaxin, have a seat.”
Once Lu Jiaxin sat down, she asked, “Has the baby been named yet?”
Hu Huihui shook her head, indicating they had chosen a nickname but hadn’t settled on a full name yet, “The nickname is Niu Niu. Heyuan said he hoped he would grow up strong like a young calf.”
There were some complaints before the birth, but once she saw the baby, she had no objections. Compared to the hope that the child becomes successful, she more so desires him to grow up safe and healthy.
After chatting for a while, Su Heyuan came back with the baby. Lu Jiaxin looked at the wrinkly, elderly-looking baby and laughed, “This little one’s skin is so red. I’ve heard that the redder baby skin is at birth, the fairer it will be later.”
Su Heyuan dismissively replied, “He’s not a girl; it’s fine for a boy to be rougher, the important thing is to be capable.”
Lu Jiaxin chuckled, “Capability requires nurturing, while looks are given by parents, innate.”
There are cosmetic surgeries nowadays, but it’s not widespread yet; regular people wouldn’t undergo it. Besides being very painful, it’s expensive and unaffordable. Those who can afford it are reluctant to undergo such procedures due to high risks.
After chatting for a while and seeing Hu Huihui appearing tired, Lu Jiaxin left, escorted by Su Heyuan. Outside, Lu Jiaxin lowered her voice and said, “The reason you didn’t follow the trend in buying crude oil futures is known by everyone in the Hu Family. If this crude oil futures trade doesn’t earn profit, it will put me in a precarious position.”
Su Heyuan was first taken aback, then apologized, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have told Huihui. Rest assured, this is the last time, it won’t happen again.”
Lu Jiaxin said, “No need to swear, I won’t be trading any financial products for a short while.”
Back in the ’90s, she remembered three things: firstly, the mainland issued stocks; those who bought them first made a fortune, but she didn’t touch it; secondly, the Asian Financial Crisis, avoiding financial products until then; thirdly, the catastrophic floods of ’98.
Su Heyuan apologized again. It was mainly because his wife asked, otherwise he wouldn’t have said anything, but he wouldn’t let it happen again.
Lu Jiaxin didn’t criticize him, anyway, she wouldn’t touch financial products for a few years. Well, if she were to buy, she’d let Nie Zhan handle it, since his reputation is prominent.
On the way back, Lu Jiaxin received a call from Nie Manlin, inviting her for coffee. As the saying goes that a weasel visiting a hen doesn’t bring welcome news, Nie Manlin surely doesn’t have good intentions.
Lu Jiaxin didn’t give her any face, saying, “Auntie Nie, I don’t drink coffee, only flower tea.”
Nie Manlin didn’t expect her friendly offer to be rejected, “Then let me treat you to tea.”
This time Lu Jiaxin didn’t refuse, but insisted on choosing the teahouse herself. How should I put it? She doesn’t trust Nie Manlin; even if the chances of harm are low, better safe than sorry.
Nie Manlin had already heard about Lu Jiaxin’s strong personality from Nie Manli, so she was mentally prepared, but still felt uneasy seeing her behave this way. She thought for a moment and decided to speak over the phone, “Jiaxin, actually, it’s , I have something I’d like you to help with.”
Lu Jiaxin refused without hesitation, “Auntie, my capabilities are limited, I can’t help you. If you need something, go find Ah Zhan, he will solve it for you.”
By going to her directly, she must know that Nie Zhan would refuse. It’s laughable; if it’s something Nie Zhan won’t agree to, why would she think she would say yes? She’s not desperate to marry into the Nie Family, having to deal with a future mother-in-law.
Nie Manlin was stunned, having not even mentioned specifics before being rejected.
Lu Jiaxin didn’t want to deal with such romantic nonsense, and wanted to end the conversation quickly, “Auntie, I have other matters to handle here, so I can’t chat any longer.”
Hearing the dial tone on the other end, Nie Manlin was incredulous. After a long time, her face reddened as she angrily said, “What kind of upbringing produces this? No manners at all.”
Back at the company, Lu Jiaxin got busy and forgot about the incident until she returned home that evening and remembered it upon seeing Nie Zhan.
“Your mom called me today.”
Nie Zhan’s expression immediately turned sour, “What did she say?”
Lu Jiaxin replied, “She said she needed my help with something; I guessed it wasn’t good, so I hung up. Ah Zhan, do you know what it was?”
Nie Zhan shook his head, saying he didn’t know. Though he already had a hunch, Nie Manlin was quite casual; staying in Hong Kong for two months was already her limit. She wanted to go out and play, but the old man warned her that if she dared to abandon her children as before, she wouldn’t receive a single penny. Nie Manlin may be a romantic, but also knows money is indispensable, and defying the old man would make life difficult.
Lu Jiaxin didn’t probe further, instead said, “Ah Zhan, you handle it!”
She won’t deal with any of Nie Manlin’s matters, let alone face any potential issues of a future mother-in-law. She works hard to earn money precisely to avoid this, not to be at anyone’s mercy.