Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire

Chapter 138: Chapter 130: Fox Fur

Lu Jiaxin didn’t chat with Su Hongying for long because they had visitors at home. As soon as she stepped outside, she heard a burst of bell-like laughter ring out.

Downstairs, Lu Jiaxin saw a young woman wearing a blue long-sleeved dress. The girl had an oval face, skin so white it glowed, and a slender figure, though she was not very tall.

With a proper smile on her face, Su Hongying made the introductions, “Xinxin, this is Chen Qingqing; Qingqing, this is Jiaxin.”

This introduction instantly made Lu Jiaxin understand Su Hongying didn’t like Chen Qingqing; otherwise, she wouldn’t have introduced her this way, at least mentioning her background.

Upon hearing it, Chen Qingqing immediately asked, “Lu Jiaxin? Are you Sister Xiaoxia’s daughter?”

“How do you know that?”

Chen Qingqing replied with a smile, “Sister Xiaoxia saved Yichen; everyone in our family knows about it.”

What a strange way to address her.

Lu Jiaxin looked her up and down and bluntly asked, “Sister, I see you’re only a few years older than me; shouldn’t you be calling my mom ‘Auntie’?”

She’s just a teenager, so it’s not a big deal if she speaks without much tact.

Chen Qingqing’s expression paused for a moment before she lifted her smile and said, “I’m about the same age as your mom.”

Lu Jiaxin exclaimed in surprise, “Sister, you look to be in your early twenties, how could you be about the same age as my mom? Or are you saying you’re actually in your thirties but just well-preserved and look young? If that’s the case, I hope Auntie could teach me how to take care of myself.”

It’s clearly about skincare, she’s unmistakably in her early twenties. Calling her mom ‘sister’ means she has some other intention.

Chen Qingqing’s smile instantly stiffened, but quickly, she said with a smile, “Jiaxin, today is Tuesday, aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

Lu Jiaxin shook her head and said, “I almost lost my life because of my stepmother and am still recuperating. Sigh, I asked my dad to seek justice for me, but he didn’t believe me and even sided with that evil woman. As the old saying goes, if there’s a new mom, there’s a new dad.”

Chen Qingqing’s expression became unnatural, but she quickly said, “Jiaxin, you can’t tar everyone with the same brush. There are evil stepmothers in this world, but there are also good ones.”

Fine then, Lu Jiaxin figured out why this woman was unpopular. Su Hongying might not be well, but despite that, she coveted Mrs. Xie’s position, which was utterly disgusting.

Lu Jiaxin snorted dismissively and deliberately raised her voice, “Believing a stepmom to be a good person is like believing a sow can climb a tree.”

Seeing Chen Qingqing’s displeased face, Su Hongying’s genuine smile surfaced; the girl was truly clever. However, she had her reservations and couldn’t let Lu Jiaxin continue, “Jiaxin, didn’t you say you had a class to attend? You can’t keep the teacher waiting.”

Lu Jiaxin couldn’t stand Chen Qingqing’s pretense and had said a few harsh words, but the affairs of the Xie family were not for her to meddle in, “Then I’ll head back. Aunt Su, take care of yourself.”

On the tenth, Lu Jiajie came back with Xiao Qiu and the two kids. They had called ahead of time, so Xue Mao had gone to the station to pick them up.

Lu Jiaxin was reading at home when she heard Xiao Qiu, with a loud voice, donning a thick wool coat and heading out. As she reached the door, she happened to see Chen Sheng carrying a huge parcel in, struggling with its weight, which made it clear it was heavy.

Following him, Xiao Qiu entered carrying a large bamboo basket on her back and holding another parcel in her hand; Xue Mao also wouldn’t be outdone, carrying parcels in both hands that looked substantial in weight.

Lu Jiaxin invited Ah Sheng in to sit down for a cup of tea, but he declined, saying he had things to take care of at home and left after setting down the items.

Seeing this, Lu Jiaxin had Xue Mao hold him back and then stuffed a bag of apples and oranges into his hands, “You went all the way to the station to pick them up during the New Year. Brother Sheng, take this back for the children at home to eat.”

Unable to wriggle out of it, Chen Sheng accepted it.

After seeing off the visitors, Lu Jiaxin looked at the things on the ground with a mix of laughter and tears, jokingly said, “Xiao Qiu, did you empty out your entire home or what?”

Xiao Qiu replied with a smile, “My grandparents and parents prepared even more than this, but it was simply too much to carry, so I just picked out what you like.”

Among the items brought were a fox fur and many other mountain goods and local specialties that Lu Jiaxin enjoyed eating.

Lu Jiaxin examined the fox fur and found it to be intact without a single hole, “How did this fur end up here? It should go to Fifth Brother, he has the connections to sell it at a good price.”

Those who don’t know the value or are unscrupulous would suppress the price, causing a big loss from selling it too cheap.

Xiao Qiu said gleefully, “No, auntie, this fur is for you. My mom knows you get cold easily, and just so happens my uncle caught a fox last year, so she asked him to keep the fur for you. Auntie, a coat made from this fox fur will definitely keep you warm.”

Lu Jiaxin couldn’t possibly accept such a precious gift, “No, let Fifth Brother sell it, and send the money back.”

Xiao Qiu, clinging to her arm, said, “Auntie, you take such good care of us, my parents are extremely grateful. This is a little token of appreciation from our family. Please accept it. If you don’t, they will scold me. Auntie, you wouldn’t want me to get scolded, would you?”

Lu Jiaxin couldn’t help but laugh, seeing how Xiao Qiu even used coquetry to give away the fur, “I’ll take the item, but I still must give you the money, no matter how much it is. Tell me now, and I’ll give it to you.”

Xiao Qiu, knowing her nature, had no choice but to state the price, “Sixty yuan.”

“Sixty yuan? You’re kidding me, right?”

Xiao Qiu immediately insisted that this was the price her mom paid her uncle, “Auntie, if I’m lying to you, you can kick me out right now.”

Lu Jiaxin understood at once that this was a family price. It was also a gesture from Second Sister-in-law Lu, so she paid sixty without adding more.

Xiao Qiu said, “Auntie, let’s steam a bowl of cured ham for lunch! My grandma made it, it’s so fragrant you could swallow your tongue.”

Lu Jiaxin responded generously, “One bowl won’t be enough, let’s steam two. We should all eat happily.”

While it was harmonious on this side, Lu Jiajie’s home was covered with dark clouds. Ma Lili knew he was coming back today, and had taken the afternoon off to wait at home.

Since he brought a lot of things home, he had asked Ah Sheng and Ah Le to pick him up at the station. Ah Sheng had gone to Lu Jiaxin’s place, while Ah Le helped Lu Jiajie carry things back home. As he entered the courtyard, he saw Ma Lili’s dark expression and left right after putting down the things.

Ma Lili cursed, “Lu Jiajie, what are you doing back here? If you’re capable, just don’t come back, eh?”

In the past, Lu Jiajie felt that marrying Ma Lili was beyond his league, so he always catered to her, and saying he was completely obedient was not an exaggeration. But now, he didn’t want to indulge her anymore, “This house was bought with a lot of money by me, why can’t I come back?”

Ma Lili choked and was at a loss for words.

Lu Jiajie ignored her and first warmed the child by the furnace, then moved all the items into the house.

Seeing him disregard her, Ma Lili’s anger intensified, “Lu Jiajie, is it that you don’t want to live this life anymore?”

Lu Jiajie glanced at her and said, “It’s clearly you who doesn’t want this life. Otherwise, which wife, knowing that her family has a mountain of debt, would still incur debts on behalf of her parents’ home?”