Lu Jiaxin bought Xue Mao three sets of clothes and two pairs of shoes, all in dark colors that hide dirt well. Both pairs of shoes were sturdy canvas shoes.
It's not that she didn't want to choose attractive clothes for him, but Xue Mao was unwilling and even said he would not wear them. His reason was that he works every day and would quickly dirty any nice clothes, which would be a waste of money.
Lu Jiaxin didn't skimp on herself, however. She walked from one end of the street to the other, picking out six sets of clothes. Three dresses and three outfits, plus shoes and socks to match. After buying her clothes, Lu Jiaxin told Xue Mao to go ahead home, while she went to the department store. Fortunately, Lu Hongjun was at work today.
Once inside his office, Lu Jiaxin handed over the shopping list she had prepared in advance, "These are the things needed for my new house, let me know when you can get them all for me."
Lu Hongjun took the shopping list, glanced at it, and then put it down, saying calmly, "Four thousand yuan, I deposited it into your account yesterday afternoon. The family only has a bit over three hundred yuan left now, and there isn't enough to buy these things for you."
Lu Jiaxin laughed and said, "The family has six thousand yuan in savings? Dad, do you really take me for a fool?"
"Just those three sets of finely crafted gold jewelry from Aunt Ding must be worth several thousand. Ten thousand yuan might just be pocket change to you."
She didn't believe a word about the family savings being only a few thousand yuan. Working at the department store for over twenty years, and serving as the general manager for more than ten, he would have accumulated a substantial nest egg, even without taking bribes.
Lu Hongjun's face changed, "Jiaxin, don't spout nonsense. Your Aunt Ding only has one gold ring, where would she get three sets of gold jewelry from?"
Lu Jiaxin casually responded after humming, "You didn't know she had three sets of gold jewelry, which could possibly be from her previous man."
Just one gold ring, who is he trying to fool? If it wasn't for his status and to live a better life, why would such a beautiful woman marry an old man like him?
When Lu Hongjun married Ding Jing, he only had a few sets of old clothes to change into. Thus, the gold jewelry could only have been acquired after their marriage. The question was, where did the money come from?
By his expression, Lu Jiaxin knew that Ding Jing must have been accepting bribes behind his back. She had thought that such dealings were approved by Lu Hongjun; she didn't expect Ding Jing to be so bold.
Lu Hongjun quickly regained his composure and looked at Lu Jiaxin, "I'll buy you the watch and the bicycle, nothing else."
On this shopping list, besides a watch and a bicycle, there were also a washing machine, refrigerator, color TV, electric fan, sewing machine, tape recorder, and so on.
Lu Jiaxin snorted coldly, "Why can that mother-daughter pair of vipers use a refrigerator and color TV while I, your own daughter, have nothing?"
Lu Hongjun withheld his anger and said, "If you were staying at home, you could use all of these."
Unapologetically, Lu Jiaxin retorted, "I'm staying here. Before long, I'll have to go down and reunite with mom."
With a headache, Lu Hongjun said, "Dad knows you've had a hard time outside and hold some resentment, but your Aunt Ding and Siyi have both explained it to me; it was all a misunderstanding."
Lu Jiaxin didn't bother to argue whether that mother and daughter were up to good or bad, all she wanted now was stuff, "Just say it, will you buy them for me or not?"
Of course, Lu Hongjun refused, not because he couldn't afford it, but because he had claimed just yesterday that all his savings were given to Jiaxin. If he were to buy so many big-ticket items all at once, who knows if Liao Xiangmei would use the opportunity to come after him. But he was also aware that his daughter's temperament had changed drastically, and she would surely make a fuss if her demands were not met.
After some thought, Lu Hongjun said, "Xinxin, I will buy you the watch and the bicycle first. The color TV, refrigerator, and the washing machine—I'll get them for you next year."
Lu Jiaxin was not so easily deceived, she said, "I need to learn English, so a tape recorder is essential. I may not know how to use the sewing machine, but Xue Mao does. It will be convenient to have one in the house for making alterations to clothes."
Actually, it wasn't Xue Mao who knew how to use a sewing machine, it was her. In her previous life, her family was in the clothing business, so she studied fashion design in college. After earning her bachelor's degree, she went to Huadu to study abroad for three years, staying on to work in a big factory to accumulate work experience. Three years later, she returned to her country to develop her career. She initially wanted to work for her family's company, but after her father remarried and had a son, her grandparents guarded against her as if she were a thief. Feeling it was pointless, she went to work in Peng City instead.
While she was in Ancient Capital, she had wanted to sell clothes but unfortunately lacked the capital, so she could only set up a small stall to sustain herself and Xue Mao. Now that she had both capital and connections, she was determined to return to her old trade.
Lu Hongjun thought about her weaker English and math skills, and he wouldn't refuse now that she was willing to actively strengthen these subjects, "I'll buy you the recorder later, and we'll talk about the sewing machine another day."
"What about the bicycle and the watch? Also, it's so hot now, I can't sleep without an electric fan."
Lu Hongjun felt a bit of a headache coming on and said, "Fine, I'll deliver the electric fan along with the bicycle to you in a couple of days. That's all for now; there's nothing more."
Lu Jiaxin knew it wasn't possible to get everything at once, so she planned to ask for more after these items were bought. Just like Fifth Brother said, if she didn't ask for them, it only benefitted that scheming mother and daughter.
Lu Hongjun then spoke of the repeat study, "I've arranged school for you, classes start next Monday."
Lu Jiaxin didn't say she wouldn't do the repeat year, knowing that not only Lu Hongjun but also Lu Jiaguang wouldn't approve, so she employed a stalling strategy, "Yesterday, I was cleaning with Xue Mao. After only a little while I felt chest tightness and shortness of breath, so I had to lie down in my room. Dad, my injury might have left some sequelae."
Upon hearing this, Lu Hongjun couldn't stay seated, "You child, why didn't you say something about such a serious matter earlier? Let's hurry to the hospital for a checkup."
Seeing his anxious and agitated state, Lu Jiaxin secretly sighed; Lu Hongjun truly loved her original self. It's just that this love couldn't outweigh the happiness of having a beautiful wife and a joyful life.
At the hospital, Lu Hongjun took her for a full body checkup.
After reviewing the results, the doctor said, "The head injury hasn't left any sequelae, and the wound has also healed very well. However, you're severely anemic and need to supplement your nutrition well."
Lu Jiaxin hurriedly said, "Doctor, whether I'm working or studying, I get very tired after just a while."
The doctor explained that this was caused by insufficient blood and qi and admonished, "Go back and supplement your nutrition well, rest more, and don't overexert yourself."
Lu Jiaxin was secretly delighted, this was a perfect case of needing a pillow when feeling drowsy.
A worried Lu Hongjun asked, "Doctor, studying shouldn't affect her, right?"
Lu Jiaxin quickly added, "I failed the college entrance exams this year, and my dad wants me to repeat the year and try again."
"Doctor, I failed the college entrance exams this year, and my dad wants me to repeat. But I get chest tightness and shortness of breath after just a little exertion, can my body handle repeating the year?"
The doctor, aware of the importance of college entrance exams for a person, would not possibly say to recover first and then repeat the year; he couldn't take that responsibility. Instead, he tactfully reminded, "If you want to be healthy, it's not just about nutrition—you also need to rest well."
Lu Jiaxin was particularly grateful for the doctor. She immediately threw a question at Lu Hongjun, "Dad, what do you think is more important, my education or my health?"
Without hesitation, Lu Hongjun replied, "Health is the capital of the revolution, everything else is out of the question if your health fails. Xinxin, let's focus on recuperating first; other matters can wait."
With that answer, Lu Jiaxin was fairly satisfied.