After breakfast, Lu Jiaxin took Xue Mao to the Department Store Employee Residential Compound. Coincidentally, as soon as they entered the compound, they bumped into the gossipy Aunt Xue.
Aunt Xue came up and asked, "Jiaxin, I heard your mom bought you a big mansion, with more than twenty rooms, is that true?"
Lu Jiaxin didn't avoid the question, "There aren't as many rooms as you said, just eight. Also, that house wasn't bought by my mom, but given to me by the child's uncle as a token of gratitude for saving his nephew," she replied.
Mrs. Lu had bought jade and left behind a significant sum of money. Accounting for both their incomes, the figures didn't match their expenses. Thus, she felt it was more sensible to pin it on the Xie Family. After all, seeing from Su Heming's case, the Su family seemed quite wealthy, and such a big house wouldn't be an issue for them.
Finishing, she lowered her head, choking up as she said, "If I could, I wouldn't want any broken mansion, I just want my mom to be alive and well."
Seeing her like that, Aunt Xue felt some pity for her, thinking that an orphan is just like a rootless weed, "That's true. If your mom were alive, you wouldn't have been forced by that mother-daughter pair of fox spirits to move out. But now that you've left, it's those fox spirits who are benefitting."
With red eyes, Lu Jiaxin said, "Auntie, having more money doesn't matter if you don't have your life to spend it. If I continued to stay, who knows when my life would have been lost."
Aunt Xue said, "Don't worry, that fox spirit will sooner or later get struck by lightning and won't die a good death, and that little sl*t Zhao Siyi won't end up well either."
Lu Jiaxin wiped away non-existent tears, sobbing, "Auntie, I'm going upstairs, you're busy."
Aunt Xue followed her up, and as soon as she saw Lu Jiaxin, she immediately said, "If that fox spirit bullies you, I'll stand up for you."
Xue Mao hung his head low to prevent others from seeing his facial expression. On the way here, his sister had been chatting and laughing with him; however, as soon as they got off the car, not only did she put away her smiles, but she also vigorously rubbed her eyes to make them red. He didn't understand it at the time, but now he knew the reason.
Lu Jiaxin said gratefully, "Thank you, Auntie."
Since last night Lu Hongjun brought home several pounds of large shrimp, and there were chicken and pork in the fridge, Ding Jing decided not to go shopping and started cleaning the house instead.
Hearing the knock on the door, a flicker of impatience crossed her face. Ever since her daughter came home from the hospital, people had been coming to the door frequently. Ostensibly, they were there for comfort and a visit, but most were actually there to revel in her misfortune.
As the knocking grew more urgent, Ding Jing got a bit angry. She was about to say something when she realized that someone was kicking the door. Without having to ask, she knew who it was.
Ding Jing opened the door and immediately started to mock Lu Jiaxin, "Didn't you say you were going to sever ties with your dad? What, have you already forgotten what you said the day before yesterday?"
Aunt Xue hadn't expected to stumble upon such juicy gossip right away, but she always disliked Ding Jing and said sarcastically, "One can't take seriously the words spoken in anger between father and daughter. Besides, you would be only too happy for them to sever ties, so that all Manager Lu's wealth could fall into your hands."
Ding Jing hated Aunt Xue to death, it was this Old Pious Woman who had been spreading gossip outside and further damaging her reputation these past few days. She sneered and said, "Aunt Xue, you'd better spend more time keeping an eye on your son, instead of worrying about the day when he brings home that widow and her two cheap grandsons."
After saying this, she slammed the door shut.
The amount of information was overwhelming, and Lu Jiaxin was so shocked that she only reacted after hearing the door slam.
Aunt Xue, furious, pummeled the door, cursing while she banged, "You wretched woman, how dare you slander my son, I won't rest until I've torn your mouth apart today!"
Seeing Aunt Xue's ferocity, as if ready to devour Ding Jing, Lu Jiaxin understood why the woman had slammed the door shut. If she hadn't, she would surely have suffered a beating.
Ding Jing reported an address, "If you don't believe me, you can take your daughter-in-law to this place. I'm only telling you because we live in the same compound. Otherwise, when that widow brings her two children to your door, it won't just be a loss of face, but of your job as well."
I hadn't planned on speaking up, for fear that it could have unfavorable consequences; Aunt Xue, the troublemaker, would make life unbearable for her. Now, though, there was no choice but to speak out.
Aunt Xue still knew how to judge the gravity of the situation, "Ding Jing, if you slander my son, I'll come back and tear your mouth apart."
After dropping that line, she ran down the stairs as if her buttocks were on fire.
Now was the time when everyone was either off to work or school, and those who did not need to go to work or drop kids off were out buying groceries, so the Employee Residential Compound was deserted. That's why Aunt Xue was alone in this, with no others coming over to enjoy the drama.
Lu Jiaxin had long known about Ding Jing's craftiness; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to ensnare Lu Hongjun. That she knew the dirty secrets of Aunt Xue's son was not surprising at all.
"Open the door."
Ding Jing didn't want to see her, nor did she want to let her into the house, "If you need something, go to the Department Store and ask your dad. I have nothing to say to you."
Who knew what the girl had experienced outside that made her so formidable. Not only had she failed to come out on top in their prior encounters, but even Old Lu had been bested by her.
Ding Jing was well aware that although Lu Hongjun doted on her, he was more indifferent to Siyi and cared a great deal about his only daughter, Lu Jiaxin. After the father and daughter's argument the other day, Lu Hongjun lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep all night, and these last two days, he hadn't even looked at Siyi. So, the so-called disownment was mere talk, and simply not going to happen. Even if Lu Jiaxin truly entertained such a notion, Old Lu would never agree to it.
Lu Jiaxin said, "I've come to get the household registration book."
Ding Jing's expression brightened for a moment, but remembering Lu Hongjun's attitude, she calmed down instantly. After opening the door, she said, "This matter requires your dad's agreement. If he doesn't agree, I cannot give you the household registration book."
Lu Jiaxin did not want to share the same household registration book with her, preferring to transfer her registration to Radiance Road. But, she dared not make this decision without Old Lu's approval, otherwise he would certainly lose his temper.
Lu Jiaxin scoffed, "My dad listens to you in everything. Give me the registration book, and he won't say a word against you even if he finds out."
Ding Jing repeated her stance, without Lu Hongjun's agreement, she would not hand over the household registration book.
Lu Jiaxin went inside and called Lu Hongjun. As soon as the call connected, she said, "I want to transfer my registration to Radiance Road. Tell her to give me the registration book."
Lu Hongjun was silent for a moment, then said, "Give the phone to Aunt Ding."
Lu Jiaxin had thought she would have to argue, not expecting him to agree so readily. Whatever the reason, it was good news for her anyway.
Handing the phone to Ding Jing, she said expressionlessly, "He wants you on the phone."
Lu Hongjun felt a tightness in his chest when he realized she didn't even call him dad anymore. Reflecting on his nephew's words, he panicked at the thought that his daughter's talk of cutting ties wasn't just out of anger but a genuine intention. Although he felt that he didn't need Lu Jiaxin to take care of him in his old age, she was his flesh and blood; how could he truly sever ties with her?
Seeing that he wanted her to give the registration book to Lu Jiaxin made Ding Jing very happy, but she hesitated on the surface, "Are you sure you want her to transfer her registration? Won't it reflect poorly on your reputation?"
Lu Hongjun was irritated as he responded, "Enough with the nonsense, just give her the registration book."
Now, people at the Department Store were gossiping that he favored Ding Jing and Zhao Siyi, disregarding his own daughter's well-being. He wanted to keep his position until retirement, not step down just yet.