Reborn in 85: Starting with a family split and becoming the richest man, the ungrateful wretch regre

Lu Jianjun didn't dare utter a word and obediently got up to clean up the dishes and take them to the kitchen.

He put all the bowls and chopsticks into a large mud basin, which was almost overflowing with unwashed pots, pans, and chopsticks.

He felt so upset watching this that he had no desire to wash the dishes.

"Damn Tian Zhaodi! I've lived half my life, and she's caused me this mess, making it so I can't even have a New Year's Eve dinner!"

Lu Jianjun grew angrier the more he thought about it, blaming Tian Zhaodi and Lu Yang for his current misfortune.

As for Lu Xing and Lu Yue, he didn't even think of those two.

He stayed in the kitchen for less than a minute before returning to his room.

He now regrets not going with Guan Xiuqin to take care of Lu Yao; on New Year's Eve, he can only lie alone in the dark room.

However, he didn't expect that this was just the beginning, and that such days would continue for a long time to come.

Feeling uncomfortable no matter how he stayed in the room, and with an empty feeling in his heart, he simply got dressed and headed towards the village branch office.

Lu Yao called him before he left, telling him not to call the hospital unless necessary, so as not to disturb his recovery.

Although he missed Lu Yao, he refrained from calling him, so he could only call Lu Qing instead.

Lu Qing hadn't been back for two years, and he had been missing her terribly, but he had been too busy to visit her.

Lu Jianjun trudged through the deep snow into the village branch office and dialed Lu Qing's number.

The call was answered quickly, and Lu Qing's voice came through: "Grandpa, Happy New Year."

Lu Jianjun felt much better and quickly said, "Happy New Year to you too. I heard that Xiao Yao came to see you a while ago. How is he?"

Lu Qing sat on a stool in the school's mailroom, her face cold, and said, "He was still limping when he came to see me, but he went to Shanghai for surgery and should be better soon."

Lu Jianjun breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Lu Yao and Guan Xiuqin hadn't lied to him; they really had gone to Haishi for surgery.

He chatted briefly with Lu Qing, who suddenly sighed and said, "Grandpa, our tuition fees are going up next year. Could you send me more money?"

"When I go to the cafeteria, I only dare to get the cheapest food and drink the free soup. After a while, even my classmates started looking at me differently."

Lu Jianjun was in a dilemma because he really didn't have any money right now, but he felt particularly sorry for Lu Qing when he heard her say that.

So he quickly assured him, "Don't worry, I'll send you money after the New Year. Take good care of yourself and come back to visit when you have time. Your grandma and I miss you very much."

Lu Qing curled the corners of her lips, a wave of endless mockery rising in her heart. Her mother was about to marry the fertilizer factory director.

Once she leaves, she'll be the factory director's daughter. She'll be too busy severing ties with Lu Jianjun to go back.

But she still said softly, "My foundation is weak, and I spend most of my time studying. When I have time, I will definitely make time to go back and see you."

“I miss you and Grandma very much, especially you. In my heart, you are just like my own father.”

Lu Jianjun felt comforted, thinking that he hadn't raised this niece in vain, and smiled even more heartily: "Okay, then I'll take up your studies, you go ahead with your work."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Jianjun felt much better.

He hummed a tune and walked out of the village branch office with his hands behind his back, completely unaware that Lu Jianzhong and Lu Yunjie were in the propaganda room next door.

The phone call was leaking audio, and both Lu Jianjun and Lu Qing could hear the conversation clearly.

After Lu Jianzhong left, Lu Yunjie said with a puzzled look, "Dad, I really don't understand Uncle Jianjun. He hates his three biological children to the bone, and wishes they were dead."

"How can he be so caring towards his nephews and nieces? What is he thinking?"

Lu Jianzhong sighed, "Lu Jianjun was clever for a moment but foolish for the rest of his life. Guan Xiuqin was no good either, and Lu Yao and Lu Qing were no better."

"If he continues to be stubborn and refuses to see the truth, his later years will definitely be miserable, but he won't listen to anyone now."

Lu Yunjie shook his head, finding it unbelievable, but didn't say anything more.

……

Around 11 p.m., Lu Yang set off a string of firecrackers in the yard with his two children, then ran inside to eat dumplings.

They ate dumplings while watching the skit "Lamb Skewers" performed by Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao, and the whole family laughed heartily.

After finishing the dumplings, the Spring Festival Gala ended. Lu Yang forcibly dragged Lu Xing and Lu Yue to bed, but the two children were too excited and refused to rest.

Lu's mother smiled and said to Yao Lili, "I've never been so happy during the New Year."

“We’ll do this every year from now on,” Yao Lili said with a smile, adding that she actually did the same.

The Yao family's conditions were much worse than the Lu family's. Their New Year's celebrations were not much better than usual, and they were neither lively nor festive.

After the fifteenth, Lu Yang asked Cheng Lin to drive to the provincial capital.

They went straight to the Perfume Bar, where Brother Chen was still waiting for them upstairs.

Lu Yang approached Brother Chen politely and asked, "We're planning to head south. What kind of goods do you need to bring back?"

Chen looked at Lu Yang in surprise: "So urgent? There's snow everywhere, and the roads are difficult to walk on."

Cheng Lin couldn't help but laugh and said, "He wanted to go south on the third day of the Lunar New Year, but his mother forcibly stopped him, insisting that he spend the New Year with her. He's been so anxious these past few days."

Brother Chen sighed and said, "I'll send two people with you. Neither of them has ever traveled far before, so please take good care of them."

Lu Yang had anticipated that Brother Chen would do this. He wasn't like Chu Xiangyu, who was content with running a few small clothing stores and just wanted a comfortable life.

Brother Chen has big ambitions; given this opportunity, he must want a piece of the pie.

"Of course, is anyone there?"

Lu Yang readily agreed and looked around.

Brother Chen snapped his fingers, and soon two people, one tall and one short, walked into the private room.

The tall one was very robust, and the short one had bright eyes.

It's obvious without even thinking that the tall one is probably a good fighter, while the short one is more cunning.

"Let me introduce you. The tall one is my nephew, Wang Jiang, and the short one is my cousin, Xu Yang."

Brother Chen gave a brief introduction, clearly not intending to elaborate further.

Lu Yang warmly offered cigarettes to the two men, exchanged a few words, and confirmed that they could leave now. The four of them said goodbye to Brother Chen and left together.

To Lu Yang's surprise, Xu Yang could drive. On the way, they also taught Wang Jiang how to drive. The four of them took turns driving, which made things much easier.

After arriving at Zheng's small village, Lu Yang greeted Zheng Yuntao and then rented two rooms to sleep in.

After resting for a day, the four of them took Zheng Yuntao to the black market.

After loading the goods, Lu Yang drove away and specifically asked Zheng Yuntao, "Do you know how Qi Kang and his mother are doing lately?"

Zheng Yuntao smiled and said, "It's good. Qi Kang is quite smart. He just doesn't understand the local language very well. He'll get used to it gradually."

Lu Yang breathed a sigh of relief. With Qi Kang's personality, he would be fine as long as he could finish high school.

After dropping Zheng Yuntao off at the entrance of his village, Lu Yang drove away.

Wang Jiang paid for half of the goods, and Lu Yang paid for the other half.

After the four drove to a city, they immediately set up a stall to sell their goods.

It's relatively remote here, so it's not too cold yet, but the cold wind is still like a knife. The cold in the south is a bone-chilling, damp cold.

Wang Jiang, sniffling, loudly hawked his wares, his delivery fluent and smooth.

Lu Yang actually thought highly of this guy; he wasn't as dull as he seemed on the surface.