Chapter 183 Family Property, I Don't Care

Xia Qianqian said several times that she was willing to stay, but Wang Meihua knew all too well that she was the one who was dragging the child down.

Looking at the withered rose on the windowsill, Wang Meihua vaguely recalled the time when Lu Rensheng took her to see a play when she was young.

Dazzling neon lights, imported face cream, rice that can be bought without ration coupons... Hong Kong's prosperity will only grow stronger.

Qianqian came to this poor mountain village from the south of the city and has never enjoyed a single day of happiness in this home.

If she hadn't been so stubborn with him, she would be living in a Western-style house, wearing cheongsams, and having a nanny to take care of her child from birth. Why would she have to suffer like this?

She knew what Lu Rensheng was thinking. As long as she agreed to go back to Hong Kong with him, he would definitely give Lu Zheng and his wife the best resources for her sake.

Qianqian is carrying the Lu family's precious grandson. In order to win over Lu Zheng, Lu Rensheng will only pamper her and the child.

When the time comes, the child can attend a bilingual school and Qianqian can shop at the department stores in Tsim Sha Tsui. Wouldn't that be better than living in this mud-brick house?

But how much grievance must one swallow and how much humiliation must one endure in the word "forbearance"?

"Mom, please don't say that."

Xia Qianqian gently wiped away her tears: "I'm living here quite well. Lu Zheng treats me well, and you love me too. That's better than anything else."

“But Hong Kong…” Wang Meihua wanted to say something, but Xia Qianqian grabbed her hand.

“Mom, life is for ourselves, not for others to see. No matter how good Lu Rensheng’s wealth is, it’s like honey mixed with sand. We don’t care for it.”

Looking into her daughter-in-law's clear eyes, Wang Meihua's guilt suddenly faded.

Yes, the mother and daughter have never lived off handouts.

She was afraid her mother-in-law was still blaming herself, so she said, "Mom, Lu Zheng will definitely choose the days we have now."

She paused, gazing at the pristine white snow outside the window, her eyes shining like a shower of stars. "We may not be as prosperous as Hong Kong now, but believe it or not? With these hands, with this spirit, one day, our lives will be better than theirs!"

"This chaos is only temporary. I believe that before long, the people of the whole country will unite as one and move forward. There will be electric lights and telephones, and skyscrapers. Our country will definitely get better and better!"

[Ahhh, the female lead has really broadened her horizons!]

[My family and I are moved to tears! This is the true backbone of the Chinese people!]

She might not know what GDP is, or what the internet is, but she knows that the Chinese people can definitely succeed!

The barrage of comments flashed through her mind like exploding fireworks.

Xia Qianqian's lips curved into a gentle smile. She didn't really understand what the comments were about big data and 6G, but through their usual conversations, she could imagine the prosperous scene decades later: high-speed trains speeding by, skyscrapers standing side by side, and everyone wearing a contented smile.

The "prosperity" that Lu Rensheng was so proud of will eventually be left far behind by the people of this land with their own hands.

Looking at the light in her daughter-in-law's eyes, Wang Meihua patted Xia Qianqian's hand, her palm burning hot: "Good child, Mom believes you! Mom believes you completely!"

Suddenly, applause rang out from outside the courtyard gate. Snowflakes drifted in through the open door crack, and Lu Zheng strode in, stepping through half a foot of snow.

Snowflakes fell on his shoulders, and a few withered grasses clung to his cotton-padded coat, clearly indicating that he had just returned from the mountains.

He strode up to Xia Qianqian, his voice still panting from running up the mountain path, yet each word was firm and resounding: "Qianqian! You're absolutely right!"

He clenched his fist: "Difficulties are only temporary! As long as we all think in the same direction and work together, we will be able to stand tall and proud not only in Hong Kong, but also in the whole world!"

Lu Zheng's tone carried the vigor of youth: "With great power comes great responsibility! Since God has given us this opportunity, we can't just focus on living a good life ourselves—we have to lead everyone to prosperity!"

"You mean...me?" Xia Qianqian was taken aback.

Lu Zheng then realized he had let something slip. He quickly gave Xia Qianqian a wink, then turned to his mother, his tone deliberately light: "We'll talk about this later. Why are you two talking about this today?"

"Hmph! Don't even mention it!" Xia Qianqian's eyebrows shot up instantly, her tone full of disdain. "Your good father brought Lu Yaoting to our door today, saying he's taking Mom to Hong Kong to enjoy a life of leisure!"

She paused for a moment before saying the result, "Mom shut me down!"

Wang Meihua nodded and said, "Zheng'er, since he could abandon us back then, even if he had mountains of gold and silver now, I wouldn't bother looking back."

She added a piece of dry firewood to the stove, the sparks crackling and popping, making the light in her eyes bright and hard. "From now on, with you, with Qianqian, and with the baby in my belly, we can live our own lives. That's better than anything else!"

Lu Zheng grasped his mother's hand in return: "Mom, don't worry."

He patted his chest, the wrinkles on his cotton-padded jacket smoothing out with the force: "Qianqian and I will definitely work hard, and our lives will surely get better and better every day!"

Upon hearing her son's words, Wang Meihua's eyes welled up with tears, and she quickly turned her head away to wipe them away: "Mom believes you, when has Mom ever stopped believing you?"

Lu Zheng then remembered the important matter and asked Xia Qianqian in a low voice, "So... he's gone?"

Xia Qianqian was piling firewood into the stove, the orange-red flames dancing on her face, making her eyes clear: "No."

"Judging from his posture, he doesn't seem to be planning to give up easily. However..." she suddenly chuckled, "Your younger brother, Lu Yaoting, probably won't be able to stay any longer."

“He was wrapped in a red scarf like a turkey, sitting on the stool bouncing around, his eyes constantly glancing towards the door,” Xia Qianqian imitated Lu Yaoting’s restless manner, making Wang Meihua laugh. “He probably thinks this place is too rustic and cold, and he can’t wait to fly back to his Hong Kong to enjoy his life.”

Lu Zheng's lips curled into a cold smile: "Hmph, he probably thinks I'm going to fight him for the family fortune, right?"

"I, Lu Zheng, find the ill-gotten gains made through speculation and withholding workers' wages disgusting!"

“However,” Lu Zheng’s tone shifted, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp as knives, “since this money was taken from the people of our country, there’s no reason for the second branch of the Lu family to enjoy it all.”

He looked at Xia Qianqian, a confident smile playing on his lips, "I will find a way to get it back, not a single penny left, I will donate it all to the country!"

"Donate it to the country?" Wang Meihua was stunned, then nodded vigorously, her eyes shining brightly. "Good! Good! This is the son of Wang Meihua!"

Xia Qianqian looked at the flames dancing in Lu Zheng's eyes, gently placed her fingertips on the back of his hand resting on his knee, and said with clear, bright eyes, "I support you too."

She paused, then added, "These should rightfully belong to the country and its people."