Make a deal
Yin Huai brought Jiang Zhizhi to the car and opened the door for her.
Jiang Zhizhi smelled the faint scent of agarwood in the car, which was very pleasant. She saw the man in a suit and tie inside. From his appearance, Lu Hengshan did not look like a person with a bad temper at all.
Maybe he has patience with many people, but he has no patience with his own son.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhizhi sneered inwardly and got into the car.
"Hello, Uncle Lu." Although she didn't like it in her heart, she was still very polite.
Lu Hengshan took out a beautifully packaged box and handed it to Jiang Zhizhi. "I heard that today is your birthday. Happy birthday."
Jiang Zhizhi didn't accept it and looked at Lu Hengshan, "What do you want to talk to me about?"
"There's something I want to discuss with you."
Lu Hengshan asked Yin Huai to drive to a nearby Western restaurant and asked for a private room.
Sitting in the private room, he handed the menu to Jiang Zhizhi and said, "Order whatever you want."
Jiang Zhizhi said, "Uncle Lu, I have to go to the library later and can't eat with you here. If you have anything to say, just tell me directly."
Lu Hengshan had no choice but to order a few dishes himself and asked the waiter and Yin Huai to leave first.
Only he and Jiang Zhizhi were left in the room, and he said, "I came to see you today because of Xiaoye."
"I don't understand you."
Lu Hengshan pondered for a moment, then looked at Jiang Zhizhi and said, "Zhizhi, are you still willing to tutor Xiaoye?"
Jiang Zhizhi didn't expect Lu Hengshan to look for him for this. She thought for a moment and said, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't have time."
"Just like before, just tutor Xiaoye for two hours after school every day. I can pay you three times the market price for tutoring." Lu Hengshan said.
Jiang Zhizhi looked directly into Lu Hengshan's eyes. "Uncle Lu, I'm just a junior high school student. Why do you want me to tutor Lu Xiye? There are many excellent tutors on the market. They have plenty of time and knowledge."
"But they are not you. Since Xiaoye started school, he has never loved learning as much as he did when you tutored him."
"It's not because of me that he loves studying. He studies hard because he wants your approval." Jiang Zhizhi pursed her lips and said bluntly, "Uncle Lu, forgive me for being blunt. It's you who disappointed him. You didn't give him enough love and care."
Lu Hengshan felt a little ashamed by Jiang Zhizhi's words and sighed, "I'm indeed not a competent father. Many things, once started, are difficult to undo. I will do my best to mend our father-son relationship, but Zhizhi, I also hope to get your help. You are a smart girl, and I would be relieved if Xiaoye could study with you."
"I get up at 6:30 every day, go to school at 7:00, and finish school at 5:30 in the afternoon. Then I study in the library until 9:00, and it's already 9:30 when I get home. It's not that I don't want to help you, but I really don't have the time."
She absolutely could not miss the study in the library. Although she spent most of her time reading and doing exercises, Mr. Zong would only occasionally tell her some new knowledge that she did not understand or some more difficult questions. However, just those short few minutes of explanation could bring her huge benefits.
This is also the important reason why she was able to keep up with school knowledge without attending after-school tutoring classes. It is impossible for her to give up studying with Elder Zong in order to tutor Lu Xiye.
"You can let Xiaoye go to the library with you to study. I don't care how he studies or how well he does in the exams. As long as he is on the right path, I will feel at ease. I know this is very difficult for you and may delay your studies, but I will compensate you. No matter what you ask for, I will agree to it." Lu Hengshan's words were sincere, even with a hint of pleading.
Jiang Zhizhi lowered her eyes in thought. After a short silence, she asked, "How long will he be tutored?"
"I hope to graduate from high school." Lu Hengshan looked serious.
Jiang Zhizhi couldn't help but be surprised when she heard this answer, "Six years?"
"Yes."
Jiang Zhizhi thought this was a bit ridiculous. She said, "But I can't guarantee that my grades will be as good as before when I get to high school."
The reason why her grades are so good now is that she had learned all this knowledge in her previous life. Although she has almost forgotten it, it is undoubtedly of great help to her after she gradually recalls it.
"I told you, I don't care about your grades, but I believe in you as a person. Zhizhi, you are not an ordinary girl. I believe that with your character, you can make Xiaoye turn over a new leaf."
This made Jiang Zhizhi unhappy. "Uncle Lu, it is your responsibility as a father to make Lu Xiye turn over a new leaf, not mine. I know you are rich, but money is not a tool for you to shift responsibility."
Lu Hengshan was scolded by Jiang Zhizhi, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he liked the girl in front of him even more. "Yes, you are right. Zhizhi, I will do my best to correct it."
His attitude made Jiang Zhizhi feel like she had punched cotton.
After a pause, she said, "I want one million."
Lu Hengshan was stunned for a moment and didn't understand what Jiang Zhizhi meant.
Jiang Zhizhi added, "I want a compensation of one million yuan, delivered to my mother within three days in a legal and reasonable manner. And every month thereafter, I want the regular market price for tutoring paid to me in cash."
One million was not a huge sum for Lu Hengshan, but he was shocked that Jiang Zhizhi, a little girl in junior high school, could actually ask for such a price.
"And I won't make any promises. I won't guarantee that Lu Xiye will turn over a new leaf, or that he'll get top grades and be admitted to a good university. Even if he doesn't want to go to the library, I won't leave and go somewhere else to tutor him."
"If you can accept all of this, then we can reach a deal."
Her calm tone was more powerful than the many negotiation masters Lu Hengshan had met in the business world. He once again looked at the little girl in front of him with admiration.
Jiang Zhizhi's family education is not excellent, so why did she raise such a child?
However, Lu Hengshan didn't think much about it. "Okay, we have a deal. One million will be deposited into your mother's account tomorrow, in a legal and reasonable manner."
Jiang Zhizhi did not stay for dinner. She made an appointment with Lu Hengshan, left her phone number, and then left.
As she walked out of the box, Lu Hengshan suddenly called her again, "Jiang Zhizhi, can I ask you why it's one million?"
Jiang Zhizhi looked back and said, "Because you need a local household registration to attend high school in Nanshi, and you need a house to settle in Nanshi."
After Jiang Guozhong mentioned the household registration issue, Jiang Zhizhi kept it in mind.
But she was not in a hurry. After she saved up one million and cured her mother's illness, she would have plenty of time to earn money and buy a house.
However, how to transfer the money she earned from studying in the system to Cheng Yuping was also a troublesome problem.
After all, it is tens of millions of dollars, not a small amount.
So for Jiang Zhizhi, trading with Lu Hengshan is a better way.
One million, spend hundreds of thousands to buy a similar house in Nanshi, and leave some money for Cheng Yuping to use as capital for starting a business and do what she likes.
From now on, Cheng Yuping no longer has to worry about money.
*
In the evening, Jiang Zhizhi returned home from the library and Cheng Yuping took out two gift bags for her.
"Mom, what is this?" Jiang Zhizhi asked.
Cheng Yuping said guiltily, "This is a birthday present that Mom prepared for you. Since you were born, your family has never celebrated your birthday. Today is the first time, and it was your Uncle Li and Aunt Li who celebrated it for you. Mom feels very sad. Mom is sorry for you."
For those of them who come from the countryside, it’s not easy to raise their children, so how can they celebrate their children’s birthdays?
But today, seeing that Li Mingzhang and Fang Yi specially celebrated Jiang Zhizhi's birthday and prepared birthday gifts, while she hadn't prepared anything, Cheng Yuping felt extremely guilty.
Compared with these parents in the city, she owes her daughter too much.
"Mom, you have never let me down. Your love is my best gift." Jiang Zhizhi hugged Cheng Yuping and said sweetly.
"Zhizhi..."
"Mom, when is your birthday? I don't even know your birthday yet." Jiang Zhizhi asked coquettishly.
Cheng Yuping sighed, "Mom, there's no such thing as a birthday. I've forgotten it for a long time, and no one in my family remembers it either."
In her era, for a girl born in the village, it was lucky enough to be able to grow up alive. Who would remember her birthday?
She has lived half her life and has never celebrated her birthday, nor does she know when it is.
Jiang Zhizhi felt a little sad. She hugged Cheng Yuping and said, "Mom, from now on, we will celebrate the same birthday. My birthday will also be your birthday."
Cheng Yuping was so moved that her heart melted and her eyes were wet.
"Happy birthday, Mom."
Jiang Zhizhi held Cheng Yuping's face and kissed her on the forehead.
*
On Monday afternoon, during the break, Jiang Zhizhi, who usually went back and forth between classes, suddenly arrived at the door of Class 10's classroom.
"Classmate, please help me find Lu Xiye." She found a boy who looked easy to talk to and asked him for help.
"Ah! Are you Jiang Zhizhi?" Lin Jing looked at the girl in front of him in surprise. He didn't expect her to appear here.
"Yes, can you help me find Lu Xiye? Thank you." Jiang Zhizhi said politely.
Lin Jing's face flushed red, "No...you're welcome."
After saying that, he fled into the classroom and carefully pushed Lu Xiye who was sleeping on the table.
"Lu Xiye, someone is looking for you."
Lu Xiye raised his head sleepily, looking a little confused, but also with a coldness that came from being disturbed.
Lin Jing knew that Lu Xiye had been in a bad mood recently and didn't dare to provoke him. He quickly said, "Jiang Zhizhi from Class 1 is looking for you."
When he heard Jiang Zhizhi's name, Lu Xiye suddenly woke up and subconsciously looked towards the door.
Outside the door, Jiang Zhizhi was wearing a bulky winter school uniform, which made her look even more slender and frail. Against the white sky outside, she looked like a small white flower swaying and trembling in the cold wind.
Lu Xiye didn't know why she suddenly came to see him. After hesitating for a moment, he walked out.
The top student in the grade came to see the last student. On the surface, the classmates were chatting about their own things, but many of them were looking outside with gossiping eyes.
"Do you have something to talk to me about?" Lu Xiye stood there nonchalantly, but his hand that subconsciously touched his neck still showed that he was uneasy at the moment.
"Well, wait for me at the playground after school today. I need you for something."
After Jiang Zhizhi finished speaking, the class bell rang.
Before Lu Xiye had time to ask more questions, she turned around and hurried back to the classroom.
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