Back To The 80s

While Gu Xiaobei was advising Fang Jing, Lu Aiguo was also having a conversation with Lu Zhanguo.

"I’ve been considering this for a long time. The current economic policies are so favorable. If we don’t take advantage of them, we may miss some opportunities," Lu Aiguo explained earnestly.

Lu Zhanguo, holding his daughter, had no understanding of business, only a vague idea about the outer economic environment. After some silence, he finally asked, "So, have you figured out what you want to do?"

"I’m planning on becoming a middleman, bringing goods from the south here to sell. There are many popular products that require ration coupons. If I can get my hands on these coupons, wouldn’t I turn a huge profit?" Lu Aiguo said, full of excitement.

Lu Zhanguo, not understanding the specifics of the business plan, could only warn, "Is it reliable? Be careful not to get scammed."

"Brother, don’t worry. Do you know? Chen Dajun is also doing this, but he’s the real scammer. Just watch, he is going to trip up soon," Lu Aiguo spoke of Chen Dajun mockingly to Lu Zhanguo.

"What is Dajun doing? You know about it, yet you are not intervening," Lu Zhanguo frowned, displeased at his younger brother.

Lu Aiguo shrugged indifferently. "I did warn Ruirui, but she didn’t listen. Chen Dajun and his shady friends are reselling coupons for color TVs. They’ve probably already sold quite a few with promises of incoming shipments. Now, they’ve collected the money but can’t deliver the TVs. You don’t know how arrogant Chen Dajun is these days, eating out every day."

Lu Zhanguo was a bit angry. Even without a business background, he could tell that this was fraud. He said angrily, "You knew about it yet did nothing. If Dajun gets into trouble, what will happen to Ruirui?"

Lu Aiguo said disdainfully, "Brother, that coward Chen Dajun is still dreaming of wealth. Let him live in his fantasy for a few days. Moreover, that ingrate Ruirui, I’ll wait till she begs me for help."

Lu Zhanguo squinted at Lu Aiguo. This young man clearly had a plan in mind. He was waiting for the right moment to trip Chen Dajun.

"Go easy on him. If you push too hard, not only will Ruirui not be grateful, but she might even resent you," Lu Zhanguo warned.

"Rest assured, I know my limits," Lu Aiguo responded proudly, his definition of "limits" ensuring that Chen Dajun would never dare to stand against him.

The next morning at breakfast, Fang Jing tried to get the Lu family elders to scold Lu Aiguo into changing his mind. To her surprise, upon hearing the story, Lu Songyuan merely said, "Don’t get involved in illegal activities. If something happens, nobody can save you."

Wen Xiuqing usually never missed a chance to nag, but she remained silent on this matter, much to Fang Jing’s annoyance. After all, mothers always sided with their children when push came to shove.

After breakfast, Lu Songyuan went to the military base; Fang Jing went to work after dropping off Yueyue at the nursery. As soon as Lu Aiguo finished breakfast, he announced that he wouldn’t be home for dinner and disappeared.

With the housemaid leaving for the market, Wen Xiuqing, Lu Zhanguo, Gu Xiaobei, and the two children were left at home.

Gu Xiaobei didn’t know whether he should take the children upstairs or stay in the living room. Three adults and two children remained in awkward silence.

Wen Xiuqing, who had been sitting on the sofa, suddenly stood up and said, "I’ll go out for a while. You can stay at home."

As Gu Xiaobei watched Wen Xiuqing stepping out, he breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back on the sofa with Mo Wang in his arms, and happily started playing with the child.

Looking at Xiaobei, Lu Zhanguo said, "From now on, you can just go upstairs whenever you want."

Gu Xiaobei playfully glared at him, "It’s easier said than done. It seems impolite to do that."

While the two were entertaining the children in the living room, Chen Dajun and Lu Ruixue arrived, bringing lots of bags with them.

Lu Ruixue, looking quite pleased, lifted her chin and said, "Where’s my third brother? Tell him to come see this. We don’t freeload."

As she spoke, Lu Ruixue started to pull out the items she brought. There were tinned goods, Beijing style snacks, exclusive alcohol, and many other foods.

Watching Lu Ruixue, Chen Dajun puffed up. Despite the cold weather, he only wore a new suit, his face and lips turned blue from the cold. His hair had been slicked back neatly. He greeted Lu Zhanguo and Gu Xiaobei formally, "Second brother, second sister-in-law, how has everything been recently?"

Lu Zhanguo squinted at Chen Dajun but kept silent. Gu Xiaobei simply nodded in response, realizing that prosperity gives a man unusual confidence.

After emptying their bags, Lu Ruixue sat down next to Gu Xiaobei and said, "Our Dajun has made quite a lot of money this time. My third brother always looks down on Dajun, but Dajun doesn’t take it to heart. Dajun is smart. He just hadn’t come across the right opportunity before."

Gu Xiaobei didn’t know how to respond to Lu Ruixue’s excessive praise of Chen Dajun, so he simply nodded.

Undeterred by Gu Xiaobei’s silence, Lu Ruixue picked up Mo Wang and happily said, "My handsome nephew, when your uncle makes even more money, he’ll buy a big gold locket for you and Xiaopang."

Gu Xiaobei couldn’t help but ask, "So Dajun got rich through business?"

Chen Dajun seemed modest as he said, "It’s just a small business dealing in demand goods. It’s nothing major."

Gu Xiaobei thought to himself how fortunate it was that the business wasn’t ’major,’ otherwise, Dajun would become even more arrogant.

Lu Zhanguo recalled Lu Aiguo’s words and initially wanted to caution Chen Dajun. But seeing Dajun’s smug demeanor, he felt that a setback might do him some good.

Lu Ruixue ignorantly and happily said, "Dajun, they’re family. There’s no need to hide anything." Then, turning to Gu Xiaobei, she said, "Dajun made more than ten thousand this time."

Gu Xiaobei was taken aback. What kind of business could bring him over ten thousand in one shot, especially when Chen Dajun was previously unemployed?

Watching his sister’s clueless expression, Lu Zhanguo reminded her, "Now that you’re making money, spend it wisely. Don’t be lavish and forget how to live a thrifty life."

Lu Ruixue dismissed his advice carelessly by asking, "Isn’t the purpose of earning money to spend it? With more earnings, we could buy a car next year."

Gu Xiaobei held his peace, feeling no envy. This sudden fortune seemed like a mirage, which can disappear as quickly as it appears.

Chen Dajun looked at Lu Ruixue’s triumphant appearance and felt an indescribable pride. The only regret was that Lu Aiguo wasn’t here to witness this – the same man who used to look down on him.

Lu Ruixue and her husband Chen Dajun stayed for lunch. During the meal, Lu Ruixue couldn’t help but say to Wen Xiuqing, "Mom, I bought coffee for you. Dajun said it’s imported."

Wen Xiuqing glanced at her daughter and Chen Dajun, and flatly said, "Take all the things you brought today back home. Our home lacks neither food nor drink."

Lu Ruixue pouted resentfully, "Mom, this is Dajun and I’s good intentions."

Wen Xiuqing still refused to accept their gifts and simply looked at Chen Dajun, "It’s better to keep a low profile in life."

Chen Dajun felt somewhat embarrassed, and he withdrew his hand that had been reaching out for food.

Lu Ruixue complained under her breath, "Your standards are really high. You used to complain that Dajun didn’t have a regular job. Now that he earns money, you still have complaints."