“Grandpa Luo, this isn’t appropriate,” Su Jiaojiao immediately stopped him. “Once the Youth Going to the Countryside Quota is confirmed, it’s difficult to cancel.”
If Old Master Luo used his power to withdraw the quota, it would damage his reputation.
She didn’t want Old Master Luo to lose his good name in his later years.
“But…” Old Master Luo still wanted to persuade Su Jiaojiao.
Su Jiaojiao shook her head and said, “Grandpa Luo, please listen to me. I want to become an Educated Youth going to the countryside, but I secretly changed my assigned location without telling them.”
“Without their knowledge, I signed Shen Qingyu up for the countryside quota, sending her to the mountain village they had chosen for me. As for my own destination, I’ll be going to the village where my fiancé lives.”
“Haha, you did the right thing. But, the fiancé you mentioned?” Old Master Luo was momentarily stunned before immediately recalling the matter. “Oh, right, your grandfather arranged a childhood sweethearts marriage for you when you were one year old. That boy is five years older than you.”
“But, Jiaojiao, you’ve never met your fiancé. How do you know if he’s a good person, or if he’s already married? What if he’s not someone reliable? Wouldn’t you be ruining your entire life by going there?”
Su Jiaojiao said with great determination, “I’m not afraid. I already have a plan in mind. If he’s a good person, I’ll live well with him. If he’s not a man worth entrusting my life to, then I’ll directly break off the engagement. I’ll focus on studying hard and contribute to the country in the future.”
“But you’re just a girl…” Old Master Luo was still somewhat worried.
Su Jiaojiao said, “Grandpa Luo, don’t worry, I’ll protect myself.”
Old Master Luo sighed lightly and said, “Since that’s the case, then Grandpa Luo will respect your decision.”
“Thank you, Grandpa Luo.” Su Jiaojiao said with reddened eyes, “Meeting you is truly my good fortune.”
In her previous life, she hadn’t met Grandpa Luo before turning eighteen, and she hadn’t met him after eighteen either.
If she had met Grandpa Luo in her previous life, what kind of fate would she have had?
What Su Jiaojiao didn’t know was that in her previous life, after Old Master Luo learned that Shen Jianguo’s family had escaped to Hong Kong City, he sent people to investigate her whereabouts. However, before receiving any news about her, he suddenly fell ill and passed away.
As for his descendants, immersed in the grief of the old master’s death, when they remembered this matter two months later and tried to investigate Su Jiaojiao’s whereabouts again, she had disappeared without a trace in the vast sea of people.
Old Master Luo patted her hand, somewhat heartbroken, and said, “It’s also my fault for not taking better care of you. If I had visited you regularly, I might have discovered their wolfish ambitions earlier.”
Su Jiaojiao shook her head and said, “Grandpa Luo, how can this be your fault? Actually, over these years, they’ve been quite meticulous – using family bonds to tie me down and stabilize me for ten years, then deceiving me. They treated me quite well; I wasn’t abused or made to suffer.”
“To showcase herself as a good stepmother, Liu Dongmei would inquire after my well-being throughout the year, never hit or scolded me, never made me do housework, and arranged my life very properly. When I was sick, she was the one who cared for me and fed me medicine.”
“If I hadn’t learned that they harmed my mother, given their care for me over these years, I wouldn’t hate them so much.”
“But the murder of my mother is an irreconcilable enemy. I must make them lose their reputation and become condemned by everyone.”
Old Master Luo patted her small shoulder and sighed heavily, saying, “Child, tell Grandpa Luo what you want to do, or how should Grandpa Luo cooperate with you?”
Su Jiaojiao said, “Please, Grandpa Luo, first have the bank delay for three days, and say that during these three days, the involved party can change their mind at any time.”
She had no power of her own and could only turn to Old Master Luo for help.
Old Master Luo nodded in agreement, “That’s no problem.”
“Secondly, when my mother was critically ill, Shen Jianguo transferred part of the Su Family’s assets. I’d like to ask Grandpa Luo to investigate what hidden assets Shen Jianguo has secretly and where they are located?”
“Good, I’ll have someone look into it.”
“Thirdly, before I go to the countryside, I want to expose Shen Jianguo and Liu Dongmei’s true colors. I’d like to ask Grandpa Luo to send two people to assist me.”
“Good, all of that is fine. But, Jiaojiao girl, why delay for three days?” Old Master Luo asked curiously.
“Three days from now is when the Educated Youth are scheduled to go to the countryside,” Su Jiaojiao replied.
“And Shen Jianguo and Liu Dongmei have confirmed their escape to Hong Kong City in ten days.
However, they still need to ask that Master Zhou to provide them passage. Grandpa Luo, we must investigate Master Zhou thoroughly—I suspect these people are spies from Hong Kong City.”
Old Master Luo nodded, “Hmm, I will definitely have someone investigate this Master Zhou clearly.”
Anyone with the means to help people escape to Hong Kong City must have an unusual identity and could very well be a spy from Hong Kong City.
Afterward, the two discussed many more matters.
Outside, Shen Jianguo and Liu Dongmei were waiting anxiously, feeling restless and uneasy.
Liu Dongmei looked at Shen Jianguo and whispered, “Old Shen, that old man won’t stop Su Jiaojiao from signing, will he?”
Shen Jianguo said, “Su Jiaojiao and Old Master Luo haven’t seen each other in years—they’re not close at all. He’s just an outsider. How could that damn girl possibly trust an outsider over her own family? Don’t worry, there won’t be any problems.They had worked hard for eight years to create a good family atmosphere for Su Jiaojiao—warm, happy, and filled with loving affection—all for this moment.
Su Jiaojiao had been raised by them to be innocent and naive, yet stubbornly proud, not easily swayed by outsiders.
Liu Dongmei said, “That’s good then. Old Shen, to avoid complications, as soon as Su Jiaojiao signs, you go to the bank and complete the procedures. By then, even if Su Jiaojiao wants to regret it, it’ll be too late.”
Shen Jianguo replied, “Hmm, that goes without saying.”
Sign in the morning, transfer the money in the afternoon—as long as they kept it hidden from Su Jiaojiao before she went to the countryside and escaped to Hong Kong City, nothing could go wrong.
Not long after, Su Jiaojiao came out supporting Old Master Luo.
Su Jiaojiao’s eyes were still red, but Old Master Luo seemed persuaded and in good spirits.
Luo Wen and Luo Wu immediately saw that Old Master Luo was pretending. The brothers exchanged a glance, and Luo Wen stepped forward to support the old man, slightly bowing his head. The old man laughed and said, “I’m not so old that I can’t walk.”
Then, aside from Su Jiaojiao, no one knew that he had also whispered something in Luo Wen’s ear.
After Luo Wen helped the old man to the dining table, he said to Su Jiaojiao, “Miss Su, I have matters to attend to and must leave now. Happy birthday.”
Su Jiaojiao nodded and said, “Thank you, Third Brother. Please go ahead with your business.”
After Luo Wen left, Old Master Luo smiled and said to Shen Jianguo and his wife, “Xiao Shen, Xiao Liu, I just heard from the girl Jiao that you genuinely care for her.
Signing the authorization is also for her benefit.
Since that’s the case, this old man won’t stand in your way. Please sign these two agreements, and I along with everyone present will serve as witnesses.”
Shen Jianguo and his wife were instantly overjoyed.
Shen Jianguo immediately responded, “Yes, yes, we’ll sign right now, right away.”
They feared that delaying even a second might cause them to miss this opportunity.