“What? You’re leaving Shanghai?”
When Fifth Granduncle and Fifth Grandaunt learned that Song Jinyue would be leaving Shanghai the day after tomorrow, they immediately shot to their feet.
Song Jinyue looked at them helplessly. “Fifth Granduncle, Fifth Grandaunt, don’t get worked up. Sit down and hear me out first.”
“Go on!”
The two answered in unison, but neither of them sat down. It was as though there were needles on their chairs.
“Lu Manman and Li Wenzhu have gotten together. I don’t want a scumbag like him anyway, so I’m planning to go to the capital and break off the engagement.”
“Break it off! Fifth Granduncle supports you!” Fifth Granduncle immediately declared. “That Li boy looks decent enough on the outside, but who would’ve thought his character was so rotten? A bastard like him isn’t worthy of our Yue girl!”
After learning that Song Jinyue was only going to the capital to cancel her engagement, Fifth Granduncle breathed a sigh of relief.
A round trip from Shanghai to the capital would only take two or three days. Once Yue girl ended the engagement, she would be back soon enough.
Unfortunately, he had only relaxed halfway when Song Jinyue continued, “I’m all grown up now. I’ve spent twenty years in Shanghai, so I’d like to go out and see the world.”
Fifth Granduncle instantly looked as though he’d received terrible news.
“W-What do you mean? Y-You… You’re leaving and not coming back?”
Before Song Jinyue could answer, Fifth Granduncle slapped his thigh and started making a scene.
“Aiya! I knew it! This annoying old man is nothing but a nuisance. I only just woke up, and now you’re already leaving. Fine, fine! Since that’s how it is, I won’t stay here and get in your way. I’ll leave right now!”
With that, he dramatically turned and headed toward the door.
He had expected Song Jinyue to immediately stop him.
Yet even when he was almost at the doorway, no one came after him.
Fifth Granduncle’s footsteps faltered.
His pride told him that he should keep walking without looking back, but his heart couldn’t bear to leave.
He had finally woken up and reunited with Yue girl. If she left now, who knew how long it would be before he could see her again?
After struggling with himself for a while, he gritted his teeth and turned around as though throwing all his dignity aside.
There stood Song Jinyue with her arms crossed, calmly watching him.
Her expression practically said: Go ahead. Keep acting. I’m watching.
Fifth Grandaunt sat beside Song Jinyue and held her hand reluctantly.
“Yueyue, I know you’ve always had a mind of your own ever since you were little. Since you want to go out and see the world, Fifth Grandaunt supports you.”
“But you have to promise me that whenever you have time, you’ll call home. Let your Fifth Granduncle and me hear your voice. Tell us where you are and whether you’re doing well. And this time, you’re not allowed to lie to me again.”
“I knew Fifth Grandaunt loved me the most.” Song Jinyue smiled. “Don’t worry. Whenever I have time, I’ll call home.”
Song Jinyue tilted her head and rested it against Fifth Grandaunt’s shoulder, acting spoiled with her just as she used to.
Seeing this, Fifth Granduncle snorted jealously.
Song Jinyue and Fifth Grandaunt exchanged amused smiles. Then Song Jinyue stood up, walked over to Fifth Granduncle, and helped him sit down.
“All right, Fifth Granduncle. Don’t be angry anymore. It’s not like I’m never coming back. Sit down and calm yourself. I’ll get you some water.”
After saying that, Song Jinyue turned around and poured a bowl of spiritual spring water for each of them.
She had smashed all the pots, bowls, and kitchenware used by those ungrateful wolves and thrown them into the trash. The new kitchenware had been purchased by Ma Guifen from the department store.
Fifth Granduncle and Fifth Grandaunt had spent quite a lot of energy scolding Lu Weiguo earlier that day. They accepted the water Song Jinyue handed them and drank it all in one go.
Perhaps it was just their imagination, but after drinking the water, all their exhaustion seemed to disappear.
Fifth Granduncle felt like he could take on ten more Lu Weiguos!
After learning that Song Jinyue would leave Shanghai the day after tomorrow, Fifth Granduncle immediately returned home.
It was time to give Yue girl the things her grandfather had left behind.
Meanwhile, Fifth Grandaunt dragged Song Jinyue to the department store and went on a shopping spree, afraid that Song Jinyue might suffer or go without necessities while traveling alone.
After finishing their shopping, the two went to a state-run restaurant and packed several dishes to take home.
By the time they returned, the sun had already set.
Not long afterward, Fifth Granduncle came back. He even had people transport the beds, sofas, and other furniture from their home over to the Song residence.
Fifth Grandaunt loved the mountains and countryside, so she and Fifth Granduncle had lived in the suburbs for many years.
But now that they were getting older, living in the suburbs had become inconvenient, whether for buying daily necessities or seeking medical treatment. Since the couple had no children of their own, Song Jinyue spent quite some time persuading them before finally convincing them to move into the Song family’s old residence.
Once all the furniture was moved inside, the previously empty old house finally felt like a home again.
After everyone else had left, Fifth Granduncle mysteriously pulled a chest out of the cabinet.
“Yue girl, your grandfather left these behind. Since you’re leaving Shanghai, it’s time to give them to you. No matter how policies may change in the future, as long as you have these things, they’ll ensure that no one can harm you.”
Song Jinyue stared curiously at the chest before her.
Under the watchful eyes of Fifth Granduncle and Fifth Grandaunt, she opened it.
The chest was filled to the brim with certificates of honor and all kinds of photographs.
Song Jinyue picked up the photograph on top.
The instant she saw the familiar face standing beside her grandfather, her pupils contracted.
For a long moment, she couldn’t calm the shock in her heart.
“Back then, your grandfather answered the country’s call and donated half his fortune without hesitation when the nation was facing difficulties. In the early years, whenever disaster struck anywhere, he would always lend a helping hand. These photographs were taken during those times.”
“And these certificates and awards were all honors granted to your grandfather by the authorities. Your grandfather was among the first group of patriotic capitalists to receive official recognition and commendation from the government!”
Fifth Granduncle explained the origins of the photographs and certificates before patting Song Jinyue on the shoulder.
“Yue girl, keep these things safe. Although your grandfather has been gone for many years and his contributions may gradually fade from people’s memories, as long as you have these documents, no one will be able to make things difficult for you because of your family background.”
“Remember this—you are the descendant of a patriotic capitalist!”
Looking at the tall stacks of certificates and photographs before her, Song Jinyue’s eyes grew warm.
So her grandfather had begun preparing long ago.
Even back then, he had already paved a path for her future.
“And take this bankbook too. Consider it Fifth Granduncle’s gift for your telephone expenses. Once you reach the capital, call home whenever you have time. Don’t worry about saving money on the calls.”
Fifth Granduncle forcefully stuffed a bankbook into Song Jinyue’s hand.
The moment she saw the balance written inside, Song Jinyue’s eyes widened.
Wait a minute.
Who in the world gives someone fifty thousand yuan just for telephone expenses?!
…
Lu Weiguo and Shen Yurou eventually broke under interrogation.
They admitted to having an illicit relationship and confessed that Lu Manman was their illegitimate daughter.
Shen Yurou even came clean about Lu Guangzong’s true parentage.
When Lu Weiguo learned that Lu Guangzong was actually Shen Yurou’s bastard son with another man, his vision went black and he fainted from sheer rage!
The large gold bars had been discovered hidden inside their family’s stove. Combined with the anonymous report and the testimony and physical evidence against them, the case was airtight.
In the end, Lu Weiguo and Shen Yurou were each sentenced to ten years.
Zhang Biao, the leader of the hooligans, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
It turned out that he hadn’t merely been secretly operating an illegal gambling den and stealing other people’s property—he had also been colluding with enemy agents!
Although the other hooligans had been unaware of Zhang Biao’s connections with enemy agents, they had committed plenty of crimes themselves, including petty theft and fighting.
In the end, they were each sentenced to three years.
Although the entire group had been arrested, the Song family’s missing fortune still couldn’t be found.
Even after being beaten until they lost teeth, the hooligans stubbornly insisted that another group had been responsible for emptying the Song residence.
The police had no choice but to continue searching for this mysterious “other group.” They promised Song Jinyue that they would notify her immediately if they discovered anything.
Song Jinyue didn’t take it to heart.
After all, she was the “other group” those hooligans kept talking about.
As for Lu Manman and Lu Guangzong, the siblings received a severe reprimand and ideological education.
The moment they stepped out of the police station, officials from the Educated Youth Office took them away.
Song Jinyue had originally registered them to be sent down to the countryside.
However, because of their improper conduct and problematic behavior, the two were instead sent away for reform through labor.
Their destinations remained unchanged.
Lu Manman was sent to Yunnan Province, while Lu Guangzong was sent to Gansu Province.
Being sent down to the countryside and being sent away for labor reform were two entirely different classifications.
And with different classifications came very different treatment once they arrived.
Heh.
Those two bastards could work themselves to death!