Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire

Chapter 49: Chapter 45: Riding on a Flatbed Cart

After a lot of persuasions, Zhao Dajun still didn’t want to leave, so Lu Jiaxin had no choice but to spend money to send a child to find Lu Jiajie. She gave him two dimes to start with, and promised another three after he found him.

The little boy was thrilled, took the two dimes, and ran off like an arrow.

Watching the child’s retreating figure, Lu Jiaxin shook her head and said, “These days, people still aren’t cautious enough. What if we were bad people?”

Zhao Dajun frowned and said, “Miss Lu, we aren’t bad people.”

Lu Jiaxin was at a loss for words; she had simply lamented the child’s lack of vigilance. Having interacted with him for a few days, she knew he was single-minded and didn’t bother to argue.

It wasn’t long before the child came running back, not even asking for the rest of the money. Only when Lu Jiajie arrived, panting, did the child turn his attention to Lu Jiaxin.

Lu Jiaxin gestured with her hand, indicating for him to wait a moment.

Lu Jiajie came up to Lu Jiaxin and explained, “Jiaxin, Xinxin, I’ve been waiting since noon, and just then I urgently had to go to the outhouse. Who would’ve thought I’d miss the bus because of that?”

Seeing that he was blaming her, Lu Jiaxin said with a laugh, “It’s normal to have emergencies, but couldn’t you have asked someone to wait for you at the exit? If they didn’t know me, couldn’t you think to write my name on a piece of paper?”

Lu Jiajie was left speechless.

Lu Jiaxin pointed out to the little boy, “Tell him that there are many traffickers out there nowadays. He needs to be more vigilant and not be like this time.”

Lu Jiajie mumbled something to the little boy, who at first seemed defiant but then his expression turned to one of fear. Clearly, he had taken Lu Jiajie’s words to heart.

“Xinxin, he promised that if strangers talk to him again, he’ll go find an adult first.”

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The boy grabbed the remaining three dimes and darted away. As for whether he truly took the conversation to heart, only he knew.

As Lu Jiajie was handling the luggage, he asked, “Xinxin, why are you heading this way? Have you forgotten the way home?”

Lu Jiaxin genuinely didn’t know in which direction Lu Family Village was. The last time she went there was the year before Mrs. Lu passed away, “The last visit was five years ago, and back then, I followed my mom without paying attention to the route. How could I remember?”

“Then you could have asked, right?”

Lu Jiaxin was speechless again, “Isn’t that obvious? I get carsick; I’ve been throwing up the whole way, even bile came up. I don’t have the energy to walk and was planning to stay at a guesthouse for the night before going back.”

Lu Jiajie, seeing how weak she looked, thought to himself that although she wasn’t feeling well, her sharp tongue remained. This was good in a way; she wouldn’t be easily bullied in the future, “Then I’ll go borrow a bicycle. Big brother here can ride a bike, right?”

He had come on his own bicycle, and just needed to borrow another one. However, Lu Jiaxin couldn’t ride a bike, and if Zhao Dajun couldn’t either, they would all have to walk.

Zhao Dajun said he could not only ride a bike but also drive and fix cars.

But Lu Jiaxin didn’t want to ride a bike, claiming, “The road to the village is too bumpy, I’ll end up vomiting again if I ride a bike.”

“Then I’ll carry you on my back.”

Lu Jiaxin gave him a look and asked, “I remember, isn’t it more than an hour’s walk from the county town to Lu Family Village? You’re carrying luggage; can you really carry me all the way home?”

That indeed seemed unlikely.

Lu Jiaxin felt her glibness was getting only sharper, and she couldn’t even outtalk herself anymore, “It’s not that I don’t want you to stay at the guesthouse, but you’re not used to the food here. You’re already feeling unwell; if you eat poorly, your recovery will be even more difficult.”

Originally planning to stay at the guesthouse for one night, Lu Jiaxin immediately changed her mind upon hearing this. However, she was also not willing to ride a bicycle; it was too bumpy.

After thinking for a bit, she said, “Go borrow a handcart and pull me back! Fifth Brother, the handcart must be clean and tidy; I’ll throw up again if there’s a smell.”

In the countryside, only those who were sick or had mobility issues would travel by handcart. She was now considered a patient, so she met the criteria.

Lu Jiajie was taken aback and, upon snapping out of it, couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Seeing Lu Jiaxin staring at him and holding back his laughter, he said, “Then wait here for a moment, I’ll go borrow a handcart.”

After Lu Jiajie left, Zhao Dajun kindly reminded, “Miss Lu, you should change your temper a bit, or else everyone will dislike you.”

Lu Jiaxin looked at him in surprise and said with amusement, “Those who like you will like whatever you do; those who don’t, will pick out faults in everything, even if you’re well-behaved and sensible.”

Zhao Dajun felt her argument was fallacious, “Adults all like children who are sensible and caring.”

He thought that Lu Jiaxin had been favored in the past because she was the only child of her parents. After Mrs. Lu passed away, the stepmother’s daughter was obedient and caring, and her father began to favor the stepdaughter.

Lu Jiaxin felt he was meddling too much, but as they still had to spend time together, she didn’t want to strain their relationship, “I like to live according to my own wishes, I don’t like being directed and dictated to, not even by my own parents.”

Being obedient and sensible is good? Not necessarily. If you’re too compliant, your life might be planned by your parents. They have ready-made reasons; they’re worried, so they arrange a smooth and easy path for you. It’s fine if you’re willing to follow the routine, but if you have aspirations, you might feel imprisoned in a cage.”

Zhao Dajun thought there was something wrong with her thinking, “Don’t you think that’s very selfish?”

In earlier years, he definitely would have suggested that Hongjun send this girl to attend ideological education classes. But now with the relaxed policies, there was no such strict enforcement.

Lu Jiaxin, not feeling well, also started to sound annoyed, “How I am is none of your concern, just mind your own business.”

After getting back to the Ancient Capital, she would have him return to the Forty-nine City. What Lu Jiaxin couldn’t stand the most was being lectured. Had she known Zhao Dajun was like this, she wouldn’t have let him come along.

About twenty minutes later, Lu Jiajie finally came with a handcart. The handcart was new, with thick dry straw and bedding underneath, and a bamboo mat laid on top.

“Why isn’t there a quilt?”

Lu Jiajie, trying not to laugh, said, “Sister, it’s such a hot day, who needs a blanket…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but slapped his forehead and said, “My oversight, I should have brought a blanket for you.”

To a healthy person, indeed, no blanket was needed on such a hot day. But Lu Jiaxin was weak now, and even in this heat, her hands and feet were still cold.

Seeing that he realized the problem, Lu Jiaxin took out two pieces of clothing from her luggage. The pomegranates and other items were tied to the rear rack of the bicycle.

After the items were settled, Lu Jiaxin took off her shoes and lay down on the handcart. Lu Jiajie pushed the bike while Zhao Dajun pulled the handcart.

Feeling the sunlight was too glaring, Lu Jiaxin covered her face with one of the clothes.

Lu Jiajie, seeing this, laughed heartily and said while laughing, “Sister, don’t worry, people here don’t know you, and they won’t laugh at you.”

Lu Jiaxin gave him an eye roll, “So what if they recognize me? It’s just a handcart, what is there to laugh about?”