Chapter 20: Zhu Xinfang Comes Calling
Lu Jianwei hurried over to the machinery plant and knocked on Zheng Baohua’s office door.
Zheng Baohua let her in. “Old Gu was just here three minutes ago.”
He didn’t tell her that Gu Huaizheng had been in a foul mood all day, as if he’d swallowed gunpowder, his temper flaring at the slightest provocation.
“Director, I’ve come to ask for your help,” she said politely.
Zheng Baohua straightened and said seriously, “What is it? Please, go ahead.”
Lu Jianwei explained her intentions. “The Red Brick House, though it belongs to the Lu family, has served the cause of liberation since the war against Japan. My father always wished to donate it and turn it into a memorial hall. The building has been sealed for years, but the key isn’t with us. When Mrs. Zhu Xinfang left the family years ago, she took it with her. So, though I can donate the property deed to the nation, the key itself must be obtained from Zhu Xinfang.”
“That’s a small matter!” Zheng Baohua said. “But why donate the house all of a sudden? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
Lu Jianwei replied, “I do have a request. My younger brother is taking the university entrance exam this year. He’s only sixteen, but he’s done exceedingly well and is eager to contribute to the country through his studies. If possible, I hope the organization might give him a chance, in recognition of our sincerity.”
She added, “Of course, I don’t mean to force the issue—it’s just a personal wish. Donating the Red Brick House was my father’s desire; as his child, I don’t want him to have any regrets even in the afterlife.”
Zheng Baohua knew well what the Red Brick House meant. In the hands of the Lu family, it was like a talisman against disaster, an ironclad protection.
“Are you absolutely certain?” Zheng Baohua pressed.
Lu Jianwei nodded. “It was my forebears’ wish, and besides, the property no longer truly belongs to the Lu family alone. So many of our predecessors toiled there for the greater cause. Keeping it for ourselves would only diminish its value.”
Zheng Baohua couldn’t help but feel deep respect. “Very well, I’ll do my best to see it through. You haven’t come to ask a favor for yourself, but are acting out of pure loyalty to your country.”
Zheng Baohua, with his background in political work, knew how to make the most of such a gesture. He left immediately to speak to his superiors, only to discover that Lu Zhizhu had been the top scorer in Haicheng this year, yet no university had sent him an admission notice.
He was furious and all the more sympathetic to the Lu siblings, arguing their case until the authorities finally agreed to contact the schools Lu Zhizhu had listed as preferences.
Soon, the Housing Bureau’s leadership took note, and then the military began to pay attention as well. Haicheng could no longer ignore the matter: with Lu Zhizhu’s high scores, several universities vied for him, but ultimately Yanjing University, his first choice, prevailed.
When Fu Tingjun returned to the office that afternoon, Lu Jianwei was nowhere to be seen. Upon inquiry, he learned she’d taken leave for a family matter.
“Did she request leave herself, or did someone do it for her?” he asked.
Fu Tingjun guessed Lu Jianwei must have seen him enter the Zhu household and thought they were truly engaged, unable to bear the blow and so left work altogether.
“She asked for leave herself, why?” a colleague teased. “She’s got someone now, and you’ve already broken off your engagement—aren’t you engaged today? Still thinking about her? That’s just playing rogue!”
“Exactly, Engineer Fu, you’re engaged today and didn’t even bring us any wedding sweets?”
In these days, even a single piece of candy was a luxury, but at engagements and weddings, a piece of cheap fruit candy could still be managed.
Fu Tingjun’s heart ached, but he forced a smile. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring them tomorrow.”
Before leaving the Zhu house, he’d given the Haicheng-brand watch he’d meant for Lu Jianwei to Zhu Tingting instead. The Zhu family had presented him with an imported men’s watch as an engagement gift.
He recognized that men’s watch—it was one of the timepieces the Lu family had hidden away years ago.
After their engagement, Zhu Tingting began pressing for Lu Jianwei’s little gold lock.
That evening, Zhu Xinfang hurried over, banging furiously on the Lu family’s iron gate. “Lu Jianwei, come out here! Lu Jianwei, Lu Zhizhu, you two capitalist brats, you heartless creatures, come out here!”
It was dinnertime, and the commotion drew a crowd. Most of the neighbors had some connection to the Lu family, or at least had heard tales of their past.
Inside, the Lu family was eating. Lu Yunqing frowned and was about to rise, but Lu Jianwei said, “Aunt, don’t get up. I’ll go.”
She had just discussed the house donation with her aunt and uncle. The family had never counted on getting back their old house on Fuxiang Road; caught in the storm, all they hoped was to be left in peace, never daring to dream of donating it.
As for the Red Brick House, as she’d said, even when their fathers and grandfathers were alive, they’d always believed it would one day belong to the country.
So her aunt and uncle had no objections.
“Sis, I’ll go with you.”
“No need, you all keep eating. I’ll handle her myself!”
With high spirits and unyielding resolve, Lu Jianwei strode to the gate. Once more she faced Zhu Xinfang, and it was hard to imagine how the man, remembered as a true gentleman in the original memories, could ever have been so blind as to choose such a disaster upon three generations.
“Mother, what brings you here? Have you eaten? We’re just having dinner—won’t you come in and join us?”
Without a word, Zhu Xinfang lunged and swung at Lu Jianwei’s face. “Who are you calling mother? You still acknowledge me as your mother? Who told you to donate the house? Was this your aunt’s doing?”
Back then, she’d pressed for the property deed time and again, but the Lu family always claimed it was lost. Yet today, she’d seen it at the Housing Bureau.
Lu Jianwei stumbled forward, bumping into Zhu Xinfang’s chest and deftly avoiding the slap.
She began to sob. “That house was my grandmother’s dowry. I didn’t know I couldn’t donate it!”
At this, the onlookers all spoke up for Lu Jianwei, and inevitably pointed accusing fingers at Zhu Xinfang.
“Nonsense! That house—your uncle and his family have lived there for years. It was my bride price when I married into the Lu family!” Zhu Xinfang retorted.
Lu Jianwei’s eyes were red with tears. “I didn’t know! You said the authorities were watching our house—that if we didn’t donate it, they wouldn’t let us live in peace. So I donated it. I didn’t know the deed matched the house where my uncle’s family lives. Have they really been living in our house all these years?”
Only now did Zhu Xinfang realize she’d been caught in a trap. “I told you—it was the bride price when I married your father!”
“But now you’re a member of the Yin family. My father died because of you—it was you who reported him, you’ve severed all ties to the Lu family. Why should you still be living in our house?” Lu Jianwei said tearfully.
“That’s right, truly shameless! I heard she schemed to ensnare Comrade Lu back then—the Lu family had meant to pay her off, but then she claimed to be pregnant, so for the child’s sake they took her in.”
“That’s the way of it. Alas, if only they’d turned her away, there wouldn’t have been a young mistress.”
“Hush, don’t call her that—it’ll only bring trouble down on the Lus!”
“What kind of mother is that? Even a tiger won’t eat its cubs. She really is a heartless, shameless wretch!”
Zhu Xinfang hadn’t expected the neighbors, who once fawned on her during her days in the grand house, to now stand so unanimously against her.
“Lu Jianwei, you go tell the Housing Bureau you’re not donating the building after all. Get the deed back. I’ll have your uncle handle the transfer with you later.”
Lu Jianwei hesitated. “Mother, why not sell the cat’s-eye emerald necklace Zhu Tingting wears and buy another place? That house belongs to the Lus. I’m afraid living there will only bring you trouble.”