Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire-Chapter 179 - 168 Kang Tongtong
Chapter 179: Chapter 168 Kang Tongtong
Chapter 179: Chapter 168 Kang Tongtong
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
Ding Jing was sentenced, and Lu Jiaxin went to see Doctor He again, this time Doctor He confirmed that her pulse indicated her body had already recovered.
Doctor He smiled and said, “Your body doesn’t have any serious problems anymore, just pay attention to your diet and get plenty of rest from now on.”
Lu Jiaxin’s heart, which had been hanging by a thread, was now at ease, but to be cautious, she still wanted to take some medicine to consolidate her recovery.
Doctor He shook his head and said, “Medicines always carry a level of toxicity, there’s no need to take any more if your body has healed. I’ll write you a prescription for a dietary tonic, just follow it and you’ll be fine.”
Walking out of the pharmacy, Lu Jiaxin felt completely at ease. Once home, she called Lu Jiaguang to help her buy three sleeper train tickets. Trains were infrequent and sleeper tickets hard to come by; one could queue for half a day and still not manage to buy them.
Lu Jiaguang’s expression froze for a moment before he asked, “For which day?”
Lu Jiaxin said, “The day after tomorrow. I’ve dealt with everything here, and it’s time to finalize the school arrangements over there.”
Ten minutes later, Lu Jiaguang called back to say he had bought three sleeper tickets for the day after tomorrow. This trip to Hong Kong meant that Lu Jiaxin wouldn’t be coming back any time soon. He had a meeting to attend that afternoon and wouldn’t return until late, so he planned to invite his wife and child to gather at Radiance Road tomorrow.
With the tickets purchased, Lu Jiaxin then called Su Heming, “I’m taking the train the day after tomorrow. Have you made any progress with the favor I asked for?”
This was the age when he should be learning things, running a breakfast stall was not a long-term plan. Xue Mao enjoyed cooking, so the idea was to have him learn culinary skills.
Su Heming laughed and said, “I’ve found a master chef, but he wants to meet the person first. If he’s cut out for this line of work, he’ll take him.”
If he’s not cut out for it, then there’s no point in wasting everyone’s time.
Su Heming, the chatterbox, spoke with Lu Jiaxin for over half an hour and still didn’t want to hang up the phone, insisting on chatting a while longer, leaving Lu Jiaxin speechless.
After another ten minutes of conversation, Lu Jiaxin, using the need to pack as an excuse, finally hung up the phone. Shaking her head, she couldn’t understand why Su Heming was so talkative.
Qian Xiaoxiao knocked from outside, then came in and said, “Sister Xin, Sister Xin, there’s someone outside claiming to be your classmate, but she won’t say her name.”
She certainly didn’t have the patience for that, and was ready to close the door when the other party didn’t identify themselves. She used to brag about her high level of physical strength and wasn’t afraid of anyone causing trouble at her doorstep, but ever since the four members of the Ding Family barged in unannounced, she’d learned to be more cautious and always kept the door closed at home.
“Did she give a name?”
Qian Xiaoxiao nodded and said, “She said her name is Kang Tongtong, and that she used to be your desk-mate. But if she’s really your classmate, why didn’t she start with that? Sister Xin, I think something’s off with her.”
Lu Jiaxin was surprised to find that she had come looking for her but found it amusing, “She’s indeed my high school desk-mate, and used to be my best friend, too.”
“So, did you two have a falling out?”
Lu Jiaxin didn’t explain, as she would understand what was going on once she talked to her, so she didn’t waste her breath. She stepped outside and saw a gaunt Kang Tongtong, “What are you doing here?”
Kang Tongtong said guiltily, “Jiaxin, I’m sorry.”
Lu Jiaxin responded with an indifferent expression, “If you really feel sorry, you should turn yourself in to the Public Security Bureau, not come here to apologize.”
With eyes brimming with tears, Kang Tongtong said, “I’m sorry, Jiaxin, I truly am. I had no choice at the time. That woman had something on my father, and if I didn’t do as she said, my father would have been arrested and jailed. If something happened to my dad, our family would be ruined.”
“So, you decided to aid and abet her?”
Kang Tongtong cried and said, “That person said they just wanted to teach you a lesson and would arrange someone to follow and ensure your safety. I really had no choice, that’s why I agreed.”
Lu Jiaxin replied, “For the sake of protecting your father, you’ve become an accomplice in his evil deeds. Now that your family knows, do they understand you?”
Father Kang had been sentenced to twenty-five years in prison for massive corruption. When the news that Ding Jing had been arrested and that she was the informant leaked out, Kang Tongtong knew without anyone telling her that it must have been her doing.
It was only after Father Kang was arrested that Kang Tongtong found out her father was not only involved in corruption and bribery but also had mistresses and illegitimate children, which she found unbearable.
She wryly smiled and said, “Jiaxin, since hearing you might have been kidnapped by human traffickers, I’ve been having nightmares every night, afraid to close my eyes. It wasn’t until you returned that I felt like I was alive again.”
Lu Jiaxin asked with interest, “And then?”
With her head hung low, Kang Tongtong said, “Jiaxin, I came here this time to apologize to you. Jiaxin, I’m sorry, really sorry.”
Lu Jiaxin sharply replied, “That person said they would secretly protect me, you knew very well that it was impossible, but you did it anyway. Since you’ve done it, why pretend to be so sorrowful and in pain?”
“Jiaxin, I know you won’t forgive me, and I dare not even hope for your forgiveness…”
Lu Jiaxin interrupted her disdainfully, “You know I won’t forgive you, but you’re afraid of my revenge, that’s why you came here. Heaven sees what we do, and you will face retribution without me lifting a finger.”
Kang Tongtong left staggeringly.
Qian Xiaoxiao thought she was just standing there because she was heartbroken, and consoled her, “Sister Xin, it’s okay. You’ll meet friends who treat you sincerely in the future.”
Lu Jiaxin fell silent for a moment and then said, “I won’t lay a hand on her, but my brother has already spread the word about what she’s done. Knowing her true nature, no one would dare to get close to her.”
And that was the punishment for Kang Tongtong. Since the original body was gone, all she could do was to ensure that these people who had hurt her faced their retribution.
Disturbed by the events, Lu Jiaxin did not go inside to read. She asked, “Xiaoxiao, what’s your dream?”
Without a second thought, Qian Xiaoxiao blurted out, “My dream is to have enough to eat and proper clothes to wear. It would be even better if I could have meat every meal.”
Many people in the country were going hungry due to the current stage of poverty. Having enough food and warm clothing was the wish of many. Given Qian Xiaoxiao’s appetite, she likely hadn’t escaped hunger in the past. Lu Jiaxin smiled and asked, “That’s not difficult. As long as you stay with me, I’ll make sure you have meat every meal. By the way, how are your parents doing now? I mean your current mother.”
Qian Xiaoxiao said gleefully, “The last time I sent money home, my mom scolded me over the phone, saying that with both her and my dad fit to work, they could support the family and told me to save the money for my own dowry.”
Lu Jiaxin laughed, “Your mom is also planning for you.”
Qian Xiaoxiao nodded, “I know, she’s tough on the outside but soft on the inside. But I’m not going to marry; I’m going to have to disappoint her.”
Lu Jiaxin asked with some confusion, “Why not marry?”
Qian Xiaoxiao said with a curl of her lip, “My mom and the villagers always tell me to eat less, saying that my big appetite will make me unwelcome at my husband’s family. If just eating gets me disliked, why should I bother getting married? That’s just asking for misery!”
Lu Jiaxin laughed, “Only useless men would complain about their wives eating too much. You just need to find one who can earn money and cherishes his wife.”
Qian Xiaoxiao was still unreceptive, “In the future, if I have a child, everything good would have to go to the child first. Why should I? It’s none of my business; I just won’t do it.”
Lu Jiaxin felt she made a lot of sense.
