Chapter 10: A Fool and His Money

Page 1 of 3

Chunhua Cai handed over the money she had prepared in advance. Since positions were scarce, there was no way to get one without paying, and Mingyue Lu was unfamiliar with the market price, so she let them decide the amount. Cai wasn’t heartless; she paid 800 yuan, which was the going rate, but feeling for the young girl’s hardship, she added another eighty yuan to make it a lucky total.

After Cai and her daughter left, Mingyue Lu turned and headed back to the factory, making her way straight to the director’s office.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

“Come in,” a voice called from inside.

“What are you doing here?”

Inside the director’s office, Mingyue saw an unexpected visitor.

The director looked surprised when he saw Mingyue and Ho Zheng greeting each other. “You two have already met?”

Ho Zheng nodded.

It turned out that the reason Ho Zheng knew Meng Mancang was because the director had introduced them. The director’s original intention was to introduce Mingyue Lu and Ho Zheng to each other, but unexpectedly, Meng Mancang had secretly arranged for Meng Xiaoling and Ho Zheng to meet for a blind date. By the time the director learned of this, the two had already met.

As the saying goes, better to demolish ten temples than to break up one marriage. If the two children could be together, he wouldn’t tear them apart either. As for Mingyue Lu, she would have to help him find a suitable partner.

Lu Wenzhen was a great contributor in the factory, and after her passing, the factory had always taken care of Mingyue Lu. On the surface, Ho Zheng was the father of the two children, but the director knew there was more to the story. He had originally thought the children had no fate together, but by some twist of fate, they had come together. The director was quite pleased about this.

“Uncle Li, there’s another matter I need your help with.”

Since the director was on their side, Mingyue Lu didn’t hold back and directly revealed the wicked deeds of her worthless father and stepmother.

“The house allocated by the factory is in my mother’s name. She left a note that after her passing, the house would be left to me. I’m about to join the military, so I don’t want to leave the house behind.”

The director pondered for a moment. “Usually, situations like this are difficult to manage, but there are many who want the house.”

There were only so many houses available each year from the factory; those who didn’t get one had to wait for others to vacate theirs. Workers often quarreled over this, and the director had been overwhelmed by it recently, even going into hiding for a while.

“The Liu family must be anxious to buy. Their eldest son is about to marry, and without a house, the bride’s family won’t agree.”

The family was so anxious over this they came to block the door every day.

As they spoke, a commotion arose in the corridor.

Liu Datou arrived with several burly brothers.

Page 2 of 3

Mingyue Lu stood beside them like a little chick, quietly stepping back two paces to stand behind Ho Zheng.

“Director, we won’t leave until the house is arranged.”

Liu Datou said this and plopped down on the ground.

“All right, all right, I know you’re anxious. There is a solution.”

Liu Datou’s ears perked up.

When he left the office again, his grin stretched from ear to ear, his earlier anger completely gone.

“Comrade Lu, thank you so much. If you hadn’t helped us in time, we wouldn’t know when we’d get a house.”

It could have taken a year or more; by then, the opportunity would have long passed.

Mingyue Lu smiled gently. “No need to thank me. I’ve told you about the housing situation. Whether you can actually move in depends on you.”

Liu Datou pounded his chest. “No problem.”

After bidding farewell to Director Li with Ho Zheng, Mingyue Lu left the machinery factory.

“Where are you staying now? Want to rest at the guesthouse for a bit?” Ho Zheng worried she had nowhere to go.

“No need. I’ll be staying at my godmother’s place these days.”

“Godmother?” Ho Zheng had never heard her mention her before.

Mingyue Lu nodded. “She wants to meet you and invited you to dinner tonight.”

So, this was a meeting with an elder.

Ho Zheng instantly straightened up and asked, “Is there anything I should prepare?”

Perhaps he should call Old Fu to ask what gifts he brought when he visited before? Cigarettes and alcohol were must-haves, and some sweets too.

“Does your godmother have any preferences?”

Ho Zheng wanted to learn more, noticing from Mingyue’s attitude that she clearly valued this godmother greatly.

Mingyue Lu sized him up and said, “She should like you.”

Her godfather was a soldier, and they had a good impression of servicemen.

—

Mingyue Lu didn’t return home that night.

The day before, when Meng Mancang and Tian Xiaojing left the police station, it was already dark.

“Meng, Xiaoling has grown up under your watch. We can’t just ignore her.”

Tian Xiaojing wiped silent tears from her eyes. She had some beauty in her youth; otherwise, Meng Mancang wouldn’t have taken her and the child in. Though married many years, she had always kept her head low, and Meng Mancang enjoyed being doted on.

Seeing her full trust now, the man’s pride swelled, and he pounded his chest with a promise: “When we get home, I’ll make that stubborn girl withdraw the charges.”

Returning home, the house was dark. Mingyue Lu wasn’t there.

Usually, after work, there would be hot food waiting on the table; they would sit and eat. Now, they sat on cold benches.

“Mom, Dad, you’re finally back. I’m starving,” Meng Jun came out holding his stomach, which was growling.

He was hungry, and so were they. They’d been stuck at the police station all afternoon without a drop of water.

Tian Xiaojing cooked while grumbling silently. That stubborn girl had grown wings; if she had the nerve, she wouldn’t come home tonight.

The next morning, Mingyue Lu was indeed still not home.

Meng Mancang’s face turned dark as thunder. He slammed the table hard, rattling the bowls and chopsticks.

Meng Jun, head down eating, shuddered in fright.

“Fine, if she has the guts, she should never come back.”

Tian Xiaojing patted his hand to comfort him softly. “The child doesn’t understand. We adults shouldn’t take it to heart. For the sake of her late mother, we have to bring her back.”

“Bring her back my foot! No one is allowed to look for her.”

Meng Mancang clenched his fists.

A flicker of amusement flashed in Tian Xiaojing’s eyes. Every time Lu Wenzhen’s name came up, Meng Mancang acted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on—instantly on edge.

Judging by how angry he was, it would take at least ten days or half a month to calm down.

She secretly rejoiced, thinking Mingyue Lu was now crying in some corner, but in truth, the one suffering most was herself.

—

When meeting an elder for the first time in a real sense, Ho Zheng was all business. He took Mingyue Lu to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy gifts, purchasing everything good and useful he could find.

He didn’t forget Mingyue’s items either. He had wanted to bring someone to buy clothes last time but was delayed by other matters; this time, they shopped together.

Mingyue Lu had money on her but hadn’t taken it out before Ho Zheng stopped her.

“This is what I should do as your husband. I was in a hurry and didn’t bring my passbook, but I’ll give it to you when I get back.”

Hearing the word “passbook,” Mingyue’s eyes widened.

Isn’t that what they call ‘foolish but rich’?

Ho Zheng twitched at the corner of his mouth. This was clearly a brother’s idea before he left. To show sincerity to a female comrade, you had to be earnest. He’d even brought out the passbook—surely that was sincere enough?

He never expected that in her eyes, it looked like he was foolish and rich.