Chapter 294

Chapter 294

Zhang Dayun was no fool—he pieced it all together in an instant.

He turned to look at Xiao Ding.

The boy’s age matched, and his features bore a striking resemblance to his wife and eldest son, with almond-shaped phoenix eyes and long, sweeping brows.

“Are you…?” Zhang Dayun’s voice trembled. “How is your father?”

Xiao Ding remained expressionless and silent.

Shame on you!” Xiao Ding’s mother shot to her feet and jabbed a finger at his nose. “Your own son stands before you, and all you care about is your so-called brother? Can’t you see how thin and pitiful he is? Since he was three, it’s just been the two of us struggling to survive—never a full meal, never decent clothes. He was so bright, learning faster than anyone in literacy classes at four or five, but I couldn’t afford to send him to school. If not for kind strangers, we’d both be dead by now. And you, his father? Living in luxury, with maids and a car—did you ever once think about what your son’s life was like? You don’t deserve to hear him call you ‘Father’!”

“Mom, I don’t have a father,” Xiao Ding interjected coldly.

Xiao Ding’s mother smacked her own forehead. “Right, you don’t. You’ve only got mothers—one who bore you, one who raised you.”

Zhang Dayun was shamed by her words but still pressed, “What happened to Wang Xinsheng?”

“Your dear brother remarried long ago, adopted a blood-related nephew as his heir, and tossed your cadre’s son to a helpless widow. Surprised?” After believing her husband dead, Xiao Ding’s mother had lived in widowhood. Her in-laws cared only for their younger son, leaving her to fend for herself. To survive, she’d grown outspoken and tough, holding nothing back.

Zhang Dayun blurted, “Impossible! He promised to raise the child properly.”

Xiao Ding’s mother scoffed. “Promises mean nothing. He swore to treat me well when we married—did he? The moment his brother’s widowed wife beckoned, he divorced me.”

“If he didn’t want to raise him, why not send him back?” Zhang Dayun still couldn’t believe it.

No sooner had he spoken than Sister Ding hurled a piece of meat at his face.

“Zhang Dayun, are you even human? What era was it when Xiao Ding was three? War everywhere, battles raging—how could anyone find you? Maybe Wang Xinsheng thought you’d died honorably and felt no guilt abandoning him.” Sister Ding lunged, pounding his head, face, and shoulders, her eyes bloodshot. “Do you know how close he came to death? After the founding of the nation, you could’ve searched for him like Old Yuan and his wife did for their child. Why didn’t you tell me where he was? Thirteen years—thirteen whole years!”

Her rage burned hotter. “Our family’s finally reunited—why are you here? To see the son you abandoned? Hoping to hear tales of his happy life with his adoptive father, to justify your choice?”

Zhang Dayun staggered back under her blows but didn’t fight back. “I didn’t know he’d returned.”

“Leave. Don’t come back while Xiao Ding’s here.” Sister Ding shoved him out and slammed the door. Turning back, her face softened instantly. “My boy, I’ll make you red-braised pork tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll visit your grandparents, uncles, aunts—then the Zhangs, to thank your saviors properly.”

“They probably don’t live on the mainland,” Xiao Ding said.

Sister Ding, picking up the meat she’d thrown, froze. “How do you know?”

Xiao Ding explained, “They had escorts—some were fair-skinned foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes, speaking foreign languages. Their status must’ve let them buy extra grain to share with us poor.”

Xiao Ding’s mother nodded. “Pity they never gave names. When Er Gazi’s mother kowtowed, they said to thank their ‘Sir’ and ‘Miss.’ But I think they were married—radiant as deities, clean, fragrant, and kind. Never once treated us as unclean. Must’ve been like incarnations of the Goddess of Mercy.”

She’d told Sister Ding and Zhang Lei this already, but the memory overwhelmed her.

To them, Lu Mingzhu and her companions had been divine saviors.

Outside, Zhang Dayun, eavesdropping, was consumed by bitterness. He sought solace in drink with Commander Zhang Zhenxing.

But Zhang Zhenxing, having quit drinking due to grain shortages, poured tea instead. “You brought this on yourself. We all told you this would happen. How can you blame Xiao Ding for hating you? Countless orphans—even within our ranks—deserve homes. Wang Xinsheng could’ve taken ten if he could feed them. Yet you gave away your own son and raised adopted ones in comfort.”

Zhang Dayun defended himself, “I owed Wang Xinsheng my life! Only giving my flesh and blood could repay that. Giving away an orphan would’ve made me a villain.”

Zhang Zhenxing shook his head. “Idiot! You absolute idiot!”

After a sip, he added, “In war, comrades fight side by side, never knowing who’ll fall. Survival is luck; death is honor. Many comrades died shielding me—did I act like you? That child wasn’t yours to give! That disciplinary action didn’t get through to you.” “Here to drown your sorrows?” Zhang Zhenxing asked. “Did you see Xiao Ding?”

He was well-informed, and the maid mentioned seeing Sister Ding buying groceries to prepare a welcome feast for her youngest son.

So, Zhang Zhenxing knew that Zhang Dayun had been thrown out by his wife once more.

"Wang Xinsheng abandoned my son ten years ago." Zhang Dayun couldn’t understand it.

Zhang Zhenxing, however, remained calm. "Even you, his biological father, could abandon your own son—what more a foster father? Ten years ago, with two armies at war, who could have predicted we’d secure the country? It’s not hard to understand. Drink your tea and head back to the barracks. Don’t stick around Xiao Ding. If not for your combat skills and the organization vouching for you back then, you’d have been divorced long ago. No need to wait till now."

Zhang Dayun walked away crestfallen.

Two days later, when Sister Ding brought Xiao Ding to the Zhang residence to meet Zhang Zhenxing, she learned that Zhang Dayun had visited him.

Sister Ding couldn’t care less about Zhang Dayun’s affairs and only inquired about Lu Mingzhu, only to find out she had already returned to Hong Kong.

"So, we won’t be able to thank them in person," Sister Ding frowned.

Zhang Zhenxing smiled faintly. "Don’t worry about it. They just did what they thought was right. Whether it was your child or not, they wouldn’t have stood by idly. Now that the child is back, send him to school, let him study well, and become someone who contributes to society. Sooner or later, you’ll meet Mingzhu and the others again."

Sister Ding still felt regretful about being unable to repay them. "Can I send them something? I’d like to buy a few things and mail them over."

"They donated so much without hesitation—she doesn’t need anything," Zhang Zhenxing said.

Sister Ding insisted, "I just want to show my thanks."

Zhang Zhenxing thought for a moment. "She likes antique paintings and calligraphy—unique pieces that are hard to find elsewhere. You can afford it. Pick out two paintings and hand them to me. I’ll send them to her for you."

"Alright." Sister Ding complied.

When the package was sent, Lu Mingzhu was already at Wang Xingcai’s home in Shanghai.

Plenty were better suited than her when it came to donating food. She didn’t plan to handle it personally and might even reduce or stop her visits to the mainland, as she couldn’t stand seeing the suffering. So, she decided to contribute some foreign exchange before the crisis deepened.

In Shanghai, it was only natural to visit her godfather, Wang Xingcai.

After hearing about the situation in Qingshan County, Wang Xingcai fell silent.

After a long pause, he said to Lu Mingzhu, "I’ve taken note of everything you said and will keep an eye on Shanghai’s food supply. Your eldest brother deals in grain and oil—he might as well stock up early. If any region faces shortages, my share can be donated."

Lu Mingzhu smiled. "That’s already in motion."

Wang Xingcai sighed in relief. "Good, good. Together, we can manage it."

Honestly, he had no worries in Shanghai. Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai were too crucial—while other places might face shortages, these three cities wouldn’t. His current salary grade was high enough to cover daily necessities, so he was more worried about the people’s survival.

But like Zhang Zhenxing, he was being too optimistic.

Lu Mingzhu didn’t elaborate on the future either. Smiling slightly, she said, "Just take care of yourself, Godfather. When I left Hong Kong, you said you’d retire in two years. It’s been over seven now—when will you step down and come to Hong Kong with me to retire?"

"I think the mainland is quite good—clear governance, stable prices," Wang Xingcai replied.

Lu Mingzhu disagreed. "Do you realize how old you are?"

Wang Xingcai had never celebrated birthdays in the mainland. Counting on his fingers, he realized, "True. After the new year, I’ll be seventy."

"Exactly. Not many make it to seventy—it’s time to let the younger generation take over." Though Wang Xingcai’s marriage with Madam Zhang had failed, as his goddaughter, Lu Mingzhu couldn’t bear to see him humiliated in his late seventies. "Your youngest daughter in Hong Kong is so rude. Knowing the ties between our families, she’s publicly chasing after my father—does she want to be my stepmother or get back at me? It’s all because she wasn’t raised properly. Shouldn’t you, as her father, keep an eye on her?"

The mention of this angered Wang Xingcai. "I’ve tasked her younger brother with watching her."

"Can he really handle her?" Lu Mingzhu asked him.

Wang Xingcai couldn’t guarantee it.

He tilted his head to look at the ceiling, his age-spotted hands rubbing the teacup. "You're right. Since I brought her into this world, it's my responsibility to discipline her."

Lin Xianglian, who had been eavesdropping from the side, was thrilled.

She had long wanted to leave Hong Kong and reunite with her children.

Though capitalist families' lives weren’t disrupted, Wang Xingcai had no assets, and their life wasn't nearly as comfortable as when they first got married.

Lu Mingzhu was pleased. "That’s more like it. When will you resign? Junyao and I will wait for you."

"Turning in my resignation and wrapping up my work will take at least a month," Wang Xingcai figured, then added, "Why don’t you go ahead first? I’ll meet you in Hong Kong after settling everything here."

His youngest son had bought a villa in Hong Kong, so he and Lin Xianglian would have a place to stay.

But Lu Mingzhu smiled. "I’m not in a rush. Since I’ve come all this way, I want to contribute some foreign currency to the mainland."

Wang Xingcai asked, "What about your child?"

Though he wasn’t in Hong Kong, he had never missed sending gifts for Lu Mingzhu’s wedding and the birth of her daughter, so he knew he had another granddaughter.

Xie Junyao answered for her, "My eldest brother is at home."

The baby was crazy about her uncle. Before the couple left Hong Kong, she had been calling Xie Junhao "Daddy" repeatedly.

Xie Junyao was frustrated, helpless, and hurt.

Wang Xingcai used Lu Mingzhu’s own words against them: "Kids need their parents."

"Big Brother is more responsible than a real father!" Lu Mingzhu had nothing but praise for Xie Junhao. "Junyao and I have total confidence in him."

"Fine, then we’ll leave together," Wang Xingcai conceded. Remembering their plan to contribute foreign currency, he reminded them, "The International Friends Service Department has been merged into the Friendship Store on East Nanjing Road. You can go there directly."

Lu Mingzhu raised an eyebrow. "Just walk in?"

Wang Xingcai understood her meaning. "With a foreign passport, you can enter. It was originally meant to serve foreign guests, overseas Chinese, and international sailors. Payments are made in foreign currency."

"So we don’t even need Overseas Chinese Remittance Certificates," Lu Mingzhu remarked with a smile.

Wang Xingcai chuckled. "Those certificates were meant for overseas Chinese and their families to exchange remittances."

Lu Mingzhu knew—she was just making conversation.

After leaving Wang Xingcai’s home, she and Xie Junyao didn’t rush to the Friendship Store but instead hit the antique shops.

These stores hadn’t yet been merged into the Friendship Store and remained independent.

Antique paintings and calligraphy works weren’t daily necessities for the people, so they could be bought with cash without requiring ration coupons. However, customers were scarce.

For Lu Mingzhu, it was like a duck to water.

She had exchanged $200,000 USD for 450,000 in mainland cash. Buying 90,000 catties (about 45 tons) of grain had cost less than 10,000 yuan, and after exchanging more in the capital and failing to give Mr. Zhang the money she had meant for him, she now had a pile of cash on hand. Might as well spend it now.

Once taken out of the country, it would be useless.

First, she snapped up all kinds of ancient coins, especially copper cash. Then she bought stacks of official Qing Dynasty porcelain bowls and plates, spending less than 10,000 yuan. Finally, she purchased *the* Qianlong famille-rose 'Auspicious Abundance' revolving vase (a rare type of moving porcelain) that the clerk produced.

At that moment, she heard someone calling her.

Xie Junyao turned his head with her and saw a middle-aged woman who was still strikingly beautiful.

Dressed in an emerald-green silk embroidered qipao with a mink coat draped over it, complete with a hat and muff, a string of jade beads faintly visible around her neck, she entered from outside, forming a stark contrast with the plainly dressed shop assistant and the hurried passersby on the street.

Lu Mingzhu immediately searched her predecessor's memories.

"Second sister, long time no see." It was Lu Zhenzhen, the second concubine's daughter.

Among the Lu family's children, apart from Kang Yingying, who had been sent back to Shanghai, only Lu Zhenzhen remained—the one who had refused to leave with Lu Zhangling back then.

It was clear that, thanks to the Lu family's past achievements reported in the newspapers, she was living in luxury.

She just looked about ten years older than in the predecessor's memories.

"It's been seven or eight years, hasn't it? Of course it's been a long time." Lu Zhenzhen stood before Lu Mingzhu, examining her.

This now-favored younger sister was half a head taller than she remembered, with a more slender and graceful figure, glowing complexion, and features that had blossomed into even more striking beauty, with an extra touch of charm.

A flash of jealousy crossed Lu Zhenzhen's eyes.

Even from afar in Shanghai, she had learned through correspondence with the second concubine about the grandeur of Lu Mingzhu's dowry.

The only thing that made her proud was that Lu Mingzhu had only given birth to a daughter after marriage, while she had borne her husband a son, making her the treasured daughter-in-law.

Lu Mingzhu smiled faintly. "Second sister remembers so clearly."

"I've been counting the days since you all left!" Lu Zhenzhen fussed with her mink coat, glancing at Lu Mingzhu's black cashmere coat, the red qipao peeking out at the collar, adorned with a jade brooch. But what most caught her attention was Xie Junyao.

Though silent, his handsome features, tall and elegant stature, restrained demeanor, and graceful bearing made him an exceptionally handsome man she had never seen before.

Even Pan An or Song Yu reincarnated would feel ashamed before him.

Xie Junyao's eyes were only on Lu Mingzhu, paying no heed to Lu Zhenzhen's scrutiny. "Mingzhu, take another look at what you like. Once you're done, we'll head back."

"Just a moment," she replied, then turned to Lu Zhenzhen. "Second sister must be here to shop too. Please."

Best to go their separate ways!

Lu Zhenzhen clearly had no intention of letting Lu Mingzhu off so easily. "Let's have lunch together—at the International Hotel, with the finest dishes. I have something to discuss with you."

"I have nothing to discuss with you." Lu Mingzhu wasn't interested in whatever she wanted to say.

"It's about Eldest Sister." Lu Zhenzhen said.

Lu Mingzhu finally shifted her gaze from the porcelain in her hands to Lu Zhenzhen's face. "Second sister loves to joke. I have no Eldest Sister. The Lu family has seven daughters—Third Sister and Fifth Sister died young, leaving five. You're in Shanghai, the others are in Hong Kong and Singapore. That's all there is to it."

To disregard Father Lu's severance letter—Lu Zhenzhen had some nerve.

Let her continue scrubbing toilets, just like in the original world!

Lu Zhenzhen couldn't help but frown. "Lu Mingzhu, Eldest Sister is still our own blood."

"Your own blood, not mine." Lu Mingzhu wasn't from the same womb as her. "The moment she allowed Kang's Pharmaceutical to produce counterfeit medical supplies for the frontlines, she was no longer a daughter of the Lu family. You'd best remember that. It's only been a few years—have you forgotten? If you have, the citizens of Shanghai haven't, nor have the soldiers wounded at the front. If you want to associate with her, that's your business. Don't drag me into it."

Lu Zhenzhen was left speechless. "Lu Mingzhu, are you really this cold-blooded? This ruthless?"

"Exactly. When it comes to Kang Yingying, I am cold-blooded. Ruthless." Lu Mingzhu put down the porcelain and said to the shop assistant, "I'll take this one as well," she added.

The shop assistant smiled and said, "Certainly, Miss Lu."

The shop assistant hadn’t known the identity of this beautiful young lady before, but now it was crystal clear.

The Eighth Miss of the Lu family.

Lu Zhenzhen stood beside Lu Mingzhu, going on and on: "Those things were done by the Kang family, not by eldest sister. The fact that eldest sister and her two children weren’t implicated is proof. She finally escaped the drama, but Third Sister sent her back. Now she can’t leave even if she wants to. Did you all tip off the authorities here in Shanghai to blacklist her from leaving the country?"

Lu Mingzhu hadn’t known about this and raised an eyebrow upon hearing it.

"Can’t leave the country? Wonderful." That meant when the reckoning came, she wouldn’t be able to escape the punishment she deserved.

Others might be innocent, but she certainly wasn’t.

In the original body’s world, she had fled, leaving Lu Zhenzhen, Lu Qingqing, and Lu Peipei to suffer a life of misery. Now it was her turn to get a taste of her own medicine.

If Lu Zhenzhen knew she would be implicated by Kang Yingying in the future, would she regret her actions now?

She definitely would—but unfortunately, Lu Mingzhu might not get to see it.

Thanks to Lu Zhenzhen’s tip-off, after buying the antiques, Lu Mingzhu went to see Wang Xingcai, mooched a meal off him, and took the opportunity to ask him to put in a word with the authorities to permanently blacklist Kang Yingying from leaving the country, forcing her to stay on the mainland and face everyone’s contempt.

Wang Xingcai scratched his nose lightly. "Consider it done."

It had actually been Old Master Lu who had made the arrangements, ensuring Kang Yingying had no chance to leave.

After healing up, she had still wanted to leave Shanghai.

Fortunately, Old Master Lu had long since written to Wang Xingcai, berating him for sticking his nose in—sending Kang Yingying on a ship to Hong Kong right before Lu Mingzhu’s engagement. If it affected Lu Mingzhu’s future, he swore he’d come to Shanghai to settle the score.

Thinking of this, Wang Xingcai scratched his nose.

Unaware of the backstory, Lu Mingzhu was somewhat curious about Kang Yingying’s current situation. "Has Lu Zhenzhen been supporting her all along?"

She remembered Lu Zhangling saying that the small courtyard arranged for Kang Yingying and her two children could only accommodate them for three or four months at most, and the maid’s salary had only been paid for that duration. If Kang Yingying didn’t work, the three of them would have no means of survival.

But if Lu Zhenzhen extended a helping hand, the outcome would be entirely different.

Lu Zhenzhen had a fat dowry, and her in-laws were wealthy. Even a little assistance from her would be enough to set Kang Yingying and her children for life.

Wang Xingcai nodded. "That’s right. Lu Zhenzhen has been supporting them."

Lu Mingzhu snorted. "To showcase their sisterly bond? I never saw them being particularly close before. Now they’re suddenly displaying such deep affection."

Kang Yingying was both the eldest daughter of the Second Concubine and Old Master Lu’s firstborn. Since Lu’s wife only had Lu Changsheng as a son, she must have treated the eldest daughter fairly well. In contrast, Lu Zhenzhen, born afterward, received far less favor—especially since the Second Concubine had hoped her second child would be a son.

So, was Lu Zhenzhen aiding Kang Yingying to rub it in?

If anyone called it sisterly love, yeah, right!

Lu Mingzhu hadn’t known these events from before the original body’s birth, but Lu Changsheng had still been with the Lu family at the time and occasionally reminisced with his younger sister. Given his deep hatred for Kang Yingying’s actions, he had spoken more about matters concerning her.

Kang Yingying had even had a fling with an actor!

Who knew if the Kang family had used that as leverage against her.

In any case, all of them were rotten.

Lu Mingzhu had thought that after rejecting Lu Zhenzhen, there would be no further developments. She hadn’t expected Kang Yingying to show up on her doorstep.