Chapter 23: All Show and No Substance

No one left the table after finishing their meal.

Lu Jianwei set down her chopsticks. “Aunt, Uncle, the Zhou family needs you too. All these years, you’ve been busying yourselves for the Lu family on my and Xiaozhu’s behalf. In the future, when you grow old, Xiaozhu and I will help take care of you.”

Her aunt’s tears spilled at once. “Child, why are you saying such things?”

Her uncle patted his wife’s back and smiled. “Both children take after me—they’re sensible and filial. You should be happy about that.”

Lu Jianwei spoke earnestly, “Aunt, Uncle, I mean what I say. The Zhu family’s troubles will stir up for a while, but when the commotion dies down, the Lu family will still be a thorn in others’ sides. If all goes well, once Xiaozhu’s acceptance letter arrives, I’ll send him off to university and then head to Qiong Island. After that, the Lu family house will be empty. Let those who covet it search and investigate as much as they like.”

Her uncle nodded in agreement. “No matter what, people are more important than possessions. Weiwei, you resemble me in this—you recognize the right time for everything!” He gave her a thumbs-up.

Lu Jianwei couldn’t help but laugh at his words. Her uncle was open-minded and humorous, with the air of an old-world gentleman, always quick to make her aunt smile.

She walked over and embraced her aunt. “Aunt, I’ve avenged my father. That malicious woman will get what she deserves. In the future, even if our family is scattered to the ends of the earth, as long as our hearts are together, we’re still a family.”

Her aunt hugged her tightly, tears flowing. “With you and Xiaozhu remembering your father, I’m at peace. Don’t ever forget him, no matter how many years pass—he loved you both so much!”

“We won’t, Aunt. Don’t worry. He was the best father, and we know it,” Lu Jianwei comforted her.

In the original memories, Lu Zhaoqing had always been a kind and loving father—gentle and devoted, the very model of a doting parent. When the original Lu Jianwei went abroad at thirteen, her father did everything he could to visit her, and every memory they shared was a happy one.

As for Lu Zhizhu, their father’s passing was a devastating blow. He harbored a deep hatred toward everyone in the Zhu family.

The next day, Lu Jianwei went to work and completed her transfer procedures. Perhaps because of her relationship with Fu Tingjun, the section chief assigned her to a different office from his. Her current job mainly involved theoretical guidance for building the pressure-testing rig for gun barrels.

She was busy the whole morning and felt not the slightest ease, but she was already used to the high-intensity pace of research projects.

At lunchtime, Yang Hongyan came looking for her and, after a glance, found Lu Jianwei was the only woman present.

The two of them grabbed their lunchboxes and headed to the cafeteria. “There are only two women in your technical department?”

The other was an archival staff member dealing with technical documents, stationed in the records room. She was much older and didn’t have much in common with Lu Jianwei.

“I’ll come find you for lunch every day from now on!”

“Alright!”

Fu Tingjun suddenly appeared from around a corner, startling them both. Yang Hongyan glared at him, “Comrade Fu, what are you doing, trying to act like a rogue? Careful or I’ll report you to the police!”

Fu Tingjun’s eyes blazed as he looked at Lu Jianwei. “I need to talk to you!”

“Say it here,” replied Lu Jianwei, unmoving. Yang Hongyan clung to her arm, equally steadfast.

“No, only you can hear this.”

People were coming and going nearby. Lu Jianwei felt a wave of irritation. If she kept resisting, who knew what rumors might start. She turned to Yang Hongyan, “Wait for me a moment.”

She walked about ten paces away but stayed within Yang Hongyan’s line of sight. “Speak.”

“Over there,” Fu Tingjun tried to lead her further away. Lu Jianwei immediately turned to leave. “Say it or don’t.”

“Wait!” He actually reached out to grab her. Lu Jianwei kicked him squarely, “Trying to be a scoundrel?”

Her kick landed perfectly; Fu Tingjun doubled over in pain. “No, don’t go.”

Lu Jianwei waited until he recovered, then said, “Weiwei, could you return the little gold lock I gave you last time? This one is truly yours.” He held out the gold lock Zhu Tingting had given him.

Lu Jianwei glanced at it—astonishingly, it was identical to her own gold lock. Yet hers was said to be an ancestral heirloom; it was impossible for there to be another.

She immediately saw through their intentions. “Did you and Zhu Tingting really get engaged?”

Fu Tingjun said nothing, his expression bleak.

Lu Jianwei handed the gold lock back to him. “The gold lock you gave me is mine. This one is from Zhu Tingting, isn’t it? Did you ask her why she wanted to exchange them?”

Fu Tingjun replied, “Weiwei, she found out about my father and threatened me. I had no choice but to get engaged. We’ve already… already married. She sent me to exchange the gold lock, but when I asked her why, she wouldn’t say. Weiwei, but in my heart…”

Last night, Zhu Tingting had threatened him with his father’s matter. The two of them had become husband and wife, and by this morning, they’d registered their marriage. From now on, there was a gulf as wide as the Milky Way between him and Lu Jianwei. Seeing her only brought a stabbing pain to his heart.

If he wished to have Lu Jianwei, he’d have to divorce Zhu Tingting, but now, with the Zhu family in trouble, she would only cling to him more tightly.

Lu Jianwei raised her hand to stop him. “Congratulations to you both, Comrade Fu. Kindly address me as Comrade Lu from now on.”

Turning on her heel, she walked away. A sharp cry rang out behind her. She looked back to see Gu Huaizheng gripping Fu Tingjun’s wrist, voice cold and severe. “What do you think you’re doing? Harassing my partner again and again—have you had enough of living?”

Fu Tingjun felt as if his bones were cracking. He cried out, “You’re a soldier! You can’t bully civilians!”

Lu Jianwei pulled Gu Huaizheng’s hand away. Just as Fu Tingjun thought she was coming to his aid, she kicked him to the ground. “Fu Tingjun, are you a mangy dog, or sticky rice taffy? I suggest you put your energy into building socialism and tackling technical challenges. If you pester me again, I’ll report you to the authorities for harassment!”

The night before, Zhu Tingting had ensnared Fu Tingjun into consummating their marriage, and today had dragged him to register, all to sever ties with the Zhu family. On the first day of their marriage, she wanted to play the virtuous wife and bring lunch, only to stumble upon this scene.

“Lu Jianwei, you shameless woman, why are you seducing my husband?” Zhu Tingting hurried over, a jar of chicken soup in her hand.

She knew perfectly well that Fu Tingjun sought out Lu Jianwei to exchange the gold lock, but regardless of the outcome, she struck first, determined to besmirch Lu Jianwei’s name.

Yang Hongyan rushed up, furious. “You’re the shameless one! If you can’t control your own man and he keeps harassing Comrade Lu, don’t try to twist the facts. Ask everyone here—who’s seducing whom?”

Zhu Tingting sneered, “Who doesn’t know that my husband was once engaged to this capitalist heiress? If she didn’t throw herself at him, would he be so bewitched?”

Yang Hongyan was about to argue, but Lu Jianwei pulled her back. “Zhu Tingting, you’re the only one who treats that man like a treasure. I’d have to be blind not to see my own partner and to covet your husband. What would I want from him—his treachery, his ugly face, or his weak body?”

Yang Hongyan chimed in, “Exactly! Can’t even beat a woman—one kick and he’s down. All show and no substance.”

After the three left, Fu Tingjun handed the artificially aged gold lock to Zhu Tingting. “This is the one I got back from Lu Jianwei.”

Zhu Tingting was overjoyed and snatched it up at once.