Chapter 15: The Recluse and The Phoenix

Lu Zhao’s words created a huge stir.

Wang Xiaoyun seemed unable to believe what she had just heard. She suppressed her wildly beating heart and looked up at Lu Zhao, cautiously confirming, “Old Lu, did you just say you’re sending Xiao Nian to the countryside?”

She said it and waited without daring to blink, hoping for Lu Zhao’s response.

Her stance, unable to move a muscle with one hand pressed to her chest, seemed to Lu Zhao like she could not accept the idea of Gu Si Nian going to the countryside.

This made Lu Zhao feel even more distressed.

That bastard treated Xiaoyun like an enemy, and hearing that this bastard was going to the countryside, Xiaoyun was still worried about him.

He truly felt sorry for Xiaoyun.

Lu Zhao nodded firmly, “Yes, sending him to the countryside.” Afraid that Wang Xiaoyun might disagree, he quickly added, “Don’t try to plead for him, my decision is final.”

Pleading for Lu Si Nian? That was not even an option.

She was eager to set off ten strings of firecrackers to celebrate Lu Si Nian going to the countryside. How could she possibly plead for him?

Wang Xiaoyun felt like hugging Lu Zhao and planting a kiss on him.

This stubborn man had finally come to his senses.

She didn’t know how long she had been waiting for this day.

But she knew that now was not the time to be too happy.

Her joy made her teeth tremble, yet her face wore a puzzled expression.

“Why would you send Xiao Nian to the countryside for no reason?”

Lu Zhao’s gaze grew serious. “If he doesn’t go, I’ll be the one who gets driven crazy by him. Also, I don’t think going to the countryside is necessarily a bad thing for him.”

That brat had been spoiled by the old man for years and had many flaws in his character. A change of environment would be good for him.”

Wang Xiaoyun didn’t care about the reasons behind Lu Zhao’s decision to send Lu Si Nian to the countryside. She was just asking for appearance’s sake.

She didn’t really listen to his explanation.

What concerned her was…

“Xiao Nian probably won’t agree to go, right?”

Lu Zhao seemed prepared for this. He replied coldly, “He doesn’t want to go? He still has to. I’m going to the Youth Office tomorrow to sign him up.”

Wang Xiaoyun hesitated, “Shouldn’t we discuss it with Xiao Nian first?”

Lu Zhao shook his head. “No need. I’m his father, and I can make decisions for him.”

Lu Zhao thought Wang Xiaoyun was being too naive.

Discuss with Lu Si Nian? She must have some misunderstanding about that brat.

If Lu Si Nian knew about the plan to send him to the countryside, he would definitely cause an uproar in the house.

By then, who knew who would be going to the countryside.

But if they signed him up without telling him, even if he found out later, it wouldn’t matter.

As for what that brat might do after finding out? Let him make a scene.

A short uproar now was better than a lifetime of it. He would rather choose a momentary outburst.

Wang Xiaoyun had another concern, “Should we tell the old man about this?”

Lu Zhao shook his head again. “No need. Dad is busy with the exercises lately and can’t be disturbed. When he comes home, I’ll explain it to him.”

Now, Wang Xiaoyun was completely at ease.

Her man had thought through everything and was on the same page as her.

“Then I’ll prepare some things for Xiao Nian’s trip to the countryside tomorrow.”

Lu Zhao didn’t object.

That brat might be useless, but he was still his son.

He wanted him to go and improve, not to die.

He still needed to prepare for the trip.

He took out a few industrial vouchers and two ten-yuan bills and handed them to Wang Xiaoyun.

“That brat is really spoiled. Prepare more food for him.”

Wang Xiaoyun took the money and playfully scolded, “I’d still prepare it without you telling me.”

Lu Mingyang never expected that because of a meal, Lu Si Nian would be sent to the countryside.

Suddenly, he felt that not eating his favorite chicken stew with mushrooms wasn’t such a big deal anymore.

He moved closer to Chen Huiru, grinning, “Sis, did you hear? Dad’s sending Lu Si Nian to the countryside.”

Chen Huiru tried to suppress her smile, softly responding with a polite “Mm.”

Lu Mingyang was about to say more when he heard Wang Xiaoyun calling Chen Huiru.

“Huiru, bring the soup from the kitchen, let your dad eat first. I’ll make him a bowl of noodles.”

Chen Huiru obediently agreed and followed Wang Xiaoyun into the kitchen.

…

Lu Si Nian still didn’t know that his biological father was secretly registering him to go to the countryside.

At the moment, Wei Ping’an was discussing serious business with him.

“Brother Hu has sent word that they’re planning something big soon and asked if we want to join in.”

Without hesitation, Lu Si Nian shook his head. “We won’t participate, not just this time, but from now on, we won’t be involved at all!”

To outsiders, Lu Si Nian and Wei Ping’an were nothing more than unremarkable, useless young men with no prospects.

But they hadn’t been idle over the years.

A few years ago, Lu Si Nian had, by chance, saved a man from the hands of the Hong Xiu Zhang, and later found out that the man he saved was the second-in-command of the underground market in the capital, named Guan Hu.

Around that time, he had been betrayed by Wang Xiaoyun, the old bitch, and wanted to get revenge. However, his financial resources weren’t enough, and he didn’t want to go to his grandfather for help.

In a moment of desperation, he thought of Guan Hu.

Although he knew the underground market was dangerous, the money came quickly.

Without any hesitation, he and Wei Ping’an had joined Guan Hu, using false identities, and worked in the underground market for four or five years.

Over those years, they had been lucky, with no incidents occurring.

Now, Lu Si Nian had plenty of money and didn’t want to take risks anymore.

Before his grandfather left, he had specially asked him to come to the study.

For the first time, he had discussed policies with him for half an hour.

Lu Si Nian understood that his grandfather was trying to point something out to him.

It wasn’t surprising—his grandfather was quite capable, and finding out what he had been doing these past few years wouldn’t have been hard.

Lu Si Nian didn’t want to make his grandfather worry anymore; he was ready to quit.

After all, he had already earned enough money over these years.

Wei Ping’an nodded. “Alright, I understand. I’ll find a time to talk to Brother Hu.”

In business matters, Wei Ping’an always followed Lu Si Nian’s lead.

If it weren’t for Lu Si Nian’s kindness, taking him along in the business, he would probably have become the kind of useless young man everyone gossiped about, staying at home and relying on his family.

Though they were both known as “young masters” in the courtyard, they had always aspired to be the richest young masters there.

After years of effort, they had finally achieved their goal.

“By the way, when you talk to Brother Hu, remind him that you’ve heard news that there might be big movements coming from above soon, so he should be careful.”

Guan Hu had looked out for Lu Si Nian over the years, and Lu Si Nian didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.

It was just a casual reminder; whether he listened was up to him.

Wei Ping’an nodded seriously. “Okay, I’ll make a note of it. I’ll find a time to visit Brother Hu tomorrow.”

Lu Si Nian nodded in acknowledgment, and the two continued walking down the small path.

Halfway through, they saw a group of familiar women from the courtyard standing nearby, their heads close together, whispering like they were secret agents meeting.

Wei Ping’an, always one to enjoy the drama, nudged Lu Si Nian’s arm. “Do you think they’re gossiping about you?”

Lu Si Nian, intrigued, decided there was no harm in finding out.

Since they were already doing nothing, why not have a little fun?

He shook his head seriously. “I think they’re probably gossiping about you.”

Wei Ping’an: “… Well, that’s possible too.”

Both of them were famous figures in the courtyard, known for stirring up trouble, and often the subject of gossip over meals and tea.

People in the courtyard referred to Lu Si Nian as the “Recluse” and Wei Ping’an as the “Phoenix Chick.”

As the saying goes, wherever there’s a Recluse, there’s bound to be a Phoenix Chick.

So…

“Maybe they’re talking about us!”

Lu Si Nian: “… That’s also a possibility.”

The Recluse and the Phoenix Chick exchanged a glance, and with mutual understanding, they stepped forward toward the group of women.

If they were gossiping about them, they would soon find out by listening in!