Chapter 967
My Sister's Surname
"What did Elder Fu say?"
Upon hearing that the matter had been settled, Lu Yang looked at Lu Nini with some interest.
"Old Fu said that he already knows that the Zhou family's behavior is definitely illegal. Without any evidence, they have made baseless accusations, causing a local company like Mingzhu Media, which has made outstanding contributions to Shanghai's tax revenue, to the brink of bankruptcy. This behavior is extremely bad and must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others."
"Old Fu also said that this incident was just an accident. He asked the Chairman to believe that the leadership team in Shanghai is absolutely honest and upright, with only a very few bad apples. Once discovered, they will not be tolerated. He welcomed the Chairman to come and investigate, and to invest in Shanghai..."
Lu Nini continued, "And on behalf of you, Chairman, I have accepted Mr. Fu's invitation. At the end of next month, you will be representing the Pengcheng Chamber of Commerce as its honorary president at the first Asia-Pacific Urban Informatization Forum. After the forum, Mr. Fu also hopes that you will take the opportunity to visit their Pudong New Area in Shanghai. If the cooperation goes well, he also hopes that you can contribute to the construction of the new area. I... I have agreed to this for now, based on your prior instructions. I will arrange these two trips for you later."
Lu Yang nodded slightly.
These were all the lines he had given to Lu Nini beforehand.
Let's say that.
As long as the other party doesn't go too far and their requests are reasonable, you can agree to them on their behalf first.
As for whether he will keep his promise in the future?
Hehe, of course... we'll see how things go then.
Moreover, this Mr. Fu is no outsider; he is Fu Changjun's own brother and holds a prominent position in Shanghai.
Even if Lu Yang didn't care about the monk, he still had to consider the Buddha's feelings. Just because of his relationship with Fu Changjun, he couldn't let the man help him for nothing!
When the time comes, I'll have to at least give them a token of my appreciation.
"Well, I see."
Lu Yang nodded.
As he spoke, he grabbed his suit jacket and put it on.
While buttoning his shirt, he said in a low voice, "Remember to come over for dinner tonight. Invite your brother and sister-in-law too. Oh, and if my second grandfather doesn't mind, invite him as well. I haven't seen him in a long time, and I miss him a bit."
Lu Nini nodded obediently and sensibly, "Okay, I understand. I'll ask Grandpa when I get back."
Ever since they got involved with Brother Lu Yang, it's as if their lives have been on a winning streak. The life they've lived over the years is something they never dared to dream of before, and all of this is partly thanks to their grandfather.
What exactly happened?
She didn't know, nor had her brother, sister-in-law, or grandfather mentioned it.
There are so many elderly people in the village, including those with the surname Lu who are within five degrees of kinship, but Brother Lu Yang only respects his own grandfather.
She was sometimes curious and asked her grandfather, "Why is there such a big difference in how Brother Lu Yang treats you and the other elders in the clan?"
Grandpa said: That's because he doesn't take advantage of his age.
My brother said, "Grandpa was a hero who killed Japanese devils and fought on the battlefield. Your brother Lu Yang respects veterans like our grandpa the most. I'm not bragging, but if our old man had been willing to use his connections back then, I would have been successful long ago. Unfortunately, our old man is too old-fashioned. Also, don't be fooled by how successful you are now, back then... well, let's not talk about it."
Lu Dajun only said half of what he meant.
This piqued Lu Nini's curiosity, but no matter how much Lu Nini pressed him for answers, he stubbornly refused to say another word.
But even so.
Lu Nini wasn't stupid; she could probably guess that her stubborn grandfather must have helped Lu Yang in some way.
"Okay, I'm leaving."
After getting dressed, Lu Yang left immediately.
In his previous life, this second grandfather did not live to see the millennium. I remember it was the winter of 99. A severe cold took away many elderly people in the village. Because there were still many shrapnel fragments in his body, and he was over 70 years old at the time, his health had already deteriorated. So he was also taken away that winter.
Time and spacetime are now reset.
His rebirth and return have already changed the fate of too many people.
For example, Lu Dajun!
He should have died long ago from violence, but after taking revenge on the group of thugs who framed him and sent him to prison, he was executed by firing squad.
For example, Lu Nini!
Her brother had an accident that year, which happened to be the year she took the college entrance exam.
The cruel blow, the unbearable grief, and the need to care for Lu Yang's second grandfather who was also grieving the loss of his grandson, all contributed to Lu Nini's academic failure. Whether her studies were truly a disaster or not, her exam results were indeed quite average. After the college entrance examination, she dropped out of school and returned home to focus on caring for her ailing grandfather. In the winter of 99, her grandfather passed away, and Lu Nini left Shanghuai Village alone, reportedly going to work in the south. Lu Yang never saw his little cousin again for the rest of his life.
Now, in addition to surviving the calamity of the winter of 99 and living safely into the new millennium, this second grandfather is still quite healthy, as Lu Nini has mentioned from time to time.
So, can't we just say that?
The family that benefited the most from Lu Yang's rebirth was Lu Nini and Lu Dajun.
Leave the company.
Lu Yang asked Xiao Jiu to drive him to the airport.
Soon, as announced over the airport's public address system, the flight from Changsha to Shenzhen landed.
Lu Yang has completely taken in his biological mother Ye Qiuyu, stepfather Meng Wenxian, and younger sister Meng Tiantian.
I must mention here that the younger sister's surname is Meng Tiantian.
Back then, after escaping from Shanghuai Village and seeking refuge with her senior brother Meng Wenxian, Ye Qiuyu was unable to conceive and felt that she owed her husband Meng Wenxian too much, so she decided to change her daughter Lu Tiantian's surname to Meng, which was the same as Meng Wenxian's.
Lu Yang was aware of this.
And there's nothing to say about it.
But as his business grew and his status rose over the years, Ye Qiuyu repeatedly probed him about his younger sister's surname:
Do you have any ideas?
"Should we change your sister's last name back?"
“Your Uncle Meng has been quite worried lately, and my belly just won’t cooperate. I feel guilty towards him because it’s my fault that the Meng family has no heir. Now… I’m afraid you might have some thoughts about this. If you do, you must tell Mom as soon as possible.”
Lu Yang thought about it for a long time.
Finally, on the phone, he gave a firm reply of just three words: "No need, it's fine as it is."
Ye Qiuyu was worried, thinking that her son was being considerate of her difficulties as a mother.
But Lu Yang's next words completely put her at ease.
“Mom, you were originally a city girl. It was my alcoholic father who bullied you and made you suffer for so many years. He was a good-for-nothing; when he was drunk, he would beat you and me, and in the end, he drowned himself in the pond. It was all his own karma, all his fault. What right did he have to decide my sister's surname? If I hadn't been used to it since I was little, I wouldn't even want to be surnamed Lu. Now that my sister has changed her surname for many years, and Uncle Meng has always treated her like his own daughter, I can't change her surname back to Lu just because I've become successful, can I? So don't worry, Mom, I will never do that. If anyone is to change their surname, it will be my own.” Her words were serious, but tinged with a hint of teasing and self-deprecation.
Although Lu Yang said he wouldn't actually change his surname, Ye Qiuyu was truly relieved when he said that.
The son is right. It was all that damned man's own fault and sins. Now that his daughter doesn't take his surname, it's what he deserves.
"Brother, my dear brother, do you miss me?"
As soon as Meng Tiantian saw Lu Yang, she ran up to him from afar. The 17-year-old girl's long legs and energetic appearance were a sight to behold!
Lu Yang grinned and opened his arms.
Stabilize the lower bounds and prepare for the upcoming impact.
Sure enough, when they were still about a meter apart, Meng Tiantian had already jumped up, her two arms tightly wrapped around his neck, and her long legs wrapped around his waist, hanging on him like a kangaroo.
That's quite a shock.
Unless Lu Yang is prepared, has a stable stance, and is strong enough, he may not be able to lift her up.
"Get down! What kind of behavior is this!"
Although Lu Yang was happy to see his younger sister after so long, he still had to resort to his authoritative act as the eldest brother.
To be honest, Meng Tiantian really listened to him.
Seeing his stern face.
She quickly stuck out her little tongue and jumped off him.
She pouted and said, "Hmph, my brother has really changed. He doesn't care about me anymore and he even yells at me. I'm going to tell my sister-in-law about how you bullied me later."
Lu Yang was speechless.
This girl... she's getting more and more mischievous.
However, it's quite cute.
He stepped forward and patted Meng Tiantian's head gently, saying softly, "Alright, little girl, stop pretending. I'm telling you, you're not allowed to tell on me when we get back. Your sister-in-law loves you the most. If she hears you say I bullied you and believes it, she'll be angry with me. Alright, alright, I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have been so harsh with you. You're so grown up, and you still like to cling to your brother. People will laugh at you."
Upon hearing this, Meng Tiantian raised her chin and said arrogantly, "I don't care. I have the most powerful brother in the world. They don't. They're just envious of me."
Lu Yang laughed loudly, "Okay, you're right, they're just envious of you. From now on, as long as it's not in public, you can do whatever you want with your brother like this, alright?"
Meng Tiantian said proudly, "That's more like it, brother, you really are the best."
Lu Yang smiled wryly and could only pat her head affectionately again.
Well, I'll spoil my own sister.
To be honest, over the years, he has indeed felt somewhat indebted to this young woman.
Is it because you're afraid of gossip that you deliberately distance yourself?
at this time,
Meng Wenxian and Ye Qiuyu, a middle-aged couple, also came to stand in front of them.
"Little Lu, how have you been?" Meng Wenxian said with a smile.
"Uncle Meng, you're still the same as ever, you haven't changed at all," Lu Yang said with a smile.
"I'm getting old, look at my hair, it's all white."
Meng Wenxian pointed to his head of silver hair, which was now mostly white.
Lu Yang laughed and said, "Where are you old? I think you're in good spirits. As for the white hair, some people have gray hair before they even turn gray. It's okay. Uncle Meng, you're retired now. If you take care of yourself for a while, maybe your white hair will turn black again."
Meng Wenxian laughed heartily, "Then I'll accept your kind words."
The two got along very well.
Ye Qiuyu watched with a smile as the father and son, who were not related by blood, talked.
From time to time,
He then turned to criticize Meng Tiantian a few times, "You brat, I'm warning you, don't act like you do at home here. Your brother is a public figure now, and you're his sister. You have to think things through before you do anything, and don't embarrass your brother, understand?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Tiantian immediately lowered her head and said, "Oh, I know."
As she spoke, her eyes darted around, and suddenly she remembered something. She leaned close to her mother, Ye Qiuyu, and giggled, "Mom, I heard that my brother is an honorary alumnus of Shenzhen University. He knows a lot of impressive experts and professors there, even the president. Could I ask him for a favor? I have a good friend who was just two points short of getting into Shenzhen University. Could you please put in a good word for her and ask them to make an exception... Ouch, Mom, it hurts, it hurts..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ye Qiuyu tugged at her ear.
"You brat, are you ignoring what your mother says? We're only 2 points short, and you're asking Shenzhen University to make an exception? Do you think Shenzhen University is your brother's private property? I'm warning you, don't you dare mention this to your brother, understand?" Ye Qiuyu sternly warned her daughter.
She wasn't sure if her daughter's classmate was really only 2 points short, but she was very clear that since her daughter's identity was revealed, there would inevitably be many people around her who wanted to curry favor with their sons through her. Among those who flattered and fawned over her daughter, there were certainly many people with ill intentions.
What if this is a trap?
My daughter's classmate didn't get into Shenzhen University, that's because she's not capable enough. I can't let my son risk his life to plead for her just to make my daughter happy. Not to mention the huge favors he'd be doing, and the potential dangers. What if someone maliciously reports him behind his back, and my son tries to bribe someone to interfere with the university's admissions process?
The young girl sometimes speaks off the cuff without thinking things through, but while she's young and doesn't understand, her mother can't be. Her son's achievements haven't come easily, and she can't let a small matter cause him trouble.
Ye Qiuyu took a deep breath.
Seeing that her daughter seemed unconvinced, she continued to raise her voice and warn, "I'll let it go this time, but if I hear you say something so brainless again, I'll have your brother transfer you to another school. You might as well not study at Shenzhen University anymore and come back to our hometown with me. Don't come back here again, so you don't cause trouble for your brother. Do you understand?"
She wasn't joking; she was serious.
If her daughter were truly so disobedient and immature, she would definitely do that.
Fortunately, Meng Tiantian wasn't stubborn. Seeing that her mother was really angry, she quickly admitted her mistake and comforted her mother instead.
And so the mother and daughter were whispering to each other.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang's conversation with Meng Wenxian was also nearing its end.
"Uncle Meng, is there anything else you want to say? Let's get in the car and talk. I know you must have brought a lot of expectations from the people of your hometown."
"You rascal, I knew I couldn't hide anything from you. Here's what we'll do: once we get to your house and your mother and sister are settled in, I'll talk to you in detail." (End of Chapter)