After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future

Chapter 46: Siblings

"That car costs 3 million?"  

Mom felt faint again. Lu Ya, ever the quick thinker, came to the rescue: "Ah Liang came back from Magic City at noon, he probably hasn't had dinner yet."  

Lu Liang nodded hastily, expressing some dissatisfaction: "I just went to your place, and you didn't even invite me in for a bite."  

Lu Ya shot him a glare: "We finished eating already. There are only some leftover scraps, do you want that?"  

"I've been eating your leftovers since I was a kid."  

Lu Liang played along, and the siblings successfully shifted Mom’s focus again.

"It's already past eight, why haven’t you eaten dinner yet?"  

Mom couldn't hold back and hurried into the kitchen, muttering, "You didn’t even tell me you were coming back. There’s hardly anything in the fridge. I'll make you a bowl of noodles and fry an egg."  

Lu Liang noticed Dad pulling out a pack of White Sand cigarettes, and quickly took out some soft cigarettes: "Dad, stick to these from now on."  

He also opened a gift bag with five packs of soft cigarettes and five bottles of Maotai.  

"This is winter worm and summer grass, you can brew it for tea or cook it in soup. This is codonopsis, Mom’s blood pressure is a bit high, she should take two pills every day."  

As Lu Liang explained the gifts, his dad, who was usually silent while smoking, subtly smiled, betraying his inner joy.  

Parents often say they don’t ask for much from their children, just health and safety, but who doesn’t wish for their child to succeed and prosper?  

Finally, Lu Liang handed his father a bank card: "There’s some money here. Take it and get the house fixed up."  

"How much?" Dad asked.  

"Three million."  

Dad's eyes widened. "So much? Are you building a palace? What about your company, does it not need money?"  

"The company is the company, and I am me. It’s complicated, but in short, they’re not directly related. I don’t have any immediate plans to spend the money."  

Lu Liang glanced at his sister, who was busy in the kitchen: "Building a three or four-story house, fully renovated, should cost about two million. The remaining one million can be for you guys to keep. If Brother-in-law has any business ideas, he can ask for help."  

His sister’s marriage wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t bad either. Her husband came from a modest family—better than some, but not wealthy.  

They had been running a small shop, but recently, with the birth of their second child and the first one entering elementary school, financial pressure had become more evident.  

Whenever there was free time, her husband would run errands, while Lu Ya would help out in the store and do some handcrafts to subsidize the household.  

Now that Lu Liang had made it, he wanted to improve their lives a little, but being the younger brother, it wasn’t easy for him to step in.  

His father, however, wouldn’t have such concerns. Helping his son-in-law was an old tradition.  

This way, her husband would pay more attention to the family’s affairs, and Lu Liang wouldn’t have to be there all the time.  

"Now you’re really grown up."  

Dad exhaled deeply, his eyes full of appreciation.  

At that moment, Lu Ya came over with a bowl of noodles: "Egg and veggie noodles. You guys are too much, the fridge has barely anything."  

"We only buy for the two of us. If we buy too much, we can’t finish it. If it’s left too long, it’s not fresh anymore."  

Dad pointed to the bank card, not trying to hide anything from his daughter: "Your brother got some money and wants to tear down the old house and rebuild it."  

"This is good, just leave me a room," Lu Ya replied.  

She then suddenly added, "By the way, this time don’t hire anyone you know. Familiar faces can be a real disaster."  

"The last time we renovated our house, Dad introduced his cousin to help with the plastering. A few years later, the plaster started peeling off."  

Dad was surprised. "When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?"  

"It’s in the past, no point mentioning it. Besides, he’s family. We can’t really scold him or ask for compensation."  

Lu Ya placed her arm around Lu Liang’s shoulders and said seriously: "Ah Liang, this time, make sure to hire professionals. It’s better to hire people you don’t know. That way, if something goes wrong, you can complain and they won’t expect you to keep treating them with expensive cigarettes or tea."  

Lu Ya had learned her lesson the hard way and didn’t want Lu Liang to make the same mistake.  

"Sis, you’re always so good at managing things. How about you take care of it for me? I’ll be home for a few days, but I need to head back by Thursday."  

Lu Ya hesitated. As a married woman, she didn’t want to be criticized by others.  

Lu Liang understood her concerns and teased her: "Do you really think you’re so easily swayed by gossip?"  

"Stop provoking me. Hurry up and eat, and after we’re done, take me back. I’ll think about it," Lu Ya said, glaring at him.  

Lu Liang finished his noodles quickly and grabbed the car keys. "Mom, Dad, I’m taking Sis back home now."  

"Be safe on the road. And if you’re going out to drink with friends later, don’t drive."  

"I know," Lu Liang replied.  

On the way back, Lu Liang said, "Sis, you know how soft our parents are. If they were in charge of this, who knows which distant relative might end up taking the contract and overcharging us? It wouldn’t matter if we spent more money, but if the job isn’t done right..."  

"So you want me to be the bad guy?"  

Lu Ya sighed helplessly, "If you want me to help, that’s fine, but don’t leave the new house funds with them. Keep them with you, and I’ll take as much as I need."  

She wasn’t afraid of gossip, but she didn’t want their parents to be influenced by it and look at her through biased lenses.  

Lu Liang smiled: "I’ll do that. I didn’t think of this aspect before."  

He paused for a moment and added, "Before I leave for Magic City, I’ll leave some money with Mom and Dad. If Brother-in-law has any business ideas, he can go to them."  

Lu Ya’s expression changed slightly, but before she could respond, Lu Liang hurriedly said, "You’re my sister, my only sister. I’m really doing well now, and a few million isn’t much to me. I want to help you all live a little better."  

"Look at Huang Er from the neighboring village. He made money and brought his brother-in-law along to earn too. Now their families are living well."  

"Even if it’s not for yourself, think about Dabo and Erbao. They’re growing up, and there will be plenty of expenses in the future."  

Lu Ya fell silent.  

After a long time, Lu Liang softly asked, "Sis?"  

Lu Ya smiled and let out a sigh of relief: "You’ve said everything I wanted to say. I’ll think about it. Let’s talk about it when the time comes."  

Lu Liang breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Next Wednesday is Dad’s birthday. I’m thinking of booking a few tables at Zhenhai Lou."  

Zhenhai Lou was the largest restaurant in the town, known for hosting large banquets such as weddings and birthday parties.  

"Dad’s not that old, just one table is fine. Invite Grandpa and Grandma. It’ll be a family affair."  

Lu Ya said, transferring 800 yuan to Lu Liang: "I know you have money, but I should also contribute something."  

"Anything’s fine. It’s up to you."  

Lu Liang dropped his sister off and had planned to contact his childhood friends for a late-night snack and reminisce about the good old times.  

But when he called, either they had to work the next day, or they had to take the kids to school, or their wives wouldn’t let them go out.  

Lu Liang sighed. It was almost impossible to get those family men to come out.  

He decided to drive back home instead.  

At home, Lu Liang briefly told his parents about the new house plan.  

He handed over the money, and Lu Ya would take charge of organizing everything. He left one million for emergencies.  

Mom, hearing this, was so happy she started crying: "You and your sister are getting along so well, I can rest easy now."  

"Brothers and sisters are meant to fight together, just like father and son go to war together."  

Lu Liang, tired from the long drive, took a shower and returned to his room.  

The house, both inside and out, was old, except for his room, which had been newly renovated.  

A few years ago, when he got married, even though he didn’t live at home, he spent a few thousand renovating his room and buying some furniture and appliances.  

Now, with everything changed, Lu Liang took down the wedding photo on the bedside table, ripped the photo inside to shreds, and shoved the frame under the bed.  

He checked everything, making sure all the photos were destroyed, and then finally lay down on the bed, feeling a sense of peace.

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