Chapter 207: Chapter 208: Heartbroken
“Secretary Chen, you’re too kind,” Xiao Han said with a smile.
“No, not at all,” Secretary Chen responded with a smile. “In order to reward you for your excellent performance in the college entrance examination, the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Governnt have decided to award you half a million in cash. We hope that in your future studies, you will work even harder and strive even more to beco soone useful to the country and to society.”
“Thank you, Secretary Chen,” Xiao Han imdiately nodded.
“Don’t ntion it,” Secretary Chen said, lightly patting Xiao Han’s shoulder. “They say talent often cos from humble beginnings, and it’s true indeed. From such poor family circumstances, yet you’ve nurtured such an outstanding talent. Mrs. Xiao, you certainly deserve a lot of credit!”
Secretary Chen gave Mother Xiao a thumbs-up.
“Oh no!” Mother Xiao hurriedly shook her head, saying, “This is all within my duties. It’s the nation’s educational system that’s good, it’s the school teachers’ teaching thods that are good. Also, thanks to the leaders’ concern, otherwise where would Xiao Han’s achievents be today?”
Mother Xiao had long prepared a set of responses, which the employees of the Residents’ Committee had thought up for her. She morized them to the letter and always spoke them to anyone she t.
Secretary Chen stayed at Xiao’s family ho for a short while before getting up to leave.
The neighbors were green with envy. Recently, Xiao’s family’s doorstep had practically been worn out. Previously, Xiao’s family hardly ever had visitors, but ever since Xiao Han beca the high school top scholar, visitors had been coming incessantly. There were leaders from the Provincial Committee, the Municipal Committee; businessn; parents and children who admired him… Xiao’s family suddenly seed to have turned into a tourist attraction. People even drove from far distances to the Fuxing Community to visit Xiao’s family, just to catch so of the top scholar’s aura, hoping their own children could also score high in the future.
“Ah, who would have thought the previously poor Xiao family would be making money hand over fist now?”
“Exactly, the Provincial Committee awarded half a million yesterday, and the Municipal Committee another half a million today. The speed of making money…”
The residents of Fuxing Community were full of envy. The family had made over a million in just a few days. Moreover, it was said that First Middle School and Shuimu University, to which Xiao Han had applied, would also grant him prize money. As for how much, that was still an unknown, but according to everyone’s guess, it surely wouldn’t be less than half a million.
“The Xiao family is really in the spotlight now,” soone comnted.
“Not just in the spotlight, but earning a fortune too,” another added.
Many were full of envy, almost painfully so. However, such things could only be envied, as no one else could possibly earn that much money. Besides, it was their legitimate inco, not sothing illicit.
After seeing off Secretary Chen, Xiao Han breathed a sigh of relief. He finally understood what kind of life his mother had been living at ho these days.
“He’s finally gone,” Xiao Han sighed as he flopped down onto the sofa. “I feel like I’ve been on display like a monkey.”
“You silly boy,” Mother Xiao laughed and said, “It’s a great honor for Secretary Chen to co and see you. Look, everyone in the community admires you, admires our family. This is surely the virtue of our ancestors.”
“Heh heh…” Xiao Han chuckled, “Isn’t that to be expected when I’m the only top scholar in all of China?”
“You cheeky kid, getting cocky, are we?” Mother Xiao laughed and scolded.
“No way,” Xiao Han quickly shook his head and said, “Mom, isn’t it incredibly satisfying for you to have such a promising son?”
“Absolutely!” Mother Xiao nodded, her voice dreamy, “These days, everyone smiles and greets when they see . They give thumbs up and they talk behind my back: Look, there goes the mother of the top scholar in the college entrance exam…”
Clearly, Mother Xiao was extrely proud and very happy.
Beep beep beep…
Suddenly, a ringtone chid from the cellphone.
Glancing at the caller ID, it was unexpectedly a call from Yang Lu. As soon as she answered, Yang Lu’s crying could be heard, “Xiao Han…”
“Yang Lu, what’s wrong?” Xiao Han asked nervously.
“My mom… my mom has passed away.” Yang Lu burst into loud, heart-wrenching sobs.
“Where are you now?” Xiao Han quickly asked.
“I’m at People’s Hospital,” sobbed Yang Lu.
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” Xiao Han imdiately nodded.
After that, Xiao Han quickly hung up the phone and then hurried out.
“Xiao Han, what… what’s wrong?” Mother Xiao anxiously asked.
“A friend is in trouble, I have to go over,” Xiao Han said hastily, “Mom, you don’t need to wait for to have dinner.”
By the ti Mother Xiao ran out of the house, Xiao Han was already nowhere to be seen. Mother Xiao said annoyedly, “This damn kid, it kills that he’s already run so far. It’s really troubleso.”
………
The morgue at the People’s Hospital.
Yang Lu was choking up at the door. Early in the morning, Yang Lu received a call from the hospital saying her mother’s condition was not optimistic and that she should hurry to the hospital to see her mother for the last ti. By the ti Yang Lu arrived at the hospital, her mother had already passed away.
Not having seen her mother one last ti while she was alive, Yang Lu was very saddened. She had not expected that the next ti she would see her would be in the cold morgue. Yang Lu felt imnsely sad and pained.
“Xiao Lu, don’t be sad,” Great Aunt said softly, comforting her, “Death cannot bring the departed back; mourn in moderation.”
“Mhm,” Yang Lu nodded.
Ever since Yang Lu had beco the general manager at Hann Technology, the eldest and the second eldest of Yang Family had changed their attitude towards her significantly. They beca particularly warm. The Great Aunt and Second Aunt even took the initiative to co to the hospital to take care of Yang Lu’s mother, to chat with her, and accompany her through the last journey of her life.
“Xiao Lu, you are not getting any younger,” Second Aunt reminded her, “Do you know what your mom was obsessively talking about during her last days? She was incessantly worried about you not being married, not being able to hold a grandchild. You tell …”
“Right,” Great Aunt also nodded and said, “Xiao Lu, you really shouldn’t. Since you have a boyfriend, you ought to get married and have children. I see you haven’t been interacting much with Xiao Han recently, I guess things must have fallen through, right?”
“I…” Yang Lu was too heartbroken to answer.
“Then… I think Tang Ming is quite good,” Second Aunt hurriedly said, “Tang Ming still doesn’t have a girlfriend, he said he fell for you at first sight and hopes you would give him a chance.”
“I don’t want to talk about this right now,” Yang Lu refuted Second Aunt’s comnt and then said, “My mom just passed away, talking about marriage and such at this ti is a great disrespect to the deceased.”
“Uh…” Second Aunt was imdiately at a loss for words. If it had been before, she would have scolded her without hesitation, but now Xiao Lu had a good inco, reportedly earning hundreds of thousands a year. Moreover, Xiao Lu also supported her family financially. Thus, she couldn’t afford to offend this God of Wealth. Second Aunt smiled and said, “Your mom had always hoped that you would get married soon. Now that your mom has passed, you surely don’t want to disappoint her in the underworld, right?”
At this mont, Xiao Han ca sprinting from not far away.
“Yang Lu,” Xiao Han panted heavily, wearing a sports outfit that made him look quite shabby.
Upon seeing Xiao Han, both the Great Aunt and Second Aunt couldn’t hide their disdain; they gave Xiao Han a glance and then said, “Why did you co?”
“Why can’t I co?” Xiao Han chuckled and said, “I am Yang Lu’s boyfriend.”
Great Aunt snorted at Xiao Han, “Look at yourself. Do you think you’re worthy of being Yang Lu’s boyfriend?”
“Aunt, don’t talk nonsense,” Yang Lu glared at Great Aunt and said, “Xiao Han indeed is my boyfriend, that’s a fact.”
“Lulu, please don’t be deceived by others,” Great Aunt looked helplessly at Yang Lu and said, “You hardly know Xiao Han’s background. Tang Ming is different; he’s a decent person. He has a stable job, his family’s condition is good too. Most importantly, he owns a car and a house. What a great young man, how can you not like him but rather like such a person?”
For them, having money, a car, and a house identified the most suitable candidate. However, they were unaware that Xiao Han’s net worth had already reached tens of millions. In comparison to Xiao Han, Tang Ming’s circumstances were hardly worth ntioning. At most, they were just a speck of dust.
“I think Xiao Han is quite good,” Yang Lu said.
“What’s good about him?” Second Aunt said disdainfully, “He looks like a child who hasn’t grown up. I heard he just entered university this year, right? What about his tuition fees? Are you expected to support him in the future?”
“No need,” Yang Lu shook her head, “Xiao Han can support himself.”
“Lulu, now that your mom has passed, the funeral expenses can’t be neglected. The spirit hall, the cetery space, it all costs money,” Great Aunt said, “At least two hundred thousand, do you have that much money?”
“I…” Yang Lu hesitated.
Truth be told, Yang Lu indeed didn’t have that much money. Her mother’s illness required a substantial amount every month, and the money she earned this year was either dumped into this financial pit or borrowed away by the households of Great Aunt and Second Aunt. Asking them for money now would probably be difficult. It seed they wanted to use this opportunity to force her into marrying Tang Ming. Yang Lu felt helpless, though understanding they might an well, she truly had no feelings for Tang Ming. Forcing herself to marry Tang Ming ant there was no happiness in it at all.
“I’ll cover it,” Xiao Han said.
“You will?” Great Aunt looked at Xiao Han skeptically, then said, “Kid, do you know how much money that is? Two hundred thousand, can you, a university student, afford that?”
“Isn’t it just two hundred thousand?” Xiao Han smiled calmly, “Yang Lu, go ahead and arrange everything, make sure it’s done according to high standards.”
“Haha, high standards, can you afford a funeral service team?” Great Aunt looked down on Xiao Han and said, “Do you know how much a full-service costs? I’ll tell you, an urn alone costs thirty-eight thousand. A high-standard nine-star service costs six hundred and eighty thousand. Do you understand?”
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