He frowned slightly, “What business?”

“It’s with a friend.”

She didn’t dare say that she wanted to go to the antique market to try to make some money, because if she did, she would probably be taken directly to the Lu family, and Grandpa Lu would give her a big red envelope.

She added, “She used to be an educated youth from our village but later returned to the city. However, we have a good relationship and have always exchanged letters. She recently had some family matters come up and wanted me to come over to help.”

Lu Shouyan asked, “Where does she live?”

Chu Wan didn’t expect him to ask so many details. Fortunately, she wasn’t someone who made up stories, so she said, “She lives in Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, her name is Hu Huiyun, but her workplace is in Panjiayuan. She’s at work right now, so I’d better go to her workplace first.”

Lu Shouyan nodded. “Okay, then I’ll take you to Panjiayuan.”

Chu Wan refused, “No need, I can go there by myself when we get to Deshengmen.”

Lu Shouyan ignored her.

When Chu Wan saw this, she felt a little regretful. If she had known earlier, she should have told him that it was near Deshengmen, so that he wouldn’t have to send her all the way to Panjiayuan.

She didn’t want to explain too much about her own affairs to the Lu family.

She had to make up a random topic and asked him what he was planning to do in the city. He then said that one of the Old Man’s old friends was having a birthday and he had to come back to say hello.

When he said this, Chu Wan remembered that this old friend was a retired general, Old Master Lu’s best friend. She later had dealings with this old general; he liked jade pieces very much.

Lu Shouyan started asking casually again, asking her what she had been doing at home recently, what her plans were for the future, and so on, seeming to be very concerned.

Chu Wan had no choice but to answer them one by one, just like a primary school student answering questions.

After the questions were asked, silence fell in the jeep.

Chu Wan casually asked him, “Why did Seventh Uncle suddenly want to change his career?”

She was just looking for a topic. In fact, she knew that he had made great contributions on the border and was awarded a first-class merit, but he was also injured. Considering various factors, he simply retired. After retirement, he went to an important department of a certain committee. After working there for less than a year, he was transferred to a county to take up an important position. In this way, he rose up from the local level.

He had a good family background, strong abilities, and good luck. By the age of thirty-seven or thirty-eight, he was already holding a high position of power and had a bright future.

When Lu Shouyan heard Chu Wan’s question, he said, “The Old Man is getting old, and as one of his children, I should stay by his side.”

As soon as Chu Wan heard it, she knew that he was just trying to fool her. There were actually a lot of things going on, but he regarded her as an ignorant junior and didn’t want to talk about it, so she didn’t ask any more questions.

Who knew Lu Shouyan would ask again, “I heard from the Old Man that you are dating someone now?”

Chu Wan was surprised and looked up at Lu Shouyan.

Lu Shouyan paused, looking at her bewildered expression, and explained, “I was just asking casually. It’s nothing serious. After all, you’re still young. There’s no need to follow the rules set by the older generation. It depends on what you like. The world has changed now, and we advocate freedom of love and freedom of marriage.”

Chu Wan nodded. What he said was true. In fact, only the two old people took the engagement seriously. As for the grandchildren of the Lu family, some dated and even got married, and there were only four or five left who were still single.

Thinking of this, Chu Wan yawned loudly. “I dated one person, but we broke up.”

She didn’t sleep well last night. She’s been having a headache from studying that damn algebra lately.

Seeing her like this, Lu Shouyan understood. “You should get some sleep.”

Chu Wan didn’t hesitate and snuggled into his military coat, tilted her head and pretended to sleep. While she was pretending like this, she eventually fell asleep.

She didn’t know how long she slept. When she woke up with a start, she found Lu Shouyan’s face right in front of her—young and handsome.

She looked at him somewhat bewilderedly.

The Lu Shouyan in her memory was the overly majestic and aloof man, but the man in front of her actually had a gentle look in his eyes.

She thought she had seen it wrong, so she blinked and when she looked again, the gentleness in his eyes was gone.

She heard him lower his voice and say, “Wanwan, we’ve arrived at Panjiayuan. Where are you going?”

Chu Wan immediately understood and said hurriedly, “I can find it myself. It’s a good opportunity to take a stroll. Seventh Uncle, don’t worry about it!”

“Tell me where your friend works, and I’ll take you there. This place is quite big, and it might be hard to find it by yourself.”

Chu Wan refused again, “They’re still at work, and I don’t want to go directly to my friend’s workplace. I plan to buy some fruit or something nearby before going over, so I can just take a stroll first.”

Lu Shouyan looked at her deeply, then said calmly, “Okay.”

So Chu Wan got out of the car. After getting out, she found that her coat seemed to be too thick and heavy, and she suddenly realized that she was still wearing his coat.

She took it off. “Seventh Uncle, I’m returning this to you.”

Lu Shouyan’s eyes fell on her patched, cotton-padded jacket and he frowned. “Please wear it first, don’t catch a cold.”

Chu Wan insisted, “No need! It won’t be cold once I get into the city!”

Before, it was outside the city, in the mountains, and it was cold when the tractor was running, but now it was much better.

After hearing this, Lu Shouyan took it back.

However, when Chu Wan handed the military coat back to Lu Shouyan, she found a damp spot on the collar. She immediately realized that it might be the saliva she had drooled while sleeping.

She coughed lightly, pretending not to notice, and returned it to him without blushing or her heart overly beating.

There was no way, I couldn’t just take it and wash it…

Lu Shouyan seemed unaware of what was bothering her. He took the coat but took out his wallet.

He took out two five-yuan notes and handed them to Chu Wan, “Here.”

Chu Wan was surprised, “What?”

“Aren’t you going to visit a friend and buy some fruit? Things in the city are more expensive than in Changping. Take these.”

Chu Wan really didn’t expect this to happen.

To be honest, after she married into the Lu family, the elders of the Lu family, including the uncles of Lu Shouyan’s generation and the Lu family’s aunt, all took special care of her. As for this Seventh Uncle Lu in front of her, he also responded to her every request.

That was of course because they were following the Old Man’s instructions to treat her well.

But she didn’t expect that even though she hasn’t gotten married yet, Seventh Uncle has already taken the initiative to give her pocket money.

She naturally didn’t want it, “Seventh Uncle, I don’t lack money…”

Lu Shouyan stuffed the money into her cotton-padded jacket pocket and said, “If you want to stay at a friend’s house, that’s fine, but you can’t stay at someone’s house for free. You should at least have some pocket money. Take it.”

Afterwards, he looked at her with a warm expression, “Wanwan, when you’re done with your work in a couple of days, remember to go to Yu’er Hutong.”

He paused and added, “The Old Man has been thinking about you. He hasn’t seen you for a long time.”

Pearls and Jade Beside Me in the ’80s translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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T/N: I have another ‘dump the nephew for the uncle’ c-novel: From The Day The Engagement Was Broken. It has a comedic tone very different from this one but similarly excellent writing . The author deliberately pokes fun at the domineering CEO and awakened villainess genre.

If you’re enjoying my translations, do consider buying me ko-fi and get access to advance chapters as reward. Thank you for your support! ☺️
Chapter 7.1 — There Must be Compatibility Between Husband and Wife
Chapter 7.2 — There Must be Compatibility Between Husband and Wife
Chapter 8 — The Beauty of Line Carving
Chapter 9 — In My Eyes, This Is 200 Yuan