Chapter 171: Dog Head Gold
Lu Qiaoge weighed it, the gold brick was very standard, a product of modern times, with an overall weight of one kilogram. As for the gold nuggets, they varied in size, with different colors; some had been processed, while others were surprisingly natural. Lu Qiaoge knew this kind of natural gold nugget came from special vein gold mines, usually with very high purity.
Past gold miners preferred to call this nugget gold.
There were five nugget golds in total, almost twenty pounds, and eighteen gold bricks totaling thirty-six pounds.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t calculate how much these golds were worth, but just talking about the value and origin of the nugget golds made her expression serious.
Lu Qiaoge couldn’t figure out who these things belonged to.
In the era before the founding of the nation, noble families were numerous, so having treasures was normal, and there were several gold mines north of Jiangcheng.
The northernmost big gold mine was established nearly a hundred years ago by an official surnamed Li, yielding over twenty thousand taels of gold a year.
During the rush to the Northeast, many people headed straight for the gold mines.
In chaotic times, batches of gold prospectors either perished or struck it rich overnight.
Many from noble families fleeing abroad also converted their estates into gold.
Gold thrives in chaos, jade in prosperity.
With gold in hand, money worries vanish anywhere.
Lu Qiaoge wrapped these things up and put them in the wardrobe.
She needed to think carefully about how to use them.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t know that Qin Hengzhi had stood for a quarter of an hour at the place where she had dragged out the big iron box.
She was very busy from early morning.
A heavy rain fell at five in the morning.
But it stopped after just half an hour.
The gloomy weather couldn’t stop her from washing her hair and clothes, ignoring Meng Xia’s nagging as she quickly erased the traces of her midnight outing.
Meng Xia had cooled the millet porridge for Lu Qiaoge earlier, and on the dining table were steamed buns made from mixed flour that Meng Xia had steamed early in the morning, along with a large plate of pickles—that was breakfast.
Lu Qiaoge wasn’t picky about food.
She liked any unpolluted ingredients.
Moreover, Meng Xia and Su Hui both had good cooking skills.
After hurriedly finishing eating, Lu Qiaoge rode her bicycle to work.
Meng Xia said to Old Mrs. Lu, “Mom, Qiao Ge washed her hair and clothes first thing in the morning.”
Old Mrs. Lu glanced at her and said, “She’s not like Qiao Ling; she’s been independent since childhood, just confused for a while after getting engaged to Liang Aishu. Look at her now—she’s awake. Look at how she does her work; neither you nor Lu Da can compare. So, don’t worry unnecessarily or rummage around in the child’s room. The young woman is grown up and dating now; even as a mom, you can’t just do whatever you want.”
Meng Xia fell silent. Of course, she didn’t have time for wild thoughts either, as Grandma Sun arrived carrying a bag of spinach and a handbag of paper box semi-finished products.
At this moment, Lu Qiaoge had just entered the office and saw two people coming in through the main door.
It was actually Ding Jianshe and Chen Ying.
The two were getting divorced.
Chen Ying said to Sister Hua, “No need for mediation; we voluntarily want to divorce.”
Ding Jianshe’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression haggard, and he said hoarsely, “I’ll leave with nothing; all the things go to Chen Ying, and two-thirds of my monthly salary will be used to nurture the two children…”
All the terms were favorable to Chen Ying.
Except for not wanting the children.
People in the office couldn’t help but think of Jiang Chusheng and Wei Xia, who had divorced a few days ago.
As everyone had guessed, two days later Jiang Chusheng got married to a woman named Du Wanqing.
Then Old Mrs. Jiang from the hometown came, and Jiang Chusheng was scolded mercilessly.
The house was one issue, marrying that woman was another, and not wanting the children was yet another.
Old Mrs. Jiang cursed that Jiang Chusheng’s heart was blinded by lard, utterly stupid, giving up the house and the children.
It was said that Old Mrs. Jiang not only cursed Du Wanqing but also Wei Xia; things were very noisy those days, and even Old Huang went to mediate.
But the Jiang family’s problem was that Jiang Chusheng and Du Wanqing had already gotten their marriage certificate.
They were the legal couple.
But the house went to Wei Xia and the children.
There was no concept of transfer of ownership yet, but house ownership was recorded at the neighborhood committee.
So, Old Mrs. Jiang was furious.
She wouldn’t let Jiang Chusheng and Du Wanqing be together.
They were still at a standoff now.
Now here came another one; had these men been bewitched or what, all so quick to choose leaving with nothing?
To be fair, they showed a bit more humanity than those who drove out their wives and children.
At this time, Lu Qiaoge was sitting on a chair, looking at Ding Jianshe and Chen Ying.
In her view, Chen Ying was right to divorce.
Of course, this also required Chen Ying to be open-minded; otherwise, she would be the one suffering.
After Ding Jianshe finished speaking, even Sister Hua didn’t know what to say.
Sister Qiao walked over and asked gently, “Hasn’t everything been settled? Why divorce? Did the old master say something?”
Chen Ying shook her head: “No, it’s us… the two of us don’t want to continue.”
Lu Qiaoge also walked over and stood beside Sister Qiao. Clearly, the two hadn’t slept much all night.
She stayed silent, while Sister Qiao chattered on for a long time; the two either gave bitter smiles or remained silent.
Since both agreed to divorce and had already divided things, Sister Hua basically didn’t interfere.
Just as the big seal was about to be stamped, Chen Ying suddenly grabbed Sister Hua’s hand.
Sister Hua stared wide-eyed: “What are you doing?”
Chen Ying picked up the household registration book, letter of introduction, and work permit, pulled the stunned Ding Jianshe, and said, “Sorry, we were a bit impulsive. I still have many things I haven’t sorted out; we can’t divorce now. Sorry for wasting everyone’s time.”
Then she hurriedly pulled Ding Jianshe and rushed out.
Lu Qiaoge sighed.
She had discovered a phenomenon.
If a man wants divorce, he’s usually dead set on it; no matter how the woman begs or family advises, he basically won’t turn back.
But if a woman initiates divorce, not to mention others’ persuasion, even she herself can’t hold firm at the last moment and will soften.
This Chen Ying was just like that.
Lu Qiaoge truly felt divorce was so good; just let Ding Jianshe and Ge Rong make trouble, anyway there were savings and housing, and she had a job too. Ding Jianshe loved the children and wouldn’t abandon them.
Wouldn’t days be happier than being with Ding Jianshe?
So as mediator, Lu Qiaoge said nothing today.
But now she had to speak. Lu Qiaoge: “I’ll go out and take a look.”
With that, Lu Qiaoge ran out to catch up with the two; Ding Jianshe was crying.
Seeing Lu Qiaoge come out, he hurriedly wiped his tears.
Lu Qiaoge said, “I think Uncle Ding, you should hurry to the mine.”
Just at that moment, the urgent voice of the grey pigeon came from the sky: 【Little fairy, little fairy, big trouble, the little yellow dog seems to have been beaten to death, Gouzi got hit on the head with a stick by Ge Rong while trying to save the little yellow dog.】
Lu Qiaoge was instantly stunned.
She didn’t even have time to ask the grey pigeon when it had gone to the mine again; she hurriedly asked in her mind the Xiaohui circling in the sky: “What now? Where are the people, the little dog?”
【The security department at the mine started house-to-house screening early in the morning and happened to see Ge Rong hitting the child. Now the security department is taking Gouzi to the 516 staff hospital. I flew back with them; the little yellow dog was held tightly by Gouzi and wouldn’t let go. I don’t know if it’s alive or dead.】
If they were taking it to the 516 staff hospital, it should still have a breath.
But how to tell this to Ding Jianshe?
She couldn’t just make up something to send him to the hospital.
But she couldn’t let him go back to the mine either.
