Chapter 253: Exchanging Gold For Money
This bag contained all gold bracelets, various styles, but colors varied from deep to light, probably related to the crafting process, though each one felt heavy.
Lu Qiaoge first picked out the ones with no patterns, checked the so-called proof, which was fine, just listing the quantity and type names, without specific gram weights.
So Lu Qiaoge selected eight gold bracelets according to the current recycling price, which would be worth about three thousand yuan at the current rate.
No more than that, or it would be too much of a loss.
Lu Qiaoge concentrated all her mental power, placed energy on her hands, and after a few seconds, put the gold bracelets together and shaped them into two heavy bars.
Lu Qiaoge examined them carefully, unable to see any trace of fusion, as if they were naturally like that.
Except for being a bit thicker and coarser, there were no other issues.
She believed that with Liu Min’s cleverness and flexibility, she definitely wouldn’t talk nonsense, because these two gold bracelets were enough for her to complete this month’s task.
Lu Qiaoge put away the rest, glanced at her treasure bedroom, and after buying the house, she would need to transport them at night, definitely not during the day.
—
The next day, Lu Qiaoge took the two fused and straightened gold bracelets along with the household registration book proof to go to work. Today she needed to submit her work summary and go with Sister Qiao to inspect the Residents’ Committee’s handicrafts.
Taking them directly, maybe she could buy the house today.
After finishing up, Lu Qiaoge and Sister Qiao visited some residents who needed follow-up.
Zhang Quan’s condition was now very good; her mother was taking care of her at home. Previously, Zhang’s mother and her son-in-law Wei Qiang had an average relationship, but now it was very good, and Wei Qiang was also filial, with no current intention of divorcing Zhang Quan.
Seeing Zhang Quan’s state, Lu Qiaoge knew in her heart that even if divorced, Zhang Quan’s life wouldn’t differ much from now.
Lu Qiaoge told her not to forget to exercise, saying perhaps when medicine advanced with a miracle drug, she could stand up.
She even gave an example: “My Fourth Aunt’s situation is similar to yours, but she massages every day, otherwise prolonged time would cause muscle atrophy, and even if medicine advanced then, it would be useless.”
Zhang Quan smiled and said: “Yes, I can do it myself, and my mom and Wei Qiang help too.”
After receiving a round of gratitude, Lu Qiaoge and Sister Qiao went to Liu Yu’s home, as these were ones needing care.
Liu Xia was at work, Liu Yu was studying.
Liu Yu didn’t need the Neighborhood Committee to continue caring for him; he already knew how to cook and do housework.
Inside and outside the house were very clean.
The siblings depended on each other, but evidently, they were living quite well.
After exhorting them a bit, they left this month’s subsidy and went to Yaya’s home, where she had been bitten by a dog.
Fortunately, the child was recovering well, with no other symptoms visible.
After some greetings, Lu Qiaoge said to Sister Qiao: “Let’s go, come to my home to eat watermelon; it was just delivered yesterday, super sweet.”
Now agricultural technology was immature, watermelons came to market late and end of harvest early.
End of harvest meant the courtyard’s fruits and vegetables were in their final round of picking, meaning the end.
So watermelons wouldn’t be available for many more days now.
But undeniably, they were all naturally ripened, with no aids, really sandy and super sweet and delicious.
The watermelons were sent yesterday by Brigade Leader Lin—no, now he could be called Branch Secretary Lin.
Old Lin was still in Guzi Village, but he had been promoted.
After all, in one village, the branch secretary had more power than the brigade leader.
The current brigade leader was surnamed Gu, from this village, a very capable person, and everyone was convinced by his election.
Yesterday Branch Secretary Lin had his eldest son Lin Jun drive a horse-drawn cart to deliver watermelons, and on the cart there were also melons, vegetables, and even half a bag of sunflower seeds.
Now the Old Lu Family had many visiting friends; Sun Qin alone came often to bring food.
Yesterday Meng Xia even said that this time there would be a return gift, fried sunflower seeds to give to everyone.
Sister Qiao didn’t refuse and followed Lu Qiaoge to the Lu Family; she was familiar with Meng Xia and called her aunt upon arriving.
Sister Qiao was over thirty and had gone to work early, with twenty years of seniority.
Lu Qiaoge called her Sister Qiao, and she called Meng Xia aunt.
They happily ate watermelons, took a bag of sunflower seeds, and Lu Qiaoge and Sister Qiao left; she also told Meng Xia she wouldn’t come home for lunch.
She needed to take advantage of the noon time to go to the bank and exchange the gold for money.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t need to ask Old Hu for leave, but still told him she was going to the city in the afternoon to discuss something with Su Hongmei.
But didn’t say it was about buying a house.
Because if you mentioned it, they would ask things like which house, how big, how expensive, why the rush, the work unit would allocate one later, and so on.
One sentence could lead to a whole bunch of talk.
Better to keep quiet about it.
Lu Qiaoge had lunch at the nearby state-run restaurant; the head chef’s craftsmanship was good, especially the egg and tomato noodles, which were delicious.
After finishing a bowl of noodles, Lu Qiaoge prepared to go to the Food Factory first, then to the bank.
By the time she reached the bank, it would be right at work time.
On the way, Tao Tao caught up with her.
Although the Hongxing Lake area was under security lockdown, Tao Tao and the others flew there every day to check on the big pike and little friends’ situation.
【Little Master, I just flew back from Hongxing Lake; those people start work so early.】
【Qin Hengzhi wasn’t there, but his secretary was.】
【A young guy from the exploration team said jokingly if they could catch fish to eat; then he was criticized by the captain responsible for security.】
【The captain told him that if he wanted to eat fish, the canteen would arrange it, but no catching fish, first because it’s not the exploration team’s work goal, second because these are all collective property.】
【The young guy didn’t seem angry, instead laughing and apologizing to the captain.】
【But I heard that starting tomorrow, the exploration team will conduct exploration and testing of the entire Hongxing Lake.】
Tao Tao chattered on rapidly; Lu Qiaoge listened while riding her bicycle.
Qin Hengzhi’s orders were indeed effective.
Then the big pike, carp, grass carp, and old turtle were all safe now.
The old turtle and others also prohibited fish close to them from going toward the reed marsh.
Conducting full detection was normal; what if treasure was found elsewhere.
As long as it didn’t harm the big pike and the others, it was fine.
Lu Qiaoge exhorted Tao Tao to be careful and not get close to the exploration team.
Soon she arrived at the Food Factory, arranged some work; just now Old Hu told her the head chef he invited was a top-grade chef, coming tomorrow to guide work.
Said to be the head chef from Swan Hotel.
So Lu Qiaoge told Meng Qingshan to quickly tidy up an office.
Fortunately, the weather wasn’t so hot now.
Speaking of which, it was the cool and pleasant season; for hosting guests, fruits and vegetables could still be provided.
Too bad there was no refrigerator, otherwise more could be prepared and stored.
After arranging these, Lu Qiaoge went to the bank.
Arriving at the bank, it was right at work time.
Also fortunate she had good stamina and mental state.
The recycling went very smoothly; Lu Qiaoge received two thousand eight hundred ninety yuan.
Lu Qiaoge planned to settle the house matter today; conveniently, she had brought the Residents’ Committee’s handicraft form.
Su Hongmei was no longer handling the accounting forms.
She now had her own office.
Her rank was deputy section chief.
