Chapter 013
The dinner would not be held on Hong Kong Island.
Xie Junyao mentioned it would take place in the Yau Tsim Mong district, at the finest hotel in Hong Kong.
Lu Mingzhu actually cared little about whether the dining venue was the best or the most expensive; clearly, Xie Junyao attached great importance to it. Since he had already reserved a table in advance, they might as well go.
She had never been to the Hong Kong Hotel of the 1950s!
The driver took them to the ferry pier in a Mercedes; after he departed, Xie Junyao queued to buy two first-class tickets for the Star Ferry, spending twenty cents in total.
Lu Mingzhu noticed that third-class tickets cost only four cents.
The people of Hong Kong are deeply nostalgic; even seventy or eighty years later, crossing the harbor still requires taking the Star Ferry.
This is a must-visit spot.
Lu Mingzhu had once come here with friends; she couldn’t recall how much they’d spent on boat tickets, only that it certainly wasn’t the current fare of one mao.
The bustle remained just as lively, with crowds surging like a tide.
While waiting for the ferry, Xie Junyao asked Lu Mingzhu, “I remember Mr. Wang mentioning your interest in purchasing property. Are you still keen on doing so?”
He had heard from Uncle Wang Bohui that Lu Mingzhu and her nephew were abandoned by their elders and only managed to reach Hong Kong with the help of Wang Xingcai; after investing 1.2 million, they likely had little capital left, so he felt it necessary to clarify matters in advance.
Unexpectedly, he had underestimated Lu Mingzhu’s financial strength. “Of course we must buy a property; we cannot forever live under another’s roof.”
Xie Junyao then smiled and said, “It is fine for a young lady to purchase tong-lou buildings or prime shops for rental income, as that provides a stable return. However, if conditions permit, one should certainly reside in a secure environment. Recently, a British official with whom we share good relations is preparing to return home and wishes to sell a large house completed less than five years ago; this has not yet been announced publicly.”
Lu Mingzhu’s eyes lit up. “Where is it?”
Buying the building through Zhao Sinan would surely earn him a hefty commission; it’s far better to deal directly with the owner.
Lu Mingzhu had limited funds at hand, so she saved wherever possible.
A faint smile appeared on Xie Junyao’s face. “It’s a two-story villa atop Victoria Peak, with a large garden featuring a swimming pool and a basketball court. It’s quite beautiful.”
Lu Mingzhu was extremely excited. “How much would that cost?”
A mansion on the peak, indeed!
It overlooks Victoria Harbour.
Located in Hong Kong’s most exclusive residential district, it boasts the tightest security measures, as its residents are primarily foreign officials and consuls; only recently have Chinese individuals become eligible to live there.
In the world Lu Mingzhu traveled from, the most famous of these estates was Ho Tung Gardens.
Whether it exists here, she does not know.
However, in this world, there are no such super-rich individuals, and presumably, no Ho Tung Gardens either.
Noticing her interest, Xie Junyao immediately replied, “This mansion’s land area and floor space are not particularly large, but they are sufficient for you and Ping’an to live in. The price is very reasonable at 250,000 Hong Kong dollars.”
“Buy it!” Lu Mingzhu replied without hesitation.
She did the math; selling the gold she had on hand would be just enough to cover the house payment.
Xie Junyao nodded. “After lunch, I’ll accompany you to see the property. If you like it, we can transfer the title immediately.”
Just like that, his entire afternoon was scheduled.
Lu Mingzhu’s eyes curved into crescents. “You’ve really gone to too much trouble, Mr. Xie.”
Her luck had indeed been excellent; ever since her transmigration, everything had gone smoothly for her.
“It’s no trouble at all; there’s no need for such formalities between us,” Xie Junyao replied. Just then, the Star Ferry docked. He escorted Lu Mingzhu aboard, and with their tickets, they took seats in the first-class section on the upper deck, which offered a broader view.
Lu Mingzhu gazed curiously at the sea surface.
The boat moved slowly across gentle waves, reaching the opposite shore in just a few minutes.
Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao disembarked along with the crowd.
With so many people pressing closely together, some physical contact was unavoidable.
“Careful.” Xie Junyao extended his arm to shield her from those who nearly brushed against her, his expression tender, bearing none of the slight coldness that had once lingered in his eyes when they first met.
He didn’t seem aloof; instead, he was as gentle and refined as polished jade.
Lu Mingzhu looked up at him with a sweet smile. “Thank you.”
She meant it sincerely.
“As I said, there’s no need to be so polite with me,” Xie Junyao repeated, then pointed in a direction. “The hotel is over there, only a few hundred meters away. We’ll arrive shortly.”
“Then let’s go quickly!” With the weather so hot, escaping the heat is essential.
The Xiangjiang Grand Hotel has air conditioning and is wonderfully cool.
As the finest hotel, its service is exceptionally attentive: two impeccably dressed doormen open the door for them, waiters pull out their chairs and present the menus, all clad in crisp attire and speaking fluent English.
Lu Mingzhu may not have fully inherited her predecessor’s abilities, but her own skills remain intact, so she naturally understands.
Separated by seven or eight decades, the accent differs slightly.
At the same time, Lu Mingzhu noticed that eighty percent of the guests dining on the rooftop, like them, were foreigners, with the remaining..
The next two out of ten Chinese people all appear wealthy.
This indicates that ordinary people cannot gain entry here.
Xie Junyao told Lu Mingzhu in Shanghainese, “A few years ago, very few Chinese people knew English, yet many occasions in Hong Kong required speaking it. As a result, almost all industries were controlled by foreign merchants. Since official notices inviting business investments were published only in English, ordinary citizens couldn’t understand them, so these business opportunities naturally fell easily into the hands of foreigners. The Chinese were lucky if they could even get the leftovers. It’s only in recent years, with a large influx of wealthy individuals from the mainland bringing capital, equipment, and talent, that this monopoly has begun to improve.”
Lu Mingzhu pondered thoughtfully, “So, does that mean those who know English can easily find jobs?”
“Exactly! And they command high salaries,” Xie Junyao replied as he opened the menu.
Two menus were brought over, one for each of them.
Lu Mingzhu ordered two dishes she liked, then closed the menu and handed it back to the waiter. “Mr. Xie, just how high is this so-called high salary you mentioned? And what do ordinary workers earn?”
She was genuinely curious.
While placing his own order, Xie Junyao replied, “It ranges from over a thousand to several thousand yuan, whereas ordinary workers earn less than a hundred yuan per month.”
Lu Mingzhu remarked, “The gap between rich and poor is enormous.”
“The gap will only widen in the future.” Xie Junyao handed the menu to the waiter.
Lu Mingzhu had personally witnessed the stark reality of wealth disparity in society. “Indeed, the rich grow richer while the poor become poorer. Yet, if one can seize opportunities and combine them with personal capability, courage, and insight, even ordinary people can turn their fortunes around.”
It’s just that the odds are rather slim.
Many so-called self-made top tycoons actually came from privileged backgrounds, which granted them broader horizons and sharper thinking abilities than ordinary people, along with certain platforms to fully showcase their talents.
At this time, only those from well-off families could afford to read and write; the poor simply couldn’t manage schooling.
“Oh, by the way, here’s the business plan I drafted.” Lu Mingzhu took out the proposal document and handed it respectfully to Xie Junyao with both hands, saying somewhat uncertainly, “I’ve written down everything I could think of, but there may still be shortcomings. It will require Mr. Xie and my elder brother to adjust it according to Hong Kong’s actual conditions and your personal experience.”
“Let me take a look.” Xie Junyao immediately opened the proposal and began reading it word by word.
Not until the dishes were served did he exclaim in admiration, “Miss Lu has written this extremely well; there are many points neither Mr. Wang nor I had considered.”
Lu Mingzhu smiled. “As long as it proves useful, that’s what matters.”
All that writing had been worth it, even though her wrist ached.
While drafting the business plan, she missed simplified Chinese characters terribly—they were so much faster and more convenient.
Xie Junyao closed the proposal. “Come, Miss Lu, taste this delicacy from the Hong Kong government; its flavor is entirely different from Shanghai’s local cuisine.”
“Very well.” Lu Mingzhu was always eager to sample every dish.
Just as they were enjoying their meal in good spirits, an unexpected incident occurred.
Suddenly, a series of startled screams erupted from a window-side table not far away, naturally drawing everyone’s attention, including Xie Junyao and Lu Mingzhu, who both turned to look in that direction.
A middle-aged man, dressed quite respectably, held one hand to his throat while pointing at the woman opposite him with the other.
The woman was in a panic, repeatedly exclaiming, “My father is choking! What should I do?”
She immediately sought help from a waiter.
Then, she rushed over and began forcefully patting the man’s back.
Clearly, it’s not working.
The man’s face had turned purple; he was on the verge of fainting.
Seeing her fellow countryman near death, Lu Mingzhu didn’t hesitate. She rushed behind the man, slipped her arms under his armpits from either side, and wrapped them around his chest. Amidst the woman’s cry of “What are you doing?”, Lu Mingzhu bent her front leg, pushed off with her back foot, and stood as steady as Mount Tai. She let the man lean back against her bent thigh, tilting his body slightly forward.
Lu Mingzhu’s movements were swift and precise.
Clench your left hand into a fist, grasp your left wrist with your right hand from the front, position the webbing of your left fist against the center of the man’s upper abdomen, tighten both arms, and apply pressure inward and upward into his upper abdomen using the webbing of your left fist.
Apply great force.
Immediately release the pressure after applying it, then reapply; repeat this process.
This is the Heimlich abdominal thrust maneuver, well known to many in later generations.
After learning this first-aid technique, Lu Mingzhu had already saved no fewer than five people; this was the sixth, and she hoped to succeed once again.
“Mingzhu!” By the time Xie Junyao realized what was happening and rushed forward, a foreign object suddenly shot out of the man’s mouth, fell to the ground, and rolled to Xie Junyao’s feet.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a round meatball!
As soon as the meatball was expelled, the man’s breathing immediately eased, and the bluish-purple discoloration on his face gradually faded.
Lu Mingzhu quickly released her grip and stepped back a few paces. “It’s done.”
Saving a life brings an immense sense of accomplishment.
“Thank you, thank you!” The man coughed several times in succession. Once he had calmed down, he hurriedly expressed his gratitude to Lu Mingzhu, “My name is He Yun. I am deeply grateful, Miss, for your timely rescue. May I ask your honorable name? I shall certainly visit your home to offer my thanks in person.”
His gratitude sprang from the depths of his heart.
This was indeed a genuine life-saving debt.
His speech seemed to be some local dialect within the country; Lu Mingzhu didn’t quite understand it. “What did you say?”
He Yun immediately corrected himself and repeated it in English.
This time, Lu Mingzhu understood. “There’s no need for such courtesy; it was merely a small gesture on my part.”
He Yun smiled gently. “Yet that small gesture of yours saved my life. Without life, everything is lost. Please, allow me to know your name, so I may have the opportunity to repay you.”
Far from being flustered or embarrassed, he remained impeccably poised, exuding an air of refined elegance.
“My surname is Lu, Lu Mingzhu.” Believing she had done a good deed, Lu Mingzhu saw no reason to hide her name. “As for repayment, it’s truly unnecessary; I need nothing.”
“Thank you, thank you!” Miss He stepped forward, grasping Lu Mingzhu’s hands with both of hers, tears of gratitude streaming down her face. “You saved my father!”