Chapter 018
Of course, Lu Mingzhu agreed!
She agreed to let Xie Junyao be her male companion for the Ming family’s dinner party.
Xie Junyao was delighted. “Then it’s settled. I’ll drive to pick you up then; don’t take Mr. Wang’s car.”
Attending the dinner party together naturally means arriving and departing as one.
“Excellent! I’ll wait for you at home.” Lu Mingzhu twirled the telephone cord around her finger, her eyes sparkling like glazed glass with lively brilliance. Smiling, she continued, “Tomorrow I’d like to meet William to conduct the transaction and handle the tax payment and transfer formalities. Do you have time? Big Brother and Ping’an have been so busy lately they’re stretched thin and simply can’t attend to my affairs.”
“There’s time, plenty of it,” Xie Junyao replied without hesitation, his voice brimming with excitement. “Since they can’t accompany you, I will. After all, as William’s friend, I can move around more freely.”
“Is that really so?” Lu Mingzhu asked, somewhat after the fact. “Don’t you need to manage your company?”
In the newly established Shengfeng Real Estate Company, he held a 60% stake. Selecting an office location, hiring staff, purchasing land, engaging designers, and recruiting construction workers—all were pressing matters. Moreover, he had other companies requiring his attention.
In romance novels, powerful CEOs always abandon their work to pursue love; in reality, such figures are rarely found.
In any case, Lu Mingzhu had never seen it.
Xie Junyao explained to her, “That company is a joint venture between my elder brother and me. When I’m not there, he manages it. With his extensive experience, he does an even better job than I do. He spoke very highly of the business plan you wrote and mentioned that he’d like to treat you to dinner once he has some free time.”
Lu Mingzhu let out a surprised “Oh?”
“Your brother’s praise is truly an honor for me!” she exclaimed, her smile blooming like a flower, radiating extraordinary beauty.
She had heard from Wang Bohui before that Xie Junyao’s elder brother was a shareholder in a major bank and held a key position there; engaging in pre-sale property transactions, he would prove to be a significant asset.
Simply put, having connections in high places makes things easier.
Since Xie Junyao said he wouldn’t interfere with his work, they agreed to meet the next morning at nine o’clock.
Xie Junyao arrived enthusiastically once again, carrying a bouquet of flowers.
He first greeted Mrs. Wang and Mr. Wang Bohui, then presented the flowers to Lu Mingzhu.
Once again, a bouquet of red roses, brimming with fragrance and breathtakingly beautiful, as if just plucked from the garden; velvety petals still bore a few dewdrops, crystal clear and glistening.
Lu Mingzhu happily embraced them.
She tilted her head to look at Xie Junyao, her smile growing even brighter.
Her face, like peach blossoms, reflected against the roses, her eyes and brows radiant and fresh, exquisitely charming.
Xie Junyao’s heart pounded wildly, so alive that it made the corners of his lips curl involuntarily. His dimples appeared and disappeared, his eyes captivating; truly, he was as gentle as jade, elegant and dashing.
Absolutely stunning.
Lu Mingzhu felt her taste in men was impeccable.
“Mingzhu, are you ready?” Xie Junyao asked, unfazed, abbreviating “Miss Mingzhu” to just two characters.
When he said it aloud, he secretly glanced at Lu Mingzhu.
Seeing that Lu Mingzhu did not object to his form of address, Xie Junyao felt even more delighted.
“It’s all ready! But I need to go to the bank first to withdraw money, as I’m worried the cash on me isn’t enough to cover various taxes and fees.” Accompanying Lu Mingzhu in the car were also 125 large gold bars.
They were exceptionally heavy; one person alone could not move them.
The advantage is that it circulates globally; the disadvantage is that it’s not as portable as diamonds.
It was only while Lu Ping’an and Butler Li were helping that they learned Lu Mingzhu hadn’t exchanged all her gold for foreign currency in Shanghai. No one knew which suitcase she had smuggled these thousands of taels of gold out in.
Piled together, it is indeed heavy; but what if it were distributed?
Each suitcase secretly carried a few gold bars, undetected by anyone.
Lu Ping’an said nothing; he and his aunt Lu Mingzhu maintained their independence, keeping separate accounts. She never inquired about his private savings, and naturally, he never coveted the wealth she possessed.
Though seemingly distant, both found this arrangement more comfortable.
It offered them freedom and personal space.
In contrast, Steward Li was quite delighted.
“Miss Mingzhu, you and Young Master Ping’an have purchased a grand house on the Peak and invested in the Eldest Young Master’s company. You saved lives, reaped benefits, and still harbor the intention to repay your nation. When I return and inform the Master, he will surely be deeply gratified.” He spoke with genuine sincerity, for being elderly and having lived through turbulent times, he understood what kind of country theirs had become.
Riddled with internal wounds, yet surrounded externally by tigers and wolves.
Wang Xingcai returned to his homeland without hesitation, hoping to join hands with like-minded individuals to build their motherland together.
Lu Mingzhu leaned out of the car and asked, “Uncle Li, when are you heading back?”
“The day after tomorrow; I’ve already booked my passage for then.” Steward Li needed to ensure that Lu Mingzhu’s donation and her request for Wang Bohui to procure supplies were properly communicated, lest no one be present at the port for the handover, rendering all the efforts of Wang Bohui and the Lu siblings futile.
Upon hearing this, Lu Mingzhu felt no rush.
She now had time to buy a gift for Wang Xingcai and to see Steward Li off.
Buy a house first!
A house is the top priority.
Lu Mingzhu’s net worth had soared and her confidence bolstered after receiving the gift of gratitude from He Yun and his daughter; no longer hesitating over the substantial amount of gold required to purchase a luxury mansion on The Peak, she handed it over to William with remarkable generosity.
With the gold verified and confirmed accurate, and since Lu Mingzhu had not asked for any change, William was all smiles.
How could she not be delighted?
When they went down the mountain to register with the relevant authorities, Lu Mingzhu discovered that the land he had purchased several years ago cost only 50,000 Hong Kong dollars; design fees, construction costs, and materials such as bricks, tiles, wood, and stone amounted to merely a few tens of thousands more. Simply reselling it yielded over double the profit.
No wonder later on, every citizen in Hong Kong loved speculating in property.
Seize the opportunity, and making money becomes inevitable.
After completing all the formalities, William held Lu Mingzhu’s hand, squinting his eyes. “Lu, a pleasant transaction!”
“A pleasant transaction indeed.” Having secured a mansion destined to be worth ten digits in the future, Lu Mingzhu was truly delighted. Once William finished his work and returned to his home country, she could move in!
After temporarily depositing the freshly acquired gold at Standard Chartered Bank, William generously treated them to a meal.
At the Hong Kong Hotel.
Lu Mingzhu had once come here with Xie Junyao to dine and ended up saving He Yun; she hoped that this time, everything would proceed peacefully without any mishaps.
The hotel manager approached to greet them, specially presenting a bottle of fine red wine.
“Miss Lu, please enjoy your meal,” he said with humble deference.
William was utterly astonished; after the manager left, he remarked to Lu Mingzhu, “As far as I know, this hotel has powerful connections and has always been arrogant. Today, they were remarkably approachable.”
Lu Mingzhu smiled, “Being approachable makes for better business!”
She made no mention of having saved He Yun.
After several rounds of drinks and a variety of dishes, William mentioned that a friend of his was planning to sell the employee dormitory buildings owned by their company. “Are you interested in purchasing them? There are eight five-story buildings, covering a land area of approximately 120,000 square feet, with a total floor space of about 60,000 square feet. The unit price is only 20 yuan. Keep in mind, just buying the land initially cost…”
…several hundred thousand.
Lu Mingzhu clicked her tongue: “Can’t afford it.”
Her bank account balance had dwindled to less than 200,000, leaving a gap of one million yuan short of the required 1.2 million.
After clarifying the location of the land plot, Xie Junyao likewise shook his head: “It’s a fine opportunity indeed, but I’m cash-strapped too—all my funds are tied up in the new company. You might ask others if they’re interested in purchasing.”
He remained rational, unwilling to pretend to be wealthier than he was before the woman he admired.
“I’m just asking on behalf of a friend.” William knew that most people couldn’t afford it.
The total price was simply too high.
He clinked glasses with Xie Junyao. “Xie, your family runs a vast business and has many connections in Hong Kong. Could you help me inquire around to see who has the financial means and willingness to purchase? If a deal can be reached, both my friend and I would be immensely grateful.”
“No problem,” Xie Junyao agreed readily.
After finishing their meal and leaving the hotel, they parted ways.
Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao did not rush to the Star Ferry pier; instead, they strolled leisurely side by side.
There was a gentle breeze today, keeping the heat at bay.
The sky was a washed-out blue, stretching endlessly in all directions.
Sunlight bathed the two of them, as if gilding this radiant couple with a golden halo.
Lu Mingzhu turned to gaze at Xie Junyao, asking with concern, “Can you really fulfill your promise to William to find a buyer for his friend’s property? The total price is 1.2 million, not just ten or twenty thousand; it won’t be easy to find someone.”
Her wealth was built on plundering the Lu family’s fortune, something ordinary people could never compare to.
Of course, she could not be mentioned in the same breath as He Yun, Xie Junyao, and others.
Xie Junyao, however, remained unconcerned. “If it can be done, everyone will be delighted; if not, it is only human nature.”
Lu Mingzhu hummed in agreement, then smiled. “If conditions allow, buying it as an investment isn’t a bad idea; land prices in Hong Kong will only keep rising. Of course, if you plan to hold it long-term, you must be mentally prepared for ups and downs in the property market along the way.”
Xie Junyao nodded in strong agreement. “That’s perfectly normal. Property prices are often tied to national circumstances and the socioeconomic climate; they can’t rise forever without ever falling. Regarding this property owned by William’s friend, its location and environment are indeed superior. However, those who want to buy it can’t afford it, while those who can afford it have the capability and funds to purchase a plot of land nearby and build a new building themselves, which is more cost-effective than spending 1.2 million directly on an old building.”
This was also the reason why their Shengfeng Real Estate Company, despite having sufficient funds, had not expressed any intention to purchase.
Lu Mingzhu smiled radiantly. “You’re a businessman; you certainly know far more than I do about buying low and selling high. My aspiration is quite modest: just to buy a building, become a landlady, and earn a little pocket money each month.”
She and Lu Ping’an will be living in Hong Kong for more than thirty years; they cannot rely solely on selling jewelry to make a living.
Moreover, she has no intention of selling the jewels and precious stones currently in her possession.
She intends to keep them as family heirlooms.
Upon hearing Lu Mingzhu’s plans, Xie Junyao paused thoughtfully before considerately offering his advice: “Do not purchase property in too remote an area like Sham Shui Po. Although the rents are high, the tenants come from all walks of life, making it unsafe.”
Lu Mingzhu nodded in agreement. “I intend to buy on Hong Kong Island; it’s closer and more convenient to manage.”
With a prime location and high rents, the profits should be substantial.
Xie Junyao pondered for a moment. “The father of a classmate of mine wishes to sell two buildings they own on Queen’s Road. They are located very close to Mr. Wang’s Guanghui Real Estate Company. The buildings are somewhat old, having been constructed about ten years ago. Each has five floors, with approximately 1,000 square feet per floor, subdivided into two units for rental. The tenants are mostly compradors from foreign firms, bank employees, and office clerks, so there is no risk of a dangerous mix of questionable characters causing concern.”
Fortunately, he had anticipated that Lu Mingzhu would not stop at merely purchasing a grand house on the Peak, so he had gathered information well in advance.
Sure enough, it proved useful.
As expected, Lu Mingzhu’s eyes lit up with keen interest. “What’s the price?”
“I’m not certain of the exact amount; roughly twenty or thirty dollars. Let’s go ask him directly.” Xie Junyao escorted her across the harbor and headed straight to find the man.
This classmate’s father, with snow-white hair, was an elderly man in his sixties or seventies. His entire family had decided to emigrate to Britain; his wife and children had already departed, while he remained behind to handle two buildings they owned in Hong Kong, priced at 20 Hong Kong dollars per square foot.
The two buildings totaled 10,000 square feet, amounting to 200,000 Hong Kong dollars, with the existing leases transferred along with the property.
The ground floor housed shops, renting at 1 Hong Kong dollar per square foot per month; the four shops beneath the two buildings thus generated 2,000 Hong Kong dollars monthly. The floors above served as residential units, rented at 0.4 Hong Kong dollars per square foot, yielding a total monthly rent of 3,200 Hong Kong dollars for the sixteen apartments.
The old man said, “Isn’t this building of mine excellent? It’s well-maintained, brings in 5,200 yuan a month, and I haven’t charged you any key money.”
Lu Mingzhu instinctively asked, “What is key money?”
The old man replied, “Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Seven thousand for the key, two hundred monthly rent’?”
“No, what does that mean?” Lu Mingzhu asked him earnestly, seeking clarification.
“I just want to rent it out. Based on 500 square feet, there’s an upfront key money fee of 7,000 yuan, followed by a monthly rent of 200 yuan.” Every landlord did this; the old man was no exception.
Lu Mingzhu gasped sharply.
How utterly ruthless!
If she were the landlord, she would only require new tenants to pay one month’s deposit and three months’ rent in advance.
Xie Junyao spoke up from the side, “Old Man Li, renting is one thing, but I’ve never heard of needing a ‘key money’ fee to buy or sell a building. Don’t try to trick this young girl who just arrived from Shanghai.”
The old man chuckled and fell silent.
After inspecting the property thoroughly inside and out, Lu Mingzhu grew very fond of these two buildings.
Opportunity knocks but once.
She was also reluctant to let Zhao Sinan earn her brokerage fee.
Fortunately, she had brought all her identification documents and bank passbooks with her today in preparation for purchasing a luxury mansion on the Peak. After briefly discussing matters in hushed tones with Xie Junhao, she pretended to retrieve five gold bars, each about the length of a finger, from her handbag. Combined with her bank savings and some cash, this amounted to enough to cover both the purchase price and various taxes and fees, allowing her to successfully acquire the two buildings.
The transfer of ownership was completed within a single afternoon.
As a result, Lu Mingzhu now had merely over 1,300 yuan left to her name.