Chapter 025
Lu’s father felt deep regret in his heart, yet he could not force the matter.
After all, Lu Mingzhu was already in Hong Kong; there was no need for her to return.
Leaving the country only to come back later would inevitably give the impression of an unsteady character, making one vulnerable to having past actions scrutinized. It was far better for her to donate a substantial sum to the mainland, earning the esteemed reputation of a patriotic overseas Chinese, so that any future return would be as an honored guest.
In this regard, she was very much like him—clever!
To ensure his family’s safety, Wang Xingcai had left Shanghai with his household in earlier years. After the founding of the People’s Republic, he responded to the call to return and contribute to national construction, yet he kept his family in Hong Kong. Some praised his sincere patriotism, while others dismissed him as an opportunist who shifted with the wind.
Just wait and see; if he doesn’t leave the country, misfortune is sure to befall him.
It could take as little as three to five years, or as long as eight to ten.
“Mingzhu, since you are unwilling, let’s drop this matter. Stay in Hong Kong and focus on your university studies. Don’t be like Wang Zhongzhao’s daughter, rushing into marriage talks as if afraid she’ll never find a husband,” Lu’s father said.
Lu Mingzhu reached out her hand to him. “No problem, but staying in Hong Kong requires money for everything. You’ll need to provide some support.”
The news that her eldest brother was still alive did not deter her from asking for money in the slightest.
Her audacious attitude enraged Father Lu so much that he slapped her directly on the back of her hand.
The skin on the back of Lu Mingzhu’s hand was extremely fair and tender, like tofu; the spot where she was struck immediately turned red. She instantly cupped her hand and cried out in pain, exaggerating a fraction of pain into tenfold agony.
Ping’an, his heart aching for her, could not help but glare angrily at Grandfather Lu. “Grandfather, please do not hit my aunt.”
“I had no intention of giving anything, but just look at her; she’s exactly like your father, only caring about money.” A significant portion of the family assets, which could not be taken along, had been donated to the state by Lu’s father. With limited resources currently in hand and needing to restart his business, he could no longer allow his children to squander money as freely as before, especially Lu Mingzhu, who was the most extravagant spender among them.
The fortune teller said she brings bad luck to herself—and it’s true. Every time they meet, he ends up losing money while she gains.
Lu Mingzhu pursed her lips. “Compared to my eldest brother, I’m far behind. I haven’t asked for much, let alone half of your entire fortune.”
Ever since learning that her original mother’s inheritance had all been used by Lu Changsheng for his grand ambitions, she had lost any legitimate reason to ask her father for money. But even without a valid reason, she would still ask—every little bit counted!
Just giving it a try.
Uncle Wang stepped in to mediate: “Uncle Lu, you can’t blame Mingzhu for asking you for money; she truly has none left.”
The investment company spent one million, the purchase of the Peak mansion cost 250,000, and buying off-plan properties took another 200,000. No matter how wealthy she was, she couldn’t sustain such extravagant spending, and that’s not even counting the taxes and fees for transferring property ownership!
Thinking about it this way, the Lu family hadn’t treated Lu Mingzhu unfairly after all.
Uncle Wang Hui selectively forgot that Lu Mingzhu had said she dug up the ancestral treasure.
Lu’s father looked straight at Lu Mingzhu. “The gold bars and silver coins I left for you in the secret room—did you take them or not?”
“I didn’t take them!” Lu Mingzhu opened her large, watery eyes, her expression utterly innocent. “Just look at my sincere gaze, Elder. If I say I didn’t take them, then I didn’t. If you don’t believe me, ask Ping’an or ask Eldest Brother; they never lie.”
Ping’an nodded. “Indeed, they weren’t brought along.”
She simply exchanged the gold and silver for British pounds; it was pounds she took with her on the journey.
Uncle Wang Bohui also testified, “Mingzhu’s luggage was so meager; I saw no gold, no silver.”
What he did see were British pounds, US dollars, and Hong Kong dollars.
Lu’s father couldn’t help but doubt himself, yet he remained certain that Lu Mingzhu could not have failed to open the hidden chamber after his departure. Thus, after a moment of silence, he carefully reconsidered everything Lu Mingzhu had said.
“Not bringing it” and “not taking it” mean completely different things!
He widened his eyes, “Lu Mingzhu, you’re playing tricks with your words again!”
“To you, it’s just a drop in the bucket. Just say whether you’ll give it or not!” Lu Mingzhu grew somewhat impatient. “It’s a simple yes or no; look at you rambling on!”
Father Lu raised his eyebrows, “What kind of attitude is that!”
Not filial at all!
Indeed, father and daughter are mutually ill-fated.
Lu Mingzhu said, “If you give me money, I’ll surely flash you a brilliant smile; that’s what they call buying a smile with a thousand gold.”
Without money, why the hell should I smile!
She wasn’t a professional entertainer, after all.
Seeing the father and daughter bicker, Uncle Wang Bohui and Ping’an decided not to intervene.
Lu’s father knew well that without offering something of value, he’d never shake off this nemesis fate had bestowed upon him. After much deliberation, he said, “I have no money, nor gold or silver, but I can give you a few pieces of jewelry.”
Lu Mingzhu immediately replied, “Bring them out then; let me choose for myself!”
She wanted to pick the best one.
“No problem!” Lu’s father agreed readily.
The items he had brought out were of comparable value; it made no difference which one he gave her. He might as well be generous, so she wouldn’t go around spreading nonsense behind his back again.
Lu Mingzhu stared at him, finding it almost unbelievable.
So straightforward?
It seemed unrealistic.
Next, Lu’s father proved that a gentleman’s promise is worth a thousand gold through his actions. Borrowing Wang Bohui’s telephone, he called the Hong Kong Hotel where he was staying and asked his seventh son, Lu Changgen, to bring over suitcase number seven from his luggage.
The concubines bore sixteen children; six died young, and among the remaining ten, Lu Changgen proved the most capable.
Among the sisters, Lu Mingzhu was the youngest, known as the Eighth Miss. She had seven older sisters: two died in childhood, four were married off, and only the Seventh Sister, Lu Feifei, remained unmarried at home.
Among the brothers, seven of the ten were older than Lu Mingzhu; three had died young. Below her were three younger brothers, one of whom also died in infancy.
Infant mortality was all too common in those times.
Lu Mingzhu had heard from Grandma Zhang that in her youth, she gave birth to three children, but only one daughter survived and grew up safely; some of the babies died just days after birth.
Back then, despite her considerable wealth, she still could not protect their lives.
Returning to the matter at hand.
Lu Changgen was Lu Mingzhu’s youngest brother, born to the Fourth Concubine. Now twenty years old and unmarried, he was shrewd yet amiable, always getting along well with others. He shared a good relationship with Lu Mingzhu and, within the Lu family, took orders solely from his father, remaining uninfluenced by anyone else. At this moment, he dutifully carried the suitcase to the Wang residence, personally handing it over to Father Lu.
He did not forget to call Lu Mingzhu “Eighth Sister.”
Seeing Lu Mingzhu and Lu Ping’an, whom he had believed abandoned in Shanghai, he was surprised but asked no further questions.
Lu’s father had not told his mother, his concubine, or their children about encountering Lu Mingzhu the day before; at this moment, he merely remarked casually to Lu Changgen, “Go back first. Your Eighth Sister and Ping’an arrived earlier than we did and brought nothing with them. I will pick out a couple of pieces of jewelry for her. Once you reach the hotel, do not tell your grandmother, your mother, or your siblings.”
Lu Changgen replied, “I understand, Father. Rest assured; I know the stakes.”
The women in the family were so jealous of Lu Mingzhu that he saw it as clear as day; this time, since she wasn’t taken abroad, they all cheered and celebrated exuberantly on the ship.
Lu Changgen found his mother truly ridiculous.
You, a mere concubine who willingly accepted your role, what right do you have to envy the one and only legitimate eldest daughter born of the principal wife?
Fortunately, Lu Mingzhu had long been neglected in the Lu household and thus unable to inherit the family business. Had she possessed both beauty and wealth while also enjoying favor, those women would surely have united to devour her alive or tear her limb from limb.
Even the old matriarch envied her, finding fault with her every single day.
Lu Changgen never underestimated the cunning of women’s hearts.
After he left, Uncle Wang Bohui and Ping’an went out to see him off and did not return, leaving the father and daughter ample private space.
Lu’s father paid no heed; he opened the leather suitcase resting on Wang Bohui’s desk. Inside were tightly packed jewelry boxes lined with red velvet, square and standing shoulder to shoulder. Each featured a hidden clasp, remained unlocked, and contained four tiers.
They were nearly identical to jewelry organizers from later generations.
Lu’s father opened them one by one and said amidst the dazzling array of reds and greens, pearls and gems, “Mingzhu, you choose.”
Lu Mingzhu’s eyes gleamed with desire. “How many pieces can I choose?”
Every single one is a masterpiece!
As expected of the Lu family patriarch’s collection; there isn’t a single inferior item among them!
Lu’s father held up his hand, palm facing out, then flipped it over. “Ten pieces at most!”
“Deal!” Lu Mingzhu was the first to grab a string of super-large, crystal-clear, dewy emerald beads. “Splitting the family assets isn’t ideal; this necklace, along with the matching round-bead earrings and ring beside it, must be counted as a single set.”
Her father pointed a finger at her in mock reproof. “Greedy to the core.”
Yet, her eye for quality was indeed unparalleled.
This necklace was the largest string of jadeite beads in his collection, purchased from the Jadeite King. It comprised twenty-seven beads, each perfectly round, flawless, plump, and translucent, with sizes almost uniformly consistent.
The clasp design and stone settings were later commissioned from Cartier, including the mounts for both the ring and the earrings.
The Lu family had been in the jewelry business for generations; influenced by high-ranking officials and nobility, they developed a deep passion for trading jadeite, amassing a collection of exquisite pieces, each so valuable that even Cartier would proclaim them priceless.
Lu Mingzhu, her wish fulfilled, grinned cheerfully and said, “Thank you, Father!”
Her father raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite rare.”
From their first meeting until now, this was the first time he’d heard her call him “Father.”
Lu Mingzhu felt not an ounce of shame. “If you’re this generous every day, I’ll call you ‘Dad’ every single day!”
The big sponsor, of course!
A real sponsor.
Seizing the opportunity, I chose the second item: a pair of ruby earrings set in intricate filigree mounts of pure gold.
The gemstones are substantial, each roughly the size of a thumb’s joint. Though their cut is merely average, they possess a blood-red hue imbued with a gentle, lustrous glow.
Combining her own knowledge with the instincts of her former self, Lu Mingzhu couldn’t help but remark, “This craftsmanship dates back to the Ming Dynasty, surely originating from the imperial court. These should be pigeon-blood rubies from an old mine; after centuries of handling, their luster has become soft and restrained. Newer mines can also yield fine stones, but their brilliance tends to be outwardly flashy, lacking that indescribable aura.”
Father Lu raised his thumb in approval. “Your eye for appraisal is indeed excellent; the money spent on your education was certainly not wasted.”
Lu Mingzhu had a teacher who specialized in jewelry and antique appraisal, once remarking that she possessed extraordinary talent.
Her father cast a reluctant glance at the earrings. “Passed down from the Ming Palace to the Qing Court, dozens of generations of imperial consorts handled them, yet none could take them to their grave. The last owner was Empress Dowager Cixi herself. Afterward, they left the palace, and your grandfather happened upon them, securing them for our family. Thus, these ruby earrings are not merely pieces of jewelry; they are genuine antiques.”
Lu Mingzhu immediately tucked them away. “I am the next owner.”
The third item selected was a pair of lotus-root-section bangles, crafted from jadeite. Their overall appearance was a vivid, translucent green with exceptional clarity and luster. Also part of the former Qing imperial collection, they were said to have been worn by Empress Dowager Cixi herself, making them truly unparalleled treasures.
Lu Mingzhu had previously seen jadeite lotus-root bangles exhibited at the Forbidden City, yet upon recollection, even those seemed inferior to the pair before her eyes.
The fourth item chosen was again jadeite: a substantial, deeply green, fully colored “fortune melon” pendant hanging beneath a diamond necklace. The necklace itself, set by Cartier, glittered with countless diamonds, resembling angel wings.
Father Lu grew anxious: “Don’t just pick jadeite; look at other things too. There are many diamonds and gemstones inside the chest.”
Among the hundreds of top-grade jadeite pieces in his collection, only twenty-odd sets were considered unparalleled masterpieces, yet she promptly selected several of them.
“Very well!” The reason Lu Mingzhu chose these particular sets was that, although both her own and her predecessor’s collections contained numerous round-bead necklaces, none matched this string in terms of the generous size of its beads; furthermore, they lacked fortune melon pendants and lotus-root-section bangles.
Within the trade, the principle holds: “Flawed jade is skillfully carved; flawless jade remains uncarved.”
Thus, the jadeite pieces in the predecessor’s collection were predominantly displayed with plain, polished surfaces, having undergone minimal carving.
Lu Mingzhu murmured, “Actually, I’m still missing a pair of twisted-pattern bangles.”
Once one has something flawless, one begins to desire pieces with intricate designs.
Lu’s father jerked his chin toward one of the jewelry boxes. “There’s a pair in there.”
Lu Mingzhu took a look and remarked critically, “They’re fine, but the color isn’t rich enough, and the translucency is lacking. You keep them for yourself!”
By later standards, these would at best be classified as ice-grade jade, and specifically apple-green.
Lu’s father laughed bitterly in his rage: “You certainly know how to pick.”
She exclusively chose old-mine flawless jades with rich, even colors and excellent translucency, resembling pools of emerald spring water, without selecting a single piece that was green but opaque, even though those were also treasures from the Qing imperial collection.
Lu Mingzhu pretended not to hear and continued selecting her treasures.
She not only selected the finest in quality but also those with the greatest potential for appreciation.
Seeing that the last item she chose was a blue diamond ring, Lu’s father felt greatly surprised: “How unusual; you actually picked one that’s worthless.”
Lu Mingzhu was even more taken aback. “Worthless?”
“Of course,” her father explained. “Colored diamonds lack purity, have a smaller market, and are less favored than colorless, transparent ones. Only large stones can fetch a decent price. Even yellow diamonds, which have gained some acceptance, are discarded or disposed of if they’re small. This blue diamond was merely a gift included when I purchased a batch of diamonds. I found it exceptionally beautiful and thought it might someday surpass white diamonds in value, so I kept it.”
Lu Mingzhu immediately spotted the flaw: “I spent over ten gold bars on a pink diamond before, and the blue diamond my godmother gave me cost a full $10,000. How can you say there’s no market for them?”
Her father sneered, “That’s just because you two were easy marks; they were simply pulling your legs. If you don’t believe me, go abroad and see for yourself whether white diamonds or colored diamonds of equal size are more popular and command higher prices. Of course, there is a tiny minority who prefer colored diamonds, but a tiny minority remains exactly that—a case in point being myself.”
Lu Mingzhu suddenly spotted a business opportunity. “Since you have the connections, why not acquire a batch of colored diamonds for me? I want large ones—pink, blue, yellow, red, green—I’ll take anything you can get.”
“Do you have the money?” her father asked her.
Lu Mingzhu immediately deflated.
She had no money.
“But you have money! If you won’t spend it on your daughter, are you saving it to support a mistress?” Lu Mingzhu expressed her contempt. “Didn’t you just say that colored diamonds are worthless? Worthless, worthless, worthless!”
Her father lowered his head, rummaged through the trunk, pulled a small black velvet pouch from a jewelry box, and tossed it into Lu Mingzhu’s arms.
Lu Mingzhu opened it and was immediately blinded by the kaleidoscope of colors within.
Colored diamonds!
They’re all colored diamonds!
About a handful’s worth.
Pink, blue, orange, yellow, brown, green… varying in shade,
differing in shape, and diverse in size.
The yellow diamonds are relatively large, while those of other colors are slightly smaller—smaller only in comparison to the yellow ones. Visually, they all appear to exceed one carat, with the largest, an oval-cut pink diamond, weighing approximately eight carats.
A purple-pink hue, intensely vivid and exceptionally pure, radiating a unique brilliance unlike any other.
Lu Mingzhu treasured it as if she had found a priceless gem. “Thank you, Dad!”
Her father swiftly pushed all the drawers of the jewelry box back in, fastened the hidden clasps, then closed the leather case and locked it. “From now on, don’t you dare covet my belongings again. Even if you want them, you’ll have to wait until after I’m gone before I divide them among you.”
“You are destined to live a hundred years!” Lu Mingzhu’s words were as sweet as honey.
Lu Father chuckled twice, “If you don’t anger me, I might just live that long.”
Lu Mingzhu lied blatantly with wide eyes, “I am extremely filial; when have I ever angered you? Someone else must be the one upsetting you.”
She also made sure to seek benefits for Lu Ping’an, “Before, we didn’t know Ping’an was your biological grandson. Now that it’s out in the open, shouldn’t you show some gesture of acknowledgment? He is, after all, the eldest legitimate grandson of our family!”