Chapter 28
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, He Yun boldly spent 500,000 Hong Kong dollars to successfully purchase this batch of precious antiques. However, he did not take them out; instead, he promptly stored them in a bank safe deposit box, keeping only the jade hairpin authenticated by Lu Mingzhu.
It was only now, while waiting in the inner hall, that Lu Mingzhu learned banks already offered quite mature safe deposit box rental services.
Her eyes darted back and forth, as if hatching some scheme.
After leaving the vault and returning to the inner hall, He Yun told Lu Mingzhu, “You could also rent one for your use.”
Many of the gifts He Yun gave Lu Mingzhu came from his personal collection. Among them were two boxes of large pearls, each valued at over ten thousand; their emerald ornaments and materials, along with gemstones and diamonds, were all top-tier treasures of incalculable worth.
Without a secure, sturdy safe and sufficiently skilled bodyguards, keeping these items at home is not safe.
Hong Kong has no shortage of desperate criminals; break-in robberies are by no means unheard of.
“Let’s discuss this after I move. I’m currently staying at Brother Bohui’s home; suddenly moving my belongings out to store them in a bank would inevitably create an impression of distrust toward them, and outsiders might maliciously speculate.” Lu Mingzhu felt deeply moved. She couldn’t rely on her spatial dimension to hide her treasures forever, yet she didn’t fully trust foreign-funded banks either—what if they absconded with her assets?
American-owned Citibank, British-owned Standard Chartered Bank, and British-owned HSBC are all well-known foreign-funded banks in Hong Kong.
But Lu Mingzhu worried that the spatial dimension might vanish one day.
The matter of transmigration was too miraculous; moreover, with a portable space attached, whether it appeared or disappeared was entirely up to heaven’s decree.
After hearing Lu Mingzhu’s words, He Yun agreed that her thinking was quite sound.
It was rare for someone so young to be so thorough and considerate in every aspect.
Escorting her out of the bank, the general manager and the manager watched as He Yun accepted three bulging red envelopes from his driver-cum-bodyguard. He handed two to Master Qu and Master Du respectively, offering words of gratitude, before giving the last one to Lu Mingzhu.
Lu Mingzhu received it with both hands, then slipped it into the handbag hanging from her arm, her smile bright and vibrant. “Is this the appraisal fee?”
So writing scripts wasn’t her only source of income.
Knowledge truly is money!
Oops!
“Yes, thank you for your help.” He Yun then handed her the emerald hairpin he had set aside separately. Gazing at her startled expression, he spoke gently, “An old man like me has no use for it, and Ah Xuan is no longer young; with her short hair, it wouldn’t suit her. You are young—it would be put to its best use on you. If you refuse it, does that mean you disdain it merely because it’s an old object?”
“Not at all, not at all!” The hairpin’s head features a coiled dragon; it is highly likely to be the jadeite hairpin once worn by Empress Dowager Cixi!
Today, Lu Mingzhu hadn’t braided her hair but instead tied it into a ponytail. With a casual sweep, she gathered it at the back of her head into a round bun, then inserted the emerald hairpin to secure it, her heart bubbling over with delight.
He Yunduan studied it for a moment. “Very beautiful!”
The tassels swayed, graceful and elegant; the only regret was that her true face remained hidden.
Lu Mingzhu beamed with pride. “Thank you!”
She was delighted to be praised for her beauty.
He Yun smiled gently and instructed the driver to start the car. “I’ll treat you all to dinner.”
Master Qu and Master Du did not decline; naturally, Lu Mingzhu accompanied them as a gracious host.
How should one put it?
Merchants in the jewelry and antique trade place exceptional importance on connections; for an ordinary person, even gaining access to He Yun would be impossible, so Master Qu and Master Du would certainly not let slip this excellent opportunity.
They chose a restaurant nearby that appeared highly upscale, frequented exclusively by the wealthy and noble.
Fujian cuisine, with its signature dish “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall,” is priced beyond the reach of ordinary people.
During the meal, Lu Mingzhu asked Master Qu, “Do you still frequently visit wealthy households to sell your precious antiques?”
“Want to play?”
“What? Do you have an objection?” Master Qu looked at her.
“No objections, just asking.” Every jewelry shop has its own sales methods; Master Qu is not the only one. The Lu family ancestors also engaged in such practices, so how could Lu Mingzhu possibly object? She said, “You see, I’m quite familiar with Mr. He, and my old man has also come to Hong Kong. If you have any fine items, please prioritize coming to us!”
Master Qu did not refuse: “It’s hard for things that aren’t particularly good to catch your eye.”
Lu Mingzhu asked puzzledly, “Does that mean you can no longer acquire good items?”
Master Qu nearly jumped up, “How could that be? Don’t you dare curse me.”
“You just said that, and I thought your skills had faded with age and you had nothing left to sell.” Lu Mingzhu savored the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall with delight, its savor so intense she felt like swallowing her own tongue. “It’s a pity I have no money; otherwise, I’d ask what treasures you might have in hand.”
Master Qu did not respond directly, but instead asked, “You haven’t had the jadeite material you won by gambling tens of thousands of silver dollars processed yet, have you?”
Lu Mingzhu’s hand paused slightly, and she asked alertly, “What are you up to?”
“You bring out the material, I’ll find someone to carve it for you and then locate a buyer. After deducting your cost for the raw material and the carving fees, ninety percent of the profit will be yours, and ten percent will go to me.” Master Qu employed two highly skilled elderly jade craftsmen; he had not forgotten to bring them along when heading south. They were still working at Master Qu’s jewelry shop but were currently worried due to the lack of fine-quality materials.
Lu Mingzhu carefully recalled the quality of the jadeite that belonged to her predecessor.
It was fully translucent with vibrant green throughout; in post-2000s terminology, it would undoubtedly be classified as old-mine glassy jadeite.
What made it most exceptional was its rich, evenly distributed color and remarkably few flaws, allowing dozens of flawless jewelry pieces to be crafted from the single stone.
“Not for sale!” Lu Mingzhu replied decisively.
Master Qu guided her gently: “Mingzhu, sell the jade to get money, use that money to buy more raw materials, process them, and then sell again to make a profit. This way, your wealth will grow like a rolling snowball. What’s the point of keeping the jadeite in your hands if it can’t turn into cash? Let me tell you, at worst, we can craft some jewelry; you can keep a few pieces for your collection and sell the rest.”
Lu Mingzhu blinked her eyes and began calculating in her mind.
To be honest, she was actually quite tempted!
As mining technology advanced, the quality of extracted jadeite improved significantly. The common grading systems for jadeite known today, such as “glassy” or “icy” types, only emerged after the millennium.
Around the turn of the millennium, jadeite prices were relatively low, likely even lower than during the Republic of China era or in present-day Hong Kong.
According to Grandma Zhang, mainland China held its first jadeite auction in the 1990s, where a pair of Qing Dynasty glassy-type full-green bangles sold for just 490,000 yuan. At that time in Hong Kong, even a slightly lower-quality jadeite bangle could fetch over ten million at auction, while a string of round-bead necklaces reached as high as seventy million. Nowadays, similar pieces still sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands, clearly illustrating the price disparity between the two regions.
Thinking carefully, one could sell jadeite now as an investment and later purchase high-quality pieces in the mainland for collection!
Lu Mingzhu narrowed her eyes, concealing a glint of sharp calculation.
Master Qu, sensing her interest, pressed on: “I’ve seen that piece of jadeite you have; I even discussed it with your teacher for quite some time. Crafted into jewelry, it could fetch at least two million silver dollars!”
Lu Mingzhu gasped sharply. “How much?”
“Two million silver dollars,” Master Qu repeated. “Converted to Hong Kong dollars, that’s nearly five million in profit.”
Lu Mingzhu wondered aloud, “After so many years of war, why are jadeite prices still so high?”
The most fervent period was likely during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era.
But now, it is after the founding of the People’s Republic.
Master Qu nodded. “It might have an impact on the mainland, where everything needs to be rebuilt, but not here. After all, many wealthy people from the mainland have fled here, maintaining their former lavish lifestyles and continuing to crave jadeite and diamonds. Especially since fine jadeite is hard to come by, scarcity drives up the price. Naturally, the prices aren’t much different from ten or twenty years ago; a single fine jadeite ring can still sell for over ten thousand yuan.”
The implication is that those who still favor jadeite today are the same wealthy individuals as before; their preferences have not changed.
To acquire top-grade jadeite, they spare no expense, spending vast sums without hesitation.
Good heavens!
Her predecessor was actually this wealthy.
It left Lu Mingzhu utterly stunned.
However, she still hadn’t agreed to Master Qu’s proposal, intending to consult her biological father before making a decision.
After all, her biological father possessed countless treasures and wouldn’t covet this piece of jadeite; if she could secure his help, she wouldn’t need to share ten percent of the profits with Master Qu!
Hehehe!
Her biological father was staying at the Hong Kong Hotel, so Lu Mingzhu went directly to find him.
He Yun escorted her to the hotel, where she approached the front desk staff to inquire about her father, only to learn that he was not in; he had gone out to meet friends.
As it happened, the Third Concubine descended from upstairs just then. Hearing Lu Mingzhu asking the hotel staff about her father, she failed to recognize the elegantly yet simply dressed and made-up young woman. Striding forward in high heels, she asked, “Who are you? What business do you have with our master?”
Lu Mingzhu turned her face and said, “Hello, Third Concubine!”
Her biological father truly was blessed with romantic fortune!
The Third Concubine possessed a strikingly beautiful appearance and a tall, slender figure. Though middle-aged, she had lost none of her charm. Clad in a dark red qipao that accentuated her curvaceous silhouette, she wore a complete set of jade jewelry—earrings, pearl necklaces, rings, and bracelets—along with two fiery diamond rings. Her opulent adornments radiated an air of elegance and grace, embodying the unique allure of an Eastern beauty.
Hmm, another jade enthusiast.
The wealthy have loved jade for over a century, and that hasn’t changed.
However, although the Third Concubine’s jade is entirely emerald green, it lacks transparency, reaching only what later generations would classify as “ice-grade” quality.
Still, it’s of supreme quality!
Due to limited mining technology, most jadeite pieces boast fine color but coarse texture; transparent, fully green stones are exclusively from old mines and are exceedingly rare. Whenever such premium material appears on the market, it inevitably sparks a frenzy among the wealthy.
Lu Mingzhu thought that if she processed the raw jadeite belonging to her predecessor’s body and sold it externally, she would definitely sell it to these several concubines.
One party receives money, the other acquires treasure; everyone is delighted.
Moreover, this treasure must be passed down through the Lu family lineage and not flow outward.
The Third Concubine, recognizing the familiar voice, stared intently at Lu Mingzhu’s face and shrieked, “How has the Eighth Young Miss become like this? Could it be that you’ve wasted away just because the Master refused to take you abroad?”
No, that can’t be right. If he had abandoned her, how could she possibly be here?
The Third Concubine, as if facing a formidable enemy, asked again, “When did the Eighth Young Miss arrive in Hong Kong?”
Lu Mingzhu snorted, “At least we arrived before you.”
The Third Concubine was bewildered.
When they departed, neither Lu Mingzhu nor Lu Ping’an had been taken along; how could they possibly have arrived earlier?
Seeing her confusion, Lu Mingzhu sneered, “Blame your own bad luck for not securing a spot on the luxury liner! The first-class cabin was truly comfortable—we reached Hong Kong in just three days! Third Concubine, next time you travel, I’d suggest my father purchase first-class tickets for you. That way, you wouldn’t have to drift at sea for over ten days. Wasn’t that experience rather unpleasant?”
The Third Concubine, flushed with anger and humiliation, snapped, “Mind your own business!”
Still intimidated by the lingering authority of Mrs. Lu, she wanted nothing to do with Lu Mingzhu. Clutching her Chanel handbag, she stormed off in a huff.
Lu Mingzhu made a face at her retreating back and called out loudly, “Third Concubine, can’t you handle even this? We’ll be seeing each other again soon! I’ve heard Father plans to settle in Hong Kong.”
Wang Bohui had directly informed her about Mr. Lu’s intention to remain in Hong Kong.
She will find out eventually; there is no need to hide it from her.
Upon hearing Lu Mingzhu’s words, the Third Concubine stumbled slightly, regained her balance, and continued walking forward without looking back.
Her hurried departure looked remarkably like a frantic escape.
The doors of the Hong Kong Hotel opened and closed periodically as guests came and went. Just then, a group of society ladies entered for afternoon tea, witnessing the entire scene and overhearing every word of the conversation.
The middle-aged noblewoman of exceptional beauty at the front remarked to her companion, “Is that Mr. Lu Yanzhi’s daughter? So sharp-tongued.”
Lu Mingzhu, already preparing to leave the hotel, did not hear this, but He Yun, with his keen ears and sharp eyes, did.
He glanced over, his gaze sharp.
None of the ladies in that group noticed him.
After all, his simple hemp robe and cloth shoes were far too plain for someone of wealth.
The woman beside her, dressed in a pale purple qipao, smiled naturally and swiftly picked up the middle-aged beauty’s remark: “I heard he was born to the principal wife; no wonder his temper is rather strong. They say she’s beautiful, but I don’t think much of her; some people are just exaggerating.”
Then, changing the subject, she flattered, “Not everyone is as handsome, filial, and gentle-tempered as Junyao. Yesterday, my husband and I went shopping for jewelry and happened to see him commissioning custom jade pieces from the shop owner. My husband asked to take a look, and I got to share in the privilege. The jade material Junyao brought was truly stunning—vivid and dewy, deeply green and perfectly translucent. I heard it was old-mine material collected by Mr. Da Xie in Myanmar, flawless and exceedingly rare. Mrs. Xie, Junyao must be preparing this for your birthday, right? Just wait until your special day; you’re in for a wonderful display of filial devotion.”
Hearing these words, the others expressed their envy, remarking unanimously, “These days, fine jade is hard to come by; Junyao is truly thoughtful.”
Mrs. Xie felt deeply gratified and beamed with joy, yet modestly remarked, “I certainly lack no jewelry or precious stones; why has this child gone to such expense again? You must find us quite ridiculous.”
“How can fulfilling one’s duty to one’s mother be considered an expense? Mrs. Xie, you are truly blessed; your eldest…”
“Mr. Xie and his brother Junyao are truly exceptional; they recently spent several million to purchase land for a new building project—a truly bold move. My husband is very eager to collaborate with them. Mention their names, and who in the business world wouldn’t give a thumbs-up? Everyone regards them as ideal sons-in-law. I just wonder what requirements you might have for your future daughter-in-law? So many people have asked me, yet I haven’t been able to answer.” The lady in the pale purple qipao spoke again, a gentle smile gracing her face.
Mrs. Xie said proudly, “Naturally, she must be a gentle and well-bred young lady from a good family. Junhao has a stubborn temperament, and Junyao is still too young; we must find a steady, reliable, and filial girl to be his wife. Mrs. Zhang, I do not consider just anyone.”
The noblewoman addressed as Mrs. Zhang immediately lit up with keen interest.
“My husband’s family has a niece,” she began, continuing under the knowing gazes of the others. “Her name is Zhang Baoyi. She is twenty-two this year, studying at the University of Hong Kong, and will graduate next year. Born into a prestigious family, she possesses excellent virtues, a gentle temper, and is exceptionally filial to her elders while loving toward her younger siblings. She is the most outstanding young lady in our family. Having偶然 seen Junyao deliver a speech on stage, she was captivated by his demeanor and developed deep admiration. My elder brother and sister-in-law have asked me to help arrange an introduction. I have been hesitant until now, but today I boldly speak up. Do you think it might be appropriate to arrange a meeting for them? If fate allows, you may soon be holding your grandchild.”
Mrs. Xie pondered for a moment.
Amid Mrs. Zhang’s gaze, filled with both apprehension and eager anticipation, she slowly smiled. “I’ll speak with Junyao tonight to see when he’s available; you can then arrange their meeting.”
At twenty-six, he should long ago have taken a wife and started a family.
Overjoyed, Mrs. Zhang exclaimed, “Thank you, Madam Xie! You are surely destined to be an excellent mother-in-law. Baoyi is truly fortunate. Shall we aim for tomorrow? In a few days, she will begin school.”
Mrs. Xie pondered briefly before replying, “No problem. Let’s meet for afternoon tea at the Hong Kong Hotel.”