Chapter 30
After getting out of the car, wearing the ring given by Xie Junyao, Lu Mingzhu happily entered the theater alongside him.
Ruyi Grand Theater.
Looking up at the signboard, Lu Mingzhu read it aloud and murmured, “I wonder if this has anything to do with my godmother.”
“It was indeed founded by her. An Ruyi, once a major film star in Shanghai, not only established her own production company upon arriving in Hong Kong but also opened a cinema.” Xie Junyao was quite knowledgeable about such developments in Hong Kong, as he had often attended fellow-townsman gatherings on behalf of his elder brother, where he met numerous prominent figures from Shanghai—some he already knew, others he was meeting for the first time.
Lu Mingzhu chuckled lightly. “I haven’t yet paid my respects to her since arriving in Hong Kong; I just hope she won’t beat me when I finally do.”
Xie Junyao smiled as well. “Who could bear to hit you? You’re so adorable.”
“My father could,” Lu Mingzhu replied. “He once beat the back of my hand until it turned red.” She extended her hand, now devoid of any marks, for him to see. Her skin was exceptionally fair and tender as an infant’s, making the jade ring on her finger appear even more vividly green and translucent—breathtakingly beautiful.
“Let me see.” Xie Junyao lowered his head to kiss it gently, yet his own cheeks flushed slightly.
Lu Mingzhu couldn’t help but smile, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
Mingming was passionate and direct, ready to commit her life after just a few meetings, yet she became shy whenever they were together.
Her bashful demeanor was truly adorable and amusing.
Someone waiting behind them urged, “Young man, hurry inside! Don’t just stand there being affectionate!”
Xie Junyao’s blush deepened as he took Lu Mingzhu’s small hand and quickly stepped inside, allowing the crowd behind them to follow smoothly.
After finding a seat and settling down, Xie Junyao finally felt the heat in his face subside. Just as he turned to speak to Lu Mingzhu, he discovered her exquisitely full face was right before him
Before his eyes, it startled him instead. “Mingzhu!”
“Did you not sleep well yesterday?” Lu Mingzhu gently pressed her fingertip against the faint bluish shadows beneath his eyes.
Too obvious; it detracts from his beauty.
Xie Junyao touched his face, which was actually just placing his hand over Lu Mingzhu’s. “I encountered something unpleasant, and it reminded me of some unhappy memories from the past.”
“If you’re in a bad mood, you can tell me. I promise I’ll be the best listener and won’t breathe a word to anyone,” Lu Mingzhu said.
Xie Junyao hummed in agreement. “I’ll tell you all about it in detail once we’ve moved to another place.”
They say family scandals should not be aired publicly, but Lu Mingzhu was no outsider; moreover, she ought to know the true situation of his family.
Holding Lu Mingzhu’s hand and placing it on his knee, he interlaced their fingers until ten were tightly clasped. The emptiness in Xie Junyao’s heart was filled, brimming almost to the point of overflowing, gradually swelling into an indescribable exhilaration.
Is this happiness?
When deep affection receives a response, it is called happiness.
Lu Mingzhu whispered, “I also have a gift for you, but it’s at home. I’ll bring it to you when we return.”
She thought of the jade thumb ring hidden in the old man’s treasure.
That was truly a fine item.
Xie Junyao did not decline. “I look forward to your gift.”
He believed the ring he gave was a token of love, and the one Lu Mingzhu returned was also a token of love; since it was a token of love, it must certainly be accepted, to be kept as a family heirloom for future generations.
Xie Junyao’s thoughts suddenly drifted decades into the future.
The two were whispering to each other, prompting someone behind them to remark, “Young folks, don’t get so absorbed in your love talk; the show is about to begin.”
It turned out to be the same elderly man who had been standing right behind them in line when they entered earlier.
Hearing his reminder, Lu Mingzhu turned back with a smile. “We two make a handsome pair—the man dashing, the woman radiant. Don’t you think we look even better than the leading roles on stage?”
The old man immediately laughed. “That makes sense; you two are far more pleasing to the eye!”
He had never seen anyone more good-looking than them.
As the performance on stage began, they did not continue the conversation.
Xie Junyao and Lu Mingzhu bought their opera tickets late, so their seats weren’t ideal, but that didn’t dampen their enjoyment of the performance.
After the show ended, Lu Mingzhu, still eager for more, walked out of the theater side by side with Xie Junyao. “The five great opera styles each have their own unique charm. If I keep watching Cantonese opera every day, I might soon master the Cantonese language!”
Before her transmigration, she had picked up a bit of Cantonese by watching Cantonese operas and Hong Kong dramas; after arriving in this new era, she often practiced with the locally hired maid employed by the Wang family.
She believed that as long as she worked hard, she would soon speak fluent Cantonese!
“We’ll communicate in Cantonese often from now on; I’ll teach you.” Arriving early had its advantages—Xie Junyao had already mastered the essence of Cantonese, speaking with a pure accent just like a native of the Hong Kong-Guangdong region.
“Mr. Xie, please guide me generously.” Lu Mingzhu’s Cantonese, by comparison, sounded rather stiff.
The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter, then hand in hand, happily went out shopping.
When they came across a street food cart, they shared a small bowl of put chai ko and then split an order of chee fun noodles. Afterward, they headed to Gung Wo Tong for turtle jelly to cool off from the summer heat, displaying not a hint of aristocratic pretense.
“Do you enjoy eating these things?” Xie Junyao asked Lu Mingzhu.
Lu Mingzhu nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Big meals and small snacks are both delicacies; how could I not like them?”
Xie Junyao took note of her words.
Just as they finished their guilinggao and stepped outside, a furious shout rang out: “What are you doing here?”
Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao turned toward the voice; who else could it be but Lu’s father?
As if he had just stepped out of a three-story shop facing the street.
He was still wearing his beloved white shirt, which accentuated his distinguished appearance, paired with silver-gray trousers and a Breguet watch, exuding mature elegance. Beside him, apart from two bodyguards, stood a short and stout middle-aged man.
Lu Mingzhu was speechless: “I haven’t even asked you how you ended up here yet!”
The middle-aged man gazed curiously at Lu Mingzhu, feeling unsurprised yet utterly captivated by her beauty, and asked, “Mr. Lu, who might this young lady be?”
“My daughter,” Father Lu said.
The middle-aged man praised her profusely, “Miss Lu is truly your worthy daughter! Her appearance and demeanor clearly show she comes from a distinguished family—beautiful and refined, with an elegance that sets her apart.”
He seemed quite sociable, enthusiastically introducing himself to Lu Mingzhu. “Miss Lu, my name is Han Bin, a real estate agent.”
Lu Mingzhu turned sharply to her father and blurted out, “You want to buy a shop?”
This is a famous commercial street in later generations, lined exclusively with shops.
The kind that now cost tens of thousands of yuan each but would one day be worth hundreds of millions.
Lu’s father snorted, “It’s not being bought for you; why are you so quick to react?”
Lu Mingzhu grinned and looped her arm through his. “I’m your daughter, so naturally I have a share in your estate! To avoid any future scandals over inheritance disputes, just buy the shop you fancy and register it under my name—you can use it free of charge!”
Lu’s father instantly burst into an exasperated laugh. “Should I be thanking you, then, for letting me use it for free?”
“Yes! You’re so clever!” Lu Mingzhu giggled.
“Pah! You certainly have high hopes.” Her father reached out to pinch her cheek, wanting to see just how thick-skinned she really was.
“I’m already beautiful; no need to hope for it.” Lu Mingzhu slapped his hand away and rubbed her cheek.
It was merely a试探; she hadn’t truly held any hope, but that didn’t stop her from bantering with her father—who knows, she might just succeed!
It’s just a little bit of effort.
If successful, our fortune will increase substantially.
The real estate agent, Han Bin, stood by with a flattering smile and said, “A single shop can sustain three generations. Mr. Lu, throughout history, purchasing commercial properties has always been a surefire way to make money without risk. Miss Lu has excellent judgment. The shop you’re looking at is very promising; it boasts a prime location, heavy foot traffic, and expansive grounds. With three floors and spacious interiors, it’s perfect for all kinds of major businesses.”
“Is this one of the properties you have available?” Lu Mingzhu asked him, pointing at the three-story building.
Han Bin nodded. “Yes.”
Lu Mingzhu looked ahead at the wooden signs protruding from the storefronts, varying in size and colorfully decorated, then glanced backward as well before concluding, “This would be a suitable location for a jewelry shop or a gold store.”
The gold, silver, and jewels that Father Lu brought with him could not possibly all be kept as a collection.
How then should they be sold?
Naturally, by opening our own shop to sell them.
Once the country establishes arts and crafts import-export corporations, or sets up Overseas Chinese Stores and Friendship Stores, in its effort to earn foreign exchange, Hong Kong merchants can travel over and, for just a few hundred yuan, haul back several sacks of old jade pried off various pieces of furniture and vessels to Hong Kong, then resell them for substantial profits.
Many wealthy individuals amassed their fortunes in precisely this manner.
With good fortune, they could even acquire various antiques at bargain prices.
Grandma Zhang once said that after her exceptionally fine jade bangle was confiscated, it was cut in half and made into handles for handbags, which were then exported to Hong Kong through an import-export company. It was only in her old age that she saw it again in the home of a wealthy woman in Hong Kong.
Lu’s father glanced at her sideways. “You’re quite good at coming up with ideas for me.”
Lu Mingzhu smiled. “If you open a shop, I’ll gift you a treasured masterpiece guaranteed to make your store an instant sensation among the elite families. From then on, whenever anyone seeks high-end jewelry, our shop will be their first choice.”
Lu’s father looked Lu Mingzhu up and down, noting her bright and striking attire. “You’d actually part with such a treasured masterpiece for me?”
That would be rarer than an iron tree blooming.
Hasn’t she always been like a Pixiu?
All take, no give.
Lu Mingzhu pouted, “I’ve always been very generous, haven’t I? It’s you, elder, who doesn’t understand me.”
“Yes, yes, yes, you’re extremely generous; it’s just that I’ve never seen you be generous toward me,” Father Lu replied perfunctorily with a nod, then turned to Han Bin and said, “Han Bin, let’s discuss this again. Lower the price by ten percent, and I’ll buy; otherwise, I’ll look elsewhere. Don’t try to deceive me—I’ve inquired about the prices of nearby shops, and your initial offer was hardly fair.”
Han Bin readily agreed, saying, “Just wait for my reply.”
Taking the opportunity, he took his leave to negotiate the price with the landlord.
Lu’s father intended to register the shop under Lu Ping’an’s name, unaffected by Lu Mingzhu’s influence.
That crowd around Lu Changsheng adhered to a philosophy of destitution; they believed in proletarian ideals, donating any wealth they had to contribute to the cause while keeping their own sleeves empty. Previously, he had assumed Lu Ping’an would eventually return to Lu Changsheng’s side, believing that too much wealth was unsuitable for a political career. He had only planned to bequeath him a small portion of assets for security after his own death. Who could have anticipated how swiftly circumstances would change? Lu Ping’an had actually fled to Hong Kong with Lu Mingzhu.
After all, as the eldest legitimate grandson of the Lu family and the most rightful heir, intelligent and sharp as he is, certain assets must gradually be transferred into his hands. Just as Lu Mingzhu said, this is to prevent future disputes over the inheritance.
As for Lu Mingzhu, granting her a dowry would already be more than generous!
Lu’s father glanced at her; though she was clearly linking arms with him, she turned her head aside to speak in low tones with Xie Junyao, which displeased him. “Young Xie, aren’t you busy? I saw your brother yesterday; he was utterly swamped.”
Xie Junyao smiled gently. “Uncle Lu, I’m not busy. My primary duty right now is to accompany Mingzhu.”
“A man must have his own career; success in one’s career lays the foundation for one’s status, and status is precisely your standing in society. You cannot simply think about going out to have fun,” Lu’s father advised earnestly.
Xie Junyao expressed that he had taken the lesson to heart: “You are right.”
Whether or not he actually listened depended entirely on himself.
In his view, a career was far less important than Lu Mingzhu.
Regardless of whether his older brother marries or has children in the future, the company shares and various properties he currently owns are already sufficient for him to live comfortably, even luxuriously.
He harbors no grand ambitions.
Seeing Xie Junyao like this, Lu’s father suddenly lost interest and said to Lu Mingzhu, “Have lunch with me at noon.”
Letting the big shot foot the bill!
Lu Mingzhu’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Junyao and I will serve you tea together.”
Lu’s father pursed his lips.
Though advanced in years, he remained handsome; every expression he made looked strikingly good.
Lu Mingzhu had assumed her father was taking them to a grand hotel for a lavish meal, and she’d already been debating whether to order abalone or Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Instead, Lu’s father led them to a tiny roadside stall for roasted goose rice!
Li’s Roasted Goose: two yuan per serving.
Before the meal was even served, the rich aroma of roasted goose filled the air.
Its jujube-red skin glistened with oil; thin and crisp upon entering the mouth, it offered an incomparable burnt fragrance. The goose meat itself was tender yet firm, and when paired with the flowing goose fat, it instantly ignited the taste buds, making one utterly unable to resist.
Lu Mingzhu fiercely ordered two roasted goose legs.
One for herself, one for Xie Junyao, with no share left for Father Lu.
“Dad, you’re getting on in years and your teeth aren’t what they used to be; you should eat less meat, as too much is hard to digest.” She had ample justification. “You ought to eat more fruits and vegetables. I’ll go buy you a Shatian pomelo in a moment! Guangxi Shatian pomelos come at five mao per jin or six mao per jin—I promise to get you the most expensive one!”
Lu’s father was nearly driven to fury by her.
He couldn’t afford to lose his temper; if she angered him to death, she’d still end up dividing his estate.
Lu’s father strove to calm himself and deliberately remarked, “I had actually planned to give you a gift.”
“A gift?” Lu Mingzhu’s eyes instantly lit up. She immediately slid the plate of sliced roasted goose legs in front of her over to her father and said ingratiatingly, “Dad, I was just kidding with you earlier. Please, enjoy.”
She added, “I’ll order two roasted goose legs—one for you and one for Junyao. I won’t eat any.”
“I’m getting old; too much meat is hard to digest,” Father Lu said.
Lu Mingzhu also chimed in, “Look at what you’re saying! Please go ahead and eat. I’ll walk with you afterward to help your digestion, and I guarantee you won’t have any trouble digesting it.”
See how filial she is?
Seeing how filial she is, hurry up and take out the gift to show her what it is.
Lu Mingzhu opened her watery, peach-blossom eyes, full of anticipation.
“No, there isn’t any left now,” Father Lu said expressionlessly, his tone cold.
Lu Mingzhu’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, she pulled the roasted goose leg back.
No gift given, so what’s there to eat?
Eat shit!
Just as I thought, the old man isn’t that kind-hearted; he was just teasing her!
Xie Junyao stood nearby laughing, which made Lu’s father snap irritably, “What are you laughing at?”
“I’m not laughing.” Xie Junyao struggled to keep a straight face as he comforted Lu Mingzhu. “You want a gift? Simple. Later, I’ll accompany you to Flower Street for a stroll. Whatever catches your eye, I’ll buy it for you.”
“Flower Street?” Was this the place Lu Mingzhu was thinking of? Could one actually shop there?
One glance at her expression told Xie Junyao she had misunderstood. He quickly explained, “It’s Jewelry Street. Most of the jewelry shops on Flower Street relocated from the north. They used to be located on Four Flower Market Streets, primarily dealing in international trade, and business was very prosperous.”
Lu Mingzhu’s spirits lifted immediately. “Great! I made some money yesterday. I’ll buy gifts for everyone.”
She deliberately shot Lu’s father a sideways glance and snorted, “I’m just not giving it to someone.”
Lu’s father directly plucked a roasted goose leg from right in front of her.