Chapter 005
After Steward Li and the others departed from the Lu family garden, Lu Mingzhu immediately packed the clothes, shoes, and fabrics they had brought into their luggage. Everything was ready for boarding, but unexpectedly, on the day before their departure, a sudden storm of wind and rain struck.
It came very suddenly.
Starting from early morning and continuing unabated until dinnertime, the fierce wind and heavy rain battered the window frames, their sounds filling the ears.
The crystal chandelier cast a bright glow, dispelling the dimness that filled the room.
Lu Mingzhu sat at the head of the dining table, her face etched with worry, concerned that they might be unable to depart the next day.
“Will it stop by night?” she asked Lu Ping’an.
“Auntie, I honestly don’t know when this rain will cease,” Lu Ping’an replied truthfully, then shifted the topic. “But please don’t worry; this bit of wind and rain won’t hinder our journey.”
Lu Mingzhu hummed in acknowledgment. “Have you finished packing your luggage?”
Lu Ping’an nodded. “Everything is properly packed.”
He had brought only essential valuables in gold and silver; most of his belongings had been left behind.
Through the glass window, Lu Mingzhu gazed at the curtain of rain outside. “I still hope this rain stops soon; sunny and gentle weather is most suitable for traveling, making it safer.”
She cherished her life.
It was precisely because she cherished her life that she decided to flee.
Lu Ping’an smiled, revealing deep dimples. His eyes were clear, making him look exceptionally handsome. “Auntie is so kind; Heaven will surely listen to your words.”
After the meal, the rain outside gradually eased.
“See, I told you so,” Lu Ping’an said cheerfully, seeking praise from Lu Mingzhu.
Reassured, Lu Mingzhu returned to her bedroom, sat before her dressing table, opened a drawer, and took out three gold bangles and six gold rings she had prepared earlier—all originally belonging to her predecessor’s jewelry box.
The hundreds of exquisite gold ornaments that once belonged to her predecessor still remained hers; Wang Xingcai had instructed Housekeeper Li to inventory the gold and silver jewelry but left these behind.
He truly is a wonderful godfather.
Lu Mingzhu intended to give the three maids severance pay.
In these turbulent times, nothing is more suitable than gold.
Casually placing a few pieces of gold jewelry on her dressing table, Lu Mingzhu’s eyes flickered as she suddenly caught sight of herself in the mirror.
The original body was exceedingly beautiful: an oval face, peach-blossom eyes, a straight nose, crimson lips, and willow-leaf eyebrows, all exquisitely crafted. Her features were nearly identical to those she possessed before transmigrating, except her skin was fairer and more dewy, resembling congealed cream. It was as though a thick filter had been applied over her original appearance, rendering her stunningly clear and cold, alluring yet never vulgar.
She could truly become a star.
Even in an era when Hong Kong’s entertainment industry was filled with legendary talents battling for supremacy, she would still stand out as the most exceptional.
The reflection in the mirror frowned slightly at Lu Mingzhu; her large, round, and deep eyes naturally exuded an aura of innocence and purity.
When traveling, striking beauty brings trouble rather than fortune.
Lu Mingzhu paused in thought, then raised her hand to undo her braided hair. She combed a lock of dark tresses from the crown of her head forward over her face, took up a pair of scissors, and snipped it off. Her originally wispy bangs instantly transformed into a thick fringe, completely covering her full forehead, falling past her eyebrows and nearly obscuring her eyes.
In this way, her beauty diminished slightly by two degrees.
Lu Mingzhu felt it wasn’t enough, so she rummaged through her spatial storage to retrieve the cosmetics she had prepared before transmigrating.
The next morning, after washing her face, she applied foundation several shades darker than her natural skin tone, then used contour powder, eyebrow pencil, and lipstick to thicken her brows, slightly flatten the bridge of her nose, and fuller her lips, blurring their graceful contours.
Lu Ping’an and the three maids were utterly astonished when they saw her.
It was as if she had become an entirely different person!
Yesterday, she had been breathtakingly beautiful; today, she looked utterly ordinary.
Lu Ping’an couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration: “Auntie, dressed like this, you certainly put one’s mind at ease.”
Lu Mingzhu had abandoned all her fine silks and splendid garments, wearing only the plainest blue cotton jacket, a black skirt, black cloth shoes, and carrying a fabric handbag—her overall appearance simple, fresh, and dignified.
Hearing Lu Ping’an’s words, Lu Mingzhu felt quite pleased. “As long as you feel reassured, that’s what matters.”
Listening to the soft patter of rain outside, she quietly ate her breakfast.
With their departure imminent, the Lu household had ceased cooking; Lu Ping’an had sent the maid out to buy pan-fried buns, soy milk, large flatbreads with fried dough sticks, and sticky rice balls, of which Lu Mingzhu sampled a little of each.
Once they reached Hong Kong, they might never again taste such authentic Shanghai morning delicacies.
After finishing her meal and rinsing her mouth, Lu Mingzhu summoned the three maids and took out gold bracelets and rings to distribute among them.
The three maids had packed their luggage last night, awaiting dismissal; now, with heavy gold ornaments in hand, they beamed with joy. “Thank you, Eighth Miss! Thank you, Eighth Miss!”
Lu Mingzhu waved her hand. “No need for politeness. After breakfast, you should leave!”
With the secondhand clothes and bedding obtained from the Lu family, the three maids had quite a substantial amount of luggage. Consequently, they specially went out to hire three horse-drawn carriages, each leaving the Lu family garden with a carriage fully loaded with their belongings.
It’s more than enough, truly more than enough!
The servants dismissed by the master and his family before going abroad never received such generous treatment.
Therefore, the three maids were extremely excited as they departed.
Lu Mingzhu stood at the main gate, watching them leave until they disappeared from sight. Only then did she and Lu Ping’an walk back along the main path toward the main building.
After a moment’s thought, she said to Lu Ping’an, “Ping’an, you keep an eye on our luggage. I’m going to take one last look around, upstairs and downstairs, inside and out. Who knows when we’ll be able to live here again?”
At least thirty years will have to pass!
By then, she would already be middle-aged.
Lu Ping’an nodded and entered the main building first.
Lu Mingzhu, under the pretense of nostalgia, was actually rummaging through the storeroom.
I just remembered there’s such a place.
Unfortunately, the storeroom had been thoroughly cleared out; there were no valuable gold, silver, or jade objects, nor any rare antiques or paintings. Only some clearly modern and relatively inexpensive items remained: porcelain, bronze ware, ivory carvings, bulky furniture, along with a limited quantity of silk fabrics, furs, tea, medicinal herbs, tonics, and spices—the latter being of quite excellent quality.
Lu Mingzhu selected the finest items and stowed them away in her space.
Surveying the fully packed space, she left the storage room contentedly, without locking it.
The rain outside had stopped, revealing a azure sky.
Clean and clear, it lifted one’s spirits at a glance.
Less than ten minutes after Lu Mingzhu entered the main building, Butler Li arrived with servants and a carriage to collect their luggage. “Miss Mingzhu, Young Master Ping’an, the Master is waiting for you in the car outside; he will personally escort you to the ship.”
Lu Mingzhu hurriedly left with her nephew and got into the car.
“Godfather,” Lu Mingzhu called out with exceptional sweetness.
Wang Xingcai, dressed in a white shirt and silver-gray trousers, showed a hint of surprise on his refined face upon seeing his goddaughter whom he hadn’t met for two days. “What have you done to yourself? I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Lu Mingzhu, her eyes curving into a smile, said, “I’ve put on just a touch of makeup; don’t I look quite ordinary?”
Wang Xingcai, who had been worried that Lu Mingzhu’s extraordinary beauty might attract trouble, now felt reassured. “Good, very good. When traveling, one must take care to protect oneself and avoid speaking casually with strangers.”
“Mm-hmm!” When it came to her own safety, Lu Mingzhu was more diligent than anyone else.
She lowered her head, took the key to the Lu family garden and a pre-written letter of authorization for leasing and lending from her handbag, and presented them to Wang Xingcai with both hands. “Godfather, after I leave, I’ll have to trouble you to handle the subsequent miscellaneous affairs regarding the Lu family garden.”
Wang Xingcai continued, “It’s a small matter, no trouble at all.”
He had no daughter of his own; it was precisely because he admired Lu Mingzhu that he had taken her as his adopted daughter. Whatever concerned his adopted daughter naturally concerned him as well—there was no distinction between them.
Lu Mingzhu hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “Godfather, if things take a turn for the worse, please come to Hong Kong early and reunite with us!”
Of course, she deeply loved her country and admired those patriots who rushed back to serve it, yet she could not alter the course of history; such things could not be averted by any single person or word.
For a family of their background, fleeing is the best course of action.
Staying behind would mean facing almost certain death.
Though she was not the original person, Lu Mingzhu had, within just a few days, fully felt the deep affection of this adoptive father. She sincerely hoped he would not return to his homeland filled with passionate zeal to contribute to its reconstruction, only to end up humiliated and stripped of all dignity.
Hearing Lu Mingzhu’s words, Wang Xingcai smiled gently, his eyes warm with kindness yet firm in resolve. “I am already sixty-two; I have only a few years left to work. Once everything is back on track, I will retire. You and Ping’an must study hard here in Hong Kong. When I come to check on your progress, if I find you’ve slipped, I won’t let it go.”
Lu Mingzhu said happily, “Rest assured!”
As they spoke, they unknowingly arrived at their destination.
This was Shanghai’s largest dock, filled with countless ships of all sizes. The shore was teeming with people; those in bright, fine clothing stood in stark contrast to others in ragged garments. The latter were porters working on the docks, along with rickshaw pullers seeking passengers, all drenched in sweat that soaked through their shirts.
Wang Xingcai led Lu Mingzhu and Lu Ping’an aboard the most luxurious and massive cruise ship, saying as they walked, “Although this company is jointly owned by your elder brother and his partners, it also has British shareholders. Nominally, it operates under British shipping lines, and the voyage to Hong Kong should take approximately three days.”
Lu Mingzhu raised an eyebrow. “So soon?”
It was somewhat unexpected.
Wang Xingcai smiled. “This is the most advanced international liner; the journey from Shanghai to Hong Kong covers only a small portion of its route, as it also travels to several countries in Europe. Your father and the others missed it, so they’ll likely have to take an ordinary cruise ship.”
Brushing past a patrolling sailor on the cruise ship, he escorted Lu Mingzhu and Lu Ping’an to the top deck’s cabins. “Mingzhu, you’ll stay in the middle cabin, with Butler Li and Ping’an on either side. The other servants are in the lower decks. Whether dining or taking some air, never be alone; make sure they accompany you.”
Lu Mingzhu nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, Godfather. You’ve gone to so much trouble.”
After securing their cabin arrangements, Wang Xingcai accompanied Lu Mingzhu and Lu Ping’an to meet fellow passengers, mostly prominent merchants and social elites from Shanghai, along with several foreigners working in the city who were close acquaintances of Wang Xingcai.
Wang Xingcai had entrusted them to look after Lu Mingzhu during the journey.
Only when the cruise ship was about to set sail did he return to shore, under Lu Mingzhu’s reluctant gaze.
Thick smoke billowed, engines roared, and the cruise ship slowly pulled away from the shore.
After entering her cabin, Lu Mingzhu did not lie down immediately; instead, she stood by the window, gazing at the churning waves outside. Only then did the heart that had been suspended in midair since her transmigration finally settle firmly within her chest.
The goal of escaping has been achieved!
No need to face famine, no need to confront a planned economy, and no need to endure a life plummeting from heaven to hell. Although the next thirty years must be spent in a foreign land, personal safety can be ensured—provided she doesn’t recklessly bring trouble upon herself.