Chapter 040

Chapter 040

A snack shop that's completely her own?

This is a dream for many people!

Lu Mingzhu was overwhelmed with joy.

She took big strides, pulling Xie Junyao along as they hurried inside.

The snack shop hadn't officially opened yet, and it was quite spacious inside, bright and clean, not the kind of shop where you couldn't move around. The neat orange-red tables and chairs were empty. The only person there was a waiter wiping down the tables and chairs. In front was the cashier counter, and there were rows of windows on either side. Seven or eight neatly dressed chefs were stationed at each window, preparing an array of snacks.

The aroma was emanating from there.

Above the windows were menus with a white background and red letters, indicating the snacks sold at each window and their prices.

The prices matched those of street vendors, clearly not intended for profit.

"When will it officially open?" Lu Mingzhu, enchanted by the rich fragrance, was salivating.

"Today, we're doing a tasting with you, and you get to decide the opening day, alright?" Xie Junyao got a small bowl of curry fish balls from one of the windows, blew on one, and offered it to her.

Lu Mingzhu took a bite and instantly gave a thumbs-up.

"Delicious! You should try it." After swallowing the fish ball, she noted it was fresher than street food, had a chewy texture, and the curry sauce tasted more authentic. It seemed this chef was quite skilled.

Xie Junyao used the same skewer to eat a fish ball.

Lu Mingzhu watched, her face slightly red, as if she had applied blush, looking incredibly beautiful.

Xie Junyao, on the other hand, remained natural in his demeanor.

They shared a small bowl of curry fish balls before moving on to sample shrimp dumplings, char siu bao, cheung fun, and double-skin milk. These belonged to the Cantonese cuisine category, which was also very popular in Hong Kong.

In addition, chefs from other culinary backgrounds were preparing a variety of snacks.

The influx of mainlanders brought not just capital, labor, and machinery to Hong Kong, but also the flavors of their hometowns.

Dishes from all over the country converged here.

Lu Mingzhu then tasted many Shanghainese snacks, which were made very authentically.

With all this delicious food, they didn't need lunch.

She rubbed her stomach, feeling very satisfied.

"The food is so delicious; I can't wait to share it with everyone." She said sincerely.

Xie Junyao smiled, "First, transfer the shop to your name, and then we'll discuss who to invite to cut the ribbon for our new shop. What about my older brother? He’ll make time even if he’s busy."

"Isn't that a bit of a waste of talent? It's just a small snack shop."

"Why would having him cut the ribbon for our new shop be a waste of talent? Maybe our snack shop will bloom all over Hong Kong one day." Xie Junyao's offhand remark came true after a dozen years.

At that moment, they didn't know it.

Lu Mingzhu also suggested, "And my dad, shouldn't he cut the ribbon for his daughter's new shop?"

They chatted and agreed to invite Wang Bohui too.

When Lu Mingzhu first arrived in Hong Kong, she stayed with them for quite a while.

As for whether they have time, we’ll check and find out.

After completing the paperwork, the two excitedly went to find Wang Bohui first.

He lived pretty close by.

Wang Bohui was surprised to hear this but then smiled and said, "No problem, has the opening day been decided? Which day?"

"No matter which lucky day it is, it has to be on a Sunday since everyone’s free then." Lu Mingzhu only had time on Sundays and would naturally prioritize that day.

Wang Bohui nodded and said, "Just give me a heads-up when you’ve set the date."

Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao thanked him and reminded him to bring Mrs. Wang and Liao Wanru along to try the food at the shop, then went to find Xie Junyao's older brother, Xie Junhao.

To their surprise, Xie Junhao wasn’t at the bank.

Nor was he at the company.

Xie Junyao thought his brother was quite disappointing. "I'll wait until I get home tonight to talk to him about it, then we’ll go to Hong Kong Grand Hotel to see Uncle Lu? He’s been very busy lately, so he might not be there."

"If he’s there, we’ll meet him; if not, I’ll call him tonight." Lu Mingzhu didn’t mind at all.

With family, there’s no need to be overly formal.

When they arrived at Hong Kong Grand Hotel, they found that Uncle Lu was indeed not there.

Even Lu Pingan and his sister were not around. Upon asking, they were told that Butler Xu had taken them to the park.

Since she had already expected this, Lu Mingzhu wasn’t disappointed. Besides, they happened to run into Uncle Lu just as he was returning, so they went back with him to the presidential suite where he was staying.

As soon as they sat down, Lu Mingzhu explained her request.

Uncle Lu raised his eyebrows in surprise. "A snack shop? That’s interesting."

But he didn’t think much of it.

Just a small snack shop, after all.

He untied his tie and said, "You came at the perfect time—I didn’t even need to call you."

"What’s the matter?" Lu Mingzhu asked.

"I've already negotiated with the shareholders who are selling shares of Wing Fung Bank. Take tomorrow off and come with me to finalize the deal." In front of Xie Junyao, Uncle Lu spoke directly.

He wanted to make sure the other party knew how wealthy his daughter was, so they would think twice before crossing her.

As a man who had multiple wives and many female friends, Uncle Lu understood men’s weaknesses all too well and couldn’t be certain whether Xie Junyao would truly remain faithful for life.

If he could, that would be best.

If not, his daughter, being rich and powerful, would be able to leave more gracefully.

Who can’t live without someone else?

His daughter was so smart and shrewd; she’d never mistreat herself.

Mingzhu Lu didn’t realize that her father had instantly thought about the future. Upon learning that she would soon become a bank shareholder, she was so happy she almost jumped up. "Really? I’ll take a leave, definitely. I’ll take a leave."

School was nothing compared to becoming a bank shareholder.

Besides, she had already learned most of the material and could easily pass the final exams.

Seeing his daughter so happy and smiling like a flower, Mr. Lu was also quite pleased. "You have good fortune. The shareholder has decided to settle in the UK and won’t be coming back. Buying these shares cost a few million more than what Pingan’s shares in HSBC are worth. Moreover, under the management of the elder Mr. Xie, the bank’s business is growing rapidly with substantial dividends. You won’t have to worry about making a living."

Mingzhu Lu put on a flattering smile. "Thank you, Dad."

"Wing Fung Bank is a solid choice. It’s one of the few Chinese-owned banks that can compete with foreign banks. After you get the shares, don’t think about selling them. Hold onto them and collect dividends annually," Mr. Lu instructed.

"Don’t worry." Mingzhu Lu certainly knew the benefits of bank shares.

As long as it wasn’t forced into bankruptcy, it made money almost every year, and more with each passing year.

The next day, when handling the paperwork, Mingzhu Lu suddenly realized that the man she had bumped into at the bank on the day she received her payment was actually Xie Junhao!

The elder brother of Xie Junyao.

Xie Junhao was the witness to this share transaction and was slightly surprised to see Mingzhu Lu brought by Mr. Lu. He knew his brother was dating Mr. Lu’s youngest daughter.

He hadn’t expected it to be that reckless girl.

She truly was breathtakingly beautiful.

Xie Junhao had always known that his brother placed great importance on appearance. As a child, he said he wanted to find the most beautiful girl in the world to marry.

After more than twenty years, he actually found her.

Luckily, Xie Junhao was always great at keeping his feelings in check and quickly composed himself, greeted Mr. Lu politely, and gave Mingzhu Lu a slight nod. "Miss Lu, I’ve heard so much about you."

Mingzhu Lu smiled awkwardly. "Just call me by my name. Has Junyao mentioned me to you?"

"When is the opening?" Xie Junhao asked.

By asking this, he indicated that Junyao had already mentioned the ribbon-cutting ceremony to him.

Before Mingzhu Lu could answer, Mr. Lu said, "What? Did they also invite you to cut the ribbon at their snack shop?"

"Junyao is just messing around, showing off for you," Xie Junhao said. Within his ability, he was very willing to help his brother please his sweetheart and was quite optimistic about his future with Mingzhu Lu.

Although they hadn’t formally met before, he had privately inquired about her through fellow Shanghainese.

A refined lady, both talented and beautiful.

Mr. Lu smiled and said, "Xiao Xie is thoughtful. How could I laugh? My daughter excels at everything and has it all, except she’s a bit of a foodie."

Mingzhu Lu covered her face with her hands, unable to hide her blush. "I’m not that much of a foodie!"

Opening a snack shop was one thing, but how did the conversation lead so far?

Xie Junhao smiled. "Eating is essential in life; enjoying good food is a blessing. Once you decide on the opening date, let Junyao inform me in advance so I can arrange my time."

"Next Sunday, November 4th." Mingzhu Lu had decided the date after checking the almanac the previous night.

It was an auspicious day for opening a business.

Xie Junhao smiled at Lu father and said, "I'll be hosting lunch at noon, and I'd be honored if you all could join us after we sign the contract."

Of course, Lu father accepted the invitation.

After completing all the procedures, the group headed to the hotel. This included Li Xing, the shareholder selling the shares, and lawyer Nie Hongkun, both of whom had a good relationship with Xie Junhao. That’s why Li Xing, under Xie Junhao's mediation, had agreed to sell the shares to Lu father and Lu Mingzhu.

There was a sense of emotion in the air.

If Lu Mingzhu were to marry into the Xie family, they would hold 35% of the shares in Wing Fung Bank, making them the largest shareholder.

It definitely pays off to be good-looking. Xie Junyao was inferior to his brother in many ways, but his looks were unparalleled in Hong Kong. And check out his girlfriend—she's not only gorgeous and well-mannered, but she also comes from a rich and influential family.

Lu father gave away shares worth almost 10 million Hong Kong dollars without hesitation, showing just how much he loves his daughter—and how loaded he is.

When signing the contract, Lu Mingzhu was utterly astonished.

The value of these shares alone exceeded the assets Lu father had promised her. Plus, she had previously asked Lu father for 1.3 million Hong Kong dollars to repay He Yun.

Wow!

Her father was indeed extraordinarily generous!

In the car on the way to the hotel, Lu Mingzhu was practically fawning over her dad, even offering to give him a massage.

It wasn’t convenient in the car, but Lu father thoroughly enjoyed it.

He deserved to enjoy it—he’d already given away so much property, including the Wan Gu Department Store shares that were ready to be signed, and he was still looking into other assets. In the future, he would undoubtedly allocate some jewelry and antiques to her as a dowry, and give her a diamond company and 30% of the shares in a textile factory and a jewelry company.

When calculated like this, the majority of the family assets had been allocated to her.

The textile factory and jewelry company were still in the planning stages and hadn’t opened yet. The diamond company could be put on the agenda, but Lu father didn’t want to give it to her so soon and decided to wait.

He was just over sixty and could afford to wait.

As for his eldest son and grandson, Lu Pingan, being a boy, naturally received better treatment than girls. No matter which industry he engaged in, society would offer him preferential treatment. It was only fair that he received slightly less in inheritance.

With the right guidance, he could achieve just as much as the current Lu family.

Lu father was already very impressed by how he handled things during their time together.

Lu Mingzhu had no idea that a huge surprise was waiting for her. Before getting in the car, she quietly asked Xie Junhao to bring her boyfriend too, and he agreed.

Upon arriving at the hotel and just sitting down, Xie Junyao hurriedly arrived.

He greeted everyone, including Lu father, Xie Junhao, the original Wing Fung Bank shareholder Li Xing, and the witness lawyer. But when he got to Lu Mingzhu, who was sitting next to him, he just held her hand under the table instead.

Lu Mingzhu whispered, "The date has been chosen, November 4th."

Xie Junyao nodded. "Don't worry about the opening prep—I've got it covered. Just focus on school."

Xie Junhao, sitting above them, asked what they were discussing.

Just as Xie Junyao was about to answer truthfully, Lu Mingzhu tugged at him and said with a smile, "Tell him about the manuscript rejection. Big brother, could you please judge? Is the problem with my writing or their perception?"

Xie Junhao raised an eyebrow. "What manuscript?"

"It's the script for the Yue opera version of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl," Xie Junyao found it increasingly amusing and summarized the plot from start to finish in just a few words, "I don't think she's the right fit for writing this kind of script."

Everyone was surprised, but upon reflection, they felt that Lu Mingzhu had a point.

The prominent lawyer Nie Hongkun smiled. "The script itself is fine, but the issue is with the film company and the audience who view the Cowherd and Weaver Girl as a romantic love story. It's actually quite simple to understand. Throughout history, countless novels, operas, and stories have been written by struggling scholars. Naturally, they would fantasize about a poor young man marrying a princess or a wealthy lady, living a life with a virtuous wife and beautiful concubines."

Lu Mingzhu nodded vigorously. "Exactly like that!"

Why are tycoon and Cinderella romance novels so popular? Because there's a market for them.

Ancient men fantasized about poor young men marrying rich, beautiful women, and modern men have the same fantasy—dreaming of harems. And which girl doesn't want to marry a handsome and wealthy tycoon?

It's the same logic!

Xie Junhao asked, "Mingzhu, what are your plans after the rejection of your script?"

Lu Mingzhu shook her head. "Not really sure yet."

In truth, she intended to write a novel.

In the world where she grew up, the 50s and 60s saw the rise of the four great masters: Jin, Gu, Liang, and Wen. There were also countless talented men and women. Though Lu Mingzhu wouldn’t compare herself to them, growing up in the information age gave her access to vast amounts of knowledge, making her feel like she was standing on the shoulders of giants. She believed she could carve out a niche for herself in this era.

To keep her secret safe, she decided not to tell anyone—not even her boyfriend—letting him tease her if he found out!

Xie Junhao smiled. "I have shares in Feihua Film Company. If you don't mind, you can give the script to Junyao, and he can arrange for the production. After it's completed, it will be shown in Feihua Cinema."

Feihua Film Company had everything Ruyi Film Company did, and they were about the same size.

Lu Mingzhu's eyes lit up. "Can I?"

"You can," Xie Junhao nodded.

"I don't want any royalties," Lu Mingzhu felt that getting it produced and marketed would be a success in itself.

Xie Junhao said, "No problem, you'll get a share of the profits then."

Lu Mingzhu happily agreed. "Thank you, Big Brother."

Since the legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl was already so well-known, she couldn’t be sure her script would be well-received. If it was, Feihua Film Company would profit. But if it wasn't...

By not taking any royalties, she’d also help reduce costs for the production team.

After the meal, as they left the hotel, they encountered a newsboy shouting out the sale of newspapers.

"New release at Ruyi Cinema! 'Butterfly Lovers' tells the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai! Come check it out! New release at Ruyi Cinema, 'Butterfly Lovers'!"

Xie Junyao immediately bought a newspaper.

Lu Mingzhu caught a glimpse of the advertisement for Ruyi Cinema and a large photo. The photo likely depicted a scene from the opera of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, with beautiful costumes.

"'Butterfly Lovers' is the script I wrote. I'll treat everyone to a movie!" Xie Junyao announced.

Nie Hongkun didn't have time. "I'll catch it another day, not today."

Li Xing similarly declined politely.

In the end, those who went to the cinema were Father Lu and his daughter Lu Mingzhu, Xie Junhao and his brother Xie Junyao, along with the bodyguards and drivers from both families. They also bought movie tickets for everyone.

This is considered a show of support for Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Mingzhu was thrilled and whispered to Xie Junyao inside the theater, "How much do you think the box office will rake in?"

"Hard to guess," Xie Junyao said, as he had no research on this aspect.

Lu Mingzhu's eyes sparkled. "If it grosses hundreds of thousands at the box office, shouldn't my next script's fee go up? It's a pity about my *The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.* They didn't see its potential."

Xie Junyao smiled. "If they don't want to produce *The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl,* that's their problem."

Exactly!

Lu Mingzhu nodded, firmly believing that Ruyi Film Company didn't recognize its value.

She continued to whisper to Xie Junyao, "You can submit the script of *The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl* to the film company. Have them take a close look at it. If it doesn't look promising, don't waste money on it."

Upon careful thought, she realized she shouldn't trouble them into making a film just because her script was rejected.

One should be more considerate.

Film equipment these days is pretty outdated, and making a movie costs a lot!

Hearing this, Xie Junyao smiled. "My big bro's got money to burn; he's not worried about losses."

Lu Mingzhu gave him a sideways glance. "You wouldn't know the value of things if you're not managing the household."

Xie Junhao and Lu Mingzhu's father were sitting beside them. How could they not hear the conversation?

Xie Junhao spoke up, "Don't worry, Mingzhu. Like Junyao said, Feihua Film Company can easily cover this minor loss. Besides, I find your story refreshing and innovative. It might be a box-office success. It's a fifty-fifty shot. Might as well take the risk."

Lu Mingzhu was about to say something more, but the movie started, so she had to stop.

In public, one must be mindful.

Lu's father had once said that Ruyi Film Company had many beautiful actresses under its banner, and indeed, he hadn't lied to her.

The actress playing Zhu Yingtai was stunning, with delicate features and a classic elegance. The handsome male actor playing Liang Shanbo was a perfect match, a real feast for the eyes.

The singing was fantastic—melodious and lingering.

The plot was intricate, the language magnificent and elegant, and the costumes classically beautiful. Audience members couldn't help but sigh in admiration from time to time.

By the end of the film, many emotional female viewers were moved to tears, cursing Ma Wencai, who was even more handsome and charismatic than Liang Shanbo.

Lu Mingzhu secretly laughed.

The audience's emotional involvement in the story indicated the film's success.

As they left the cinema, Lu's father couldn't help but say, "How blind must Zhu Yingtai be? She didn't choose Ma Wencai, who was her social equal and handsome. Instead, she chose a sickly, poor scholar."

"Dad, what do you know? She was chasing true love, breaking free from the chains of feudal society. Do you understand? A feudal lord like you with a harem of wives certainly wouldn't understand. The better Ma Wencai was, the more it showed Zhu Yingtai's love for Liang Shanbo by not choosing him." Lu Mingzhu wouldn't become someone like Zhu Yingtai, but she admired her courage in pursuing love wholeheartedly.

Lu's father didn't argue with her.

Women always get hung up on these little emotional dramas.

He said enthusiastically, "Other things aside, An Ruyi's eye for casting is as good as ever, always picking handsome men and beautiful women. What's the name of the actress playing Zhu Yingtai? I saw on the credits that her name is Xia Lin?"

Lu Mingzhu found the name a bit familiar.

"Before she could make sense of it, she said, 'Hey, Dad, aren't you up to something shady?'"

Lu Father glared at her. "What shady business? Do you really think I'm that kind of guy?"

Lu Mingzhu truly didn't trust his integrity.

But he was generous to her.

Just two days later, Lu Father took her to sign the share transfer contract for Wan Gu Department Store.

These shares alone were worth about 5 million, not to mention a piece of land in Repulse Bay that Lu Father had bought for her for HKD 150,000, plus a two-story villa on White Plus Road and a three-story house in Kadoorie Hill.

They didn’t find any suitable shops, so he promised to buy one for her later.

Lu Mingzhu didn’t care about Lu Father’s private life after receiving so many benefits!

In November, after collecting many newspapers to assess the situation, she saw a news article with the headline, "'Former Shanghai Business Tycoon Tours Victoria Harbor with Hong Kong's Number One Beauty.'"

The so-called number one beauty of Hong Kong was Xia Lin, known as Hong Kong's top beauty.

In the photo, she wore a cheongsam, her figure slender and graceful, making her a truly stunning beauty.

The article also detailed the date location of Lu Father and Xia Lin’s outing and mentioned that the large diamond ring Xia Lin wore at a store opening event was a gift from Lu Father. Her face radiated pure sweetness during the interview.

Lu Mingzhu’s jaw almost dropped.

Her dad, a man in his sixties, had charmed a big star so quickly?

'Butterfly Lovers' was a massive box office hit, with newspapers reporting its record-breaking success. On the first day, it broke 10,000, on the second day it reached 20,000, and by the end of its run, it was expected to hit 500,000.

Xia Lin's fame and value soared, and it was said that her salary for the next film had already reached 5,000.

Why not focus on building her career instead?

After discovering Lu Mingzhu's address, the third concubine came sobbing to her to complain, "Eighth Miss, can't you do something about Master? He's so old, and he still doesn't know how to take care of himself, finding a young girl in her twenties! You don’t know how much I was ridiculed when I went out to play mahjong!"

"He’s my dad, and I’m his daughter. You want me to control him? Come on!" Lu Mingzhu had no sympathy for her.

You’re not the original wife but the Nth concubine; what right do you have to control Old Lu finding the Nth+1 concubine?

Despite her tears, the third concubine’s appearance was impeccable—her hair neatly combed, adorned with jade and diamond rings, exuding wealth, far surpassing Xia Lin’s single diamond ring.

To Lu Mingzhu, who owned many large diamonds, the reported 3-carat stone didn’t seem particularly impressive.

"Master even bought her a building!" the third concubine said.

Lu Mingzhu immediately sat up straight. "A building?"

That wouldn’t do!

The more her father spent on others, the less was left for them.

What was the point of spending money on outsiders? It should be spent on his own flesh and blood.

"Just one floor, located on Prince Road," the third concubine pouted.

After Shengfeng Real Estate introduced floor-by-floor sales, other developers quickly followed the trend. Although they couldn’t match Shengfeng’s scale due to funding issues, their properties sold very well.

Hearing it was just one floor, Lu Mingzhu immediately leaned back on the sofa.

It's good that it's not a whole building.

A building would easily cost six figures, whereas a single floor would be at most a few tens of thousands.

"After my mother passed away, the second wife is the most senior, and she didn't voice any opposition. Why are you making such a fuss?" Lu Mingzhu has no intention of getting involved.

The third wife sneered, "The second wife is past her prime and out of favor. She can't possibly manage to keep an eye on everything."

"You know that compared to you, the second wife is past her prime and out of favor. By the same token, compared to Xia Lin, you're middle-aged at best. How can you expect to control the old man?" If she could, there wouldn't be a fourth wife, and she wouldn't be bothering Lu Mingzhu.

Just look at how composed and collected the second and fourth wives are.

The third wife became anxious. "That's exactly why we need to keep an eye on Xia Lin! If she comes into the household and has a child, the old man will have a son in his old age. In his eyes and heart, where will we be? And when it comes to the property, he'll likely give more to them because they're younger. Xia Lin comes from a poor background, unlike us who have some assets."

Lu Mingzhu said in surprise, "You've even found out about Xia Lin's background?"

Impressive!

Clearly, one should never underestimate any of the old man's concubines.

The third wife looked distressed. "Xia Lin has been working under An Ruyi. In the past, she's charmed several wealthy men and young masters. She had a rich young man wrapped around her finger for years. She's not someone to be trifled with."

"You're worrying too much," Lu Mingzhu believed that Father knows his limits.

Even if he doesn’t, it doesn't concern me. She had already received more than enough property and had nothing to worry about in the future!

The third wife wasn't giving up. "Eighth Miss, are you really not going to do anything?"

Lu Mingzhu said firmly, "No. They’re only after money and beauty. There's no reason for me to get involved! Besides, my shop is about to open. I don’t have time to deal with your petty squabbles!"