Chapter 67

Chapter 67

The dutiful daughter acted without hesitation.

After lunch, Lu Mingzhu had Ming Yue take away the capital specialties and several modern calligraphy and paintings she had prepared for them, then took the ferry with Xie Junyao to the Hong Kong Grand Hotel, bringing gifts along.

Not for her father, but for others.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Lu Mingzhu first saw the third concubine coming down for lunch on the first floor.

She looked gleeful, clearly enjoying someone else's misfortune.

Clearly, she also knew that Xia Lin had been stabbed.

"Third Concubine, your grin is a bit too obvious. You might upset Dad," Lu Mingzhu reminded.

Seeing her, the third concubine smiled warmly and greeted enthusiastically: "Eighth Miss, the apple of your father's eye! The gold and diamond business your father started must be making you a fortune, right? When will you let your little brother Changming in on the action? Your brother is still young and can't start a business, so I can only buy buildings for him with money, earning some rent."

"You should ask Dad about that," Lu Mingzhu said, not concerned about her half-brother.

The third concubine muttered, "Who dares to ask? Asking would mean coveting the old master's property, and he would definitely be unhappy."

Lu Mingzhu raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Since you understand, why ask me?"

"Your father spoils you!" The third concubine's face was full of envy, "I always thought the old master was cold to you, secretly happy, but who knew he was protecting you, and that Pingan, who looks more and more like you and the old master. You've been away for less than a month, and the old master had Xu the Butler go to the pier every day to find out when you would return. He knew the moment the ship was about to dock."

Hearing this, Lu Mingzhu immediately understood why her father had come to her as soon as she got home.

He was indeed very concerned about Lu Changsheng.

Unfortunately, he didn't bring him back.

"Is Dad here at the hotel?" Lu Mingzhu asked the third concubine.

If not, she would leave.

She’s been swamped lately!

After returning, she hadn't yet visited Mrs. Wang and Wang Bohui and his wife.

The third concubine shook her head, "He's here, just returned from the hospital. He was taking a shower when I came down."

Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao went directly upstairs.

Xu the Butler opened the door for her, smiling broadly, "Eighth Miss is here, and Young Mr. Xie."

"Uncle Xu, how have you been? Thank you for collecting the rent for me," Lu Mingzhu was very polite, with a well-behaved expression, "I brought some capital specialties back, there's a portion for you, I'll have the bodyguards bring it to you later."

Xu the Butler was flattered, "Thank you, Eighth Miss."

As he invited them in, he smiled and said, "It's my duty to serve Eighth Miss. The rent for the Tang building and shops you own hasn’t changed, the Snack Shop made a net profit of 22,000 Hong Kong dollars last month, and the two new buildings in Happy Valley have been rented out, 20 units on 10 floors, each with a key money (a large upfront fee for renting) of 7,000 yuan and a monthly rent of 250 yuan."

Lu Mingzhu interrupted him, "Key money?"

She had previously thought the key money was too expensive and planned to be kind, collecting rent with a deposit of one month and three months' rent.

Her father came out of the bathroom, drying his hair, and said, "The key money makes them feel the pinch, so they will rent long-term and stably, not easily change. Xu the Butler did the right thing, don't think it's bad."

Lu Mingzhu suddenly realized, "Ah, I see now! I was wrong about that."

When checking the accounts, she was puzzled by the large amount of money coming in. She wondered if it was due to the high rent of luxury homes. If there was a key money fee, it would make sense. The two buildings could bring in 140,000 Hong Kong dollars!

Wow! 140 grand!

Then, she wondered, "With this amount of money, why not add a bit more and buy a property?"

A floor of a thousand square feet costs between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan. If divided into two units, each unit would only cost 10,000 or 15,000 yuan. With a bit more money, one could fully own their own property.

Those who can afford the key money must have a decent income.

Xu the Butler, being more knowledgeable, smiled and said, "That's true, but there aren't enough units for sale in strata-titled sales."

Lu Mingzhu patted her forehead, "You're absolutely right. The demand in the Hong Kong property market is too high. I thought strata-titled sales could change the current situation a bit."

But it seems the change isn't significant.

Xu the Butler carefully explained, "So far, only Shengfeng Real Estate Company and our Lu's Property Company sell properties this way, and they are always in short supply. Other real estate companies have followed suit, and almost all the stock has been sold out, but it's still not enough. Moreover, a large part is still sold as whole buildings, like Mr. He's project in Happy Valley, which has been sold to wealthy people from start to finish. So, tenants either can't buy a floor or can't afford a whole building. Those who want to buy a unit still have to wait, as construction takes time."

Lu Mingzhu nodded, "You've been working hard, Uncle Xu."

"Not at all, not at all," Xu the Butler continued to discuss property rental matters with her. "The small villa on Barker Road is rented to a family from Shanghai, acquaintances of the master. They have a large family and prefer quiet, not liking to live in tenement buildings. They want to live in a large house with a garden but are afraid of causing a shortage of business funds, so they rent first, using the funds for business. The key money is 50,000 yuan, with a monthly rent of 5,000. The bungalow at Kadoorie Hill has cheaper rent but a larger area, rented to foreigners working in Hong Kong. The total rent is the same, due on the first of each month. The apartment building on Shouson Hill is an old building, and the rent is not as high as the new buildings in Happy Valley. There are 8 buildings in total, each with 5 floors, each floor converted into two units, totaling 80 units of 500 square feet each. Each unit has a key money of 5,000 yuan and a monthly rent of 200 yuan."

Just the key money for all units totals 500,000 yuan!

Calculating this way, buying properties for rent is really profitable.

Lu Mingzhu, who would no longer be short of money, had a sparkle in her eyes and raised her hand, "I want to continue buying properties."

No wonder everyone in Hong Kong dreams of being a landlord—it's a goldmine!

The return rate is high, and the investment can be recouped in a few years.

Mr. Lu handed the towel to Xu the Butler and nodded, "It's quite suitable for a lazy person like you. Ask Xu the Butler to keep an eye out for you and buy as soon as possible, rent early and earn early."

To stop her from giving the money away.

Mr. Lu isn't that noble.

"Thank you, Uncle Xu!" Lu Mingzhu looked at Xu the Butler with a smile, her eyes curving.

Xu the Butler smiled, "It's my pleasure to serve you, miss."

When Xu the Butler went out to arrange lunch for Mr. Lu, Mr. Lu sat on the sofa, raised his eyes, and looked at Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao, asking, "What brings you and young Xie to me?"

Lu Mingzhu got straight to the point, "I heard Xia Lin was stabbed. How is she doing?"

She is the leading lady in three of my scripts, so I need to show concern.

After all, life is at stake.

Mr. Lu knew she came for this news, "She was seriously injured, with abdominal injuries and organ damage. I hired the best doctors for her. I just came back from the hospital after her surgery. The doctors said she needs two to three months to fully recover. Don't worry about other things, Xia Lin's starring film 'Xi Shi' has already wrapped up and is expected to be released in February."

Lu Mingzhu said discontentedly, "I'm concerned about the person, not the movie. The movie isn't as important as a life. What about the perpetrator? I heard his surname is Wu. There was a Mrs. Wu who once bought pearls from me, and her son really liked Xia Lin."

"It's him," Mr. Lu's eyes flashed with severity.

"What happened? Did love turn into hate?" Lu Mingzhu blinked her big eyes, extremely curious.

"What do you mean by love turning into hate? What kind of love could a wealthy young man have for an actress from the slums? It's merely lust, and when he couldn't have her, he resorted to violence." Mr. Lu saw through it all; he knew Xia Lin wasn't simple, but he also understood her behavior of having to navigate through such situations due to her lack of support.

If she had been too proud, she would have been dead a hundred times over.

Lu Mingzhu sighed, "What's the situation now? I mean, that Mr. Wu."

Mr. Lu said indifferently, "Of course, he was reported to the police."

Everyone in Hong Kong knew that Xia Lin was his woman. Mr. Wu's actions completely disrespected him, and with Xia Lin severely injured, angering countless fans, he would either face death or severe punishment.

Lu Mingzhu nodded, "As it should be."

Resorting to violence when one can't get what they want is despicable. Even after a hundred years, such situations still occur frequently, with many girls losing their lives, getting injured, or disfigured, while the perpetrators often serve a few years in prison and then continue with their lives as usual.

Although some girls do have personal issues, no one is perfect, and personal issues are not a reason for them to be harmed. Moreover, most girls are very innocent, especially those who are harmed by men simply for rejecting their advances.

There are far too many such cases.

Mr. Lu didn't want to continue this topic and said, "School is about to start, what are your plans next? I see you've written three movie scripts back-to-back, and the first two Yue opera films were very successful. 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl' has already earned 700,000 yuan at the box office, and I have high hopes for 'Xi Shi,' which I think will sell even better than the Yue opera films. Do you want to write another one?"

Lu Mingzhu couldn't believe it, "Really? 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl' earned 700,000 yuan? You're optimistic about 'Xi Shi'?"

After the blow of receiving only 180 yuan for her manuscript, she felt she could do it again.

If movies are profitable, write scripts and earn dividends!

Mr. Lu nodded, "The production quality of Mandarin films far exceeds that of the crudely made Cantonese films, so their popularity is certain. Our film company will only shoot Mandarin films from now on."

Lu Mingzhu strongly agreed, "You're absolutely right!"

Cantonese films have the nickname "quickly produced," meaning a film can be completed in just seven days, which gives an idea of their production quality.

The reason why Xia Lin's 'Butterfly Lovers' and 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl' were successful was due to the long shooting time, the stunning appearances of the lead actors, and the high-quality production, which the audience found pleasing.

Lu Mingzhu overlooked the most important factor: the excellent script.

She turned to Xie Junyao and said, "Can you help me ask Feihua Film Company when they will distribute the money? I signed a profit-sharing contract and can get 20%. How much can I get from the 700,000 yuan box office?"

She understood the future net profit calculation method but was unclear about the current situation.

Xie Junyao wasn't very familiar with it, "I'll go back and ask my elder brother, he knows. Anyway, the profit-sharing is definitely not calculated based on the 700,000 yuan box office; costs and distribution fees need to be deducted, so the shareable money is at most half."

Lu Mingzhu laughed, "I didn't expect to get 140,000 yuan."

She then enthusiastically suggested to Mr. Lu, "Dad, why don't we buy a piece of land to build a film studio? It would be convenient for our company's filming and could also provide shooting locations for other film companies. Movies might lose money, but a film studio can make money permanently. If you're short on funds, I can invest a share!"

Mr. Lu thought it was a good idea, "Your suggestion is good, I'll mention it to Ming Hui next time I see him."

Looking at the time, Lu Mingzhu stretched, "Since you're fine, we'll head back now! We'll stop by Bohui's place first, then go home to write the script."

Although she has many assets thanks to her father, she still wants to earn more through her own efforts.

She doesn't mind having more money.

Just as Mr. Lu was about to nod, he heard a knock at the door and gestured with his chin, "Go open the door, see who it is."

"Oh." Lu Mingzhu didn't feel uncomfortable being ordered around; she skipped to the door, opened it, and was stunned, "Elder brother, sister-in-law, what brings you two here?"

And Mrs. Wu, her eyes red and looking haggard.

Liao Wanru took her hand, "Is your father home?"

Before Lu Mingzhu could even nod, Mr. Lu Yanzhi called out from behind her, "Mingzhu, is Bohui here?"

"Yes, along with my sister-in-law and Mrs. Wu." Lu Mingzhu stepped aside to let Wang Bohui, his wife, and Mrs. Wu in. Seeing Mrs. Wu laden with gifts, she had her suspicions.

Seeing Mrs. Wu, Mr. Lu Yanzhi's face darkened.

Mrs. Wu recoiled, looking pleadingly at Wang Bohui and Liao Wanru.

Wang Bohui sighed and stepped forward, "Uncle Lu, Mrs. Wu is here on behalf of her son, Wu Yaozu, to apologize to you."

Mr. Lu Yanzhi said indifferently, "Mr. Wu didn't harm me, so why the need for an apology?"

"Mr. Lu, my son is ignorant and fearless. He injured Miss Xia Lin and has been taken into custody. He will be sentenced according to British law." Mrs. Wu was beside herself upon hearing the news, angry at her son's stupidity and annoyed at Xia Lin for leading him on in the past. But no matter what, he is her only son, and she had to find a way to get him out.

Mr. Lu Yanzhi chuckled, "In that case, Mrs. Wu should go to the police station."

Mrs. Wu put down the gifts and pleaded, "I've been there, but they wouldn't let me see him. I also asked a lawyer, who said that the impact of Miss Xia Lin's injury is significant, stirring public outrage. Without Miss Xia Lin's forgiveness, the punishment will only be heavier, not lighter. Mr. Lu, I know I shouldn't have come, nor should I plead for that unfilial son, but I am a mother after all. I can't just stand by and do nothing, so I had to ask Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang to introduce me to apologize to you. I hope you can be magnanimous and let my son off this once."

"I'm not the injured party, I can't make the decision." Out of respect for Wang Bohui and Liao Wanru, Mr. Lu Yanzhi didn't immediately throw Mrs. Wu out. "I'm merely Xia Lin's boyfriend."

Hearing him acknowledge Xia Lin as his girlfriend, Mrs. Wu felt bitter.

As if she had swallowed a pound of bitter herbs.

She had long been dissatisfied with her son's pursuit of Xia Lin. When Xia Lin was dating Mr. Lu Yanzhi, she had advised her son at least a hundred times, hoping he would let go.

But she never expected that his way of letting go was to stab Xia Lin.

God knows, when she heard the news, Mrs. Wu was terrified.

Who is Lu Yanzhi?

Back in Shanghai, few people didn't give him face, even high-ranking officials treated him with respect. Her son stabbing his girlfriend was like throwing his face on the ground and stomping on it.

So, Mrs. Wu's first thought was to seek Mr. Lu Yanzhi's forgiveness.

If he forgave, everything else would be easier.

Wang Bohui stepped forward, "Uncle Lu, Mrs. Wu will definitely apologize to Miss Xia Lin, and she has even prepared gifts. She just wanted to inform you before going."

Mr. Lu Yanzhi raised an eyebrow, "Rare, to have you involved."

"There's some friendship after all, it's hard to stand by and do nothing." Wang Bohui couldn't refuse, especially since he needed the Western medicine provided by the Wu family's pharmaceutical factory. Mr. Wu was bedridden with a serious illness, and Mrs. Wu was in charge, willing to sell the medicine to him at cost, just to ensure Wu Yaozu's safety. "The lawyer said that as long as we can get Miss Xia Lin's forgiveness, Mr. Wu's punishment can be reduced."

Mr. Lu Yanzhi crossed his legs, sitting comfortably, "I've said, I'm not the victim, my opinion doesn't matter."

Wang Bohui quickly nodded, "I understand, this matter depends on Miss Xia Lin's attitude."

Mr. Lu Yanzhi slightly nodded, "She just had surgery, don't disturb her recovery in the next few days. We'll talk about it in a few days."

Let Mr. Wu stew in his own juices for a while.

If he doesn't suffer, does he really think Lu Yanzhi is a pushover?

Hearing Mr. Lu Yanzhi's response, Mrs. Wu felt slightly relieved. Fortunately, she had managed to get Wang Bohui and Liao Wanru to help, otherwise today would have been a wasted trip.

As for how to get Xia Lin's forgiveness, Mrs. Wu had some confidence.

Lu Mingzhu tilted her head.

She hadn’t expected Father Lu to be so easy to talk to.

Seeing Mrs. Wu’s gaze turn toward her, she flashed her a smile. Mrs. Wu immediately heaped praise on her, going on and on about how wonderful she was, and said, “I never had the chance to thank Miss Lu for allowing me to purchase such a fine large pearl. The finished piece has everyone green with envy. When people ask, I tell them it came straight from the young lady at Mingzhu Diamond Jewelry Store.”

Lu Mingzhu gave a small smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Wu, for bringing business to our store.”

“Of course, of course! Who wouldn’t, with such amazing pieces in your store!” Mrs. Wu decided that on her way back, she would drop a hefty sum at Mingzhu Diamond Jewelry Store, making her intentions crystal clear.