Chapter 217

Chapter 217

Lu Changsheng arrived just a step after He Yun, but he also witnessed Lu Mingzhu plucking and pinning the flower, and saw Xie Junyao raising his hand to help Lu Mingzhu adjust the rose.

They shared a smile, their affection flowing naturally.

One was as delicate as a flower, the other as handsome as Pan An.

The more they looked, the more they seemed to be a perfect match.

Lu Changsheng had always been very satisfied with this brother-in-law.

Better than Zhang Shuo could ever be.

Zhang Shuo was too rough, busy with work, and often absent, not suitable for his sister.

He was secretly relieved that his sister had escaped that situation from the start.

When they saw He Yun, Lu's father and Xie Junhao stood up to offer their seats. "Mingzhu, get some tea for your godfather."

Hearing her father's words, Lu Mingzhu quickly responded, "Coming."

She elbowed Xie Junyao aside, inviting He Yun to sit down, then paused, "I almost missed my brother, please come in too."

Lu Changsheng said, "Yeah, I guess I’m just too small to notice."

He was such a big person following He Yun in, yet she said she didn’t see him!

Everyone couldn’t help laughing.

He Yun, as the eldest, took the seat at the head of the table.

Lu Mingzhu, with someone to back her up and being wealthier than her brother, said confidently, "In front of my godfather and dad, would you dare say you’re not the least important? Even Brother Junhao is older than you, you know."

Lu Changsheng didn’t argue with her.

He didn’t dare.

"What’s the occasion for today’s gathering?" he asked Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Mingzhu replied with a smile, "I’m happy, celebrating that 'Chuan Expedition' has hit a 10 million box office, is that alright?"

"Sure!" Lu Changsheng said, clearly envious.

Not to mention the dividends, his sister had netted over a million from this movie, while he’d have to sell nearly twenty million worth of grain to make that much. It’s really frustrating to compare yourself to others.

Hmm, he should really curry favor with her.

The Goddess of Wealth.

Lu Changsheng sat next to Xie Junhao, and when Lu Mingzhu poured tea for him, he reached out to take the teapot, "I’ll do it myself, I don’t want to trouble my sister."

Lu Mingzhu directly let go, "Okay."

She was more than happy to.

She and Xie Junyao sat together, while the elders discussed business, they whispered sweet words to each other.

Xie Junyao said to Lu Mingzhu, "Brother had someone bring in a lot of stones from Myanmar, and when buying them, he had someone appraise them, saying the chance of finding jade is very high. Want to go home and have some fun with the stones? If we find good jade, we’ll turn it into jewelry for you, and the bad ones we’ll send to the gold and diamond processing factory to sell after they’re processed."

Lu Mingzhu's eyes lit up: "Raw jadeite stones? Just like the ones we opened in the capital?"

Xie Junyao nodded.

"Great, let's go after the meal." It’s like opening a mystery box.

Since she’s not spending money, she doesn’t have to worry about the risk of losing or gaining a fortune in one cut.

Mr. Lu asked from upstairs, "Mingzhu, what are you talking about?"

Lu Mingzhu told the truth and continued, "Dad, you'll soon benefit. In my opinion, anything not sufficiently transparent has no collectible value. Think about how much the processing factory can get."

"I only have 5% of the shares," Mr. Lu reminded her.

Lu Mingzhu quickly changed her stance: "Sell it to the Golden Diamond Company at the market rate. I can't let those brothers take advantage!"

Xie Junyao laughed, "No need to be so meticulous."

"Even siblings should keep clear accounts, especially since we’re not full siblings," Lu Mingzhu insisted.

"Your call," Xie Junyao had no objections.

He Yun smiled at Xie Junhao, "Next time you’re buying stones, let me know. I’ll have someone arrange to provide you with stones with a high chance of yielding top-grade green jadeite."

Xie Junhao smiled faintly, "Thank you, Mr. He. We’ll definitely ask for your help next time."

Lu Mingzhu couldn’t help but speak up, "Are the mine owners hiding the best stones and not selling them to major clients? Can they really tell if a stone will yield high-quality green?"

That would be remarkable.

The outer shell of jadeite is very special; no advanced instrument can see through it to the inside, hence the widely spread saying, "Even a god can’t judge a piece of jade by its cover."

If that’s true in the 21st century, imagine how it is now.

He Yun laughed, "The jadeite trade has been flourishing for a century. Before selling, they meticulously inspect the stones. Naturally, the workers at the mines have some skills from experience. They can only estimate a high likelihood of yielding jadeite, not guarantee it. I recall a fully encased black-skinned stone that was believed not to yield green, resembling two mangoes fused together. It was sold to the mainland for a bargain price, and when cut, it revealed a piece of glass jadeite."

Lu Mingzhu felt the stone sounded familiar, "Could it be the glass jadeite I cut?"

He Yun was surprised, "What a stroke of luck?"

He had only overheard the mine manager casually mention it. After all, he was already the wealthiest man in Southeast Asia at that time and didn’t handle many things personally, nor did he pay much attention.

Lu Mingzhu lifted her left wrist and shook it, "This bracelet is crafted from that glass jadeite, and it’s also the treasure of the Golden Diamond Company."

"Then you have good luck," He Yun said.

Mr. Lu laughed, "She’s exceptionally lucky. She might actually uncover a few high-quality jadeite pieces."

If not for her good fortune, how could she have foreseen the future?

Changed many people's lives.

Seeing Mr. Lu's tea was shallow, Lu Mingzhu personally poured him tea, "Thanks for the blessing, I’ll definitely cut the stones well this afternoon."

Eager and ready to get started.

A faint smile appeared on Xie Junhao's lips, "Mr. Lu, could you lend us a few skilled stone cutters?"

They didn’t have any at home.

Mr. Lu agreed without hesitation, "Have them bring their tools."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion was heard outside, faintly carrying familiar voices.

Lu Mingzhu sprang to her feet, "I'll go take a look."

The big shots wouldn’t bother getting involved; she was stepping up for everyone.

Just as Lu Changsheng was about to speak, Mr. Lu said, "Have Xiao Xie go with you. If you can't handle it, get someone to fetch Ming Hui."

Lu Mingzhu gave a thumbs-up.

Wow. Her dad’s got sharp ears.

He even recognized Zheng Yuee’s voice out there.

And Lu Mingzhu recognized another voice, that of Mo Shuhui, Ming Yao's mother.

They’d met and interacted before.

Xie Junyao accompanied Lu Mingzhu out of the private room, and sure enough, they saw Mo Shuhui and a middle-aged woman manhandling a young lady, who was fighting back tears.

Ming Yao stood to the side, timid and withdrawn.

At the sound of footsteps, they turned. The young lady immediately broke free from the middle-aged woman's grasp and ran up to Lu Mingzhu, "Miss Lu, I have no idea who they are. They confronted me, demanding that I return her husband, her daughter's father, to her. How would I know who her husband is!"

Zheng Yuee was nearly beside herself.

She rarely went out, but today she felt bad for Ming Hui working so hard and came to the restaurant to pick up the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and a few other dishes she had ordered to take to Ming Hui's company, only to encounter these strangers harassing her and even laying hands on her.

She had to bolt upstairs.

Lu Mingzhu looked at her and asked, "Do you know Mr. Ming’s history?"

Zheng Yuee nodded, "He was married but divorced."

She knew he was single when they married; otherwise, they wouldn't have registered so smoothly.

"Is there more?" Lu Mingzhu felt it’d be awful if Ming Hui had kept something from her.

Zheng Yuee was puzzled, "About his daughter? I know, I heard she's the granddaughter of the wealthiest man in Southeast Asia, Mr. He, very capable, but she doesn't live with him; she lives with Ms. He."

Lu Mingzhu sighed, "Really nothing else?"

"What else?" Zheng Yuee had a bad premonition.

Thinking of the sacks of Yuanlang rice, Lu Mingzhu gestured towards Mo Shuhui and Ming Yao, "That young lady is also his daughter, and the other is his daughter's mother. Outside, there's also a son and his mother, and his son's wife."

Zheng Yuee was utterly shocked, "No, no, that's impossible!"

She couldn't believe it.

Her father had told her that Ming Hui was a good man, capable of making her happy, just a bit older, but older men know how to cherish their wives, so it didn't matter much, as long as he was good-looking and capable.

Zheng Yuee had always been obedient and naturally followed her parents' arrangements and the matchmaker's words.

Mo Shuhui then spoke up, "Do you believe it now? You're so young and beautiful, you can surely marry a good man after leaving him, unlike me, old and worn out, with only my husband as my choice. Please, leave him and return him to us, his mother and daughter."

She was unaware that Ming Hui had married Zheng Yuee, mistaking her for yet another girlfriend of his.

Had Ming Hui not brought her home, she wouldn’t have shown up.

Neither she, Ye Lili (Ming Heng’s mother), nor any other women, like He Huihui, had ever set foot in the mansion Ming Hui purchased post-divorce.

Zheng Yuee’s tears streamed down, "I can’t believe this. It’s not true."

"Go ask him yourself," Lu Mingzhu said, signaling someone to escort her out.

She wasn’t obligated to explain Ming Hui’s actions.

Zheng Yuee choked out, "Thank you, Miss Lu."

She turned on her heel and left, blatantly ignoring Mo Shuhui and Ming Yao.

Lu Mingzhu glanced at Mo Shuhui and the young lady who’d once salivated over roast duck, her tone icy, "Miss Mo, if you have a problem, take it up with Mr. Ming Hui. Don’t harass innocent people or pressure Mrs. Ming to hand over her husband."

Mo Shuhui was stunned, "What did you just say?"

She took a step forward, her demeanor turning confrontational.

Xie Junyao stepped in, blocking her path, and frowned, "Do you not understand plain English? Did you dare show your face when Miss He Xuan was Mrs. Ming? You’re only acting this way because you think the current Mrs. Ming is vulnerable."

He saw Lu Mingzhu daily, and the couple often exchanged gossip, so he was well aware of Ming Hui’s remarriage.

Frankly, he believed Ming Hui was stirring up drama.

Zheng Yuee’s reaction revealed she was clueless about Ming Hui’s past or his tangled family dynamics.

Mo Shuhui was utterly shaken, "No way! That’s impossible!"

She echoed Zheng Yuee’s exact words.

Lu Mingzhu scoffed, "Mr. Ming had a wife and daughter before, and you were fine with that. What’s the issue now? It’s just a different Mrs. Ming, isn’t it?"

With that, she and Xie Junyao returned to their private room.

After piecing together the situation, Lu’s father shook his head, "Ming Hui… I don’t even know what to say about him."

"Let’s drop the subject," He Yun interjected.

Lu Mingzhu agreed, "Exactly, let’s eat."

Thanks to the premium ingredients, the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was exceptionally flavorful, far superior to later versions, so rich it was almost overwhelming.

After dinner, Lu Mingzhu cheerfully headed home with Xie Junyao to cut the stones.

Lu’s father had to head to the factory, leaving the workers to manage on their own.

The first thing Lu Mingzhu noticed wasn’t the stones but a box of cut jadeite in the hall, where she sipped tea and admired the pieces of varying sizes.

Reds, greens, yellows, purples, blues—every color imaginable.

All were old-pit materials, crystal-clear like water.

Green jadeite made up half the collection.

Xie Junyao, familiar with Lu Mingzhu’s tastes, picked up a palm-sized pink-purple jadeite, "Too small for a full set. It’ll only yield a bracelet and a string of beads."

"It's perfect," Lu Mingzhu said with satisfaction.

Transparent, with excellent clarity, it was premium purple jadeite.

"This piece is exceptionally vibrant, a pure purple, but it's only enough to carve a pendant," Xie Junyao lamented.

Lu Mingzhu liked it even more.

Imperial purple.

Glass-like imperial purple is even rarer than glass-like imperial green.

Green comes in many shades: apple, emerald, jade, bright, pea, sunny, lake, true sunny, spinach, poplar, and melon skin green.

Some are as large as a square foot, others just enough for a ring's face.

Lu Mingzhu was dazzled by the variety.

"Let's hold onto these!" she figured they'd be worth more later, as she already had more than she could wear.

Xie Junyao shrugged, "As you wish."

He'd already snagged the best pieces for processing, and what remained were the scraps.

In the afternoon, the two of them tried their hand at cutting stones.

They got lucky and unearthed a fair amount of jadeite, but only three pieces made the cut for Lu Mingzhu's collection. The rest would be sold at market rate to Mingzhu Diamond Jewelry Store's jade workshop.

Before they'd cut a tenth of the stones, Lu Mingzhu lost interest.

The stone-cutting dust flew everywhere, coating her head and face, leaving her disheveled and far from her usual elegance.

"That's it, no more cutting," Lu Mingzhu called a halt.

The workers were still eager, "Miss, what's the matter? There's so much good material here, I could keep at it for days."

Lu Mingzhu smiled, "It's late, head home and get some rest. Take the tools with you, and I'll call you when we're ready to cut more stones."

"Alright," the workers dutifully packed up their tools.

After seeing them out, Lu Mingzhu rushed home to clean up.

In fact, the Xie family had a room for her, on the same floor as Xie Junyao, complete with a walk-in closet, all set up by him, though she'd never stayed there.

Xie Junyao followed her home, where he found Shang Guanhong sorting through letters and packages with the servants. 'From readers?' he asked.

"Yes, sir," she answered.

Mingzhu's star is rising. If I don't step up, will I be left in the dust?" Xie Junyao mused aloud.

Shang Guanhong smiled slightly, "No, the young lady likes you so much, don't underestimate yourself."

Just as they were speaking, An Ruyi came in from outside.

She walked with big strides, hurriedly and quickly, with a look of anxiety on her face.

Xie Junyao stood up, "Godmother, you're here so late, is there something you need to see Mingzhu about? She's cleaning up."

An Ruyi stopped, "When will she be done?"

She then smiled, touched her forehead, and said, "Look at me, I'm all mixed up. I'll sit down and wait for her."

Xie Junyao quickly invited her to take a seat.

After drinking two cups of tea, they finally waited for Lu Mingzhu to come downstairs.

She was wearing water-red silk pajamas, with a large towel wrapped around her hair, and her cheeks had a faint pink hue, like a lotus flower blooming after the rain, tender and fresh, bright and lovely.

Xie Junyao went up to her, "Mingzhu, Godmother An Ruyi is here to see you."

Lu Mingzhu exclaimed and hurried to An Ruyi, "Godmother, what brings you here?"

This godmother was a very busy person and often hard to meet.

Seeing her, An Ruyi smiled and said, "I don't come without a reason."

"Please tell me, I won't turn down anything I can do," Lu Mingzhu assured her, then added, "But don't make it too hard, or I'll be in a bind."

An Ruyi said, "I'm giving you my Da Ming Film Company. Will you take it?"

Lu Mingzhu was shocked, "Your company is thriving, why give it to me? If you don't run the film company, what will you do?"

"I'm planning to move to that island," An Ruyi revealed her destination.

Lu Mingzhu frowned, "What's so great about that place?"

"It's settled then. Come with me tomorrow morning to take care of the paperwork," An Ruyi was in a hurry. "Once the paperwork is done, I'll leave. You manage the company well, don't let outsiders or competitors bully our actors, or have Da Ming Film Company acquire it at market price, it's up to you."