Chapter 300

Chapter 300

Barker Road is near Peak Road, but Lu Mingzhu didn’t visit Wang Xingcai at the small villa registered under Wang Baofeng’s name. Instead, she arranged to meet him outside.

She only visited to deliver gifts and exchange New Year's greetings during the Spring Festival period.

Wang Xingcai had lived in Hong Kong for several years before the founding of the People's Republic and was no stranger to the place. Having recently met many old friends, he soon saw Lu Mingzhu at a newly opened teahouse.

A faint smile appeared on his deeply wrinkled face as he asked, “What brings you here, child? Didn’t you bring Haohao?”

He had taken an instant liking to Haohao the first time he met her. Though young, she was polite, articulate, and far more impressive than his own twenty-year-old daughter.

Lu Mingzhu replied, “I have something to discuss with you.”

“What is it?” Wang Xingcai accepted the tea she handed him. “No need to mince words between us.”

This goddaughter was more reliable than his own sons—they'd never had any conflicts.

Lu Mingzhu, with bright eyes and a radiant smile, said sweetly, “Junyao and I will go to the Yang family tomorrow as matchmakers with Wang Hao's betrothal gifts. Did you know about this?”

Clearly, no one had told him.

No one in the Wang family had informed him, nor did they intend to publicize it.

Wang Xingcai’s first reaction was to ask about the girl. “What’s she like? Have you met her?”

Lu Mingzhu said, “She’s a wonderful girl—independent, financially comfortable, resilient, exceptionally beautiful, gracious in her manners, filial to elders, and kind to siblings. Her family is also very reasonable. Godmother, eldest brother, and sister-in-law all adore her, and Wang Hao himself is even more smitten. There’s just one issue.”

Hearing this, Wang Xingcai hurriedly asked what the issue was.

“Although eldest brother and sister-in-law have pulled out all the stops to prepare 8.88 million Hong Kong dollars as the betrothal gift, the other items don't measure up to what the Xie family gave me.” Lu Mingzhu frowned and sighed. “Fortunately, it’s still quite respectable compared to other wealthy families.”

Wang Xingcai asked pointedly, “Who told you that?”

“Huh?” Lu Mingzhu’s peach-blossom eyes widened, feigning innocence.

Wang Xingcai snorted. “Wang Bohui.”

Lu Mingzhu blinked. “What's eldest brother got to do with this? Or do you think his preparations for the betrothal gifts make you lose face?”

“I knew it was him. Uncle Li told you, didn’t he?” Wang Bohui hadn’t returned to Shanghai with him, but Uncle Li, who had handled such matters for him, was now serving Wang Bohui. To prove his loyalty, he likely revealed everything he could about the tasks he’d done for Wang Xingcai.

Lu Mingzhu didn’t know about Uncle Li's role. She said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Aren’t we discussing Wang Hao’s betrothal gifts?”

When no answer came, she remained patient. “Godfather?”

Wang Xingcai was deep in thought. “Mingzhu, let me think this through.”

“Alright.” Lu Mingzhu left him to his thoughts.

She quietly drank her tea.

A few minutes later, Wang Xingcai lowered his hand from his brow and said to Lu Mingzhu, “Come with me to the bank. I’ll get something to supplement the betrothal gifts.”

Wang Hao was his first grandson, who'd grown up under his care, and he adored him.

Having achieved her goal, Lu Mingzhu immediately showered Wang Xingcai with flattery, "Dad, you truly are a wonderful grandfather! Hearing that Wang Hao's betrothal gifts aren't grand enough, you immediately took action. Wang Hao will surely be deeply touched by your care and attention. What elder brother and sister-in-law prepared simply can't compare to yours—it's not about generosity or stinginess, but the gap in their resources."

Wang Xingcai rolled his eyes skyward.

Of course, he also intended to mend his relationship with Wang Bohui, so the box of treasures he took out was genuinely valuable.

He had deposited it in the bank as soon as he arrived in Hong Kong.

This was his last nest egg, known only to Uncle Li. No one else, not even his wife Lin Xianglian and their children, was aware of it.

Lin Xianglian had once tried to inspect his luggage, but he caught her and thwarted her attempt, raising his guard.

The treasures were all antiques.

They hadn’t been expensive when he bought them, but their value had multiplied many times over.

Back then, many people were leaving Shanghai, especially those closely tied to the Nanjing government, fearing future retribution. Unable to take everything with them, they sold off their belongings at low prices.

Some of the assets Wang Xingcai had sold when his son came demanding his inheritance had come from these sales.

Thinking of this, Wang Xingcai said to Lu Mingzhu, "Take these to them and pick out some good pieces to add to the betrothal gift list. Don’t delay tomorrow’s auspicious occasion."

"Right away," Lu Mingzhu replied cheerfully.

She turned and handed them to Wang Bohui, saying, "Task done."

"You actually did it?" Wang Bohui was astonished—he had only mentioned it casually.

Lu Mingzhu smiled. "Easy—I’ve done this before."

All from years of milking her father dry.

The Wang matriarch gave a thumbs-up. "Well done, Mingzhu! Keep at it—you still have a bunch of nephews and nieces to think about!"

She had no aversion to Wang Xingcai’s money.

Neither did Wang Bohui or Liao Wanru—they were all very pragmatic about it.

"Wang Hao is the eldest grandson. He received plenty of affection from Dad in his first twenty years, so it was easy. I can’t promise the same for the others when they marry," Lu Mingzhu thought to herself.

Historically, eldest grandsons always got preferential treatment.

Through this incident, she also realized one should never believe a wealthy man’s claims about his "last stash."

A sly fox has multiple dens—who knew how many they really had?

Even now, Lu Mingzhu didn’t fully understand her father’s true net worth. Since he had never treated her poorly and her dowry outshone what her brothers, nephews, or nieces received, she never asked about his assets in other countries.

No question about it.

As long as none went to the third branch of the family, all was well.

Wang Hao had already opened the leather case, revealing the antique pieces inside—some large, some small. Packed carefully in cotton paper and silk, there weren’t too many, around thirty in total.

Unwrapped, each one a rarity.

"Auntie, choose some for Haohao," Wang Hao said, with Wang Bohui and Liao Wanru nodding along.

To them, this was a happy surprise.

Lu Mingzhu waved her hand, "I don't want them, add them to the betrothal gifts!"

"It won't make a difference with just two more," Liao Wanru covered her mouth and laughed. "No wonder everyone says Mingzhu has a pair of money-magnet hands. Handling it yourself really packs more punch than an army."

"People praise me like that? I had no idea." Lu Mingzhu beamed with pride, then added, "Actually, if the person truly had no intention, I wouldn’t have succeeded at all."

Just like her biological father.

Because she brought back two antiques Wang Bohui had insisted on giving her, her father, who wasn't used to his daughter asking him for things in a long time, actually got a little jealous. "How did you sweet-talk Wang Xingcai?"

Lu Mingzhu didn't bat an eye. "I didn’t coax him. I played on his feelings and laid out the facts. He felt guilty toward his eldest son and grandson, so that's how I got my way. Others might not have been so lucky."

Her father didn’t believe her.

Lu Mingzhu sat beside him, hugged his arm, fluttered her big eyes, and said cheerfully, "You're the only one I sweet-talk. If you don’t believe me, ask my godfather. Even though he’s given me many gifts, I know in my heart who’s my real father and who’s my godfather."

As she spoke, she didn’t notice Xie Junyao desperately trying to catch her eye from across the room.

After she finished, Xie Junyao covered his eyes.

Xie Junhao, who was also present, gave a small smile.

"That’s quite hurtful to hear," He Yun said as he carried Haohao downstairs. "Does a godfather really not compare to a real father?"

Lu Mingzhu was quick on the uptake. "Who said that? Some godfathers are even better than real fathers! Take you, for example—you’re what an amazing godfather you are."

Xie Junyao lowered his hands, his eyes widening in admiration.

That’s his wife for you—such a smooth talker.

"You've got a silver tongue..." her father muttered.

Lu Mingzhu shot back, "You and my godfather are both good men, so I only say good things. Others who want to hear it won’t get the chance."

Haohao echoed, "Good men!"

He Yun teased the little girl who resembled Lu Mingzhu: "Tell Grandpa, who’s a good man?"

"Mommy," Haohao replied, not understanding but happy to support her mother.

Lu Mingzhu burst out laughing. "Mommy's perfect little angel."

"Baby!" Haohao pointed at herself.

"Haohao is so smart," He Yun praised, his voice warm and gentle.

Haohao echoed, "Smart! Haohao!"

With a little one around, the talk kept coming back to her.

Only toward the end did they discuss the next day’s engagement ceremony.

The Yang family had no relatives in Hong Kong and wanted to keep it quiet, so the event would be small and intimate, held at Yang Huan’s newly purchased villa in an exclusive Hong Kong neighborhood on Black’s Link, very close to The Peak.

Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao put on their finest but took care not to upstage the bride and groom.

Two matchmakers, two witnesses.

Aside from Lu Mingzhu’s father, the only others Wang Bohui could invite were Ceng Mei.

Auntie Yang let out a slow breath and greeted them warmly.

Though they were ordinary, they weren’t alone.

One couple was Wang Tao and his wife, and the other was Ming Hui and his wife—both there out of respect for Lu Mingzhu and their regard for Yang Huan, who was about to marry into the Wang family. They had volunteered to join.

When they saw the betrothal gifts, both couples were stunned.

Given Yang Huan’s humble background, they had assumed the Wang family’s betrothal money would be no more than a million, but it was actually 8.88 million, along with other lavish gifts. Betrothal gifts this lavish were almost unheard of in Hong Kong.

So far, only Lu Mingzhu had gotten more.

They’d rarely seen wealthy families spend this much on a son’s marriage.

At last, she could relax.

"All the betrothal gifts from the in-laws will be included in the dowry and returned, except for some wedding cakes, tea, and wine," Auntie Yang said, never thinking of keeping some to help her other kids and risk being looked down upon.

Not only that, she also planned to provide a dowry of her own.

Thanks to Mingzhu Embroidery Workshop’s success, she had saved a considerable sum over the years. Though it was nothing next to the Wang family’s gifts, it was everything she could offer.

As for her other kids—she’d make more later!

This was also the shared sentiment among the three siblings.

Lu Mingzhu smiled and said, "The reason Huanhuan grew up to be such a virtuous young woman is that like mother, like daughter. Wang Hao, look how good your mother-in-law is to you—not only marrying her beautiful and outstanding daughter to you but also turning all the betrothal gifts and dowry into the foundation for your new family, setting you up for a bright future."

"Thank you, Mother-in-law," Wang Hao said, bowing deeply.

"Good child, there’s no need for that," Auntie Yang said, helping him up. She was so grateful for how he’d saved Yang Huan time and again and for resolving many potential troubles on her behalf.

She could barely believe such a remarkable young man would be her son-in-law.

In truth, she was more open-minded than Yang Huan.

Though the Wang family was of noble status, they could protect Yang Huan, who was growing ever more radiant.

Wang Hao raised his head and exchanged a smile with Yang Huan.

Today, Yang Huan wore the jade bracelet gifted by Lu Mingzhu and a red qipao embroidered by her mother and sister, her figure elegant and her beauty dazzling. Wang Hao was completely smitten, blind to everyone else.

Watching this scene, Lu Mingzhu truly wished them a lifetime of love and loyalty.

Xie Junyao gently linked his finger with his wife’s.

"We’re the most loving couple—we can’t let anyone surpass us," he whispered into Lu Mingzhu’s ear.

Lu Mingzhu chuckled. "Sure, sure—we’ll see how you do."