Chapter 304

Chapter 304

Wang Zhongzhao himself was not well-known, but he had an elder brother named Wang Bohui and a younger sister named Lu Mingzhu. Apart from senior figures like He Yun, Lu’s father, Jin Yongqing, and Nie Congyun, who did not attend, many others showed up out of respect, including even Lu Changsheng.

Seeing him, Wang Bohui was delighted. "You won’t be staying abroad all the time from now on, will you?"

Lu Changsheng smiled. "I’ll still go on business trips occasionally."

With so much debt to repay, he had to work even harder to earn money.

However, he now felt unburdened. If anything happened in the mainland again, it shouldn’t be as severe as in recent years.

Without agricultural exports or debt repayment, they had donated 14.5 million tons of grain to ensure the basic needs of disaster victims—yet even that couldn’t cover everything. It made one realize how tragic Mingzhu’s life must have been when she married Zhang Shuo in that past life.

Wang Bohui patted his shoulder; words weren't needed.

Over the past few years, Wang Bohui had given his all too, leaving his family with no surplus wealth. Even Madam Zhang and Liao Wanru had dipped into their personal savings to buy grain for their compatriots in need.

After consulting them, Yang Huan handed over the engagement gifts.

She said that both she and Wang Hao were young and earned good salaries, enough to support their future needs.

Not only that, but she had also chipped in a sizable amount of her own.

Many Hong Kong residents also generously donated money to the Xie family, where it was centrally recorded and used to purchase supplies.

They trusted Xie Junyao, his brother, and Lu Mingzhu the most.

The public housing complexes they had built now numbered a hundred, helping over 100,000 Hong Kong residents—all without expecting anything in return. Naturally, they wouldn’t covet donations of a few, a dozen, or even a few hundred dollars.

Lu Mingzhu approached her two brothers. "Eldest Brother, when is Pingan coming back?"

He had gone to the mainland to discuss renewing a handicraft cooperation agreement.

He had also taken Lu Ning along.

Since Lu Ning showed interest in business, he often brought her along, planning to hand over the handicraft sector to her when she was older.

Hearing Lu Mingzhu’s question, Lu Changsheng shook his head. "He didn’t tell me. I’m not sure when he’ll return."

"You’re such an irresponsible father, especially when Pingan has always had your back," Lu Mingzhu glared at him. "Don’t just focus on that old lady. Pingan has contributed far more than she ever did."

It was hard to judge the old lady.

In previous years, she kept asking for money and things from Lu’s father. Yet in recent years, she hadn’t asked for anything—instead, she sold several antiques and combined the proceeds with rental income to scrape together 1 million HKD to help her eldest grandson.

Call her wicked? She did good deeds and knew what was right.

Call her good? Yet she had once harmed her original body, a newborn girl.

Lu Changsheng never mentioned the old lady in front of his sister. Hearing this, he smiled. "I’ve got it under control. What's left of my life will be spent serving you all."

Lu Mingzhu snorted. "Actions speak louder than words."

"Yes, yes, yes." As the poorest in the family, Lu Changsheng could only nod, deep wrinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes. "After the wedding, I’ll leave with you to visit Haohao. I heard she’s started diving?"

"If she enjoys it, why not?" Lu Mingzhu had a liberal outlook.

Even if she inherits the family business in the future, she can still have her own hobbies.

She is still young, and Xie Junyao can work for another thirty years!

In Hong Kong’s business world, retiring at eighty is considered early—some people are still working on the front lines in their nineties.

Lu Changsheng envied his sister's clear-sightedness and was about to say something when he saw Lu Zhangling and the others walked in together.

After the family split, they were all heads of their own households.

Seeing Lu Changsheng and Lu Mingzhu, they came over to greet them, especially Lu Zhangling, who said plaintively, "Ba Mei [Eighth Sister], do you have any good business opportunities to recommend? I need to earn back the $700,000 I donated."

Just thinking about it made him wince.

Lu Mingzhu suppressed a smile and pulled Xie Junyao over. "There are indeed a few projects under development. You can discuss it."

She remembered that Lu Zhangling ran a construction company. Thanks to Hong Kong's booming property market at the time—and because he had no shortage of funds and never cut corners—he had made a lot of money, enough to redeem the jewelry and antiques he had mortgaged to the bank. So, the money he donated was entirely his own earnings, not what their father had given him.

Given his goodwill, she didn’t mind sharing some business opportunities.

Xie Junyao smiled and said, "Today is Wang Zhongzhao’s daughter’s wedding. If Third Brother is interested, we can discuss it in detail at the company when you have time."

"No problem!" Lu Zhangling grinned, feeling that his $700,000 donation hadn’t gone to waste.

Apart from Old Five Lu Zhangsheng, the other three brothers he had roped into donating lacked his money-making abilities and couldn’t help but look envious.

Especially Third Brother Lu Changzhi, who had returned to Hong Kong from Singapore after completing his studies and settled there, supporting each other with Lu Changgen. Back when the property market was in a slump, he had bought many properties, all of which had since appreciated in value. Meanwhile, Lu Changming, with the shrewd assistance of his Third Concubine, had reinvested his share of the inheritance and reaped substantial profits.

Fortunately, Lu Mingzhu was willing to look out for them. Seizing the chance to meet, she asked, "I’ll be going to New York soon. Do you want me to invest in stocks for you? My 15% cut."

Calculating the market timing, she knew a certain stock was about to plummet—she planned to buy at the bottom.

"Yes!" Lu Zhangling’s voice was the loudest and most eager.

He had long heard about Lu Mingzhu’s fame-making exploits on Wall Street and had even wondered: Did our father dote on her so much because of her talent? $40 million was more than what the three branches and five sons had received combined.

Lu Mingzhu side-eyed him. "I wasn’t asking you."

Lu Zhangling laughed. "Little Sister, we share the same dad. You can’t play favorites. Besides, I’ll give you a 20% commission."

"That won’t be necessary." Lu Mingzhu didn’t need the extra 5%.

Understanding her meaning, Lu Zhangling was delighted. "A mil is yours to use. Fifth Brother will contribute the same amount."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled helplessly and nodded.

He had to save face for his elder brother, and besides, he also wanted to experience making money from stocks.

Lu Changzhi and Lu Changming were overjoyed. "Thank you, Eighth Sister!"

It didn’t matter if they didn’t have cash—they could mortgage their jewelry and antiques.

Because Wang Xiuyi and Li Qingyun’s wedding was starting soon, their conversation was cut short as everyone headed to their seats.

It was dusk, and the banquet would start right after the ceremony.

That was what Wang Zhongzhao had decided.

He truly disliked Li Qingyun, but Wang Xiuyi was utterly infatuated with him—almost to the same degree as Lu Feifei had been back in the day. Yet while Lu Feifei had escaped her predicament with her family’s help, Wang Xiuyi dove headfirst into hers.

Lu Mingzhu kinda got where Wang Xiuyi was coming from.

First, Li Qingyun was loaded and capable; second, he was drop-dead gorgeous; third, he was smooth-talking, sweet-talking Wang Xiuyi till she didn’t know which way was up.

She was already twenty-nine years old.

At this age, most rich kids were already married with kids. Even the few bachelors still single would only go for younger, hotter chicks, not to mention some families looked down on her background.

If she wanted to marry into a family of equal status, she’d most likely end up as someone’s second wife, and they still wouldn’t measure up to Li Qingyun in terms of ability and looks.

Men who were capable, handsome, and top-notch in character would certainly not choose Wang Xiuyi.

The wealthier the man, the more he preferred youth and beauty.

Under these circumstances, Wang Xiuyi thought Li Qingyun was the best choice.

Like Vivian said, she wasn’t dumb.

Wang Xiuyi’s wedding gown looked familiar. Xie Junyao glanced at it repeatedly, muttering, "No way. The wedding dresses I commissioned are all one-of-a-kind."

Lu Mingzhu blinked. "After all these years, you still remember?"

Xie Junyao came to his senses and immediately looked pissed.

"You gave it to her?" Talk about wasting a gorgeous dress.

Lu Mingzhu smirked. "Since it wasn’t being used, and Second Brother came asking, I gave him two pieces."

Xie Junyao just shook his head. "That’s so perfunctory."

"Obviously." Wang Zhongzhao hadn’t treated this daughter poorly—he had even auctioned off his own jewelry for her and Mo Shuxian. Yet, Wang Xiuyi angered him by insisting on marrying Li Qingyun. Once the wedding was over, all hell would break loose.

Someone asked Vivian, "You actually came to your ex-husband’s wedding? Come to think of it, you two never had a wedding ceremony."

"Weddings aren’t my thing. I’m here at Mr. Wang’s invitation." Vivian met the other woman’s slightly sneering look with composure. "I rent a factory space from Mr. Wang for my zipper business. Since today is his daughter’s wedding, of course I’d come to congratulate him personally."

If she had cared about Li Qingyun, she wouldn’t have divorced him in the first place.

Li Qingyun also caught sight of Vivian, who remained stunningly beautiful and exuded an intimidating aura. For a moment, he felt dazed—kicking himself for letting a goldmine slip away.

Vivian now had an eight-figure net worth, with her products sold globally.

Though she hadn’t monopolized the market, she owned 70% of the global zipper market, earning her the title "Zipper Queen." Many mocked Li Qingyun for prioritizing trivial matters like background, only to let a real cash cow slip through his fingers.

At least everything would eventually be inherited by his son—Li Qingyun found some comfort in that.

Shifting his attention back to the wedding, Li Qingyun looked all lovey-dovey at Wang Xiuyi as he slipped a dazzling diamond ring onto her left ring finger.

Turning pink, Wang Xiuyi placed a matching square diamond-studded wedding band on his finger.

Making the most of her rare appearance, Mo Shuxian was dolled up in a dignified red cheongsam paired with striking emerald jewelry, looking like a million bucks. After the ceremony, she played the gracious hostess, leaving those unaware to mistake her for Wang Zhongzhao’s first wife.

Liao Wanru couldn’t stand it and asked Wang Bohui, "When’s your brother’s wife coming back?"

"Not necessarily willing to return," Wang Bohui said honestly.

His nephew was studying abroad, working overseas, and might even settle down there. Life was good overseas—why return just to watch the show of affection between Wang Zhongzhao and Mo Shuxian? Though their relationship seemed far less affectionate than before.

Liao Wanru sighed softly, "I'll go talk to Lu Mingzhu!"

Despite it being Wang Xiuyi's wedding, Lu Mingzhu got the most attention.

After all, she was the wealthiest woman in the world!

Even after donating six to seven hundred million dollars, she still had considerable wealth—assets that generated steady wealth.

It paid to stay on her good side.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhangling asked Lu Mingzhu about her trip to New York, "When are you leaving?"

"What's the rush? I'll go in April." Lu Mingzhu planned to wait for the first-quarter dividends before heading out—otherwise, she wouldn't have capital for stock trading.

"Understood, I'll have the money ready by the end of March," Lu Zhangling said.

Lu Mingzhu nodded and turned to Lu Changgen and her two younger brothers, "You should also prepare. Don’t be late."

They agreed.

After the wedding, Lu Changsheng accompanied Lu Mingzhu and Xie Junyao to visit their little niece.

Different surnames meant they were nephews; the same surname meant she was a niece.

As soon as they entered the gate, they heard cheerful laughter from Haohao (the child’s name), faintly mixed with Xie Junhao's voice responding to questions.

Xie Junyao and Lu Mingzhu exchanged a glance: "big brother is back!"

Great timing—they could all go to New York together.