Chapter 336

Chapter 336

After signing the cooperation agreement, the authorities issued a salvage permit to He Yun’s marine exploration company for operations within British territorial waters, with a validity period of twenty years.

Lu Mingzhu immediately thought of the merchant ship named "Geldermalsen," which set sail from Huacheng and was bound for the capital of Helan, Amsterdam, but ran aground and sank in the waters southwest of Xiangjiang. Over twenty years later, it was salvaged by British salvagers, who found over a million pieces of porcelain and a large amount of gold and silver on board. The salvager smashed more than 600,000 defective items, keeping 300,000 fine pieces of porcelain, which were then transported abroad and sold through an auction house for $30 million.

This figure only accounted for the porcelain, not including the gold and silver artifacts.

Upon receiving the news, the domestic authorities sent representatives with $30,000 to participate in the auction, but they failed to secure even a single piece of porcelain.

This clearly demonstrated the enormous profit involved.

While the profit was significant, what was more important was that this incident sparked a frenzy among professional maritime treasure hunters. In name, they operated in other waters, but in reality, they infiltrated the South China Sea to loot, gradually stealing away national treasures.

Thus, Lu Mingzhu, citing ancient maritime logs she had read, informed He Yun about the merchant ship. He Yun promptly dispatched a team to investigate the southwestern waters as she described.

Within a week, the ship was discovered at a depth of over thirty meters, and the salvage operation began.

With ample manpower and equipment, progress was swift.

The plan called for several months of work.

Even with the salvage permit, following Lu Mingzhu’s advice, the operation was conducted discreetly to avoid attracting the attention of other professional maritime salvagers.

Without relevant laws, it was easy for others to exploit loopholes.

Wealth stirs the heart.

He Yun did not limit his focus to the East and South China Seas. Instead, he divided his efforts: one group was responsible for the South China Sea salvage, another explored the East China Sea for potential wrecks, while the rest operated in international waters and the seas around Southeast Asia.

He was wealthy and powerful, throwing money around like it was going out of style, so many people were happy to work for him.

Apart from international waters, He Yun would secure salvage licenses from other nations, and after cooperation, the proceeds would be split as agreed.

A 50-50 split? Not happening.

He’d bend for Lu Mingzhu and the mainland, but rarely showed the same courtesy to other governments—most often, it was a 60-40 split.

He took the 60%.

So while his subordinates were busy at sea, he kicked back in Hong Kong, drinking tea and playing chess with Lu Mingzhu’s father and Ceng Mei, occasionally messing with Lu Haohao, who was always busy yet still found time to visit them.

The kid was sharp as a tack and eager to learn. Spending time with the elders had gotten her hooked on Go and Chinese chess.

Lu Mingzhu, on the other hand, was more laid-back.

While Xie Junhao and Xie Junyao left early and returned late every day, she casually dusted off her old skills in music, calligraphy, and painting.

She already had a foundation—it was mostly about practice.

Truthfully, she hadn’t intended to pick them back up, just doing them for fun, to unwind—playing when she felt like it, leaving them aside when she didn’t. But she had a nosy daughter who nagged her to lead by example.

Xie Junyao had it rougher.

At the time, the Xie family had purchased grain under the name of Changchun Group, depleting nearly all the company’s funds over those years. Since Xie Junhao and Xie Junyao hadn’t injected their personal assets into the business, reinvestment in recent years had left the company strapped for cash, forcing the brothers to devote even more energy to overseeing all operations—in case a slip-up choked their cash flow and caused unnecessary trouble.

Guilt gnawing at her, Lu Mingzhu waited for them to return from work in the evening and offered financial help.

The first-quarter dividends had just arrived.

She receives a steady stream of dividends every year, especially from the oil company, averaging $30–40 million a year. As for He Yun, who holds 50% of the dividends, his earnings are even greater.

Before Xie Junhao could speak, Xie Junyao said, "Honey, save your money for personal spending. The company has me and Elder Brother."

Xie Junhao also added, "Mingzhu, I appreciate your kindness. Junyao is right—though Changchun Group's cash reserves are tight, our assets are substantial. Many were booked at their original value, and their value has multiplied over the years hasn’t been accounted for. If we really needed funds, we could easily secure a large bank loan by mortgaging just a fraction of our assets. We just don’t see the need right now."

"Elder Brother, if you ever need anything, please tell me. There isn’t much else I can do, but money is one thing I can offer," Lu Mingzhu said.

Xie Junhao smiled. "Dividends have been paid out steadily over the years, which means Changchun Group’s finances are stable. Cash flow is tight only due to increased investment activity—it doesn’t affect operations."

In other words, neither he nor Xie Junyao was strapped for cash.

If Changchun Group needed it, they could certainly provide.

Lu Mingzhu knew better than to mix personal and business matters, so she asked, "Elder Brother, you’re not just saying that, right?"

"I wouldn’t lie to you," Xie Junhao replied.

"Good, good. You and Junyao shouldn’t overwork yourselves either." Lu Mingzhu then called for the soup to be served. "The morel mushrooms looked so good, so I had the kitchen prepare pigeon soup."

No one in the family was allergic, and they all enjoyed it.

Xie Junhao said cheerfully, "I’ll have an extra bowl."

During the meal, noticing his niece’s absence, he asked where Well was.

"She’s learning Go from her godfather, and her godparents tagged along. She won’t be back tonight." Lu Mingzhu couldn’t help but admire her daughter’s boundless energy—she never got tired.

Xie Junhao nodded. "Go is a great game. Had I known she liked it, I would have taught her myself."

Lu Mingzhu recalled that Xie Junhao was quite skilled at Go as well. "Don’t worry, she’ll bug you nonstop when she gets back."

After listening for a while, Xie Junyao asked, "Is Dad not here?"

He meant Lu Changsheng.

Lu Mingzhu pursed her lips. "The old woman’s sick—again."

Originally, Lu Changsheng could have lived a peaceful retirement up on the hill, drinking tea, playing chess, tending to flowers, feeding birds, and passing on some skills to Well. But the old woman’s health was up and down, making it impossible even for Lu Changsheng to travel abroad. All responsibilities fell on Lu Pingan, so Zhou Xiuxiu had to postpone going back to work as well.

The twins hadn’t even reached their hundredth day yet, and she was still recovering from childbirth.

The elder sister was named Lu Yuanyuan, and the younger brother Lu Zecheng.

Seeing her great-grandchildren seemed to give the old lady something to live for—she ate more and her spirits improved.

Just as Lu Changsheng began to relax, her condition suddenly worsened.

And so, once again, he was at her bedside.

Soon, the old lady could barely eat, only occasionally sipping some soup. She relied entirely on nutrient injections, and she slept more and more—now almost 20 hours a day.

Because of this, the twins’ hundred-day celebration wasn’t held. Only Lu Mingzhu went to deliver gifts.

Zhou Xiuxiu didn’t mind whether the celebration happened or not.

Madam Guo and Lu Ning stayed with her throughout the hundred days, making her time comfortable. She had gained some weight, and her health had improved significantly. Before, her irregular meals and lack of exercise due to research had worn her down.

Now, she just wanted to return to work as soon as possible.

The children had maids, nannies, and infant caregivers, along with Madam Guo and Lu Ning, so she wasn’t worried about them being unattended.

However, after May began, Old Madam Lu grew weaker, unable even to sip soup. The second, third, and fourth branches of the family visited daily.

Though years of serving Madam Lu hadn’t earned her what she desired, the second concubine eventually made peace with her resentment—after all, her two sons had earned far more with Lu Mingzhu than Madam Lu’s private savings could ever offer. She bitterly regretted her past dismissiveness when the old lady consulted a fortune-teller, but it was too late for remorse.

Not that Lu Mingzhu cared for her apology.

So, for Lu Mingzhu and Hao Hao’s birthday, the second concubine took priceless treasures from her own collection and had Lu Zhangling and Lu Zhangsheng present them as gifts.

Every time the third concubine saw the second, she wanted to mock her for her futile efforts—after all, the old lady’s possessions had all gone to the main branch.

But she held her tongue.

When Madam Lu opened her eyes and saw the crowded room, she was instantly irritated. "I’m not dead yet—why are you all here? Get back to your own affairs. Just Changsheng needs to stay."

She didn’t even want her own sons there.

Old Mr. Lu shooed the others out, leaving only himself, Lu Changsheng, and Lu Pingan in the now-empty bedroom.

Madam Lu sighed.

"I’ve enjoyed a life of wealth and privilege, lived to see five generations, and never lacked for anything, in good times or bad. I’ll have devoted descendants to mourn me when I’m gone. There’s just one wish left unfulfilled," she said.

Lu Changsheng felt a pang of dread.

"What wish?" Mr. Lu asked, frowning slightly.

Madam Lu replied, "I never got to meet my favorite writer."

Her favorite writer was Zhi Wei, wasn’t she? And Xiao Xie—both pseudonyms for Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Changsheng knew the revelation would devastate her, so he gently said, "A pen name is meant to protect their privacy. If you truly admire them, you should respect that."

"But I just want to see Zhi Wei." After all the gifts and letters sent over the years, she couldn’t bear to leave without meeting them.

Lu Changsheng sighed. "What if they refuse?"

A spark flickered in Mrs. Lu’s eyes. "Tell them I’ve left a gift, hoping they’ll write even more brilliant stories. Pity I won’t live to read them."

Why had they stopped writing these past few years?

The unfairness ate at her.

Suddenly, Mr. Lu asked, "No matter who Zhi Wei really is—you still want to meet them?"

Madam Lu nodded slowly.

Mr. Lu turned to Lu Changsheng. "Go invite Zhi Wei here. Bring your grandmother’s gift for them."

Lu Changsheng protested, "Father!"

The old lady would die of shock—no doubt about it!

"Go!" Madam Lu snapped at Ah Hong to fetch the gifts she’d prepared for Zhi Wei: a Ru ware brush washer, a Duan inkstone from Emperor Qianlong’s collection, a red-glazed vase, and an ivory brush holder.

Lu Changsheng stayed put. "Grandmother, wouldn’t it be better to leave these to me? These are valuable antiques, aren’t they?"

Old Mrs. Lu glared at him, "Haven't I given you plenty?"

"Plenty," Lu Changsheng answered truthfully.

"In that case, why are you still eyeing what little I'm giving Zhi Wei?" Old Mrs. Lu retorted before urging, "Hurry up and bring Zhi Wei here to meet me."

Lu Changsheng warned her first, "Just promise not to get too worked up when you see her."

"I know, I know, stop nagging," Old Mrs. Lu said.

So Lu Changsheng brought four antiques to find Lu Mingzhu. Before even entering the living room, he heard mesmerizing piano music, indescribably beautiful.

He had never heard Lu Mingzhu play the piano before and asked a servant, "Did Well get a new piano teacher?"

He wanted to know who it was so he could hire them later to teach his grandchildren.

The servant smiled, "It's Mrs. Lu."

Lu Changsheng's peach-blossom eyes widened, "Mingzhu?"

"Yes, Mrs. Lu plays both pipa and piano exquisitely," the servant replied before inviting him in.

It was indeed Lu Mingzhu playing the piano.

Next to her sat Well, and her piano teacher, a gray-haired gentleman in his fifties or sixties.

Lu Changsheng remembered his surname was Liu.

As the piece ended, Well's piano teacher said modestly, "Mrs. Xie's skill is far beyond mine. She could easily teach Well herself."

This teacher was also a renowned pianist who had won many music awards. A Shanghai native, he had moved to Hong Kong early in life.

Lu Mingzhu smiled, "You flatter me."

To this day, she still didn't understand why her piano skills had improved so remarkably, to everyone's admiration. How could she possibly teach her daughter? There were still many famous piano pieces she hadn't even played yet!

She was planning to find a master teacher to learn properly, so she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of others.

Lu Changsheng walked over, "Mingzhu."

"What do you want?" Seeing him, Lu Mingzhu stood up. "Instead of attending to your esteemed grandmother, what brings you here?"

Lu Changsheng said with a wry smile, "I need to talk to you."

Lu Mingzhu snorted, "I knew there had to be a reason for your visit. Go on, what is it?"

"Uncle," Well greeted obediently before also asking what the matter was.

"It's about your mother," Lu Changsheng replied.

"Well lost interest."

Seeing that the siblings had matters to discuss, the piano teacher discreetly took Well upstairs to the piano room for practice, leaving the space to Lu Mingzhu and Lu Changsheng.

Lu Mingzhu went to sit in the parlor, "Go ahead."

Lu Changsheng first offered the gifts. Under Lu Mingzhu's surprised gaze, he said, "The old lady wants to see you."

"See me? Brother, are you joking? That old hag would rather see anyone else." Lu Mingzhu and the old woman mixed like oil and water—they couldn't stand each other.

Lu Changsheng said, "She wants to see Zhi Wei."

Lu Mingzhu's hand paused as she poured tea for him. "Who did you say?"

"The old lady is your devoted fan and has sent you many things and letters," Lu Changsheng revealed the truth.

"What?" Lu Mingzhu couldn't believe it. "Seriously?"

Lu Changsheng shrugged. "Why would I make this up? What's in it for me? She really loves your work and especially adores Zhi Wei and Xiao Xie's stories. Since Xiao Xie hasn't written as much, she likes Zhi Wei the most. She's bought tons of newspapers and published books. Now that she doesn't have much time left, she just wants to meet her favorite writer."

Without hesitation, Lu Mingzhu replied, "No way."

She wouldn't lower herself for some old trinkets—she was destined to be a treasure-hunting magnate with countless undersea riches.

Lu Changsheng had expected this outcome.

"I'll go back and tell her you're unavailable, so she can focus on resting," Lu Changsheng breathed an inward sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to leave, Lu Mingzhu suddenly called out to him.

"Wait! Actually... I think I should meet her—to let her know how successful the Lu Mingzhu she despises has become." Preferably enough to make her blood boil.