Chapter 404: Five Blessings Jewelry
Chapter 404: Five Blessings Jewelry
Xue Mao intended to accompany Shan Zi on his return journey, but Lu Jiaxin disagreed. She said, "Since we're already here, let's stay for a couple of days."
"Sister Jiaxin, I only took a two-day leave!" Xue Mao exclaimed.
Lu Jiaxin waved off his concern as a minor issue. "I'll have Su Heming's secretary request a couple of extra days of leave from your boss. I'm sure your boss won't mind. Come on, we're siblings who haven't seen each other in ages, and you don't want to stay a few more days?"
Xue Mao had no choice but to agree.
That evening, Lu Jiaxin took the two of them to Fulinmen. As they stepped inside and beheld the opulent decor, Lu Shan felt so nervous that he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.
Xue Mao noticed his discomfort and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, the first time I ate here, I was so intimidated I could barely walk. You'll get used to it after a few visits."
Lu Shan lowered his voice and asked, "This place looks really high-end. Won't it cost a lot to eat here?"
The prices were definitely not cheap. A meal at their restaurant would cost several dozen yuan, and if they ordered delicacies and a few bottles of fine wine, the bill could easily run into the hundreds. Fulinmen was one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong, and a meal here would cost over a thousand yuan.
Xue Mao whispered, "It depends on what dishes you order. If you choose dishes made with rare and precious ingredients, it'll be expensive, but if you opt for dishes made with common ingredients, it'll be more affordable. Don't worry, Mr. Nie is treating us tonight."
Upon hearing this, Lu Shan became even more uneasy. "He's just dating my cousin. Is it really appropriate for us to accept such an expensive meal?"
Xue Mao smiled gently. "It's fine. Sister Jiaxin has money too; she'll return the favor someday."
Last year, he had transferred nearly 20 million yuan in dividends from the 30% shares under his name back to Lu Jiaxin. Of course, he hadn't kept a single cent for himself. However, with just the profits from the clothing company being so high, Sister Jiaxin must be quite well-off.
Once they were seated in a private room, Xue Mao asked, "Sister Jiaxin, why isn't Mr. Nie here yet?"
Lu Jiaxin handed the menu to the two of them. "He's on his way and will be here soon. You two decide what you want to eat."
Lu Shan, unfamiliar with such places, simply indicated that he was fine with anything.
Xue Mao, having been there before, ordered four dishes: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Pig Stomach and Swallow's Nest Soup, Braised Ox Knuckles with Radish, and Fresh Shrimp and Bean Curd Skin Rolls.
After hearing their choices, Lu Jiaxin added two more dishes to the order: Braised Radish with Ox Knuckles and Fresh Shrimp and Bean Curd Skin Rolls.
The other two dishes had already been ordered by Nie Zhan. Usually, he wouldn't order Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, as he found it too nourishing, but he had chosen it this time because Lu Jiaxin had been working too hard lately.
"Okay," he replied.
Soon enough, Nie Zhan arrived, and while they waited for the food to be served, he asked Xue Mao about his future plans. "Working as a odd-jobber in a restaurant isn't a long-term solution. Have you considered coming to Hong Kong to pursue better opportunities?"
Xue Mao shook his head, saying that he had no such plans at the moment. He would still be doing odd jobs in Hong Kong, and while the wages were higher, there was a lot of discrimination against people from the mainland. He didn't want to have to endure that.
Nie Zhan said, "I recently acquired a hotel, and if you're interested, you could work in the hotel kitchen. Xue Mao, that restaurant is too small, and the head chef's skills are average at best. If you stay there, it will be difficult for your culinary skills to improve."
Lu Jiaxin looked at him, noticing that he hadn't mentioned acquiring a hotel in their recent conversations.
Xue Mao was tempted by the offer but hesitated, thinking that if the Nie family knew about it, they might look down on Lu Jiaxin. So, he politely declined, trying to be tactful.
Lu Jiaxin understood his dilemma and said, "Xue Mao, the new head chef won't make things difficult for you, but he also won't teach you his best techniques. If you join Nie Zhan's hotel, the head chef there will mentor you."
Xue Mao didn't want to discuss the matter further in front of Nie Zhan, so he vaguely asked for some time to consider the offer.
Nie Zhan turned to Lu Shan and asked about his future plans as well.
Lu Shan felt nervous under his gaze and stumbled over his words, "I... I plan to open another noodle restaurant to earn more money."
Lu Jiaxin understood that he wanted to support his parents, but such a plan needed to be executed gradually; otherwise, it would be akin to forcing growth on a seedling. Just then, the food arrived, and she smiled, saying, "These dishes are best eaten while they're hot; otherwise, they won't taste as good."
Lu Shan breathed a sigh of relief. But as he took a bite of the Huadiao-braised chicken, he nearly swallowed his tongue—it was just too delicious.
"Would you like some wine?" Nie Zhan asked.
The two men quickly waved their hands, indicating that they never drank at home.
Due to the delicious food, Lu Shan focused solely on eating, while Xue Mao analyzed the ingredients, cooking methods, and seasonings used in each dish.
After the meal, Nie Zhan had his driver send Lu Shan and Xue Mao home, while he took Lu Jiaxin out on a date.
He had missed her greatly over the past half month.
A passionate French kiss left Lu Jiaxin breathless, and she thought to herself that he was no ice-cold man; instead, he was very passionate.
Nie Zhan held her in his arms and said, "If you don't come back soon, I'll have to go to Si Jiu City to find you."
Lu Jiaxin's lips curved upwards, but her next words ruined the romantic atmosphere, "How come you never mentioned buying a hotel before?"
Nie Zhan had acquired a hotel from the Nie family, or more specifically, one that was under Nie Jing Shu's name, "Due to the food poisoning incident, the hotel lost its business. My eldest brother intended to sell it off, but I thought it was a waste to let it go at a low price, so I bought it."
This decision was largely influenced by Lu Jiaxin. He believed that with the rapid economic development of the mainland, Hong Kong would surely prosper, and the hotel industry would thrive.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiaxin knew that he must have acquired the Nie family's hotel at a very favorable price. Although they shared the same surname, Nie Zhan always kept his public and private matters separate. If the price hadn't been reasonable, he wouldn't have made the purchase.
As they talked, Nie Zhan remembered something, "Liang Weibo told me that he hopes to use the name you initially suggested for the company."
Lu Jiaxin found this amusing, "Didn't he say that five is an unlucky odd number? What changed his mind? What made him reconsider?"
Nie Zhan smiled as he explained, "Old Man Liang knew about this and scolded him harshly. He said that 'Five Blessings Jewelry' immediately brings to mind the concept of the Five Blessings. The Five Blessings symbolize good luck and happiness, so many people hang paintings of the Five Blessings in their homes to enhance their feng shui and bring prosperity."
"Jiaxin, I think 'Five Blessings Jewelry' is catchy and easy to remember. What do you think?"
Lu Jiaxin had no objections. What mattered to her was the company's profitability, not its name, "Sure, but we can't change it again."
"The grand opening is coming soon, so we can't change it now."
"When is the grand opening? I plan to go to Croatia for a vacation in three days, and I might not make it back in time," Lu Jiaxin asked.
She had been taking makeup classes during May and June, dealing with the tomb relocation, and now she finally had some time to relax. Her original plan was to climb Mount Tai, but it would be too hot during this season. After comparing various options, she settled on Croatia for its pleasant climate.
Nie Zhan smiled and said, "It's fine. If you want to go, just go. We can have Liang Weibo invite a few celebrities for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It won't be a problem even if we're not there."
(End of Chapter)
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