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Chapter 516: Everyone Wants Precious Things
Chapter 516: Everyone Wants Precious Things
Lu Jiaxin waited for half a month for the items from Gu Do to arrive in Hong Kong City. But when she finally laid eyes on them, she knew that the wait had been more than worth it.
Nie Zhan's brows furrowed with concern as he beheld the six items sent by Lu Hongjun. "Jiaxin, your father is a government official, and your family has no ancient heritage. Where did he get the money for all these fine things?"
He suspected that these items were either obtained through your future father-in-law's corruption or bought with ill-gotten gains. If this came to light, it could tarnish Jiaxin's reputation.
Shaking her head, Lu Jiaxin replied, "I've asked him several times, and he insists that he bought them with his own salary and has done nothing illegal."
"Do you believe him?" Nie Zhan probed.
Lu Jiaxin shrugged, knowing what he implied. "Whether I believe him or not is irrelevant. What matters is that he claims this is legitimately earned."
"He's already sixty and retired. I doubt anyone will bother him now. Those years were chaotic, and there were many muddy accounts. I don't think anyone will dig into these old, forgotten matters," she added.
"I'm just worried that if there's a problem, it will implicate you," Nie Zhan voiced his concern.
Lu Jiaxin smiled at his protectiveness. "How could it implicate me? Aside from the fact that I was just a child back then, the capital for my business in Hong Kong City didn't come from him. If things go south, I'll return these items," she assured him.
Knowing her well, Nie Zhan asked, "Would you be willing to part with them?"
Lu Jiaxin's heart twinged at the thought of letting go of treasures like the jadeite cabbage and the Guan Yin statue, crafted with such lifelike detail. "I'll refund them tenfold if necessary," she said resolutely. "And if that's still not enough, I'll promise to donate these items to a museum after my passing."
Given her substantial donations to the mainland, she believed that this promise would ensure her wish was respected. Over the years, many precious items had been exchanged to obtain more foreign exchange.
The next day, Lu Jiaxin received a call from Su Heyuan. "Jiaxin, I heard from He Ming that you brought back quite a few treasures this time, including a Guan Yin statue carved entirely from mutton-fat jade. It's incredibly lifelike and rare."
Lu Jiaxin didn't blame Su HeMing for his loose tongue. Firstly, she hadn't instructed him to keep it a secret, and secondly, she was speaking to Su HeYuan, her blood relative.
"So, do you want it?" she asked, seeing the direction of his thoughts.
"No," Su HeYuan quickly clarified. "But Old Mrs. Hu especially longs for many children and grandchildren, and she even has a Guan Yin statue in her home. Jiaxin, that Guan Yin statue of yours is a true treasure. You must keep it safe, or the Hu family will surely come to you, pleading for it."
"It's not for sale, no matter the price," Lu Jiaxin stated firmly.
"What if Hu Zhifeng and Old Mrs. Hu themselves come to you?" Su HeYuan pressed.
"I won't sell," she reiterated, unwavering. "A gentleman does not take what others cherish. If Shi Meng truly considers me a friend, she won't force me to do something I'm unwilling to do."
"What if Old Mrs. Hu and Mrs. Hu come to you as well? Could you refuse them at such an advanced age?" Su HeYuan queried further.
"Why shouldn't I be able to refuse them just because of their age? They aren't my elders, and their happiness has nothing to do with me," Lu Jiaxin replied, unyielding. Just because she was close with Zong Shi Meng, it didn't mean that the elders of the Hu family could demand her prized possessions.
Seeing her unwavering stance, Su HeYuan said, "In that case, they'll probably ask me to speak to you. Jiaxin, I'm not joking. Old Mrs. Hu is stubborn, and if she learns about your exquisite Guan Yin statue, she'll go to great lengths to make you part with it."
"He's just worried that the fire will burn him and is afraid that the wedding will be derailed again."
"I understand," Lu Jiaxin replied. She had originally planned to feast her eyes on these treasures before storing them in a bank vault. But Su Heyuan's words served as a timely reminder; she couldn't solely rely on a bank vault and needed to find a place to keep her prized possessions, somewhere she could access them at any time.
That evening, Lu Jiaxin shared her thoughts with Nie Zhan: "Azhan, I want to buy a plot of land and build a villa so that I can fully satisfy my preferences and needs."
"Why the sudden decision to buy land and construct a building?" Nie Zhan asked.
Lu Jiaxin didn't hide the truth and shared Su Heyuan's concerns: "Everyone wants nice things, and I can't keep my treasures on display. Otherwise, people will definitely start plotting."
Nie Zhan recalled what Nie Jingwen had said earlier about asking Jiaxin if she intended to sell those jewels. While those jewels were extraordinary, they paled in comparison to the jadeite cabbage and the Guan Yin statue. If these items were showcased publicly, many people would indeed covet them.
After some thought, Nie Zhan asked, "Where do you plan to build your new home?"
With large villas already in Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay, the only remaining option was the peak of Victoria Peak. Lu Jiaxin asked, "What do you think about buying a plot of land on Barker Road and building a grand villa there?"
Nie Zhan smiled and said, "Of course. You're now Hong Kong's richest woman, and you certainly have the qualifications to buy land on the peak and build a house. However, from the application to purchase the land to the completion and move-in of the villa, it will take at least three years."
Applying to purchase the land would take some time, and then they would need to find a world-renowned designer who could incorporate aesthetics, security, and requirements like an underground vault. Just the design process would take a considerable amount of time.
Lu Jiaxin didn't see the three-year wait as an issue. She was quite content living in her current home. "Azhan, I'll have to trouble you with this matter."
Nie Zhan caressed her hair and smiled. "Silly, why would it be troublesome to build a house for ourselves? Are you planning to kick me out?"
Lu Jiaxin hadn't actually thought that far ahead; it was just a habitual phrase. She smiled and retorted, "Even if I don't let you stay here, wouldn't you still move in?"
Nie Zhan felt his question was pointless.
Two days later, He Bin returned with the seal of Emperor Yongzheng.
Lu Jiaxin immediately opened the box to examine its contents. The seal was made of fine-grained white jade, pure and flawless. The imprint bore the inscription 'Yongzheng Imperial Treasure' in seal script, accompanied by nine coiling dragon-shaped knobs amidst a sea of clouds. It was majestic and impressive.
"This is a fine item," Lu Jiaxin remarked.
He Bin nodded in agreement. "The three experts who authenticated it said that this seal is a national treasure. One of them even suggested that I donate it to a museum, but I refused."
He Bin decided that he wouldn't invite that particular expert, who had suggested donating his client's possessions, to appraise his items again. If someone wanted to donate their own possessions, that was their choice, but it was inappropriate for an expert to suggest that his client donate her treasures.
Lu Jiaxin ran her fingers over the seal and smiled. "This item cannot be donated. Before Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, the imperial treasury faced a significant deficit. Once he took power, he rectified the finances and implemented a series of measures to replenish the treasury. During his thirteen-year reign, he left over thirty million taels of silver for his successor. In that era, an ordinary family could live comfortably on just ten taels of silver per year."
He Bin understood her reasoning. This emperor had been adept at accumulating wealth, so his seal should be kept and cherished rather than donated.
(End of Chapter)
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