MWC – Chapter 161 This is Fate

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

New Era Mall

In Liu Laocai’s office, Lu Ming sipped the tea Liu Laocai had made himself and smiled, “You’ve improved. You can hold your temper now.” He looked around, “Where is Sister-in-law Hongmei?”

Liu Laocai shrugged and remained silent.

Lu Ming stood up and walked to the window. He saw a crowd gathered in the square in front of the New Era Mall, pointing and talking about the mall building.

“Thanks, Brother Liu!” Lu Ming laughed, “Only you would let me do as I please!”

The New Era Mall was almost entirely covered by a huge advertisement draped over the building. The ad depicted many Black people flooding into several communities. If one looked closely, it was easy to recognize the neighborhoods as part of the third electoral district.

The slogan read, “This is the future chosen by the Cao Ying candidate for the third electoral district!”

Indeed, only Liu Laocai would allow such a thing. Previously, campaign ads were positive and somewhat decent; now, it was a massive, ominous advertisement attacking the opponent’s candidate. The colors were dark and somewhat terrifying, making people uncomfortable. If the New Era Mall were owned by anyone else, they wouldn’t agree to this.

“Qianxing, you have a lot of free time today. You should already know the effect of the advertisement. Do you still need to check?” Liu Laocai laughed.

“Today is the second round of negotiations. It’s boring, so I decided to take a walk.”

In the second round, he let his three disciples handle the trivial matters. Reconciliation is impossible as he made his bottom line very clear to them.

Still, he was a bit uneasy, so he ordered Rodman to keep an eye on things.

“Qianxing, you should buy all my shares in this mall.” Liu Laocai suddenly said.

Lu Ming was taken aback and turned around.

Liu Laocai smiled bitterly, “Hongmei is leaving me. She doesn’t want anything and seems to be going back to her ex-husband. I want to set up a fund for her so she has a secure life and money to treat her husband’s illness.”

Lu Ming slowly returned to his seat, picked up the tea cup, and silently drank.

“Also, my eldest son and his wife gave me a grandson. Although I don’t get along with them, he is still my grandson…”

“I want to sell all my shares and give the money to them, and my second son should get a share too.” Liu Laocai sighed deeply.

“And you? Are you going into seclusion?” Lu Ming looked at him.

This old man was once decisive and ruthless in the business world when he was young. But now, having lost his sharpness, he has become weak.

As for Deng Hongmei’s feelings, it’s not hard to understand. Liu Laocai’s family was considered wealthy to her, and she was dazzled by his lavish spending. But once she became part of this wealthy family, she realized that such a life wasn’t as mysterious or glamorous as she had imagined.

After all, Liu Laocai himself doesn’t have much to attract a young girl except for money.

Moreover, they never had children, which likely created a rift. Liu Laocai had once longed for children.

As for Deng Hongmei leaving and not wanting any inheritance, it doesn’t matter if it’s a tactic. Liu Laocai wants to give her a share to feel at ease.

Comfort is essential in life.

Of course, those who haven’t reached Liu Laocai’s stage and are still worried about daily expenses can’t understand this.

It’s all about fair exchange. If Liu Laocai feels that the happiness Deng Hongmei brought him is worth the money, then there’s no problem.

Lost in thought, Lu Ming said, “If you want to sell, I’ll buy. I’ll have someone handle it. But you should keep at least twenty shares for yourself. Later, give them to me, and I’ll invest them in Han Dynasty. In two years, I can double your money each year.”

Liu Laocai smiled bitterly, “I’m not interested in these things anymore. But thanks, Qianxing!”

At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the door. Cautiously pushing the door open was Yang Yanran, who had once helped Lu Ming investigate Deng Hongmei’s background.

She smiled apologetically, “Chairman Lu, your fifteenth concubine is here to see you!”

Lu Ming was stunned. He couldn’t shake off this little tail?

“Your concubine has been very considerate, waiting at the mall entrance. She looks quite distinguished, although no one dared to gawk. But her presence alone has made the New Era Mall feel like it’s never had such an honored guest. I had to ask, and she said she didn’t want to bother you as you were busy. She was willing to wait. But I couldn’t let her wait at the entrance, being stared at by the uncouth. They might not appreciate her and get sore eyes.” 

As Yang Yanran spoke more inappropriately, Lu Ming waved his hand, “Where is she?”

“Oh, I told her to wait upstairs in an empty office. She’s now in my office next door, alone. My office doesn’t allow men, so it’s not defiled for her.”

Liu Laocai laughed, “You’re getting better with words. It sounds like my little sister-in-law is a fairy. Are you saying any room a man has been in is defiled?”

Yang Yanran smiled apologetically, “That’s how I feel.”

Lu Ming waved his hand, “Alright, bring her in.”

Liu Laocai looked at Lu Ming in surprise, “Qianxing, you have a fifteenth concubine already? You didn’t tell me.”

“It’s not what you think. I’ll explain later.” Lu Ming shook his head.

At this moment, the office door was gently knocked, and Yang Yanran carefully opened the door and stepped aside.

A beautiful figure in an ice-blue gauze dress walked in. It was Jennifer, wearing a pretty white feathered hat and carrying a pearl chain handbag. Although her delicate face still had a touch of innocence, her elegance and composure were evident, making her stand out even among supermodels.

However, upon seeing Lu Ming, she immediately lowered her head timidly, like a rabbit encountering a wolf.

Liu Laocai was stunned. Although he wasn’t into young girls, this fifteenth concubine of Qianxing was extraordinary.

“Oh, you’re here at the right time.” Lu Ming beckoned to her, “You will buy Liu Ge’s mall at market price. Check the accounts carefully and don’t make a loss.”

“Okay!” Jennifer’s delicate face lit up with joy upon receiving a task from Lu Ming.

Lu Ming smiled at Liu Laocai, “Starlight Mall is hers. And if she has to use her own money to buy our shares at a loss, she’ll cry to me.”

Liu Laocai laughed, “One thing at a time. Besides, market price means I might not get the money until next year. Normal price, 10% below market.”

Lu Ming waved his hand, “Let’s not discuss this. Money isn’t a good thing. You want to sell cheaply to me, and I want to pay more, but discussing it feels awkward and distant. Let Jennifer handle it. She has a capable management team.”

Jennifer, hearing this, whispered, “Thank you, Master.”

A standard term for the main wife used by concubines in Zhongzhou, it sounded a bit tender and non-native from this pure Western noble girl’s mouth, making Lu Ming pause. It was quite charming, and his heart wavered slightly.

He knew what she was thankful for.

He indeed had someone investigate her business management team, knowing that old Renault would expect him to take over soon. But now wasn’t the time, and he didn’t want this naive girl to be exploited by the managers, which would be his responsibility.

“Starlight, Starlight…” Liu Laocai muttered bitterly. Even in the urban area, Starlight was a large mall.

His New Era was the best mall in the north, but in the city, it was nothing. The New Development Zone was the latest expansion area, with many new industries, including the luxurious Starlight Mall with high-end brand stores. His New Era was like a pheasant compared to a phoenix.

His little brother Qianxing had married a super-rich concubine. How could this be fair? He couldn’t even keep a former waitress. Comparing oneself to others is indeed infuriating.

“Alright, we should go!” Lu Ming said to Jennifer.

He had many feelings too. Looking at Liu Laocai and Deng Hongmei’s final outcome, he felt incredibly lucky.

He looked at the polite Jennifer bidding farewell to Liu Laocai and following closely beside him.

Lu Ming smiled, “Why are you so happy?”

Jennifer whispered, “Master said, we…”

Lu Ming was stunned, not realizing a word could make her so anxious.

But then he frowned, “Master, Master, who taught you that?”

Jennifer was startled and timidly replied, “It’s Catherine. She said I should call you that. Isn’t it right?”

Lu Ming shook his head, thinking Catherine wasn’t a good influence, teaching her husband’s sister like that.

From a Western perspective, being a concubine is very different from being a lover, a very unequal marriage relationship. Even sociologists in the imperial capital criticized concubinage as making women in Zhongzhou men’s sex slaves.

Shaquille Renault often looked guilty when seeing his sister.

Seeing the pure noble girl about to cry, Lu Ming sighed, “Nothing wrong with it…”

Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps. Yang Yanran ran over, disregarding her high heels, and panted, “Chairman Lu, the security downstairs called. Some patrol officers are here to remove your campaign ad.”