Zhuang Rui's popularity was so great that even celebrities who wanted to create news every day were envious. The minor celebrity who used to be with Yang Shao from Beijing, who became friends with Zhuang Rui after a falling out, would tell everyone about her untold story with Zhuang Rui.
Many reporters also found out Zhuang Rui's address and camped out at the entrance of his courtyard house in Beijing with their cameras and microphones. This surprised entertainment reporters, who wondered when reporters covering economic and livelihood news had become like paparazzi.
When the reporters learned that Zhuang Rui had another estate in the suburbs of Beijing, they immediately moved their location, but they were destined to wait in vain, because Zhuang Rui had already left Beijing.
Early in the morning, Hao Long and two security guards drove several cars to take Qin Xuanbing and the others to Tianjin Port. Also accompanying them were Zhuang Rui's companions, including Jin Gang and Zhui Feng. Now, apart from the security guards, there was no one else at the manor. Even Ouyang Wan had taken the White Lion couple to stay temporarily at Yuquan Mountain. ...
"Director Zhao from CCTV?"
"Hello, what's up? What, you want to do an exclusive interview? I'm sorry, I'm not in the country right now. Yes, yes, I don't know when I'll be back. We'll talk about it later..."
Zhuang Rui hung up the phone with a wry smile. Since yesterday afternoon, his phone had been ringing non-stop. It was basically one call after another, either from people wanting to interview him or wanting him to be interviewed on TV.
Because he needed to discuss the development of the Genghis Khan Mausoleum with Ouyang Jun, Zhuang Rui left Beijing a little later. Ever since he finished talking to Ouyang Jun and turned on his phone, he hadn't had a moment's peace.
"Brother Zhuang, you're really famous this time, haha. From now on, will you have to wear a hat and glasses when you go out?"
Peng Fei, who was driving, smiled with a hint of schadenfreude. Who told Zhuang Rui to decide to take Zhui Feng to Hong Kong instead of his own Bai Tu? He deserved to be harassed.
"You brat, what good does it do you to get noticed by me?"
Zhuang Rui cursed in an annoyed tone.
"Yeah, that's true. With your increased exposure, security issues are becoming a bit of a problem..."
Upon hearing this, Peng Fei's face immediately fell. His current job was to be Zhuang Rui's bodyguard, and the more famous Zhuang Rui became, the greater the pressure on him.
"Hello, sorry, you've dialed the wrong number..."
Another call came in, and Zhuang Rui, in a high-pitched voice, said it was a wrong number and then hung up.
"Brother Zhuang, why don't you just turn off your phone?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui's worried expression, Peng Fei couldn't laugh either.
"Turn off your phone? I turned it off last night, but my uncle called my mom instead. How can I turn it off?"
Yesterday, Ouyang Zhenwu called him specifically to tell him to pay attention to his image, especially in front of the media. If it weren't for Ouyang Zhenwu's advice, Zhuang Rui would have already turned against those who made those harassing phone calls.
"Hello, you dialed the wrong number... Oh, it's Ms. Liu. Congratulations on joining CCTV! What? Live treasure appraisal? Ms. Liu, it's not that I'm being disrespectful, but I really haven't been in the country lately. I'm about to go to Hong Kong, and I have some things to take care of in Macau... How about we reschedule? Definitely, definitely, you're a man of your word. I wouldn't dare lie to the great host, Ms. Liu, would I? Okay, goodbye..."
Zhuang Rui hung up the phone and gave a wry smile. The caller was Liu Jia, the host from Beijing TV whom he had met a few years ago through a TV treasure appraisal program. Zhuang Rui didn't know why, but this woman had always kept in touch with him and had even become good friends with Qin Xuanbing.
Last year, Liu Jia joined a treasure appraisal program on CCTV and has since become quite famous across the country. The call just now was to invite Zhuang Rui to appear on an episode of the treasure appraisal program.
"Peng Fei, stop the car. I'm going to buy some newspapers to read on the boat..."
As they approached the Tianjin Port terminal, Zhuang Rui called out to Peng Fei. After the car stopped by the roadside, Zhuang Rui got out.
"Auntie, this...this, and these newspapers, give me one of each..."
Zhuang Rui ordered a few newspapers and took out the change he had left over from having morning tea with Ouyang Jun, handing it over.
"Auntie, what's wrong?"
Zhuang Rui noticed that the old lady, who looked to be around sixty years old, wasn't taking the money. She just kept staring at him. He touched his face in confusion. "I don't look like the male lead in those Korean dramas that old ladies like to watch. Why is she staring at me?"
"Who are you……"
The old lady reached out and picked up a newspaper from the stall, looked at it, then picked up another one, compared it with Zhuang Rui's, and suddenly shouted, "Expert Zhuang, you are Expert Zhuang!" Hearing the old lady's words, several people who bought newspapers in front of the iron pavilion also turned their heads to look at Zhuang Rui, and then they surrounded him.
"Is it really Professor Zhuang Rui?"
"Expert Zhuang, what does that imperial seal look like? Can you tell us about it?"
"Yes, Expert Zhuang, is that thing real or fake? How much is it worth?"
The barrage of questions nearly made Zhuang Rui's mind explode. Zhuang Rui strongly suspected that the old woman must have worked in the neighborhood committee when she was young, as she looked at everyone as if they were criminals. Her eyesight was just too good.
"Gentlemen, you've mistaken me for someone else! I'm not Zhuang Rui! Excuse me, excuse me..."
Zhuang Rui threw down the money in his hand, grabbed a few newspapers, and fled in panic.
"Damn it, is this any way to live?"
After getting into the car, Zhuang Rui wiped away a cold sweat. He really couldn't understand how those celebrities got through each day.
Chapter 1205 Mindset
"I'm not a celebrity, is it really necessary to act like this?"
Once in the car, Zhuang Rui looked at the torn newspaper in his hand and a scratch on his arm, and said angrily, "What good is being famous? Luckily I'm not a woman, or I'd be groped all over..."
The things Zhuang Rui mentioned have indeed happened to female celebrities. In public places where there are many people, many female celebrities have experienced being groped or having their buttocks touched.
"Brother Zhuang, you're like a well-fed man who doesn't know the hunger of a starving one. With your wealth, being famous or not doesn't matter to you, but for those celebrities, fame means advertising, film and television opportunities, and all sorts of endorsement opportunities. Of course, they'd fight tooth and nail to create news..."
Peng Fei, who was driving, curled his lip, not taking Zhuang Rui's words seriously. These days, whether it's handsome men and beautiful women or eccentric people like Furong and Fengjie, there are many people who will do anything to become famous. In the end, it's all about "profit".
Zhuang Rui fell silent upon hearing this. Peng Fei was absolutely right; his mindset had indeed changed. These past few years of living a life of comfort and ease had distanced Zhuang Rui from the lives of ordinary people. Although he still enjoyed eating breakfast at street stalls in Beijing as before, his attitude was completely different from what it used to be.
Zhuang Rui felt inexplicably irritated and suddenly asked, "Peng Fei, if one day I decide to settle abroad, will you go with me?"
Upon hearing this, Peng Fei, who was driving, glanced at Zhuang Rui, who was sitting in the passenger seat, with surprise. After thinking for a moment, he said, "As long as I can still run, I'll go wherever you go, Brother Zhuang. When I can't run anymore, I'll go home and live with my wife..."
What are you thinking about?
Seeing Peng Fei's serious expression, Zhuang Rui laughed. "I meant that we'll live abroad for a while in the future. You forgot, I still have a private island in the Caribbean. But this is still our motherland, and I won't forget about coming back..."
This unexpected rise to fame has been quite bothersome for Zhuang Rui. He plans to go out and hide for two years, until people in China have largely forgotten about him, before returning.
Since taking over the island, Zhuang Rui has never had a chance to visit it. Hu Rong, on the other hand, has been there twice. According to him, it's simply paradise on earth, and he even considered moving all the people from the Myanmar Overseas Chinese Town there.
This filled Zhuang Rui with anticipation. He and Qin Xuanbing were both people who preferred quiet, and besides, the island was much larger than his manor, making it more suitable for his companions to live on.
"Brother Zhuang, going to that private island is fine, but what are you planning to do about the old man?"
Peng Fei's words startled Zhuang Rui. "Yes, what if something happens to Grandpa and Grandma's health if I run away?"
"Can't I take them with me?"
Zhuang Rui's mood was completely ruined by Peng Fei's discouraging remark.
However, Zhuang Rui also knew that, let alone going abroad, even if the old man wanted to leave Yuquan Mountain for a short trip, it would cause chaos. Getting the old man to go abroad to his private island was practically an impossible task. ...
Peng Fei parked the car in the parking lot of Tianjin Port and went to the dock with Zhuang Rui. A speedboat that was already waiting there picked them up and headed towards the huge cruise ship in the distance.
"Hi, dear boss, it's such a pleasure to see you! You've finally remembered your loyal employee..."
Zhuang Rui had just taken the elevator to the deck when the bearded captain came up to him. His obsequious manner gave Zhuang Rui goosebumps. He said irritably, "Hey Captain Clyde, you haven't been shortchanged on your salary lately, have you?"
Zhuang Rui heard that this old guy has been living a very comfortable life recently, and even bought a house in Tianjin. Why has he suddenly become so strange?
"Oh, of course, boss, you're the most generous person in the world, but... we agreed to go to the four oceans to salvage those unknown treasures, but now..."
Clyde was very satisfied with Zhuang Rui's salary. Even though the cruise ship was docked in Tianjin Port for nearly half a year, he didn't lose a penny. In addition, he found love again in Tianjin and met a beautiful Tianjin girl.
However, Clyde, who considers himself a born navigator, still has the adventurous spirit of his ancestors flowing in his blood, even though he is over fifty years old. He has always been thinking about the salvage of shipwrecks that Zhuang Rui mentioned.
Facing the bearded captain, who was as enthusiastic as a young man in his early twenties, Zhuang Rui smiled wryly: "Clyde, I also want to set sail immediately to salvage those sunken ships..."
"Oh, that's wonderful! The ship has enough fuel to venture deep into the Pacific Ocean. Ah, what exciting news that is!"
Before Zhuang Rui could finish speaking, Clyde interrupted him, waving his hands excitedly, completely oblivious to the wry smile on Zhuang Rui's face.
“I said, Mr. Clyde, let me finish what I have to say…”
Zhuang Rui looked helplessly at the bearded captain, completely unaware that Chinese conversation often includes a "but." "Claude," he said, "there are many things in this world we can't choose. In the near future, I might go with you to investigate those sunken ships, but right now, I have more important things to do..."
"Oh, boss, well, I think that day will come soon, won't it?"
Clyde made no attempt to hide the disappointment on his face. Only by venturing into the raging sea could Clyde find the meaning of his life.
"Yes, I believe that too, Captain Clyde. You'll soon be able to show your skills..."
Zhuang Rui felt he was becoming more and more hypocritical. He was fooling this straightforward Irishman without feeling any guilt. Well, it was just a white lie.
"Alright boss, let's set sail for Hong Kong now. I'm starting to miss Macau..."
Although it wasn't deep sea or the open ocean, at least we were finally leaving the port and entering the real sea. Clyde gave Zhuang Rui a sailor's salute and went to arrange the cruise ship's departure.
After dealing with the bearded captain, Zhuang Rui finally had the chance to see his wife and children. The sea wasn't too hot in the summer, and the two little ones were playing on the deck. The crew members on the cruise ship adored these two exquisitely beautiful little sprites.
King Kong was doing something that made Zhuang Rui both laugh and cry. This big guy liked to imitate everything it saw, and it was currently harassing Zhui Feng, meaning it wanted to do what Zhuang Rui did and ride on Zhui Feng for a while.
"King Kong, come here. If you bother Chasing Wind again, I'll make sure you don't get to eat barbecue for a year..."
Seeing this, Zhuang Rui didn't even bother to greet Qin Xuanbing and rushed over to pull Jin Gang back.
Poor Chasing Wind kept dodging King Kong, but although the deck was large, it was still on a ship. It had already been forced to the bow. If Zhuang Rui didn't come soon, who knows what kind of trouble might happen.
"Ooh... Awooo..."
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Jin Gang immediately followed behind him obediently, his fawning expression matching that of the bearded captain from before.
You see, King Kong's favorite food is roasted meat. Although it is very smart and can turn the meat on the grill, there is one thing: King Kong can't start a fire. Zhuang Rui once punished it for this. King Kong stole a lighter from the kitchen and tried to start a fire to roast the meat itself.
However, while the fire was lit, King Kong's fur was also burned to pieces. From then on, having suffered the consequences, King Kong was always obedient to the threat of not having roasted meat.
For the past few months, Zhuang Rui had been working in a cramped underground space. Now that he was on the ship and looking at the vast sea, he felt much more relaxed. The reason he didn't fly to Hong Kong was that he wanted to relax during the voyage.
Unlike in the early 20th century, cruise passenger transport has long been replaced by airplanes and trains, and has basically withdrawn from the ranks of modern transportation. Only Zhuang Rui can take a ship directly from Tianjin to Hong Kong.
After a day at sea, the huge cruise ship slowly sailed into Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. Although there are many luxury cruise ships docked here, the arrival of the Xuanrui, which had been modified in a somewhat incongruous way, still attracted a lot of attention.
Zhuang Rui did not take the helicopter on the cruise ship, but instead got into the convoy that his father-in-law was waiting for at the port. That's right, it was a convoy, because apart from Zhuang Rui and the other "people", King Kong and Chasing Wind each had to ride in a separate car.
The reason why Zhuifeng was brought to Hong Kong was because Old Master Qin heard that Zhuang Rui had acquired an Akhal-Teke horse and insisted that Zhuang Rui bring it. It was the first time Zhuang Rui had known that Old Master Qin had a hobby of horse racing in addition to jewelry.
In Hong Kong and some European countries, private horse ownership often represents a prestigious status, and it is a great honor if the horses owned by them can achieve good results in horse racing.
Just like Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United in England, he was more proud of owning a champion racehorse named "The Rock of Gibraltar" than of the many honors he won while managing Manchester United. In 2004, Ferguson even fought a protracted lawsuit with the club's major shareholder over the ownership of this racehorse.
Of course, this racehorse earned him no less than £100 million in various competitions, which is probably the main reason why Sir Alex Ferguson and the team owner went to court.
In his villa in Hong Kong, Mr. Qin had a dedicated stable. A few years ago, he owned a racehorse, but in recent years, due to declining health, he sold it off.
Chapter 1206 Hong Kong Jockey Club
"Grandpa, why did you come out? Look... we younger generation are not worthy of your welcoming..."