Upon hearing the news of her parents' poor health, scenes of their love for her during her childhood flashed before her eyes, and Ouyang Wan's heart was in turmoil. She grabbed Zhuang Rui and stood up impatiently.
"Mom, there's no rush. Let me make some arrangements before we go. Otherwise, if Grandpa and Grandma get too excited when they see you, something bad might happen to them."
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Ouyang Wan calmed down and said, "Okay, let's go to Beijing next week. Let's bring Xiaomin and Nannan along, and let Guodong come too."
"Okay, Mom, don't worry. I'll go to Beijing first to make arrangements, and then you can go."
Zhuang Rui actually wanted to visit his maternal grandparents first, and then use his spiritual energy to cleanse their bodies. Otherwise, it was very likely that, as he said, a good thing would turn into a bad thing.
"Alright, Xiao Rui, go and rest. You must be tired from the flight today. Mom needs some peace and quiet too."
Ouyang Wan had returned to her usual self, presumably having resolved her inner conflict, which put Zhuang Rui at ease. After sending his mother back to her room, Zhuang Rui called his older sister over.
Are you telling the truth?
Zhuang Min's eyes widened in disbelief. She had watched many soap operas, but she never expected that the scenes on the screen would actually happen in her own home.
"Why would I lie to you? Tomorrow... no, the day after tomorrow I'll go to Beijing again. After everything is arranged, you and Mom can come together."
Zhuang Rui originally wanted to say tomorrow, but then he remembered that he still needed to give the jade to Grandpa Wu, so he postponed the date by one day.
Chapter 285 Jade Carver
"Hey sis, why would I lie to you? Why would I bother finding myself a few cheap uncles?"
Seeing his older sister's surprised expression, Zhuang Rui laughed. He felt the same way when he received Ouyang Jun's invitation, but back then there was still an element of speculation involved, while now it had been confirmed.
"Xiao Rui, I think... I think life is pretty good now. Look, Guo Dong's repair shop is starting to make money. We don't need to go to Beijing, do we?"
Zhuang Min's words made Zhuang Rui laugh out loud. It turned out that his older sister was not only surprised, but also worried about moving the family to Beijing. It wasn't until Zhuang Min became a little annoyed by Zhuang Rui's laughter that Zhuang Rui said, "Sister, we're just going to Beijing to visit relatives and see the elders. We'll still go back to Pengcheng to live. At most, we'll visit each other more often. Why are you worrying about this..."
Zhuang Rui spent a few days in Beijing and found it difficult to adjust to life there; the weather was too hot and humid. Moreover, the traffic congestion was severe. Of course, this is a common problem in major cities. Although the subway has diverted a large portion of the population, improving traffic conditions remains a major challenge for cities.
During the next few years of his postgraduate studies, Zhuang Rui will definitely be staying in Beijing most of the time. He is already thinking about buying a house. He can't keep living at his uncle's or grandfather's house forever, can he? As for what Uncle De said about living at Professor Meng's house, Zhuang Rui rejected it without even considering it.
Hearing her younger brother's words, Zhuang Min finally felt relieved. She wasn't an ambitious girl. Her daughter, husband, and mother were the most important people in her heart. As for her uncles and maternal grandfathers, although they held high positions, could you expect Zhuang Min, who had never had such a concept in her mind, to have any deep feelings for them?
"By the way, sis, don't let Nannan go to kindergarten these next few days. You should all stay here in the villa and spend more time with Mom. She'll be back in Beijing in four or five days at most."
Zhuang Rui thought for a moment, then gave Zhuang Min some more instructions. He explained that his mother would likely be very anxious these next few days, and having his granddaughter by her side would help ease her mind and prevent her from overthinking.
As the siblings were talking, the door was pushed open, and Nannan was practically dragged in, clinging to the white lion's neck. The little girl refused to let go, getting herself covered in dust. Zhuang Min scolded Nannan a few times and then took her out to take a bath.
The white lion walked to Zhuang Rui's side and rubbed its head against him. It seemed to know that Zhuang Rui was going out again, and its eyes even showed a look of reluctance. Zhuang Rui felt very sorry for it and used his hand to comb the long mane on the white lion's head. He said, "Don't worry, I will definitely take you with me this time."
The white lion seemed to understand Zhuang Rui's words, happily licking his hand. However, Zhuang Rui's promise brought more trouble. It wasn't just about driving to Beijing; the most important thing was how to settle the white lion once they arrived. After thinking for a moment, Zhuang Rui picked up the phone.
"Hey, Brother Song, this is Zhuang Rui."
Zhuang Rui dialed Song Jun's number.
"You're back in Pengcheng now? I'll be in Beijing for a while, so I haven't had time to go over. When are you coming to Beijing?"
Song Jun's voice came through the phone.
"Brother Song, I'm going to Beijing the day after tomorrow, but I have something I'd like to ask you. What documents do I need to bring the Golden Lion to Beijing?"
"Of course I'll do it. Besides, I live far from the city center and don't usually take it out. What, you're bringing the white lion over? Hey, once your big guy arrives, it'll definitely keep those bastards in the capital in check."
Song Jun was somewhat excited. Although his golden lion was purebred, it was too young and small. That day, it was outshone by a Tibetan mastiff brought by someone else, and Song Jun was still a little unconvinced.
"Yes, you know Tibetan Mastiffs are very attached to their owners. I'm going to study in Beijing next year, so I'll have to take it with me. I don't know if it's easy to get the necessary documents. Do you have any connections, Brother Song?"
Given Zhuang Rui's relationship with Song Jun, he should just speak frankly.
Upon hearing this, Song Jun laughed on the phone and said, "This is easy. But it will take me three to five days to process. Don't you know Miao? Have her handle it for you. You can get it the same day. That girl has strong connections in the Ministry of Public Security."
"Oh, I'll call her later. There's something else, Brother Song, are courtyard houses still available in Beijing? I need a place to stay when I get there."
"Don't come to me about this. Go find Ouyang Si'er. He's been doing this for a few years now, and he should still have a few sets left. I suggest you go further away and buy a estate. It'll be quiet and spacious."
So, Song Jun didn't do any of the things Zhuang Rui asked him to do, but he did point out the way.
Zhuang Rui didn't want to drive for hours every day in the future, so after thinking about it, he decided to buy a courtyard house. He chatted with Song Jun on the phone for a while longer before hanging up.
Then Zhuang Rui called Miao Feifei and Ouyang Jun. Miao Feifei was very happy to hear that Zhuang Rui would be coming to Beijing again the day after tomorrow, and immediately agreed to help Bai Shi with his documents. She assured him that Zhuang Rui would have the documents on the day he arrived in Beijing, which reassured him considerably.
As for the courtyard houses, Ouyang Jun has already sold all the ones he had, but he can still find a few more if he tries. However, he has to go and see the houses in person, and Zhuang Rui can't make a decision right now. They can only wait until he goes to Beijing to see them.
Checking the time, Zhuang Rui found Wu Jia's phone number and arranged to meet her the next morning. Zhuang Rui wasn't just there to deliver the jade; he also had some matters to trouble Old Master Wu with. ...
"Sir, this is all the material left. Is it alright?"
Sitting in the VIP room of "Stone Studio", Zhuang Rui took out the jadeite the size of a fingernail. He felt a little embarrassed. He had originally said that he would also ask the old man to polish the earrings, but who knew that Master Gu would make them all in one go.
"That's quite a lot. It's enough to make a ring face. Xiao Zhuang, thank you. I'll offer 1.8 million for this piece of material. Is that alright?"
Wearing his reading glasses, Mr. Wu carefully examined the piece of jade with trembling hands for a while, his face beaming with joy. This grade of jade is extremely rare and hard to come by. He could use it to polish a cabochon and set it in a ring, which would then become the prized possession of "Stone Studio".
"Mr. Wu, one million will do, there's no need for so much..."
"That won't do, Xiao Zhuang. To be honest, after this ring face is polished, I won't sell it for less than three million. One million eight hundred thousand is already a lot of money for you, so please don't refuse anymore."
Before Zhuang Rui could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Old Master Wu. This item was priceless; if a wealthy customer came along, it might sell for five million. Such items were never priced in stores.
"Mr. Wu, please let me finish speaking. I have something to ask of you."
"Oh? Tell me, if it's about carving objects, this old man isn't very strong right now..."
The old man's words revealed a sense of desolation in the twilight of a hero. Now, apart from making some simple trinkets by hand, he can no longer carve pendants.
"It's like this. Mr. Wu, I still have a piece of jade that I'd like to have made into a few bracelets. You mentioned last time that you could find a jade carving master to help me. I wonder if that's still possible now?"
The red jade in Zhuang Rui's hand was of average quality at the edges, but if carved into a bracelet, it could barely be considered a mid-to-high grade red jade bracelet, although its quality was much lower than that of the blood jade bracelet carved from the inner material.
Zhuang Rui planned to have several pieces made, both good and bad, polished up so he could give them to his mother as gifts. He thought that these items wouldn't look shabby when taken out.
"Is this what you're talking about? I wonder what kind of item you need and how long it will take? I'd like to inform my apprentice."
Old Master Wu didn't bother to find out what kind of person Zhuang Rui was, since he couldn't mold him anyway, and asking would only make him feel bad.
"Let's make seven or eight bracelets first. I don't know how long it will take to make these items. Could you give me an estimate, Mr. Wu?"
There are seven or eight bracelets, which should be enough for my mother to give away. You know, these blood jade bracelets are not cheap. Zhuang Rui plans to only take out one good one and use the inferior materials for the rest.
"Making bracelets is relatively simple, it's just that polishing takes a bit of time. Seven or eight bracelets should take about twenty days. You wait here, I'll go make a call."
Having received such a huge favor from Zhuang Rui, the old man was still uneasy. After finishing his conversation, he went out of the house to call his apprentice. Zhuang Rui, on the other hand, handed the jadeite material to Wu Jia and completed the transfer procedures. This 800,000 yuan was not given away for nothing. The person introduced by Old Master Wu could carve a bracelet worth tens of millions.
"Xiao Zhuang, it's done. One of my apprentices, who has been with me for over ten years, has agreed to take this job. He can take a month off from his current jewelry company, but the pay he's asking for is quite high—two hundred thousand a month. What do you think?"
After Zhuang Rui finished his business, the old man, leaning on his cane, also entered the house.
Two hundred thousand?
Zhuang Rui pondered for a moment.
“If your material is average, this price is high. But if it’s good material, this price isn’t high. My apprentice is very honest and won’t leak any client information. You can use it with peace of mind.”
Master Wu explained to Zhuang Rui that he knew his apprentice well and that Zhuang Rui was now a well-known sculptor in Yangzhou.
“Alright, two hundred thousand it is. Elder Wu, have him come to Pengcheng in fifteen days. I will provide him with food and lodging.”
Zhuang Rui calculated that he should have fifteen days to finish dealing with things in Beijing and return to Pengcheng.
Chapter 286 Share Transfer
Carving jade also requires some equipment. Things like wheel grinders are essential. Zhuang Rui asked about the models and wrote them down on paper. He could give these things to his brother-in-law to buy later. Fifteen days should be enough time.
After leaving "Stone Studio", Zhuang Rui drove straight to the mastiff kennel. As the second boss of the mastiff kennel, he had never worried about anything from beginning to end. He had been harassed quite a bit by Liu Chuan on the phone. Since he had nothing to do today, he decided to come and take a look. In addition, he had some things to discuss with Liu Chuan.
The former wasteland is now surrounded by high walls. On the path leading to the mastiff kennel, there are several "Keep Out" signs. Zhuang Rui drove his car to the entrance of the kennel, honked the horn a few times, and immediately a few low, angry roars came from inside the kennel. Although the sound was not very loud, it gave people a feeling of unease.
"You scoundrel, is this still a mastiff kennel? It feels like a prison to me! What kind of bad thing have you been doing in here?"
The doors and windows of the security booth at the entrance were all welded together with thick steel bars, which made Zhuang Rui look on with amusement. He smiled and greeted Liu Chuan, who came out to greet him.
"Get out of here! The Tibetan mastiffs here even bite me. If we don't take precautions, will I be running to the hospital all the time?"
Liu Chuan was also a bit frustrated. The Tibetan mastiff kennel had been built, but its management was extremely difficult. All the Tibetan mastiffs in the kennel were brought from Tibet and were not yet trained. They could not be kept in captivity and needed to be given space to roam.
This is where the problem arises. Without an owner, it is very difficult for ordinary people to control these Tibetan mastiffs. In the first two or three months, there were two incidents of Tibetan mastiffs injuring people. Even Liu Chuan was almost bitten once. Therefore, the safety protection for the staff here has been increased, and a free-range area has been specially built.
“Why didn’t you keep Brother Renqing Cuomu here? If he were here, these Tibetan mastiffs would probably behave…”
Fearing that the noise of the car would disturb the Tibetan mastiffs inside, Zhuang Rui parked the car at the main gate and walked into the mastiff enclosure with Liu Chuan. The area from the gate to the office area was very safe, as the free-range area of the mastiff enclosure had been isolated.
“Brother Renqing Cuomu was too attached to the grasslands and only stayed here for a little over a week before going back. But that’s fine. Every year around winter, Renqing Cuomu will help us find some good Tibetan mastiffs in the pastoral areas. True breeding Tibetan mastiffs must have wild instincts; otherwise, after two or three generations, they’ll all turn into lapdogs…”
Standing in the Tibetan Mastiff kennel he founded, Liu Chuan felt a great sense of accomplishment, especially after attending the International Tibetan Mastiff Exchange Conference in Shanxi, where Pengcheng Tibetan Mastiff Kennel shone brightly and stole the spotlight from many well-known kennels. Now, Liu Chuan is considered a well-known figure in the Tibetan Mastiff breeding circle.
"Where's Brother Zhou? My sister said he's living here now?"
When Zhuang Rui was chatting with Zhuang Min yesterday, he learned that the apartment upstairs from his own is now occupied by Zhou Rui's parents and younger sister, while Zhou Rui has moved to the mastiff kennel.
"There's nothing I can do. Do you still remember that golden mastiff king?"
After seeing Zhuang Rui nod, Liu Chuan continued, "That Tibetan Mastiff only gives Zhou Rui a little face; it wouldn't do the same to anyone else. Moreover, all the Tibetan Mastiffs here listen to it. Since Zhou Rui moved in, there hasn't been a single incident of a Tibetan Mastiff biting anyone."
As the two were talking, a roar suddenly came from the free-range area about 30 meters to their right. Then a golden figure jumped down from the wall, which was more than two meters high. Zhuang Rui recognized it at a glance as the golden lion king he had seen in the grassland mountains.
"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, come quick! Golden Retriever has gone crazy again."
Liu Chuan has been raising Tibetan mastiffs for a long time and knows their habits very well. When these dogs go berserk, they can tear a person to pieces. Although this golden retriever recognizes him, it's hard to guarantee that it won't be in a bad mood and might bite him.
Upon hearing Liu Chuan's voice, Zhou Rui hurriedly ran out of the small office. Seeing the Golden Lion King rushing towards Zhuang Rui and the other man, he was quite frightened and shouted as he ran towards them.
To Zhou Rui's surprise, after the golden lion ran up to Zhuang Rui, it merely rubbed its head against him—a gesture of affection typical of Tibetan mastiffs. Then, it mischievously barked at Liu Chuan, who took several steps back in fright. Only then did the golden lion, head held high, swagger off towards its grazing area, completely ignoring Zhou Rui as he approached. Its expression was one of utter arrogance.
"Damn, this golden retriever only acts like this when it sees Brother Renqing Cuomu. Woody, did you give it some kind of drug? Why is it being so affectionate towards you?"
Liu Chuan's words carried a hint of sourness. He was treated to lavish meals every day and was still occasionally frightened by the golden retriever, while Zhuang Rui had only met it once on the grassland, and more than half a year had passed, yet it still remembered him.
"That's called fate, you know? My character is better than yours, buddy."
Zhuang Rui shamelessly mocked Liu Chuan, then went to greet Zhou Rui. The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked back to the office.
“Wood, Brother Zhou and his whole family are coming over. I’ve already given him that house. Shouldn’t you do something for him too?”
After the three sat down, Liu Chuan put Zhuang Rui in a difficult position. He was working himself to the bone all day while Zhuang Rui was enjoying a carefree life outside, which made him feel resentful.