These words seemed somewhat abrupt and impolite to the Britain, Shek Chi-yik. However, considering that the other party might be nervous because of Chu Xiaoxin's accident, Shek Chi-yik chose to forgive them. The couple turned around, and Mrs. Bess looked at Song Tianyao and said in English, "Mr. Song, is there anything I can help you with?"
"These words should have been spoken to you by Mr. Chu Xiaoxin, but as you can see, before he could even speak, he... left to save lives. So, Miss Pellis. Angie Perlis mentioned that you are a top student in Hydrology at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a highly professional person in hydrology and water resources issues. In fact, Likang Company, as a pharmaceutical trading company, is drafting a non-governmental organization to investigate and resolve the drinking water problems of Hong Kong. We have conducted some non-professional investigations and found that the vast majority of ordinary people in Hong Kong are infected with parasitic diseases due to drinking untreated or unclean water. However, we are not familiar with these water source issues..." "We're not professional, and the University of Hong Kong doesn't have any experts in hydrology. Therefore, we hope you can join this organization to provide assistance. If we receive a definitive report, Likang Trading Company is willing to regularly donate medication for treating parasitic diseases free of charge in the name of this organization each year. The first batch of donated medication will be worth no less than Hong Kong dollars 500,000." Song Tianyao spoke fluently in English, then took a step back. "I hope you will consider this carefully. We really need your professional knowledge. Those suffering from parasitic diseases also need your help. Finally, I wish you both a pleasant meal. We must go down the mountain now. Goodnight."
After speaking, Song Tianyao simply bowed and turned to leave. Angie Perlis quietly handed the prepared gift to the restaurant staff, gave a slight nod to the two of them, and then turned to follow Song Tianyao away.
"Let's go in, darling." Shek Chi-yik gazed intently at the two walking away, then put his arm around his wife and turned to go into the restaurant.
This time, Mrs. Bess did not comply. Instead, she gently slid Shek Chi-yik's hand off her shoulder. "Parritak, this is an opportunity. Finally, someone knows what we've been waiting for after meeting so many people."
"I've memorized their names. This young man's words are very good. There's no need to rush, darling. Let's go inside; our barbecue should be ready soon," Shek Chi-yik said softly, looking at his wife's face.
"I can't miss this opportunity, and neither can you." Mrs. Bess looked at her husband, her voice tinged with sadness. "I don't want to see the wives of your superiors, or even the wives of your subordinates, looking at me with strange, secretly disgusted eyes anymore. Haven't you been waiting for an opportunity too? My dear, you should have been promoted to First-Class Officer Student after the war, you should have become a Commander-level Officer Student in three years, all because of my status..."
"Believe me, the opportunity has arrived, hasn't it? We'll seize it. I told you, don't rush things. At least we know that some people understand what we need; they're smart people." Shek Chi-yik gently patted his wife's shoulder and finally led her into the restaurant.
"I thought even if Mr. Shi didn't try to persuade her to stay, Mrs. Bess would definitely do it anyway." Angie Perlis looked at Song Tianyao, who was silently waiting for the cable car beside her, and said in a consoling tone, "Don't be disappointed. You've already made a deep impression on that couple. Among the China person, no one would think to start with Mrs. Bess's identity."
"Don't try to comfort me, Angie. I'm not disappointed. I just admire Deputy Director Shek Shi's composure and devotion. A purebred upper-class Britain man, when he married his Australia woman from what the Britain consider a land of sin, he must have thought many times about the ridicule and pressure he would face after marriage. Yet he still persisted for love. After marriage, he considered various opportunities to change the current situation. And now, when a possibility appears before him and his beloved wife, he can still remain calm. Isn't that admirable?" Song Tianyao took out a cigarette from his pocket. "Although I also regret that he didn't try to persuade him to stay—I even read books on Anglican Church doctrine and hydrology specifically for him—I still have to use the word 'admiration.' A Britain who can persist in marrying the woman he loves in the face of social class issues in Britain, and who can remain calm in the face of a possible opportunity to change the status quo, is a true Britain gentleman."
After saying this, Song Tianyao lit a cigarette with a match and fell silent. Angie Perlis, who was next to him, also stopped talking. She thought of an unlikely possibility: if she, a Britain woman, were to one day, even with the slightest possibility, disregard the discrimination of Britain society and develop an ambiguous relationship with this outstanding China man beside her, would anyone, like Song Tianyao tonight, express their admiration?
A gentle evening breeze rustled as night fell. On the mountaintop, beneath the moon, two minds swirled. One thought of power and wealth, the other of deep affection.
Chapter Ninety-Two Little People Riding the Tram
After taking the cable car down the mountain, Song Tianyao saw Gao Lao Cheng from Fuyixing, along with two henchmen, leaning against the hood of a Ford 49 smoking with a young man in a floral shirt. Seeing Song Tianyao and Angie Perlis emerge from the cable car station, Gao Lao Cheng threw away his cigarette and quickly approached to greet them, "Secretary Song."
"Where's Young Master Shun?" Song Tianyao asked the Gao Lao Cheng in front of him.
Gao Lao Cheng said, "I've already sent two of my gang members to take Young Master Shun's car to Lichi. They pretended to be injured workers and were fine, not even a scratch. I've also arranged for a few of my gang members to accompany those workers to Shek Tong Tsui for drinks."
The scene of Chu Xiaoxin falling and getting injured on the mountaintop was naturally arranged by Song Tianyao. He couldn't possibly let Chu Xiaoxin, who stuttered in English, actually have dinner with Shek Chi-yik, even if Shek Chi-yik could speak Cantonese, even if they only exchanged words for five minutes. It wasn't that Song Tianyao wanted to isolate himself from the outside world and seize power, but rather that Chu Xiaoxin simply couldn't converse with such a China expert with rich life experience. As for after tonight, Shek Chi-yik would probably seriously investigate Likang, Chu Xiaoxin, and Song Tianyao, who had spoken those words to him. After a little comparison, he would naturally know that those words couldn't have been spoken by Chu Xiaoxin, but only by Song Tianyao.