Men Die for Wealth, Birds Die for Food (continued)
These wealthy young men hadn't reacted yet, but the popular Songstress were already excited. No matter how popular they were at Lichi Ritz, or how much money someone spent, they rarely got to be in the news, let alone attend any formal occasions. How could they compare to Zhou Xuan? Her visit to Hong Kong caused a sensation throughout the city. Every nightclub singer wanted to learn a few of Zhou Xuan's songs, film companies brought cash to her door begging Zhou Xuan to help them make a movie, and Zhou Xuan's temporary accommodation was booked in a large room at a luxury hotel. Her recorded albums easily topped the charts in Hong Kong.
Besides Zhou Xuan's own great fame, another important reason was that before Zhou Xuan arrived in Hong Kong, major Chinese newspapers and even some English newspapers in Hong Kong published the news that Zhou Xuan was coming to Hong Kong and published Zhou Xuan photos in the newspapers, creating a sense of anticipation among the public.
Now that I have this opportunity, even if I don't become like Zhou Xuan, once my photo is published in the newspaper, and if I catch the eye of those famous lyricists and composers, and they help me write a few original songs, maybe I won't have to sing in dance halls anymore, and I can record albums, make movies, and become a household name.
At this moment, Chen Judy wished she could just melt into Chu Xiaoxin's arms in public. Her eyes were so tender they seemed to be overflowing with tears. This leader of her Young Masters' Club was really going all out to promote her. If she became famous and became a Hong Kong star, she might have a chance to marry Chu Xiaoxin. While snuggling against Chu Xiaoxin, Chen Judy looked at her other sisters, her eyes filled with joy and undisguised pride.
The other singers, who had managed to become popular Songstress in Lichi, were no ordinary people. After hearing Chu Xiaoxin's words, they all looked expectantly at the wealthy young man who usually supported them and flaunted his wealth, their eyes filled with affection, yet they hesitated to speak.
The other leaders of the Songstress Young Masters' Club maintained their smiles, but inwardly they were all cursing Chu Xiaoxin. He'd gotten so rich he'd forgotten himself! To promote a Songstress, he'd go to such lengths as charitable donations? And he'd even hired reporters from major newspapers and photographers to take pictures? They were also leaders of their own Young Masters' Club; what if the Songstress they promoted wanted to be like Chen Judy later? Were they supposed to throw money away too? Who promotes Songstress to this extent? If they really made her famous, she'd probably just fly away. Only this foolish Chu Xiaoxin would put on such a grand show.
"Young Master Shun Xin asked me to help out, of course I'll go. The day after tomorrow morning, I'll bring Gu Mei and the brothers from the Young Masters' Club to go." Fang Run'an, the leader of Gu Mei's Young Masters' Club, was the first to agree.
Once the first person spoke up, the others felt embarrassed to be left behind. After all, they didn't need to spend a lot of money; they were just there to show their support. So they all nodded and chimed in.
Chu Xiaoxin surveyed the room with satisfaction, exuding the air of a tycoon of pleasure. "The organization I'm establishing is a charitable one. On the day of its founding, we'll discuss donations. Of course, I'll be donating hundreds of thousands to support Judy the day after tomorrow. If you're going, don't go empty-handed. Everyone should donate to show their support. Don't let the Foreign Devil laugh at me, Chu Xiaoxin, for having stingy friends. If you don't have any money in your pocket, tell me now, and I'll cover it for you. If you don't say anything now, and then agree to attend but refuse to donate, don't blame Chu Xiaoxin for treating Zhang Yuliang like I did—I'll give him a cup of tea. Let me make it clear, there's no limit to how much you can donate, but the minimum is two thousand Hong Kong dollars per person. If you can't even come up with two thousand Hong Kong dollars, then just pretend you're sick and don't go, lest the Britain laugh at you. Anyone here short on cash lately? We're all on the same side now, so it's not shameful to say it. I'll cover it for you, okay?"
The wealthy young men present were all seasoned connoisseurs of nightlife. Even without Chu Xiaoxin's innate extravagant spending charade, spending HK Hong Kong dollars 50,000 a night to flaunt his wealth, it was common for them to spend a few thousand dollars each night on flower baskets to tip the Songstress. Moreover, they had all been competing fiercely for favor with their respective singers for a long time. To them, Chu Xiaoxin's words made it seem as if, after Likang earned Hong Kong dollars 700,000, Chu Xiaoxin's status had suddenly become higher than theirs? Did he now feel he could condescendingly act like Big Brother over everyone?
Fang Run'an, the Second Son of Fang Shuquan, vice president of the Dongguan Chamber of Commerce, and the head of Gu Mei's Young Masters' Club, frowned. "Young Master Shun, two thousand yuan is only for twenty flower baskets. I tipped Gu Mei more than a hundred flower baskets in one night. You don't need to ask me for this little bit of money? You've made a lot of money after earning seven hundred thousand. I've seen a lot of donations from charitable organizations. Let me make this clear: Gu Mei will donate ten thousand the day after tomorrow, and I'll settle the rest separately."
"I know you're generous, Young Master An. It's not that I'm arrogant because I make a lot of money; it's that I'm worried about being looked down upon by the Foreign Devil. We're all China person, and it's fine for us to joke around with each other, but we can't lose face in front of the Britain." Chu Xiaoxin grinned at Fang Run'an.
All those words were taught to him by Song Tianyao, who instructed him to speak to these singers and rich young men at Lichi. Last night, he impressed them with a generous donation of 50,000 yuan. Now, he is striking while the iron is hot and extending an invitation today, mainly to major newspapers and photographers. With the intention of promoting Chen Judy, he hopes to attract some jealous fools to Cathedral of St John to show their support and donate money.
Seeing all the wealthy young men eager to spend money at Oxfam's founding ceremony to support their favorite singers, Chu Xiaoxin sighed inwardly, thinking that A-Yao's prediction had come true once again!
Xinhui Restaurant Nie Weisheng, the young Jiyuan Hongxi Pharmacy, walked up the stairs to the second floor of the Xinhui Restaurant in Shek Tong Tsui, he saw Zhang Yuliang come out with a beaming smile and personally usher him into a private room.
"A-Liang, why are you suddenly inviting me to dinner? If you need anything, you can just send someone to deliver a message to me. Why are you being so polite? I should thank you in advance. Last time, I asked Zhuxing Trading Company to help me order ten extra cases of Penicillin for my pharmacy. If anyone should be treating, it should be me." Nie Weisheng asked Zhang Yuliang after entering the private room and taking his seat.
The large private room contained only him and Zhang Yuliang.
Zhang Yuliang rubbed his hands together and smiled apologetically at Nie Weisheng: "Brother Sheng, among the younger generation in Five Counties, I like chatting with you the most. You're older than me and started managing the family business at a young age. You're much more experienced and worldly-wise than me. Whenever I need help, you're the first person I think of."
The Nie Weisheng family initially made their living by processing sesame seeds and owned a sesame processing plant. Although they were not extremely wealthy, they were able to make a living without worrying about food and clothing. When the Korean War broke out, the huge profits from smuggling embargoed goods made many businessmen greedy and they turned to smuggling. The Nie Family was one of them. They opened a Jiyuan Hongxi Pharmacy, which wholesaled Western medicine from the Zhang Family's Zhuxing Trading Company and then resold it to the mainland.