"That's right, that's right. Before, when Mr. Song forgot to come out for dinner, I would bring Mr. Song to his room. But after Brother Six came, I haven't brought Mr. Song any more meals..." Shi Yin nodded in agreement, deeply moved by Fu Xinniang's words.
Lou Fengyun, combing her hair, had just stepped out of the room when she heard the two girls complaining that Huang Liu had taken away the chores they used to do every day. She smiled and said:
"A-Liu drives A-Yao, so of course he has good eyesight. Besides, he's a man, so what's there to complain about?"
Song Chunliang coughed twice, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Hearing Song Tianyao ask his purpose, he said, "The azaleas in Bingtou Garden bloomed last week. Today is an auspicious day; the Government House is open. Remember to go for a stroll Government House this morning and soak up some good fortune. Your mother was worried you wouldn't listen if she called, so she sent me to tell you personally. Son, you should also pay attention to Ho Choi when doing business. Last year, our whole family went to the Government House for a day, and you ended up not becoming a policeman but becoming Mr. Chu's secretary, didn't you? It really worked!"
Song Tianyao then remembered that it was already late spring, early April.
In Central, Hong Kong, there is a historic garden that has no name. However, because it is near the Government House, and the Governor was often referred to as "Big Soldier Head" by the China person, the garden became known by word of mouth as "Big Soldier Head Garden." This garden boasts thousands of azaleas that bloom in late March and early April, creating a breathtaking spectacle of vibrant flowers—a rare sight in Hong Kong. Therefore, every year at this time, people flock to Big Soldier Head Garden to admire the blossoms.
It's unclear which governor established this rule, but every year during the azalea blooming season, Government House would set an auspicious day to demonstrate the openness and benevolence of the British Empire to the colony's inhabitants, sharing the joy with the people, and opening the Government House's open-air gardens to the Hong Kong public for one day. This allowed China person to enter the gardens and appreciate the horticulture meticulously cultivated by the Government House and the Governor's family, giving China person a glimpse into Britain horticultural art.
In the eyes of the China person at that time, the Governor of Hong Kong was like a foreign lord. How could one become the Governor of Hong Kong without great fortune? So it was good for ordinary Chinese to be able to enter the gates of Government House and absorb some of the official aura and good fortune. Over the decades, the Chinese in Hong Kong have even turned this into a complete superstition. They may not appreciate the azaleas in the Pentagon Garden, but they must bring their families to Government House to seek good luck.
"Is this the matter?" Song Tianyao asked his father.
Song Chunliang nodded. "That's it. I was afraid you'd give me a perfunctory answer over the phone, so your mom asked me to tell you in person. Going for a look around won't be a bad thing."
"I almost forgot about you if I didn't see you, Xinniang. Remember to remind Sister Yun to have someone pack up all the tonics Mr. He. He gave us when we went to Macau last time. When Scribe Hui's workers deliver the vegetables in their truck, have them help transport them to my house on Tai Wo Street so my parents can have some tonics." Song Tianyao said this to Fu Xinniang, who was complaining about Huang Liu to Shu Yan Shi Yin in the distance, as he remembered the many tonics He Xian had given her, and also tried to change the subject.
"So, are you going or not?" Song Chunliang carried out his wife's instructions well, insisting on waiting for Song Tianyao's personal answer.
"I have to pick someone up from the airport later. The weather is so gloomy, it might rain. The Government House is just an open garden, and if it rains, they won't let everyone go into the rooms to take shelter... Oh well, I'll definitely go this afternoon, okay?" Song Tianyao wasn't really interested in this kind of thing, but Song Chunliang had come to the factory at six o'clock in the morning specifically to inform him. He didn't want Song Chunliang to think he was disobedient, after all, his father meant well, so Song Tianyao said.
Song Chunliang, still good-natured, said, "Go early to avoid the crowds and you'll get more good luck. Bring an umbrella if you're worried about rain."
"My good fortune is at the airport, waiting for me to pick her up. I'll have the workers transport the supplements home later. I'm off now, but I'll definitely remember to go this afternoon." After saying this to his father, Song Tianyao called Huang Liu, and the two of them went out, got into the car, and headed towards the airport.
Sitting in Gu Linshan's car, Tang Boqi turned his head and stared intently at Gu Linshan, whose gaze was calm and direct ahead. His handsome face shifted several times in expression, becoming even more gloomy than the weather overhead, his eyes sometimes fierce, sometimes resentful.
"Why did you do this? You colluded with lawyers to falsify documents and transfer the Hong Kong subsidiary to Tang Jingyuan. That's illegal! What right do you have to make decisions for me!"
"Billy, calm down and let me finish. Even if you hate me, wait until I've explained everything clearly. What you need to do now is immediately go back to the United States and hire top lawyers to sort out everything about the United States headquarters of Kimei International Trade. Before the United States distributors get the news, legally transfer the company assets you want to keep. Then, after the distributors get confirmation from the United States Department of Commerce and file a lawsuit against your company, you should declare bankruptcy directly. If the judicial department holds a hearing, you should use your US citizenship to explain that the Hong Kong subsidiary is managed by the Tang family, and you are only responsible for the sales of goods in the United States. You have no knowledge of anything related to the Hong Kong subsidiary. As long as you stick to this point, act quickly, and pay enough compensation, those elite lawyers in the United States will help you get away acquitted." Gu Linshan gripped the steering wheel, staring straight ahead at the airport entrance, her voice calm.
Tang Boqi took a few deep breaths, reached for the car door, and when he spoke again, there was no anger in his voice. "It's my own business, I don't need anyone else to make decisions for me. Goodbye."
"Going back now won't change anything. If you continue to linger in this storm in Hong Kong, your parents and family might be implicated. You're leaving now so that you'll have a chance in the future!" Gu Linshan reached out and grabbed Tang Boqi's hand, speaking urgently and quickly.
With red eyes, Tang Boqi, like a wounded and enraged beast, flung Gu Linshan's hand away. "If I leave, there will be no chance at all! Song Tianyao will pin all the blame on me. I'll be the sinner who ruined the development of Hong Kong's wig industry, betrayed all those in the industry, and fled before I could! I can never clear my name!"
"This is a dead end! If you want to leave, you have to be prepared for the infamy! If you don't leave, Song Tianyao can simply find an opportunity to tell the United States investigators through various channels that you are a supporter of Communism. In the current political climate in the United States, you will not only be a sinner in the Hong Kong business world, but also a sinner in United States politics!" Gu Linshan's eyes reddened. She grabbed Tang Boqi's arm again, turned his body around, and slapped him hard across the handsome face that had captivated Tang Boqi: "Billy, calm down! You have no chance in this game. Think about what I said and what I did. I admit that I was indeed a bad person. Behind your back, I colluded with the lawyer to commit perjury and transferred the Hong Kong subsidiary of Kimei to Tang Jingyuan. But this was the only way to give you a quick chance to escape and prevent your family from being implicated! In business, if you win, even infamy can be praised as a good reputation; if you lose, even a good person can be slandered as a villain!"