Chapter 67: Wall Street, Oil, and the Banquet

"Mr. Su!" "Mr. Su!"

After getting off the carriage and walking just a few steps, someone recognized Su Qing and kept greeting him.

Su Qing didn't know any of them, so he could only smile and nod in response.

Su Qing had long been prepared for this situation, so it wasn't hard to get used to; after all, he is now the lifesaver of many nobles and wealthy people, and even without appearing these days, his deeds and appearance have spread throughout Niu Yue and even back to Dayingguo.

There's nothing surprising about being recognized now.

Afterwards, on Wall Street, Su Qing hadn't walked fifty meters before at least fifty strangers greeted him; if it weren't for Lu Si helping him share the burden nearby, his face would soon cramp from smiling.

"Right, the bronze bull isn't built yet." Looking at the spot where the bronze bull was supposed to be, now empty, Su Qing suddenly realized the bronze bull was completed in 1989, and now it's 1912, meaning he's ahead by a full 77 years.

"Is there anything special here?" Lu Si asked curiously, staring at Su Qing, who was blankly gazing at the spot in front of the exchange.

Of course it's special— in 77 years a very famous bull will be placed here. Oh, right, the 1987 Mei Jian stock market crashed big time; maybe we can harvest a wave of leeks…

Forget it, it's still early; thinking about this is useless.

Su Qing shook his head with a smile and said, "Nothing, I just feel this place is too empty; something should be placed here."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a voice came from beside him: "Mr. Su, I think your idea is great!"

From the voice Su Qing knew it was Ka Er without looking; he patted Lu Si's little hand, turned his head, and saw Ka Er wearing a suit, accompanied by a woman in a long dress walking over.

The woman was, of course, Dai Wei, who at that moment had her arm linked with Ka Er's right arm, wearing a sweet expression.

Ka Er, too, wore a gentle look, occasionally giving Dai Wei a loving glance.

Their appearance and demeanor made it easy for anyone unaware to think they were truly a couple deeply in love.

Su Qing was surprised by Ka Er's change, but instantly understood—he had yielded and compromised.

It's also realistic—people say love conquers all, yet how many rich second‑generation heirs have the courage to forsake their family background for love?

Ka Er stepped forward, first greeting Su Qing politely, then his gaze fell on Lu Si as he smiled and asked, "Hello, Lu Si, how have you been lately?"

"Very well." Lu Si replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

In their exchange, which was a normal greeting, Su Qing keenly noticed that Ka Er's hand tightened then relaxed.

It seemed he was unwilling but dared not resist.

Su Qing silently shook his head; children of aristocratic families, though born with a silver spoon and never wanting for food or clothing, still pay a price—their marriages are not their own to decide, everything must serve the family's interests.

"Mr. Su, Hokli Manor will hold a grand banquet tomorrow evening, and many nobles and wealthy people aboard the Titanic will attend. My father and other nobles and wealthy people all wish to invite you; do you have the time?"

"I have time, I'll attend." Su Qing didn't hesitate, smiling as he agreed.

Seeing his agreement, Ka Er breathed a sigh of relief, gave a slight gentlemanly bow, and smiled, "Then I won't disturb you! See you tomorrow evening, Mr. Su!"

"See you tomorrow evening." Su Qing nodded in reply; watching Ka Er leave, he took Lu Si and continued strolling.

Wall Street is the symbol of American wealth and economic strength, and also the stronghold of American monopolized capital and a byword for financial oligarchs.

This narrow street, only 540 meters long, has thousands of financial and foreign trade institutions lining its sides; the famous New York Stock Exchange and American Securities Exchange are both located here.

Every day on Wall Street, wealth myths unfold, and countless active speculators bustle before the counters of the New York Stock Exchange, buying and selling.

Here it is not only the financial heart, but also a bustling commercial metropolis, an arts and culture center, with Broadway, the National Museum, libraries, research institutions, and so on.

Both sides of the street are lined with high-rise buildings; looking up, fashionable luxury Italian and French brands are visible everywhere on the street.

Present-day Niu Yue—many iconic buildings of later eras have yet to be built, yet walking here feels as if one is touching the pulse of the world!

A newborn force like the rising sun, vigorous and unstoppable, every move begins to affect the whole world.

Su Qing looked at all this and silently thought, "No wonder it's the future's world rogue."

By now he had lost the desire to keep strolling; seeing Lu Si also a bit tired, he simply called a carriage home.

The two had just stepped out of the carriage and hadn't entered the house when Mrs. Bukete greeted them with a delighted face, holding a gilded invitation.

"Lu Si, Su Qing, just now the steward of Ka Er's household delivered an invitation, inviting us to attend the banquet at the manor tomorrow evening."

"It seems only Su Qing and I are invited." The rebellious Lu Si, now speaking ever more boldly.

"Lu Si, I'm your mother, you know!"

"Sure!"

"Cough cough, all right, no need to keep arguing—let's go together tomorrow evening."

"……"

Having dealt with the rebellious Lu Si, Su Qing spent the following time not going out but instead holding a Mei Jian map, studying how to make money. Although he still had over ten thousand pounds and some jewels, he couldn't just keep spending without earning, could he?

It is now 1912, and the western and southern parts of Mei Jian are in the midst of an oil boom.

No one knows how many people have invested in prospecting equipment, hoping to strike oil and become rich overnight.

After Su Qing fused the two source bloodlines, his memory grew ever clearer, even recalling his childhood memories.

And coincidentally, in the memories of the past twenty-plus years, there are exactly the histories of several Mei Jian oil tycoons who made their fortunes.

According to the timeline, at this period there are still several oil fields that have not been discovered.

With such an opportunity right before him, Su Qing had no hesitation; he immediately decided that after attending tomorrow evening's banquet and registering the Umbrella Company, he would buy some equipment to go after oil.

Time flew by, the sun set, and it was already the evening of the next day.

At that moment, a remnant of red glow still lingered on the horizon, and a luxurious car pulled up outside the door.

A neatly dressed middle-aged man knocked on the door and said respectfully, "Mr. Su, I am the steward of Hokli Manor, here to escort you to the banquet!"

"Thank you!" Su Qing nodded his head.

"It is my honor to serve you." The middle-aged man bowed his head humbly.

Seeing this, Su Qing said nothing, just greeted Lu Si and his mother-in-law as they got into the car.

The car sped yet remained extremely smooth, with no jolts along the way; upon arriving at Hokli Manor, night had fully fallen, and tonight's banquet had already begun.

Inside the magnificent manor, one walked upon the luxurious, exquisite red carpet.

Su Qing's features were already handsome; now dressed in a proper tailcoat, his medium-length hair casually loose, he had sword-like brows and starry eyes, his demeanor graceful yet carrying a hint of unruliness.

Lu Si tonight was also dressed to the nines in a white dress, the corners of her mouth holding a smile, graceful and generous, noble and bright, like a blooming white rose.

As for the mother-in-law, Mrs. Bukte, well, there's nothing to say about her, just ignore her directly.

When Su Qing walked into the banquet hall holding Lu Si, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Under the gaze of so many pairs of eyes, Su Qing felt nothing, a faint smile on their face, and their heart was even more calm, without a ripple.

They also absentmindedly patted Lu Si's slightly nervous little hand.

"Mr. Su!"

After a moment of silence, someone stepped forward.

He was a well-dressed, meticulously groomed, immaculate middle-aged man of affluent appearance; his features resembled Ka Er by seventy percent, so he must be Ka Er's father, the pure background steel magnate in the movie.

Su Qing smiled and nodded, saying, "Mr. Holkli."