Chapter 30: What is your take on investing in moissanite?

"As for an old man like me, I have no children, and my assets were long ago placed into a trust; I don't know which brat will benefit from them in the future."

Professor Li puffed slowly on his Cigar, a hint of ease in his eyes and a smile on his face.

"You, keep an eye on Xuan Hua and the others in the future, don't let them go down the wrong path."

Lu Chen did not speak, merely nodding solemnly, and glanced at the few people faintly visible chatting outside the window.

"You, sir, it's still too early for that; who's to say a suitable successor won't appear?"

Lu Chen withdrew his gaze, a smile reappearing on his face.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"You brat only knows how to flatter me. I heard from Xuan Hua that you want to stir up the Nitan?"

Professor Li's face turned serious; he placed his Cigar on the ashtray and took a sip of tea.

"That place is not as simple as you think."

"Shouldn't you, sir, give this kid some pointers?"

Hearing Professor Li say this, Lu Chen's expression immediately turned serious; he sat up straight, looking as if he were all ears.

"You, how about this: tomorrow evening, I'll arrange a family banquet, and you can have a meal with the backers behind the Nitan."

After a moment of silence, Professor Li spoke up.

"As for those wandering the underworld, this old man doesn't have that kind of pull."

Lu Chen spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with Professor Li, which was enough to get a rough measure of the old man.

"Come over and chat often."

Professor Li smiled as he had a servant pick up the pot of Orchid, and he strolled leisurely toward the glass house.

"Very well, Professor."

Lu Chen took a deep breath, a hint of determination appearing in his eyes.

After returning to the Zhuangyuan, Lu Chen did not arrange any meetings, instead letting them act as they pleased.

After dinner, Lu Chen returned to his personal space and opened the Small Box containing Luosha's letter and the horse racing tickets.

Several times he wanted to open the letter, but Luosha's crisp voice kept echoing in his ears.

Sighing, he finally closed the wooden box.

The next afternoon, Lu Chen arrived at Professor Li's Zhuangyuan once again.

He did not come empty-handed, but brought a few bottles of 20-year-old Fen liquor in modern porcelain bottles.

As for the packaging and such, Lu Chen had of course carefully removed any clues related to time.

He had also chosen new packaging.

"Professor, I don't know if you enjoy drinking, but I picked up two bottles for you while I was at it."

"Just put them there, come over and look at the calligraphy I've written."

Professor Li ignored the gift and instead beckoned to him; the vigorous, powerful brushwork had already landed on the rice paper.

"Heaven Rewards Diligence"

He grabbed his personal seal and pressed it down at the end.

"Your calligraphy, sir, is incredible! It's just that I don't understand it, hahaha..."

Lu Chen admired it for a moment; although he couldn't truly appreciate it, that didn't stop him from evaluating it with his modern perspective.

"You, you didn't pretend to understand when you didn't, good, good, good! Here, for you."

Professor Li put down the brush and pointed a finger vaguely at Lu Chen.

The servant waiting to the side carefully took it away.

He led Lu Chen to the sofa, and they sat down.

"Kid, don't think I'm being stingy; just settle for some Maojian green tea."

"Whatever you say, sir."

Lu Chen sat quietly accompanying Professor Li to drink tea for a while, until dusk approached, when the servant walked over.

"Sir, your calligraphy has been mounted."

"Mm, remember to have Lu Chen take it with him when he leaves."

Professor Li nodded slightly and continued chatting with Lu Chen.

"In a moment, you will come with me to welcome some distinguished guests."

"Very well."

Lu Chen sat properly on the sofa and nodded lightly.

Throughout the afternoon of chatting, Lu Chen noticed something slightly off about Professor Li; he would often, in the gaps between topics or when discussing certain interesting events, unconsciously glance out the window.

It was as if he had fallen into a brief state of distraction, his eyes appearing to hold a trace of emptiness and heaviness, lacking the sharpness of a scholar.

However, Lu Chen didn't pay too much attention to it; after two days of getting along, he could understand.

People always have some peculiar habits.

Actually, Lu Chen had noticed a hint of it while chatting yesterday, but it was just more obvious today.

As the lanterns were lit, Professor Li stood with Lu Chen slightly inside the Zhuangyuan, while the butler stood outside the gate.

Several luxury cars pulled up to the entrance of the Zhuangyuan one after another.

All the big shots...

Emmm, how should I put it?

They were dressed in all sorts of ways, though suits and Tang suits were the most common.

"Lao Li, who is this young brother..."

An old man wearing a Tang suit shook hands with Professor Li with a chuckle, then looked toward Lu Chen, who was standing a step behind.

"Old Wang, this is my junior, Lu Chen; please look after him in the future."

Professor Li introduced him with a beaming smile.

Lu Chen hurriedly stepped forward half a pace and reached out to shake his hand lightly.

"Not a bad young man!"

Old Wang patted the back of Lu Chen's hand with a smile, then followed the attendant into the Zhuangyuan.

Soon, Professor Li brought Lu Chen back to the reception hall.

"Everyone, thank you for giving me, Lao Li, this face. Today, I wanted to introduce my nephew, Lu Chen, to you all. In the future, while he is in Xianggang, I ask that you all provide him with plenty of guidance."

Professor Li stood in the center of the reception hall, smiling as he introduced him to the bigwigs attending tonight's family banquet.

Everyone in the reception hall curiously cast their gazes over; Lu Chen wore a smile and nodded slightly, remaining silent and standing quietly behind Professor Li.

Professor Li exchanged brief pleasantries with them for a while longer before quickly moving to the banquet hall.

Lu Chen sat in a lower position, taking the initiative to pour wine for the bigwigs present, taking on the role of a server.

If not for his modern experience, he might have truly messed things up tonight.

After three rounds of drinks, they returned to the reception hall.

"Lao Li, we've had the wine, and the young man is indeed not bad. Speak up, what do you need our help with?"

It was Old Wang again, sitting on the sofa, crossing his legs, warming up, and lighting the Cigar that Lu Chen had prepared in advance before he spoke.

The others also slowly pulled themselves out of their idle chatter, their gazes gradually falling upon Professor Li and Lu Chen.

This made Lu Chen feel his pressure increase instantly!

The previously lively atmosphere gradually cooled down.

"Speaking of which, it really does concern you all. The trouble over at Nitan—you're all getting a headache from it, right?"

Professor Li was in no rush; he waited until he had lit his Cigar before speaking softly.

"Lu Chen is interested in taking over that mess; I wonder what you all think?"

Lu Chen did not speak from the side; he just sat there like a primary school student, waiting for Professor Li's signal.

"Lao Li, we trust the person you recommend; we can give you the land."

Old Wang was stunned for a moment, then immediately laughed.

"However... we won't be reducing the collection fees."

"Old Wang, you're overthinking it. My people, Lao Li's people, won't get involved in that. You keep the land acquisitions and the channels."

As soon as Professor Li's words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the entire reception hall suddenly turned cold.

"Nitan is too chaotic right now, and the higher-ups are a bit displeased."

"Fine, take my piece of land for 3.5 million pounds. It just so happens that Crown recently came up with some thing or other..."

Old Wang took a puff of his Cigar, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, and after a long while, he continued to speak.

"How about you invest a bit too, Lao Li? I heard that woman Luosha has also invested quite a lot in there."

"What do you think, Lu Chen?"

Old Wang turned his head, looked at Lu Chen who was sitting to the side, and asked him directly.