Chapter 173

Establishing a record company was very simple; everything like the studio could be left to Zhu Youzai to handle. Even if Zhu Youzai didn't understand it, he could find people who did. Then, Lei Luo just needed to set aside two hours every weekend to go to the studio to record, and the rest was distribution.

As for what songs to sing, that was no problem at all for He Yuzhu. There were over a thousand songs in He Yuzhu's head, enough for Lei Luo to sing until the end of time.

After He Yuzhu settled the record company business, for the rest of the time, besides occasionally helping Lei Luo and Wu Shihao hold down the fort, he spent the remaining time quietly in his office acting as a literary plagiarist.

What He Yuzhu was plagiarizing was, naturally, Harry Potter.

He Yuzhu discovered that his memory was like a computer hard drive; everything he had seen in his previous life was stored away. Usually, it didn't matter, but at critical moments, as long as he wanted to look something up, he could find it.

After He Yuzhu finished plagiarizing the first volume, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he had Zhu Youzai arrange for its distribution.

Although Zhu Youzai couldn't see the potential value of this book at all, he knew how to please He Yuzhu, so he prepared to find the largest publisher in Hong Kong to publish it.

After Zhu Youzai made the sample, he also handed a copy to Lei Luo. Lei Luo also couldn't see the potential value of the book; he just thought it was very interesting, so he casually gave it to his wife, Zhou Xueer.

Zhou Xueer didn't think much of it at first, thinking, what kind of good book could a brute who only knew how to fight and kill write? It wouldn't be some martial arts literature about He Yuzhu charging into Kowloon Walled City and slaughtering everyone, would it?

However, after Zhou Xueer had read it for less than five minutes, she was amazed.

Zhou Xueer was the daughter of Sir Zhou and had a high level of cultural literacy; she saw at a glance that this was a classic literary masterpiece that could shock the world.

Immediately, Zhou Xueer found her father, Sir Zhou. Sir Zhou also had extremely high cultural literacy and deep cultural foundations; otherwise, he couldn't have become a knight.

A Hong Kong knight refers to someone awarded a knighthood by the Queen of Britain. This is an honorary title, representing recognition and commendation for an individual's outstanding contributions in a specific field.

It could be said that Sir Zhou's influence in Hong Kong was very great, and he was also a guest of the Governor of Hong Kong.

It was precisely because Lei Luo married Sir Zhou's daughter that Lei Luo was able to easily defeat the three Chinese detectives, including Yan Tong, and become the Chief Chinese Detective.

When Sir Zhou saw the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he was similarly shocked.

"Is this really written by that He Yuzhu, the one under Lei Luo who fought his way through Kowloon Walled City?" Sir Zhou also felt it was unbelievable.

"It's absolutely true," Zhou Xueer said.

"Notify Lei Luo to arrange a meeting between me and He Yuzhu tomorrow," Sir Zhou said with a serious expression.

Sir Zhou clearly saw the potential value and influence of this book. Sir Zhou pondered for a long time, trying his best to gain greater benefits from it.

Money was just a number to someone like Sir Zhou; what Sir Zhou pursued were benefits more important than money, such as rank.

Although Sir Zhou was a knight, he was only a low-ranking Member of the Order of the British Empire. Above that were, in order, Officer, Commander, Knight Commander, and Knight Grand Cross. Sir Zhou wanted to climb to a higher level.

In other words: Sir Zhou wanted to advance too much.

Early the next morning, He Yuzhu arrived at the police station and had just sat down when Sir Zhou, accompanied by his daughter—Lei Luo's wife, Zhou Xueer—arrived at the station and met He Yuzhu.

"I truly can't imagine that Mr. He could not only single-handedly fight through the entire Kowloon Walled City but also write such a masterpiece. You are truly a remarkable person with remarkable talent. I really don't know how Mr. He managed to do it," Sir Zhou said, looking He Yuzhu up and down with a smile on his face.

"Perhaps, this is the charm of magic," He Yuzhu said calmly.

"Hahahaha, yes, perhaps this is the charm of magic." Sir Zhou couldn't help but laugh out loud, beginning to believe that this book was indeed written by He Yuzhu.

"Sir Zhou, I'm a rather direct person. Let's speak plainly: you've taken time out of your busy schedule to find me, what is your intention?" He Yuzhu asked very directly.

"I want to be fully responsible for the publication of this book. Don't worry, I will give you the highest standard for royalties and such, and I won't take a cut. You should understand what I want," Sir Zhou said just as directly.

"Is it just the publication of this book?" He Yuzhu smiled.

Upon hearing this, Sir Zhou's eyes lit up.

He Yuzhu began to speak eloquently, not only discussing the subsequent series of the Harry Potter books but also talking at length about its various hidden values.

"What do you want?" Sir Zhou knew he had met someone who understood; the potential value of this book was huge, so huge that money was just an attachment to its value.

"I want to become a knight," He Yuzhu said.

"No problem," Sir Zhou said quite readily. With the value of this book, plus his own vigorous promotion, it would definitely be a hit. Even without Sir Zhou's help, the authorities would grant He Yuzhu a knighthood, and it wouldn't even be a low one.

"You misunderstood. I don't want a Hong Kong knighthood; I want a British knighthood," He Yuzhu said.

"Uh, I can only say I will try my best to help. To be honest, I haven't reached the level where I can help with that. Such things can only be left to fate. I can still guarantee a Hong Kong knighthood," Sir Zhou said.

"That's fine, let everything take its natural course," He Yuzhu said.

He Yuzhu also knew that such a thing was too difficult for Sir Zhou. However, if he couldn't get a knighthood from Britain itself, a Hong Kong knighthood would do.

As for the rest, let it take its natural course.

With Sir Zhou's full cooperation, the book became a hit as soon as it was published, quickly sweeping through the upper echelons of Hong Kong, then spreading to Britain itself, and then from Britain to the whole world.

He Yuzhu, meanwhile, turned a deaf ear to the world outside and continued to be a steady, unflappable literary plagiarist.

Under Sir Zhou's maneuvering, both sides could be said to have achieved a win-win; Sir Zhou got what he wanted, and He Yuzhu also got what he wanted.

He Yuzhu first became a Justice of the Peace, then became a low-ranking Member of the Order of the British Empire. As the Harry Potter series became a global hit, He Yuzhu successively released two more masterpieces, The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire.

Their influence was immense; even the Queen, far away in Britain, sent a postcard and requested collector's edition books signed by He Yuzhu himself.

He Yuzhu also successfully became an honorary knight in Britain. Although this was just an empty title with no real power or status, it was enough for He Yuzhu to travel across most of the world.

During this period, He Yuzhu let things take their natural course and successfully won over Tian Wenjiao. It must be said that Tian Wenjiao was truly loved by all; she was not only beautiful but also charming and alluring.

When He Yuzhu first used the Kun-character Technique to step onto the path to Tian Wenjiao's soul, he became deeply immersed and unable to extricate himself.

Upon seeing this, Qin Jingru was not angry; instead, she felt relieved. The main reason was that He Yuzhu was too formidable, and Qin Jingru was simply no match for him; she desperately needed someone to share the burden, and Tian Wenjiao was naturally that person. After all, one couldn't just support Tian Wenjiao for nothing.

Furthermore, at this time, Hong Kong law allowed for concubines. Tian Wenjiao herself was engaged in the study and work of law, so naturally, she didn't have much resistance to this aspect.

Hong Kong's laws had a huge impact on Tian Wenjiao. In many aspects, they were the opposite of traditional concepts on the mainland, which once made Tian Wenjiao very painful. Time and environment can change a person, plus He Yuzhu would PUA Tian Wenjiao from time to time...

For example, as long as you are willing to suffer, there is endless suffering to be had.

"To suffer the bitterest of the bitter, only then can one become a master above others"—this is wrong. The correct interpretation is: "To suffer the bitterest of the bitter, so that there are no masters above others in the world."

You think you are Runtu, but actually you are the fork in Runtu's hand;

You think you are the fork, but actually you are the zha under the fork;

You think you are the zha, but actually you are the melon gnawed by the zha;

You think you are the melon, but actually you are the soil under the melon;

You think you are the soil, but actually you are the fertilizer in the soil...

After finishing the three masterpieces Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and A Song of Ice and Fire, He Yuzhu chose to put down his pen and stopped plagiarizing other great works.

After that, once He Yushui and Tian Wenjiao graduated, He Yuzhu took the three of them on a tour around the world to broaden their horizons.

As for money, He Yuzhu was not short of it at all. Not to mention the countless properties He Yuzhu bought in Hong Kong—the rent alone was more than he could ever spend—not to mention the dividends Lei Luo gave He Yuzhu every month, and not to mention the money earned from his record company and books...

Just to say, if He Yuzhu were truly short of money, he could just take it. He Yuzhu considered himself to have the ability to distribute wealth, and if one has the ability, one must use it. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility.

The four of them traveled all the way, and while broadening their horizons, they experienced the local customs and truly enjoyed poetry and the distance.

Along the way, He Yuzhu was a bit better off, but the worldviews of Qin Jingru, He Yushui, and Tian Wenjiao were once again violently impacted.

So, life could be like this.

Of course, every region has its advantages and disadvantages; one cannot deny everything, but one cannot accept everything either. It's just that having seen it and recognized it is enough.

After all, He Yuzhu considered himself to lack the ability to change the world. "When poor, cultivate one's own virtue"—all He Yuzhu could do was cultivate his own virtue and happily enjoy his own life.

Through travel, the perspectives of Qin Jingru, He Yushui, and Tian Wenjiao were opened up. Sufficient material conditions allowed them to not be happy by external things, not be sad by themselves, not to worry before the world worries, and not to be happy after the world is happy.

Before their perspectives were opened, the three of them were like Li Hongzhang when he first went to America—how desperate they were. Especially Tian Wenjiao; upon learning that she was powerless to change everything, she completely lay flat and rotted, enjoying life.

After their perspectives were opened, they realized that life is just that—nothing more than food, clothing, housing, transportation, daily necessities, and the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death. Just like Sun Liancheng, who had the universe in his heart, after seeing the vastness and grandeur of the universe, people like Li Dakang and Sha Ruijin were just mere dust.

Tian Wenjiao was just like that. With a broad mind, she no longer liked to split hairs like before. A person's life is too short in the face of the universe; there is no need to fret over this or that.

Therefore, more than ten years later, when a certain unit in Sijiucheng contacted Tian Wenjiao again, hoping she would return to her original position, Tian Wenjiao refused directly.

In the past, Tian Wenjiao had no choice; now, she had a choice. Furthermore, they had treated her that way—anyone with a shred of self-respect wouldn't rush back.

Now, Tian Wenjiao had the capital to refuse.

Tian Wenjiao's refusal naturally aroused the anger of the higher-ups. Just as they were preparing to severely punish her, Tian Wenjiao took out her passport.

To protect Tian Wenjiao, Qin Jingru, and He Yushui, He Yuzhu had them acquire multiple foreign citizenships and also obtained Justice of the Peace status for them.

If they hadn't acquired foreign citizenship, the higher-ups could have dealt with them however they wanted. However, with these identities as protection, the higher-ups didn't dare to go too far, because it could easily cause international disputes.

When Tian Wenjiao took out her passport, the people above were dumbfounded. This meant they couldn't use strong-arm tactics to deal with her. Even if Tian Wenjiao returned to Sijiucheng, they had no way to deal with her; otherwise, it would be an international incident.

Since they couldn't even deal with Tian Wenjiao, they naturally couldn't use strong-arm tactics to deal with He Yuzhu.

Helpless, the higher-ups used soft tactics, hoping He Yuzhu would return to invest and drive commerce.

"To be wealthy and not return home is like walking in the dark in fine clothes." He Yuzhu admitted that he was someone who hadn't detached himself from low-level interests. Anyway, the storm had stopped, and his group had received an invitation, so He Yuzhu naturally wanted to go back and show off.

He Yuzhu prepared to take his whole family home. In these ten-plus years, Qin Jingru had given birth to two boys and two girls for He Yuzhu, named He Lichun, He Jingzhe, He Chunfen, and He Guyu;

Tian Wenjiao had also given birth to two boys and two girls for He Yuzhu, named He Lixia, He Liqiu, He Bailu, and He Shuangjiang.

He Yuzhu's children's names were based on the Twenty-Four Solar Terms.

He Yushui was also married, to her university classmate. Her classmate was also not from an ordinary family; although it couldn't be called a wealthy family, it was not far off.

To ensure that this return would be safe and worry-free, He Yuzhu not only hired forty tall and sturdy foreign bodyguards but also spent money and used connections to crown himself with titles like United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Environmental Ambassador, and Public Welfare Ambassador.

Just this string of titles was enough to bluff quite a few people.

After everything was ready, He Yuzhu took his whole family back to the Siheyuan.

At this time, in the Siheyuan, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, Xu Damao, Qin Huairu, and others had all returned to the Siheyuan.

Liu Haizhong had spent a large sum of money to pull strings to return to the Siheyuan;

Yan Bugui, because he had instructed Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiekuaung to secretly take care of the principal of the school where he previously worked during the storm, was thanked by the principal after the storm passed, and the principal had him transferred back to retire at a school in Sijiucheng;

Xu Damao and Xu Fugui had also spent a large sum of money to pull strings to return to the Siheyuan;

Qin Huairu had studied the Kun-character Technique with her leader and used this matter to manipulate the leader in charge, getting the leader to transfer her back to the Siheyuan;

Although Bang Geng had gone to the Third Front, he had also avoided being sent to the countryside and followed Qin Huairu back to the Sijiucheng Siheyuan;

The most legendary of them all was Jia Zhangshi.

After He Yuzhu left, Jia Zhangshi fled Jia Family Village and came to the Rolling Mill. She stubbornly used her pestering and rolling-on-the-ground tactics to find out the unit where Qin Huairu was located, and then used the threat of hanging herself to force the leaders of the Rolling Mill to write her an introduction letter and buy her a ticket; otherwise, she would hang herself.

Li Huaide found it troublesome, so he wrote the introduction letter for Jia Zhangshi and bought her a ticket.

Jia Zhangshi stubbornly relied on this ticket, went through all kinds of hardships, and found Qin Huairu. Although Jia Zhangshi found Qin Huairu, it was no longer possible for her to act like the landlady she used to be.

Jia Zhangshi still wanted to use her pestering and rolling-on-the-ground tactics to ensure her status in the home, but unfortunately, the unit Qin Huairu was in was relatively closed off; there was no management unit like a Street Office, and everything was managed by the factory, which was equivalent to a closed-off little society.

As soon as Jia Zhangshi caused a scene, the factory office and the Women's Federation went out directly and gave her a harsh lesson. The Women's Federation even threatened that if she caused a scene again, they would throw her out of the factory and let her fend for herself.

At this point, Jia Zhangshi understood that her old tricks wouldn't work anymore. Whether she lived or died depended entirely on Qin Huairu. Jia Zhangshi couldn't use the excuse that Qin Huairu had inherited the Jia family's job, and there was no one like Yi Zhonghai to cooperate with her.

Jia Zhangshi didn't want to die, so she had to accept her fate.

When Qin Huairu went to work, Jia Zhangshi was responsible for the household chores, such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. If Jia Zhangshi caused a scene, Qin Huairu wouldn't let her eat, using this to punish her.

Qin Huairu also didn't give Jia Zhangshi any money for her old age—not a single cent. The less money Jia Zhangshi had, the less confident she felt, so she could only rely on Qin Huairu and obey her obediently.

When Qin Huairu returned to the Siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi naturally followed. As soon as she returned to the Siheyuan, she wanted to cause a scene, but she was already old and no longer had her former courage. Qin Huairu didn't even need to take action; Huai Hua could keep her completely in check.

Just as everyone was returning to the Siheyuan, a luxury motorcade consisting of one luxury car after another arrived at the entrance of the Siheyuan's hutong.

(End of chapter)