Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire-Chapter 36 - 35: Su Heming’s Thank-You Gift
Chapter 36: Chapter 35: Su Heming’s Thank-You Gift
On this visit, Su Heming came not only to express his gratitude but also to fulfill his promise by bringing the set of jade ornaments he had mentioned earlier. Originally, he planned to send a younger brother to deliver them, but Lu Jiaxin’s advice had saved him from being duped, and he was so grateful that he decided to come in person.
Upon opening the box, Lu Jiaxin saw that it contained hairpins, hairpins of different sorts, pendent jewels, splendid hair ornaments, bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings.
While holding a hairpin, Lu Jiaxin asked, “How much money did your friend owe you?”
“Five thousand eight hundred.”
“Do you know this set of jewelry is made of mutton-fat jade? I’m not sure about the current market price, but if it’s sold in Hong Kong, fetching several hundred thousand wouldn’t be a problem.”
Xue Mao’s eyes nearly popped out of his sockets.
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Su Heming’s family wasn’t wealthy when he came of age, and he had no research on jade or jadeite, though he still had an eye for quality: “I knew this set of jewelry was something special when I saw it, but I didn’t know it was mutton-fat jade.”
He had intended to give this set of jade ornaments to Lu Jiaxin mainly out of gratitude for Mrs. Lu saving his cousin. But now, his affection was directed entirely toward Lu Jiaxin herself. This girl’s heart was as kind as her mother’s, and he thought her worthy of friendship.
Lu Jiaxin liked the set of jewelry very much and couldn’t bear to return it to Su Heming: “I really like this set of jade ornaments, but I cannot accept such a gift without reason. Big Brother Su, I will buy the jewelry, but I’ll pay you by the end of the year.”
Su Heming pretended to be displeased as he said, “I said it’s a gift for you, how could I take your money? Besides, if it wasn’t for you, I would have been conned. Sister Jiaxin, do you really think that my life is not worth these few broken stones?”
Lu Jiaxin didn’t know how to refute him.
Su Heming said with a smile, “Just keep it if it’s for you. If it makes you feel uneasy, just buy me a real gold watch when you’ve made money in the future.”
This greatly pleased Lu Jiaxin; she thought Su Heming was somewhat silly but had good taste: “Okay, when I make big money, I will buy you a Rolex gold watch.”
Xue Mao just thought Lu Jiaxin was teasing Su Heming, as a gold watch worth over a hundred thousand was not something they could afford. Only later did he realize how shallow he had been and greatly underestimated Sister Xin’s capabilities.
Planning to enter into business, Lu Jiaxin naturally sought advice from someone experienced: “Big Brother Su, what kind of business do you do?”
Su Heming didn’t hide anything and said, “We bring over electronics, clothing, cassette tapes, and such from Peng City to sell. Currently, items from Hong Kong are in high demand. Once the relationships are established, you just sell casually, and profit is guaranteed, the only question is how much.”
“How long have you been doing this, and how much have you made?”
Su Heming replied with a laugh, “I only started at the beginning of last year, and up till now, I’ve made about three hundred thousand. After splitting it with a few brothers, I got around a hundred thousand.”
Lu Jiaxin didn’t believe his claim of making three hundred thousand in a year and a half just by reselling goods; she thought it could be believable with an extra zero added to that figure.
Lu Jiaxin deliberately said, “Reselling goods might earn some hard-earned money, but reselling pirated stuff is different. I’ve heard of many people making an easy few million just like that.”
Su Heming wasn’t surprised; after all, with Lu Hongjun’s status, it wasn’t strange for Lu Jiaxin to know these things. He said with a smile, “With reselling goods, as long as you don’t get caught on the spot, there’s no issue. But reselling that stuff isn’t the same; it’s illegal. The Young Lady strictly forbids us from touching it.”
The last sentence was the crux. Madam Xie forbid them from touching it, so the father and sons didn’t dare to go against her wishes. In previous years, it was under her protection that they had endured the most difficult times, or else they would’ve long joined their grandmother.
Lu Jiaxin asked again, “Besides trading in goods and that thing, what other industry is both legal and highly profitable?”
Su Heming really knew one. He said, “Dealing in antiques can also be very profitable, buying low and selling high to the Gao family, but you have to be an expert to succeed. Amateurs who get involved might end up bankrupt. If you like these old artifacts, I can ask someone to find a couple of items to give you.”
Lu Jiaxin felt a surge of interest. When she was studying abroad in the city of romance, she visited a classmate’s home and saw a Tang Dynasty painting of court ladies in her room, depicting scenes of noblewomen on an outing. The ladies in the painting, all dressed in splendid attire, were either frolicking with water, chasing butterflies with round fans, or composing poetry and lyrics amidst flowers… The composition was exquisite and the colors bright, showcasing the beauty and unspoiled radiance of the noble young girls of the Tang Dynasty.
This painting had been purchased by her classmate’s grandfather over thirty years ago while visiting the Ancient Capital. His grandfather had planned to go to the antique market before leaving the country to buy some items as souvenirs.
When he entered the antique shop, it just so happened that someone was selling the painting. The shopkeeper had declared it fake, and the seller, unwilling to sell it for too cheap, had walked away.
Her classmate’s grandfather liked brightly colored paintings and fell in love with this one. He didn’t care about its authenticity and bought it at the seller’s asking price. But unexpectedly, the seller, seeing his readiness, said he had more paintings and books that he wanted to sell him all together.
Her classmate’s grandfather found out that the seller had accidentally discovered a hidden passage in his home and had found several paintings and many books inside it.
The classmate’s grandfather wasn’t interested in the books, but he had a friend who was very fond of Eastern Culture. He bought all the paintings and books from the seller for ten thousand US dollars.
Later, when her classmate’s family faced difficulties, they sold the other paintings to get through the tough times. The painting of the court ladies was only preserved because the female classmate loved it so much and had begged and cried to keep it.
At that time, the painting’s value had increased tens of thousands of times over, which left her astonished. However, after admiring it, she was inspired and designed clothes that sold incredibly well.
Su Heming extended his right hand and waved it in front of Lu Jiaxin, seeing her snap back to reality, he smiled and asked, “What were you daydreaming about just now? You didn’t even respond when I was talking to you.”
Lu Jiaxin was in an excellent mood at the time and said, “I was thinking of some things.”
She could go to the Ancient Capital to buy the person’s house; that way, the items in the secret room would be hers. She could then sell one or two items as startup capital and keep the rest for her collection. As for the books, she would donate them to a museum.
“What’s got you so happy?”
After two encounters, Lu Jiaxin concluded that her father and brother were running the business of trading goods, and this guy was at most a runner and helper. The reason was simple: he lacked the savvy.
Lu Jiaxin made up an excuse to brush off the question, “How long have your dad and Big Brother gone to Hong Kong, and when will they be back?”
Su Heming shook his head, indicating he didn’t know, “I can’t guess what they’re up to, not going to waste my brain on that. Sister Jiaxin, you need rest because you are frail, but Xue Mao doesn’t. Do you want me to find him a job?”
Jobs were hard to come by now, and it was sincere of him to offer. However, Lu Jiaxin intended to keep Xue Mao by her side to train, rather than let him waste time in a job without technical content.
Lu Jiaxin shook her head and said, “No need, Xue Mao doesn’t like being managed by others.”
Xue Mao indeed wasn’t willing to work a regular job. It would only pay him a hundred or so a month in a factory, and it was not at all liberating. Although setting up a street stall was tiring, he didn’t need to be managed by others, and he could earn more.
