Yu itong gave Lu Jiaxin many gifts to express her gratitude, and Zong Shing quickly learned about it. She had originally planned to go shopping with Lu Jiaxin at the end of the year, then let her choose what she liked and pay for it herself. However, Yu itong’s gesture of giving gifts made her feel her approach was inadequate.
That evening, Zong Shing spoke to Hu Zhifeng: "Jiaxin helped us avoid such a huge loss; we must show our appreciation."
The funds recaptured amounted to over three billion, and there’s still shares of an automobile company that haven’t been sold. Without Jiaxin’s reminder, this three billion might currently be valued at less than eighty million. And that’s just the share price—given the current state of Little Days, the shares and holdings simply can’t be sold.
Hu Zhifeng thought for a mont and said: "I rember you ntioned Miss Lu likes luxury watches; you should buy two watches and so jewelry for her."
"itong just gave her a Patek Philippe watch and jewelry; we can’t give the sa."
Upon hearing this, Hu Zhifeng felt sowhat stumped. Luxury cars and hos would also be rejected by Lu Jiaxin.
Zong Shing already had an idea and said, "Doesn’t Jiaxin enjoy old items? Dad has collected many antiques, we can choose one from his collection."
This matter certainly couldn’t be addressed by her. Firstly, the big profit was held by Hu Zhifeng himself without sharing with her, so he had to manage the giving, while she would handle the gifting; secondly, she speaking up might provoke opposition from her in-laws.
During dinner, Hu Zhifeng brought up the topic: "Dad, Miss Lu has greatly helped ; I want to give her sothing to show my gratitude. But Miss Lu only likes antique paintings and porcelains, indifferent to other items. Dad, I recall you have quite a collection of porcelains."
Zong Shing added: "Dad, Mom, Zhifeng’s latest investnt in Little Days yielded a profit of over two billion three thousand because it was sold off before the stock crash. Had it not been sold, the principal of even one billion couldn’t have been retrieved now."
Simply ntioning Jiaxin’s help wouldn’t leave a strong impression; quoting the monetary values would move them more.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Hu imdiately said: "Then we really should thank her properly. Darling, I recall you previously acquired a very beautiful lotus bowl; let’s gift that bowl to Miss Lu."
Lu Jiaxin helped their son avoid a loss of over two billion, certainly deserving an extravagant thank you. Old Master Hu said, "That lotus bowl is said to be from the Chai Kiln, but there’s also talk that it’s a fake; it’s not suitable for gifting."
After speaking, he looked at Hu Zhifeng and said, "I have a fine ’Fu’ character ivory thin-body porcelain, from the Ming Dynasty, quite beautiful, Miss Lu should like it."
The piece was definitely exquisite, but at this age, he wasn’t fond of overly vibrant colors. Additionally, being from the Ming Dynasty, its price was significantly lower compared to other collections.
Zong Shing considered that Lu Jiaxin favored intricately crafted porcelains, and subtly tugged Hu Zhifeng’s sleeve to prompt him to speak.
The couple shared a decade-long tacit understanding, he said: "Dad, a double gift is more sincere; let’s give both the lotus bowl and the ’Fu’ character ivory thin-body."
Old Master Hu shook his head: "The lotus bowl was only examined by an old friend, not by an expert; it might be a forgery."
Zong Shing believed it wasn’t a major issue: "Jiaxin just likes beautiful things; as long as it looks good, even if it’s a forgery, she won’t mind."
Old Master Hu briefly glanced at her and then nodded in agreent.
Upon returning to her room, Zong Shing called Lu Jiaxin to arrange a eting, knowing she was busy these days, so she proposed visiting her at night: "itong told the crystal cake and Lotus Seed Soup made by your housekeeper are especially delicious; I want to try them tomorrow."
Lu Jiaxin, smiling, replied: "Indeed, they are quite delicious. Tomorrow I’ll ask the housekeeper to make more so I can take so back for the kids to enjoy."
This housekeeper was actually recruited from the Mainland at a high cost. Her offered price was so high that otherwise, the housekeeper wouldn’t have left ho to co to Hong Kong.
The next day, Zong Shing arrived with the two gifts.
Lu Jiaxin initially thought they might, like Yu itong, gift jewelry and luxury watches, but didn’t expect such valuable items.
Upon seeing the two porcelains displayed, Lu Jiaxin quickly grew fond of them, yet said: "Sister Shing, these are too valuable; I can’t accept them."
Zong Shing pointed to the ’Fu’ character ivory thin-body porcelain and said with a smile: "This is genuine; it has been authenticated by an expert, dating to the Yongle Era of the Ming Dynasty."
The porcelain is characterized by being as thin as a cicada’s wing, as light as a floating cloud, crystal clear, and extrely intricate. Among the porcelains Lu Jiaxin collected, there were two thin-body pieces, but none as beautiful.
"Sister Shing, this thing would go for several million in the market."
Zong Shing shook her head and said: "Not that much. Like this vase, I saw it at an auction two months ago, priced at eighty-eight thousand Hong Kong Dollars."
Lu Jiaxin pointed at the lotus bowl and asked: "And this one? It looks different from those in my collection!"
Zong Shing didn’t understand porcelains, saying: "My father-in-law said it’s from the Chai Kiln, but he only had an old friend examine it, without expert authentication, so its authenticity is uncertain. I felt it looked beautiful, sure you would like it, so I took it."
Before getting the item she hadn’t seen it, but her mother-in-law’s discerning taste made her trust it wouldn’t be inferior. Once she saw it, she knew her judgnt was correct.
Lu Jiaxin was startled: "Chai Kiln?"
Chai Kiln, ordered by Later Zhou’s Emperor Chai Rong of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, produced "green as heaven, bright as a mirror, paper-thin, with a bell-like sound, lustrous with fine patterns" Tribute Porcelains. As Later Zhou existed briefly, Chai Kiln products are incredibly rare.
Zong Shing observed her expression and asked: "What’s wrong, is there any issue?"
Lu Jiaxin explained: "I was stunned. Sister Shing, other porcelains can still be found on the market, but Chai Kiln has vanished for decades. It’s rumored that in the Republic, Yuan Datou’s housekeeper exchanged a large mansion and several acres of fertile land for a Chai Kiln piece—the last known appearance of a Chai Kiln piece in the market, with nothing seen since."
"Due to initially scarce production and having undergone millennia, techniques and formulas have long disappeared. If this lotus bowl is genuine, it could sell for two or three billion in twenty to thirty years."
Rare items hold great value, and such nearly extinct pieces are worth a fortune.
Zong Shing hadn’t anticipated the bowl being so precious but felt that items are static while people are dynamic: "Regardless of its price, keep it as you like it."
Lu Jiaxin, looking at the lotus bowl, smiled and said: "Sister Shing, I indeed love this bowl, so I won’t be polite with you."
This gift truly touched her heart, she couldn’t bear to refuse it. Now, she acts at her heart’s will, accepting what she likes, and making up from other sources later.
Zong Shing laughed and said: "Why be polite with ? Let tell you, my father-in-law also enjoys antiques, having collected many paintings and porcelains; I’ll get you more on another occasion."
Zong prefers cash, which can be used to buy property or for business, and these antique paintings leave her indifferent. Though they will beco valuable in the future, unless facing bankruptcy or crisis, they wouldn’t be sold. And her father-in-law has two sons and a daughter, who would end up receiving at most a third years later.
Lu Jiaxin quickly waved her hand, saying: "No, thank you, having these two is more than enough."
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