Chapter 12: The Fragrance of White Magnolia.
After using this flattery to stay with the Xu Family, what did they do in her past life?
Like parasitic rice weevils, they had hollowed out her family’s assets.
Her second uncle’s children continued to study abroad, becoming new heirs to the Xu Family’s real estate and dressing as elegantly groomed scions of powerful families. Her third uncle was a bit luckier; with some capability, he undertook the dock’s cargo handling projects, becoming the second nouveau riche comparable to the Xu Family.
Eventually, they rode on official policies, avoiding the overshadowing influence of the flourishing Triad Society. They became the luckiest among the powerful families of Hong Kong Island and even legally acquired the Xu Mansion they had coveted for so long.
In the courtyard of Xu Mansion stood two Phoenix Trees, each over a century old. In winter, they bore only withered branches, stark against the grey-white rain clouds, like the veins of the sky.
Xu Zhiqiang opened several accompanying portable camphorwood boxes, which contained various foreign trinkets. He took them out one by one and handed them to Butler Ge: a Gilded Gold Bottle of perfume, gold-foil lipstick, strawberry-shaped chocolates, commemorative coins, Christmas wreath butter cookies, and a box of expensive pens, claiming they were gifts for Xu Si. Returning from abroad, he hadn’t brought back a single shirt for himself, yet he hadn’t forgotten to try and please her.
He spoke with enthusiasm, but Xu Si listened with little interest, sipping her coffee and ignoring his empty flattery. She stared lazily towards the main door, pondering what attire would be appropriate for Pei Zhen’s parent-teacher meeting.
She had no experience. But she couldn’t embarrass him.
Xu Si offered no response, yet the atmosphere wasn’t awkward. The accompanying journalist, brandishing his camera and beaming, acted as the life of the party. "This is fascinating! These are all novelties not found on Hong Kong Island. May I take a few pictures and publish them in the newspaper for the public to see?"
In those days, newspapers were still an important channel for disseminating information. Journalists who wielded their pens controlled public opinion and held a not insignificant status. Many celebrities had to curry favor with journalists to get by.
Xu Zhiqiang generously agreed. The journalist snapped pictures of those peculiar curiosities, the CLICK of the vintage camera pronounced.