Chapter 23: The Godfather Arrives

Liu Jing’s ambitions were, naturally, grand; after all, he was measuring himself against Lu Buwei. As he learned more about this era, his amazement only grew. In such a world, even Lu Buwei and Ying Zheng themselves would have to humble themselves and keep a low profile. Village chiefs were made through brawls, township heads through drinking bouts, county magistrates through bribery, and high-ranking officials through connections of birth... Mr. An could manage as an official, given that his parents had the right channels, but becoming a high-ranking official was another matter entirely.

"Sigh! I’ve lived my whole life, and now, in my twilight years, I’ve gained a new perspective," the old woman said, rolling up her sleeves. Having finished washing the vegetables, she finally lit the stove. The sound of the flame would hinder her eavesdropping, but she had no choice.

"One is never too old to learn," Mr. An said, ceasing his bickering with Liu Jing and instead acting as the appreciative audience for his mother.

"Over thirty million—how could they dare? And this isn't spirit money," the old woman muttered, still unable to believe it. It was just acting; how could there be so much money involved?

"Because I am worth that much," Liu Jing said. He certainly wouldn't reveal the truth about the fortune-telling, even though there was no vow of silence.

"How much am I worth?" Sisi asked enviously, surprised that the 'Wood' was already earning such big money at his age.

"You're a money-loser," Liu Jing retorted mercilessly.

"You're the money-loser! I'm a money-maker!" Sisi countered.

"Smack! Smack!" Auntie Liu gave them each a slap, perfectly fair. "As long as you two aren't talking, you're both good kids."

Sisi was indignant, but seeing that the Wood had also been hit, she felt a sense of balance.

The younger aunt chuckled. "Sister, Brother-in-law, who would have thought that at such a young age, the Wood would be in the same company as Stephen Chow, Jet Li, Andy Lau, Chow Yun-fat, Wong Jing, and Sharla Cheung?"

"It’s true! They are all stars on television. I used to think they were so far away, but now I realize they're so close," Auntie Liu said, feeling a bit dazed by the thought.

"I heard Li Zhi owes tens of millions, and Jet Li is taking every role he can find just to help her pay off the debt. Tsk, tsk, that's what I call deep devotion," the aunt said, though there was no admiration in her tone.

"Tens of millions! No wonder all those actors are swarming to Hong Kong and Taiwan," Auntie Liu said, feeling as though she finally understood.

"There's no help for it; the film and television industry in Hong Kong and Taiwan is at its peak, and the mainland truly cannot compare. But in a few years, who’s to say?" Mr. An was clear-eyed about the reality and the future. But when that future would arrive, no one could say.

"Hong Kong and Taiwan stars are breaking their necks trying to get into Hollywood. People always strive for higher ground; it’s an immutable truth," Auntie Liu said with longing. It wasn't just the stars; many social elites with assets felt the same way.

"Ding-dong, ding-dong..."

As they were chatting, the doorbell rang, and Liu Jing went to answer it. Mr. An was the head of the household, and Auntie Liu was the mistress; it wouldn't do for them to answer the door. The younger aunt was a guest, the old woman was cooking, and Sisi considered herself a little princess—none of them would go. Counting them up, there was no one else but him.

"Ugly girl, your godfather is here," Liu Jing said as he opened the door. It was no surprise to see Boss Chen.

Liu Jing hadn't been present when Sisi had accepted her godfather; he had been at the Yandu Martial Arts School. When Auntie Liu had brought her daughter to Yandu, Boss Chen—a longtime family friend—had insisted on hosting them, and the bond was formed. Liu Jing hadn't gone, but he knew about it. Auntie Liu had tried to get him to accept a godfather as well, but Liu Jing had replied bluntly, "Stephen Chow and Wong Jing wanted to be my godfathers, but I didn't think they were qualified." He had met this Boss Chen a few times since, but hadn't been particularly impressed. He felt the man's physiognomy didn't feel as good as Mr. An's.

"Wood, this is a gift for you—a little toy car," Boss Chen said with a smile. It wasn't a car for the road, but one for the living room floor.

Liu Jing was polite and courteous. "Thank you, Uncle Chen. Please, come in." After the pleasantries, he placed the gift by the sofa and entered 'quiet mode.'

Mr. An and Boss Chen were old friends, and as Auntie Liu served tea, the adults began to talk. Boss Chen was a businessman and Mr. An was a scholar; they couldn't exactly discuss Victor Hugo. The conversation inevitably turned to business. Boss Chen reminisced about how difficult it was to start his own business back in the day, earning his first pot of gold—a few dozen yuan. It had been an uphill battle, every step a struggle; it was a heartbreaking tale. Usually, those who spoke like this were the ones currently successful.

"Old Chen, how is your decoration factory doing?" Auntie Liu asked.

"The profit margins there are average, so I'm planning to donate it to the local township government," Boss Chen said, crossing his legs.

"You're making big money now, aren't you? A decoration factory makes hundreds of thousands in profit a year, and you're looking down on that?" Mr. An asked, surprised.

"A few years ago, I went to Hainan to do real estate. After tossing and turning for a few years, I made a lot of money. This time, when I return, I want to develop real estate on the mainland; there is great potential in this industry. Besides that, the materials industry is also good. Real estate will only become more rapid in its development, and materials will be indispensable, especially special materials and high-quality construction supplies," Boss Chen said with confident laughter.

"I heard many wealthy businessmen tripped and fell in Hainan. The fact that you not only escaped unscathed but also made a fortune proves you have real ability," Mr. An said with genuine admiration.

"Haha, Mr. An, I've told you before, I have good luck. To this day, I still can't understand why that foreigner gave me an order worth several million. If it weren't for that order, I wouldn't have gone to Hainan. And if I hadn't gone to Hainan, I wouldn't have made twenty or thirty million," Boss Chen laughed.

"Twenty or thirty million?" Auntie Liu repeated, glancing at Liu Jing and then at Mr. An.

"Uncle Chen, how come you have less money than the Wood?" Sisi asked, puzzled, abandoning her toy.

"What?" Boss Chen looked bewildered.

"Ahem, Sisi, go help Grandma with the cooking and stop talking nonsense," Auntie Liu said, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm not lying! Didn't that fat man give the Wood thirty million? The Wood is about to have a job," Sisi said loudly, turning to pull the contract draft from a drawer.

"You..." Auntie Liu was furious. She hadn't intended to mention this. It was good that her child could earn money, but it wasn't necessarily a good thing for outsiders to know.

"Someone took an interest in Liu Jing and wants him to film. The signing fee is thirty million," Mr. An said, pushing up his glasses and speaking calmly.

"From Japan or Korea?" Boss Chen asked.

"From Hong Kong and Taiwan. Thirty million RMB, after taxes," Mr. An said with a smile, finally feeling a sense of triumph.

Boss Chen lowered his leg and leaned forward. "Old An, you haven't run into scammers, have you? Many scammers use the guise of film production—especially those from Hong Kong and Taiwan—to target people on the mainland. I know a few friends in the entertainment industry; let me ask around for you so you don't get swindled."

"Wong Jing and Sharla Cheung were just here, representing Win's Entertainment to sign Liu Jing," Mr. An said, pointing to the gift by the TV. "Those are the gifts they brought. I don't think they're scammers, do you?"

"Win's Entertainment? Naturally, they aren't. They're the most powerful film company in Hong Kong, even Golden Harvest is eclipsed by them," Boss Chen said, stunned. He looked at Liu Jing; he had never noticed it before. He just thought the kid was eccentric, but he never imagined he could earn so much. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

"Thirty million for five years, not paid all at once. It's a package deal; no further salary for the films," Mr. An explained.

"That's still a significant amount," Boss Chen muttered, his eyes burning as he looked at Auntie Liu. "Mr. An, Xiao Li, money sitting in the bank will only devalue. This is a great opportunity, and the country is strongly..."

Boss Chen's eloquence was undeniable. He spoke until Liu Jing felt energized, the younger aunt was stirred with excitement, Auntie Liu was flushed with greed, and Mr. An was constantly pushing up his glasses. An Feng, however, yawned repeatedly and curled up next to Liu Jing, falling fast asleep.

[Note: The era will always create some people and abandon others.]

With a daily appraisal completed, Liu Jing patted An Feng to soothe her to sleep, lost in thought. What did this note mean? Why did it feel like the system was starting to turn into a mystic?

Boss Chen did not stay for dinner; he had other social engagements in Jiangcheng. A cool breeze brushed against his face, clearing his head.

Mr. An patted his forehead. "Xiao Li, whether it's twenty thousand or thirty million, that is money Liu Jing earned. How it is used and where it is invested is up to him. Neither you nor I have the right to dispose of it; we only have the right to supervise."

"He's just a child; does he know how to use it? Old Chen isn't wrong; this is an opportunity..."

Mr. An interrupted, "Tomorrow I will take Liu Jing to the bank to open a savings account. You cannot withdraw a single cent from this money without my permission."

"You..."

"That's how it's going to be. If you want to invest in something, convince Liu Jing first, then convince me." Mr. An was becoming increasingly authoritative.

"I just meant that Sisi's uncle could recommend some financial management..."

"..."