Chapter 96: 95, Flying To Guangzhou For Blind Date, Gold And Wife
Fang Wen was pondering Shao Sishen’s words.
According to Shao Sishen, the Kuang Family had the ability to handle this batch of gold.
But to ensure safety, there needed to be a layer of relationship, and the best was a marriage alliance.
For this matter, Fang Wen thought it best to go and see first.
If it could be done without a marriage alliance, that would be ideal.
The term marriage alliance might not be appropriate; it should be called a blind date.
The Boeing 247 loaded with gold took off again.
Flying to the next destination, Guangzhou Dashatou Airport.
They had already contacted there in advance via radio from the Shanghai Airport Control Tower using aviation frequency, so they could land upon arrival; this was some connections gained from multiple round trips to Dashatou Airport.
After more than two hours of flight, the airplane landed at Dashatou Airport.
Shao Sishen limped off the airplane, supported by Shunzi, and walked out of the airport.
Fang Wen stayed on the airplane with Fang Shouxin waiting, after all, there were 2 tons of gold on the airplane, and it couldn’t be left unguarded.
Unsure about the upcoming situation, Fang Wen felt a bit nervous.
Fang Shouxin hesitated, then asked, “Young Master, marriage is a major matter that requires matchmakers and approval from both parents; it’s not good for you to meet privately like this.”
“It’s not my idea; Shao Sishen said this is the way to solve the gold problem.”
“Have you met her before?”
“Yes, I met her; at that time, I flew her back from abroad, and she was holding a child in her arms.” Fang Wen recalled.
“She has a child? Is she a widow?” Fang Shouxin frowned: “Young Master, she can’t be the principal wife; a widow is inauspicious.”
Fang Wen couldn’t help but smile: “She’s not a widow; she adopted a child.”
“That’s good, but why hasn’t she married?” Fang Shouxin was still puzzled; he felt this needed clarifying, after all, if the Young Master brought back a wife from outside to Jiaxing, it would be hard for him to explain to the Master.
“I don’t know much about that either; we didn’t talk much at the time. Uncle Fang, don’t worry about it; we’re mainly here to discuss the gold this time, not yet at the stage of discussing marriage.”
The two chatted, and time passed quickly.
Two hours later, Shao Sishen and Shunzi returned.
Shao Sishen said excitedly: “It’s all arranged; we’re meeting at Shi Xiang Yuan now. Let’s go right away. Director Fang and Shunzi stay here to watch the airplane; I’ll go with you.”
“Just go like this?” Fang Wen was surprised; in his previous life, he had been on blind dates too, but this felt even more hasty than the future, and he hadn’t even changed out of his flight suit.
Shao Sishen continued before finishing: “She’s learning painting at Shi Xiang Yuan, and this is the time she can go out. I bought some Cantonese tea snacks at the restaurant; you can talk and eat.”
Shunzi held up two food boxes high: “Young Master, the food is here.”
Feeling hungry just then, Fang Wen took the food boxes, opened one, took out a steaming bun, and ate it.
He said, “You guys eat some too.”
“No need, Young Master, you go ahead; Shunzi and I will stay here. No one will get into the airplane.” Fang Shouxin drew the Broomhandle Mauser from his waist; Shunzi had one too.
Yes, this wasn’t just about coming for a blind date; Fang Wen nodded, holding a food box in one hand and offering to support Shao Sishen with the other.
Shao Sishen waved him off, leaning on his crutch, and the two walked out of the airport.
The two hailed two rickshaws outside the airport, heading south, crossing the Pearl River, and entering Haizhu Old Town.
Haizhu Old Town had buildings everywhere and many streets; outsiders could easily get lost on their first visit, but the rickshaw puller navigated the old streets familiarly.
Finally, they stopped outside a courtyard with gray bricks and green tiles.
Fang Wen got out, helped Shao Sishen out of the rickshaw, and paid the fare.
“This is Shi Xiang Yuan, residence of a famous Cantonese scholar. It’s not large inside but very elegant, a place where literati often gather.” Shao Sishen said as he led Fang Wen inside.
The gate was open with no one guarding; upon entering, there was an open space with a stone table and stone chairs where several men in long gowns sat around, sipping tea and talking for half a day.
Further in, it became more complex.
In the several hundred square meters of area, buildings divided the space, complemented by flowers, trees, rockery, and ponds, creating an elegant garden landscape.
Shao Sishen was very familiar with the place, proceeding along the paths, turning right to a small pavilion in a courtyard.
No one was in the pavilion; Shao Sishen slapped his forehead: “She must be waiting somewhere here; girls are shy. I’ll go find her; you go into the pavilion and sit first.”
Then, Fang Wen sat in the pavilion, looking around idly to pass the time.
After a while, Shao Sishen returned, followed by two women.
The taller one was Kuang Mingzhu; the one beside her was probably her maid.
At the pavilion entrance, Shao Sishen whispered to the two; Kuang Mingzhu nodded, and then Shao Sishen dragged the maid away.
Leaving only Kuang Mingzhu, who approached gracefully; Fang Wen stood to greet her.
She had obviously dressed up specially, in antique charm attire, more traditionally beautiful than when they first met.
“.” Fang Wen suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
“Um, Miss Kuang, please sit.”
Kuang Mingzhu said nothing, sitting on the stone bench in the pavilion; Fang Wen sat down as well.
The two were so awkward they could carve words on the pavilion floor with their toes.
There was a word called experience; though blind dates were popular in the future, Fang Wen had no experience and didn’t know what to do.
Kuang Mingzhu had even less experience in response.
But this matter had to start somehow.
Fang Wen spoke: “I came this time on Shao Sishen’s suggestion; he said you could help me with this favor.”
Kuang Mingzhu looked up in surprise: “What favor?”
“Gold; I have a batch of gold that needs handling, but no one trustworthy.”
“He said I am trustworthy?”
“Yes, he said, um, he said you could.” Fang Wen trailed off.
From behind the pavilion, separated by flowers and trees, Shao Sishen’s voice came.
“This is urgent; let me say it. Kuang Mingzhu, do you like Fang Wen?”
Instantly, Kuang Mingzhu’s face flushed red, all the way to her ears.
Shao Sishen continued: “Don’t you aspire to be a new era woman? Opportunity comes only once; seize it yourself, or regret it for life.”
These words gave Kuang Mingzhu courage; she said, “You go away quickly; I know what to do now.”
Then Shao Sishen fell silent and walked away.
Kuang Mingzhu took a deep breath: “Mr. Fang, would you like to hear my story?”
Fang Wen nodded, taking food out of the food box and placing it on the table.
“Let’s eat and talk.”
Kuang Mingzhu smiled, took a crystal bun, and bit into it.
“I’m the second child at home, with an older brother and a younger brother. Father had high hopes for my brother, sending him back to China early to study hard for a scholarly degree to bring honor to the family. But twenty years ago, with the founding of the Republic of China, my eldest brother’s dream ended. He disliked the Republic and wouldn’t take over the family business, spending his days in leisure, achieving nothing to this day. My third brother is young and was sent by Father to France to study Western knowledge. With no one to manage the family business, Father had me handle it.”
Listening to Kuang Mingzhu, Fang Wen nodded; he had guessed the general situation.
When he had brought back Kuang Mingzhu and her father, the worldly-naive third son of the Kuang Family who knew French, and the eldest brother who only spouted empty words, had left a deep impression.
But he didn’t interrupt Kuang Mingzhu, continuing to listen.
“I grew faster than other girls from childhood, and as an adult, I’m taller than average men. Father has always been arranging my marriage, but peers of equal status disdain my height, and older men don’t appeal to me. I’ve reached twenty and still unmarried.”
Saying this was exposing her shortcomings; Kuang Mingzhu showed a shy expression.
But to Fang Wen, it wasn’t like that.
So what about 1.75 meters? She could be a model or play basketball, and with Kuang Mingzhu’s looks, she could be a star in the future.
She was hindered by equal status matches, with no other choices.
He comforted her: “Actually, I think your height is fine; you’re pretty too. You just haven’t met the right one; wait a bit longer and it might come.”
Fang Wen’s words, from a modern perspective, were ordinary and normal.
Like in an office, when a female colleague laments that she thinks she’s unattractive and no one likes her, most male colleagues would say such comforting words.
Not to mention, Kuang Mingzhu was indeed pretty in Fang Wen’s aesthetic view.
But such words were rare for men in the Republic of China era to say; they would be seen as improper.
But with a man and woman alone, and the woman having feelings for the man, it was different.
These words gave Kuang Mingzhu great encouragement; she had never heard such praise from childhood to now.
As the saying goes, a woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her; her eyes brightened, and she looked at Fang Wen proactively.
“Originally, I thought I’d stay unmarried for life, living for the Kuang Family. But that day, your appearance—I don’t know how to describe it—but since then, your shadow has always been in my heart. For that, I even suggested to Father going to Shanghai for your Taishan Airlines flight attendant recruitment.”
At this point, Kuang Mingzhu’s face darkened: “Father disagreed; he saw my intentions. To keep me in the Kuang Family, he planned to find a man to marry in and have me work for the Kuang Family for life. I don’t want that.”
“I understand; this is the last chance Shao Sishen mentioned. If you don’t step out, you’ll have to marry someone you don’t like and regret it for life.”
Kuang Mingzhu nodded: “Yes, I’d rather be an ordinary flight attendant at Taishan Airlines or leave Guangzhou for abroad.” The window paper between them was pierced.
Being liked by a beauty was welcome to Fang Wen, but right now, the most important matter was the gold.
He said seriously: “I have a question: can you handle 2 tons of gold?”
“Two tons?” Kuang Mingzhu was shocked.
This quantity was indeed astonishing.
But she then showed confidence.
“My family has many industries in South Asia, including a gold shop. Two tons of gold is large, but equivalent to our Kuang Family’s gold reserves. Moreover, Fujian-Guangdong businessmen in South Asia and Southeast Asia have mutual contacts; there’s a complete channel for gold circulation from domestic to abroad. Under the Kuang Family name, cashing out this gold is feasible.”
“What if I just want a place to store the gold?” Fang Wen asked.
“Storing gold is even simpler; put it in our Kuang Family’s gold vault, and we’ll issue a gold storage receipt, retrievable anytime.” Kuang Mingzhu replied.
Looking at Kuang Mingzhu, Fang Wen finally realized why Shao Sishen insisted he marry her.
Without marrying her, the gold stored in the Kuang Family would prioritize Kuang Family interests, as she was the Kuang Family’s daughter.
Marry her, and she becomes family, thinking for him.
Women of this era, though influenced by the West, were generally traditional, serious about marriage, and would consider their husband’s interests after marriage.
Thinking of this, Fang Wen gazed at Kuang Mingzhu.
“Will you be my woman?”
Instantly, the flush returned to Kuang Mingzhu’s face.
She nodded, clutching her collar with both hands.
“If I marry you and your father disagrees, what then?”
After hesitating, Kuang Mingzhu replied:
“I’ll go with you.”
“Good, then today you’re my woman; come with me.”
Fang Wen stood, took Kuang Mingzhu’s hand, and strode out.
Dragged along, Kuang Mingzhu smiled and matched Fang Wen’s pace.
The maid rushed out: “Miss, where are you going? The Master said to come home after painting lessons.”
“I’m not going back.” Kuang Mingzhu shouted the first words defying her father in her life, like a bird flying out of a cage.
The maid tried to chase but was held back by Shao Sishen.
Under the gaze of literati at Shi Xiang Yuan, Fang Wen thus led Kuang Mingzhu away.
Overnight, Fang Wen and Kuang Mingzhu disappeared.
The Kuang Family searched the whole city without finding them.
Until the next morning, Fang Wen brought Kuang Mingzhu back to the Kuang Family’s courtyard house in Guangzhou.
Father Kuang stared at his daughter, eyes wide.
His daughter had undone her hair into a bun; the bun announced to the outside that she had changed from a young girl to a married woman.
Last night, family honor was unfortunate!
Master Kuang was so angry he nearly spat blood.
But the deed was done; what could be done? They couldn’t proclaim the family scandal worldwide.
Master Kuang glared at Fang Wen with murderous eyes, then softened.
“Sigh, Mingzhu, you’re set on him, aren’t you?”
“Yes, the man I chose, I’ll follow for life; wherever he goes, I go, no regrets.” Kuang Mingzhu replied firmly to her father.
Fang Wen added: “We’re leaving tomorrow.”
Master Kuang sighed deeply: “A grown daughter can’t be kept at home. Then today, we’ll have a farewell banquet to see my daughter off.”
This farewell banquet was naturally not grand, just family members at one table.
At the table, Fang Wen placed gold bars on it.
“Father-in-law, let’s talk business. This gold comes from the Northeast. Now that I’ve married your daughter, we’re family; no need for secrets. I need to explain to you how the gold came about.”
Hearing Fang Wen’s words, Master Kuang understood: not only had he lost his daughter, but gotten involved in a big matter.
But his daughter was already that man’s, utterly devoted, so he could only help with this favor.
Thus, the gold on the Boeing 247 finally had a resolution.
Shenyang Southeast Forest Area, logging camp.
Yesterday the airplane didn’t come, and everyone was anxious, all watching that telegraph machine.
Shopkeeper Liu, who had been guarding the telegraph machine, finally received a telegram.
He skillfully translated it into plain text.
Then handed it to Gang Leader Wang.
Looking at the plain text telegram, Gang Leader Wang was stunned.
He read the telegram message aloud to everyone.
“Getting married tonight; airplane delayed to tomorrow night.”
This… General Manager Fang was actually getting married at this critical juncture; everyone was baffled.
Gang Leader Wang said helplessly: “What can we do? Marriage is a major life event; delaying a couple days is fine.”
