Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

A few days later, Lu Yang's luxurious villa on the hillside in Pengcheng was brightly lit.

A small but substantial family dinner is underway.

Those invited were Lu Yang's friends in Shenzhen, as well as a group of his brothers.

People like Mu Qizhong, Xiao Jun, Gong Ping'an and his wife, and Da Jun and his wife.

As Lu Yang's personal secretary and Da Jun's younger sister, Lu Nini was naturally busy shuttling between guests and coordinating the details of the family banquet.

The restaurant's long tables were laden with exquisite Cantonese dishes and fine wines, creating a harmonious and lively atmosphere.

Mu Qizhong was patting Xiao Jun on the shoulder, loudly recounting the thrilling anecdotes from when he was tinkering with airplanes, eliciting bursts of laughter from everyone; Gong Ping'an and his wife were having a quiet conversation with Da Jun and his wife about their child's education; Lu Yang and his wife, as the hosts, were exchanging pleasantries with everyone with ease, their faces bearing relaxed smiles, as if the incident at the kindergarten gate a few days ago and the silent power struggle in the officialdom had never happened.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Lu Yang's gaze swept over Lu Nini, who was carefully serving tea to the guests, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Lu Nini immediately understood, put down the teapot, and quietly left the restaurant.

A few minutes later, in the study on the second floor.

The heavy mahogany door shut out the noise downstairs, leaving only the faint chirping of insects in the courtyard outside the window.

Lu Yang stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the dazzling night view of Shenzhen below.

Lu Nini stood quietly half a step behind him, holding a thick folder in her hands.

"Brother, you wanted to see me?" Lu Nini asked softly.

Lu Yang turned around, his eyes regaining the sharpness and directness he displayed when working: "Hmm. How's the matter I asked you to understand?"

He skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

Lu Nini immediately stepped forward and respectfully handed over the folder in her hand: "It's all here, brother. I've done as much detailed research as possible on the domestic private jet industry."

Lu Yang took the folder but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he gestured for her to report the core information directly: "Tell me, who exactly uses it? What kind of aircraft does it use? How is the cost-effectiveness? How troublesome is it to open the route?"

Lu Nini took a deep breath and began her report in a clear and organized manner, clearly having done her homework:
"Brother, the number of wealthy people in China who own private jets is indeed small, but they are not non-existent. The most famous example is actually right downstairs."

She paused, glancing downstairs. "Back in 1994, Mr. Mou's Nande Group used funds accumulated from the then-famous 'canned goods for airplanes' project to purchase a North American Cessna Citation business jet. At the time, it cost approximately $500 million, plus high tariffs, a 23% VAT, and the first year's airport management fees, bringing the total cost close to 5000 million RMB. This aircraft was mainly used by Mr. Mou to expand international trade and for emergency business flights within China."

She continued smoothly: "Another typical example is the Yuanda Group in Hunan Province. In 1997, they spent about 7000 million RMB to purchase a Cessna Citation business jet and a Bell helicopter for the group's senior management to improve efficiency in travel management."

“Based on comprehensive research,” Lu Nini summarized, “the top wealthy individuals in China who own private jets do indeed have a special fondness for the North American Cessna Citation series. On the one hand, the brand has a long history and high brand recognition in the business jet field; on the other hand, its relatively moderate size and operating costs are within the scope of private jets, making it a relatively safe choice for entering the private jet field.”

She abruptly changed the subject, her tone sharper than usual: "However, given your current strength, global business presence, and the value of your time, the Cessna Certificate series is probably no longer sufficient. They're a bit... small."

Lu Yang's lips curled up slightly, clearly satisfied with the evaluation.

He looked at Lu Nini encouragingly: "Go on."

Encouraged, Lu Nini spoke a little faster: "The private jet brands favored by truly top international billionaires are mainly these few: Gulfstream Aerospace's G series, especially the GIV, known for its spacious cabin, ultra-long range, and extremely high comfort; Bombardier Aerospace's Challenger series, especially the Challenger 600, which is highly regarded for its outstanding performance and reliable operating record; and Hawker Beechcraft's Hawker 800 series, all of which are mature and high-end choices. These are the 'sky palaces' that match your status and position, sir."

She added, "There are still some restrictions on opening routes in China, and the approval process is relatively complicated. However, this mainly applies to the reporting of the operator and flight plan. The core issue is the airworthiness certification of the aircraft and the qualifications of the operating company. As long as the aircraft itself meets the standards and a qualified management company is found to operate it, opening routes to major domestic cities and even neighboring countries is not an insurmountable obstacle, although it requires time and procedures. The difficulty lies in the extremely high costs and ongoing management and maintenance costs."

Lu Yang listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the mahogany desk.

Lu Nini's report was clear, comprehensive, and based on solid data; she even predicted the level of his needs.

This information was clearly not the product of last-minute cramming, but rather something he had diligently collected and organized during his month-long trip abroad.

"Hmm." Lu Yang finally spoke, picking up the folder and quickly flipping through the specific model parameters, reference prices, and market analysis inside. "Well done, Nini, very solid."

He placed the folder on the table and made a decision: "I know about Brother Mou's award certificate. It can fly, but like you said, it's too narrow-minded."

His gaze drifted to the deep night sky outside the window, as if he could already see his own silver wing. "Here's what you'll do: immediately contact the two main targets: Gulfstream's GIV and Bombardier's Challenger 600. Focus on asking them if they have any 'ready-made' aircraft!"

Lu Yang's tone was resolute: "My requirement is delivery within one year! Whoever can provide an existing machine that meets my requirements, or a near-existing machine that can be modified and delivered within a year, will get the order. How many years?"

He snorted, "In a few years, these models will be outdated, and new technologies and better models will come out. I don't have the time to wait."

"Understood, brother!" A hint of excitement flashed in Lu Nini's eyes. She knew this would be another huge project worth tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of US dollars. "I'll contact their Asian representative first thing tomorrow morning to closely monitor the current situation!"

"Go ahead." Lu Yang waved his hand.

Lu Nini packed up the folder and quickly left the study, already planning how to efficiently complete this important purchasing task.

Lu Yang stood in the study for a while, sorting out his thoughts, before slowly going downstairs. He had barely returned to the bustling dining room and hadn't even sat down when the well-informed Mu Qizhong approached with a wine glass, his voice booming: "Hey, Brother Lu! I just saw that little girl Nini coming upstairs with a serious expression. Are you up to something again? Tell your brother!" He had an "I know what you're up to" look on his face.

Xiao Jun, who was standing next to him, immediately chimed in, his ears perked up: "That's right, Brother Lu, don't keep good news to yourself! Have you got your eye on another mine?"

Before Lu Yang could answer, Lu Nini, who was serving dishes, probably couldn't contain her excitement, or perhaps she felt that the matter couldn't be kept secret anyway, whispered to the Da Jun couple next to her, "My brother asked me to inquire about buying a private jet..."

Although the voice wasn't loud, everyone in the room was a shrewd person.
Especially Mu Qizhong and Xiao Jun.

"What the heck? A private jet?!" Mu Qizhong slapped his thigh, his voice instantly rising eight octaves, drowning out all the noise and drawing everyone's attention. "Brother! You're buying a plane?!"

Xiao Jun's eyes lit up, and he grabbed Lu Yang's shoulder: "Really? Brother Lu, I'm going to call you brother now, you're buying a big plane?! That's awesome! What did I tell you? This is what our Boss Lu should be like!"

The entire restaurant fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on Lu Yang, filled with surprise, envy, and curiosity.

Gong Ping'an and his wife exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with emotion; Da Jun and his wife wore expressions of pride and honor; Yin Mingyue stood a little further away, watching her husband surrounded by the crowd, her eyes gentle yet proud.

Mu Qizhong was particularly excited, after all, he was one of the "pioneers" of private jets in China: "Brother, listen to me! If you're going to buy one, you have to buy the best! Bombardier, Gulfstream, just buy their top-of-the-line models! Don't be like me, who got this crappy Certificate of Merit and now regrets it so much. If you have money, you have to go all out and be on par with those oil princes and Silicon Valley tycoons! That's what you call style!"

He waved his arms as if he could already see Lu Yang's new plane.

Xiao Jun chimed in, "Yeah! Buy a big one! Spacious! When we guys go to Russia to do business, we can just fly there, how impressive! Saves us the hassle of connecting flights! Brother Lu, I'm the president of Little Prodigy, one of your major shareholder companies, so I should be eligible to apply for this plane, right? Ah, awesome!" He was already envisioning the wonderful future of hitchhiking.

Gong Ping'an, more composed, smiled and reminded them, "President Mou, President Xiao, don't just keep making a fuss. Buying an airplane is a big deal. Operation, maintenance, route applications—it's all a huge expense and a lot of trouble. We need to be careful."

"What's there to be cautious about!" Mu Qizhong glared. "With Brother Lu's wealth, what's a little expense? The key is convenience and prestige! Time is money, brother! With an airplane, your business empire can expand several times over in an instant! Today in Shenzhen, tomorrow you can fly to Moscow, Washington, or New York! That efficiency is worth it! Absolutely worth it!"

Everyone chimed in, and the atmosphere became lively again, with the topic completely revolving around private jets.

There was envy, of course, but more than that, there was happiness for Lu Yang, mixed with a faint expectation that she might be able to benefit from his advantages in the future.

Lu Yang was surrounded by them, his face showing a helpless yet amused expression.

He raised his glass, gesturing for everyone to quiet down: "Alright, alright, you're all more excited than I am. It's barely even started, and Nini is already asking if there are any available. We'll definitely buy one, but what we buy will depend on the actual situation."

He looked at Mu Qizhong and Xiao Jun, whose eyes were shining, and chuckled to himself: Your desire to hitch a ride is practically written all over your faces.

However, he didn't point it out; instead, he felt that this was exactly what he wanted.

He bought a private jet, certainly for the convenience of his global network and as a symbol of his status, but wasn't it also to create a closer and more efficient "air circle"?
This allows these core allies and partners to share in this convenience, binding their time and resources more closely with their own, and working together to explore a wider horizon.

"However," Lu Yang changed the subject, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority, "since we're going to buy, we certainly won't compromise ourselves. If we're going to buy, we'll buy something that can carry us all to fly higher and farther." His gaze swept over Mu Qizhong, Xiao Jun, Gong Ping'an, and the others, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

These words instantly ignited everyone's emotions, and Mu Qizhong and Xiao Jun excitedly clinked glasses and cheered.

They only saw Lu Yang as a man of great ambition, but they didn't know that deep down, Lu Yang already regarded this private jet, which he had not yet purchased, as one of the important fulcrums for gathering core strength and leveraging a larger pattern in the future.

Just as the family dinner was reaching its climax, a slight noise came from the villa entrance.

The butler strode in and whispered a few words in Lu Yang's ear.

Lu Yang's smile faded almost imperceptibly for a moment, then he regained his composure and said to everyone, "Excuse me, a friend has arrived."

He put down his wine glass and walked towards the entrance.

The restaurant was still noisy, and Mu Qizhong was still loudly imagining his future journey around the world in Lu Yang's Gulfstream.

However, as Lu Yang's figure disappeared around the corner leading to the entrance, Yin Mingyue's gaze also turned in that direction, carrying a hint of understanding and complexity.

In the entryway, bathed in soft light, stood a figure, weary from travel yet still exuding charm.

She was dressed in a well-tailored business suit, her face showing the fatigue of a long flight, but her eyes were still bright and sharp. She was Du Yuanyuan, who had rushed over from Shanghai.

Lu Yang looked at her, his eyes deep: "Why are you here?"

His voice wasn't loud, just loud enough for Yin Mingyue to faintly hear as she took a few steps closer.

Du Yuanyuan's gaze passed over Lu Yang's shoulder and fell upon the lively scene in the restaurant, as well as Yin Mingyue, who stood not far away, holding a fruit platter and looking calm.

A slightly tired but ambiguous smile appeared on her lips as she looked at Lu Yang: "I heard you're back and even had a family dinner? What, you don't welcome me, this 'outsider'?" She deliberately emphasized the word "outsider" with a hint of sarcasm.

Lu Yang didn't even bother to greet her, and he wouldn't even call her his mother-in-law, which made her a little angry.

More importantly, she came here today specifically to cause trouble.

This bastard in front of me, not content with touching my daughter, he even dared to touch my sister! It's utterly outrageous! Does he really think the women of the Du family are easy to bully? (End of Chapter)