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

Savannah, Georgia, North America.

The moist sea breeze, carrying a hint of saltiness, caressed this land that embodies humanity's dream of flight.

This is Gulfstream Aerospace's only global production base for large and super-large business jets, where the "sky palace" that countless wealthy people dream of is born.

A dark gray Buick minivan drove into the heavily guarded factory area and eventually parked outside the huge final assembly workshop.

The car door opened, and Lu Yang, dressed casually, got out first. He habitually squinted to adjust to the dazzling sunlight of Savannah, then reached out and carefully helped Yin Mingyue, who was holding her sleeping son, down.

Next to get off the bus were Gong Ping'an, who looked serious and was constantly aware of his surroundings, and Da Jun, who exuded a strong and capable aura.

Lu Nini, carrying a thick stack of documents, followed closely behind the group, her eyes showing professional focus and a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

Sir Michael, who had been waiting nearby, was still dressed in his old-fashioned British gentleman attire, but the anxiety he had shown in Shenzhen was gone, replaced by a more relaxed demeanor befitting a host.

Standing next to him was a middle-aged white man in a well-tailored suit with a standard smile.

“Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, welcome to Savannah!” Sir Michael stepped forward and shook hands with a warm yet dignified gesture. “This is Mr. John Harrison, head of the International Large Aircraft Export Department of Gulfstream Corporation.”

"Hello, Mr. Harrison." Lu Yang shook hands with the other party, his tone indifferent.

Yin Mingyue, holding the child, also nodded politely in greeting.

"It is a great honor, Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, and all distinguished guests!" Harrison, speaking fluent but slightly accented English, smiled broadly, clearly taking the reception of a top client like Lu Yang very seriously. "Welcome to the Gulfstream Home! You must be tired from your journey. Please follow me. The Gulfstream GIV-SP ordered by the Michael family is just ahead in the C-12 exclusive area. The final interior finishing has been completed, and it has passed multiple rounds of rigorous ventilation tests. It is ready for pre-delivery test flights at any time."

The group followed Harrison into the huge final assembly workshop.

The scene before us was breathtaking: several Gulfstream business jets at different stages of assembly resembled lurking silver giants, with engineers busily moving about under the wings and inside the cabin, and the air filled with the unique smell of metal, composite materials and new leather.

After walking through the long corridor, we arrived at a relatively independent and cleaner area.

A sleek, silver-gray Gulfstream GIV-SP business jet sat quietly there, like a perfect work of industrial art.

The massive engine and elegant winglets showcase a fusion of cutting-edge technology and ultimate luxury.

Sir Michael glanced at Lu Yang subconsciously, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and expectation.

Lu Yang's gaze swept over the plane's streamlined fuselage, and he nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face: "Not bad. Mr. Harrison, please show us inside."

"Of course! This way please!" Harrison warmly guided everyone up the gangway and opened the heavy cabin door.

The moment you step into the cabin, a delicate fragrance of top-quality leather and solid wood wafts over you.

Contrary to the outside world's imagination of "gold-plated" luxury, the GIV-SP, customized by the Gardor family and embodying the aesthetics of old-fashioned aristocracy, is a model of understated luxury in its interior decoration.

The main colors are a calming dark brown and off-white, and the areas you can touch are covered with top-quality calfskin with a delicate and warm texture.

Solid wood veneer is inlaid on the bulkheads, bar, and tabletops, exuding a warm luster.

The seats are spacious and comfortable, featuring an ergonomic design with excellent support, and are upholstered in a luxurious wool blend. The cabin is clearly divided into a lounge area, a rest area, and a private bedroom suite with an ensuite bathroom. A bar, a top-of-the-line sound system, satellite phone, and multimedia entertainment facilities are all included, with every detail exuding understated yet exquisitely refined luxury.

Yin Mingyue held the child, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

Although she had grown accustomed to the luxurious life Lu Yang provided, the exquisite, private, and mobile five-star hotel-like air vehicle still exceeded her expectations.

She subconsciously tightened her grip on her son, her gaze lingering on the elegant and comfortable surroundings.

Lu Yang looked around, his fingers brushing across the smooth solid wood tabletop, feeling its heavy texture.

Although, in his forward-thinking view, this type of aircraft would inevitably become outdated in terms of avionics and certain designs in a few years, for now, this GIV-SP is definitely a symbol of the status of the top wealthy, and its comfort and privacy are far beyond what commercial airline first class can offer.

Most importantly, it's readily available, saving you from a long wait.

"How is it? Are you satisfied?" Lu Yang turned his head and asked Yin Mingyue softly beside him.

Yin Mingyue's cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes shining, and she nodded vigorously: "Yes! It's...very beautiful, and very comfortable."

She couldn't help but add softly, "Well... could the curtains be a lighter color?" Her voice was very soft and a little embarrassed.

Lu Yang smiled and gently patted the back of her hand: "As long as you're satisfied. The color and everything else can be changed later." He then turned to Lu Nini, who was following behind him and scrutinizing the details with a professional eye, and said: "Nini, bring the contract over."

Lu Nini immediately took out a thick stack of transfer contract documents that she had prepared in advance from the file bag.

Seeing this, Sir Michael gestured for his accompanying lawyer to step forward.

In the presence of Mr. Harrison of Gulfstream, a makeshift signing table was quickly set up next to the gangway of the brand-new aircraft.

Lu Yang took the pen from Lu Nini and, without much hesitation, signed his name in the designated place on the contract.

In this transaction, the Gardor family bore the loss of the deposit and the transfer fee. Lu Yang ultimately paid US$33 million (after deducting the deposit) to acquire this nearly new aircraft with a total cost (including decoration) of US$38 million.

Of course, Lu Nini had already whispered a reminder to Lu Yang that after the plane arrived in Shenzhen, they would have to pay an additional hefty tax of about 18% (1% customs duty + 17% value-added tax).

But for Lu Yang at this moment, time and convenience are priceless.

Money? You can always earn more after you spend it.

Airplane? We'll use this for now, and we can always switch to something more advanced when we get tired of it.

Being rich means being both capricious and pragmatic.

Sir Michael watched as Lu Yang finished signing the last name, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, his smile becoming much more genuine.

Although the transaction resulted in a financial loss for the family, it solved their immediate crisis and gave him a deeper understanding of the decisiveness and efficiency of the young, wealthy man from the East.

With the contract signed, the exciting test flight began, primarily to verify the aircraft's performance and various systems. Lu Yang, along with Gong Ping'an, several key security personnel, and Gulfstream's test pilots and engineers, conducted approximately two hours of flight testing.

The plane soared smoothly over Savannah, and Lu Yang was quite satisfied with its powerful engine, excellent quietness, and stable handling.

Yin Mingyue stayed in the VIP room to rest with her child.

The test flight was successfully completed, and all data met the standards.

Lu Yang immediately decided not to waste any more time and to fly back to Shenzhen directly in his own Gulfstream GIV-SP!

Applying for a flight route? For a behemoth taxpayer like Century Group in Shenzhen, it's just a matter of a phone call and a document.

When Pengcheng Airport learned that the chairman of Century Group was going to use his newly purchased luxury private jet to fly directly back to China, it immediately provided the highest level of coordination and cooperation.

An intercontinental flight of more than ten hours.

Inside the spacious cabin, Yin Mingyue and her child slept soundly on the comfortable bed. Lu Yang, meanwhile, sat in a large leather seat, processing some documents and occasionally gazing out the porthole at the vast Pacific Ocean below.

With this plane, the distance between him and the world seemed to be shortened instantly.

The blueprint for a global layout is unfolding more clearly in his mind.

When the massive Gulfstream GIV-SP landed smoothly on the brand-new runway of Shenzhen Pengcheng International Airport, it was already late at night in China.

The aircraft taxied to a designated parking spot for business jets.

The hatch opened, and a familiar, humid southern air rushed in.

The airport authorities were clearly prepared.

Several uniformed staff members were already waiting at the bottom of the gangway, their attitude respectful and enthusiastic: "Welcome back to China, Mr. Lu! You must have had a long journey!"

Lu Yang, holding his son who had just woken up and was still a little dazed, helped Yin Mingyue down the gangway.

The long flight and jet lag left the whole family feeling quite tired.

He just wanted to go home and rest as soon as possible.

"Nini," Lu Yang instructed Lu Nini, who was following behind him, "You stay here to liaise with the airport and finalize the details of the flight team's accommodation, aircraft storage, and subsequent maintenance, and get them implemented as soon as possible."

“Understood, brother!” Lu Nini replied immediately.

Lu Yang nodded and was about to lead his wife and children to the waiting car.

Just then, Lu Nini's phone rang.

She glanced at the number, answered it immediately, spoke a few words in hushed tones, and her expression became somewhat serious.

"Brother, wait a moment!" Lu Nini quickly caught up, handed the phone to Lu Yang, and whispered, "General Manager Du from the airport called personally, saying that there is something very important and he wants... to ask you to come over now. He said there is a big business deal, and he doesn't know if you are interested."

Lu Yang frowned slightly.

Airport General Manager?
What big business deal can't be discussed tomorrow in the middle of the night?

He glanced at Yin Mingyue and the child beside him, who looked tired.

Yin Mingyue said softly and considerately, "Why don't you go and take a look? Da Gang will take my son and me back to rest first."

Lu Yang hesitated for a moment, but finally answered the phone: "Hello, Mr. Du?"

A warm, middle-aged male voice, clearly trying to ingratiate himself, came from the other end of the phone. It was Du Mingwei, the general manager of Pengcheng Airport: "Oh! Mr. Lu! Welcome back! I'm so sorry to disturb your rest! But this... is such a coincidence! And such a tremendous opportunity!"

Du Mingwei's voice rose a few decibels with excitement: "President Lu, I heard you've acquired a top-of-the-line Gulfstream vehicle! This is a source of pride for all entrepreneurs in Pengcheng! On behalf of all my colleagues at the airport, I congratulate you again! However..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone mysterious yet incredibly alluring, "Mr. Lu, do you... have a deeper interest in the aviation industry itself?"

Lu Yang's eyes narrowed slightly: "Aerospace industry?" He glanced at the Gulfstream aircraft with its sleek lines parked in front of him.

"Yes! The aviation industry!" Du Mingwei's voice was resolute. "Investing in our local airline! Now, an excellent opportunity is right in front of us! A once-in-a-lifetime chance! I wonder if President Lu has the ambition to work together to make Shenzhen's civil aviation industry bigger and stronger?!"

Investing in an airline?!
Holding the phone, Lu Yang stood beside his brand-new private jet, his feet on the solid ground of Pengcheng Airport, but his gaze pierced through the night, directed towards the deeper and more expansive sky.

This sudden invitation, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up huge ripples.

Having just obtained the key to the sky, the power to control a part of the sky seems within reach.

Lu Yang held his phone, the echo of Du Mingwei's words, "investing in an airline," still lingering in his ears.

He keenly sensed the urgency and immense potential hidden in the other person's words. His fatigue was somewhat overshadowed by the sudden surge of interest.

"Mr. Du," Lu Yang's voice remained steady, showing no signs of fatigue from the long flight, "the aviation industry? Shenzhen Airlines?"

He directly pointed out the possible target of the other party's criticism.

As an entrepreneur rooted in Shenzhen, he is not entirely unaware of the equity structure and recent developments of Shenzhen Airlines, the only local base airline.

Rumors of Huatong's intention to sell its stake in Shenzhen Airlines had been circulating in certain circles for some time.

Du Mingwei on the other end of the phone was visibly taken aback for a moment, then burst into even more enthusiastic praise: "Wow! President Lu is indeed President Lu! Well-informed and insightful! That's right! It's Shenzhen Airlines!"

He no longer concealed anything, his tone becoming eager and full of expectation, "As you know, Huatong Company, as a well-known private enterprise in Guangdong Province, has shifted its development focus in recent years. They have recently officially announced that they are seeking to transfer the 25% stake they hold in Shenzhen Airlines!"

Du Mingwei paused, lowering his voice slightly, but with even greater persuasiveness: "This is crucial strategic equity! President Lu, you know what Shenzhen Airlines means to Pengcheng and the entire Pearl River Delta! It's the lifeline of our local aviation hub! As soon as the news of Huatong's transfer came out, many people were eyeing it, but within Shenzhen Airlines, and among the city's leading officials, the first person they thought of was you!"

Behind this flattery lies a naked pursuit of self-interest.

Lu Yanggang's extravagant purchase of a top-of-the-line private jet serves as a shining signboard, announcing to everyone his substantial financial strength and his strong need for high-end and convenient air travel.

Shenzhen Airlines is all too aware of what it means to bring in such a "super user" and shareholder who owns a private jet and has access to the vast resources of the Century Group.

This is not only an emergency injection of funds, but also a strong endorsement and a powerful engine for future development.

Compared to other potential buyers, Lu Yang's deep roots in Shenzhen's political and business circles, his significant contributions to local development, and his demonstrated global vision and ambition undoubtedly make him the most ideal candidate to promote the deepening of Shenzhen Airlines' reform, enhance its competitiveness, and even to create a deep synergy with Hong Kong Airport in the future to build a Shenzhen-Hong Kong aviation circle.

"Mr. Lu, you just landed and came back with such a top-of-the-line Gulfstream. What a coincidence! It's practically fate!"

Du Mingwei's tone was full of "destiny" in his voice. "Both the airport and Shenzhen Airlines feel that there is no more suitable strategic partner than you! Introducing a private capital like yours, which has strength, vision, and aviation consumption power, is a great thing for the future development of Shenzhen Airlines and for Shenzhen to build an international aviation hub! We are very sincere and hope to have an in-depth discussion with you, Mr. Lu!"

Du Mingwei was still enthusiastically describing the cooperation plan on the other end of the phone.

Lu Yang's mind was racing, assessing the value, risks, and deeper strategic maneuvering behind this unexpected transaction.

Shenzhen Airlines' prompt and proactive approach is both an acknowledgment of his capabilities and a reflection of their urgent need for strong supporters.

“President Du.” Lu Yang interrupted the other party’s rambling outlook, his voice calm yet carrying undeniable weight, “I have indeed heard about the equity transfer. Well then, I’m on the tarmac right now. Since President Du has extended a sincere invitation, and it concerns the overall development of Pengcheng Aviation, I’ll go over now and hear the details.”

He did not immediately express his opinion, but his words "go now" undoubtedly gave Du Mingwei and Shenzhen Airlines great hope and confidence.

In this late-night airport VIP lounge, a preliminary negotiation surrounding the future of Shenzhen Airlines was destined to take place.

Lu Yang turned around, handed the phone back to Lu Nini, and quickly instructed, "Nini, put the airport arrangements aside for now. Mingyue, have Dagang take you and your son home to rest. Ping'an, Dajun, you two come with me."

He strode towards the airport VIP area, his steps steady and powerful. (End of Chapter)