1978: Female educated youth, don’t want an illiterate husband

Cheng Xuemin's gaze was too certain, and the logic and confidence in his words slowly seeped into Feng Jiayou's panicked heart!
She recalled the miracles her man had achieved: writing articles that captivated the nation, making films that broke records, negotiating to secure enormous benefits for the country…

He seems to possess an extraordinary level of insight and judgment!

Moreover, his last words touched the softest spot in her heart: for the sake of the family, for the future of the little squirrel!

"Really...really won't lose everything?" Feng Jiayou's voice trailed off, carrying a final trace of uncertainty.

"I promise!" Cheng Xuemin nodded solemnly. Although he knew that there were no guarantees in the stock market, he needed to give his wife the strongest confidence at this moment, and reassured her:
"Even if the worst happens, I can make it back. But this time, I'm very confident it will surge!"

At this moment, the telephone operator put down the phone, turned to look at them, and wore a professional smile that indicated she had completed the transaction, but a hint of surprise still lingered in her eyes. She said:
"Mr. Cheng, Mrs. Cheng, the transaction has been completed according to your instructions. All funds in your account have been used to purchase the specified portfolio at the current market price. This is the transaction confirmation; please review it!"

Cheng Xuemin took it, quickly glanced at it, confirmed it was correct, and nodded!
He didn't hand the confirmation slip to Feng Jiayou again, but instead folded it up and put it into his inner pocket!

He knew that showing her those numbers again at this moment would only exacerbate her anxiety!
"let's go!"

He put his arm around Feng Jiayou's shoulder, who was still somewhat distraught, and led her outside.

After briefly explaining the follow-up reconciliation matters to the telephone operator, he left the securities company.

On the way back to the hotel, the carriage was unusually quiet.

Feng Jiayou kept looking out the window with her head turned to the side, but her eyes were unfocused. Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the bank passbook that was now practically defunct!

The $100,000 turned into a pile of paper that she couldn't understand at all. This realization was like a heavy stone pressing on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe!
Worry, confusion, and a sliver of instinctive trust in her man's decision were battling fiercely within her!
Cheng Xuemin did not offer any further explanation.

Some decisions, even after being explained, may not be fully understood by your wife, especially when it involves investment behavior that goes beyond common sense!
He just needs to give his wife the results and let time prove it!

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, but his mind was racing, reviewing the information the golden finger had just given him.

The Hang Seng Index surged... a window of opportunity...

What major event is happening or about to happen in Hong Kong that corresponds to this?
He needs to understand the current situation better so that he can help the country seize this opportunity as quickly and accurately as possible.

After all, Cheng Xuemin can only make a small fortune by earning money on his own; only by leading the country can he truly make a fortune!
Moreover, now is the time when the country needs US dollars the most, and financial investment is actually the fastest way to make money!

Then, the car drove back to the Peninsula Hotel!
Stepping back into that magnificent hall, seemingly isolated from the outside world's hustle and bustle, Feng Jiayou finally snapped out of his daze!
But that unease in my heart still lingers!

Back in her suite, Feng Jiayou put down her handbag, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out at the bright sunshine and bustling Victoria Harbour. However, she felt that the prosperity in front of her was somewhat dazzling and unreal.

Yesterday she was still feeling anxious about staying in such a hotel, and today her husband made a huge gamble that she couldn't understand.

What kind of bizarre and wonderful place is Hong Kong?

"Still thinking about that?" Cheng Xuemin poured two glasses of water, walked over and handed her one.

Feng Jiayou took the water glass, took a small sip, and the cool water made her feel a little more awake.

She turned around, looked at Cheng Xuemin, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "Xuemin, it's not that I don't trust you... I just... I'm not sure!"

"I don't understand that stuff at all, and besides, it represents almost all the US dollars in cash in our house..."

“I understand!” Cheng Xuemin took her hand and helped her sit down on the sofa by the window. He sat opposite her, looking at her calmly and honestly, and said reassuringly:

"Honey, I know this is beyond your comprehension. The education you received growing up, and the environment we live in, all tell us to prioritize safety and to dislike the wind, and that's true!"

But every step we take now is actually breaking down our previous perceptions. Coming to Hong Kong, going to Cannes, and investing are all examples of this!

He paused, his voice softening slightly: "You don't have to force yourself to understand or accept it immediately. You just need to know that I did this after careful consideration; it wasn't a risky move, but because I saw a high probability of winning!"

"This money, even in the worst-case scenario, won't shake our foundation. But if we win, like I said, it will provide our family with a guarantee for the future, and more possibilities!"
Trust me, leave this to me, okay? You should relax and enjoy this opportunity to broaden your horizons. See Hong Kong, see the world—that's the most important thing for you right now!

As Feng Jiayou gazed into her man's deep and calm eyes, the steadfastness and responsibility within them felt like a warm harbor, slowly calming the turbulent waves in her heart.

Yes, she doesn't understand stocks or investing, but she understands her man!

He may have acted unexpectedly at times, but he was never reckless and never really put her in a difficult situation!

On the contrary, he led her all the way, showing her an ever-expanding world!
She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if trying to expel the tightness and worry in her chest.

Then, she nodded vigorously, forcing a smile: "Okay, I'll listen to you. I don't want to think about it anymore! Anyway... anyway, I can't control it, you do what you want!"

Cheng Xuemin smiled, knowing that she was using feigned ease to cover up her lingering unease, but at least on the surface she seemed to have accepted it.

He ruffled her hair: "That's right! Come on, change into something more comfortable. Didn't Sister Shi Hui invite you to have afternoon tea and play mahjong together this afternoon? Don't keep her waiting!"

Mentioning mahjong immediately tensed up Feng Jiayou, whose nerves had just relaxed a little, and she quickly waved her hand:
"Huh? Playing mahjong? I really don't know how! Xuemin, you have something to discuss with Mr. Fu and the others, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go, would it? Besides, I don't even recognize all the tiles..."

"If you don't know how, just learn!" Cheng Xuemin pulled her up from the sofa and pushed her towards the bedroom. "Sister Shi Hui specially invited you because she values ​​you and wants to get closer to you!"

"Gong Xue and Zhu Lin will also go. They didn't go before, but they're doing quite well now, aren't they?"

"Just consider it an experience of the leisurely life of Hong Kong ladies, a chance to relax. Winning or losing doesn't matter, the Fu family isn't short of money, it's just for fun!"

Feng Jiayou was pushed into the bedroom. Looking at the lotus-colored embroidered cheongsam that Xuemin had prepared for her on the bed, her heart pounded even more.

Wearing a cheongsam? Playing mahjong?
This is completely different from her usual life in Yanjing!
But looking into her man's encouraging eyes, she remembered that she had just promised to trust him.

She could only relax and reluctantly put on the cheongsam that was a bit too formal and revealing for her.

Cheng Xuemin looked him up and down, a smile of approval appearing in his eyes:
"She looks beautiful. My wife looks especially charming in a cheongsam. Come on over, it's in the tea room at the hotel. I'll come find you after we finish our business."

Feng Jiayou blushed slightly at his words, looked down at herself, and found that it did fit well and the material was good, but it was too revealing!
She tugged at her clothes somewhat uncomfortably, and under Cheng Xuemin's escort, she nervously arrived at the quiet and elegant tea room on the third floor of the hotel, which had a distinct old Shanghai style.

Shi Hui was already waiting there!
Today she changed into a dark green satin cheongsam, wearing a pearl necklace and earrings, and was leisurely flipping through a fashion magazine!
Upon seeing Feng Jiayou enter, he immediately put down his magazine, stood up with a beaming smile, and greeted her:
"Little sister Jiayou is here! Come and sit down! Oh, this cheongsam really suits you, even better than the girls in Hong Kong!" "Sister Shihui, you're too kind!" Feng Jiayou was embarrassed by the praise and quickly replied.

"Gong Xue and Zhu Lin will be here soon; they just said they were going to get something."

Shi Hui pulled Feng Jiayou to sit down at a round table covered with a snow-white tablecloth and decorated with exquisite porcelain and flowers. Immediately, a waiter in a white uniform came over silently to pour tea, which was a fragrant black tea.

“Let’s have some tea first and wait for them. The scones and finger sandwiches here are quite good, you should try them!”

Just then, Gong Xue and Zhu Lin arrived!
The two had clearly dressed up a bit; Gong Xue wore an elegant moon-white shirt dress, while Zhu Lin wore a light yellow knit sweater with trousers, looking neat and energetic.

Everyone greeted Feng Jiayou with a smile.

"Jiayou, you look beautiful today!" Gong Xue's eyes lit up.

“Yeah, I almost didn’t recognize him!” Zhu Lin laughed, naturally sitting down next to Feng Jiayou. “Looks like Xuemin has a good eye for clothes!”

Feng Jiayou felt her face burning from their words and quickly changed the subject, saying:
"Sister Shi Hui said she wanted to play mahjong, but I... I really don't know how at all. I can't even recognize all the tiles, and I'll definitely spoil everyone's fun. How about... you guys play, and I just watch from the sidelines?"

"That won't do!" Shi Hui immediately objected, laughing, "That's precisely why we need to learn! Don't worry, mahjong is the easiest to learn, the rules are simple, you'll definitely get it after playing a couple of rounds!"
Gong Xue and Zhu Lin didn't know how to play when they first arrived, but now they're playing quite well, aren't they?

Gong Xue nodded quickly, smiling with a hint of reminiscence, "Yes, Jiayou, the first time I touched mahjong tiles, I couldn't even distinguish between the four winds (East, South, West, North, Center, Green, and White). I got dizzy just looking at the tiles."

"It was Sister Shi Hui and the other teachers in the crew who taught me step by step. After a few tries, I gradually got the hang of it. During the time we were filming in Hong Kong, there wasn't much entertainment after work, so we would occasionally get together for a meal, which helped pass the time!"

Zhu Lin chimed in, her tone tinged with self-deprecation and emotion: "It's more than just a way to pass the time, it's a lifesaver! Jiayou, you have no idea, back then, we didn't dare to go out and wander around unless we were filming."

"Hong Kong has a lot of good things, but they're all ridiculously expensive! A decent piece of clothing can cost as much as several months' salary for us. If you go out shopping and don't have a few Hong Kong dollars or US dollars in your pocket, you can only stare at everything you see, and that's not a pleasant feeling."

"It's better to stay in the hotel, watch Cantonese movies on TV, or play a little mahjong with acquaintances. That way you kill time, it's free, and you can even practice your Cantonese listening skills!"

Feng Jiayou was speechless with astonishment!
She never imagined that behind the glamorous filming in Hong Kong, Gong Xue and Zhu Lin had such a frugal and boring side.

It sounds like playing mahjong is actually a pretty good, low-cost form of social entertainment?

Shi Hui also confirmed with a smile: "They were very frugal back then. After all, they were comrades from the mainland, and their style was simple and down-to-earth. But mahjong is indeed easy to learn and easy to get addicted to."

"Little sister, look, the mahjong table is all set up. Today we'll play the lowest stakes game, purely to teach you and also so we sisters can chat. If you lose, it's on me; if you win, it's yours. How about that?"

Having said all that, it would seem pretentious and ungrateful for Feng Jiayou to refuse any further!
Moreover, listening to them talk about their interesting and frustrating experiences in Hong Kong, her unfamiliarity and resistance to playing mahjong subsided considerably, and she even developed a sense of curiosity and a desire to try it.

"Then...then I'll give it a try. If I don't play well, don't laugh at me!" Feng Jiayou finally relented.

"That's more like it!" Shi Hui clapped her hands happily and immediately told the waiter to tidy up a mahogany mahjong table that had been prepared in advance and covered with a dark green velvet tablecloth.

The brand-new mahjong tiles were poured out, with ivory-white backs and emerald-green faces, and felt warm and smooth to the touch!
The four people sat down around the square table.

Shi Hui sat to the east, Feng Jiayou sat to her left, Gong Xue sat to the west, and Zhu Lin sat to the north.

Shi Hui began patiently explaining the most basic rules to Feng Jiayou:
How to arrange the tiles, what is the dealer, how to draw and play tiles, what are eating, ponging, and konging, the most basic winning hands, such as Pinghu and Pengpenghu...

Feng Jiayou listened attentively, but at first she was completely confused, especially by the suits and numbers of the bamboo, dots, and characters, as well as the wind tiles (East, South, West, North) and the dragon tiles (Red Dragon, Green Dragon, White Dragon).

The way they draw the cards is clumsy, and the way they arrange the cards is slow!

The first lap was entirely a teaching exercise.

Shi Hui, Gong Xue, and Zhu Lin all slowed down, explaining to Feng Jiayou why they played this card, kept that card, and what kind of hand was easy to make.

Feng Jiayou was so nervous that her palms were sweating. She hesitated for a long time before playing a single card, afraid of making a mistake.

Fortunately, the other three were very patient, and the atmosphere was relaxed!
Midway through the second lap, something miraculous began to happen.

Feng Jiayou seemed to have suddenly figured it out.

The cards that were originally unfamiliar gradually became clear in her eyes, and the feel of touching the cards became smoother!
Although she couldn't quite call it a skill yet, she was starting to understand the basic card patterns and simple combinations!

Even more amazingly, her luck seemed to be incredibly good.

"Three of a kind!" Feng Jiayou played a card, her voice still somewhat uncertain.

"Bang!" Zhu Lin, the player to the left, shouted.

"Wait!" Shi Hui's eyes lit up as she pointed to the cards in front of Feng Jiayou. "Jiayou, look at your hand... What was that card you just drew? Turn it over and let me see?"

Feng Jiayou, not understanding what was going on, flipped over the card he had just drawn but hadn't looked at yet—a two of bamboo.

"Oh my! Self-draw! Single two of bamboo! All bamboo, and a clean hand! This is a double bonus for a 'small hand', a double bonus for a clean hand, and a triple bonus for a pure hand... You have a pretty good hand, little sister!"

Shi Hui exclaimed in surprise and helped Feng Jiayou push the cards over.

Looking at the uniform suit of tiles in front of her, and then at the surprised yet smiling faces of the other three, Feng Jiayou was dumbfounded: "This...this is a win? I...I didn't know..."

"Haha, newbie aura, newbie aura!" Zhu Lin slapped the table and laughed. "Jiayou, you're lucky! You got a big hand on your very first round!"

Gong Xue smiled and said, "It seems Jiayou has a real talent for playing mahjong!"

Feng Jiayou was still a little confused as she looked at the colorful plastic rings representing chips that Shi Hui pushed over.

Is this...a win?
……

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