Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 262 Echoes of History

Tseung Kwan O, Phase 1 of the refinery.

The production launch ceremony was simple yet solemn.

He Yuzhu held scissors, and the red ribbon fell to the ground with a sound.

There was no lengthy speech, only a brief and firm handshake between him and the engineers.

The roar of machinery signifies that Yellow River Industry has officially established itself in the downstream energy sector.

Back in my office after the ceremony, a telegram from New York lay quietly on my desk.

Brief summary: He Yushui and Wang Siyu are making good progress in their studies and adapting well to campus life.

He Yuzhu's gaze lingered on the word "good" for a moment before he put the telegram away.

Groundbreaking ceremony for a public housing project in Sha Tin, New Territories.

Dust flies everywhere, and colorful flags flutter in the wind.

As a representative of Huanghe Real Estate, A Lang, along with government officials and community representatives, is holding shovels tied with red ribbons, preparing to fill in the soil.

He had asked He Yuzhu beforehand, "Boss, the groundbreaking ceremony is about to begin. Would you... like to say a few words? Or symbolically add a shovel of soil? It would be very meaningful."

He Yuzhu's answer was: "Just follow the procedures. The significance is in the actions, not in the forms. Doing things well is more important than any ceremony."

An office on Wall Street in New York.

A brand-new "Yellow River Capital (Americas)" nameplate was hung up.

The North American head of Xiaoman's team is directing team members to move equipment into the spacious trading room. Their excitement as representatives of Wall Street's entry into the market is a completely different matter.

This place will become a new hub for the Yellow River's global financial layout.

Hong Kong, Central.

Televisions in many places are broadcasting recordings of the United Nations General Assembly (omitting several hundred words; those unfamiliar with history can look it up: 1974, the declaration of sovereignty!!!!!!!!!).

The entire Hong Kong, especially the financial and foreign investment circles, was in an uproar.

At the Yellow River headquarters, after He Yuzhu summoned all the senior executives to see him, everyone felt that He Yuzhu's aura was different, as if he had become more powerful. Only Xiaoman knew that this was because he had roots. A rootless duckweed, no matter how powerful, is only superficial and will eventually be uprooted.

The others were all locals from Hong Kong, or their families had come to Hong Kong a long time ago. They had basically never lived in mainland China, or they had lived there before the liberation, so they didn't have such a deep understanding of the situation.

Meanwhile, throughout Hong Kong, countless people with their hearts set on their motherland were spreading the word.

Inside the Huo family's study, the telephone rang almost nonstop.

After hanging up another phone call bringing good news, Huo Sheng's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement. He said to his family and assistants, "This is a great blessing for the nation! It's fantastic news! Hong Kong's future will finally have a foothold!"

He immediately began contacting old friends, his voice booming: "Bao Sheng? Did you hear that? Did you hear that! We've waited too long for this day! We must get together and celebrate!" Similar scenes played out repeatedly among patriotic businessmen and progressive groups, the air thick with an unspoken but deeply understood sense of hope.

He Yuzhu also received a call from Huo Sheng.

"Mr. Ho! Did you see the news? The United Nations! Our own country has returned! Hong Kong and Macau, rightfully and legitimately!"

He Yuzhu's voice was calm yet powerful: "Huo Sheng, you see. This is an inevitable trend, a historical inevitability."

“Yes! Absolutely! Mr. Ho, this situation… the burden on our shoulders is even heavier.” Huo Sheng was referring to both the country and the future of Hong Kong.

"Focus on your own work, establish a firm foundation, and stay on the right path. Hong Kong's future will ultimately be built on a more solid foundation." He Yuzhu's answer was concise yet profound.

"Understood. I'm preparing to host a tea party. Would you like to come?"

"I won't go. You know my personality. If I go, I'll only make them uncomfortable."

"OK then."

He Yuzhu put down the phone, picked up a pen, and drew deeper marks on the global map, marking the locations of New York, London, and the Middle East.

The atmosphere at HSBC headquarters was somber.

Senior Chairman Shen Bi looked at the news with a gloomy expression.

The astonishing wealth amassed by Wong Ho Industrial during the oil crisis, its near-monopoly on land reserves in the New Territories, its strong control over public housing projects, coupled with the significant political variables brought about by the UN resolution, have made HSBC feel threatened like never before.

"We must check and balance Huanghe!" Sir Michael Sandberg told his subordinates. "The public housing project is enormous and cannot be monopolized by Huanghe alone. Immediately contact the Housing Department and reiterate our support for bringing in multiple strong contractors to diversify risks and ensure fair competition!"

HSBC representatives subsequently raised this issue with the Hong Kong government multiple times.

However, the Hong Kong Housing Department's response was rather official and lukewarm: "In terms of funding, land reserves, construction efficiency, and quality commitment, Wong Ho Industrial is currently the only contractor that can ensure the project is completed on schedule and with high quality. Introducing more contractors would require reassessing their qualifications and dividing the project into sections, which would greatly delay the construction period and is not in line with the current urgent needs of the people. We thank HSBC for its suggestion."

The reality was cold and clear: no other company could compete with Huanghe at this point in terms of scale, cost, and speed. HSBC's proposal fell flat.

A lecture hall at Columbia University in New York.

He Yushui sat in the back row, somewhat absent-minded.

On the podium, an economics professor is analyzing how the recent oil crisis has reshaped the global landscape.

She was dragged along by Wang Siyu. Economics wasn't in her major, and she didn't understand why Wang Siyu insisted on bringing her. But this girl, who was like a younger sister to her, was her only companion in this foreign land, and she didn't want to offend Wang Siyu, so she came along.

"...This crisis not only exposed the fragility of Western economies, but also reshaped the landscape of energy power." The professor switched slides. "It is worth noting that not all players are state actors. For example, Hong Kong's Huanghe Industrial, with its accurate strategic foresight and strong execution, stockpiled a huge amount of crude oil before the crisis and made a very bold move in the futures market."

The slides showed the logo of Yellow River Industry, along with several contrasting data charts: the curve of soaring international oil prices versus Yellow River's inventory levels and futures closing points.

"This company's performance during the crisis is a textbook example of business success. It not only ensured regional supply stability, but its futures trading profits were comparable to those of top global hedge funds. The decision-makers at Yellow River Industry demonstrated exceptional insight into geopolitics and the global energy market..."

The professor's voice gradually faded from He Yushui's ears.

She stared blankly at the familiar logo on the screen, at the immense wealth and influence represented behind those cold numbers.

My brother's company... has it reached this level? Globally known? Textbook-level?

Wang Siyu gently nudged her elbow, winked at her, and wore an expression of satisfaction mixed with surprise.

He Yushui snapped out of her daze, her fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of the notebook lying on the table, the pages wrinkling deeply.

The professor continued lecturing in class, but her thoughts drifted back to the distant Pearl of the Orient.

He knew his brother was very busy, and his joy at learning that she was dating was genuine. During that time, she also learned from her sister-in-law that her brother had even mentioned her dowry and planned her future in front of the family several times. That joy was real.

Then Lin Guozheng was attacked, and she overheard a few words from her sister-in-law. During that time, her brother's company was not stable.

On another occasion, my sister-in-law Xiaoman casually mentioned that "the automotive electronics part is stuck," which was a project she was involved in.

At that time, she was completely preoccupied with her lover in the hospital bed, so she automatically ignored her sister-in-law's seemingly unintentional reminder.

Then, everything changed. Lin Guozheng asked to see her brother, and after the meeting, everything changed. She was "confined" to her home, crying, questioning, and even uttering the words she now wishes she could cut out her tongue: "I hate you."

Her mother's resounding slap shattered her willfulness and stunned her. Until she was put on a flight to the other side of the ocean, all she felt was the resentment of being forcibly separated and her resentment towards her brother's domineering ways.

Then her thoughts returned to Beijing, to how He Yuzhu had always been good to her, spoiling and indulging her.

She recalled the only time her mother, Chen Lanxiang, mentioned her birth, filled with lingering fear and deep gratitude: "...How old was your brother back then? Life was still going on then, and things were so chaotic outside. He ran out to find a doctor himself, otherwise, our mother and I...Later, during the most difficult time for the family, he was the one who found a way to get food so you wouldn't go hungry..."

She only ever saw that her brother had broken her up with Lin Guozheng, only saw his strength and unquestionable nature, but never thought about why her brother, who had doted on her for more than 20 years, would do this.

Thinking of this, He Yushui burst into tears.
Wang Siyu, who was standing next to her, was a little confused. Why did she cry while listening to the lecture? But she still silently handed over a handkerchief and gently patted the hands of her older sister and best friend to comfort them.

The bell finally rang, signaling the end of get out of class. The professor was still giving his final summary when He Yushui suddenly stood up, grabbed Wang Siyu, and rushed out.

"Sister Yushui? Wait... Where are you going?" Wang Siyu stumbled a few steps as she was pulled along. "Back to my place! I need to call home!" He Yushui's voice was thick with nasal tone as she walked past the curiously peering classmates without stopping.

She had only one thought in her mind: she had to apologize! She had to know the truth! She couldn't let this rift continue any longer!
Back in the safe and comfortable apartment that He Yuzhu had arranged for them, not far from the school, He Yushui practically threw herself at the phone.

Making international calls was a complicated and expensive process in the 1970s, requiring operators to transfer calls through multiple layers, which made her even more anxious.

The waiting tone was long and grating, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the telephone cord.

Finally, a familiar voice came through the receiver—it was her mother, Chen Lanxiang's voice: "Hello? Who is this?"

"Mother! It's me! Yushui!" He Yushui's voice was choked with sobs.

There was an instant silence on the other end of the phone.

A few seconds later, Chen Lanxiang's voice choked with emotion: "Yushui...it's Yushui! My girl! Are you...alright over there?"

“Mother…I’m sorry…I’m not good…Mother, I miss home, I miss it so much…” Hearing her mother’s familiar voice, He Yushui’s last bit of feigned strength completely collapsed, and she burst into tears. “Mother, that day…I shouldn’t have spoken to my eldest brother like that! I shouldn’t have said…that I hated him!”

On the other end of the phone, Chen Lanxiang was already sobbing uncontrollably: "Silly child...silly child...your brother...he came back that day and didn't say anything, but I know in my heart...he was also suffering! You are his own sister whom he has cherished since childhood! He loves you so much! How could he...how could he do that for no reason?"

"Mother!" He Yushui's voice was pleading, "What exactly happened? Lin Guozheng... that Lin guy, did he really... do something wrong? Did my brother find out something? Tell me! I believe my brother!"

Chen Lanxiang took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, her voice low and suppressed: "Rain... your brother didn't want to offend your ears with this. But... but seeing how you've suffered these past six months... I've been holding a grudge that I can't get over..."

She paused, seemingly organizing her thoughts, trying to speak calmly: "Your brother found out that this guy surnamed Lin has a dirty past! It didn't just happen after he became a policeman, it was... a long time ago, before he even went to police academy... His family was poor, and to pay for his father's medical treatment... he went astray! He had an ambiguous relationship with a former Sham Shui Po triad boss named Wu Zhenkun... Although... although he later paid off his debts and got into police academy, that past... is still being used against him! This time... they're using that to threaten him, forcing him to do something that's disrespectful to the police force! They also want... they want to get involved with you, and with our He family, through him!"

Chen Lanxiang became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her tone filled with lingering fear and relief: "That Wu Zhenkun has already been arrested! The matter has blown up big time! It's implicated many high-ranking foreigners in the police force! Think about it! Yushui! Can someone like that truly care about you? He's kept his background a complete secret! And there are venomous snakes watching him from behind! What if... what if that Lin guy can't withstand the pressure, or what if someone digs up his past and uses him... do you want to be dragged down with him? Can our He family afford to get involved in such trouble? Your older brother... your older brother acted decisively, nipping the fire in the bud! He didn't hesitate to be the villain and push you away to protect you! He didn't tell you the truth because he was afraid you'd be even more heartbroken and lose face if you knew, silly girl!"

The truth, like a cold dagger, instantly dissected the last vestiges of He Yushui's illusions and lingering feelings for Lin Guozheng.

It turns out that behind the words "unworthy" lies a huge stain and an intractable crisis!
It turns out that her brother had already seen through all the filth and danger, and he would rather bear her resentment himself than let her suffer more pain in the future and be dragged into a bigger storm!

"I...I...understand..." He Yushui's voice trembled so much it was almost incoherent. "Mother...I...I'm sorry, brother! I was so foolish...I only thought about my own grievances...I..."

"Sigh... I'm glad you understand your brother's heart..." Chen Lanxiang shed tears again on the other end of the line. "Yushui, study hard. A change of environment is good for you. Try to calm your mind. Your brother... he's always thinking about you! He told me to tell you not to come back if you don't do well in your studies... that was to provoke you! He can't bear to let you go!"

"Mother! Tell my eldest brother!" He Yushui wiped away her tears abruptly, her voice filled with an unprecedented determination—a promise to her mother and a self-encouragement. "I won't let him down! I will study hard! I will learn useful skills! In the future... in the future, I will also become someone who can help my eldest brother and help the family! I won't be willful anymore!"

Just then, a deep, familiar male voice came from the other end of the phone, seemingly asking, "Mom, who's calling?"

It's my eldest brother, He Yuzhu! He just happened to be home!

“Zhu Zi! It’s Yu Shui! Yu Shui brought it!” Chen Lanxiang responded immediately, her voice filled with joy and urgency. “Yu Shui, your older brother is back, tell him…”

"Mom!" He Yushui immediately interrupted her, as if she had mustered her courage, yet with a trace of lingering shame and newly ignited stubbornness, "I...I still have some homework to finish today. Please tell my older brother for me: thank him...I'm sorry...and...I'll call again another day!"

She hung up the phone quickly.

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, and my cheeks were burning.

She knew that at this moment, she was not ready to directly face her elder brother's insightful eyes.

She needs time to prove her determination with her actions and to repay the belated understanding and guilt.

Hearing the busy tone from the receiver, He Yuzhu stood beside his mother, looking at her joyful eyes, his resolute face remaining calm and composed.

But his deep gaze lingered on the telephone for two seconds.

He then simply nodded slightly, as if nothing had happened, and turned to go about his business.

In a fleeting moment when no one was watching, the corner of his mouth twitched upwards very slightly, like the first thaw of spring ice, before quickly returning to its calm state.

He Yushui put down the phone, but her eyes were brighter and more determined than ever before.

She turned around, took a deep breath, and said to Wang Siyu, whose eyes were also red, "Siyu, let's work hard together starting tomorrow. We can both help our brother, right?"

"Hey, Sister Rain, you've forgiven Big Brother?"

"I have forgiven him, but I don't know if he will forgive me." He Yushui was clearly not confident.

"Tch, you think everyone's like you? Big brother isn't that petty." Wang Siyu rolled her eyes at her.

"You brat!" He Yushui lunged at her.

Hong Kong, in every street and alley.

The Toyota Corolla, with its rounded design, fuel-efficient marketing, and relatively low price, is rapidly capturing the attention of family car buyers. Its advertising campaign is ubiquitous, appearing in newspapers and on the radio.

The atmosphere in the conference room at the headquarters of Yellow River Automobile was somber.

“Boss, Toyota is coming on strong this time. Their Corolla is priced nearly 10% lower than our ‘Qiming’ series, and they have several fixed service points in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Although they are old, car owners are familiar with them.” The sales manager looked worried. “Our current sales points are scattered, and maintenance and repairs still rely on partner auto repair shops. Car owners have reported that it is not convenient or transparent enough.”

He Yuzhu's gaze swept over the Toyota Corolla brochure on the table, then fell back on the calm and sophisticated design drawings of his own "Qiming" series.

"Repair shops scattered? Service inadequate? Price wars?" He tapped his finger on the table. "Then let's try a different approach."

"Change tactics?" The crowd was puzzled.

“Build a 4S store.” He Yuzhu uttered three words.

"4S store?"

“Yes. It’s a four-in-one system of sales, spare parts, service, and survey.” He Yuzhu explained clearly, “We’ll choose convenient and prominent locations in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, buy land or lease it long-term, and build flagship stores for our own Yellow River Automobile brand.”

He looked around at everyone.

"Requirements: The showroom must be bright and spacious, with new cars polished to a shine. Prices, configurations, and discounts must be clearly displayed so customers can see them clearly and buy with confidence. The repair workshop must be standardized, clean, and fully equipped with tools. All technicians must be uniformly trained and certified. The spare parts warehouse should be located in or next door to the store, guaranteeing genuine Yellow River parts at transparent prices. The customer lounge should be comfortable, with tea and snacks provided. Customers should be able to see the progress of their cars being repaired, and there should be dedicated personnel to follow up and provide feedback after completion."

"This...the cost investment is huge, boss!" The finance manager frowned subconsciously.

“Cost?” He Yuzhu looked at him. “Toyota relies on low prices to grab market share, while we rely on service, transparency, and guarantees! We want to tell the people of Hong Kong that buying a Huanghe car is not a one-off transaction! From the moment you walk into our 4S store until your car is scrapped, Huanghe takes care of everything! The core principle: all new cars purchased from Huanghe 4S stores come with a five-year or 100,000-kilometer warranty on core components!”

"100,000 kilometers in five years?" A collective gasp filled the conference room.

This was simply unbelievable at the time! It usually took one or two years.

"Yes, five years and 100,000 kilometers. It's written in black and white in the contract." He Yuzhu said firmly, "Tell the sales team to memorize this sentence and etch it into their tongues! Our cars can live up to this promise! Our service can live up to this promise!"

Yellow River Motors has amazing mobility.

In just a few months, three large-scale, bright and clean Huanghe Automobile 4S stores have sprung up in Central, Kowloon Tong, and Sha Tin in the New Territories, becoming landmarks.

In the bright showroom, next to the gleaming new cars, sales consultants in uniforms are professional and patient.

The transparent repair workshop, standardized procedures, genuine parts guarantee, and the aroma of coffee wafting from the lounge all serve as silent advertisements.

The huge banner and slogan proclaiming "Five-year/100,000-kilometer warranty" were like a bombshell, completely shattering Hong Kong consumers' preconceived notions and concerns about car after-sales service.

The effect is immediate.

Potential customers initially attracted by Toyota's low prices flocked to Huanghe's 4S stores. After experiencing the tangible, reliable service, and comparing it to Toyota's scattered and inconsistent service points, the scales tipped quickly in their favor. Sales of the "Qiming" series stopped declining and rebounded, quickly surpassing Toyota's offerings and firmly securing the top spot in Hong Kong's family car market.

Hong Kong's victory over Toyota is just the beginning.

The cargo ship, carrying "Qiming," "Yuanhang," and "Benz" series cars, "Warrior" jeeps, and "Panshi" light trucks, sailed towards a wider ocean.

However, the feedback was far from ideal.

(End of this chapter)