Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 393 Yaozu Establishes a Family

"The core task of this new company is to digest the technologies we brought back before. The manufacturing of industrial machine tools, tunnel boring machines, and large agricultural machinery will all be located here. This is one of the foundations of the group's future in China. Yuxin, you have to take on the responsibility. As for the real estate business, have someone take Ningxue with them. I think that girl is very interested in this area."

“No problem, but what about the equipment once the factory is built? We don’t have any of that equipment. People have asked us before if we could import it, and we’ve talked to them, but it’s not possible.”

"You don't need to worry about the equipment, I'll take care of that. You just need to worry about the land and location. I'll give you a surprise once the factory is built."

"Brother, you weren't behind that thing with the Germans, were you?"

"What is it? Have I ever been to Germania?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Hehe, I've never been there, never been there. I'll take care of this when I get back. Ningxue is coming back with me too." He Yuxin chuckled awkwardly, while Xu Damao was a little confused.

“That girl needs to settle down; she’s been having too much fun in Hong Kong lately,” He Yuzhu said.

"Yes, I'll keep an eye on her when she gets there."

"You two have very heavy tasks. Do you have enough manpower?" He Yuzhu asked.

"So far it's not bad. Those people from Hong Kong have already integrated, and some have been trained in China as well," He Yuxin said.

"Da Mao, what about you?" He Yuzhu asked.

"If you get rid of those distractions, there won't be any problem."

"That's good, don't push yourself."

"No, we know what we're doing," Xu Damao said.

He Yuxin and Xu Damao took He Ningxue back to the mainland, accompanied by Gong Xue and He Ningyu.

The news that Gong Xue was pregnant again brought joy to the He family.

He Yuzhu, Xiaoman and He Yaozu started their busy work, and they were rarely seen all day long.

Seeing that their children and grandchildren were all busy with their affairs, He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang felt that Hong Kong, though nice, was deserted, so they decided to return to Beijing.

He Yuzhu did not agree immediately, but instead called He Yaozu over.

"Yaozu, when are you planning to get married? Your grandparents want to go back to Beijing. If you hold the wedding in Hong Kong, it will be more complicated."

“Let me ask Huizhen,” He Yaozu said.

The next day, He Yaozu arranged to meet with Le Huizhen and solemnly proposed the idea of ​​marriage.

Although Le Huizhen felt it was sudden, seeing He Yaozu's serious expression, she blushed and nodded in agreement.

A few days later, Ho Yiu-cho arranged a formal family banquet at the Ho family's hillside residence.

Lok Wai-chun's parents—Mr. and Mrs. Lok, who run a small stationery shop in Kowloon Tong—arrived at the appointment somewhat reservedly.

Mr. Lok is a typical honest businessman, while Mrs. Lok is a gentle housewife. They inevitably feel a little awkward in front of a wealthy family like the Ho family.

He Yuzhu and Xiaoman personally greeted them at the door, their attitude was very friendly.

During the meal, He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang were very enthusiastic, constantly serving food to Le's parents. The conversation mainly revolved around the two children, with no mention of business, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.

Seeing that the He family was very approachable and showed great affection for their daughter, Mr. Le felt relieved and his attitude became much more natural.

When the topic of the wedding date came up, Chen Lanxiang tentatively asked, "The two children have a good relationship, and we, as their elders, are happy about it. When would be a suitable time to set the wedding date?"

Mrs. Lok glanced at her daughter, then at Ho Yiu-cho, and smiled, "It's up to the children; we have no objections."

Le Huizhen looked at He Yaozu, who took her hand and said to the elders, "Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Uncle and Aunt, Huizhen and I have discussed it and we don't want to delay too long. If there's time, we'd like to set it for October this year."

"Two more months? Is that enough time?" Mrs. Le asked.

“No problem, there’s enough time,” Xiaoman said.

"That's good, that's good." Mrs. Le didn't want to offend her mother-in-law.

"Then it's settled. October, and we'll find an auspicious day for the specific date."

Both sets of elders nodded in approval.

When He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang saw that their grandson was really getting married, and that it would be held in Hong Kong, they immediately put their plans to return to Beijing to the back of their minds and began to happily start planning how to organize the wedding for their grandson.

After consulting the horoscopes and the Chinese almanac, He Yaozu and Le Huizhen's wedding was finally scheduled for October 26, 1989 (Gregorian calendar), which is the 27th day of the ninth month of the year of Ji Si in the lunar calendar. It was an auspicious day for marriage and all other matters.

As the wedding date approached, the He family mansion in the hillside became unusually busy and lively.

He Yuxin returned from the mainland ahead of schedule with his wife and daughter, and He Yuyao also adjusted his work schedule, returning with Cherie Chung and their son He Yaochen.

"Big brother, congratulations! It seems like only yesterday that Yaozu was getting married and starting a family!" He Yuxin said loudly as soon as he entered the door.

"Yes, time really flies." He Yuzhu patted his younger brother's shoulder, his face beaming with undisguised joy.

For a moment, the house was filled with the laughter of children and the conversation of adults. He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang looked at their children and grandchildren and couldn't stop smiling.

"Old woman, look how nice this is, so lively and bustling," He Daqing said to Chen Lanxiang.

"Yes, we're just hoping Yaozu will give us a great-grandson soon, that would make our life even more perfect!" Chen Lanxiang said wistfully.

In the days leading up to the wedding, executives from the Yellow River Group around the world arrived in Hong Kong.

Chen Sheng returned from North America, and Bai Yifeng, Gu Yuanheng, Xian Xingyao, Yang Tao and others also gathered from various places.

"Chairman, congratulations! Young Master Yaozu is a handsome man, and his bride is beautiful. They are a match made in heaven!" Chen Sheng congratulated He Yuzhu, shaking her hand.

"Thank you, you must be tired from your journey. Take a break these next few days and have a few drinks," He Yuzhu replied.

Local business tycoons, high-ranking police officers, and even some politicians in Hong Kong sent congratulatory gifts or expressed their intention to attend, all through various connections.

The Ho family sent out wedding invitations widely, and the news of the eldest grandson's wedding quickly became a major event in Hong Kong's upper class.

The wedding was held on October 26th in the banquet hall of a top hotel in Hong Kong.

The venue was decorated in an elegant and grand manner, without pursuing ostentatious displays, yet showcasing the He family's heritage and strength in every aspect.

He Yaozu looked dashing in a custom-made suit; Le Huizhen looked radiant in a pure white wedding dress designed by a famous designer.

He Yaozong and He Ningxue were assigned to receive guests from all sides.

"Mr. Li, welcome, please come in!"

"Mrs. Wang, please have a seat here!"

He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang, dressed in festive Tang suits, sat in the main seats, receiving blessings from the guests.

"Mr. He, Mrs. He, congratulations! You have so many children and grandchildren, what a blessing!"

Congratulations to you! Thank you for coming!

He Yuzhu, dressed in a suit, and Xiaoman, dressed in a bright cheongsam, were busy greeting their friends and important guests.

"Mr. Huo, it's so good that you could come!"

"Mr. He, it's Yaozu's big day, I definitely have to be there!"

The wedding ceremony blended Chinese and Western elements, while retaining the traditional tea ceremony.

"Grandpa, Grandma, please have some tea." He Yaozu and Le Huizhen knelt down to offer tea.

"Good, good, I wish you a long and happy life together, and that you will be of one heart forever." He Daqing drank his tea and handed over a thick red envelope.

It also incorporated Western-style vows and the exchange of rings. When Ho Yiu-cho and Lok Wai-chun said "I do" and exchanged rings under the guidance of the emcee, the whole audience burst into enthusiastic applause.

After the banquet began, He Yuzhu, as the head of the family, took the stage to deliver a speech: "Thank you to all our relatives, friends, and colleagues for attending today and witnessing the wedding of my son Yaozu and daughter-in-law Huizhen. May they respect and love each other, share joys and sorrows, and create a bright future together. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your support of the He family and Huanghe Group over the years! A small toast is a token of my gratitude. Please enjoy your meal and drinks!"

Afterwards, Ho Yiu-cho and Lok Wai-chun toasted the guests at each table, and wherever they went, there was laughter and blessings.

"Thank you, uncles and elders, I toast you all!"

"The bride is truly beautiful. I wish you both a healthy baby soon!"

The morning after the wedding, Ho Yiu-cho took Lok Wai-chun to Europe for their honeymoon.

He Yuzhu stood by the study window, gazing at the morning light on the distant sea horizon. He turned to Xiaoman, who was arranging flowers, and said gently, "At this time next year, I'll put aside my company business and take you out for a good trip."

Xiaoman paused in pruning the flower branches, looked up at him, her eyes shining: "Really? Don't try to fool me with empty promises again."

"You keep your word." He Yuzhu approached, took out a folded map of China from his pocket, spread it out on the desk, and traced a few marked points with his finger. "We'll go to Guilin to see the mountains and rivers first, then to Zhangjiajie to walk along the cliffside plank road, to Jiuzhaigou to see the water, to Huangshan to watch the clouds, and finally to Mount Tai to watch the sunrise. I want to take you to see all these places."

Xiaoman put down the scissors, her fingertips gently tracing the place names on the map, her smile tender: "Then it's settled, just the two of us."

"Do you think it's possible?"

"That's a real pity!" Xiaoman said with a look of disappointment.

Just kidding, it's just the two of us, let's drive there.

"You're just teasing me, you can't go back on your word." Xiaoman punched He Yuzhu lightly, then smiled again.

"After all these years, I should keep my word this time."

"I'll do whatever you say." After He Yaozu and Le Huizhen set off for their honeymoon in Europe, the He family mansion became much quieter.

A few days later, He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang once again brought up the idea of ​​returning to Beijing with He Yuzhu.

“Zhu Zi, Hong Kong is nice, warm, and convenient. But I always feel a void in my heart.” He Daqing sat in the rattan chair in the living room, smoking a cigarette. “I still want to go back. All the neighbors are there, and it’s convenient to chat.”

Chen Lanxiang nodded in agreement: "Yes, it's more comfortable to go back. Besides, I really miss Xiao Yangyang from Lao Wu's family."

Seeing the longing for their homeland on his parents' faces, He Yuzhu knew he couldn't force them to stay, so he nodded: "Alright, Dad, Mom, you can go back if you want. Let Yuxin and the others accompany you, so they can look after you on the way."

A few days later, He Yuxin and Gong Xue, along with their daughter He Ningyu, accompanied the elderly couple He Daqing and his wife on a flight back to the north.

He Yuyao was busy with police station affairs, while Chung Chuh-hung was experiencing severe morning sickness due to her pregnancy again, so Xiaoman insisted on keeping her there.

“With Chu Hong in this condition, and Yu Yao being so careless, how can she be taken good care of? It would be more convenient for me to take care of her if she stayed at home.” Xiao Man held Zhong Chu Hong’s hand.

He Yuyao touched her nose and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law."

Chung Chor-hung felt a warmth in her heart and nodded obediently.

So she took her son, He Yaochen, and stayed at the He residence on the hillside.

The huge house was suddenly left with only He Yuzhu, Xiaoman, and Cherie Chung and her son.

During the day, He Yuzhu remained busy. When Xiaoman was not busy, she would take care of household chores, tend to the garden, occasionally take Chung Chu-hung out for a walk, or meet up with familiar ladies for afternoon tea.

He Yaochen became the family's source of joy, wobbling as he learned to walk and babble, adding much life to the somewhat quiet courtyard.

Xiaoman was worried that Cherie Chung would be bored and felt sorry for her suffering during her pregnancy, so she specially instructed the kitchen to prepare different kinds of meals for her. She also often kept her company and talked to her to relieve her boredom.

"Chu Hong, just tell Wu Ma what you want to eat, don't be shy. You're taking care of two people now, so you need to make sure you get enough nutrition." Xiao Man pushed a bowl of stewed bird's nest in front of Zhong Chu Hong.

"Thank you so much, sister-in-law, you've gone to so much trouble," Chung Chor-hung said gratefully.

“We’re all family, so let’s not be so formal.” Xiaoman patted her hand. “It’ll be even more lively after the baby is born. Yaozu and the others will definitely come back often, so this house won’t be quiet for long.”

After staying for a while, Cherie Chung called Ho Yu-yao and couldn't help but sigh, "My brother and sister-in-law have such a good relationship. Seeing them makes me feel at ease."

He Yuyao laughed on the other end of the phone, "Of course, my brother and sister-in-law are the pillars of our family. Take good care of yourself at home, I'll come back to see you as soon as I'm done here."

As soon as Xu Damao initiated the divestiture of the Yellow River industry in the special economic zone, the joint venture partner sent a letter overnight wanting to take over the entire business, and local enterprises followed suit by submitting letters of intent in droves, and the news spread quickly.

That day, he was flipping through documents in his office in the special economic zone when his secretary came in and whispered, "Young Master Zhao has arrived, and he brought two men in Zhongshan suits with him."

As soon as he sat down in the reception room, Young Master Zhao crossed his legs over the coffee table and tapped the copy of the appraisal report on the table with his fingertips: "President Xu, I want the refrigerator factory and the picture tube factory." The quoted price was nearly 50% lower than the appraised value of state-owned assets in the special economic zone. "In the current market, there aren't many companies that can take over with cash. Huanghe Heavy Industry must be in need of money, right? The sooner we cash out, the less trouble we'll have to worry about."

Xu Damao paused on the document, his finger hovering over the offer. This price was clearly extortionate. He said, "Young Master Zhao's price is far from the actual value of the assets. These two lines are new, with a technical team and channels in Southeast Asia. It can't be calculated just by looking at numbers."

"Technology? Distribution channels?" Young Master Zhao chuckled. "I heard that the heavy industry is waiting for foreign exchange to buy German equipment? If someone were to put in a word now, and the approval process dragged on for a year or two, do you think it's worth it, Mr. Xu?"

"Are you threatening me?"

"You can think so."

"Young Master Zhao, please return."

"Hmph, let's see how long you can hold out." Young Master Zhao stormed off in a huff.

In the following days, similar tests continued.

A businessman with a certain department's approval came to our door, saying he could help Huanghe get steel channels, on the condition that the picture tube factory would give him a discount; there were also local people who used land preferential treatment as leverage, actually wanting to suppress the refrigerator factory's prices. All these people had connections that could control the Yellow River.

Xu Damao refused them all and called He Yuzhu that night.

The voice on the other end of the phone was deep: "Mark the names of those with 'backgrounds' on the contact list, and send a message to the Special Administrative Region and the military: we won't sell off valuable assets cheaply. Anyone who wants to take advantage of the situation should first consider how strong their backing is."

Xu Damao immediately adjusted his strategy.

He had the Special Administrative Region Daily publish an interview mentioning that the Yellow River should focus on high-end manufacturing, and also attached a photo of a cooperation agreement between a heavy industry company and a research institute; he also met privately with people from the military logistics department and revealed the technical parameters of the production line.

A few days later, the special zone sent an inspection team, headed by Mei Sheng. He said to Xu Damao, "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? Otherwise, it would have been resolved long ago."

"How was I supposed to know you guys accepted this?"

"Aren't there enough municipal enterprises? You're just blinded by a leaf."

"Yes, yes, that's it."

"Alright, give me a minimum price, and we'll coordinate the rest. We can't let speculators take all the profits."

We also received a call from Huacheng, where a municipal enterprise wanted to take over the refrigerator factory; the military logistics department was even more direct, sending a letter saying they intended to transform the picture tube factory into a military display production line.

Then, the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection suddenly spoke with the people behind several businessmen who had previously submitted letters of intent to offer low prices.

They didn't say what they were investigating, but some people withdrew their letters of intent that very day.

Young Master Zhao did not send anyone else, and the merchant who had brought the permit earlier also disappeared without a trace.

Those factories were taken over by local authorities and logistics departments.

However, afterwards, Mei Sheng, Xiong Jie, Chief Zhao and others called to warn Xu Damao that someone would definitely try to trip him up in the most unpredictable places.

Xu Damao said he understood and also understood He Yuzhu's intention to get rid of these burdens. If these factories are to be built, they will definitely grow and become bigger. Finding someone to take over will be an even bigger problem. Those with capital and connections will only try to drive down the price.

He Yuxin's preparations for the Yellow River Heavy Industry project were met with various criticisms. Why wasn't such a large-scale project considered for Guangdong Province? In the end, He Yuxin was called back to talk to people from Guangdong Province, leaving the logistics and special economic zone out of the picture because they simply didn't have that much land.

He Yuxin met with the delegation from Guangdong Province in a smoke-filled meeting room.

The person in charge from Guangdong Province, surnamed Zheng, made his stance clear: "President He, a project like Yellow River Heavy Industry is most suitable to be located in Guangdong Province. Our ports, supporting facilities, and policy support are all superior to those in the inland areas. Over in the Jianghan region, transportation costs are a major problem."

He Yuxin rubbed his temples and patiently explained, "Director Zheng, what you said makes sense. But heavy industry projects, especially large machinery, need to take into account the source of raw materials and the hinterland of the market. Jianghan's geographical location radiates across the central region and connects the east and west, giving it an irreplaceable advantage. Moreover, this is a strategic decision at the group level."

"Strategies can be adjusted! As long as the project is located in Guangdong Province, we can offer the most favorable conditions for land use, labor, and taxes. We can even handle special cases and open green channels."

He Yuxin smiled wryly: "This isn't a matter of superior or inferior conditions..."

The debate lasted for several days. Finally, at He Yuzhu's behest, He Yuxin made a concession and agreed to set up a branch and R&D center of Yellow River Heavy Industry in Guangdong Province, mainly responsible for the R&D of some core components and the export assembly of overseas orders. However, the headquarters and main manufacturing base will still be located in Jianghan as originally planned.

Although Director Zheng did not win the bid completely, he still managed to secure a research and development center and an export base, which was enough to settle the matter, and the negotiations finally came to an end.

After seeing off the Guangdong delegation, He Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief and complained to He Yuzhu on the phone: "Brother, all this back and forth wrangling is more tiring than running a project."

He Yuzhu said calmly, "Balancing the interests of all parties is part of doing business. Guangdong Province has its advantages, and the mainland has its considerations. This arrangement takes both sides into account, which is good."

He turned around. "Has the land deal been finalized in Jianghan?"

"The basic agreement has been reached. It will be located within the planned industrial park, with sufficient space and convenient transportation. The local government has been very proactive and promised that the 'three connections and one leveling' (water, electricity, road access, and site preparation) will be completed as quickly as possible."

"Yes, expedite the process. The factory design must be forward-looking, leaving room for future upgrades. The equipment will be in place soon after the factory is built."

"I see."

"How has Ningxue been doing lately?" He Yuzhu asked.

"How could the children of the He family be anything less than excellent!"

"I don't need you to flatter her, just tell the truth," He Yuzhu said irritably.

"I'm just telling the truth, why don't you believe me, brother?"

“Alright, let’s let the data speak for itself later,” He Yuzhu said earnestly.

"No problem, just you wait and see, I guarantee you'll be very surprised."

"Then I'll wait."

November has quietly arrived, and the weather in Hong Kong remains mild.

Ho Yiu-cho and Lok Wai-chun returned to their Mid-Levels mansion after a month-long honeymoon.

Xiaoman took Le Huizhen's hand, looked her up and down, and smiled, "Hmm, you look even better. It seems you had a lot of fun on this trip."

Le Huizhen's face was beaming with happiness as she distributed the gifts she had brought to her family.

After returning home, He Yaozu talked with his father in the study for a long time, reporting on his observations in Europe, especially his observations of several large heavy industry companies.

“Dad, their level of automation and precision control is indeed higher than we expected. We must start even higher.”

"You even went to inspect other companies on this trip, Huizhen doesn't have any objections?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Isn't this all done together? We can see it wherever we go."

“Don’t do things like that again. Unless she’s willing to be your assistant, she’ll always have a grudge,” He Yuzhu said.

"I see."

He Yuzhu continued, "It's good that you can see the gap. Knowing where the gap is means knowing where to focus your efforts. Heavy industry is a century-old business; it can't be rushed, but it also can't be slow."

He paused, looked at his son, and said, "Once you're married, you're a real adult. The future responsibilities of the group will gradually shift to you and your brother. You need to be prepared."

He Yaozu nodded solemnly: "I know, Dad."

(End of this chapter)