Siheyuan (courtyard house): My name is Shazhu!

"Daddy, the SARS epidemic is basically over, can we go out and play now?" He Mingli hadn't been to public places for eight months and was feeling a little uneasy.

"If you've been cooped up for too long, go out for a walk to clear your head. The pandemic you're talking about isn't as scary as you say."

"Is it because other people are spreading rumors that it's getting more and more frightening? How can I not worry? I'll just go out for a walk these next few days, but I won't stay outside for too long."

"Zhu Zi, is the epidemic really over outside? Is it really safe for Ming Li to go out now?" Qin Huairu was still worried about her son.

"It's alright. The children will be back in school in a few days. Rumors are the biggest source of panic."

He Yuzhu recalled the SARS epidemic in his previous life, which spread like wildfire in the coastal and Yanjing areas and was under very strict surveillance.

Back in my hometown in Northwest China, it's a different story. People aren't allowed to gather in large groups; for example, you can't eat at a hotel or go to the movies.

These young people, with their cravings, often go to night markets for skewers and beer, and eat at food stalls that are allowed to open. They've never heard of how many people in the city have been infected with SARS.

When SARS struck last year, He Yuzhu also carefully scanned most countries in the world, trying to find out if it was man-made and where the source was.

There was no source. He had cleaned up Little Eagle's gene research institute that morning. As for gene research, it wasn't about personal attacks. Their gene research level was even worse than that of his hometown.

Rumors are more terrifying than the virus!

Don't believe claims without evidence!

It has absolutely nothing to do with the gene research institute in my hometown!

"Daddy, Ruonan and I will go back to our hometown in about two weeks, after the SARS epidemic is truly over. I'll visit my former comrades, and Ruonan will be doing charity work."

"Go ahead, nothing serious will happen. If you're worried, you can take a private jet."

"Daddy, what are the prices of mainstream private jets in the world now? Which brands are good?" He Mingli wanted to buy a private jet.

"The world's mainstream private jets are the Malaysian Silver Wing 3, which is a large passenger jet, and the Angel Wing 2, a medium-sized private jet."

The Silverwing 3 has a factory price of 100 million US dollars, with modification costs to be determined by the user. The Angel Wings 2 has a factory price of 40 million US dollars, with modification costs to be determined by the user.

Internationally, there's the Gulfstream G550, which was only launched this year, with a base price of 50 million. The Boeing 747-8 modified version also has a base price of 100 million, with modification costs separate.

"The modification cost around 200 million, which isn't too expensive and is acceptable. It's just that the flight time is too short. I'll think about it. Daddy, wouldn't a Malaysian plane be better?"

"Yes, with an extra 200 million, you can convert it into a fully armed private jet that won't be noticeable from the outside."

"Is that impressive?"

"That's amazing!"

"How's the safety? Safety should be the top priority when flying; nothing else matters!" Qin Huairu was worried about her son's safety again.

"It's at least safer than the Hawkes' 'Air Force One.' How can you live if you're afraid of everything?"

"The aircraft is very safe!"

On the eleventh, it was unclear whether He Mingli wanted to buy a plane. Masha and Lily arrived in the port city, rested for a night after landing, and accompanied the two women to a large shopping mall the next day.

"Why does it feel like the whole city is packed with people today? All I can see when I look up are heads. It's like everyone in the city is out on the streets."

"Today, the people of Gangcheng are taking a day off, but they are not going out to shop. It is their relatives from their hometowns who have come to Gangcheng for tourism and to buy some goods."

There are many duty-free shops in the port city, and many goods are cheaper than back home. Shopping in the port city is a good choice for tourists, as the selection is comprehensive and the prices are low.

"This is a good project for tourists. It can greatly boost the local economy and is also a pollution-free industry."

Saddam Hussein relentlessly bombed the area, causing several leaks in two European countries, and now environmental organizations are still holding demonstrations.

"It's great for a city to develop its tourism industry well, as it greatly benefits many service industries. I hope that the tourism industry in the port city will continue to develop rapidly."

It's normal for environmental groups to cause trouble if there's a leak in your area; they're always making a fuss unless something serious happens, let alone a major incident.

"Does this mall carry your mobile phones? Let's look at the jewelry first, then we'll look at the mobile phones."

"Your diamond jewelry here seems to be more than 20% cheaper than ours, and gemstones are cheaper too. Everything is cheaper except for gold jewelry, so we're not worried about selling at a loss."

"How could we possibly sell at a loss? Our company owns diamond mines, gemstone mines, and jade mines, and we also have a refining department. We buy directly from suppliers without any secondary markets, so how could we not get a good price?"

"Excuse me, sir, is it alright if the jewelry here is cheaper?"

"No problem. Dongda Group has a good reputation. It's impossible for them to sell counterfeit goods. Dongda Group pays high wages. They just don't want their employees to be unable to afford to sell counterfeit goods and damage the company's reputation."

"Martha, Lily, if you want to buy jewelry, the ones outside are just ordinary jewelry. I'll take you to the manager's office to choose."

"Okay, diamond jewelry is very popular where we live, so it's not suitable for us. Let's buy some jade and emerald jewelry instead."

"Jadeite, diamond and other jewelry are still being touted as not worth much. People who really know their stuff buy gold jewelry and look at the craftsmanship."

In other words, they're deceiving women who like jewelry but don't know much about it. Aside from top-quality diamonds and jade, they price things at tens of thousands of yuan, but you don't even buy them once you leave the house.

"There are so many diamonds in the reserves that low-carat diamonds might not be worth much. The diamonds you asked me to keep before, though, are worth something."

"Large carat diamonds, top-grade jadeite and gemstones are worth some money, but the rest are worthless, mainly because there are too many of them!"

Upon arriving at the manager's office, He Yuzhu asked the manager to bring out twelve sets of various jewelry for the two women to choose from.

After each selecting three sets, the three left the jewelry section and continued browsing the upper floors of the mall.

"I've been shopping all day, and I'm a bit tired. The commercial atmosphere here in the port city is getting stronger and stronger; it can't even compare to where I live."

"This place is still small, with many shopping malls concentrated here. It only becomes lively because people from my hometown have money to travel here. Perhaps it will get even better in the future."

Are you planning to stay in Hong Kong and never go back to your hometown?

"We will go back. It hasn't been long since we took it back. We'll talk about it again in a few years. When people get old, they want to return to their roots!"

"I've known you for over forty years; we're both old now."

"Ms. Martha still looks thirty years old."

"I know you're trying to cheer me up, but thank you anyway."

Life is short, so cherish every moment!

"OK."

Two weeks later, Martha and Lily left Hong Kong, while He Yuzhu continued watching Little Eagle vs. Silly Big Wood and Little A in his office and at home.

Then, at the invitation of Prince Sa, they came to Sa, where these 'pieces of cloth' had been terrified to death by the battle between Shadak and the little eagle.

The scenes of war are too brutal; they harm their own country and will be dragged into it, so they want to buy defensive weapons and large offensive weapons.

He Yuzhu immediately complained, "It's understandable for Lao Sha to buy defensive weapons, but buying offensive weapons means he's going to retaliate after being attacked, and everyone else is going to die together?"

When did Old Sha become so tough?

Are the countries here all preparing to learn from Alang in the future?

"He, we're buying two types of weapons not because we're afraid of the battle between Shadama and Little Eagle, but because Xiao Dai is coming back. Things will get even more chaotic here once they arrive, and we need to protect ourselves."

"I've never heard of Xiao Dai coming back before. Did Xiao Yingzi tell you?" He Yuzhu hadn't cared about Xiao Dai for a long time and had even forgotten about them.

"Little Eagle said they would return from Little Eagle's place in a month. I can assure you, it's an official notification."

Not only are they coming back, but the little eagles also want us to guarantee their safety. How can that be possible? We'll buy some weapons for those who need them.

What should I buy?