NCCnovel Chapter 70 An Encounter with the Lou Family
Chapter 70 An Encounter with the Lou Family
Lou Zhenhua grasped his hand, his gaze sweeping over him, his surprise deepening. The Lin Zhou before him was no longer the slightly naive young man in worn clothes from a year ago. He wore a high-end custom-made suit, his posture upright, his speech composed, radiating the calm aura of a successful man, blending perfectly with his surroundings. Tan Yali, standing beside him, also put down her knife and fork, her face showing a hint of embarrassment and apology, and quickly said, "Xiao Lin, I really didn't expect you to have changed so much."
"Hello, Aunt Tan." Lin Zhou nodded politely, then turned his gaze to the little goose beside him. "Sister Xiao'e, do you remember me?"
Lou Xiao'e blushed slightly and stood up somewhat shyly: "Lin...Lin Zhou, it's been a long time." Their brief encounter a year ago had given way to a mixture of admiration and curiosity. After parting ways with Lin Zhou, she went to university. Then she saw in the newspaper that Lin Zhou's novels were very popular. The next time she heard news of Lin Zhou was when the newspaper reported that the novelist had opened a factory in Hong Kong and invented an air fryer kitchen appliance, which was doing very well and had even opened up markets in Western countries.
"Please sit down, everyone." Lou Zhenhua, realizing what was happening, quickly invited him to sit down. "What a rare guest! I heard that the owner of Zhonghua Home Appliances is named Lin Zhou, but I didn't expect it to be you. You're a really promising young man!" His tone was tinged with emotion, but even more so with sincere admiration. Back when Lin Zhou lived at his home, he hadn't really thought much of him, but now, seeing his achievements, he was both surprised and somewhat glad that he had helped him out of fear of trouble.
"It's all good luck," Lin Zhou said modestly. "If it weren't for Mr. Lou bringing me to Hong Kong and helping me get my ID card, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'll always remember this kindness."
Tan Yali's apology deepened: "Lin Zhou, we were blind to your greatness back then, please don't take it to heart."
"Aunt Tan, you're too kind," Lin Zhou smiled, his tone frank. "I understand. When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I really didn't have any skills. Anyone would have had reservations. You and Mr. Lou were more than kind to take me in for a week." His tone was calm, without a trace of complaint, only heartfelt gratitude. After a year of hard work, he was no longer the young man who had just transmigrated. He could now view the past with a calm and ordinary heart.
Looking at his open and honest demeanor, Lou Zhenhua felt even more admiration for him: "Lin Zhou, you are truly a magnanimous person. To be honest, I really didn't expect you to achieve such great success. I'm truly impressed now." He paused, then added, "I've also heard about the air fryer you invented. It's a great product. We bought one for our family, and it's very convenient to use."
"If Mr. Lou and Aunt Tan don't mind, I'll have the company send over two custom-made units another day for you and Xiao'e to use," Lin Zhou said.
"How could I possibly accept that?" Tanya Li quickly waved her hand.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," Lin Zhou said with a smile. "It's just a small token of my appreciation, as a way of repaying you and Mr. Lou for taking me in back then."
Lou Xiao'e, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but interject, "Lin Zhou, can your factory really produce that many? I heard from my classmates that a lot of people want to buy your air fryers, and there's a long queue."
"It's alright. The production line has stabilized and can basically meet market demand," Lin Zhou replied patiently, his tone gentle and without any airs.
As the group chatted, the banquet's host stepped onto the stage and announced the official start of the event in a clear voice. First, a representative from the organizers spoke, introducing the current situation of disabled children and orphanages in Hong Kong. When they mentioned that some children couldn't be cured due to a lack of medical resources, and that some orphans struggled even to meet their basic needs, many guests in the audience showed expressions of deep emotion. Lin Zhou, listening to the data, felt a pang of sadness and became even more determined to do more good deeds. The Lou Zhenhua couple listened attentively, and Tan Yali even quietly wiped away tears.
Next came the dining session, with waiters pushing carts among the guests, serving exquisite Western cuisine and fine wines. Lin Zhou stayed at Lou Zhenhua's table to continue their conversation. Lou Zhenhua talked about his business; his family had always run a steel rolling mill, and it was the same here. His son had come during the period of public-private partnership and, with his father's help, had opened a steel rolling mill here. Although orders hadn't been plentiful in recent years, things had been relatively stable. Tan Yali, on the other hand, inquired about Lin Zhou's personal life, asking if he was married.
"My career is my priority right now," Lin Zhou replied with a smile. "I'll think about these things once things have settled down."
Lou Xiao'e was full of curiosity about Lin Zhou's entrepreneurial experience, constantly asking questions: "Lin Zhou, how did you come up with the idea of making air fryers? Did you encounter any difficulties when you first started your business?"
Lin Zhou patiently answered her questions. Although he wasn't facing much difficulty himself, he could only recount the hardships others endured in the early stages of starting a business, such as funding shortages, technical bottlenecks, and market skepticism, explaining them in detail. Lou Xiao'e listened intently, her eyes filled with admiration: "Lin Zhou, you're amazing! You didn't give up despite encountering so many difficulties."
Lou Zhenhua also remarked with emotion, "Starting a business is not easy. It's truly remarkable that Lin Zhou was able to persevere and achieve such great success."
After the meal, the charity auction officially began. The items for auction were donated by the guests and included jewelry, calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, antique ornaments, and some rare collectibles. The auctioneer stood on the stage, loudly introducing each item, while the guests below eagerly raised their paddles to bid, creating a lively atmosphere.
"The next item for auction is a pair of jade bracelets donated by Mr. Lin Zhou of Zhonghua Home Appliances, with a starting bid of HK$5,000!" The auctioneer's voice rang out, his gaze turning towards the direction of Lin Zhou.
Lou Zhenhua and his wife, along with Lou Xiao'e, all showed expressions of surprise, followed by pride. The guests below the stage had long heard of Lin Zhou, and were also impressed by the effectiveness of his air fryer, so they all raised their paddles to bid.
"Six thousand!"
"Eight thousand!"
"Ten thousand!"
"Fifteen thousand!"
The price soared, eventually being sold to a film company owner for HK$38,000. Lin Zhou watched this with great satisfaction. Lou Zhenhua patted him on the shoulder: "Lin Zhou, well done! You've done a good deed."
The auction lasted for over an hour, ultimately raising a total of HK$2.8 million. When the host announced this figure, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. A representative from the organizers went on stage to state that all funds would be used to improve medical conditions for disabled children, purchase living supplies and school supplies for orphanages, and that the use of funds would be regularly publicized for public oversight.
As the dinner was drawing to a close, Lin Zhou took out a business card and handed it to Lou Zhenhua: "Mr. Lou, this is my contact information. If you need any help in the future, feel free to call me anytime." He paused, then added, "I'll treat you, Aunt Tan, and Xiao'e to dinner another day, as a way of repaying your kindness."
Lou Zhenhua took the business card, carefully put it away, and a relieved smile appeared on his face: "Okay, okay! Let's keep in touch." He could feel that although Lin Zhou's status had changed, his gratitude had not changed.
As he left the Peninsula Hotel, night had fallen. The luxury car drove along the quiet streets, and Lin Zhou gazed at the lights outside the window, his heart filled with emotion. Tonight's charity gala had not only allowed him to experience the kindness of Hong Kong's business community, but also brought him an unexpected reunion with Lou Zhenhua's family. Seeing them again, he felt no turmoil, only a deep remembrance of past kindness and blessings for his old friends.