Who wants to take the civil service exam after being reborn?

Chapter 570 [liaoxu]

Liao Xu.

Male, born in 1953, from the capital city.

I came to Hong Kong from mainland China in 1992 to settle down. But to say that I settled down was more like fleeing a disaster.

This is information about Liao Xu that I obtained from the Xinji Xiang family.

Of course, that's not all. It is said that when Liao Xu first came to Hong Kong, he could only do odd jobs in restaurants because he couldn't speak Cantonese.

One day, a waiter in the restaurant accidentally knocked over the Guan Gong statue that was used for offering incense, and it broke into three pieces on the ground.

This restaurant is the location of the Remy Martin restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. These gangsters naturally have great respect for Lord Guan, so the boss got angry and prepared to break the waiter's arm.

This fellow usually took good care of Liao Xu, so Liao Xu asked if he could forgive him if he could recover.

The older brother didn't believe it. It's broken into three pieces, how can it be put back together?

Liao Xu remained silent, quietly gathering up the remaining image and asking for some materials.

However, when the man wanted to see it for himself, Liao Xu said that unless he became his apprentice, the master craftsman's skills could not be shown to outsiders.

They were all "red sticks" (a type of mid-level cadre in a triad), so why would they agree to become apprentices to a down-on-his-luck mainlander? However, they didn't forcefully demand to stand by and watch.

Finally, in less than half an hour, Liao Xu took out a perfectly intact bronze statue of Lord Guan.

To the naked eye, there is no trace of the crack.

Even a magnifying glass won't work.

At that moment, the older brother knew he had "picked up" a talent, and immediately reported it to his superiors. Eventually, the head of the new branch of the company found out.

Liao Xu casually demonstrated some of his special skills, and the leader immediately decided to take him in. In the blink of an eye, 16 years have passed.

Liao Xu was not a member of the gang, but he was protected by the gang and had made contributions to the gang with his skills. In his old age, he also took on several apprentices to pass on his skills.

Therefore, everyone in the Xinji community respected this craftsman, and they all called him "Uncle Liao".

However, the Xiang family told Chen Zhe and Gu Shengtong that "Liao Xu" should be an alias.

In the first few years, people called him that, and he often didn't realize it.

Of course, real name or fake name doesn't matter, but Liao Bo is definitely not short of money, because Chen raised the amount from 100 million to 500 million without Liao Bo even glancing at it.

Back at the Hong Kong Liaison Office, Chen gathered several leaders together for further discussion.

Regardless of how this matter is ultimately resolved, Chen Zhe has become very familiar with these leaders stationed in Hong Kong. One of the bureau-level officials even plans to introduce his niece to Chen Zhe.

Later, upon hearing that Chen Zhe already had a girlfriend, he reluctantly gave up.

"Now we know that Uncle Liao doesn't love money."

Zhang Zhiming concluded.

"It's not that I don't love money, it's that I don't lack money."

Gu Shengtong flicked his cigarette ash and smiled as he changed his tune.

The difference between "not loving money" and "not lacking money" is only one word, but the meanings they imply are completely different.

Chen Zhe also shares this line of thinking.

No one can be without weaknesses, which manifest as resistance to certain temptations.

Either his faith is very strong, or the temptation is not attractive enough to him, or it could be both.

Liao Bo has been in the fake antique business for so many years, he probably has tens of millions in savings. He has no relatives, so he can't possibly spend all that money, which is why he has no interest in it at all.

"Relatives?"

A word suddenly flashed through Chen's mind.

"The first time I met Uncle Liao, he said that his family background was bad, which is why he came to Hong Kong."

Chen Zhe found it strange: "It seems that apart from the Southern Tour, there were no other major events in 1992."

"It might be because of the Southern Tour."

Vice President Yang Jianguang chimed in from the side, "That year, the investigation into criminals was extremely strict. I had a relative who wasn't supposed to go to jail, but because a family member committed a crime, he was implicated and held accountable for some disciplinary violations..."

The phrase "bad family background" is likely a euphemism used to describe being implicated by family members.

Everyone suddenly fell silent, with only the cigarette butts hissing as they burned.

As the saying goes, when the dust of the times falls on an individual or a family, it becomes a heavy mountain.

Finally, everyone unanimously moved past that topic and returned to the specifics of the matter.

Chen spoke first: "Uncle Liao seemed to have said that his skills were better than those of the people at the Palace Museum. I thought he was just bragging at the time, but now I wonder what if he wasn't?"

"Does that mean he's really familiar with those renowned figures in the Forbidden City?"

Vice President Zhang Zhiming added, then looked at Gu Shengtong.

"That's something we can look up."

Gu Shengtong pondered for a moment and said, "But it's too late today. I'll ask someone to inquire tomorrow."

The highest-ranking person here is Gu Shengtong, who has a wide network of connections.

Nothing happened that night, but the next morning, Director Gu told Chen some bad news.

None of the families in the Forbidden City have the surname "Liao," and there is no history of anyone with the surname Liao having their home severely damaged in 1992.

"If you don't have it, then forget it."

Chen thought to himself that either Liao Bo was bragging, or it was so well hidden that it couldn't be found.

Tomorrow is Psion's press conference. With so little time left, we might as well come up with a concrete plan.

However, Gu Shengtong then dropped another bombshell: "In 92, there was indeed a family that committed a crime, but their surname was Li. Currently, only the older sister remains, working as a researcher at the museum. She said that a younger brother did escape back then and they haven't been able to contact him since." Chen Zhe suddenly looked up at Director Gu.

……

In a small courtyard in Yuen Long District, Hong Kong, Liao Xu and his apprentice went to "You Gu Qi" for morning tea.

He's not entirely satisfied with his current life, but considering his experiences, he considers it a "good ending."

He was not short of money, his apprentices were filial to him, and he had long ago chosen a feng shui treasure plot in Cheung Chau Cemetery, planning to be buried on this small island in the future.

But he harbored a regret in his heart. Often at three or four in the morning, Liao Xu would stand in the warehouse, staring blankly at the dazzling array of "cultural relics."

At first, the newly accepted apprentice thought he had encountered a thief, but he later learned the truth from his senior apprentices.

So, Master had something on his mind.

"Master, have some porridge."

The eldest disciple, nicknamed "Pig Oil Boy," first respectfully served Liao Xu a bowl of congee, and then the remaining disciples playfully shared it with each other.

Liao Xu ignored the young people, ate a couple of mouthfuls of porridge and some roast meat, and then browsed the newspaper news, already behaving like a local old man.

After having morning tea, the group returned to the courtyard, where "Piggy" began assigning tasks to his fellow disciples.

Liao Xu sat in his armchair, sipping strong tea. If his eldest apprentice made a mistake in assigning tasks or encountered problems during the production process, he would immediately point it out.

Zhu Youzai will inherit the mantle in the future. Although he has only learned three or four levels of the skills, Liao Xu is already quite satisfied. The rest is up to years of practice and refinement.

They were busy until five or six in the afternoon. The setting sun outside was as red as blood, and there were occasional "fluttering" sounds overhead.

Just as weary birds return to their nests, a flock of crows, hoarse and carrying the heavy twilight, head back to their nests.

Liao Xu had just started making a glazed bottle, which was custom-made by a customer from Southeast Asia. He was wiping the ceramic powder off his hands when he suddenly heard the sound of a car turning off outside the courtyard.

It seems there's more than one.

The apprentices, including Pig Oil Boy, cautiously approached their master. In this line of work, they not only had to be wary of the police, but also of underworld figures.

Although they had Xinji as their backer, there were also desperate and destitute people who would do anything to get away with it, which is why they built their courtyard in this place that is nestled against the mountains, by the water, and close to the woods.

However, when they saw who it was, Liao Xu and his apprentices were relieved.

"That bastard."

However, Lao Liao muttered to himself, because it was that young man from the mainland, Chen Zhe, who had arrived again.

I heard he's still in college. At his age, instead of going to Portland Street to pick up girls, he keeps coming here. He has no charm at all!
"Mr. Chen."

Piggy knew his master's attitude, but he also knew that Mr. Chan was a customer of Sun Kee, so he politely said, "My master doesn't want to talk about it, so why are you being so pushy?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't think things through last time."

Director Chen had a very good temper and didn't feel offended at all. Instead, he apologized first and then said, "But I didn't come here to force Uncle Liao."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I'll ask you," said Pig Fat Boy.

Chen did not answer, but turned to look behind him.

An elderly woman in her sixties was getting off the bus and walking over.

Her full head of silver hair fluttered in the evening breeze. Her eyes were somewhat cloudy, and her body trembled slightly with excitement. She needed someone's support to stagger a few steps.

Liao Xu had no intention of paying any attention to Chen Zhe, but when he looked up, his gaze suddenly froze.

Time is indeed a merciless sculptor; after sixteen years apart, wrinkles have already crept onto both of their foreheads. However, the bond between them, bound by blood, began to throb violently without warning the moment their eyes met.

"Xiao Xu, is that you, Xiao Xu? Xiao Xu, Xiao Xu..."

The old woman repeatedly called out this nickname etched into her very being, then suddenly broke free from the person supporting her and lunged forward.

"Oh...oh! Sister...sister..."

Liao Bo responded awkwardly, only to find himself already in tears.

The next moment, the two bodies, both worn down by time, collided heavily.

Sixteen years of separation and longing, sixteen years of ashes, sixteen years of bitterness, all surged up in this cry of anguish.

“Xiao Xu, how did you end up in Hong Kong… Before Mother died, she held my hand and said she would never rest in peace… Her eyes were open before she passed away, she just couldn’t close them… Do you know that, do you know that…”

The old lady cried as she hit Liao Xu hard.

Master Liao, who hadn't even blinked when a piece of his flesh was carved away with a knife, now looked like a child who couldn't find his mother, wailing loudly as he kowtowed heavily towards the north.

dong dong dong...

The setting sun, like blood, coldly reflects the deepest pain and irreparable regrets in this world.

"Brother Zhang, have a cigarette."

Chen suddenly said to Zhang Zhiming.

Zhang Zhiming, who was puffing on his cigarette, asked with some surprise, "Don't you not smoke?"

I feel a little sad.

Chen sighed and said.

Li Aoxu.

What a proud name it was back then.

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(End of this chapter)