Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

On a weekend afternoon, the Peak of Hong Kong Island was unusually clear of the gloom that had lasted for days, with the golden rays of the setting sun casting their light on the earth.

The wrought iron gate slid open slowly, and a black Toyota drove into the manor and stopped in front of the fountain.

The driver's side door opened first, and Zhao Mengsheng got out of the car and quickly went around to the back seat to open the car door for his wife and daughter.

Han Xiulan wore a navy blue wool coat today, while Xiao Jiajia was wrapped up tightly in a bright red down jacket, looking like a round strawberry. As soon as she landed, she stood on tiptoe and looked around curiously.

Ruan Mei was already waiting at the door with Lu Qian. She was wearing a beige cashmere coat today, and Lu Qian was standing next to her, wearing a white shirt and navy blue overalls, with his hair neatly combed.

"Mr. Zhao, Mrs. Zhao," Ruan Mei said, stepping forward with Lu Qian as they saw the three of them get out of the car. "Welcome, welcome! Jiajia looks beautiful today."

"Mrs. Ruan, you're too kind," Zhao Mengsheng said with a slight bow. "I was stuck in traffic for a while on the way."

"It's alright," Ruan Mei said with a hint of apology. "But Chen had some urgent business to attend to and had to rush to the Jiahe Building for an emergency meeting. He specifically asked me to apologize to you both, saying he would come back as soon as he finished dealing with a few documents. I'm really sorry."

"It's alright, Mr. Lu is a busy man, we completely understand."

"Thank you," Ruan Mei gestured to the side, "It's windy up here, come inside and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up."

Led by Ruan Mei, the group headed towards the main building. However, Lu Qian didn't follow the adults inside; instead, he waved to Jiajia, "Jiajia, come here! I'll show you some good stuff!"

"What good stuff?" Jiajia immediately stopped in her tracks, blinked her big eyes at him, and then glanced back at her mother.

"Go on, go on," Han Xiulan said with a smile, waving to her daughter. "Stay with your brother, don't go too far."

"Okay!"

Jiajia felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and ran away laughing like a gust of wind.

Lu Qian led Jiajia around to the back of the main building. At the end of the lawn, near the stable, a small horse was tethered—with a chestnut mane and snow-white hooves, barely taller than the two children combined, and was munching on hay in the trough.

Hearing footsteps, it raised its head and snorted.

"Wow—" Jiajia's eyes lit up, "There really is Malaysia!"

"Its name is Hongyu," Lu Qian puffed out his chest, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised pride. "Grandpa Huo gave it to me a couple of days ago, and I named it."

"Who is Grandpa Huo?"

"Grandpa Huo is Grandpa Huo," Lu Qian thought for a moment and said seriously, "He gives me a birthday present every year, and this year he gave me a real horse."

Jiajia was itching to touch it and tentatively reached out her little hand, but then withdrew it in fear and looked up at Lu Qian: "Brother Lu Qian, can I... touch it?"

"Yes, it's very well-behaved."

Encouraged, Jiajia carefully reached out her delicate little hand again and gently stroked the smooth mane on Hongyu's neck.

The little pony swished its tail comfortably, and instead of dodging, it brought its wet mouth closer and gently rubbed its soft nose against Jiajia's little palm.

"It likes me!"

"It likes everyone who feeds it," Lu Qian said, taking out a special food biscuit from his pocket and giving Jiajia two pieces. "You feed it."

The two little ones simply squatted by the wooden fence of the stable and had a great time playing.

At their feet, "Cola" and "Sprite" obediently squatted to the side, their tails sweeping the lawn, occasionally letting out low whimpers—seemingly vying for their affection and cuddles.

……

In the living room, Mary poured a cup of tea for Zhao Mengsheng and Han Xiulan. The aroma of Wudong Dancong tea filled the room, carrying a subtle honey-like fragrance.

Han Xiulan picked up her teacup, took a sip, and her eyes lit up: "It smells so good!"

"As long as you can drink it," Ruan Mei smiled. "Ah Chen likes it, and we always keep a few kinds at home. If Mrs. Zhao likes it, I'll have someone pack a couple of cans for you to take back later."

"How could I possibly accept that—"

"It's just a can of tea, there's nothing to be embarrassed about," Ruan Mei said, refilling her cup.

Zhao Mengsheng held his teacup, but his gaze was fixed on the backyard through the French windows.

The two children had already run far away, and only two small figures could be seen moving on the lawn, followed by a horse and two dogs.

His eyes held a complex expression.

Han Xiulan followed his gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips, but she didn't say anything.

Zhao Mengsheng is a decisive and efficient man at work, able to report to leaders from Beijing without batting an eye. Yet, he completely loses his composure when it comes to his daughter. Even though he's deeply concerned and his eyes are glued to his two children, he tries to maintain a calm and collected demeanor.

cute.

Han Xiulan picked up her teacup, concealing the smile on her lips.

The three adults chatted for a while—about their two children's grades in kindergarten, educational topics, and some achievements in tea ceremony. Ruan Mei spoke at a measured pace, each sentence delivered appropriately, ensuring the atmosphere remained relaxed without seeming forced.

Around 5 p.m., the sound of a car engine came from outside.

Ruan Mei put down her teacup: "It must be Ah Chen who's back."

Zhao Mengsheng and Han Xiulan immediately rose to greet him. A few minutes later, the main building's main door opened, and Lu Chen strode in. He first nodded to Zhao Mengsheng and Han Xiulan: "Mr. Zhao, Mrs. Zhao, I'm so sorry, I have an urgent meeting this afternoon and can't get away. I've kept you waiting."

"Mr. Lu, you flatter us." Zhao Mengsheng grasped his hand. "It was we who came to disturb you rather suddenly."

"There's absolutely no question of disturbing you," Lu Chen laughed heartily. "Jiajia and Qianzai get along very well, and our two families should be visiting each other more often."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ruan Mei said from the side, "It's just time for dinner. The kitchen is all set. Let's eat first."

"Yes, let's eat and chat." Lu Chen turned to the side and gestured for them to continue.

The maid called the two children back from the backyard. Zhao Jiajia, covered in sweat and with a flushed face, grabbed Han Xiulan's hand as soon as she entered the house: "Mommy, Mommy! Hongyu is so tall! I even rode it around in a circle just now!"

"Really?" Han Xiulan took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat. "Have you fed it?"

"I fed it!" Jiajia nodded vigorously. "It even rubbed its nose against me, it tickled!"

The adults burst into laughter after hearing this.

Tonight's home-style meal features classic Northern Chinese cuisine, Shandong cuisine. As one of the oldest cuisines in China, Shandong cuisine emphasizes the preparation of clear broth and milky broth, pays attention to cooking time and the original flavor of ingredients, and has a rich, savory, and moderately salty taste: Dezhou braised chicken, braised sea cucumber with scallions, sweet and sour carp...

Lu Qian and Zhao Jiajia sat side by side. Lu Qian carefully picked up food for Jiajia, although he didn't pick it up very accurately and a chicken leg fell onto the tablecloth. But Zhao Jiajia didn't mind at all, and she picked it up and ate it herself with a giggle.

Everyone was pleased to see the two children getting along so well, but Zhao Mengsheng's expression grew increasingly strange.

Overall, the meal was enjoyed by both the host and guests.

After the meal, the servants brought out fruit. Lu Chen wiped his hands and looked at Zhao Mengsheng: "Mr. Zhao, I recently received a few cigars. Would you be interested in coming to smoke some?"

Zhao Mengsheng was naturally delighted to accept Lu Chen's invitation. After all, his visit today was not only to comply with his wife and daughter's wishes, but also to have in-depth contact with this tycoon who controlled the economic lifeline of Hong Kong.

"Alright, let's have a good drink then." Zhao Mengsheng stood up with a smile.

……

Upon arriving at the cigar room, the cigar attendant was already waiting inside.

Upon seeing the two enter, the cigar server bowed slightly, opened a cigar box, and took out two cigars, handing one to Lu Chen and the other to Zhao Mengsheng—both were three-year-old Cuban cigars, with oily wrappers and just the right amount of elasticity when squeezed.

He first lit the charcoal fire with a cedar wood chip, then used the fire to heat the stem of the cigar before handing it over. Lu Chen and Zhao Mengsheng each gathered around the flames, slowly turning the cigar to ensure the wrapper was heated evenly.

After lighting their cigars, the cigar server poured each of them a glass of amber-colored single malt Scotch whisky, then quietly slipped out and closed the door behind them.

The room fell completely silent, with pale blue smoke rising gently under the soft light. Zhao Mengsheng took a puff of his cigar—the rich aroma of earth and the bittersweet taste of cocoa burst forth in his mouth, and he squinted his eyes.

"Mr. Zhao," Lu Chen spoke first, flicking his cigarette ash, "Hong Kong will be quite turbulent for the next two years. Do you have any thoughts on that?"

Zhao Mengsheng paused slightly, the fingers holding his cigar between his fingers, and looked up at him: "Mr. Lu... what specific aspect are you referring to?"

"Every aspect," Lu Chen leaned back on the sofa, "housing prices, stock market, emigration wave... Of course, the most crucial thing is those monsters and demons lurking in the shadows."

Zhao Mengsheng was silent for a moment, carefully choosing his words: "Mr. Lu is well-informed, so I won't hide it from you—recently, Japan has been making some moves again, wanting to take advantage of the transition period to get some more favorable terms from us."

"Change the terms?" Lu Chen's lips twitched, it was hard to tell if it was a smile or something else. "What will you give in exchange? The stability of Hong Kong?"

"That's roughly the idea," Zhao Mengsheng said calmly, as if he had anticipated the other party's shameless behavior. "The legislative, judicial, and civil service systems—they want to leave behind as many spies as possible and take away as many benefits as they can before they leave."

Lu Chen took a puff of his cigar, his gaze fixed on the night outside the window.

"Don't worry, I'll also make my position clear," Lu Chen said calmly, yet with an undeniable air of authority. "Hong Kong has been a place for business since it opened up to the world. If they want to make demands, they'll have to ask us first if we agree."

Zhao Mengsheng glanced at him. Although the words sounded light and casual, Zhao Mengsheng knew the weight behind them.

"However," Lu Chen changed the subject, "the most important thing now is to maintain the stability of Hong Kong. Those who can't stand by and watch Hong Kong descend into chaos, so they can take advantage of it. We can't give them that opportunity."

"Mr. Lu is absolutely right," Zhao Mengsheng put down his cigar, took a sip of his whiskey, and said, "I am in charge of public security, and I can speak on behalf of the North in this regard. The stability of Hong Kong Island is the top priority."

"That's good," Lu Chen raised his glass and clinked it against his. The glasses struck together with a soft sound. "With Mr. Zhao's words, I'm relieved."

……

The two then moved from discussing the overall situation of Hong Kong Island's transition period to the complex international situation.

Zhao Mengsheng talked about the Soviet Union, Gorbachev's reforms, and how people in the Kremlin were unsure where Moscow was headed. Lu Chen listened, smiled noncommittally, and simply said, "The Soviet Union is going to be very interesting."

Zhao Mengsheng didn't press further, but he gleaned something from Lu Chen's tone—this man knew quite a bit.

As their conversation deepened, they both felt a deep sense of kinship, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Zhao Mengsheng discovered that Lu Chen was not just a businessman who only knew how to make money. His judgment of the situation, his understanding of people's hearts, and his grasp of the proper measure were all frighteningly accurate.

He recalled the evaluation of Lu Chen in Beijing: the stabilizing force of Hong Kong. He had previously thought this description was somewhat exaggerated, but now, sitting face to face with him, he began to appreciate its meaning.

Lu Chen also discovered that Zhao Mengsheng was not the kind of rigid cadre. He was well-educated, had seen bloodshed, and had carried a gun. He understood the ways of the world and possessed a strong sense of righteousness—flexible but not pedantic.

The two got along very well and before they knew it, it was pitch black outside the window.

The old map on the wall gleamed with a yellowish luster under the lamplight, and the lights on both sides of Victoria Harbour twinkled in the distance, like a quiet ribbon of light.

Around nine o'clock in the evening, there was a gentle knock on the door. Ruan Mei poked half her body in, a smile on her face: "Ah Chen, it's time to go, Jiajia is sleepy."

Lu Chen glanced at the Patek Philippe on his wrist, stood up, and gave Zhao Mengsheng a slightly apologetic smile: "I got along so well with Lao Zhao that I almost forgot the time."

"Me too," Zhao Mengsheng stood up, stubbed out his cigar, "Today was truly—a very enjoyable chat."

"Let's talk again next time. If it's convenient for you, Mr. Zhao, I'll organize a gathering next month and invite Mr. Huo and Mr. Bao. It'll be more lively with more people."

Zhao Mengsheng's heart skipped a beat. Huo Sheng and Bao Sheng were core figures in the Red Alliance. Lu Chen was leading him into an even more central circle in Hong Kong.

"I will definitely pay you a visit then." He extended his hand and shook it firmly.

The two walked out of the cigar room side by side. In the living room, Jiajia was nestled in Han Xiulan's arms, her eyelids drooping, and she was still clutching a piece of gummy candy that Lu Qian had given her.

Lu Qian stood at the door, pursing his lips, not saying a word, but his eyes kept following Jiajia.

"Jiajia," Zhao Mengsheng walked over, squatted down, "say goodbye to Uncle Lu."

"Goodbye, Uncle Lu," Jiajia waved groggily, then added, "Goodbye, Brother Lu Qian... I'll come see you again next time."

"Next time you come, I'll take you horseback riding," Lu Qian said.

"Okay!" Jiajia immediately perked up, her eyes lighting up. "Pinky promise!"

Two little fingers hooked together. Zhao Mengsheng stood to the side, watching this scene, his lips twitching, but he remained silent.

Han Xiulan carried Jiajia out, and as she passed him, she lowered her voice and asked, "Can't bear to part with her?"

Zhao Mengsheng glanced at her sideways, ignoring his wife's teasing, and quickly followed after her.

Lu Chen and Ruan Mei escorted the Zhao family to the main building entrance. Since they had been drinking that evening, Lu Chen arranged for a driver to take the Zhao family home. The headlights came on, and the Toyota Crown slowly drove out of the manor gate, disappearing into the night along the winding mountain road.

At the manor gate, Lu Chen watched the departing taillights of the car without immediately turning around. Ruan Mei stood beside him and asked softly, "How did the talk go?"

"He's a capable person." Lu Chen smiled and embraced his wife's delicate body. "We can deepen our relationship in the future."

Ruan Mei nodded without asking any further questions. The two walked back into the house side by side, the door closing behind them. The night breeze from the mountaintop blew in from the direction of Victoria Harbour, carrying the fragrance of winter plum blossoms from the courtyard, swirling under the streetlights.