Rebirth Of The Godly Prodigal c1-1316, page 11
"Dali is fooling around, and you're fooling around with him, spending 300 million yuan in one go." Hong Dali's mother grinned as she sipped her tea. "But I'll support you. I agree with what you said about this place. But what about the tenants? Will they agree to move?"
"Um, that will be tricky. How about this, we'll invest 100 million yuan first. Let's buy the cheap lands and leave the expensive lands for later. In any case, the property prices won't drop easily; we can treat them as fixed assets." Hong Dali's father drew a circle on the map using his finger. "Let's take care of the area around the nightclub first and observe the situation. We'll decide what to do next after I meet up with Mayor Jiang."
"Um, that sounds good. Let Dali continue to fool around there. This rascal is only buying the property to rear dogs, what a joke." Hong Dali's mother chided gently. Although she had referred to Hong Dali as a rascal, even the blind could see how much she spoiled him.
…
Hong Dali was oblivious to his parents' analysis. All he cared about was squandering like crazy.
"Xinxin, do you like dogs?" Hong Dali asked while leaning on the sofa. His legs were on the coffee table as he gulped down his drink. "If you like dogs, I'll buy you a few. What do you think? If I'm going to squander, I might as well go all out. Find a professional animal doctor to give the dogs a weekly checkup, bathe them every three days, brush them every two days, and hire dedicated trainers to train the dogs. This is professional squandering."
Who didn't like furry dogs? Even Hong Dali, the superprodigal, found a way to relate dogs to squandering. Tang Muxin responded restlessly, "Of course I like dogs, but to hear you link them with squandering, I have no intention of rearing them all of a sudden."
"As long as you like them. What breed do you like best?" Hong Dali turned his head the other way, and a servant fed him a peeled gr.a.p.e. He ate it contently, laughing. "What do you think? I like dogs too. We can take care of them together."
"Um." Tang Muxin raised a pale, delicate finger and placed it on her lips. "Chow Chows, maybe. They look so furry and mild. I like them best."
Those should be the same as the Chow Chows on Earth. Hong Dali nodded. "Let's rear Chow Chows, then. A few of every color. My favorite are huskies. They are the silliest. It matches my status the best."
Tang Muxin was speechless. She replied angrily, "It's up to you. Since we're rearing dogs, get me a Chow Chow. At least I'll feel better looking at it than looking at you."
"No problem." Hong Dali snapped his fingers. "Driver, arrange two people to get some dogs. Yes, one hundred Chow Chows, one hundred huskies, and one hundred Samoyeds too. Oh, are there Tibetan mastiffs? Get a hundred of them too."
The driver acted on his instructions immediately.
Tang Muxin listened as she trembled with fear. "Hong Dali! There has to be a limit to squandering. Why do you need so many dogs?!"
"I can bring the lackeys out to walk dogs, how awesome is that!" Hong Dali said matter-of-factly. "I could walk a husky today, a Tibetan mastiff tomorrow, a Chow Chow the day after…"
Tang Muxin was completely defeated. She shut her mouth and ignored Hong Dali.
It was almost midnight, but there were materialistic girls everywhere staying close to the silly rich prodigals.
Some looked innocent on the outside but were wild inside, some were reckless and did not worry about trivial matters, some were ice queens. All different types of women, ranging from A to G cup sizes. What more could a man ask for?
As the crowd in the nightclub multiplied, the hall on level one was filled to the brim. It was almost at twice its capacity. Where there were customers, there would be business. Everyone was gossiping about the superprodigal Hong Dali. It was the most popular topic all around. As the crowd continued to fill up the hall, others started to head upstairs to the restaurants and hotel.
Although Hong Dali had promised to cover the charges for the nightclub, that did not include the restaurants and hotel.
The squandered amount had shot through the roof in Hong Dali's mind. Not long after, one of the lackeys brought the overall spendings to him for the night. Hong Dali took a glance and got the shock of his life. "Heck, I invited people to the nightclub for free, yet you're telling me that I made more than 20,000 yuan tonight?!"
"Yes… Yes, that's right…" The lackey who had delivered the news had beads of sweat on his forehead. This young master was certainly hard to predict. Anyone else would have been overjoyed to learn about the earnings, but this one instead said it was bad.
Hong Dali rubbed his chin. "Seems like I'm not squandering right. Um, something must have gone wrong somewhere, it doesn't feel right. What should I do?"
As he was thinking, the driver returned holding a phone. "Dali Master, Old Master and Old Madam are urging you to return home. You still have school tomorrow."
S… school? Hong Dali frowned. He nodded his head but was nervously sweating. Heck, school! I can learn information about other stuff somewhere, but who am I going to ask about which grade and school I'm in?
This was bad. He could find an excuse for other stuff, but even a fool would sense something was wrong if he forgot which class he was in overnight. No, no, he had to think of an idea!
Chapter 13 - The Legend of the Lackey
Going to school was a big deal. All things aside, which grade and class, who the class president was, who he got along with in school, and who his arch enemy was, he should at least know these. It was easiest to give himself away in these places. What should he do?
While Hong Dali panicked, the clock continued ticking. He still had to return home with the driver first.
Hong Dali did not forget about Ling Xiaoyi before he left. "You may stay here for the time being. I'll leave my number so you can call me if you need anything. You will take charge of this place from now on."
Ling Xiaoyi felt slightly dejected that Hong Dali was not intending to bring her along. After all, the Hong's family villa was like a legendary palace in the mountains. Even if she didn't get to stay in the villa, it would have been great to be able to catch a glimpse of it. Ling Xiaoyi decisively tried to get Hong Dali's pity. "Young Master, could you let me accompany you back? I'm afraid to be alone here. Um, even if I have to come back here alone tonight."
Is this girl trying to throw herself at me? Hong Dali scanned Ling Xiaoyi. Although she couldn't be compared with Tang Muxin, she could be considered a beauty herself. In time, she could have the flair of a queen. I'll just bring her along with me. Hong Dali asked the driver, "Urm, is my car here?"
The driver responded respectfully, "Yes, Young Master, it is right outside."
"Let's go, then!" Hong Dali strode outside arrogantly, not forgetting his lackeys. "Lackeys, lead the way. What are you waiting for? Make haste, let's go home!"
"Yes!" Three lackeys aggressively made way for Hong Dali, using their bodies to push the crowd aside to set a path for him. It was as though they had gained power through being Hong Dali's lackeys.
The nine lackeys, together with Hong Dali, Tang Muxin, and the driver—twelve people in total—walked mightily in a line out of the Ye Lai Xiang nightclub's door. Three black luxury cars were parked outside the nightclub. On the front of each car was a shiny golden angel logo, and on the back was an angel with wings in a praying pose. Hong Dali could hear three lackeys exclaiming: "Oh my god, it's a Prayer Angel! A Prayer Angel! One Prayer Angel is worth more than 1 million!"
Prayer Angel? More than 1 million? Isn't that the equivalent of a Rolls-Royce on Earth?
Not bad, not bad, only a car like this is compatible with a status like mine. It would be pointless if it were a normal car.
Hong Dali beamed with satisfaction and laughed. "Lackeys, what are you waiting for? Let's get in the car and set off!"
Three black Prayer Angels lead the way for Hong Dali's stretch limousine. The high-profile yet luxuriously low-key vehicles attracted countless bystanders. Those questioning how the lackeys had been accepted stomped their feet in disappointment, wishing to reincarnate in order to gain another chance.
Within one night, the story of Hong Dali's nine lackeys spread throughout the streets and alleys. Everyone knew the superprodigal had recruited a few lackeys and that they'd traveled around in Prayer Angels and worn the more expensive Maluni suits. The lackeys held their heads high wherever they went, looking extremely impressive.
Everyone said, being able to become Hong Dali's lackeys, they had to have done something good in their previous lives. There was no chance of becoming his lackeys if they were not born with it.
Of course, with regards to these rumors, Hong Dali couldn't care less.
He was grinning from ear to ear, looking at the numbers in the system.
"Host's current squandering value: 327,845 yuan. Do you wish to redeem attribute points?"
Of course! Hong Dali responded without thinking, "Redeem all the attribute points and add them to my health stat." In no time, Hong Dali felt warm and fuzzy all over. His health had improved a little more. That felt good!
Now that his health stat was 45, he felt much stronger than before, not so weak that even a gust of wind could sweep him off his feet. This felt normal. It was definitely worth celebrating.
The cars soon reached the main gate of the Hongwu Villa. Tang Muxin, who was sitting beside him, sniffed. "Dali, don't tell me you are intending to have me sleep at your place tonight?"
"Need you to ask?" Hong Dali felt strange. "You're my fiancée. Isn't it normal to sleep at my place? We can go to school together tomorrow."
"Sleep at your place? Go to school tomorrow?!" Tang Muxin jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "How do you expect me to face our classmates like that? I might as well die!" Sleep at the house of Hong Dali, the prodigal? Go to school together? How was she supposed to hold her head high in the future? Just going home with him would make her feel regret for the rest of her life. If she stayed, she was bound to have nightmares for life!
"It's not a big thing, you're overreacting." Hong Dali pouted. The only on his mind was trying to trick Tang Muxin into telling him which grade and class he was in. In the time they had spent together, she had never mentioned which class they were in. That could mean that they were in the same school but not in the same class. At this moment, a thought came to Hong Dali's mind, and he smiled sheepishly at Tang Muxin. "Oh, Xinxin, since we're engaged, how about I come to your class? Or you could come to mine?"
Tang Muxin was taken aback and rejected him. "Go to hell, I will never step into your class! Your class is known as the death class. I still wish to study well and advance to university. Do you think everyone is like you? All you think about is squandering!"
"I won't do it, then. Why get so worked up?" Hong Dali shrugged it off, but in his heart, he was smiling. Death class? Hehe, it will be easy with this clue. I just need a lackey to go find out which class is the death class in school tomorrow. It won't take more than a few minutes, hahaha!
Since he had achieved his goal, Hong Dali had no reason to make things difficult for Tang Muxin. "Um, if you really don't wish to stay here, there's nothing I can do. I'm not one to force things upon others. How about this, come to my place and say hi to my parents. I will ask a lackey to send you off after. How does that sound?"
"That's better, hmph!"
Chapter 14 - The Dreadful Queen Fan Er
Through the Hongwu Villa's gates, the four cars drove upslope and stopped in front of the main door, where the housekeepers welcomed them in a local Tianjing accent while Hong Dali beamed with pride. "Young Master, you're back. Did you have fun tonight? Old Master and Old Madam are waiting for you in the living room. Do hurry over." They glanced over to look at the newly recruited lackeys. "The rest of you, come along. Old Master and Old Madam have asked that you come in too."
The nine lackeys were staring at the villa with bewilderment, their mouths wide open, wondering how one's life could be so different when they were all human beings.
The quick-witted Ling Xiaoyi was the first to react, graciously bowing to the most senior housekeeper. "I'm Young Master's servant, Ling Xiaoyi. My greetings to you."
The other lackeys promptly followed her lead and bowed to the senior housekeeper as well. Although they were not as bright, they at least knew to follow the leader at times like this. They were worried that they would be chased out any minute. To be a lackey for someone who tipped 5,000 yuan so easily, with so many envious of their positions, they had to be very careful not to screw things up.
The old housekeeper nodded approvingly at Ling Xiaoyi, smiling. "Miss Xiaoyi is too polite, come with me. All of you will go through special training for one week. After all, it is not easy to become the Young Master's servants."
Hong Dali strode arrogantly, taking the lead to enter the villa when he was sure that they were almost done talking. Tang Muxin followed closely behind. This was Hong Dali's house, after all, and she should show proper etiquette—though she really hated to be seen with Hong Dali.
The nine lackeys split neatly into two lines, with Ling Xiaoyi leading the brood. They followed Hong Dali into the villa.
When they entered the living room, Hong Dali's mother welcomed them with a wide smile, dotingly patting off the nonexistent dust from Hong Dali's shoulder. "Dali, ah, you're back so late. Did you have fun today?"
"Um, happy," Hong Dali had lived twenty-two years on Earth but had never experienced something like this. He suddenly got teary and emotional and got a strong urge to call her "Mother," but the word could not find its way out. It was not that he didn't want to greet them, but that the terms "mother" and "father" were foreign to him. It was not so easy to overcome the psychological barrier.
Although he didn't manage to voice the words, Hong Dali tried his best to keep his smile. "I had so much fun tonight, but I spent a lot too. I acquired some property as well."
His mother comforted him even though Hong Dali had said that. "You silly boy, you can spend all you want. Your father and I are not short on money. This is nothing to us. All right, you must be tired now?" His mother turned to one of the servants. "Liu, attend to Dali and bring him to shower, then to bed. Walk slowly and don't fall. Dali has a weak constitution."
"I'll go shower now, then." Dali could feel the lump in his throat. He followed Liu quickly, worried that his tears would fall any minute if he stayed.
A mother's love might look simple, but only the person involved would know how touched he felt.
After Hong Dali left, his mother gently pulled Tang Muxin to the sofa to sit down. "Muxin, it's too late. Why don't you stay here for the night? We have plenty of rooms. I'll call your father now."
Away from Hong Dali, Tang Muxin flaunted her intelligence, tactfully rejecting the offer. "It's okay, Auntie, I need to prepare for a very important event for school tomorrow. It would be embarrassing if I messed it up."
"Um, in this case, I'll get the driver to send you home." Hong Dali's mother took Tang Muxin's hand. This bright lady is already so dangerously beautiful now. In a few years, when her figure fills out, who knows how much more alluring she will be. She looked around herself, trying to find something suitable to gift Tang Muxin, but to no avail. Hong Dali's father cleared his throat. He was definitely more experienced. "Stop looking. The jewelry you have on you is too mature for her. I have already prepared a gift for her."
He pulled out a jade ring from his pocket, its vibrant emerald-green color almost transparent. One could almost see the refraction of light through it. It was definitely not a normal piece of jewelry. Hong Dali's father put the ring on Tang Muxin's slender finger and smiled. "My father prepared this ring when you were betrothed. It is called the Azure Ring. Don't look down on it. It makes the wearer feel at peace and has the ability to balance the Qi in your body."
In Tang Muxin's mind, she had already decided that she would reject the marriage in the future. She felt conflicted that Hong Dali's father had prepared such a precious gift for her. She didn't feel comfortable accepting it, but rejecting it would disappoint him. Even so, if she accepted it, it would be tough to raise the topic in the future.
Considering the circ.u.mstances back at home, she bit her lip and accepted the gift. "I will accept the gift, then. Thank you, Uncle." In her mind, she had already decided to set the ring aside properly instead of wearing it.
As she had accepted the gift and greeted his parents, Tang Muxin prepared to leave. Hong Dali's mother tried to make her stay but to no avail.
After Tang Muxin had left, the nine lackeys remained in the huge living room. Hong Dali's mother's expression changed. It was as though her warmth and smile were wiped from her face. She exuded the aura of a vicious queen and coldly said, "Since Hong Dali has recruited you, don't say that I didn't warn you. Don't blame me for being heartless if any of you dare go against him!" Just a few words from her seemed to have lowered the temperature in the living room by ten degrees. The nine lackeys went numb and shivered from the content that was conveyed to them.
As the leader, Ling Xiaoyi responded, "Yes, Old Madam, please guide us."
Hong Dali's mother stood up and paced up and down, observing the lackeys while folding her arms behind her. She preached coldly: "Firstly, your behavior should be worthy of your position! Our Dali will be your god. Don't you dare head east if he asks you to head west. That means that even if the fire pit lays ahead of you and he asks you to jump, you will jump in. Do you hear me!?"
Ling Xiaoyi and the rest trembled with fear but still respectfully responded, "Yes."
Hong Dali's mother continued, "Secondly, our Dali's constitution is weak. If he accidentally falls when he's outside, I want you to be his safety net. If he has the tiniest abrasion or loses a hair, I will hold you responsible!"
Ling Xiaoyi and the others groaned inwardly. Who knew when Hong Dali would fall? They could only try their best to watch him carefully. "Yes."
Hong Dali's mother continued, "Thirdly, everyone can see the situation of our home. If anyone dares to do anything that is unfavorable to Dali, I want you to defend him with your life. In return, if any of you gets hurt or even dies on Dali's behalf, I will not hesitate to reward you. Any comments?"
