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For a while, whether in ancient or modern times, life was quite stable. Hanno would occasionally send some food—of course, modern delicacies—to the Li Siblings. It was worth noting that the two siblings and three brothers were not lacking in food. He also sent paper, pens, and books. Due to the limitations of printing in ancient times, books were very expensive and incomplete. In contrast, modern pirated books were flooding the market, making them exceptionally cheap. Hanno had principles and insisted on not buying pirated books; instead, he purchased many authentic ancient texts to send to Li Yishu and Wen Zixia. The more books Wen Zixia read, the deeper his knowledge became. He felt confident that he could easily participate in the Scientific Expedition, and even if he took the imperial examination, he would surely make the list. Li Zhoule showcased many embroidered handkerchiefs from the village, while she herself began to work on larger embroidery pieces. Every ten days, Li Zhoule would send the completed pieces to Hanno, who would then pass them on to Chang Miao. The handmade embroidery products were very popular online; now that the supply had increased, they sold even faster. Not only did they sell out quickly, but they also earned a considerable amount of money for Chang Miao and Hanno. The business was thriving; Chang Miao's monthly income exceeded five thousand yuan, allowing her to stop asking her parents for money and completely shed the title of a freeloader.
Before long, the date of the auction approached. Hanno had bought tickets to Peng City, and when Chang Miao heard that Hanno was going to Hong Kong, she insisted on tagging along. Hanno had no choice but to agree. Chang Miao put up a sign on her Taobao store saying "Owner Out, Business Suspended," ignoring the complaints from customers as she happily purchased her plane ticket to follow Hanno to Hong Kong.
With tickets from Air China, they could take a free shuttle bus from D City to the airport. The two sisters first had lunch outside and then waited for over ten minutes in the waiting area before finally boarding the free shuttle bus to the airport in the suburbs of Provincial Capital. Today's airports were becoming increasingly beautiful, offering shopping, dining, and entertainment options galore. The sisters each ordered a coffee at a café while playing on their phones as they waited for their flight. The airport's service facilities were excellent; when their phone batteries ran low, they found charging stations in the waiting area that made it convenient for travelers who hadn't brought chargers.
The flight from Provincial Capital to Peng City took about two hours. After transferring in Peng City for over an hour to get to Hong Kong, by the time they settled into their hotel room, it was already eleven o'clock at night. They stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel located in Central District. This hotel is one of Asia's best; standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of Victoria Harbour. Notable figures like the late Princess Diana, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and former U.S. President Richard Nixon had all stayed here. Over a decade ago, Hanno and Chang Miao's favorite idol had jumped from the café on the fourteenth floor of this hotel.
The hotel was understated yet luxurious with an excellent accommodation environment. Chang Miao kicked off her shoes and walked around on the thick wool carpet before jumping up and laughing, "No wonder this room costs five thousand yuan a night; walking here feels so comfortable."
Hanno rolled around on the soft bed and sat up: "I'm hungry; how about you?"
Chang Miao nodded: "I've been hungry for a while now. The airplane food was so terrible that I only took two bites—how could I not be hungry?"
Hanno stood up: "Let's go get some late-night snacks."
Chang Miao cheered: "Let's go! I've been wanting to explore Hong Kong's night markets!"
The most famous night market in Hong Kong is undoubtedly Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon Yau Ma Tei. Originally one of Hong Kong's most chaotic places filled with all sorts of people, it has now become a tourist hotspot. The stalls along Temple Street offer an incredibly diverse range of products at relatively low prices; many visitors enjoy browsing through Temple Street for quirky souvenirs or gifts. There are also fortune tellers and street performers present; however, what stands out most are various food stalls and eateries. Looking at these stalls made both sisters' mouths water uncontrollably. Both were foodies with fast metabolisms; thus they never restricted themselves—eating whatever they wanted as much as they desired—much to the envy of their cousins. They ate their way from one end of the market to another while also picking up several items as gifts before realizing that it was already past two o'clock when they reluctantly returned to their hotel.
The next day was still about shopping but at several well-known shopping centers. After making their rounds, both sisters' bags felt significantly lighter. In the evening after dinner, Hanno took Chang Miao to the auction venue. Denglin Pavilion held a high status within its circle and collaborated with a local company in Hong Kong; thus, the auction was set in an upscale hotel where many attendees held significant positions in Hong Kong society—even some celebrities were present. When Hanno spotted Liu Wang, she couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. After all, Andy Lau from "Hong Kong" looked just like Liu Wang!
"Hey Nono," Chang Miao asked curiously about Hanno's reaction upon seeing Liu Wang blushing despite claiming not to be a fan.
Hanno corrected her expression: "I'm just feeling warm; don't you think it's a bit hot in here?"
Chang Miao nodded: "It is indeed a bit warm."
The air conditioning at the auction venue was set quite high; most attendees wore suits and thin dresses suitable for this temperature. However, these two sisters didn't realize that during March or April weather one should wear sweaters—especially since it got cooler at night—they should have added an extra layer! Thus they started sweating…
Chang Miao took off her light jacket to cool down a bit while flipping through an exquisite catalog of auction items. Each piece was beautifully presented and made Chang Miao's heart race with excitement.
"I want that vanity case. It's simply beautiful."
Hanno glanced over. "Do you have the money to buy it?"
Chang Miao sighed, "Don't remind me of my lack of funds. Back in my hometown, I was considered a rich second generation, but here in this international metropolis, I'm compared to the poor."
Hanno replied, "Then you should work hard to become rich like them."
Chang Miao asked uncertainly, "Can I really do that?"
"Your shop has great potential," Hanno assured her.
Chang Miao nodded enthusiastically. "Business is really good right now, especially since you brought in that Embroidered Screen a while back. We sold it for three hundred thousand. If we sell one or two items every month from now on, I'll be a millionaire!"
"That's not much ambition."
Chang Miao rolled her eyes at Hanno. "I don't have your luck! You stumbled upon a hundred thousand just like that."
Hanno turned eight million into one hundred thousand, which startled Han Dad and Mom Han. Soon, relatives and friends of the Han family knew about Hanno's unexpected windfall. That amount wasn't too much or too little; it wouldn't attract unwanted attention. There were reports in the newspapers about people suddenly coming into money, leading to relatives and friends asking for loans and causing all sorts of trouble, even regretting their good fortune. A hundred thousand isn't a small sum, but Hanno's relatives weren't poor; they might feel envious but wouldn't shamelessly ask her for money.
"You can envy it all you want," Hanno laughed. "You should be grateful for that hundred thousand; otherwise, we wouldn't have the chance to attend the auction."
Chang Miao nodded in agreement. "You're right. Let's pretend to be wealthy and raise our hands twice during the bidding to enjoy the thrill of the auction, how about that?"
Hanno shot her a sideways glance. "Aren't you afraid that once you raise your hand, no one else will bid? Do you have the money to buy anything back?"
"No," Chang Miao said, letting her shoulders droop. "I think I'll just be a quiet cameo role beauty instead."
"Look over there," Hanno pointed at a few celebrities ahead. "Now that's what real beauties look like."
"Hanno!" Chang Miao gritted her teeth. "I want to sever ties with you!"
Hanno remained calm. "Biologically, blood relations cannot be severed."
Chang Miao: Σ(｀д′*ノ)ノ(￣皿￣///)(╬▔︵▔)凸
The auction began, hosted by a beautiful female auctioneer who was articulate and knowledgeable about antiques, creating a lively atmosphere. The first item up for bid was no ordinary piece; it was a Yuan blue-and-white porcelain vase. The body was pure white, the glaze transparent, and the blue-and-white patterns depicted waves, dragons, and intertwined peonies, exquisite beyond compare. It ultimately sold for over twenty million to a wealthy Hong Kong businessman. Although the subsequent items were not as remarkable as the first, they were still treasures, each fetching no less than five million, leaving Chang Miao in awe.
Hanno had been waiting for the auction of the "Guo Guo Consort's Spring Outing Painting," but it never appeared until the end of the auction when it was finally placed on the stage as the grand finale.
The "Guo Guo Consort's Spring Outing Painting" was one of the top ten classic paintings, a national treasure with an unquantifiable value. Many attendees had come specifically for this piece. Hanno's heart raced like a roller coaster. One hundred eighty million! Upon hearing that figure, her mind went blank! She had imagined becoming a millionaire or even a multi-millionaire, but a billionaire? That was beyond her wildest dreams!
"Nono, what's wrong? Why is your face so pale?" Chang Miao nudged the dazed Hanno with concern.
"I'm fine," Hanno steadied herself. "The auction is over; let's head back to the hotel."
She had already decided to use that money for something else and resolved to stop thinking about it. Hanno shook her head to clear her mind of the one hundred eighty million figure and returned to the hotel with Chang Miao. As for that sum of money, once she returned to the mainland, Denglin Pavilion would transfer it to her account.
Next, Hanno completely forgot about the concept of being a billionaire and followed Chang Miao to Disneyland for some fun. Disneyland is located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong alongside the Big Buddha. The two spent a night at Disneyland before visiting the Big Buddha for worship. The Big Buddha is said to be the largest outdoor seated bronze statue in the world, majestically seated on a three-tiered lotus pedestal with a total height of nearly thirty-four meters. The base has three levels that include exhibition halls. The three-tiered hall is connected by circular staircases, featuring a large bell hanging in the center; this bronze bell measures two meters in diameter and weighs six tons, adorned with carvings of Buddha images, handprints, and scriptures. The bell is computer-controlled and strikes every seven minutes for a total of one hundred eight times to help people "relieve one hundred eight kinds of troubles."
After paying their respects and purchasing souvenirs, they prepared to head home. They had booked tickets for a flight at five in the afternoon, allowing them time to catch a free airport shuttle back to D City upon arrival at Provincial Capital Airport. However, plans changed unexpectedly—especially due to weather conditions. Despite sunny weather in Hong Kong and Peng City, there were unusual thunderstorms along the flight route from Peng City to Provincial Capital, causing all flights on that route to be delayed.
Hanno and Chang Miao arrived at the airport at three o'clock and waited for three hours without any boarding announcements.
"Why don't we just stay overnight and reschedule?" Hanno suggested as her phone battery neared depletion.
Chang Miao replied, "Maybe we'll be able to board soon; let's wait a little longer."
"Alright." Hanno stood up.
"Where are you going?" Chang Miao quickly asked.
"My phone is dying; I need to charge it," Hanno said while shaking her phone.
"I'll go with you," Chang Miao said as she stood up.
At that moment, there weren't many people charging their devices. The two sisters occupied one side of the charging station, sitting down while charging their phones and browsing. As time passed, more and more people lingered in the airport, and the number of those needing to charge their devices increased. With no available seats, most plugged in their data cables and stood beside the charging stations, waiting for their phones to power up.
"Are you Hanno?" A man connected his phone to a power source and turned slightly, noticing Hanno occupying a seat. He hesitated before asking.
Hanno looked up, squinting slightly at the man. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with familiar features and a strong demeanor that gave Hanno a sense of recognition. It was the distinct aura of a soldier that reminded her of Wei Feng.
"You are..." Hanno's eyes sparkled with confusion.
The man smiled. "I'm Shen Chuiyang, a former comrade of Wei Feng."
Upon hearing that name, Hanno finally recalled him. Shen Chuiyang had served in the same unit as Wei Feng and was several years older. He had taken care of Wei Feng when he first joined the special forces. However, during a mission, Shen Chuiyang lost a leg in an explosion and had to leave the military he loved.
"It's you," Hanno said with a smile as she stood up. "I'm sorry; I didn't recognize you at first."
Shen Chuiyang replied, "It's normal; we haven't seen each other in years."
He then sobered up, saying, "I've heard about Wei Feng. My condolences."
Hanno smiled lightly. "Thank you. But I've moved on from that. By the way, you're charging your phone; please take this seat."
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