Throughout the afternoon, Lu Ming sat in front of his desk blankly, his mind in a state of confusion, staring blankly at the white paper on the desk. He knew that he was making the old habit of being emotional again. Although he was not old, the problem was not the same.

When I'm young, once I feel down, it takes me a long time to get over it.

In fact, Yuan Mingzhu got closer to those maids and had a better relationship, but after hearing the unfortunate news, she felt sad for a while and then calmed down. At this moment, she shuttled through various rooms, greeted the maids in the inner house, and gave them to her.

Some small gifts for them made them all smile.

Yuan Mingzhu's approachability was unmatched by Lu Ming's. She was laughing and joking, trying to find out information without anyone noticing, without revealing any traces.

During dinner, the housekeeper came to call Lu Ming, saying that the master invited him to eat alone. It was getting late, and when he left the house, he found that it was raining heavily, and a young servant was waiting outside with an umbrella. Every day

A lantern hangs under the eaves of every room, illuminating the clear stone pavement, making it seem like you are in a quiet mountain wilderness.

The housekeeper led Lu Ming to Sheng Youde's study. The dining table had been set, but there were only two chairs. Sheng Youde was already sitting there. He knew that Sheng Youde had stomach problems and ate soft food, although he always ate alone.

, but I never avoid others. I arranged to have dinner in the study today, so I was naturally separated from other people.

Lu Ming bowed politely and sat on the chair opposite. Sheng Youde nodded and said nothing.

After a while, the servants brought the wine and food, and the two of them ate and drank in silence. Of course, Lu Ming did not treat himself as a guest, and ate and drank as usual.

This is a typical mixed building of Chinese and Western styles. The spacious study room is brightly lit, and the fire is blazing in the fireplace. It is as warm as spring. However, Lu Ming still feels a little cold. It is the coldness deep in his heart, which cannot be driven away by the fire.

of.

"You are still young, and your path has been so smooth before." Sheng Youde suddenly said something out of nowhere.

Lu Ming raised his head, not understanding the meaning of Sheng Youde's words.

"I seem to have never asked you why you want to go back to China. Isn't it better to stay in the United States? If you think the United States is not good enough, then you can go to the United Kingdom, France, or Italy." Sheng Youde looked into his eyes and asked.

"This..." Lu Ming couldn't think of what to say.

The United States is good, the United Kingdom is good, Paris, France, is certainly good as the world's cultural capital, and Italy's cultural customs are also very special. During the five years abroad, he used his holidays to travel to many cities, and also visited a certain

He wanted to settle down somewhere, but in the end he returned to his country because he couldn't find the feeling of home in those places.

Once a person's heart is big, it is difficult to become small. After returning to China, he stayed briefly in his hometown of Huzhou, and then went to Shanghai. In the complicated, chaotic, abnormally prosperous Shanghai Bund, he seemed to have found his own direction of struggle, and wanted to do this.

Do what you can to maintain social peace.

Sheng Youde stared at Lu Ming's eyes, waiting for him to answer the question.

"The living conditions abroad are better than at home, but it's not home there. People always seem to be floating there." Lu Ming answered simply.

"Well, it's very good, then I'm relieved." Sheng Youde lowered his head and started eating without speaking.

Lu Ming was stunned for a while, wondering why Sheng Youde asked him this question at this time.

After he returned to China, Sheng Youde never asked him about his studies abroad. He asked more about his hometown and Shanghai, as if he had never studied abroad. Today, uncharacteristically, he discussed his life goals with him.

coming.

"There is at least one good thing about people who love their families. They will not forget their ancestors and their roots." Sheng Youde sighed.

Lu Ming burst out laughing. Is he a family lover? If he really wants to keep his roots, he should stay in his hometown in Huzhou, obey his mother, marry early, have a lot of children, guard the family business of his ancestors, and act like a good father.

The eldest son of the family slowly transformed into the role of Mr. Lu.

But he doesn't want to live like that, and that kind of life is not what he likes. He just likes to stay in Shanghai, live leisurely alone, and imagine the future of China's Pinkerton Detective out of thin air in the undisturbed detective agency.

The grand occasion of the society.

What he wanted when he returned home was peace of mind, and the place of peace of mind was his hometown.

He knew that in the eyes of his hometown people, he was just a spoiled child. After going abroad, he picked up a lot of foreigners' bad habits. This was not good, and that was not good. He didn't know what he wanted to do and what he could do.

He chose a profession that was unheard of in his hometown: detective. This profession was completely imported. Can he support himself? Lu Ming himself didn't know.

Sheng Youde invited him to join the company and promised him a huge salary of 20,000 yuan a month. He obviously had high hopes for him. He knew that he was not a qualified management talent and could not be Zhan Sheng Youde's assistant. Instead of a year and a half

It is better not to enter in the first place than to quit in despair after downloading.

Both of them understood that eating today was not the focus, it was just a formality, and they ate something simple. Sheng Youde asked the servant to remove the cups and plates, bring tea, and waved the servant away.

"I came to you today to talk to you about something very, very important. Can I trust you, right?" Sheng Youde stared into Lu Ming's eyes again.

"Uncle Sheng, although my nephew is useless, he is still trustworthy." Lu Ming said with a smile.

"Nonsense, if you are really worthless and a mediocre person, why should I ask you for it? What I am talking about now is about the future destiny of the Sheng family. You are not allowed to joke with me." Sheng Youde's face was slightly grim.

"Ah, for this matter... you should always look for someone else. I really can't do it." Lu Ming shook his head and waved his hands hurriedly.

He doesn't know what "the future fate of the Sheng family" refers to, but it must be no trivial matter, not a simple matter. Sheng Muyi's disappearance has made him feel more pressure, but he must face it and cannot avoid it. Even though this case is very strange, he will also

Face the difficulties. As for other matters concerning the Sheng family, they will not be explained in his book.

"Well, if there was someone else to choose from, I wouldn't look for you. I have no choice." Sheng Youde frowned.

What Sheng Youde said is the truth. When it comes to managing family wealth and running business, Lu Ming is indeed not the best candidate. There are many more suitable people than him, but can these people withstand pressure and threats? Can they do it?

Do you live up to your trust under pressure and even the threat of a bayonet?

If there are these additional conditions, Lu Ming will naturally be the best candidate.

If Lu Ming knew what Sheng Youde said about him, he would definitely hide under the table in shame. What he fears most is pressure and burden. He ran away from home just because he didn't want to bear the burden of his family prematurely.

Instead of avoiding the marriage that is basically a fact.

It is true to say that he is not afraid of threats. He is not afraid of any threats. Otherwise, he would not dare to go to the meeting alone and have tea with the Qinghong Gang. It would be a pure Hongmen Banquet.

"Let me tell you straight, I want to ask you to be the guardian of the Sheng family and the Sheng family's property." Sheng Youde didn't want to beat around the bush anymore and went straight to the truth.

"What guardian?" Lu Ming felt that he didn't understand.

"I'll say it again, please be the guardian of the Sheng family and the Sheng family industry. I'll pay you a high salary, but when necessary, you have to protect it with your life! Do you understand?" Sheng Youde's words were sonorous and powerful.

"Uncle Sheng, are you just making fun of your nephew? Who doesn't know that you have a lot of connections in Shanghai? How can I, a fledgling boy, shoulder such a heavy responsibility?" Lu Ming was startled and declined quickly, shaking his head.

Like a rattle.

"The most important thing about connections is trust. There is no one else but you!" Sheng Youde said in an unarguable tone.

"But...but the Sheng family has you, old man, so why do we need a guardian?"

Lu Ming heard it clearly. Sheng Youde's status in Shanghai, not to mention his status in China, is equivalent to Ford in the United States and Krupp in Germany. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China government until now, the government has

The king's flag changed in 2007, and politicians and warlords from all sides came to the stage like a revolving door. However, Sheng Youde's status has never changed at all. If there is any change, it is that he is richer than before.

Lu Ming couldn't figure it out. With such a great status, not to mention being a powerful person on the beach, he responded to a hundred calls, so why did he need others to protect him?

"My life is not long. I may not be able to survive this test." Sheng Youde sighed.

"What difficulties have you encountered?" As soon as he said these words, Lu Ming was startled. What kind of difficulties would make Sheng Youde turn to others for help?

Seeing the sadness buried in the dense wrinkles on Sheng Youde's face, Lu Ming suddenly felt a pain in his heart. Outsiders only saw the infinite scenery of the Sheng family, but there was so much suffering and sadness hidden under this infinite scenery.

"Stop asking, nephew. The more you know, the more dangerous it will be. I won't hide it from you. Someone has started to do evil things to the Sheng family. I don't know whether I can survive this time." The look on Sheng Youde's face

The expression doesn't change much.

"Who dares to do evil things to you? Are you brave enough to eat something like a bear's heart?" Lu Mingjian raised his eyebrows.

"Nothing is impossible. When you live to my age, you will understand that there is no such thing as impossible in this world. The way is higher than the devil." Sheng Youde felt calm after saying this.

"What kind of demon is this? I didn't expect such a force to exist in Shanghai." Lu Ming felt a gloomy chill pass over his body.

With Sheng Youde's connections and financial resources in Shanghai, those who want to take advantage of him are definitely not local forces. Which force is it? A foreign company or a foreign consortium?

After thinking about it, only foreign consortiums have this ability, but strong dragons cannot overwhelm local snakes. Although foreign consortia have strong financial resources and high-level connections in the government, this is Shanghai. On the surface, Sheng Youde is not as famous as Huang Jinrong or Du Yuesheng.

Big, but he is truly the richest man in Shanghai.

It can be said that none of the local forces in Shanghai, whether they are official, business circles or several major gangs, have the strength to compete with Sheng Youde.

"Don't ask, you will know in the future. Today I just want you to agree to my invitation and protect the Sheng family and the Sheng family's property!" Sheng Youde pounded the table with his fist.

Lu Ming did not inquire further. He was instinctively resistant to the Sheng family's relationship with major gangs. He stayed in Shanghai for half a year, but rarely came to Liuyuan because he did not want to get involved in the Sheng family's affairs.

That night, after talking about this, Lu Ming understood in his heart that the matter Sheng Youde entrusted to him was no less than red-hot charcoal in the fireplace. It would be impossible for him not to accept it, but could he accept it?

Anyway, if you can catch it, you have to pick it up, and if you can't, you have to pick it up.

"You don't have to worry so much. Let's put it this way, I will make a deal with you. If I am still alive in the world in five years, it means that the Sheng family has passed this test and nothing will happen to you. If this

I couldn't pass the first level, and Mu Yi couldn't get it back, or..."

"No, Uncle Sheng, nothing will happen. I will definitely get Mu Yi back and hand it over to you." Lu Ming's tone was firm, and he was unambiguous on this point.

"I mean, if Mu Yi really can't come back, then you have to bear the responsibility of protecting my Sheng family and the Sheng family property. As for how to protect it, I will make detailed arrangements in my will. Just follow it.

.”

"Have you already made a will?" Lu Ming asked in surprise.

"Well, Mu Yi's accident was just their first move, and big things will happen later. In order to prevent accidents, I made a will. You don't have to worry about which lawyer from which law firm I hand over, really.

When that day comes, a lawyer will find you and give you my will, and then you will know what to do."

"But where is Brother Di? He is the heir to the Sheng family?" Lu Ming said.

Sheng Youde sighed: "Silly boy, if something happens to Mu Yi and I, will there be any good results for Xiao Di?"

Lu Ming understood, and suddenly thought of that sentence: Under the cover of the nest, there are still intact eggs.
To be continued...