Hong Kong universities followed foreign practices, traditionally accepting private donations.
Donating to one’s alma mater, or simply to a favored institution, was something wealthy people frequently did.
Some sought fame, others had different motives.
Du Zhiaohui wasn’t particularly drawn to Huaqing – no matter how prestigious this mainland university was, it wouldn’t impress him… Young Master Du’s diploma was half-bought, half-given. If it weren’t for his younger brothers and sisters all competing for favor, and his face to save, he wouldn’t have bothered getting a diploma for appearances.
In 1979, just as Reform and Opening Up was announced, Hong Kong’s richest man donated money to build a university in his hometown in Guangdong Province.
Du Zhiaohui couldn’t donate that much – the Du family’s assets were a tier below the wealthiest, and he wasn’t the head of the family. But he could authorize one or two million Hong Kong dollars – about the price of one car for Young Master Du in Hong Kong.
For girlfriends he particularly liked, he would gift cars and apartments; for those he moderately liked, designer bags would do.
Hong Kong actresses weren’t worth more than that – spending money on them meant they would please Young Master Du.
Donating to Huaqing University could bring Du Zhiaohui benefits.
Some benefits were intangible. Du Zhiaohui thought like a typical businessman – invest small for big returns. If something was beneficial, he would do it.
When Du Zhiaohui shared his thoughts, even the guide was surprised.
“…It should be possible.”
Donating to schools was certainly acceptable – this wealthy young man from Hong Kong was truly spending money as he pleased.
But regardless of who received the donation, it would contribute to China’s development. The guide wasn’t a traitor – why not quickly agree when a wealthy Hong Kong businessman wanted to support national development?
Now approaching the school became even more legitimate.
In the 1980s, private donations to Huaqing University were rare. The school relied on state funding and was among the first-tier institutions in terms of national allocations. But who would complain about extra money? Such no-strings-attached donations could solve some of the school’s problems – certain niche research projects struggled to get funding, and the school had to pacify professors who couldn’t secure adequate research funds.
What could the school do?
The principal couldn’t create money out of thin air!
If someone wanted to donate, of course, they would accept.
This wasn’t a foreign spy coming to China – it was a Hong Kong businessman. Hong Kong people were Chinese, and in twelve years they would return to China. Huaqing University had no reservations about accepting this money.
Soon, the director of the school office was receiving Du Zhiaohui.
“Patriotic comrades like Mr. Du are exactly what we need!”
They hadn’t discussed specific amounts or designated purposes yet. But based on the information revealed, this would be a private donation of over a million. How much was the director’s monthly salary? Donating over a million at once – surely this was patriotic!
Du Zhiaohui’s Mandarin was neither good nor bad, carrying the distinct accent of Hong Kong Mandarin, but communication was normal.
“It’s like this – before coming to Huaqing, I received a request from a company colleague to meet his daughter while I was here. She enrolled in Huaqing University last year, named Xia Xiaolan, originally from Yunan Province.”
Xia Dajun had no idea which department she was in.
If he hadn’t seen it on television, Xia Dajun wouldn’t even have known Xia Xiaolan got into Huaqing.
But this was easy to check – just ask Student Affairs to look up last year’s admission list. With both hometown and name known, how hard could it be to find one student?
Soon, the information Du Zhiaohui requested was available.
“Xia Xiaolan, enrolled in Huaqing’s Architecture Department in 1984, from Anqing, Yunan Province…”
“That’s her!”
Xia Dajun was from Anqing, Yunan Province – the name, hometown, and gender all matched. No need to worry about duplicate names.
…
Xia Xiaolan had just finished class when the department faculty found her.
She thought it was about the English competition, which was important recently.
But at the office, she was surprised:
“You’re saying a Hong Kong businessman is looking for me?”
The department head took this matter quite seriously.
Other Architecture Department students might be different, but Student Xia Xiaolan’s situation required careful handling. It wasn’t about flattery – the department head felt guilty about not handling Ji Ya’s situation well before.
Xia Xiaolan had faced quite a few issues, though they weren’t her fault.
“This is good news – the Hong Kong businessman wants to donate to Huaqing.”
What did donations have to do with meeting her?
Xia Xiaolan reviewed her network of connections – she knew no one from Hong Kong… oh wait, except Liu Tianquan!
If Liu Tianquan wanted to see her, it wasn’t good news.
Wasn’t Liu Tianquan supposed to have lost power, too busy to care about past conflicts? Had he regained his position and come looking for trouble, remembering his lost face? Who knew if Uncle Liu Yong was aware – without mobile phones, it was troublesome. Even with Liu Yong in Beijing, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t immediately contact him to confirm the situation.
But on campus, even if Liu Tianquan came looking for trouble, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t afraid.
Her university student status was protection – she didn’t believe Liu Tianquan would dare do anything on campus.
With this mindset, Xia Xiaolan followed the department head to the school office.
She had just finished class and was dressed casually, without special preparation, but her clothes were neat, and her bare face could handle any situation. The department head, not knowing why the donating businessman wanted to see Xia Xiaolan, accompanied her just to be safe.
Du Zhiaohui had waited a long time in the office.
Checking records, notifying the Architecture Department, and waiting for Xia Xiaolan’s class to end – layer upon layer of task delegation couldn’t be rushed.
They couldn’t make a student skip class just to meet a Hong Kong businessman, could they?
Huaqing’s academic culture was very straightforward – they welcomed donations, but even a million-plus donation wouldn’t make everyone bow down. School rules had to be followed, and the leaders had their principles!
Du Zhiaohui’s teacup had been refilled twice while the school office leaders chatted enthusiastically with him.
Investigating why a Hong Kong businessman wanted to donate to Huaqing was part of the leader’s responsibilities. Du Zhiaohui didn’t have many reasons – it was just a sudden idea to establish his presence. Not only would he donate to Huaqing, but he planned to donate to other universities too!
Growing impatient with waiting, he finally saw Xia Xiaolan following the department head – the head walking in front, Xia Xiaolan behind. Huaqing’s office decor was modest, with old-style furniture that looked dated even when clean – shabby in Young Master Du’s eyes.
Du Zhiaohui didn’t understand the cultural atmosphere – he just knew that when Xia Xiaolan walked in, the whole office suddenly brightened. “Bringing radiance to a humble dwelling” – this idiom suddenly popped into his head. With his education level, whether the phrase was appropriate didn’t matter – it was Young Master Du’s best expression.
“Comrade Du, this is Student Xia Xiaolan…”
Xia Xiaolan?
This was what Xia Dajun’s daughter Xia Xiaolan looked like.
Forget university – sending her to Hong Kong for movies would earn millions in annual film fees!