Chapter 271: Xia Yu's Backup Plan

London is not only the heart of the United Kingdom but also the heart of all of Europe. In the bustling city of London, countless roads intersect, and various buildings stand on either side of these roads. 

At No. 49, Great Portland Street, there stands an ancient and unique building. Despite many buildings being demolished and rebuilt over the years, its ancient charm remains unmistakable.

This building is none other than the Chinese Embassy in the UK!

In 1877, following the provisions of the Treaty of Tientsin signed by the ineffective Qing government, Guo Songtao, then the Inspector of Fujian Province, was sent to the UK to "apologize" and assume the role of Minister. Before Guo's arrival in London, Jin Denggan, the then head of the Qing Customs office in London and a Scot, had already rented No. 49, Great Portland Street. After Guo's party arrived in London, they stayed in this five-story building constructed in 1777.

Subsequently, Guo Songtao presented a letter of credence to Queen Victoria, making him the first Chinese envoy stationed abroad.

Thus, No. 49, Great Portland Street, became the first foreign diplomatic mission in Chinese history and has been used continuously to this day!

At this moment, in the luxurious reception hall of the Chinese Embassy, Xia Yu and others were inside, with Xia Yu having a pleasant conversation with Ambassador Qian Wenchao.

One seeking assistance and the other wanting to form an alliance, they replaced wine with tea, and as they exchanged cups, their relationship was subtly strengthened.

"Mr. Xia, you have been in London for quite some time. What is your impression of the city?"

Qian Wenchao sipped his tea, smiling as he looked at Xia Yu, casually asking.

"Heh!"

Xia Yu chuckled lightly, lifting his hot tea and gently blowing on it. White mist rose and enveloped his face. As Xia Yu took a sip, a gleam flashed in his eyes, indicating that he had sensed Qian Wenchao's probing.

He put down his tea cup, shook his head, and said, "London is like a bouquet of flowers, vibrant and splendid. Unfortunately, the land where this bouquet grows is already riddled with scars, lacking nutrients, and filled with a decayed atmosphere."

"Even giants will age, and beauties will eventually grow old."

"Three hundred years ago, the British said the sun rises from the Prime Meridian at Greenwich. After more than three hundred years, the British sun will eventually set, and the afterglow of the sunset will also shine here."

"Ha ha, Mr. Xia, you have a way with words, truly deserving of being a literary master. That metaphor is well used; I admire it!"

Hearing Xia Yu's evaluation, Qian Wenchao's smile became radiant, and he laughed heartily, his gaze towards Xia Yu becoming softer.

Xia Yu was indeed a smart person, picking up on the implied meaning in Qian Wenchao's words. Instead of exposing it directly, he used vivid and figurative language to express his attitude towards Britain, subtly indicating his stance.

However, Qian Wenchao still wanted to further understand Xia Yu's position to determine how to deal with him.

Moreover, Xia Yu didn't seem to mind the probing, which was a good opportunity that Qian Wenchao was eager to seize. If he missed this chance to probe, it would be harder to find another opportunity in the future, as who knew when Xia Yu would come to the embassy again?

With this in mind, Qian Wenchao picked up the conversation again, saying, "Mr. Xia, the Xia surname is quite rare in Hong Kong. May I ask where your ancestral home is?"

"I do know about that. My family's ancestral home is in Qianzhou, Jiangxi Province. To escape the Taiping Rebellion, my ancestors moved south and eventually settled in Hong Kong, where they have been ever since."

Xia Yu said with a smile.

This was indeed true; he had checked the family genealogy, which clearly stated this.

Xia Yu had learned online in his previous life that the Xia surname was ranked only after the 150th position in China, with a significant portion of it being in Jiangxi Province, making it the top-ranked province in the country.

"Oh? What a coincidence! I am also from Qianzhou, Jiangxi! We are fellow townsmen!"

Qian Wenchao expressed surprise.

Xia Yu couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. It was indeed surprising. Someone of Qian Wenchao's status wouldn't lie about such a trivial matter, so it must be true!

But whether Qian Wenchao genuinely didn't know about Xia Yu's ancestral home in Jiangxi or was deliberately steering the conversation that way was hard to verify and unnecessary to delve into. It could be taken as a coincidence!

"It seems we are destined to meet!"

Xia Yu said with a smile.

"Ha ha!"

"Unfortunately, I haven't returned to Qianzhou for decades. I wonder what my hometown is like now…"

Qian Wenchao initially laughed heartily, then gradually his smile faded as he spoke with a hint of longing and regret.

Thinking of Jiangxi Province, Xia Yu's gaze became somewhat distant. In his previous life, he was from Qianzhou, Jiangxi, and in this life, he discovered through the family genealogy that his ancestral home was also in Jiangxi. Was this a twist of fate?

"If there's a chance in the future, I would indeed like to go back and have a look!"

Xia Yu seemed to genuinely express his feelings with a soft sigh.

Hearing this, Qian Wenchao's eyes lit up, and he showed a radiant smile, saying, "Mr. Xia has achieved success in your career. Seeking your roots is naturally an easy task. The people of Qianzhou will definitely give you a warm welcome!"

As he spoke, Qian Wenchao looked at Xia Yu intently, observing his expression.

Xia Yu glanced at Qian Wenchao, then turned his head towards the east, adopting a posture of looking into the distance, and said, "Whether welcomed or not, I don't care! Whether by accident or necessity, for hundreds of years, Chinese people's footsteps have spread across the world. Even though we are overseas, we have not forgotten the blood of the Yan and Huang Emperors flowing in us."

"The ancients spoke of falling leaves returning to their roots. No matter how far or how long one is away from home, the heart that yearns for the hometown always beats on…"

"Sorry for being a bit emotional. Please forgive me!"

Xia Yu blinked, collected his emotions, and offered a apologetic smile.

"Ha ha, it's no trouble. Mr. Xia is simply sincere. There's no such thing as being inappropriate!"

Qian Wenchao laughed heartily, his mood very cheerful, and his gaze towards Xia Yu was filled with warmth. His words displayed a clear enthusiasm.

"Ha ha!"

Xia Yu smiled and shook his head without saying anything more.

Next, Qian Wenchao didn't press further. He had learned what he wanted to know. Smart people speak subtly, and there's no need to be too direct; as long as everyone understands, that's enough.

Besides, this was only the second time he had met Xia Yu, and it was also the first time Xia Yu had主动 reached out to him. If he didn't understand the appropriate level of engagement and insisted on probing further, it would raise questions about his abilities. Moreover, even if Xia Yu was smiling on the outside, he might be uncomfortable on the inside.

Excessive probing is not advisable! Moderation is key!

At this moment, Consul Cheng Jie returned. He smiled at Xia Yu and placed a bag on the table, reporting to Qian Wenchao, "Leader, the tickets have been bought. They all depart at 2:30 PM!"

"Thank you for your hard work!"

Qian Wenchao replied, then looked at Xia Yu, making a gesture to check the tickets and smiled, "Mr. Xia, please check to see if everything is in order."

"Okay!"

Xia Yu responded, picked up the bag, opened it, and took out a stack of tickets. He spread them out in one smooth motion. After seeing a series of destination names, Xia Yu displayed a relieved smile, put the tickets back in the bag, and said, "Thank you, Ambassador Qian!"

"No need to be polite. Serving overseas compatriots is our duty. If you need anything in the future, just let us know, and we will definitely assist you as soon as possible!"

Qian Wenchao waved his hand and smiled, his face full of sincerity and earnestness.

"Ha ha, then I won't be polite!"

Xia Yu laughed heartily.

"Ha ha!"

Qian Wenchao also laughed, and even Consul Cheng Jie, standing nearby, seemed to be influenced by the cheerful atmosphere and smiled.

Looking at his watch, Xia Yu showed an apologetic smile, "Ambassador Qian, I have another appointment and must take my leave. I'm really sorry to leave early!"

"Your matter is urgent. Let me see you off!"

Qian Wenchao said understandingly, then stood up and made a gesture of farewell.

Outside, Yan Shining opened the car door. Before getting in, Xia Yu stopped and scanned Qian Wenchao and the others. Finally, his gaze returned to Qian Wenchao.

"Everyone, I will take my leave now. I will visit

 again when I have time. Please don't stand on ceremony. See you soon!"

Xia Yu smiled and waved, then got into the car.

The car slowly departed from the Chinese Embassy. Qian Wenchao and Consul Cheng Jie stood on the sidewalk, watching the car leave.

"Leader, is this really okay?" Cheng Jie couldn't help but ask.

"What's wrong?"

Qian Wenchao was puzzled.

"The assistant mentioned that Mr. Xia seems to have a background in the Hong Kong stock market and is quite influential in the financial world. It's said that he is also engaged in some business operations in the UK. Given his background and influence, should we be more cautious?"

Cheng Jie inquired.

"Well, this matter is being handled well. We've reached the goal of our meeting today, and there's no need to worry too much!"

Qian Wenchao smiled and patted Cheng Jie on the shoulder, saying, "The future of Mr. Xia is limitless, but it's still unknown whether he will come into contact with us or not. The important thing is to establish a good relationship with him and understand his position."

"Understood!"

Cheng Jie responded with a nod, his expression serious.

As they watched Xia Yu's car leave, Qian Wenchao's expression remained warm and pleasant. However, behind that smile, his eyes flashed with contemplation.

He knew Xia Yu's background well. Xia Yu was indeed quite influential in Hong Kong's financial sector, and he had connections with several powerful people. Even though Xia Yu was somewhat cautious about the UK, it didn't affect his ambition.

What Qian Wenchao was really concerned about was the true purpose of Xia Yu's visit to the UK and whether his actions would bring changes or influence the current situation.

In addition, Qian Wenchao couldn't help but recall some recent occurrences. The UK's diplomatic relations had been somewhat strained, and Xia Yu's appearance might just be a part of some bigger plan or scheme.

Even though he was not worried, he had to be cautious and keep a close eye on this emerging financial talent!

As Xia Yu's car disappeared from view, Qian Wenchao turned around, and the smile on his face gradually faded. His eyes were filled with a trace of seriousness and contemplation.

In the car, Xia Yu leaned back, glanced at the back of his hand, and observed a slight discoloration. He calmly collected himself and didn't reveal any emotion.

It was obvious that Qian Wenchao had been probing, but Xia Yu was well-prepared for such situations.

From the moment he had decided to go to the Chinese Embassy to meet Qian Wenchao, Xia Yu had been mentally prepared. His main purpose was to understand Qian Wenchao's intentions and form a foundation for future interactions. Now that the meeting was over, he felt it was a successful start.

Xia Yu adjusted his posture, let out a deep breath, and felt the vehicle gradually picking up speed. He knew that in the future, he would have more interactions with Qian Wenchao and the Chinese Embassy. In such a process, maintaining a balance of cooperation and caution would be key!

The car headed towards its destination, and the events of today seemed to be a small step in the grand scheme of things. Xia Yu had more plans and goals, and the journey ahead was full of possibilities and challenges.