After days of hard work, Charlie wade rested in Aurous Hill for a few days before setting off again for Guangcheng in the south.
It was nearing the Lunar New Year, and the weather was growing colder, Guangcheng’s milder temperatures were more accommodating for performances.
According to the plan, the final stop was Rongcheng, after the last performance there, Charlie wade would immediately return to Aurous Hill, and the next day, fly with his family to the Maldives.
Travelling with Tawana for days had left Charlie wade mentally fatigued, he was eagerly looking forward to the New Year to rest, not so much physically tired, but in need of mental relaxation and decompression.
While Charlie wade was overseeing Tawana’s performance in Guangcheng, a cargo ship docked at Pudong Port in Hucheng.
This was a Chinese-registered vessel, just returned to its anchorage, all crew members disembarked for rest, and once the ship was loaded with the next batch of cargo, it would set sail for Europe.
Among the crew was a middle-aged cook, affectionately called Chef Ma by the others, but his true identity was Stephen Thompson, the long-time steward of the Wade family.
The entire crew were subordinates of Charlie wade’s mother, An Chengqi, who controlled a Chinese shipping company, though not as large as Yisu Shipping, it had dozens of container ships, providing ample cash profits for An Chengqi while facilitating global logistics and personnel deployment.
After leaving the ship, Stephen Thompson was escorted through secret channels to Aurous Hill.
Hucheng to Aurous Hill was not far, just three or four hours.
An Chengqi arranged for Stephen Thompson to stay at Qixia Temple, as Aurous Hill was full of Charlie wade’s people and businesses, she dared not let Stephen Thompson show his face.
Stephen Thompson rode in a completely opaque van from Hucheng to Qixia Temple, arriving late at night.
Qixia Temple closed its gates at night, not receiving pilgrims or laypeople, but a side entrance to the mountain was opened, closing again after Stephen Thompson’s van entered.
The van drove straight to a secluded courtyard halfway up the mountain, the same one An Chengqi had once stayed in, several monks quietly prepared the courtyard and guest rooms, retreating with bowed heads once the van entered.
Two men in black stepped out from the driver and passenger seats, checked the surroundings, locked the gate, then opened the rear sliding door, saying respectfully to Stephen Thompson inside, “Steward Tang, we’ve arrived, you may disembark.”
Stephen Thompson nodded lightly, stepping out, and saw an elderly woman emerge from the main house, Sister Dawn, who usually accompanied An Chengqi.
Seeing Stephen Thompson, Sister Dawn smiled, “Thompson, you’ve had a long and tiring journey.”
Stephen Thompson chuckled, “I’ve been enjoying the tropical island vibes in Tahiti lately, not tiring at all, it’s you, Sister Dawn, always by Madam’s side, that’s the real hard work.”
