At only 24 years old, Du Zhao Hui was already representing Cheng Rong Group in investment negotiations in Pengcheng City. Although Du Cheng Rong had sent people to supervise the large sums of money, Du Zhao Hui himself had authority over half the decisions. All businessmen are greedy, and the Du family, straddling the line between legitimate and illegitimate business, was even greedier. Gray-area industries yielded enormous profits, and while the Special Economic Zone’s policies were already quite favorable, the Du family wanted even better terms.
Liu Tian Quan took the lesser path, attempting to build a relationship with Tang Hong En. Through gifts? Through feminine charms? By finding Tang Hong En’s weaknesses? In Du Zhao Hui’s opinion, these were all petty tactics stemming from Liu Tian Quan’s lack of real power.
Of course, Liu Tian Quan lacked power – in the Cheng Rong Group, he was an outsider. Though he could serve as the group’s scout, what authority did he have over internal matters? Besides those with the Du surname, Du Cheng Rong trusted no one, not even his bedmate. While his three concubines appeared to enjoy different levels of favor, when it came to crucial moments, Du Cheng Rong likely treated them all the same.
Only those of Du Cheng Rong’s bloodline, only children bearing the Du surname, were truly family. Regardless of who won or lost in the fight for inheritance, the ultimate winner would always be someone named Du. Outsiders could hold positions in the Cheng Rong Group, but they could never surpass Du Zhao Hui.
Tang Hong En had met with Du Zhao Hui twice. The young man wasn’t physically imposing, nor was he the typical elite heir of a Hong Kong tycoon family. Though slightly built, his presence was unmistakable. Tang Hong En found Du Zhao Hui somewhat frivolous but wasn’t sure if someone was advising him from behind the scenes. In just two meetings, beneath Du Zhao Hui’s superficial behavior, Tang Hong En detected an alarming shrewdness.
This young master Du had mediocre academic credentials and was dubbed a playboy by Hong Kong gossip magazines. His image didn’t match that of an elite – no understated high-end tailoring could be found on Du Zhao Hui. Instead, he was a privileged young master wrapped in luxury brands: gleaming crocodile shoes, golden cufflinks on his shirt, a diamond watch, and a ring on his pinky finger.
Young Master Du’s appearance in Pengcheng City had certainly startled quite a few people. Men wearing rings were rare in mainland China in 1984. Even wedding rings wouldn’t become popular until later. Currently, newlyweds simply obtain a marriage certificate with their black and white ID photos attached, and those who could afford it would host a few tables of guests and prepare the “four essential items” to complete the ceremony.
Secretary Peng had seen Young Master Du several times but still couldn’t help stealing glances at him, as he was so different from other Hong Kong businessmen.
“Mr. Du, the leader would like to see you now.”
Du Zhao Hui immediately stood up. “If Mayor Tang is too busy, I can wait longer.”
Secretary Peng smiled, “Even if the leader is busy, he’ll make time for Mr. Du.”
Du Zhao Hui came to Pengcheng with real money – reportedly several million Hong Kong dollars in initial investment. As the official in charge of economic affairs, Tang Hong En couldn’t turn away such a wealthy benefactor. Even if this benefactor’s glittering exterior concealed darkness within, Tang Hong En had to meet with Du Zhao Hui. Money itself wasn’t a sin; “money” had no inherent good or bad qualities until others assigned meaning to it during its circulation.
Investment was welcome, but if Cheng Rong Group intended to test Tang Hong En’s bottom line, that wouldn’t be acceptable.
Mainlanders were more accustomed to addressing people as “Comrade So-and-so,” but Hong Kong people weren’t used to this. Secretary Peng addressed him as “Mr. Du.”
Tang Hong En did the same, causing Du Zhao Hui to display exaggerated dismay: “Mayor Tang, please just call me Little Du. I dare not accept ‘Mister’ – if my father knew, he’d surely kill me.”
His performance was quite theatrical, yet not to the point of being off-putting – this showed considerable skill.
Tang Hong En invited Du Zhao Hui to sit, and they talked in the office for over an hour. Du Zhao Hui’s thinking was very clear. After concluding their discussion, Tang Hong En walked him to the door:
“Young Mr. Du, I understand your meaning. Pengcheng certainly welcomes your group’s investment, but regarding this project you mentioned, our city government needs to discuss it further. How about this – I invite you to attend next week’s regular municipal government work meeting.”
Though Du Zhao Hui typically maintained quite a spectacle, he didn’t bring that attitude to his meeting with Tang Hong En.
As he exited the government office building, several assistants gathered around him.
“Young Master…”
Several cars were parked below, and Liu Tian Quan stepped out of one of them.
“Zhao Hui, how did it go? Ah, for some reason Mayor Tang seems to have reservations about our group. Don’t worry if things don’t work out immediately.”
Since arriving in Pengcheng, Liu Tian Quan had been calling him Zhao Hui this and Zhao Hui that, as if he were Du Zhao Hui’s real uncle. Even a real uncle wouldn’t be so clingy. Outside the Du family, Du Zhao Hui never gave Liu Tian Quan a face, but Liu Tian Quan’s thick skin allowed him to keep talking to himself.
Du Zhao Hui typically ignored Liu Tian Quan, but this time he showed a rare smile:
“Mayor Tang has reservations about Cheng Rong Group? You can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly. The Pengcheng government is very interested in our investment plans, and Mayor Tang himself values them highly. He’s already decided to formally discuss them at next week’s municipal government work meeting, and he’s invited me to attend.”
The assistants quickly began flattering him, nearly drowning Du Zhao Hui in praise.
Liu Tian Quan was stunned!
How was this possible? Du Zhao Hui had only been in Pengcheng for such a short time, yet he’d already gotten Tang Hong En to relent – didn’t this make him look completely incompetent?
Du Zhao Hui wouldn’t tell such an easily exposed lie.
Du Zhao Hui ignored the fawning assistants and walked to his car, where a burly man stood. Du Zhao Hui threw his folder at him:
“Are you fucking stupid? After all this time, you still can’t read the situation!”
Only after being scolded did the man belatedly realize he should open the car door for the young master.
Du Zhao Hui continued cursing as he got in and left.
The assistants exchanged glances before quickly getting into other cars to follow.
Liu Tian Quan viciously kicked his car door.
This was typical of that brat Du Zhao Hui – sweet and agreeable in the Du family mansion, but impossibly arrogant once outside.
Moreover, he trusted no one, barely acknowledging even those Du Cheng Rong had assigned to him.
No, that wasn’t quite right – that man by Du Zhao Hui’s side, whom he took everywhere, had reportedly only been with Du Zhao Hui for a short time yet had pushed aside previous confidants. Liu Tian Quan had a thought: could he approach Du Zhao Hui through this confidant?
Whether the man loved money or pleasure, or both, whatever Du Zhao Hui could give, Liu Tian Quan could offer more.
If he could help, Liu Tian Quan would give even more than Du Zhao Hui.
Liu Tian Quan only knew that the man had saved Du Zhao Hui, that he was a mainlander who had carried Du Zhao Hui back to Hong Kong. As for this mainlander’s background, Liu Tian Quan didn’t know. Du Zhao Hui often cursed the man viciously, and the other assistants couldn’t help but envy Xia Da Jun’s position of being curse-worthy – yes, that was his name, Xia Da Jun.
Just hearing the surname “Xia” made Liu Tian Quan instinctively uncomfortable.