Du Zhaohui’s attention was entirely focused on Tang Hongen; otherwise, he would have dragged Xia Dajun aside for a beating.
Being so timid was embarrassing to Young Master Du’s reputation!
Du Zhaohui couldn’t understand how ordinary citizens felt when facing a mayor. After all, Young Master Du had been born with a silver spoon—by the time he was born, Cheng Rong Group was already prosperous. As the young master of a wealthy family, he naturally carried himself with grace and confidence wherever he went.
“Young Mr. Du, what brings you here?”
Du Zhaohui certainly wouldn’t admit he was planning to intercept someone in Beijing, so he smoothly changed his story:
“I’m picking up a friend. What a coincidence meeting Mayor Tang here. Mayor Tang, we must have a good chat today!”
“Young Mr. Du’s friend…”
“No worries, I’ll have my assistant pick them up.”
Though Du Zhaohui was there to wait for an arriving flight, no one would expose his improvised story about meeting a friend. His assistant was clever enough to bow and scrape: “Young Master, I’ll handle everything as you instructed.”
Xia Dajun didn’t have such quick wit, but he knew not to contradict the young master’s words.
Expose Young Master Du’s lie in front of Mayor Tang?
Xia Dajun wasn’t an idiot!
Du Zhaohui stuck to Tang Hongen, their cars following each other from Yangcheng back to the Special Zone.
Tang Hongen was already aware that Fujian Province’s anti-smuggling operation had yielded significant results, with several ships belonging to Cheng Rong Group. Yet Young Master Du remained remarkably composed. Though Tang Hongen wasn’t in Pengcheng, he knew about the progress of Du Zhaohui’s negotiations with the government regarding Cheng Rong Group’s investment plans… Businessmen were inherently greedy—Du Zhaohui wanted to invest minimal capital while securing maximum preferential policies. Though agreeing wouldn’t hurt Tang Hongen’s interests, he refused to set such a precedent. If every future investor followed suit, the economy might develop, but the long-term negative impact would be severe!
Preferential treatment and concessions were necessary—after all, how else could Reform and Opening Up attract foreign investment?
But such policies absolutely couldn’t be without bottom lines.
On the return journey, Tang Hongen reviewed documents from Secretary Peng, which detailed the situation from several meetings.
When the two men sat in Tang Hongen’s office, Tang Hongen pointed out various issues: which conditions the Pengcheng government could accept, which were impossible, and which could be further negotiated.
“The Special Zone welcomes all law-abiding businessmen. I hope Young Mr. Du can participate in the Special Zone’s development for our mutual benefit.”
Tang Hongen’s emphasis on law-abiding and mutual benefit seemed pointed to Du Zhaohui.
With Cheng Rong Group’s ships being caught in Fujian Province, Mayor Tang appeared to be gloating!
Understandably so—Du Zhaohui would mock this family infighting too. Liu Tianquan sided with Fourth Concubine Liu Keying, attempting to seize the inheritance from Du Zhaohui… If Du Zhaohui failed to secure the Pengcheng investment, Liu Tianquan would be laughing.
“Mayor Tang is right. Mutual benefit is the foundation of long-term cooperation. Some conditions can be renegotiated.”
Tang Hongen nodded internally—this Young Master Du wasn’t a fool.
What was the point of persisting with smuggling? With the Du family in such chaos, Du Zhaohui’s chances of inheriting everything were slim. Since the family business would be divided anyway, why shouldn’t Du Zhaohui take the cleanest portion?
The legal, legitimate investment was the long-term solution.
“Then let’s hope for a pleasant cooperation. Pengcheng has always welcomed promising young Hong Kong businessmen like yourself, Young Mr. Du!”
The tug-of-war between Tang Hongen and Du Zhaohui finally achieved a breakthrough, with Du Zhaohui making concessions. The agreement still needed revision—a meticulous task that couldn’t be settled in one conversation between Tang Hongen and Du Zhaohui. Both sides needed to consult professionals.
Du Zhaohui maintained a pained expression before Tang Hongen, but once he sat in his car outside the government building, a smile gradually spread across his face.
Xia Dajun asked quietly:
“Young Master, are we still going to Beijing?”
Du Zhaohui gave him a strange look, “Are you really that stupid? What Beijing? We’re returning to Hong Kong tonight!”
Xia Dajun looked disappointed. In a good mood, Du Zhaohui teased his foolish follower: “You seem very interested in Beijing. I recall you’re not from there!”
Du Zhaohui had certainly investigated Xia Dajun’s background.
What if someone had planted him as a spy?
Xia Dajun was from southern Henan, divorced, and had left his hometown to work because he couldn’t stay there. He’d been repeatedly cheated while traveling and finally found work as a porter at the docks, only to lose that job too… Being cheated was better than being the cheater—Du Zhaohui trusted Xia Dajun not only for show but because he was sufficiently stupid.
Xia Dajun lowered his head, “It’s the capital. I’ve never been.”
He wanted to say his daughter and niece were studying at universities there, but Young Master Du might not believe him.
If he did believe, Xia Dajun would be even more afraid.
Young Master Du had a terrible reputation regarding women. Hong Kong’s liberal attitude toward relationships had already shocked Xia Dajun. The young master frequently changed girlfriends, all dressed provocatively. Xia Dajun believed all young women surnamed Xia should stay far away from the young master for their safety.
The Xia and Du families were worlds apart—whoever Young Master Du fancied, it couldn’t be serious.
Du Zhaohui didn’t know Xia Dajun saw him as a “sex-crazed demon.” If he did, he would have sneered—how could someone as rough as Xia Dajun have heavenly beauties in his family?!
But Xia Dajun wasn’t being truthful, hiding something from him.
Du Zhaohui remained outwardly calm. He hoped Xia Dajun would stay with him longer, but if Xia Dajun couldn’t withstand temptation and betrayed him, he couldn’t blame the Du family for forgetting his life-saving deed!
As Xia Dajun kept his head down, Du Zhaohui’s vicious glance flashed past unnoticed.
…
With Du Zhaohui’s unpredictable movements, Liu Tianquan’s men could only determine that he planned to visit Beijing despite close surveillance.
As for his purpose in Beijing, Liu Tianquan couldn’t uncover that information.
Now Du Zhaohui had turned back at the airport and returned with Mayor Tang.
At times like these, Liu Tianquan truly wished Xiaoyu could be more useful.
Since Xiaoyu met Xia Dajun, Liu Tianquan hadn’t seen her, fearing Du Zhaohui’s suspicion. The two met very cautiously, and Liu Tianquan was quite dissatisfied: “You haven’t passed along a single piece of useful information!”
Xiaoyu felt wronged, “You said not to arouse their suspicion. Though Xia Dajun is stupid, he’s very tight-lipped about Du Zhaohui’s affairs.”
Xiaoyu didn’t want to antagonize Xia Dajun because he was so easy to deceive. She already knew he was divorced and earned 3,000 Hong Kong dollars monthly—perfectly matching her targets.
If Liu Tianquan didn’t have leverage over her, she wouldn’t even bother pretending to comply!
Liu Tianquan’s fat face remained expressionless:
“Xiaoyu, betrayal might be an easy decision, but its price is heavy—one you can’t afford… If you can’t discover Du Zhaohui’s movements, you have no value, understand? Since Du Zhaohui isn’t going to Beijing anymore, I want you to find Xia Dajun now and learn their next move.”