Setting aside the hardships of her journey, when Xia Ziyun appeared before Du Zhaohui, she had shed the rustic look of her worker’s clothes and cotton shoes.
While she couldn’t compete with Hong Kong celebrities in terms of fashion, she at least dressed similarly to the women working in foreign-funded factories in the Special Economic Zone, making her appearance more bearable to Young Master Du.
Her newly permed short hair was a significant improvement for Xia Ziyun. The slight curls not only made her face appear smaller and concealed her scar but also softened her prominent eyebrows and large eyes.
“Miss Xia, this style suits you well.”
At least she didn’t look out of place anymore.
Despite being full of schemes, she had previously dressed too plainly – Du Zhaohui had found it strange from their first meeting.
Now, looking at the transformed Xia Ziyun, Du Zhaohui felt that conversing with her wouldn’t be too painful.
He was also taking a gamble.
Helping find the Xia family members had built a bridge between him and Xia Ziyun. The bridge was built, but who would take the first step across?
Du Zhaohui wasn’t in a hurry, and sure enough, when he didn’t actively seek out Xia Ziyun, she grew anxious – Du Zhaohui immediately realized that compared to how much he needed Xia Ziyun, she needed him more!
Even though Xia Ziyun had correctly ‘predicted’ the Soviet leadership change, so what?
“Manager Du has such good self-control. I thought you would contact me after mid-March. Still, thank you for your kindness in helping find my family members.”
Du Zhaohui poured Xia Ziyun a glass of wine, but her way of holding the wine glass made Young Master Du’s eyes hurt again.
He tried his best not to look at Xia Ziyun’s hands:
“Miss Xia, your Second Uncle has already returned to Yunan. If you’re truly worried about your family, you should find out why they lost their introduction letter, and why even Cheng Rong Group’s intervention couldn’t get them released… Miss Xia, are you here to handle this matter?”
Of course, saying Cheng Rong Group couldn’t get them released was an exaggeration – Du Zhaohui hadn’t personally intervened.
Xia Ziyun had no interest in discussing these useless matters.
“This small matter isn’t urgent, it’s just domestic issues between my Second Uncle and Aunt. They’re disagreeing now, but they might reconcile any day. Manager Du, by visiting you a second time, I’ve shown my sincerity. Are you avoiding the topic because you want to test me further, thinking I’m not qualified to discuss cooperation with you?”
Domestic issues?
What a fool Xia Ziyun was.
Since when did domestic issues involve sending people to detention centers, where even Cheng Rong Group couldn’t secure their release, forcing Xia Dajun to return to Yunan?
Du Zhaohui suspected only Xia Xiaolan’s future in-laws had such influence.
How much must they despise the Xia family?
He didn’t want to beat around the bush with Xia Ziyun anymore.
“Tell me what kind of cooperation you want.”
After careful consideration during her journey, Xia Ziyun pitched her business plan to Du Zhaohui, “The Reform and Opening Up has created opportunities everywhere. I need an investor – I’ll provide the ideas and execute them, while you provide financial support.”
“Miss Xia, cooperation is about capital investment and profit sharing. I won’t comment on your business plan for now, but if I provide the money and you make the profit, it seems you’re the only one benefiting. Can you tell me what I would gain from this?”
Du Zhaohui spoke casually, making Xia Ziyun secretly clench her teeth:
“Manager Du, as the investor, you’ll naturally get a share of the profits I make. You won’t have to work hard, isn’t that a win-win situation?”
Xia Ziyun’s words made Du Zhaohui laugh incredulously.
“Miss Xia, you’re probably viewing Hong Kong through mainland standards. The money you’re talking about – how much could it be? Do you think 1 million or 10 million means anything to the Du family?”
Du Zhaohui wasn’t looking down on Xia Ziyun.
In mainland China in 1985, someone capable of earning 1 million yuan on their own was truly exceptional.
Du Zhaohui would respect such capable people.
Xia Ziyun wasn’t one of them.
Du Zhaohui wasn’t foolish; the Du family was wealthy, and he had discretion over certain amounts of funds.
He could decide to donate several million to universities without asking anyone’s permission. He had learned about donations from Hong Kong’s wealthiest, and after donating, the benefits went to both Cheng Rong Group and Du Zhaohui’s mainland operations. Spending several million had impressed his father, and Du Chengrong thought him clever – Young Master Du’s money wasn’t wasted.
Du Zhaohui couldn’t understand what benefit investing several million in Xia Ziyun would bring him.
Connections with Chinese officials?
Xia Ziyun came from a rural background, and her future in-laws were in trouble. Even before their troubles, Du Zhaohui wouldn’t bow to a deputy director of the Higher Education Department.
Would he spend several million just for Director Wang’s favor? That was just dreaming!
If Xia Ziyun had exceptional business talent, Du Zhaohui would need to see proof.
As he said before, someone who could earn 1 million was capable, but that amount meant nothing to Du Zhaohui!
Xia Ziyun hadn’t expected this turn of events.
Without wealth rankings and advanced information systems at the time, no one listed or ranked the wealthy’s assets. Xia Ziyun couldn’t even guess how much money the Du family had.
She thought she could make money for Du Zhaohui, but was he saying it wasn’t enough?
Xia Ziyun’s cheeks flushed red, and she could barely hold her wine glass steady, so she set it down.
“Manager Du-“
“So, let’s be frank. How did you know about the Soviet leadership change in advance? What can your ‘predictive’ intelligence channels offer me? I don’t need someone to help make money unless you’re talking about profits in the hundreds of millions. We don’t lack professional managers who can earn several million a year for the company. Miss Xia, wait until your powerful intelligence network helps you understand what I want, then we’ll have a basis for cooperation.”
Du Zhaohui finished his wine, signaling the end of their conversation.
Seeing Du Zhaohui stand to leave, Xia Ziyun froze.
His words had slapped her hard again.
The hundreds of millions in profit Du Zhaohui mentioned – even with Xia Ziyun’s high self-regard, she didn’t think she could achieve that. What business in ’85 could earn that much? Only state-monopolized industries could, and Xia Ziyun had no way to enter those.
She couldn’t provide the money Du Zhaohui wanted.
Du Zhaohui liked beautiful women… but even with Xia Ziyun’s transformation, he showed little interest during their conversation.
She could offer neither money nor beauty to Du Zhaohui.
As Xia Ziyun watched Du Zhaohui nearly reach the door, sudden inspiration struck – the Du family was indeed wealthy.
But the Du family’s wealth wasn’t all Du Zhaohui’s. Xia Ziyun recalled information from Xia Dajun: though Du Zhaohui was the son of Du Chengrong’s first wife, Du Chengrong was quite promiscuous. Besides Du Zhaohui’s mother, he had married three concubines and had many children besides Du Zhaohui.
Controlling her excitement, Xia Ziyun stood up:
“The Du family – you want to control the Du family, you want all of it!”
The Du family was already wealthy enough, and Du Zhaohui didn’t care about small amounts of money. He wanted to obtain all the Du family assets. If Xia Ziyun were in his position, she would think the same way – why should the family money be shared with concubines and half-siblings when she could have it all?