“What do you mean try? Now you’re being modest – your relationship with Mayor Tang makes us all envious!”

Du Zhao Hui readily accepted Tang Yuan Yue’s flattery.

He knew exactly how close he really was with Mayor Tang. But he enjoyed letting others misunderstand – after all, Hong Kong businessmen in Peng City all wanted close relationships with government leaders.

Du Zhao Hui had no personal connection with Mayor Tang, but his high-profile behavior made others think he did. He wouldn’t actively explain this – Tang Yuan Yue’s association with him might even be based on this assumption.

Du Zhao Hui feigned modesty:

“It’s hard to say. Mayor Tang has strong principles. I can only try my best.”

Tang Yuan Yue remained unconcerned.

The choice of decoration company didn’t matter.

Even if Tian Chen’s proposal wasn’t good, they could later buy someone else’s proposal. Tang Yuan Yue just wanted to outmaneuver Dong Feng Holdings.

The mainland was vast – Tang Yuan Yue couldn’t investigate everyone’s background.

He didn’t know why Mayor Tang wanted to help Dong Feng Holdings, but as long as Mayor Tang stayed out of it, with a 3:1 advantage, Mei Hua would control Nan Hai Hotel.

“Zhao Hui, if you want to help, you need to act quickly. The hotel shareholders’ meeting is on the 20th.”

Du Zhao Hui had planned to stay in Hong Kong for a few more days, but hearing this, he had to change his schedule.

Mayor Tang was an extremely difficult person to handle.

Du Zhao Hui couldn’t possibly stay in Hong Kong and convince Mayor Tang to switch sides with just a phone call to Peng City… He was the Special Zone’s mayor, not Du Zhao Hui’s hired muscle – he wouldn’t be so obedient!

Tang Yuan Yue was also heading to Peng City.

Du Zhao Hui traveled with him.

When Du Zhao Hui’s car appeared in Peng City, the local office sprang into action. Among the many trying to curry favor, Xia Da Jun didn’t even get a chance.

To pay respects to the young master and show concern required a certain rank.

Xia Da Jun’s rank wasn’t high enough.

The manager finally caught sight of Ah Hua. Unable to flatter the young master directly, he had other matters to discuss.

“Brother Hua, please wait. I need your advice – how should we calculate Xia Da Jun’s salary?”

Ah Hua wouldn’t touch such trouble.

He wasn’t paying from his pocket, but if he tried to save the company money, others would accuse him of deliberately suppressing Xia Da Jun.

“Young Master hasn’t mentioned reducing salary. Pay it as usual.”

At least for now, while Young Master was distant from Xia Da Jun, he wasn’t completely disgusted. Ah Hua wouldn’t play the villain – if the manager reduced Xia Da Jun’s salary and Young Master discovered it, Ah Hua knew he’d face consequences.

To outsiders, Xia Da Jun had saved Young Master’s life. If Young Master wanted others’ loyalty, he certainly wouldn’t treat Xia Da Jun too poorly.

What did a few months’ extra salary matter to Young Master?

The manager got his answer and understood.

Young Master was loyal to his people – at least Xia Da Jun hadn’t fallen from favor yet.

While the manager had barely managed to speak with Ah Hua, Xia Da Jun tried to approach, but Du Zhao Hui had no time to see him.

Xia Da Jun called out “Young Master,” and Du Zhao Hui turned to look:

“Ah, Da Jun. You can walk now – recovering well. Keep working at rehabilitation and get better soon!”

Du Zhao Hui said just this before getting in his car and driving away, but Xia Da Jun’s face flushed with excitement. To him, Du Zhao Hui’s casual encouragement meant everything. Once he recovered, he could return to Young Master’s side – he truly didn’t understand these company matters.

Du Zhao Hui had no idea Xia Da Jun would think so much about it.

His mind was on his promise to Tang Yuan Yue. He couldn’t just brazenly approach Mayor Tang and ask why he supported Dong Feng Holdings.

Tang Hong En was a principled person, and Du Zhao Hui planned to use this trait.

It would be best to invite Mayor Tang to see the sites and judge which proposal was better.

To maintain his reputation, the Mayor couldn’t blatantly lie. Du Zhao Hui called Tian Chen’s manager: “Who else is competing? Have you investigated?”

“I know about the two Hong Kong companies. Haven’t found out who Dong Feng Holdings hired for design. The hotel was designed by mainland architect Ning Yan Fan, and Dong Feng Holdings is using his proposal, which was jointly rejected by Mei Hua and the other three Hong Kong investors last time… Young Master, do you think Dong Feng Holdings might hire foreign designers?”

Du Zhao Hui thought this person was as stupid as Liu Tian Quan, his former boss.

“Don’t you fucking know how seriously the mainland controls foreign exchange? Foreign companies designing proposals – my ass!”

Du Zhao Hui’s temper was like a violent storm.

To Tian Chen’s manager, both thunder and rain were the master’s grace – he quietly accepted the scolding.

Who told him to do such poor work?

Tired of scolding, Du Zhao Hui told the manager to only speak of what he knew. The man hesitantly added: “The person in charge of Nan Hai Hotel from Dong Feng is surnamed Huo. He’s quite young, and people say he has connections.”

Dong Feng Holdings’ headquarters was in Shanghai.

Du Zhao Hui wasn’t very familiar with it and didn’t know of any particularly powerful people surnamed Huo.

Mainland relationships were complex and difficult for outsiders to understand. Being able to lead a five-star hotel project at a young age – Du Zhao Hui agreed with Tian Chen’s manager that Huo had connections.

Was this connection why Mayor Tang helped?

Mayor Tang was wary of foreign capital but showed consideration for mainland colleagues. Du Zhao Hui still remembered how Tang Hong En sided with the Kang family at the hospital.

Thinking of the Kang family irritated him.

He’d sent the modified car, and they’d accepted it, but there was still no feedback.

Had their grievances been resolved or not?

How could Du Zhao Hui be comfortable with a sword hanging over his head?

It forced him to sell Liu Tian Quan down the river and ally with people like Tang Yuan Yue.

“Find this Huo from Dong Feng Holdings. I want to meet him.”

Young was good – young people were easier to handle than old foxes.

The mainland couldn’t have such large private capital – this Huo must be managing state money. Since he worked for the state, how much salary could he earn annually?

Just loosen the purse strings, and pretend to lose to Mei Hua’s proposal, wouldn’t that solve everything?

Du Zhao Hui thought this wouldn’t be difficult – no need to disturb Tang Hong En, just buy off Huo.

He formally invited him but didn’t expect Huo Chen Zhou to be even more aloof than Young Master Du.

Seeing Du Zhao Hui’s assistant, Huo Chen Zhou looked at the business card:

“Mr. Du from Cheng Rong Group wants to meet me?”

“Manager Huo, Mr. Du invites you-“

Huo Chen Zhou put down the card, “No need for invitations. I have no relationship with Mr. Du.”

…

“He refused to meet?”

Du Zhao Hui was furious.

The mainland had many arrogant people – a little power made them extremely cocky. As he said this, he wondered if this Huo had any sense – had he not counted the money in his pocket?