“Xiao Rou, keep Brother Liu good company.”
The woman appeared to be only in her twenties. Compared to the rough-around-the-edges Li Fengmei, she was like a person made of water. With a slender waist and a soft voice, she perfectly blended femininity with innocence.
She wasn’t particularly beautiful but had an air of vulnerability about her.
Following Liu Tianquan’s instructions to sit beside Liu Yong, she obediently did so, staying close but not leaning against him, calling him “Brother Yong.”
In short, she was different from all the hostesses Liu Yong had encountered at previous business gatherings.
The others were flashy and vulgar, but this woman seemed respectable.
When Liu Tianquan told her to toast, she hesitated and timidly said, “Seeing Brother Yong’s condition, wouldn’t more drinking harm his health…”
Liu Tianquan frowned.
“Xiao Rou, you’re already worried about him?”
Xiao Rou shifted closer to Liu Yong, seeming somewhat afraid of Liu Tianquan.
This interruption from Xiao Rou seemed to disrupt some plans of Liu Tianquan. The alcohol hit Liu Yong hard, and he fell asleep at the table, never having properly looked at Xiao Rou.
Liu Tianquan stood up and snorted, “Take good care of Brother Liu.”
Liu Tianquan left with his people, leaving the drunk Liu Yong and Xiao Rou in the room. Barely three minutes later, when Liu Yong hadn’t emerged, Ge Jian pushed open the door.
At such business gatherings, either Ge Jian or Li Dongliang would always accompany him.
Liu Yong, wary of others’ schemes, had an agreement with both men: unless he explicitly said he wanted to stay, they should take him away regardless of his state of consciousness.
Even if he wanted to stay, it would be due to temporary confusion, and once his people took him away, that reckless impulse would dissipate. Ge Jian also feared Liu Yong making mistakes. Truthfully, he and Li Dongliang were now considered Liu Yong’s confidants and should theoretically be completely on his side—but having first served as Xia Xiaolan’s bodyguards, they admired her more.
Miss Xia surely wouldn’t want to see her uncle “playing along” outside.
Ge Jian knew Liu Yong wasn’t in a good mood after returning to Peng Cheng—who could be in a good mood after fighting with their wife? These were the moments when people were most vulnerable to others taking advantage, and Liu Yong had been drinking heavily today. To make matters worse, Liu Tianquan had sent in a woman midway through.
Ge Jian feared opening the door to an unsavory scene but surprisingly found only two people in the room, with the woman sitting properly beside Liu Yong, completely different from what he had imagined.
“Brother Yong seems drunk.”
Xiao Rou stood up, acting very naturally.
Ge Jian hadn’t expected this woman’s demeanor to be so different.
He looked at her a bit longer; she lowered her head slightly, with delicate features expressing a gentle beauty. Ge Jian thought to himself that the Hong Kong businessman had changed tactics again. Couldn’t he just discuss cooperation straightforwardly instead of always setting traps for Brother Yong?
As usual, Ge Jian helped Liu Yong out of the room.
While Liu Tianquan always traveled in luxury cars, Liu Yong, the small contractor, still walked. Fortunately, his thick skin allowed him to associate normally with big bosses like Liu Tianquan.
Supporting Liu Yong, Ge Jian looked back to see the woman still standing at the doorway.
The wind hit Liu Yong, causing the alcohol in his stomach to churn, and he crouched down to vomit. Xiao Rou ran back, handed Ge Jian a handkerchief, then quietly walked away.
A hostess carrying a handkerchief?
Ge Jian was truly confused!
As Liu Yong walked and vomited, the handkerchief carried a faint fragrance. Ge Jian discarded it after use but noticed Liu Yong’s eyes were clear after vomiting.
“You weren’t drunk?”
Liu Yong wiped his mouth with his sleeve, “If I hadn’t pretended to be drunk, how could I have avoided today’s situation?”
Liu Tianquan was pressing harder and harder.
While introducing business opportunities to Liu Yong, he wouldn’t give up on cooperation. Liu Tianquan was determined to get the “South Sea Hotel” renovation project. These Hong Kong businessmen all followed the same playbook—wine, women, money, and power—something would eventually corrupt mainlanders just starting to engage with the market economy.
Even state-owned enterprise leaders couldn’t resist.
The country’s approach to reform and opening up through pilot programs made sense—while the economy developed, social values were being corrupted by outsiders. If Liu Yong were truly a simple farmer, he either wouldn’t mix with these people, would completely fall from grace, or would be excluded.
He had just been playing dumb earlier.
Of course, he wasn’t drunk. If he dared to let himself get truly drunk in front of Liu Tianquan, he might end up being sold off. Liu Yong had heard of people signing contracts in a drunken haze at such gatherings.
However, the woman Liu Tianquan called this time was different from before.
Surprisingly proper.
Liu Yong didn’t think too much about it. He dared not touch anyone now. Even though Li Fengmei was fighting with him, that was their family matter. Liu Yong was thinking about the 180,000 yuan loan he’d brought back from Beijing.
With this loan, not only had the house purchase not affected his working capital, but it had increased it by 120,000 yuan. If the current renovation projects were completed successfully, Liu Yong would have over 300,000 yuan at his disposal.
While this couldn’t compare to state-owned enterprises, among those who had come south seeking fortune, Liu Yong had developed quite rapidly.
He couldn’t keep putting off Liu Tianquan.
Cooperate with Liu Tianquan?
Besides the ‘South Sea Hotel,’ could they cooperate on other projects?
Liu Yong knew Liu Tianquan was targeting Yuan Hui’s connection with Mayor Tang—Liu Yong understood better than anyone that the Liu family had no substantial relationship with Mayor Tang; it all depended on Xia Xiaolan’s chance of acquaintance with him.
Could he possibly use this perceived influence to cooperate with Liu Tianquan without damaging Mayor Tang’s reputation?
Direct contact with Tang Hongen was impossible. Liu Yong felt he should consult with Little Wang about this.
Little Wang conveyed just one principle: “Fair trade, legitimate business.” Liu Tianquan had substantial business in Peng Cheng in construction development, while Liu Yong handled interior finishing—was it possible to completely avoid any connection?
Many business owners wanted to get close to Tang Hongen; if Liu Yong feared dealing with any of them, he couldn’t do business at all. Little Wang’s meaning was Tang Hongen’s meaning, and it was rare for a senior leader to guide him. Now that Liu Yong had a clear direction when Liu Tianquan brought up cooperation again, he dared to work with him.
How could one do business while fearing wolves both front and back?
Xia Xiaolan had reminded him to review contracts carefully and avoid giving others leverage.
Liu Tianquan was overjoyed to finally see Liu Yong softening his stance. While Liu Yong discussed legitimate business with Liu Tianquan, the Hong Kong businessman always had his schemes, bringing a woman called Xiao Rou to each meeting… After several encounters, Liu Yong’s impression of this woman deepened.