Chapter 367: A Confusing Conversation (1/2)
Chapter 367: A Confusing Conversation
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
On their way back, Zhicheng Huang was still thinking about what had happened just now.
”Why had Dai Li become Duke Gaer's honorable guest?” said Zhicheng Huang. ”He is just a normal coach, and his parents are simple wage earners. They don't have much money, neither do they have supporting backgrounds. I have investigated all his information.”
Zhicheng Huang investigated Dai Li's personal information himself, so he knew well about Dai Li's family background and working experience. No matter how hard he tried, Zhicheng Huang couldn't figure out how Dai Li engaged in a friendship with Duke Gaer. From any standpoint, a domestic young sports coach should not have any connection with a British duke.
”There is always something in this world that happens unexpectedly.” Dingtian Xiao acted more calm than did Zhicheng Huang. He lowered his head in concentration for a few seconds, then said: ”After we go back, talk to Dai Li, and see whether he could help us meet Duke Gaer.”
Zhicheng Huang looked at DIngtian Xiao, surprised, as he never thought that one day Dingtian Xiao would be willing to get off his high horse and ask Dai Li for help.
”Why, you look surprised? Is it losing face to ask Dai Li for help?” Dingtian Xiao smiled, then shook his head. ”I understand why you think so. But if I could take this Canadian natural gas program, it would be nothing to lose face!”
Dingtian Xiao said, sighing as he thought back to old times. He then asked, ”Zhicheng, have you been working in Dingtian for more than ten years?”
”Plus this year, it's been fifteen years. I have been working with you for ten years already.” Zhicheng Huang nodded.
”Right, you didn't went through my starting period. At the time when you came working with me, Dingtian walked on the right trail, and was one of the biggest companies in the province. Hence, you have no idea about what I experienced when I was just starting my business.”
Dingtian Xiao shook head again with a bitter smile, then continued: ”I remember, at the very beginning, I often humbled myself in order to please people. I'm lucky that I was able to survive. I didn't care about saving face, as it couldn't bring me any fortune, so why did I need to?”
He went on: ”As for now, in outsiders' eyes, I'm a successful entrepreneur, owning hundreds of billions of properties. But, actually, I still ask for help very often. The difference is that, many times now, I no longer need to humble myself, but rather do a win-win cooperation instead. It is essentially the same, however, as decades ago, when I paid money to beg others for help! Comparing with that, asking Dai Li for assistance makes me feel better. My daughter is going to be taken by him, so how can't I ask him to do me a favor?” Pausing here, Dingtian Xiao burst out in laughter: ”But you were right about this young man. He is indeed very lucky!”
...
In another car, Chai's father and son, Zhennan Chai and Liang Chai, were sitting together in the backseat.
”You know that man?” asked Zhennan Chai.
”Yeah. He is Dai Li, YUnan Xiao's boyfriend. I met him in Yunan Xiai's birthday party,” answered Liang Chai.
”Yunan Xiao's boyfriend? Then he will probably become Dingtian Xiao's proud son-in-law?” Zhennan Chai said, frowning with his eyebrows. ”What is Dingtian Xiao doing? His future son-in-law apparently knows Duke Gaer, so then why does he want us Chais to build a bridge for him? Wait, who is his son-in-law anyway? He is regarded as an honorable guest by Duke Gaer, so then he is not a mainland Chinese, is he? Is he an overseas Chinese?”
”That Dai Li is just an ordinary mainland sports coach!” Liang Chai snorted.
”An ordinary coach? How can an ordinary coach become Duke Gaer's important guest?” Zhennan Chai didn't believe his son at all. But the next second, he took a long sigh, disappointed: ”Anyway, I think we should book flight tickets back to Hong Kong soon.”
”Why” Liang Chai asked subconsciously, then immediately got his father's point, asking: ”Is it because of that Dai Li?”
Zhennan Chai nodded: ”Dingtian Xiao came to us, aiming at our relationships in the UK. He hoped for us to build a bridge for him, so he could close a deal with Duke Gaer. That was why he was willing to share profits with us. But, now, he has found some other way. With that Dai Li, DIngtian Xiao could talk to Duke Gaer himself, so do you think he will still share some profits with us?”
”Such a big deal, and finally it comes to nothing? If Dingtian Xiao kicks us out and stands by himself, isn't he burning the bridge after crossing the river?!” Liang Chai said angrily.
”The business world is like a battlefield! If we Chais had sufficient funds, and are able to get this trade done alone, do you think I would cooperate with Dingtian?” Zhennan Chai said seriously, hoping to be teaching his son a lesson. ”Now I feel that we should appreciate Dingtian Xiao, for he has taught you a lesson. He taught you how cruel the business world is!”
Liang Chai nodded in silence. After all, he was more than thirty years old, and was the third generation of successors in Hong Kong Chai's family, who had been leaning to do business by trial and error for years. After a brief time of excitement, he calmed down.
Although Chai's family was one of the original Hong Kong riches, no matter what were their total assets or liquid funds, the family was not as strong as Dingtian Group. Dingtian Group concentrated on real estate, since recently, housing prices had zoomed up. Thus, Dingtian immediately accumulated a large amount of properties. As long as it didn't go grab premium land on a large scale, Dingtian's financial chain would stay quite strong.
On the contrary, Chai's family made their fortune by shipping. Their main properties were hundreds of ocean-going freighters, wharf stock, and properties in Hong Kong. These things were worth as much as properties, but none of them could be liquidated within a short time. Therefore, the liquid funds that Chais could use were considered of far less worth to most than Dingtian's.
...
Dai Li received Zhicheng Huang's text: President Xiao invites me for dinner!
Dai Li stared at his phone diffidently: Will it be another Hongmen Banquet?
Hesitating for seconds, Dai Li finally texted back in agreement. To Dingtian Xiao, escape could not solve any problems at all. As his future father-in-law, he had to face him one day. At dusk, Dai Li arrived at the restaurant on time, which was located in the hotel Dingtian Xiao lived in.
”Today's appetizer is West Seashore halibut filet with lobster mousse. Entrees are Balmoral grilled venison, served with Madeira soft cake, truffle, red cabbage stew, roast potatoes, roast walnut, pumpkin and celery. In addition, there will be mango and lemon dark chocolate, and fruit, as desserts. I have told them to now begin service,” introduced Zhicheng Huang.
Dai Li didn't know much about this. However, he felt that, since it was Dingtian Xiao's treat, it would not be low-grade fare. He guessed that these dishes could only appear in top-level banquets in the UK.