Four Birds with One Stone, a Master at Work (Continued)
Shek Chi-yik knew he shouldn't steal the limelight from these people, so after taking photos and offering his blessings early on, he stepped back to admire the flowers and plants in the courtyard, giving Oxfam and his wife more exposure.
Song Tianyao moved slowly and discreetly to Shek Chi-yik's side, admiring the few firecracker bamboos in front of them with the Foreign Devil. Seeing that everyone else nearby was focused on the Governor's wife and the bishop, Song Tianyao spoke softly:
"Is this really necessary? Even the British Forces in Hong Kong is coming to help? Are they planning to give Likang a free ride, or are they planning to ruin Likang?"
Shek Chi-yik didn't speak, but turned to look at the Governor's wife, Ge Mulian, who was shaking hands with a group of elderly people from abroad who had come to retire there. Then he looked at Song Tianyao, who was staring at him. "I've thought about it. When you said you had no demands in church, it was because you'll want too much in the future. As for me, I hope that this kind of cooperation between us will only happen once. I hope that in the future, my conversations with you, Mr. Song, can be recorded in writing and even published in the newspaper, open and aboveboard, instead of being like this, where we can only speak under the guise of admiring flowers. Therefore, the Customs operation this time is exactly as you expected; the initiative is yours."
Song Tianyao didn't show any delight, but frowned. "This benefit is like freshly roasted meat with an iron skewer still on it. If a fool swallows it whole, he might be burned to death, or the skewer might pierce his intestines. You don't seem like..."
Halfway through his sentence, Song Tianyao suddenly mimicked Shek Chi-yik's gesture, turning to look at the Governor's wife, Ge Mulian, before turning back to Shek Chi-yik with a sudden realization. "Impressive, impressive! Deputy Director Shek, that was a truly brilliant move."
"That evening on Tai Ping Shan, when you pointed out my thoughts, my astonishment was exactly the same as yours now. Mr. Song, only fools get burned, not you. The initiative has been given to you; it's up to you to decide whether to eat it or not. I said, it's exactly what you think. If you want to eat it, Director Shen Wenkang of the Customs Department will cooperate with you." After Shek Chi-yik finished speaking, he left the bunches of flowers and walked away into the distance.
Song Tianyao remained where he was, his teeth itching with hatred as he watched Shek Chi-yik's retreating figure. The Foreign Devil had made it clear: his wife had been promoted through Song Tianyao, Angie Perlis, and Chu Xiaoxin's idea of Oxfam. Although Likang's intentions to extract benefits from him hadn't yet been revealed, they certainly wouldn't be insignificant. Therefore, he wouldn't give Song Tianyao any future opportunities; this was their only chance for cooperation. He would directly request the Governor of Hong Kong to have the British Army cooperate in sealing off All-Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Company warehouses in Customs, as long as Song Tianyao could find a suitable opportunity and method, he could take as much as he wanted. After that, they would be even. If Likang didn't act this time, he shouldn't even think about discussing such private cooperation with Shek Chi-yik again; he would turn his back on him.
As for the Governor, Shek Chi-yik knew that sealing off all the warehouses of All-Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Company would offend people. A mere deputy director of the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office couldn't handle such a large-scale operation, so he simply dragged the Governor into the fray, letting the Governor directly shoulder the dissatisfaction of all the businessmen in Hong Kong's pharmaceutical companies. This put himself in a very difficult position on the surface. To outsiders, it would seem that Shek Chi-yik did not play a leading role in this incident, and that everything was just an order from the Government House's Office. Even if some Chinese businessmen caused trouble, they wouldn't be able to find Shek Chi-yik's responsibility.
Simply put, just like Song Tianyao used the Chu Family's name to swindle and deceive people, Shek Chi-yik is now carrying the banner of the Governor of Hong Kong. However, he is even more cunning than Song Tianyao. He doesn't even need to show his face personally; Song Tianyao takes care of the reaping of benefits for him.
With the Governor of Hong Kong protecting him above and Likang running errands for him below, he profited in the middle.
Moreover, having gained the greatest benefit, his biggest concern was his wife's status. As long as Mrs. Bess's status changed, his Second-Class Cadet Officer would be promoted to the first level, and the deputy director of the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office would be promoted to the director, known as Secretary Shek. After two years of performance, whether he returned to London or was transferred to another colony, he would no longer be an ordinary mid-level official. His path to advancement was already faintly visible.
As for the Governor of Hong Kong, although those Chinese pharmaceutical merchants couldn't oust him, rumors of some lucrative deals inevitably reached London. However, such rumors greatly damaged the reputation of people like Shek Chi-yik, but for someone of Governor Grantham's stature, it was just a passing breeze. As for Likang, they had to directly confront the pharmaceutical companies and rack their brains to gain any benefits. Only Shek Chi-yik and his wife remained clean and innocent.
This is the tactic of a politician who has been around for many years. Even after being reborn, Song Tianyao wouldn't have been able to see the reason behind Shek Chi-yik's big move if Shek Chi-yik hadn't pointed out those words earlier.
He returned Likang's favor in a very subtle and clever way.
His own wife benefited.
The Governor of Hong Kong will get a lot of money from this operation, by flattering his superiors and bribing them.
Most importantly, Shek Chi-yik seems to bear no responsibility whatsoever for stirring up such a huge scene, and can completely shirk it to preserve his official reputation.
Killing four birds with one stone.
After much scheming and planning, Song Tianyao ultimately realized the truth of Angie Perlis's words when she and Chu Xiaoxin made their bet at the Lichi: there were too many variables. Indeed, there were too many variables.
After the donation ceremony, as the Governor's wife, Ge Mulian, was addressing a group of elderly foreigners enjoying free welfare benefits in Hong Kong, Angie Perlis casually whispered a few words in Mrs. Bess's ear. Mrs. Bess's smiling face immediately turned to surprise, and then she fell silent.
This piqued the curiosity of the reporters from various newspapers accompanying the group. After Mrs. Ge Mulian finished speaking, when it was Mrs. Bess's turn to promote Oxfam's philosophy, a reporter, prompted by a bribe, immediately spoke up from the crowd, "Madam, I noticed you seemed a little surprised just now. Is something the matter?"
Mrs. Bess forced a smile, "Thank you for noticing my expression earlier. There is indeed a small problem. I just learned that the raw materials for the deworming medicine produced and donated free of charge by Likang Trading Company came from Gaili Subsidiary Company in the Britain. However, a Hong Kong company called European Coast, after learning that Likang Trading Company needed to purchase a large quantity for production, maliciously preemptively ordered all the raw materials that Gaili Subsidiary Company had already produced. When Likang Trading Company contacted this malicious company to purchase, they raised the price by a whole 100%. This is why I am shocked. Ladies and gentlemen, the road to charity is always fraught with difficulties. I don't want to use words like 'sad' or 'negative,' but this is extremely unfair to Mr. Chu Xiaoxin, the young man who donated Hong Kong dollars 500,000 worth of medicine."