"Mr. Lu asked about your future development, not because Big Brother wanted to know what big news you 'Oxfam, but simply to ask about the future direction of Oxfam. Of the three founders, Mrs. Bess has already achieved great success. If her husband returns to London or is transferred to another colony, she will also leave, so she won't interfere with Oxfam's development. I arranged for the Foreign Girl to go to the United States recently, and even if she doesn't go, she won't interfere. In reality, Oxfam is entirely up to you. I think next time you see Mr. Lu, you should use the phrase 'tightening one, loosening one, overt one, covert one.' Mr. Lu is a legislator who speaks for the people; he probably doesn't want to see Oxfam and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals of Po Leung Kuk, operate independently of the Hong Kong Colonial Government. He has already spoken for the people." He often outwardly criticizes the government's shortcomings with righteous indignation, and is unyielding on issues of people's livelihood. What you should do is not blindly follow him, but rather consider encouraging Oxfam have more contact and cooperation with the colonial government. This would provide a buffer should Mr. Lu and the colonial government have conflicts over certain livelihood issues, and allow for the clear handling of conflicts of interest and entanglements. His choice of you as his son-in-law is simply because he values your status as the founder of Oxfam. Even Buddha used both thunder and fire to enlighten people. While the Lu Family isn't Buddha, they certainly have plenty of political brilliance; the whole family is involved in politics. However, they lack the scripture to inspire gratitude. If Oxfam operates well, it is that scripture...
"Wait a minute." Chu Xiaoxin suddenly interrupted Song Tianyao, took out a small and exquisite notebook from his suit pocket, bit off the cap of his pen, and began to write in the notebook.
Song Tianyao was momentarily stunned by Chu Xiaoxin's actions, staring blankly at Chu Xiaoxin who was writing in a notebook. "Big Brother, what are you doing?"
"How can I remember all that you say? Of course I'll write it down, memorize it, and read it to Mr. Lu," Chu Xiaoxin said as he wrote furiously at his desk.
Song Tianyao covered his face with his hands and said weakly, "Big Brother, I really can't figure you out. Do you think this is memorizing lessons? How could you say something like this directly to your future father-in-law? You've already said it, just say one thing at a time, one thing clearly and one thing subtly. The rest is up to him to give you pointers. If you say everything, how can he guide you? If you don't give him a chance to guide the younger generation, how can you build a closer relationship between you two?"
Chu Xiaoxin had already written more than ten characters in a messy, cursive script and was concentrating on recalling what Song Tianyao had just said. However, when he heard Song Tianyao say that he couldn't recite it directly to his future father-in-law, he froze, threw his pen on the table, and exclaimed, "You idiot! You should have just said it earlier! Why did you make me write so many words when you didn't need to? You smart people are so troublesome, you can't even finish what you're saying to each other's faces!"
"You can write that down and tell it to your future father-in-law," Song Tianyao said with a smile when he heard Chu Xiaoxin's complaint. "When Mr. Lu asks you a question, just answer with those few words, and then say that it's just your humble opinion and your thoughts are a bit hazy. You'll need him to give you pointers on the rest. Otherwise, if you ramble on and on, saying everything yourself, it will make it difficult for Mr. Lu hasn't officially married into the Chu Family yet, to have a deep conversation with you and build a closer relationship. As for how the Oxfam develop, as long as your answer suits Mr. Lu's taste, he can help you design it. That way, it will seem more intimate."
Song Tianyao felt that if Second Young Master Chu hadn't helped him, given Second Young Master Chu intelligence, Song Tianyao wouldn't have been tempted to offer him 100,000 Hong Kong dollars to be Second Young Master Chu tutor, let alone call him to ask for his advice. It was too much of a hassle.
"Damn it, I feel... A-Yao, I feel like a sheep in wolf's clothing mixed in with a pack of wolves in sheep's clothing. Have you ever felt this way? I even have to think carefully when I talk to my future father-in-law. I'm afraid I'll be exhausted and won't be able to hold on for long before I expose my true colors. I feel like I could easily be fooled into becoming an idiot if I deal with people like this in the future." Chu Xiaoxin covered his face and said frantically.
"It's not that exaggerated. You already have that status. Now, you can casually say something that makes everyone in Hong Kong's pharmaceutical business tremble with fear. Hundreds of pharmacies have to be subservient to you when they buy their goods. Isn't that powerful enough? Plus, you have the Lu Family and Chu Families backing you. Who would dare to lie to you?" Song Tianyao poured tea for Chu Xiaoxin and pushed the teacup in front of him. "Besides, not everyone has to know everything. Mr. Lu didn't press you for answers last night because he considered that with your current position, someone would definitely do the problem for you. Whether you figured it out yourself or someone else told you is not important to Mr. Lu. As for the Big Brother you mentioned, do you think Mr. Lu would consider marrying his daughter to you if he didn't find out the truth about you? He might even know exactly how many nights you slept with Chen Judy before."
"You mean, he guessed that I couldn't answer his question and would come to you?" Chu Xiaoxin asked, stroking his chin and looking at Song Tianyao.
Song Tianyao nodded. "I used to be your secretary, so it's only natural for you to ask me. Do you need to guess?"
"So that means he doesn't actually care... doesn't care about my past?" Chu Xiaoxin asked hesitantly, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Song Tianyao decisively extinguished the small flame that had ignited in Second Young Master Chu's heart with a puff of urine. He gloated, smoking a cigarette, and said, "Give up, Big Brother. Just because he doesn't care about your past womanizing doesn't mean he'll accept that you'll continue to be womanizing after marrying his daughter. At most, you can appease Miss Lu, and after a few years, you can take a couple of concubines. You might not even be able to settle them in the mansion, but only in an outer residence. If you dare to treat your wife badly, your father-in-law plus your three uncles and fathers-in-law, four Justice of the Peace, can hang you up and beat you up. Four people can beat you up on three legs, and there's still one spare for someone else to take over. When someone's hand hurts from beating, he can take over and continue beating."
"You bastard! Are you trying to embarrass me?" Chu Xiaoxin glared at Song Tianyao, grabbed a piece of plum meat from the table, threw it at Song Tianyao, and cursed.
After the two finished their business and lighthearted conversation, it was almost noon. Just as they were considering where to have lunch, Chu Xiaoxin's driver, Chen Xingfu, gently knocked on the door of the private room and said:
"Mr. Chu? There's a police officer outside named Lam Kong who wants to see Mr. Song."
Chapter Twenty-One: Human Hearts