This was Chu Xiaozhong's plan: the entire Chu Family business would belong to him, and after his father passed away, his half-brother Chu Xiaoxin could be easily dealt with.
"So I thought, since Chao Yong Yi can't arrange enough manpower to help Likang with smuggling, then there's no need to trouble Chan Ah-sap anymore. Yan Hung of Fuyixing just helped Young Master Shun once, so why not let Fuyixing's people manage Likang's dock smuggling business for Young Master Shun? It would be a way of repaying Yan Hung's favor, and Young Master Shun's business could also profit as soon as possible. That's my selfish motive." Song Tianyao looked at Chan Ah-sap was kneeling on the ground with sweat beading on his forehead. "Brother Ten, you're telling everyone now, did Young Master Shun ask you if Likang wanted to do smuggling? And didn't you also say that Chao Yong Yi didn't have enough manpower?"
Chu Xiaoxin was stunned. Song Tianyao had truly put his heart and soul into his Likang Trading Company, especially after hearing the figure of 1.6 million Hong Kong dollars a year. Chu Xiaoxin felt that everyone in the Likang Trading Company was self-serving except for Song Tianyao, because none of the other employees had ever told him how profitable smuggling drugs could be! If he had a fixed income of over 100,000 Hong Kong dollars a month, why would he need to put up with Chu Xiaozhong's attitude? Why would he need to be constantly scolded by his father?
Moreover, how could Song Tianyao remember so clearly the casual remark he made at the dinner table when Song asked if Likang was involved in smuggling, and he casually mentioned that Chao Yong Yi was temporarily short-handed?
"When Young Master Shun asked, we were indeed short-handed, but now..." Chan Ah-sap's voice trembled as he tried to explain.
As Chan Ah-sap began to speak, Song Tianyao subtly nudged Chu Xiaoxin's shoe with his leather shoe and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Lichi."
Chu Xiaoxin grabbed a teacup and smashed it in front of Chan Ah-sap. The celadon teacup shattered into countless fragments in front of Chan Ah-sap's knees, some of which splashed directly onto Chan Ah-sap: "Weren't you short-handed at Lichi the night before last? Is that why you just watched me almost get shot to death by the police without even getting up! You want to explain that you were short-handed? Fine! Then explain to my father why you didn't stand up when you saw Cheung Wing-kam's godson causing trouble for me the night before last!"
Song Tianyao looked at Chan Ah-sap calmly and said in a relaxed tone, "Young Brother Ten Young Master Shun is asking you a question. Was it because you really didn't have enough men at Lichi the night before last, or do you have other motives, hmm?"
Chapter 52 I'm Waiting for You to Lose
"Ah Shi, you don't have enough manpower. From now on, Ah Xin will have to provide the manpower for Ah Xin Li Kang Trading Company's dock business."
In the living room, after Song Tianyao asked that question, neither Chu Xiaozhong nor Chan Ah-sap dared to speak again. Song Tianyao's question was extremely venomous; ostensibly directed at Chan Ah-sap, it was actually aimed at Chu Xiaozhong.
Since becoming the president of the Chao Feng Chamber of Commerce, Chu Yaozong has had to focus his attention on the business that the Chao Feng Chamber of Commerce of Commerce is raising funds for. The amount of money is considerable, and all the members of the Chamber are keeping an eye on it. Chu Yaozong cannot afford to be negligent. After all, he is the president. If there are any problems with the investment of the membership fees paid by various businesses when they joined the Chamber, his reputation and status will be immediately affected.
Therefore, the Chu Family business has always been managed by Chu Xiaozhong, including the dock business. When Song Tianyao asked Chan Ah-sap whether he was truly short-handed or had ulterior motives, Song Tianyao still had a backup plan to continue his attack, regardless of whether Chan Ah-sap or Chu Xiaozhong chose to do so.
Chan Ah-sap dared not choose, and Chu Xiaozhong could not choose, so the situation was deadlocked. In the end, Chu Yaozong slowly spoke up and helped Chan Ah-sap make a choice.
Of course, by helping Chan Ah-sap choose, Chan Ah-sap had to pay a price: losing Chao Yong Yi's territory and losing Chu Xiaozhong's control over the Likang Trading Company's dock business. However, he did save Chu Xiaozhong's face.
The matter ends here; it's solely Chan Ah-sap's problem—his incompetence in handling the matter.
Chu Xiaozhong's face was pale, and his eyes had lost their luster. His father's casual remark made him feel far more flustered than the coordinated and aggressive actions of Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin just now.
I underestimated Song Tianyao. I initially thought he was embezzling the fourteen gold bars under the guise of the Chu Family, but from that moment on, one wrong step led to another. Who could have imagined that he had no intention of even trying to steal the gold, but instead directly poached Likang Trading Company from my hands for Chu Xiaoxin? Without Chao Yong Yi's people managing it, and with a secretary like Song Tianyao, my uncle...
Chu Xiaozhong felt that the only thing he could do now was to transfer his uncle back from Likang Trading Company, so that Song Tianyao would not scheme against him in the same way he had schemed against Chan Ah-sap today.
"Father, it's nothing. I wanted to take A-Yao to the shipyard to order a cargo ship." Chu Xiaoxin saw his elder brother Chu Xiaozhong's absent-minded look and wanted to burst out laughing, but with his father present, he finally stood up with a cheerful expression and said.
Chu Yaozong nodded, looked at Song Tianyao, and said calmly, "Okay, go ahead. I'm meeting with your Uncle Dong this afternoon. If you're going to his shipyard, I'll remember to give him a heads-up."
"Thank you, Father." Chu Xiaoxin picked up the stacks of banknotes on the table. Song Tianyao politely bowed to Chu Yaozong and Chu Xiaozhong to say goodbye. Then the two walked out of the living room, got into the Ford 49, and drove out of the Chu Family.
After Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao left, Chu Yaozong smiled slightly at his eldest son, who was filled with frustration, then looked at Chan Ah-sap, who was practically collapsing to the ground, and waved his hand, signaling him to stand up. "Ah Sap, you did nothing wrong in this matter. Go down. Be more careful in your work in the future. As for Ah Sin, don't try to get involved with him anymore."
"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir." Chan Ah-sap was expecting Chu Yaozong to erupt in fury, but to his surprise, Chu Yaozong actually pardoned him in a gentle tone. He didn't dare to stand up directly, but first looked at Chu Yaozong. After confirming that Chu Yaozong showed no signs of anger, he simply waved his hand to indicate that he should leave as well. Then he hurriedly got up from the ground, bowed to Chu Yaozong and Chu Xiaozhong, and walked outside. Uncle Yan also moved aside, taking advantage of the moment when he saw Chan Ah-sap off, and left the living room.