"The Foreign Devil's Burley tobacco is all about being pungent; it's nothing compared to the rich, mellow flavor of the flue-cured tobacco from the Nanyang Tobacco Factory. Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good."
"Even if he's smart, he comes from the Squatter Area and is nothing more than a conman..." Chu Yaozong brought up Song Tianyao's background for the second time, but this time he wasn't as intense or at a loss as the first time; it was more like a discussion with his father.
Chu Yaozong closed his eyes and exhaled two plumes of smoke from his nostrils. "Do you remember when he came to our house for dinner last night? He threw out a bait, and you wanted to press him on the spot, but I interrupted you to tell you to hold your breath. That bait wasn't just to whet your appetite; it was also to pique my curiosity. Last night, I called Feng Weizhi, who has dealings with the Malado Trading Company in Macau, to inquire about information about the Malado Trading Company. Then, your Uncle Feng specifically asked the housekeeper to bring over some documents and newspapers last night—those are the ones on the coffee table now."
"The documents are Malado Trading Company's publicly disclosed financial statements to its shareholders. The reserves, operating cash flow, and profits are all frighteningly high. The newspapers are about Malado Trading Company's recent acquisitions. We're all businessmen; after Song Tianyao pointed out the direction, looking at these documents and newspapers, it's not hard to see that Malado Trading Company has real talent. They're genuinely raising money legally, using continuous acquisitions to exaggerate operating cash flow, then converting that operating cash flow into investment cash flow. Those bigwigs in Malado Trading Company have probably already made their families' pockets bulging in the stock market, and they should be able to transfer assets very easily, finally declaring Malado Trading Company bankrupt in a perfectly legitimate way." Chu Yaozong pointed to the documents and newspapers on the coffee table. "That's why Song Tianyao said with certainty that Malado Trading Company will go bankrupt within a year at most."
"Do you think a conman from the Squatter Area could accurately describe the money-making methods of the Malado Trading Company?" Chu Yaozong flicked his cigarette, sending the ash flying. "Even if he really was from the Squatter Area, would it make a difference to Ah Sin now? You've won over all the employees of the Likang Trading Company to your side, but Ah Sin only has Song Tianyao he can trust. Even if he really is a conman, would Ah Sin believe you? What I admire most about Song Tianyao isn't that he helped Ah Sin suppress you today, but that bait he threw out last night, which piqued my curiosity and made me actively investigate, thus discovering his abilities. So this morning, I told Ah Sin that I'm considering transferring Song Tianyao to my side. With such a secretary, even if Ah Sin spends all his time in brothels entertaining Songstress and guests, the Likang Trading Company won't have any problems."
Chu Xiaozhong remained silent for a long time. He knew how difficult it was to get his father to express his appreciation, but since Song Tianyao was so capable, Chu Xiaozhong immediately thought of another question:
"Father, if Song Tianyao were truly capable and ambitious, he wouldn't stay dependent on others forever. He might take advantage of Ah Sin to swindle all of Ah Sin's money."
Chu Yaozong laughed and looked at Chu Xiaozhong, saying, "Do you think someone from another family would actually cheat Ah Sin? A smart person wouldn't do that. The name 'Chu Family' represents so many resources and connections. Even if Ah Sin isn't good enough, just introducing him to a few uncles and elders, combined with his own intelligence, would be a sure thing. Why would Song Tianyao, instead of cultivating a good relationship with Ah Sin and using his connections to make money, try to cheat him? If that were the case, Song Tianyao wouldn't have resorted to such tactics, and you wouldn't have lost face. Besides, he cheated..." "Killing Ah Sin is tantamount to offending the Chu Family. Even if your Dad and I, the other business associations, just say hello, he'll still jump into the sea. Would you be that stupid? Don't treat him like some young man from the Squatter Area who only knows how to look at immediate gains, or you'll still lose. Song Tianyao uses cunning and ruthless schemes to deal with others, but with himself, he only uses upright and open strategies. If I'm not mistaken, Ah Sin's Likang Trading Company will only grow bigger and bigger. Even if Song Tianyao eventually leaves the Chu Family, he won't sever his relationship with Ah Sin."
Chu Xiaozhong nodded. "I will remember to transfer my uncle from Likang Trading Company back to Li Heng during this period."
Chu Yaozong stood up and called to Sister Hong to help him change his shoes. As he walked towards the shoe and hat room, he said, "Make sure your uncle obediently leaves. Don't be stubborn and try to fight with Ah Sin and Song Tianyao. Otherwise, Song Tianyao might quietly dig another trap. It's likely that once Ah Sin buys the boat, your uncle will be sent to sea on a cargo ship. Your uncle's brains are not even as good as yours, let alone able to outwit Song Tianyao."
Chapter Fifty-Four: The Broad-minded and Healthy Chu Xiaoxin
As the Ford 49 drove away from the Chu Family, Chu Xiaoxin casually tossed the banknotes in his hand aside and reached for a cigarette. Song Tianyao, standing beside him, had already taken out his own cigarette case, shook out a cigarette, and handed it to Chu Xiaoxin. Chu Xiaoxin stared at Song Tianyao, slowly took the cigarette, and put it to his lips. Song Tianyao took out a match, steadily struck it with both hands, lit it for Chu Xiaoxin, and then lit one for himself.
Chu Xiaoxin, a cigarette dangling from his lips, stared intently at Song Tianyao before finally speaking, "Was my Dad's last sentence biased towards my older brother, said to save face for him?"
Song Tianyao nodded. "Yes."
However, Song Tianyao was utterly speechless at Chu Xiaoxin's quick thinking. The car was almost at Central when his boss finally realized the true meaning of Chu Yaozong's last sentence, demanding that Chao Yong Yi relinquish the Likang Trading Company's dock territory.
"What if we don't take the gold home..." Chu Xiaoxin suddenly thought of a possibility and looked at Song Tianyao excitedly, "I shouldn't have listened to you and rushed to take the gold back. Now I..."
Song Tianyao sighed and extinguished the last glimmer of hope in Chu Xiaoxin's heart, "Young Master Shun, if you don't get the gold back to remind Chairman Chu, although Young Master Zhong and Chan Ah-sap will be in a sorry state today, they won't be seriously injured, or even lose a hair. But the worst off will be you and me. My worst fate might be being stuffed into a sack and thrown into the sea as soon as I step out the door. You'll probably have Chairman Chu take back Likang Trading Company and keep you as a nobody in the Chu Family, or you might be sent abroad to study."