"Really?" Tan Jingwei glanced at Song Tianyao while driving. "If all you want is money, I happen to have a lucrative business opportunity to introduce to you. I wonder if Boss Song would be interested?"
"You should have said so earlier! Of course I'm interested in profitable businesses."
"Didn't Mr. Song just say that his principle is to make money?"
"Making money is a must, but principles can't be ignored, otherwise you're destined to go nowhere. My principles are actually very simple: I have to maintain my reputation. If I take on a business, I will definitely finish it. If you're trying to get me to abandon this business halfway through and then cooperate with you, then you shouldn't even bother."
Tan Jingwei slammed on the brakes, and the car slid forward a few meters before finally coming to a stop.
It was pitch black all around, not a single streetlamp in sight. Tan Jingwei looked at Song Tianyao with murderous intent in his eyes. "Then there's no need to talk."
"Well, it's too late, I have things to do. Thanks for the ride, let's talk again next time." Song Tianyao smiled and extended his hand to shake hands with Tan Jingwei to say goodbye.
Tan Jingwei paused for a moment, then turned to look out the car window beside him!
Five steps away from his car, an old man wearing a pointed satin hat and a mandarin jacket stood holding an umbrella, coldly watching the two people inside the car say goodbye.
Tan Jingwei took a deep breath, turned his gaze to Song Tianyao, and shook hands with Song Tianyao: "This time, the tide is in my hands."
Song Tianyao said calmly, "My fate is in my own hands."
Song Tianyao got out of the car, and Tan Jingwei started the car and continued driving forward without stopping. Song Tianyao then walked across the street.
The waiting old man was none other than "Uncle Shui," the skilled servant who served Yu Shiting.
Song Tianyao waved to the old man quite naturally, saying, "Uncle Shui, you're still taking a walk in this heavy rain, thank you for your hard work."
Uncle Shui always wore that same formulaic smile, appearing respectful but revealing no true emotion. "The master instructed me to come and pick up Mr. Song."
As they were talking, Uncle Shui took two steps forward and held the umbrella over Song Tianyao's head. Song Tianyao did not refuse and followed Uncle Shui into the distance.
Following Uncle Shui into the car, they returned to Yu Shiting's Jing Garden. During the day, Song Tianyao had caused a ruckus in Jing Garden, brandishing knives and guns, and even injuring Yu Shiting. Yet, upon re-entering Jing Garden, he appeared perfectly normal, as if he had simply decided to visit a friend on a whim.
Song Tianyao was once again led to the Waterside Pavilion Hall, where Yu Shiting, dressed in Tang suit, sat in a grand chair, a chess endgame laid out on the tea table in front of him. The shipping tycoon was completely absorbed in the chessboard, as if the endgame held a great secret, showing no reaction to Song Tianyao's approach. A bandage on his forehead wound was quite conspicuous, significantly diminishing his image as a reclusive sage focused solely on chess.
Seeing this, Song Tianyao gave a helpless smile and said, "Boss Yu, is it really necessary to go to such lengths? You're old, and a prominent figure among Shanghai people. How can you face people looking like this? Not only you, but all the Shanghai people will lose face because of you."
Yu Shiting glanced at Song Tianyao, a half-smile on his face, "You little rascal, you're quick-witted, but I'm not stupid either. This bandage is like a soldier's medal; it's not shameful at all, it's glorious. At my age, I'm being beaten for all the Shanghai people in Hong Kong. Whether it's true or not, everyone will remember my good deeds. As long as I wear this bandage, everyone will remember my good deeds. If you were me, would you take it off? Besides, what if you deny it if I take it off?"
Song Tianyao clapped his hands lightly. "Old ginger is spicier. No wonder you built such a large business empire, your mind is indeed shrewd. However, the more face you have, the more resentment I will be held by those people in Shanghai, which seems a bit unfair."
"Aren't there already enough people who resent you? After tonight, most Hong Kong businessmen will hate you to the core. What difference will a few more Shanghai people make?"
"You can't say that. I offended Hong Kong for the sake of Shanghai people. Now you're not only not supporting me, but you're also trying to harm me. Isn't that going too far? Don't I have any dignity?"
"Do you need someone to back you up?" Yu Shiting looked at Song Tianyao again, his old eyes gleaming like two drawn blades. "People outside are saying you're my son-in-law. Let's see what you do next. If you do it right, a son-in-law hitting his father-in-law is just a simple family matter. As long as I don't pursue it, who will say a word against you? But if you do it wrong, then someone from the Shanghai Gang might come and talk to you about hurting me. Come and see how your tricks are."
Yu Shiting called out, Song Tianyao came to the opposite side of Yu Shiting. He looked down at the chessboard and then laughed, "Is this a lone hero saving the king? Tsk tsk, but adding several pieces has made the game a mess. The existing chess manual is useless now."
"Life is like a game of chess; how can there be a game plan to follow in every situation? If you want to be my son-in-law, you'd better have the ability to play chess with me."
"I heard Mr. Yu's adopted daughter is very beautiful and won't have trouble getting married, so why does she seem to be in a hurry to make a move?"
"The men who want to marry my daughter could line up from Jing Garden to Tsim Sha Tsui, but there aren't many who are qualified to play chess with me in the Waterside Pavilion Hall and who I also find pleasing to the eye. If I find one, I certainly won't let her go easily."
Song Tianyao looked at the chessboard and shook his head. "This game is a complete mess, how can we play it? We can play it, but we can review the game and start from the beginning."
Yu Shiting shook his head. "Don't think I don't know. Your specialty is winning in chaos and taking advantage of confusion. So from the beginning, I've only added pieces and haven't disrupted the game. Don't try to fool me. Let me see if you have the ability to win a game fair and square."
Song Tianyao's smile faded, "Since Mr. Yu has such an interest, I shall respectfully accept. But at your age, can you really stay up all night?"
"Young people, listen to me: never try to outlast an old man by staying up all night, or you're destined to lose miserably. I'm not the only one having trouble sleeping tonight, but I guarantee that by tomorrow morning, I'll be the most energetic one around."
"In that case, let's not waste any more time. Uncle Shui, could you please bring two cups of tea? I'm thirsty."