Flying to Africa

It was still early after lunch.

Zhang Yang casually found a nearby hotel and went in with Bai Xiaomi to discuss recent work and catch up on company news.

Bai Xiaomi spoke frankly and completely, saying whatever she knew without hiding anything.

"Mr. Zhang, I've said so much already, let's get down to business, shall we?" Bai Xiaomi pestered Zhang Yang, her cheeks flushed.

"You're never focused on your work," Zhang Yang said with a laugh.

"Um..." Bai Xiaomi leaned forward and mumbled, "This is work too."

In the middle of the afternoon, Bai Xiaomi held onto Zhang Yang tightly, and it wasn't until two or three in the afternoon that the two walked out of the hotel side by side.

Downstairs in the company office building.

Bai Xiaomi, with her long, slender legs tucked between her legs, jogged off to work.

Zhang Yang watched Bai Xiaomi's figure disappear into the distance, then turned the car around and headed straight for Kaiwei Mining's domestic office.

The domestic office of Kaiwei Mining occupies an entire floor of an office building in a commercial building in Pudong.

Today, all the employees were in a flurry of activity.

They never expected that their mining company's new big boss would come to their domestic office.

"Chairman Zhang, please have some tea." The person in charge of the office personally served the tea and waited patiently for orders.

Zhang Yang sat in his office, legs crossed, casually glancing around.

As a large industrial and mining enterprise with annual revenue of 2 billion yuan, it is naturally wealthy and powerful. As its domestic office, it is also one of its flagship locations, so it is naturally decorated in a grand and luxurious style.

The entire floor of office space houses dozens of staff members, mostly in human resources and sales.

Kaiwei Mining's domestic offices recruit various production or technical professionals year-round and send them to work in the overseas headquarters' mining areas.

"It's nothing, I just came to take a look around." Zhang Yang glanced at the nervous-looking person in charge and casually offered a few words of reassurance.

All of Kaiwei Mining's senior executives are overseas. After all, the company's main asset is the huge lithium mine in Gango, and the executives can't stay in China. So Zhang Yang really just came to get a sense of the situation.

The person in charge looked slightly relieved. "Chairman Zhang, let me report the situation to you."

"Okay, go ahead." Zhang Yang nodded.

The person in charge quickly found the relevant information and gave a very detailed introduction to the company's situation.

The company's overall situation was similar to Zhang Yang's prediction, with profit margins maintained in the 80% to 90% profit range, generating over a billion yuan in net profit annually, making it a veritable cash behemoth.

Industries related to energy are indeed extremely profitable.

Of course, benefits and risks go hand in hand; huge benefits mean huge risks.

The company's mine is located in an unstable environment. Not only are there many anti-government armed forces in the surrounding areas, but there are also frequent incidents of mine workers being killed in the local area.

In order to maintain the stable operation and mining of this lithium mine, Kaiwei Mining has spent a lot of money on security and maintaining local relations.

Security aspects.

Kaiwei Mining has established its own mine protection team, armed to the teeth, to maintain basic order internally and ensure the safety of the mining area externally.

Of course, everyone has their own expertise. In addition, Kaiwei Mining also spent a lot of money to hire Vanguard Security, an overseas security force founded by the former founder of Blackwater, to build security for the mining area.

Vanguard Security is renowned in Africa, having provided security services to numerous Chinese-funded enterprises. Its personnel are comprised of elites, including retired special forces members and former US Navy SEALs.

As a last resort, some of the funds were used to hire the local police station to guard the area. These were just untrained and unreliable personnel; the company didn't rely on them at all and simply considered it protection money.

Needless to say, the funds used to maintain relationships with key figures in the local upper echelons are also significant.

There's no way around it; operating a mining business is incredibly complex. You need to be strong enough yourself, and you also need to be well-connected in the local area.

In the Gangge Republic, local armed forces run rampant, and there is absolutely no order or rules. Who gets to operate the mine is entirely up to the local warlord's armed forces.

"Is the situation in Salito Province within the government forces' area?" Zhang Yang asked.

The Salito Province is where the company's lithium mine is located.

If the area is within the territory of the government forces, then there is at least some order and security. But if it is within the territory of a warlord organization, then the business environment is truly terrible.

"Salito Province is nominally under government control, but the person in power has both military and political power, which means he's the one who calls the shots," the person in charge said.

Zhang Yang nodded.

To put it bluntly, this local ruler nominally identifies with the government army and believes he is under the jurisdiction of Gango's government, but in reality, he is a warlord with his own armed forces.

To put it bluntly, they just didn't openly use the anti-government banner.

"A significant portion of our annual mining profits will be given to this person," the person in charge added.

This was entirely within Zhang Yang's expectations.

When mining in someone else's sphere of influence, profits naturally have to be shared with the local warlords and rulers; it's essentially a win-win situation where everyone shares common interests.

"Okay, I understand. Arrange for someone to make contact for me; I need to go to the mining area," Zhang Yang said.

He only learned further details from the local authorities.

The staff at this office are based in China, so their information is incomplete. Only by going deep into the local area can they gain a more thorough understanding.

The person in charge was startled and quickly agreed.

He wouldn't want to go to Africa unless absolutely necessary, but he never expected the big boss to want to go there himself.

··

A few days later, everything was ready.

In terms of security, Vanguard Security arranged for personnel to pick us up at the airport and provide full protection.

As for Zhang Yang, he had naturally bought his plane ticket in advance and was preparing to fly to Africa.

For this trip to Gango, Zhang Yang didn't charter a business jet. As for his own private plane, flying to Gango would be even more inconvenient, requiring countless transfers. Therefore, he directly booked an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Ethiopia, flying directly to Ethiopia and then transferring to the Gangge Republic.

Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline in Africa and is considered reliable. As for the aircraft type of this flight, it was an Airbus A350, and Zhang Yang naturally booked a first-class ticket.

On the day of departure, at Pudong International Airport, in the VIP waiting area.

"Mr. Zhang, your flight is almost due. Shall we proceed with your boarding?" A ground staff member from the VIP lounge approached and asked quietly.

Zhang Yang was looking down at local information when he heard this and glanced at his watch.

"Oh, thank you." He looked up at the staff member, a girl with a sweet smile. She looked vaguely familiar; he thought he had seen her in the VIP room before.

"Mr. Zhang, are you going to Africa this time?" the ground service girl asked curiously.

She seemed to be deeply impressed by Zhang Yang, and was naturally curious as to why such an important guest would fly to Africa.

"I bought a mine, let's go take a look," Zhang Yang said with a smile.

The ground service girl was stunned for a moment, then her face was full of admiration.

She vaguely knew that this was a young tycoon who owned a private jet and traveled from the FBO business jet terminal. Since he said he was going to buy a mine, it must be true.

She was just wondering why someone went to Africa.

This is the difference in understanding.

On the way to the flight, Zhang Yang was quite curious about whether the flight attendants on the Ethiopian Airlines flight would be the kind with shiny black skin.

However, a moment later, when he boarded the plane, he was greeted by several flight attendants with coffee-colored skin, delicate features, and tall figures.

Wow!

"Mr. Zhang, welcome aboard." Several first-class flight attendants greeted him with bright smiles and a slight bow.

Zhang Yang went straight into the first-class cabin, found a seat, and sat down.

Ethiopian Airlines' planes were all new, and the layout of the first class cabin was quite good, which was somewhat different from what Zhang Yang had expected.

He had barely sat down when a middle-aged man sat down in the seat next to him.

"Hey buddy, where are you going? Flying to Ethiopia, need to transfer again?" the man greeted him warmly.

As of now, only the two of them are seated in first class; there is no one else.

"Go to Gango," Zhang Yang said, looking up.

"What a coincidence! I'm going to Gango too," the middle-aged man said, slapping his thigh. "I own a hotel in Gango, and many of my Chinese friends there know me. Here, this is my business card."

Zhang Yang took it and glanced at it.

Prosperity Hotel

Chairman: Wang Furong

These days, having the guts to open a hotel in a foreign country is already an extraordinary feat, let alone in a war-torn nation like Gango. This guy certainly has exceptional courage and resourcefulness.

Zhang Yang touched his body.

He has so many identities; it wouldn't be appropriate to cram a bunch of titles onto his business card, would it?

Therefore, he keeps things simple. His business card is very simple, with just his name and contact information. Moreover, he doesn't need to hand out these business cards to everyone he meets, and he rarely does.

However, meeting on the plane was fate, so Zhang Yang handed over his business card.

Wang Furong glanced at the name first, then his expression faltered slightly.

The business card only contains the name; there are no other titles or designations.

These days, business cards serve to introduce oneself. If someone's business card only has their name on it and nothing else, there are only two possibilities: this person is either the biggest boss or the smallest henchman.

He stroked the high-quality gold-embossed business card in his hand.

Whose underling uses this kind of business card? And who is this person in front of me?

"So it's Brother Zhang." Upon thinking of this, his smile grew even warmer, and he quickly tried to strike up a conversation.

In fact, Zhang Yang's identity was indeed beyond his imagination.

Leaving aside his identities in China, just his identity as a major mine owner in Africa means that his mines employ nearly two thousand people, he has his own mine protection team of hundreds of people, a security organization he hires at great expense, and he has intricate connections with the local government.

Bringing these things out would be enough to knock Wang Furong unconscious.

Their social statuses were indeed worlds apart.

Until the flight took off, only one dark-skinned Africa entered the first-class cabin, presumably Ethiopian.

As for how he knew, it was naturally due to Zhang Yang's proficiency in global languages. This skill allowed him to travel freely around the world, and it was certainly one of those skills that could prove incredibly effective in crucial moments.

In a short while, the plane took off and was already above the clouds.

Ethiopian Airlines' service really changed Zhang Yang's preconceived notions; it wasn't just professional, it was extremely professional. The food was also quite plentiful and delicious.

Throughout the flight, they ate and drank, and since there was no one else around, they chatted the whole way.

"I counted, the flight attendants came over to you twice more than I did the whole time. Handsome guys are popular everywhere," Wang Furong laughed. "Want to try something different, bro?"

Zhang Yang smiled and waved the small card in his hand, which had just been handed to him by an Ethiopian Airlines flight attendant.

At this moment, there is no need to boast.

Wang Furong's eyes widened, and then he was filled with emotion.

This handsome and wealthy man is indeed popular wherever he goes; he's a global catch.

It's not that there aren't beautiful women in Africa.

Some Africa beauties, with their figures and exotic charm, can make you swoon with just a smile. Take that internet celebrity who's active in Africa, always surrounded by a group of assistants—each one a top-tier Africa supermodel. Wouldn't you be tempted?

"Brother, you've got connections in both the legal and illegal worlds now..." he remarked inexplicably.

"It doesn't necessarily mean we'll eat together," Zhang Yang laughed. "Making friends doesn't necessarily mean we have to sleep together... Actually, I like learning foreign languages."

Just then, the curvaceous and sexy Black Pearl flight attendant arrived again.

She bent down, seemingly to chat with Zhang Yang.

As soon as Zhang Yang opened his mouth, he spoke fluent and authentic Ethiopian language, leaving Wang Furong, who was listening nearby, completely stunned.

The flight distance is very long.

After the initial excitement wore off, Zhang Yang was naturally not tired, but Wang Furong, being rather stout, couldn't withstand the long voyage. After eating a meal, he couldn't help but lie down, put on an eye mask, and fall into a deep sleep.

Zhang Yang sipped the strong tea that the flight attendant had just served him, looking out the window at the clouds and watching the plane fly over thousands of mountains and rivers toward the distant Africa continent.

A flight of more than ten hours is naturally long and boring.

Several times the flight attendants came over to chat and offer their concern, but they couldn't cheer Zhang Yang up. Even when one of the flight attendants hinted that they could take a romantic trip after landing in Ethiopia, it didn't stir his heart.

First, they had no intention of staying in Ethiopia.

Secondly, he wasn't really curious about anything. The Ethiopian Airlines flight attendants were beautiful, but he still wasn't that intrigued.

He still prefers girls from within China.

After an unknown amount of time, the plane landed at Baboli International Airport in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

They are already in Africa.

Zhang Yang and Wang Furong did not linger. After a brief stop in the airport waiting room, they boarded Ethiopian Airlines and continued their journey to the capital Gango.

"Brother Zhang, have you hired any bodyguards locally? Would you like to come with me and stay at my hotel for the night?" Wang Furong asked on the plane. "As you know, Gango is a very chaotic place, and there are many robberies targeting us. But fortunately, we Chinese have formed our own joint defense team, so at least our safety is guaranteed."

"Thanks, but I'm in a bit of a rush, someone's coming to pick me up," Zhang Yang said with a smile, politely declining.