1)As everyone knows, working in industry is difficult; overnight riches are not possible.
But once you succeed and become a tycoon, you won't go bankrupt overnight like those in finance and the internet.
This is because the power and resources they control are beyond the imagination of ordinary people, especially in terms of networking.
Zhou Jicang, renowned for his generosity, is one of the best in this regard.
It is said he has reached the enviable level of having friends all over the world, from the highest dignitaries in temples to the common traders on the streets; although not all relationships are intimate, he has connections everywhere that matter.
And for pint-sized leaders, the last thing they want to do is offend such a person.
Watching Xiao Ming converse intimately with Zhou Jicang, Director Zheng's calves started to weaken, his face sweating as if he had smeared oil on it.
Damn Cao Bangxi, I'm going to be killed because of you!
As for his toady, his eyes were all over the place, looking for acquaintances to inquire about Xiao Ming's background.
He was aware of Maohe Architecture; although it had been around longer than his Longding, its main business had always been design-oriented, with average assets.
This Mr. Xiao had only recently become a shareholder of Maohe, so what gave him the right to be personally entertained by Zhou Jicang?
Meanwhile, Xiao Ming had long taken the opportunity to extricate his arm from Yun Shi Yu and Yang Hanqing's embraces, which felt comfortable, but he didn't dare indulge in any lingering thoughts.
"Sir Zhou..."
"Oh, there's no need for formalities. Come on, let me introduce you to a few people."
Zhou Jicang grabbed his arm, smiled warmly, and introduced him to the leaders and businessmen present.
In fact, Xiao Ming already knew them; they were mostly well-known figures and entrepreneurs from the province or neighboring areas. In his past life, he had even done business with two of them. Not to mention the representatives of Longyin Enterprises, Cao Zhining and Shen Anhe.
After exchanging greetings with everyone, Zhou Jicang once again put his arm warmly around Xiao Ming's shoulders and said with a smile, "This gentleman here is the young friend Xiao Ming I've mentioned to you all.
I warn you, don't look down on him just because he's young!
With just one sentence from him, I avoided a loss of over a hundred million. If you offend him, heh, figure it out for yourselves."
"Aiyo! Sir Zhou, I haven't offended you, have I?" Xiao Ming said with a bitter smile, "I was hoping to get close to several seniors tonight, but with what you've said, what if everyone starts guarding against me as if I were a thief?"
"What's wrong with being thought of as a thief?" Zhou Jicang spoke as if it really mattered, "It's certainly better than being taken for a fool!"
"You're really mistaken. In my opinion, when doing business, it's best to be seen as a fool; the more people who come to deceive me, the better."
All the shrewd ones present understood the implication of those words. An elderly man with graying hair stroked his chin and said, "While it doesn't sound particularly honorable, it really captures the essence of doing business.
Zhou has a good eye. Mr. Xiao truly deserves the title 'talented'."
"Sir Duan praises me too highly!" Xiao Ming said politely, "At best, I have a bit of cunning. In front of you seniors, I probably wouldn't even measure up to an elementary school student."
"Don't be too quick to sell yourself short."
The old man changed his tone, "These days, talents are a dime a dozen, and mere words don't qualify you to sit at our table.
Zhou has sung your praises to the skies, but we don't believe it, and now we want to test you.
If you're afraid to accept, or if you fail, then find yourself another place to sit. Any objections?"
Zhou Jicang immediately frowned, "Sir Duan, what do you mean by this? Surely you don't think I'd bring someone here to fool you all?"
Sir Duan rolled his eyes, "You wouldn't fool us, but that doesn't mean you couldn't be fooled by others."
This remark implied directly that Xiao Ming was a swindler, which puzzled and surprised him.
Duan Hongqing, whose ancestors were from the shipping industry, had been in the shipping business for generations. His Qingyuan Group was one of the top ten giants in international shipping in the country, with a net worth exceeding ten billion and a status higher than Zhou Jicang's, although he was much more low-profile.
In his past life, Xiao Ming had dealings with him and remembered him as a very graceful elder. So why was he being so aggressive today?
There must be a problem here.
After some thought, Xiao Ming stopped Zhou Jicang, who was about to lose his temper, and chuckled, saying, "Sir Duan is esteemed and well-respected for taking the time to test a junior like myself, which is an honor for me.
However, before that, I'd like to remind Sir Duan that you haven't mentioned what reward there will be for me if I take up your test."
As soon as he said this, everyone present was stunned.
A moment later, Duan Hongqing laughed heartily, "Good lad! Daring to accuse me of abusing my seniority to my face, and even suggest that I'm senile, you've got guts!
If I still say you can sit down after passing, then I'd truly be shamelessly taking advantage of my old age.
Well... let's do this!
Seeing how you were left embrace right hold earlier, you must be quite the ladies' man. See this young lady here?"
Saying this, he pointed to the young girl sitting to the left of Zhou Jicang, "If you pass, I'll make a decision to have her accept one dinner invitation from you. Is that enough of an honor for you?"
"Bullshit!"
Before Xiao Ming could respond, Zhou Jicang cursed loudly, "If you want to sell a girl for your granddaughter to come by herself, why bother my daughter?"
"Dad! I think Uncle Duan's idea is quite interesting. It's okay, it's just a meal, we're not doing anything else."
The girl tugged at Zhou Jicang's sleeve and winked at Xiao Ming while speaking, as if she actually had some sort of interest in him. This made Yun Shi Yu and Yang Hanqing, who had already sat down at a nearby table, sit up straight, as if facing a formidable enemy.
However, no one knew that Xiao Ming's heart was filled with wry smiles at this moment.
Both because of Duan Hongqing's cunning, and because not only did he recognize the girl, but he was also very familiar with her.
Zhou Qingyuan, Zhou Jicang's youngest daughter, who was only twenty years old, had already obtained three master's degrees in MBA, Finance, and Philosophy from renowned foreign universities. Her talent definitely did not lose to Yun Shi Yu, and her pride was even greater.
It was precisely because she was so proud that in her last life, she hadn't met a man who caught her eye even in her thirties, which made Zhou extremely anxious, to the point of even considering matchmaking her with Xiao Ming.
Unfortunately, at that time, Xiao Ming's heart had died along with his wife. He didn't mind playing along for mutual benefit, but he disdained deceiving a woman's feelings.
He was not a good man, but he would not act like a scumbag.
Seeing a figure from his past life appear before him in a youthful and naive state was a curious feeling.
Of course, when you add the girl's cleverness and willfulness to the mix, it wasn't fun at all.
Xiao Ming was certain that the reason Duan Hongqing suddenly targeted him was entirely because of Zhou Qingyuan's instigation.
After giving the girl a meaningful glance, he said to Duan Hongqing, "First of all, the two ladies who were with me earlier are my business partners and also good friends of both my beloved and me.
It was just a joke. I am a man and being labeled a 'casanova' is no big deal, but my friends should not have their reputations damaged because of it, please take note, Sir Duan.
Secondly, Miss Zhou is highly talented with beauty and brains, while I consider myself quite ordinary. We are very different, and forcing us to have a meal together would likely lead to awkwardness due to incompatible conversation.
Please forgive me for declining your 'reward.'
Lastly, if Sir Duan really can't think of a new wager, I actually have an idea, which you might want to hear?"
His speech was neither servile nor overbearing, covering all bases, which not only made Duan Hongqing and the big shots present put away their teasing expressions but also made the usually haughty Zhou Qingyuan look serious.
Only Yun Shi Yu and Yang Hanqing, who had been all ears the whole time, felt a complicated mix of emotions.
They were happy that Xiao Ming had turned down the Zhou family's daughter, but they didn't want to be merely business partners and friends!
While Xiao Ming was being troubled by his Zhou "old friend", Jiang Xue knocked on her parents' house door.
Inside, her mother, also surnamed Zhou, hurriedly took out the abortion pill and dropped it into the juice glass on the table.