Fang Muye left not long ago, and the sky above the river outside the window was streaked with fiery clouds, signaling the end of the tea party.
Downstairs, before getting into his car, Duan Hongqing, in a rare moment of seriousness, said to Xiao Ming, "I started making my way out in the world at the age of seventeen, and in more than forty years, I've taken countless falls, but this time," he said, "I've traveled thousands of miles to give face, and I've never been happier doing it.
Kid, while you're young and full of drive, don't play it too safe. Making mistakes is no big deal; you've got plenty of time to correct them.
This old man really hopes he can see you create miracles no one has ever seen before I close my eyes!"
This was a heartfelt blessing, and Xiao Ming naturally took it seriously.
Bowing slightly, he said, "Thank you for the advice, Sir Duan. Rest assured, I will definitely make you close your eyes with peace of mind."
Duan Hongqing was taken aback, and then burst into a loud laugh that rang out like a bell.
"You're quite the character, kid. If only you were my son!"
Xiao Ming was thoroughly bemused.
Damn old man, always taking advantage of me.
"Alright, that's enough!" After the laughter, Duan Hongqing added, "I was actually planning to fleece you at dinner tonight, but some leaders in the provincial capital want to meet, and I have to rush back to Donghai early tomorrow morning for a board meeting.
So, I'll let you off this time.
When the investment company is set up, if you're free, you should come to Donghai. It would be good for my son, who thinks he's so clever, to see what a true young talent looks like!"
"Early in the morning?" Xiao Ming hesitated before asking, "What time is your flight?"
"Nine o'clock. Why? You planning to send me off with all due ceremony? If that's the case, you might as well come to the provincial capital with me right now," Duan Hongqing joked.
Xiao Ming shook his head, "If you were a peerless beauty, I wouldn't mind sending you off a hundred and eight times, but for an old man like you, forget it.
I just have a suggestion for you: If you really have an urgent matter tomorrow morning, it would be best to reschedule your flight for before 8:30."
"Why?"
"I have a feeling that after that time, it will be a while before you'll be able to leave."
Duan Hongqing opened his mouth, shook his head, and said, "It's that damn intuition again. You're young, but instead of learning something worthwhile, you're playing mystic.
What, you want to follow in the footsteps of a 'master' now?"
"If this kid was really a 'master,' he wouldn't be telling you this so simply and for free."
Duan Hongqing laughed again, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile, "Stay sharp," before getting in his car and driving away.
"Hey, Xiao Ming, what were you really trying to say to Sir Duan just now?" Zhou Jicang asked.
After thinking it over, Xiao Ming decided not to hide anything and said directly, "Tomorrow morning around eight, there might be an earthquake in Longyin."
"What? Is it serious?"
"It shouldn't be serious. But since the provincial capital isn't far from Longyin, if it's felt there, the airport will definitely suspend all flights temporarily, and I estimate it won't resume operations until the afternoon at the earliest."
Zhou Jicang let out a sigh of relief and then asked, "Are you sure there's no need to prepare for anything?"
"No need. It's just a minor quake. I wouldn't even have mentioned it if you hadn't asked; I wasn't planning on telling anyone else."
Zhou Jicang felt very reassured by this.
Although he had a good relationship with Duan Hongqing, everyone has their own selfish interests, and Xiao Ming trusting and being more familiar with him than with Duan Hongqing naturally made him very happy.
"Xiao Brother, how do you know something that even the earthquake bureau doesn't?"
Zhou Qingyuan clung to Xiao Ming's arm, feigning the innocent look of a young girl, her voice so coquettish that it made Zhou Jicang's eyebrows twitch uncontrollably.
Xiao Ming glanced sideways at the drama king and stood up straight with his chest puffed out, adopting an air of profound mystery.
"Last night, on a whim, I observed the stars and saw a bright one fall in the eastern fields.
At that moment, a purple aura soared skyward, a sign that a treasure of a millennium was about to emerge.
I calculated with my fingers and determined that the treasure would reveal its true form at the Hour of the Dragon, on the sixth day of tomorrow. At that time, thunder would roll across the sky, and the earth dragon would turn over..."
"I'll turn you, you blockhead!"
Zhou Qingyuan kicked him and stormed off, puffing with anger.
Xiao Ming made his refusal towards his daughter quite obvious, and although Zhou Jicang had some regrets about his early marriage, he was overall very satisfied.
"By the way, that 'using his own strategy against him' trick you used doesn't seem to be working on Dabang. The residents of the shantytown gathered together, but it's hardly making an itch, and the city hasn't taken a stance. Cao Zhining obviously remains confident and fearless.
He's contacted me several times these days, but I've been making excuses to avoid him. If you've got any follow-up moves you can use, you better do it quickly. I worry that if we take too long, the old guy will start getting paranoid, thinking that the two of us are scheming against him."
Xiao Ming smiled and said, "To be honest, I asked you to delay the collaboration with Dabang because I plan to jointly develop the plot of land we previously bid on with you."
"Then let's just talk about the agreement directly, what does it have to do with Dabang?"
"I have a feud with Dabang, and it took a lot of effort to push it into the trap I dug. I certainly can't have you pull it out, how would we get along after that?"
"Dabang is finished?" Zhou Jicang was shocked, "That's a listed group with a market value of over a billion. What kind of pit did you dig that has such power?"
"It's precisely because it's a listed company that it's possible for me to take it over. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so easy.
As for the pit, it's actually one dug by the heavens themselves. All I did was lure Dabang into spending a fortune on that piece of shantytown land."
Zhou Jicang's eyes sharpened, "That plot of land has issues? You better not tell me the city will change their plans overnight and not turn it into a park."
"That's naturally impossible. Even a dumbass official wouldn't do something that stupid," Xiao Ming shook his head, "What will really nail Dabang is actually on that plot of land..."
He lowered his voice for the latter half of the sentence, but Zhou Jicang's reaction upon hearing it was as if thunder had struck beside him, his face filled with horror.
"You... How could you know about something like that?"
"Oh, I like browsing old bookstores and stumbled upon a local chronicle that had some relevant records," Xiao Ming said.
Not wanting to be treated as a soothsayer, he simply lied.
Zhou Jicang relaxed considerably, exhaling, "Good, good! Damn, I almost started doubting whether you were human."
"Sir Zhou, this is the biggest secret and trump card in my plans right now, and it's vital for my future development..."
"Don't worry!" Zhou Jicang waved his hand to interrupt him, "I have friends all over the world because I'm trustworthy.
You can go and ask around. If there's a single person who tells you that I've betrayed a friend, then Canghai Group is yours!"
Xiao Ming smiled, "You misunderstand me. If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have mentioned it. I mentioned its importance just to remind you to keep it from your daughter for the time being.
Of course, I don't doubt her character, but you understand your own daughter. Her temperament is rather... unique. If she gets hold of my secret, she'll definitely give me a headache."
Zhou Jicang thought about it and realized his daughter could indeed use that information to threaten Xiao Ming, but then he asked curiously, "You've only known Qingyuan for two days, and you already understand her so well?"
Xiao Ming did not respond and excused himself, mentioning he had other matters to attend to that evening, and left.
In the car, Yun Shi Yu was quiet for a moment before suddenly speaking in a low voice, "When you mentioned the old bookstore just now, do you remember why I was competing with you for 'Strange Tales'?"
Xiao Ming was momentarily taken aback, then sighed silently to himself, saying nothing.
Yun Shi Yu seemed not to expect an answer, and mumbled to herself, "Kongseng marrying Songniang because of Jiaona and becoming close through adversity; when affection conflicts with morality, which is light and which is heavy? I don't understand."
After a pause, she continued, "Now... I also don't understand..."