Chapter 111

Huojingliang suddenly laughed, laughing louder and louder, doubling over with laughter, finally tears streamed down.

He wiped the corners of his eyes, laughing as he said: "The waves behind the Yangtze push forward those ahead; each generation surpasses the last. I admit defeat willingly—losing this money feels truly satisfying, and I speak from the heart. You've won, Director Li."

The middle-aged man also laughed, feeling that the ones who had just been frowning weren't them.

How quick to change faces!

He also spoke: "Director Li, I am Li Yunfei of Xinhe Real Estate. When we return to Gangdao, if we have time, let's go out for tea. I am genuinely interested in your intermediary company; let's see if we can discuss cooperation."

"No problem, I accept Director Li's invitation; let's head back to Gangdao to talk."

Li Xin agreed readily; they gave the entry fee, and a generous one at that, so there was no reason to refuse. Although these two old silver coins had their own little schemes, they were indeed paying the entry fee.

After the middle-aged man Li Yunfei left, Li Xin and Huojingliang went to the tea room.

At that moment, Liu Bo entered, waved for the attendant to leave, and personally brewed tea.

Li Xin no longer had his earlier arrogant expression; smiling, he thanked Liu Bo: "Liu Bo, thank you for your trouble, and for personally making the tea."

Liu Bo said indifferently: "Others don't get this treatment. When A Xin comes, if I didn't come over, I'd feel sorry for the tea you sent me."

Huojingliang wouldn't be overly courteous to He Xin's steward, but he still nodded in acknowledgment.

After Liu Bo finished brewing the tea and left, the two in the tea room said nothing, as if the tea were nectar and ambrosia, savoring it with relish.

Their thoughts were in sync—one thinking "little fox," the other "old fox."

In the end, Huojingliang couldn't hold out, because he had an agenda!

Li Xin is firm when he has no desires.

Huojingliang asked: "Director Li, I underestimated the martial world friends. After seeing your materials, I shouldn't have used such a simple method to achieve my goal today; it was my mistake."

"Oh! Then what method should be used?"

Li Xin asked curiously.

"Throw money at it! Keep pouring money until you willingly hand over your intermediary company. Other methods aren't reliable—you have no scruples in what you do; if I can't settle you in one go, I'll be at a disadvantage."

"I can't gamble with my family or my own life; I can't afford to, and no major tycoon can either."

Huojingliang said truthfully.

Li Xin, as if opening his heart, leaned back in his chair and said to himself: "That's the right line of thinking—I do have principles, but not many."

"Everyone's trying to snatch my livelihood, so what's there to hold back? When it comes down to it, whoever survives is the one with the greater fate; if you die, you can only say your luck was bad."

"We martial world folk are unlike you tycoons who have people working and risking their lives for you; aside from a miserable life, we have nothing."

"If even the bowl that keeps us alive is gone, what's the point of living? Taking out one person doesn't cost me; taking out a whole family I profit; if I could eradicate the root, I'd make a killing—don't you agree, Director Ho?"

Only now did Huojingliang realize that the youth before him and the "Ghostly Eyebrow" from the files were one and the same—a veritable giant python that had flown out of the martial world!

Such a person differs from commercial rivals; they tackle problems through economics, financial power, connections, and supply sources, encircling the opponent comprehensively.

Occasionally they might even water a money tree or the like, but they never resort to lethal means, otherwise nobody would have any fun.

Only those barbarians would eradicate opponents at the root; they are civilized people educated in Confucian thought and have never used such extreme methods.

Could this kid have studied abroad with the Yankee mafia? Nowadays even triad members follow global trends—have they started studying overseas?

After thinking left and right and still not understanding, he simply asked directly: "I don't want your intermediary company; I just want your company's data—name your price."

"Not for sale!"

"I'll offer a high price; after losing so much to you today, adding a bit more is fine."

"Still not for sale, but by the end of '83 I could exchange twenty percent of the shares and share the database—interested?" Li Xin asked.

Huojingliang questioned doubtfully: "Wouldn't it be better to take a large sum of money now? Why go through all this trouble?"

Li Xin wasn't beating around the bush; they're all old foxes—don't try to fool them, their hairs are far finer than ordinary people's!

"The intermediary company isn't strong enough yet, so the benefits we can reap are minimal. By year's end I will use the intermediary company's shares to swap for shares in the real estate company."

"We'll swap according to their value at that time, so nobody loses out; I only need to keep thirty percent, but I want management control of the company."

"For now, only Shinde Real Estate is involved; I'm set to swap twenty percent of the shares. Other partners I'm still selecting—interested, Director Ho?"

Huojingliang turned Li Xin's words over in his mind a few times and immediately understood what he wanted.

The real estate company wants detailed user information; Li Xin needs a ladder into the real estate world—it's mutually beneficial, with no reason to refuse.

They don't have enough manpower to determine each user's needs, so they want the intermediary company's data; Li Xin lacks the strength and connections to enter the real estate sector, so he needs a ladder.

To him, this isn't a problem at all—there are already so many real estate companies; what difference does one more make?

Having figured it out, he smiled and told Li Xin: "No problem, I also want twenty percent; we'll swap shares by year's end, though how much we can exchange depends on the intermediary company's strength."

"That's how it should be! When something benefits everyone, they'll add fuel, not pour water on it; mutual benefit leads to win‑win, and one person can't go far alone."

Li Xin saw that this old brat was getting a bit smug, so he decided to give him a lesson.

He asked in a curious tone: "Director Ho, I heard your wife wants to divorce you—is that true?"

Excellent—indeed, that killed the conversation!

Li Xin was actually in a good mood, humming as he went back to his room to sleep.

Whether Director Ho can sleep or not is none of his business; anyway, he's sleeping soundly.

Meanwhile, in He Xin's office, Liu Bo was reporting the day's situation to him.

Liu Bo said: "Sir, according to the croupier's full account, the final hand of this gambling match was so large precisely because of that intermediary company; otherwise, Huojingliang and Li Yunfei wouldn't have gone all‑in at the end."

"Those tycoons wouldn't be so unrestrained; they just wanted to have a punt but lost—nothing unusual, we've seen too much of that in casinos."

"At first Huojingliang might have been a little angry, but later I saw he was clearly heading for the intermediary company—his goal was too obvious!"

"Upon hearing the words 'intermediary company,' Huojingliang immediately raised his stake to two hundred million, and Li Yunfei of Xinhe Real Estate had the same aim."

He Xin gave a slight nod and said: "That's probably it. Without that intermediary company, Huojingliang and Li Yunfei would just be playing with a kid—little did they expect the kid to end up playing them!"

He also instructed Liu Bo: "Give that croupier a big red envelope; the final hand was dealt well, that kid managed to win with it—his luck is truly good, and fortunate people get twice the result for half the effort in whatever they do."

After He Xin finished speaking, he burst out laughing; this was too funny—an old martial world hand had been played by a youngster.

This matter, he could laugh about for a year!