Chapter 1000: The Poor Have Integrity, the Rich Have Benevolence!

Miss He did not conceal the company’s difficulties, revealing even her own personal struggles.

“Young Master Zhou, He Shipping’s heavy losses are not due to a downturn in the shipping industry, but because of mismanagement and malicious competition.

Regarding mainland China’s reform and opening-up, it’s not just you who sees its potential—I also have great confidence. With new capital flowing in, as the mainland continues reforming and opening up, shipping will surely enter a period of rapid growth. I sincerely hope you’ll give this serious consideration.”

Zhou Andong nodded, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

He knew nothing of the He family, nor had he heard of this crisis at He Shipping.

But he knew that casinos and shipping had always been the He family’s core industries.

In other words, He Shipping’s crisis had been perfectly resolved.

Thinking of this, Zhou Andong suddenly remembered two major figures back home.

One was Mr. Zhang of Moudian; it was now October, and Hainan’s real estate had already collapsed.

Ninety-five percent of over twenty thousand real estate companies had gone bankrupt; the three iconic sights—Tianya, Haijiao, and unfinished buildings—had already appeared.

Many people likely had already jumped from rooftops; Mr. Wang’s situation must be dire too.

But he had previously bought a ship for maritime trade, and it was the profits from shipping that carried him through the crisis.

The other major figure was Mr. Wang of Moke, who started his business in Shencheng and also built his fortune through shipping.

So judging from these two tycoons’ experiences, shipping right now is practically a money-printing machine.

“You’re so honest—aren’t you afraid I’ll back out?”

Miss He smiled faintly: “My father often told my siblings and me: the poor have integrity, the rich have benevolence; wealth and poverty make no difference, but character must never falter. Especially in business, honesty is essential.”

Zhou Andong smiled too, but didn’t immediately agree: “Let me think it over—I’ll give you my answer tomorrow.”

“Of course!” Miss He raised her drink: “Young Master Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, I raise this toast in your honor.”

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu picked up their drinks, and the three clinked glasses.

Miss He drank her beverage: “Then it’s settled. I’ll be waiting for your good news, Young Master Zhou.”

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu stood up, watched Miss He leave, then sat back down.

“What do you think?” Zhou Andong asked Jian Qiu.

Jian Qiu paused thoughtfully: “In 1950, China’s total import-export trade was only $1.1 billion, stagnating at low levels for over a decade. But once growth began, by 1978 it had jumped to twenty-ninth in the world.

It accounted for 0.8% of global trade; last year, it reached over $160 billion. From 1978 to 1992, the average annual growth rate hit over 18%—isn’t that terrifying?”

Zhou Andong gaped: “How do you know all this?”

Jian Qiu rolled her eyes: “If a Jian family member doesn’t pay attention to this, what’s the point of even being alive?”

Zhou Andong chuckled: “Go on.”

Jian Qiu gave him a look: “As reform and opening-up deepens, the growth rate of import-export trade will accelerate, so shipping will enter a period of rapid expansion.”

Zhou Andong raised his thumb: “So you’re saying we follow Miss He to make some pocket money?”

Jian Qiu nodded: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Missing it would be a shame, especially since we’re not short on money.”

“Fine!” Zhou Andong slammed the table: “Then it’s decided.”

At that moment, three men approached.

They had been watching this side for a long time, but there was always someone around Zhou Andong, so they waited.

After Miss He left and no one else came to speak with Zhou Andong, they finally came over.

“Young Master Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, hello!”

The speaker was around thirty, thin, with a long face—the classic pig’s waist face—sporting a thin beard and slightly long hair tied in a small braid.

How to describe him? His looks were mediocre at best, but his clothes were trendy, not off-putting, even radiating warmth—rare indeed.

“Young Master Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, hello!”

The other two echoed the greeting—they were the young man and youth who had been with Zhang Sihé.

“Hello!” Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu stood and shook hands with the three: “Sit down.”

The three sat, then introduced themselves.

The pig’s waist face was Zhao Liangping, owner of a real estate company.

The youth was Zu Jiangbo, whose family ran a building materials business.

The other youth was Liu Quan, whose family operated a sizable clothing factory.

Zhao Liangping spoke with great courtesy: “Young Master Zhou, I’ve come to ask your advice on a matter.”

Zhou Andong nodded: “Go ahead.”

Zhao Liangping gathered his thoughts: “Hainan’s real estate collapsed in June and has now hit bottom, with countless real estate firms going bankrupt.

I know Yugong Group owns a real estate company too—you must have followed Hainan’s market. What’s your view on Hainan’s real estate future?”

Zhou Andong smiled: “You came all the way over to ask this—you must be stuck in the market too.”

Zhao Liangping nodded calmly: “Yes. Among the real estate bosses I know, three have already jumped to their deaths. Though my situation is dire, I’ve always believed in Hainan’s real estate, so I’m holding on.”

Zhou Andong said: “An island with just over six million people hosts over twenty thousand real estate companies—that’s one company per three hundred people. Do you think that’s normal?

Land prices were tens of thousands per mu in 1991; by early this year, they soared to over six million per mu. Housing prices hit 7,500 yuan per square meter.

Meanwhile, the national average for commercial housing is around one thousand yuan. Think about it—how massive was Hainan’s real estate bubble? Even by the end of last year, some had already recognized it and exited decisively.

Those who didn’t leave—aside from a few who truly believed in Hainan’s real estate—are either fools or greedy, convinced prices would keep rising, ignoring clear signs and clinging to false hope.”

Among the few who retained confidence in Hainan’s real estate was Mr. Wang of Moudian.

But how many were like Mr. Wang, owning ships and using shipping profits to sustain themselves, ultimately becoming the big winners?

And among those who foresaw the crisis and fled early was Mr. Wang of Moke.

Zhao Liangping’s face flushed—he didn’t know where he stood in Zhou Andong’s eyes.

Was he one of the overconfident, or one of the fools or the greedy?

“Then do you think Hainan’s real estate can recover?”

“Yes!” Zhou Andong’s tone was firm.

Zhao Liangping perked up—then heard Zhou Andong add: “But it’ll take at least ten years, up to twenty.”

His spirits, just lifted, immediately deflated.

Ten years? Twenty years? If it were three or five, he could grit his teeth and hold on.

But ten or twenty years? Even if he crushed his bones, he couldn’t fill that bottomless pit.

At that moment, a middle-aged man, about fifty, of modest height, dressed in a suit, finished circulating with a toast and walked toward Zhang Sihé.

“Sihé!”

Zhang Sihé was chatting with several youths; hearing his name, he turned and quickly replied.

“Uncle!”

The man was Tian Futai, Zhang Sihé’s future father-in-law: “I’m going to meet Young Master Zhou of Yugong Group—he’s from Jiangzhou, and so are you. You’re fellow townspeople. Come with me to meet him—it’ll benefit your future.”