Chapter 92: There

Hearing Pu Zhenrong’s words, Gu Bing and Jian Qiu both stared at Zhou Andong with strange expressions. They were equally puzzled—what was Pu Zhenrong up to? Why had he suddenly come here to seek out Zhou Andong? The two of them had nothing to do with each other.

“You’re Zhou Andong?” Pu Zhenrong grabbed Zhou Andong’s hand with great enthusiasm. “I went south with my grandfather, and he praised you more than once on the way—I’ve heard it until my ears are calloused—so I specifically came here to find you.”

The surname Pu isn’t common. Now that he mentioned traveling south with his grandfather, Zhou Andong already knew who this big rooster was.

But these two had nothing to do with each other—why come all this way just to find him?

“What do you want from me?”

“Of course, to do business,” Pu Zhenrong said matter-of-factly. “You revived a nearly bankrupt distillery—you must be great at making money.”

Zhou Andong looked at this fool and laughed bitterly. “You really believe I can make money?”

Pu Zhenrong said, “It’s not that I believe in you—it’s that I believe in my grandfather. He says you’re an extraordinary young man, so you must be.”

Zhou Andong’s heart stirred—damn, I’ve been worrying about getting foreign currency, and here it comes!

“You really want to make money?”

“Of course!” Pu Zhenrong said. “Who’d ever complain if money bit their hand?”

Zhou Andong said, “There’s actually a big business opportunity. You don’t need to do anything—within a year, I’ll give you a thirty percent profit.”

“How much?” Pu Zhenrong couldn’t believe his ears. “You mean thirty percent profit?”

“Yes!” Zhou Andong gave him a firm nod.

Pu Zhenrong was thrilled: “Thirty percent? What are you going to do?”

Zhou Andong smiled. “Don’t ask what I’m doing. Just give me the money—I’ll deliver on my promise, pure profit. But it has to be U.S. dollars, and a lot of them.”

Pu Zhenrong was stunned: “Ten thousand? In U.S. dollars?”

The country was short on foreign exchange. Even a few hundred thousand was hard to get—ten thousand? What joke is this?

“What about RMB?” Pu Zhenrong ventured.

Zhou Andong shook his head. “If RMB would work, why would I specifically remind you to get U.S. dollars?”

Gu Bing burst out laughing, sneering: “Young Master Pu, you want to do business without a penny? Dawn’s coming—wake up. Stop dreaming.”

This guy thought Zhou Andong was mocking Pu Zhenrong and was helping him vent his anger—he was beaming. They might dislike each other normally, but at key moments, they were still brothers.

Zhou Andong ignored Gu Bing’s fool and gently persuaded Pu Zhenrong.

“No money? Raise funds. Friends, relatives—everyone chips in a little, and you’ve got it.”

Pu Zhenrong wasn’t stupid: “If they have money, it’s theirs. If they make money, it’s theirs. Won’t I just be working for nothing?”

“Idiot!” Zhou Andong sneered. “I’ll give you thirty percent. You can give them twenty, or even ten. That way, you don’t spend a single cent of your own—and still pocket the profit.”

Pu Zhenrong’s eyes lit up: “Right! Why didn’t I think of that?”

Zhou Andong continued to tempt him: “You must raise the funds by no later than the end of July. Remember—ten thousand is the minimum, no upper limit. The more you raise, the more you earn.”

“No problem!” Pu Zhenrong could barely contain his excitement.

Zhou Andong patted Pu Zhenrong’s shoulder. “Come find me here when you’re ready.”

“Alright, I’m off!” Pu Zhenrong left, thrilled.

Gu Bing laughed loudly: “Dongzi, brother thanks you. Once he raises the money, you tell him it was all a joke—just thinking about his face then makes me want to laugh. Don’t worry—I’m here, that idiot won’t dare touch you.”

Zhou Andong looked at Gu Bing like he was an idiot. “Who told you I was joking?”

“Huh!” Gu Bing’s laughter died instantly, like a duck with its neck wrung. “You weren’t kidding just now?”

“Of course not!” Zhou Andong said seriously. “If you can raise U.S. dollars, I won’t mind letting you tag along for some pocket money.”

“No way!” Gu Bing panicked. “I can find a way to raise foreign currency too! No need to drag him into this! Besides, if we’re making money, it should be between us brothers—why help him?”

Zhou Andong sat on the sofa. Jian Qiu poured him tea and sat beside him. Whatever Zhou Andong decided, she would never oppose—even if she had no fondness for Pu Zhenrong.

Zhou Andong sipped his tea calmly. “I give him thirty percent, but I take sixty. This is a perfect case of borrowing a hen to lay eggs. Give me one reason to refuse.”

“What?” Gu Bing gaped. “You’re not bullshitting?”

“If you think I’m bullshitting, don’t join in,” Zhou Andong tilted his head toward Jian Qiu. “Do you have a British passport?”

Jian Qiu nodded. “Yes. I studied in Britain.”

Zhou Andong smiled. “Get ready—we’re heading to Britain in early August. Just follow my instructions.”

Jian Qiu didn’t ask what it was about—she agreed without hesitation. “I can raise some foreign currency too.”

“No problem,” Zhou Andong said. “You can promise them twenty or thirty percent—whatever’s left, we split evenly.”

Jian Qiu said, “I don’t want any profit. All of it’s yours.”

Hearing this, Gu Bing rolled his eyes. “Pu Zhenrong’s really dumb—what if you run off with the money?”

“Do you really think he’s dumb?” Zhou Andong gave Gu Bing a look of contempt. “Just because he’s a Pu, no one dares take his money and run—especially with his grandfather watching.”

“But what if you lose?” Gu Bing snorted. “No business is all profit. If you lose, how will he explain it?”

“You underestimate him,” Zhou Andong pulled out a panda cigarette he’d taken, lit it. Clearly, Chengzhan Army’s influence ran deep—this wasn’t a smoke just anyone could get.

“If he’s willing to agree and raise funds, he’s already thought through how to explain a loss.”

“Ding ling…”

Suddenly, the desk phone rang. Gu Bing walked over and picked it up. “Hello?”

Guan Shengjie’s voice came through the receiver: “Is Zhou Andong there?”

“He is!” Gu Bing turned back. “Jiege wants you.”

Zhou Andong stood up and took the phone. “Jiege, what’s up?”

Guan Shengjie said, “The gambling story about the arcade is already laid out. It’ll be published tomorrow.”

Zhou Andong perked up. “Jiege, when are you coming to Jiangzhou? I’ll treat you to a big meal.”

Guan Shengjie laughed. “No need for a meal—just say a few good words for me in An Jing’s ear.”

“No problem!” Zhou Andong laughed and hung up. “There’s going to be a good show…”

Chapters 89, 90, 91—all revised. Don’t ask why they were changed—they’re changed. Readers, please reread them.