Chapter 938: A Big Deal

Jian Qiu said in surprise, “You’re going to drag those two into sugar futures trading?”

Zhou Andong stretched his arms out wide. “They’re partners and friends—this is a chance to help them earn some foreign exchange and deepen our friendship.”

Jian Qiu blinked. “Is it really that simple?”

“Of course!” Zhou Andong snapped. “What did you think?”

Jian Qiu chuckled. “Wan Yan’s Lao Meng and Lao Sun are also partners and friends. Why not bring them along too?”

“No no no!” Zhou Andong shook his head like a rattle drum. “Wan Yan can’t have money. When the VCD price war hits, a wealthy Wan Yan will easily survive—and then, when we launch our major appliances project, it’ll be impossible to pull Lao Meng and Lao Sun into our fold.”

Jian Qiu rolled her eyes, found a coin in her pocket, walked to the phone booth at the alley’s mouth, dropped it in, then handed the receiver to Zhou Andong.

Zhou Andong took the receiver and quickly dialed Wu Hongkang’s office.

“Hello, this is Wu Hongkang!”

“Old Wu!”

Wu Hongkang recognized Zhou Andong’s voice at once and burst into laughter.

“Young Master Zhou, hearing your voice has my heart racing.”

Zhou Andong smiled. “Too much of a surprise?”

“It’s too much of a scare,” Wu Hongkang grunted. “We’ve known each other this long, and this is the first time you’ve ever called me out of the blue. How could I not be afraid?”

“Listen, Old Wu,” Zhou Andong said in a tempting tone. “There’s a big foreign exchange opportunity—just two or three months, minimum one-hundred-percent return.”

Hearing it involved foreign exchange, only two or three months, and a hundred-percent return, Wu Hongkang instantly perked up.

“What kind of business?”

“Can’t discuss it over the phone. Let’s meet this afternoon.” Zhou Andong lowered his voice. “Is Old Zhang still in Beijing?”

“He is,” Wu Hongkang sighed. “He’s been scrambling all year, trying to get connections to run ads on the Central Station—but you know, without strong ties, you can’t get good time slots.”

Zhou Andong smiled. It was precisely because ads had become a tool for the well-connected to squeeze profits that the Central Station’s leadership had introduced public bidding—to shut those insiders out.

But at this time, even the Central Station’s leadership had no idea that ad sales would, for a long time, account for seventy percent of the station’s total revenue—and become the barometer of China’s future economy.

Because the winning bid price reflected China’s economic direction, and who won the top bid also revealed, to some extent, the internal structure of China’s economy.

“Tell Old Zhang to stop running around. I’ve got inside word from the Central Station—meet tonight for a drink.”

“What kind of news?” Wu Hongkang asked curiously.

Everyone knew Zhou Andong had excellent ties with the Central Station, especially his personal relationship with Miss Yang—something everyone envied.

Take Zhang Zhonghui—he’d worn out his shoes trying to get close to Miss Yang, yet still hadn’t secured a decent ad slot.

“Meet at the first bar at three this afternoon.” Zhou Andong checked the time. “Alright, I’ve got to go eat.”

“Fine,” Wu Hongkang replied. “See you this afternoon.”

“Let’s go. Time for lunch.”

Zhou Andong lit a cigarette and walked back with Jian Qiu. Just as they entered the gate, they heard a car engine start behind them, followed by Jian Mingfan’s shout.

“Sister! Brother-in-law!”

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu turned to see Jian Mingfan stepping out of a minivan, carrying a huge cardboard box.

“Help me carry this!”

“Carry it yourself!” Zhou Andong pulled Jian Qiu inside.

Jian Mingfan trudged behind, panting under the heavy box, muttering complaints the whole way.

“Brother-in-law, how can you be like this? This box is all toys for your daughter—can’t you at least…”

“No!” Zhou Andong cut him off before he finished.

Jian Mingfan opened his mouth to say more, then realized they’d arrived.

“Phew!” He exhaled heavily, set the box down, and saw the little girl fast asleep on the sofa.

“Asleep?”

Jian Mingfan tiptoed over, bent down to kiss her, but Zhao Ping grabbed his head and shoved him aside.

“Get away. The kid just fell asleep—don’t wake her.”

Jian Mingfan sighed dramatically. “Grandpa, can you tell me—I’m not really the biological child of Jian Zhengye and Zhao Ping, am I?”

The old man glanced at the TV, then looked at Jian Mingfan and said seriously, “No.”

“….”

Jian Mingfan stared blankly at everyone in the room, utterly defeated.

“Ha…”

Jian Yue laughed, quickly covered her mouth, checked that Su Su was still asleep, exhaled in relief, then grinned mischievously.

“Little Fan, now that you know your true origins, are you going to go find your real mother?”

Jian Mingfan gave Jian Yue a wounded look. “Sister, I’m your real brother. My tender heart has suffered unprecedented trauma—can’t you comfort me?”

“You were my real brother before,” Jian Yue smiled sweetly. “But now? Grandpa said you’re not really Uncle Jian and Aunt Zhao’s child.”

At that moment, the maid brought out the dishes. The old man called out.

“Eat.”

“Excuse me!” Jian Mingfan stood by the table. “Can I have one last meal here?”

“Of course, of course!” Zhou Andong nodded, shifted his chair over. “Come, sit here.”

Jian Mingfan sat beside Zhou Andong. “Brother-in-law—no, from now on I can only call you Brother.”

“No!” Zhou Andong waved him off. “I can’t accept ‘Brother.’ Call me Young Master Zhou.”

“Sigh!” Jian Mingfan sighed. “When a man leaves, the tea grows cold. I’m leaving this family, and now I can’t even call you Brother.”

Jian Yue chuckled. “It’s not tea growing cold—it’s that you’re disliked by everyone.”

Gu Minglan asked the maid, “Did you call Grandma?”

The maid nodded. “Called her. She’s feeling unwell—says she won’t eat.”

“Take some food up to her room.”

The old man was slightly displeased with Grandma over this matter. Zhou Andong’s future support for the Jian family is crucial. You don’t understand anything—why are you meddling?

“Come on!” The old man opened a bottle of Yu Gong wine himself. “I specifically got this.”

Zhou Andong took the bottle. “Grandpa, let me pour for you.”

The old man smiled. “When you drink here, no formalities. Drink as much as you want, or not at all—just enjoy yourself.”