Chapter 954: The Sugar King of Asia

Jin Hui glanced at his watch: “The plane lands at 4:25, still about two hours left.”

Zhou Andong asked: “Have you arranged for someone to pick him up?”

“No,” Jin Hui said. “His identity is too sensitive, our mission too critical—any leak would ruin everything. He’ll come by taxi himself.”

Zhou Andong sat in silence for a while, then Sun Zhinong asked: “Mr. Zhou, would you like to rest at the hotel first?”

Zhou Andong waved his hand: “Two hours is nothing—we’ll wait here.”

………………

On a flight departing from Singapore, an elderly man in ordinary clothes, his hair already streaked with gray, sat in his seat, reading a book.

To anyone unfamiliar, he would seem just another ordinary old man—no one would guess this was Guo Qizheng, the famed Sugar King of Asia.

Two days ago, he received a call from home; aware of the importance, he dared not delay.

In those two days, he wrapped up his affairs, took only two companions, and quietly boarded a flight to Xiangjiang.

He held the book in his hands, but his mind kept revolving around this mission. China had become a major import-export power since the 1970s, holding considerable weight in global trade.

But under the planned economy, procurement of needed goods was typically planned at year-end and executed the following year—making it easy for foreign nations to discern China’s patterns.

Foreign merchants exploited China’s centralized procurement of strategic reserves, hoarding goods and driving up prices of fertilizer, grain, oil, and white sugar.

Although the planned economy was abolished last year, it had been less than a year. If China now bought raw sugar on the international market, prices would surge dramatically.

“This won’t be easy.”

Guo Qizheng slowly closed his book, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

Seventy thousand tons of raw sugar—even as the Sugar King of Asia, controlling ten percent of global supply—he couldn’t muster that much at low prices for the state.

Unaware, the plane landed at Xiangjiang Airport. He refused any reception, took only his secretary and a bodyguard, stepped out, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for Baohua Tower.

………………

Zhou Andong leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed. Jin Hui and Sun Zhinong didn’t disturb him; instead, they chatted with Jian Qiu, Wu Hongkang, and Zhang Shenghui.

Time passed slowly; Jin Hui kept glancing at his watch.

“Mr. Zhou!”

Jin Hui whispered: “Time’s nearly up—he should be arriving soon.”

Zhou Andong opened his eyes, stood up, and said: “Let’s go welcome him.”

The group left the office, took the elevator to the building’s exterior, waited less than ten minutes, then saw a taxi slowly pull up and stop at the entrance.

All eyes turned to the taxi, then watched an ordinary-looking man, around sixty, step out.

“Mr. Guo!” Jin Hui immediately stepped forward.

They had collaborated years ago, so they weren’t strangers.

Guo Qizheng smiled warmly and shook Jin Hui’s hand: “General Jin, long time no see. You still look as sharp as ever.”

“You flatter me,” Jin Hui said. “But you, sir, still radiate vigor—no change at all.”

“My health’s still decent,” Guo Qizheng joked, doing a quick stretch. “I could easily live another twenty years.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

After some light chatter, the group entered the tower, took the elevator to the eighth floor, reached the company, and entered a small conference room.

Only then did Jin Hui say: “Mr. Guo, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Zhou Andong, Chairman of the Yugong Group.”

Guo Qizheng froze—he had never heard of Zhou Andong. He’d assumed Zhou Andong was merely one of Jin Hui’s subordinates, alongside Jian Qiu and the others.

Now, with Jin Hui introducing him so formally, it was clear his assumptions were wrong—and Zhou Andong’s status was far more significant.

He guessed Yugong Group’s nature was probably similar to Huarun Wufenghang.

But Zhou Andong was so young to hold such a position. Either he came from deep connections, or he was exceptionally capable.

Given his understanding of China’s system, the former was far more likely.

This cast a shadow over the mission—but out of trust in Old Jian, he kept it hidden.

“Mr. Zhou, truly young and accomplished.”

Guo Qizheng smiled warmly and extended his hand to Zhou Andong.

As Guo Qizheng paused in surprise, Zhou Andong had already guessed what the old man was thinking.

Mainly because Yugong Group had risen too fast—only a year—and its influence remained domestic.

How could Guo Qizheng, the Sugar King of Asia, possibly know of him?

“Mr. Guo, it’s a great honor to meet you.”

Zhou Andong shook his hand with neither arrogance nor subservience, yet with deep respect.

Guo Qizheng was surprised—he’d met many young elites in China with powerful backgrounds.

They were polite and humble before him, but he sensed an underlying arrogance, a sense of superiority buried in their bones.

But Zhou Andong showed none of that. Instead, he carried himself with quiet dignity—a sign of true confidence. And Guo Qizheng clearly felt the young man’s respect was genuine.

Yet his tone and bearing told him this young man spoke as an equal.

Only then did Guo Qizheng realize he’d been trapped by his own assumptions—and finally saw Zhou Andong for who he truly was.

He understood now: Zhou Andong respected him not for the title “Sugar King of Asia,” but for his age and his contributions to the nation.

Jin Hui had no idea that in those few seconds, Guo Qizheng had thought all this.

“Mr. Guo, this is Ms. Jian Qiu, Vice Chairman of Yugong Group.”

Jian?

Guo Qizheng shook Jian Qiu’s hand, studied her, then smiled: “Miss Jian, how is Old Jian?”

Jian Qiu smiled: “My grandfather is in good health.”

Guo Qizheng gave Zhou Andong another long, thoughtful look. If Old Jian’s granddaughter was here—and vice chairman of Yugong Group—then Zhou Andong’s origins were even more extraordinary.

Yet no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t recall any Zhou family in China capable of producing a young man like Zhou Andong.

Then Jin Hui introduced Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui to Guo Qizheng.

Guo Qizheng didn’t know Qin Chi, but he was well aware of Hongxing Distillery.

He exchanged polite words with both men, yet a faint doubt stirred in him.

What did this sugar procurement have to do with a distillery?

He still didn’t know Yugong Group also sold liquor.