Chapter 154: Xu Damao Gets Kidnapped

Two months later, New York, United States. He Yuzhu was busy in a kitchen filled with cooking fumes.

The high flame on the stove licked the bottom of the wok; once he saw the heat was right, he lifted the boiling hot oil and, with a "Sizzle!", poured it over a large basin of eel slices beside him.

The previously flat fish slices curled up and turned white instantly, and a unique spicy aroma filled the entire kitchen.

In the dining area, Zhao Ying and her parents, along with Su Qing and his son, were sitting around a large round table.

He Yuzhu placed the huge soup basin in the center of the dining table.

Zhao Ying was the first to pick up her chopsticks, plucked a fish slice soaked in red oil, blew on it gently, and then put it into her mouth.

She chewed slowly, and after a moment, commented: Not bad, better than the ones you made with salmon before. But still, it's not as authentic as the taste of using proper grass carp.

Sitting to the side, Su Zhixiao couldn't wait to stuff a large piece into his mouth; he was scalded and kept gasping, yet he still praised it unclearly: I think it's already delicious!

Zhao Ying curled her lips, teasing him on purpose: Little brat, that's because you've never eaten the best.

Su Zhi made a face at her in defiance, drawing knowing smiles from everyone.

Speaking of why He Yuzhu was cooking in a New York kitchen, there was indeed a story behind it.

More than two months ago, their group arrived in New York after several transfers.

Unlike the looting and burning they encountered in Los Angeles, New York seemed relatively orderly, but the days after first arriving were not easy either.

At this time, the United States had just finished World War II and was full of vigilance toward outsiders, with all kinds of investigations being exceptionally strict. To open a bank account, one needed not only proof of residence but also tax records. If you couldn't produce them, they would slap you with a money laundering label and seize your money.

For a few foreigners to want to acquire a listed company here was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

After discussing it several times, He Yuzhu and Zhao Ying felt that a living person shouldn't be suffocated by their own urine.

He Yuzhu decided to return to his old trade.

They rented a restaurant on the verge of bankruptcy, run by an old Hong Kong man.

The original owner was advanced in age, lacked energy, and the taste of the dishes was mediocre.

After He Yuzhu rented the place, he turned it into their base of operations, and the whole group lived above the restaurant.

He observed the surroundings for a few days and found many Mexican restaurants nearby, so he judged that the locals had a high tolerance for spicy flavors.

Soon, he finalized the business direction.

The second floor was Sichuan Cuisine, and the first floor was skewers.

Coming from a later era, he naturally knew how to use marketing tactics: before opening, he distributed a large number of discount coupons and hired people at high prices to queue at the entrance to create popularity.

In short, it was all to launder money, because he had a large amount of money in his pocket with no clear source.

For a time, a strange scene appeared on the streets of New York: there was always a long queue in front of a Chinese restaurant called He Ji.

As time went on, the curiosity of the locals was thoroughly ignited, and they came into the shop one after another to try it.

Although some people couldn't stand the intense spicy stimulation, more people became loyal repeat customers after being thoroughly "spiced up."

He Ji restaurant quickly became a new trendy dining hotspot in New York.

When the business got on the right track, He Yuzhu and Zhao Ying struck while the iron was hot and opened five more chain branches in succession, enjoying unparalleled popularity for a time.

As for Zhao Ying's father, Zhao Meiting, he was busy negotiating the acquisition of a shipping company.

After experiencing the setback of being cheated several times, he finally persuaded a Cambridge classmate working on Wall Street, and the two partnered to establish the Eastern Shipping Company.

With the status of a local, things became much easier to handle, and the Eastern Shipping Company soon found several clients who wanted to sell their shipping companies.

Zhao Meiting put down his cutlery, looked at He Yuzhu with a serious expression, and said: Zhuzi, the legal procedures for acquiring that shipping company have already begun, and it is estimated that it will be finalized next month. We have already negotiated: forty percent of the cash will be paid under the table, and one million two hundred thousand US dollars is needed on the table. Can you prepare this money?

He Yuzhu did not answer immediately, but cast his gaze toward Zhao Ying beside him.

Zhao Ying understood and interjected: There is currently about seven hundred and thirty thousand US dollars in the company's bank account. We are still short four hundred and seventy thousand. Currently, the net profit of the five restaurants is about eighty thousand US dollars per month, so we definitely won't have enough by next month!

Then pack up these five restaurants and sell them; we can definitely scrape together four hundred and seventy thousand US dollars, He Yuzhu said decisively.

Zhao Ying looked unwilling: But these five restaurants are hens that lay golden eggs, earning eighty thousand US dollars in profit every month!

Our next step is to open an entertainment company, He Yuzhu said calmly.

Zhao Ying pushed him: "It's not dark yet, why are you starting to dream?

He Yuzhu replied composedly: We can sign some singers, let them sing the songs I write, or sell some movie scripts. Or find people to film movies ourselves. Anyway, we have a large amount of money that can't be put on the table.

With his memories from a past life, he had always heard that many people laundered money by opening restaurants and making movies; this time, he wanted to try it too.

Su Qing interjected with concern: After all, the cultures of China and the United States are different; even if you can write songs, can you sell them?

He Yuzhu explained: I can write English songs; Zhao Ying knows this! Uncle Zhao, please have your friend on Wall Street help me find some people in the Entertainment Circle; I want to talk to them about cooperation.

Zhao Meiting pondered: I heard that a newcomer's song only sells for five hundred dollars; earning money this way is too slow.

I read in the newspaper that several singers have had their contracts with their old labels expire, for example: Peggy Lee, who just terminated her contract with her old label and hasn't signed with anyone yet. We can sign her, package her, and maybe make her even more popular."

He Yuzhu's brain held hundreds of famous English pop songs; if he brought them out now, who could compare to him? In the future, the royalties alone might be enough to make his hands soft from counting.

Zhao Ying's eyes lit up, and she said excitedly: I've heard an English song that Zhuzi wrote; it's very good. I estimate that just that song could be a hit here.

Zhao Meiting was also moved when he heard this and immediately said: I have a friend who teaches in the drama department at Columbia University; he knows quite a few people in the Entertainment Circle. I'll invite him to the restaurant for a meal another day, and you can talk then.

Zhao Ying said happily: Running a music company is much more prestigious than opening a restaurant.

Meanwhile, far away in Si Jiu Cheng, Xu Damao had spent the past few months quite miserably.

Xiao Erduo had taken his money, but Chen Daya hadn't died, so Xu Damao worried about whether, like last time, the people sent to kidnap her had all been killed by Chen Daya.

If that were true, Xiao Erduo would definitely seek revenge on him. Because from Erniu's eyes, he had already seen such intentions.

After Xu Fugui died, the living conditions of the Xu Family plummeted; now the family ate corn buns almost every meal, which made Xu Damao feel very miserable.

He took out money from time to time to treat himself, but due to rising prices, the Big Ocean was not worth much, and only 50 of the 70-plus Big Ocean were left.

Watching his savings dwindle day by day, he became increasingly anxious and uneasy.

All along, Xu Damao had always worried about being kidnapped; he always went to school late and left early, or traveled in groups with the children in the alley.

Today, he snuck out of school half an hour early. Mainly because he was very hungry, he planned to go to the Wanxingju bun shop to satisfy his cravings.

He walked quickly out of the school gate, looked around vigilantly to confirm no one was following, and hurried toward the bun shop.

Just as he ran into a small alley, he suddenly felt the urge to urinate, so he turned to the corner of a wall to relieve himself.

He whistled while he urinated.

Suddenly, a rough, large hand reached from behind and tightly covered his mouth and nose.

A pungent odor rushed straight to his brain; he felt the world spinning, struggled a few times, and then completely lost consciousness.