Chapter 180: Xiao Hui Blushes

"A fatal mistake?

"I admire your eloquence, but alarmism is by no means a wise move.

"To be honest, I cannot imagine anything that could threaten Mr. Song's position."

Yin Zhuoran laughed with disdain.

"I know Mr. Song has the ability to cover the sky with one hand.

"But after all, he is not the sky.

"If this involves Ke Chengwu and a conspiracy to assassinate the Generalissimo, can he still cover it up?"

Hong Zhiyou asked.

"What do you mean?" Yin Zhuoran's expression turned grave.

"Your Longdong Company's assistant manager, Zhao Chuncheng, has a maternal uncle named Zhang Cuiting.

"Zhang Cuiting raised a death-sworn assassin, who is none other than Ke Chengwu.

"Regarding the history between this man, Wang Yaqiao, and the Generalissimo, I think you high-society figures should know better than I do."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Ke Chengwu has been hiding in Zhang Cuiting's house all this time?" Yin Zhuoran frowned deeply.

"That's right.

"They are close friends.

"When together in private, they conspired many times to assassinate the Generalissimo and his wife, as well as Mr. Ziliang and Mr. Ziliang.

"I have already arrested the man, and he has confessed in court.

"There is also a great deal of reactionary rhetoric; the butler and servants of the Zhang residence can all testify to it."

Hong Zhiyou said indifferently.

"Mr. Song does not know Zhang Cuiting.

"What you are saying has absolutely nothing to do with us at Longdong or Mr. Song."

Yin Zhuoran reached for his wine, hesitated slightly, but still chose to take a few sips of the "fake Axe."

"Nothing to do with you?

"Zhao Chuncheng is your man.

"Zhang Cuiting has a habit of keeping accounts and writing a diary.

"In his ledger and diary, we found the source of his operational funds, more than half of which came from the endorsements he provided for Longdong Company's liquor in high-society and cultural circles.

"To put it nicely, your Longdong found a reactionary relic to be your spokesperson.

"To put it bluntly, our Jinhai Station has reason to suspect that certain people are secretly supporting the likes of Zhang Cuiting and Ke Chengwu behind the scenes.

"Mr. Yin, do you understand what I am saying?"

Hong Zhiyou stood up and added some wine to his glass.

"You have some nerve.

"You actually dare to threaten Mr. Song." Yin Zhuoran slapped the table and said angrily.

"Mr. Yin thinks too highly of me.

"How would I dare to threaten Mr. Song?

"I am clearing a mine for Mr. Ziliang in advance. Just imagine, if it weren't for me, and it had been the CC or Jianfeng who caught this man and pried his mouth open,

"would you still be able to sit here in a suit and talk to me?

"I, Hong, do not seek credit; I only dare to forge a good connection and make a friend of Mr. Ziliang."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

Yin Zhuoran's eyes flickered, and a layer of cold sweat had already seeped out on his back.

Politics is fragile, like walking on thin ice.

Any spark could cause this ice to melt and collapse.

Once the conspiracies between Zhang Cuiting and Ke Chengwu and those messy remarks were controlled by Mr. Ziliang's opponents, they would become a sharp dagger, highly likely to be fatal.

Wasn't it because Kong Xiangxi lost the upper hand in public opinion back then?

Did that not eventually lead to public dissatisfaction, pressure from the Americans, and the loss of his ministerial position?

Moreover, the Generalissimo has always been deeply suspicious.

How did Dai Li die?

The common people might not know, but how could they not be clear about it in their hearts?

"Actually, compared to Mr. Ziliang, I am more worried about you, Manager Yin," Hong Zhiyou continued.

"Me?

"What problem could I have?" Yin Zhuoran asked in a low voice.

"You have no problem?

"Mr. Yin was just drinking with Zhao Chuncheng, discussing how to siphon money from the company to fund these reactionary relics and harm the interests of the Party and State.

"And plotting against the Generalissimo and Jianfeng."

Hong Zhiyou tapped the table with his finger, leaning forward and staring at him fixedly.

"Don't you go spouting blood." Yin Zhuoran's forehead broke out in cold sweat.

"I'm spouting blood?

"Once this matter is exposed, what I am saying now will be the evidence that Mr. Ziliang sold you out.

"Throughout the ages, the big shots have never let a single leaf touch their bodies.

"Those who get their heads chopped off and their clans exterminated—aren't they all lackeys and runners like you and me?

"Mr. Yin, take care of yourself!"

Hong Zhiyou pointed at him, his tone solemn and heavy.

Yin Zhuoran's face changed drastically.

He knew that what Hong Zhiyou said was the truth.

He had committed a stupid mistake.

He should not have gotten too close to Zhao Chuncheng, and he should not have made the decision to compete just to grab market share.

These seemed like business tactics.

But once mixed with political elements, they could turn into poison in a minute, sending him to his grave.

Yin Zhuoran's lips trembled, and then he picked up his wine glass and drained it in one gulp.

Because he drank too quickly,

he choked and started coughing: "You, what exactly do you want?"

"I said, I just want to share the burden for you and Mr. Ziliang, make money, and make friends," Hong Zhiyou said with a gentle smile.

"Can you make this person shut up?" Yin Zhuoran asked.

"Of course.

"The man is being held at the Shuitun Prison. With your financial resources, Mr. Yin, if you want to ensure he is taken care of, you can go visit him yourself today." Hong Zhiyou was eager to pass the buck.

"You wait.

"I'm going to talk to Mr. Ziliang."

Yin Zhuoran got up and went upstairs to make a phone call.

Ten minutes later, he walked back with a relatively light step.

"Mr. Ziliang has agreed to our cooperation.

"From now on, you and Renji are the general agents for Longdong Company in Jinhai.

"You will turn over 15 percent of the dividends every month.

"In addition, for the liquor exported by Jinshan Trading, we will take a 30 percent commission.

"If there are no problems, you can call that Mrs. Ji, and we will finalize the contract right now.

"As for the Axe-brand liquor, whether you continue to cook the books with Powell

"or buy their labels, you are responsible for that yourself.

"Mr. Song has only one word: the quality of the liquor must be maintained; you cannot smash the Longdong Company's signboard."

Once Yin Zhuoran sat down, he went straight to the point.

After listening, Hong Zhiyou thought for a moment and then extended his hand: "Mr. Ziliang's conditions are no problem; I agree to the cooperation."

"Good, you can call Jack and Ji Qing now," Yin Zhuoran said.

Soon,

Ji Qing and Jack arrived at the hotel.

After a discussion, the three of them hit it off and signed the contract.

"Honey, I'll go to the room and wait for you first."

Ji Qing knew he still had things to discuss, whispered in his ear, and left first in her high heels.

"Mr. Hong, you hold both beauty and money tightly in your hands; you are truly a master of Jinhai."

Having witnessed Hong Zhiyou's methods, Yin Zhuoran was no longer as arrogant as before.

"You are too kind.

"Compared to you and Mr. Ziliang, I am just a tiny ant.

"Brother Yin, please look after me in the future."

Hong Zhiyou laughed aloud.

Speaking of this, he lowered his voice and added: "Every month, I will personally give Brother Yin a half-percent dividend, not through the company's accounts, but from my own personal share, to thank Brother Yin for your kind assistance."

Yin Zhuoran was overjoyed, and for a moment, he dared not accept: "This, this is too much."

One must know that Mr. Song at the head office only takes a one-and-a-half percent dividend.

What virtue or ability does he have to take half a percent?

Given the current sales volume of the Axe brand, this is by no means a small sum.

The small favors Zhao Chuncheng sent before are simply a drizzle compared to Hong Zhiyou.

"It is not much."

"I have always liked to have as many friends as possible."

"When there is money, we earn it together."

"Whether earning more or less, as long as there is profit, it is a sound business."

"More importantly, I feel a connection with Brother Yin. If you don't mind, from now on, you are Zhiyou's elder brother."

Not just relying on empty words, Hong Zhiyou took out another contract he had prepared in advance from his bag.

Yin Zhuoran flipped through it.

Swish, swish, he signed his name.

Then he put down the pen, gripped Hong Zhiyou's hand tightly, and shook it:

"I have been in the business world for many years; the last time I met someone as straightforward as you, little brother, was Mr. Rong from Xiangdao."

"I think highly of you."

"From now on, you and I are brothers, and Longdong and I will be your backing."

"Thank you, Brother Yin. From now on, I will rely on you." Hong Zhiyou leaned forward and patted his shoulder like an old friend.

He knew his career and future had taken another step forward.

Yin Zhuoran is the glove of Song Ziliang.

Especially in Shanghu and overseas, he has great influence.

Having such a friend will make doing things and earning money very convenient in the future.

"Brother Yin, please handle Zhao Chuncheng and Zhang Cuiting as you see fit."

"I have already made arrangements at the Shuitun Prison."

"You can go over at any time."

Hong Zhiyou knew these people were deep thinkers.

"Thanks." Yin Zhuoran nodded.

After chatting and discussing business strategies, the two appreciated each other more and more, both feeling they had found a confidant.

"Brother Yin, I have an appointment with a beauty, so I won't disturb you further."

Hong Zhiyou stood up to take his leave.

"This is my business card and my residence in Shanghu. If you come to Shanghu in the future, or if you have any trouble, feel free to find me."

"Although I am not Mr. Song's own cousin."

"I can still get a word in before the two, Ziwen and Ziliang."

Yin Zhuoran also stood up and handed over his business card.

Leaving the room, Hong Zhiyou went straight to 302 on the 4th floor.

As soon as he entered, Ji Qing pounced on him and offered a sweet kiss.

"Zhiyou, I like you more and more, what should I do?" Ji Qing held his face and hummed coquettishly.

"You are liking money more and more, right?" Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"You're annoying."

"I thought this deal was going to fall through, but I didn't expect you to handle even the Song family in just a few words."

Ji Qing looked at her beloved man with a face full of admiration.

"Human relationships and worldly wisdom, in the final analysis, are all about profit."

"No one will go against money."

Hong Zhiyou tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and winked playfully.

Ji Qing must have just permed her hair.

It was not the big wave type, but slightly curled, held up by a golden willow leaf hairpin, with slightly fluffy air bangs on the forehead, possessing a modern woman's fashionable and light style.

In the current trend of buns, it was definitely an eye-catching presence.

If it weren't for the silk qipao on her body.

Hong Zhiyou would have thought she had also traveled from the 21st century.

No wonder Zhang Mengchao looked like he had lost his soul when he saw her.

"You are simply a deity, always able to turn decay into magic."

"Even deities are afraid of the White Bone Spirit."

"Then today you are the Monkey King, and I won't have it if it's less than three times."

When a woman is moved and puts her heart into it, her skills will naturally improve.

The whole afternoon.

Ji Qing exhausted every means to make Hong Zhiyou happy.

Things he could think of.

Things he couldn't think of.

She almost satisfied all of Hong Zhiyou's fantasies about a woman.

"You've been a bit saucy lately."

After it was over, Hong Zhiyou held the beauty in his arms and praised her.

"You are really bad."

"Last time you said a woman who isn't saucy doesn't have a high status, and you complained that others didn't perform well."

"Now you are making fun of me again."

Ji Qing pouted coquettishly.

"Women, you know, be a noble lady outside, but at home, it's better to be a bit saucy."

"I still have to go back and report to the Station Master, so I'm leaving first."

"If you're tired, sleep for a while."

Hong Zhiyou climbed up and put on his shirt.

"I'm already full and satisfied, what else is there to sleep for?" Ji Qing smiled charmingly, fixed her hair, and got up to tie his tie.

Brushing her teeth, she simply touched up her makeup.

She walked out of the hotel with Hong Zhiyou.

Back at the station.

Wu Jingzhong was anxiously waiting for news in his office:

"Zhiyou, has the matter been resolved?"

"Teacher, it is resolved."

"We and Renji have reached a cooperation with the Longdong Company, giving up a one-and-a-half percent profit, so we can sell wine openly in the future."

"In addition, I talked to Anderson."

"Let's see if we can buy the Axe brand label for fifty thousand US dollars; the name will still be hung under Hennessy, but production, sales, and advertising will be entirely our own responsibility."

"Including changing the brand label graphics and text, etc."

"From now on, the Axe brand will belong to our East."

Hong Zhiyou reported to Wu Jingzhong.

"Fifty thousand US dollars to buy some damn label, have you gone crazy?" Wu Jingzhong screamed in surprise.

"Teacher."

"How should I put it, what is a brand?"

"It's like a medal awarded by a king; it can't be eaten as food, but many people recognize it."

"Take our wine, for example."

"Without this Hennessy label, its value will immediately plummet tenfold."

"With it, our self-produced wine becomes legitimate foreign liquor."

Hong Zhiyou explained.

"Can't we just rent it and cooperate like before?" Wu Jingzhong frowned.

"Teacher."

"If we rent from others, how much we ship and how much we sell all depends on the mood of the Hennessy headquarters."

"And keeping fake accounts is very troublesome."

"Once the foreigners turn bad, they will take the bills to sue us, and they will be right every time."

"Let's take advantage of the fact that we have the upper hand now."

"The Hennessy headquarters doesn't place much importance on the Axe brand in China; we must hurry to close the deal."

"If we want to buy it later, it won't be a matter of fifty or a hundred thousand."

Hong Zhiyou persuaded him in a gentle tone.

"Who is putting up the money?" Wu Jingzhong asked him with a livid face.

"Still us few."

"Me, Ruirui, Jiqing, plus Anderson and Jack."

"Everyone is chipping in a bit."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Ruirui has to pay too?" Wu Jingzhong pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.

"Teacher."

"The distillery is Ruirui's; she is the main proprietor. If she doesn't pay, how can she take the lion's share?"

"Doing business has its own way."

"If you dump everything on others and can't make money, won't the partnership just fall apart?"

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Did she agree?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Of course."

"I am paying her share," Hong Zhiyou said readily.

"Where did you get so much money?" Wu Jingzhong felt a trace of suspicion.

"Rong Bin is a director at the Standard Chartered Bank; I borrowed it from him."

"That little favor from saving Cao Qingming last time finally came in handy."

"Besides, he has been to our distillery in Yuezhou and thinks very highly of the quality of the liquor."

"With the Axe brand label, we can invest in Xiangdao later, help us open up the market, and occupy the high-end dining tables of the Governor's House."

"Teacher, this is a master key; we cannot delay."

Hong Zhiyou persuaded him with all his might.

"So you borrowed the money."

Wu Jingzhong breathed a slight sigh of relief; after all, he wasn't his own son-in-law, and if they made money, Ruirui would get a share, and if they didn't, what he had already scraped together for Ruirui and the child was enough to live on.

Let Hong Zhiyou bear the profit and loss himself.

As long as he didn't bleed his own daughter dry, it was fine.

After all, in this day and age, there were plenty of cases where husbands died or ran off.

Being close to Hong Zhiyou was fine, but when it came to money, things still had to be kept clear.

"I am old, and I don't understand business matters as well as you young people."

"I only have one condition: you are a man with a child now; you must be responsible for Ruirui and the child. You are only allowed to succeed, not to fail!"

Wu Jingzhong pointed at him and said solemnly.

"The student will keep the teacher's teachings in mind," Hong Zhiyou nodded respectfully.

"That old loyalist and the one named Zhao, has the matter in Longdong been handled?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Yin Zhuoran said it could be resolved tonight," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmm, tell them the body must appear in the morgue of the Army Hospital."

"I must see it with my own eyes."

"One must always be on guard; what if they deliberately moved the person away and then turned around to frame us?"

Wu Jingzhong instructed, leaving no detail to chance.

"Yes," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

He really hadn't thought of that point; one had to admit, ginger really is spicier when it's old.

"Alright."

"Now that the matter is resolved, I can go back and read those old things in peace."

After checking the drawer briefly, Wu Jingzhong left directly.

Hong Zhiyou returned to the small courtyard.

Cuiping was closing the chicken coop.

"Sister-in-law, why aren't you resting?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"My chest doesn't feel tight anymore; moving around gets the blood flowing," Cuiping said cheerfully.

"By the way, where is my old Yu?" Cuiping asked.

"The Station Chief sent him out to do some work; you know how it is."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and returned home.

As soon as he entered the house, he saw a thin, withered old man with a missing ear, missing a few fingers, and a face covered in bruises, sitting on a stool, eating meat and drinking wine with great delight.

Hong Yaozu had returned.

"Brother, Dad is back," the younger sister Hong Xiaohui said, pursing her lips.

"What's the matter? Are you all hoping for me to die?"

"Let me tell you, I am a millennium bug; those who survive a great disaster are bound to have future blessings."

"Why are you just standing there? Come over and eat."

Hong Yaozu waved his right hand, which only had three fingers left, and shouted at Hong Zhiyou.

Damn it!

Why didn't that idiot Zhao Chuncheng just finish him off?

"You heartless brat."

"I was kidnapped, and you really didn't care at all."

Once he sat down, Hong Yaozu picked up his chopsticks and tapped the table.

Hong Zhiyou took out his wallet.

He fished out two hundred dollars and placed it on the table.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"I'm talking to you about filial piety, and you're using this stuff to shut my mouth?"

Hong Yaozu tilted his head, looking unhappy.

Hong Zhiyou didn't speak and placed another stack of banknotes on the table.

Hong Yaozu was still grumbling.

Hong Zhiyou took out the remaining one thousand dollars in his pocket and pushed it all in front of him:

"If you want it, shut your mouth."

"If you don't, get out."

"I want it, I want it!" Hong Yaozu knew the value of US dollars.

A single bill could be exchanged for a lot of silver dollars at the casino.

He knew his son had money, but he didn't expect him to be this rich; how many shiny silver dollars and legal tender would this exchange for?

"My eldest son is the one with prospects."

"You all eat; I'm going out to walk off my meal."

Hong Yaozu was no longer in the mood to eat; he put down his chopsticks, put on his skullcap, and slipped away in a flash.

"Sigh."

"Once you give him money like this, who knows where it will be lost again," He Yinfeng sighed.

"Mom."

"Everyone has their own fate; don't worry about it."

"Let him be as happy as he wants."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Aren't you eating?" Seeing that Hong Zhiyou had no intention of picking up his chopsticks, He Yinfeng felt a bit disappointed.

"I've already eaten."

Hong Zhiyou couldn't be bothered to pretend to be a filial son.

Let them think whatever they wanted.

He really couldn't fake it, and he didn't really need the unearned maternal or paternal love.

He went upstairs.

He called Powell and discussed the trademark matter.

The foreigner was indeed raising the price on the spot.

After bickering for a long time, they didn't reach an agreement.

He would just have to wait for another day to meet and slowly grind it out.

He went down to the living room.

Hong Zhiyou glanced over and saw his younger sister reading a booklet with great interest.

"Didn't you go on a date with Liu Shan today?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

"Brother, I don't like Senior Liu anymore," Hong Xiaohui raised her head and said, feeling somewhat dejected.

"What's wrong?"

"He's not..." Hong Zhiyou swallowed his words.

"I discovered he has bad intentions."

"That day in the park, he tried to touch... me," Hong Xiaohui said in a low voice.

"You are both adults."

"Isn't it normal to cuddle and hug when dating?"

Upon hearing this tone from his younger sister, Hong Zhiyou knew that Liu Shan was finished.

"It's not that."

"I feel his heart isn't right."

"As a student council officer, he associates with secret agents in private," Hong Xiaohui said.

Hong Zhiyou's heart skipped a beat, and he asked with a smile, "You can even tell who is a secret agent?"

"Sister Manzhu told me."

"She can recognize secret agents!" Whenever Hong Xiaohui mentioned that senior, her face was full of admiration and pride.

"Manzhu?"

"Is that the eldest daughter of the Yong family?" A trace of killing intent flashed across Hong Zhiyou's brow.

In turn, this faint killing intent transformed into worry.

"Yes."

"Brother, do you know her too?"

"Last time, the ten-thousand-signature rally for Li Gongpu and the poetry reading for Wen Yiduo at the wharf were organized by them."

Hong Xiaohui said naively.

"Them?" Hong Zhiyou frowned.

"Yes, many of our seniors participated."

"The Student Council."

"Sister Manzhu is the organizer."

"You don't know, when I followed them to shout slogans and march in the streets, my blood was boiling; it was so interesting."

"Great China needs people like Sister Manzhu to awaken equality and self..."

Seeing Hong Xiaohui getting more and more excited, Hong Zhiyou hurriedly raised his hand to stop her:

"Xiaohui, Yong Manzhu is a Red."

"If you follow her in this trouble, people will die."

"Do you want to sit in the electric chair, have bamboo skewers driven under your fingernails, or have your future generations cut off by a branding iron?"

"Brother, isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

"Isn't it just going to the streets to shout slogans? So many classmates went, and everyone is fine, so what am I afraid of?"

Hong Xiaohui pouted in displeasure.

Hong Zhiyou snatched the book *Serve the People* from her hand, author: Mr. Mao.

"Xiaohui, do you know if Liu Shan sees this book and tells the secret agents, what the consequences will be?"

"Our family will be finished."

Hong Zhiyou held his forehead, feeling a massive headache.

He somewhat understood why Yu Zecheng was always on pins and needles and why he looked at Chen Cuiping with such annoyance.

This damn thing was like burying a landmine.

"It's not that exaggerated," Hong Xiaohui hummed with a pouting lip.

"Tomorrow I will go and handle your withdrawal from school; from now on, you are not allowed to associate with that Yong Manzhu," Hong Zhiyou said coldly with a stern face.

"If you want me to drop out, I might as well be dead."

"Mr. Mao said, death befalls all men alike, but it may be heavier than Mount Taishan or lighter than a feather."

"Those who die for the people's interests are heavier than Mount Taishan..."

Hong Xiaohui began to recite, arguing her case.

"Those words are very correct and very important."

"But you still need to grow and be tempered..."

Hong Zhiyou shrugged, not knowing how to persuade her.

"Forget it, do whatever you want."

He returned the book to Xiaohui and went downstairs to leave.

Revolution has always been bloody.

Every era needs the voice and strength of justice.

The future must also be red.

He did not want to interfere with Xiaohui's growth, and he probably couldn't stop it anyway.

Perhaps publishing a notice to sever ties would be a good choice.

He needed to find Yu Zecheng to talk.

(End of chapter)