Chapter 59: Filial Piety Above All Else

The winery has some ready-made stock.

Mu Liancheng gifted a winery to the Station Chief.

Its reputation locally in Yuezhou is decent enough.

But because it is a local liquor, it cannot break into the high-end market.

Currently, the trend of worshipping all things foreign is rampant; the top tier of politics, the military, and business all consider foreign liquor and cigars as signs of prestige.

Especially brands like Axe and Ye'ershi are highly sought after.

Hong Zhiyou has tasted the winery's brandy; the taste and quality are absolutely top-tier, not a bit inferior to foreign brands.

If we could rebrand it, we would save on ocean freight, tariffs, and so on.

It would undoubtedly be a windfall.

"Minmin, which foreign firm in Jinhai has the worst business right now?"

"You stinky man.

"When you need someone, you call me Minmin; when you don't, you call me Mrs. Kang.

"How can your heart be so cruel?"

"Let's talk business, the kind that makes big money," Hong Zhiyou hurriedly begged for mercy.

"The worst?

"That would definitely be the British firms; they were basically bled dry when the devils were here.

"Firms like Jardine, Swire, Renji, and Xintaixing still haven't recovered even now.

"Just when they finally saw liberation, the Yanks occupied Jinhai again.

"The business doing best right now is the Longdong Company from Shanghu; they have agents here, and the Jinhai and Beiping garrisons, the municipal government, and wealthy merchants all source their goods from them."

Once money was mentioned, Fang Min giggled and stopped making a scene.

"I remember Mrs. Ji from Renji is quite pretty.

"Organize a card game tomorrow, I'll go meet her."

Hong Zhiyou said while buried in her embrace.

"What do you mean by that?

"Want to ditch me, the middleman, and get cozy with her?

"Her husband is a jealous wreck!"

Fang Min hummed in displeasure.

"I think you're the jealous wreck."

"I don't care, you have too many devious ideas; if there's a good path, you can't leave me behind."

"Don't worry, I wouldn't leave you behind for anyone.

"When the time comes, there will be a share for you."

He is Wu Jingzhong's god of wealth.

The one on the bed is his goddess of wealth.

Her character might be a bit trashy, but when it comes to shamelessly raking in money, she definitely has some tricks up her sleeve.

After some dallying, Hong Zhiyou washed up briefly and drove to No. 1 Changde Road.

Arriving at the Station Chief's house.

Mei Qiuju had already had people prepare a large table of seafood.

"Smelling of rouge, you playboy." As soon as he sat down, Wu Jingzhong pointed at Hong Zhiyou and laughed.

Sister Mei pursed her lips, slightly displeased.

"A man who isn't a playboy is no hero," Yu Zecheng chimed in with a joke.

"Don't mention it, I originally wanted to go to the club for some peace and quiet.

"I didn't expect to walk into a spider's cave!"

Hong Zhiyou gave a helpless smile and pointed at a large platter of oysters:

"Master, may I eat now?

"I'm feeling weak, I need to replenish."

"Eat, eat quickly," Wu Jingzhong laughed.

"Young people still need to take care of their health.

"Otherwise, once you start a family, always chasing after flowers and grass will affect the harmony between husband and wife."

Sister Mei said with some annoyance.

She had been planning to introduce her own niece to Hong Zhiyou.

He is smart, certainly.

But this philandering nature of his is truly off-putting.

"Sister-in-law.

"To be honest, my 'chasing after flowers and grass' has actually yielded results," Hong Zhiyou said while dipping an oyster in vinegar sauce.

"What results?" Sister Mei asked.

Hong Zhiyou explained the situation with the winery.

"That Mrs. Kang has such influence, can she really sell the liquor?" Mei Qiuju was overjoyed.

"The taste of our liquor is absolutely fine.

"Aren't you complaining that the selling price is too low?

"She is willing to pay twenty percent more and cover the shipping costs.

"When the time comes, you can have Rui Rui mark the base price up by another ten percent.

"Without doing anything, we'll earn thirty percent first."

Hong Zhiyou was as relaxed as if he were in his own home, eating until his mouth was dripping with juices.

"That's great!

"To be honest, the liquor market in Xiangdao is dominated by foreigners, and business is truly hard to do.

"I was originally planning to fly to Xiangdao myself to ask Station Chief Xie for a favor.

"Zhiyou, you've solved my urgent need.

"Come, I'll toast you on behalf of Rui Rui and Jianhua."

Wu Jingzhong was overjoyed, and the couple raised their glasses to Hong Zhiyou simultaneously.

"Sister-in-law, my 'chasing after flowers and grass' wasn't in vain, was it?" Hong Zhiyou raised his glass, took a sip, and claimed credit.

"Well chased, well chased."

As long as he can get money, even if he took ten wives, Sister Mei would find him pleasing to the eye.

"Zhiyou, you're not young anymore, it's time to start a family.

"I have a niece named Yingxue, a student who studied in Britain.

"She's returning to the country in a few days, why don't you two get to know each other."

Mei Qiuju grew more pleased the more she looked at him, and she got up to fetch a photo.

The girl in the photo was very fashionable.

A white princess hat, a white gauze dress.

Pretty and exotic.

Tall and curvaceous.

She was exactly the type Hong Zhiyou liked.

"Sister-in-law, a playboy like me, how could I be worthy?" Hong Zhiyou put down the photo and teased.

"Why wouldn't you be worthy?

"A talented man and a beautiful woman.

"In this day and age, sooner or later we'll be using guns and cannons.

"What official or bandit, it's all empty; only the money in your pocket is a real, tangible guarantee.

"Xiangdao, Aodao, Meilijian, Britain, New Zealand—where isn't a paradise on earth?

"As long as you and Zecheng follow Old Wu and work hard, you won't have to worry about a good life in the future."

Sister Mei beamed as she brainwashed the two of them.

"Sister-in-law is right.

"Wherever the Station Chief goes, we go," Yu Zecheng nodded in agreement.

"Little Hong, you and Yingxue should try it out first.

"If it works out, it's even better to be family.

"If it doesn't, you can just be friends."

Sister Mei continued.

"I hope heaven blesses me so I can have this fortune," Hong Zhiyou nodded and put away the photo.

Wu Jingzhong smiled faintly, without expressing an opinion.

After three rounds of drinks.

Wu Jingzhong had Mei Qiuju bring out a tray.

He gave Hong Zhiyou and the other man five large yellow croakers each, along with two thousand US dollars.

The two men were naturally overjoyed and expressed their gratitude.

"Zecheng, the military mediation is about to begin."

"When the time comes, the ladies at the station will inevitably have to interact with them to showcase the style and beauty of our Party and State."

"When is your wife arriving?"

After finishing the meal, Wu Jingzhong brought up the main topic.

"Soon, either tomorrow or the day after," Yu Zecheng said.

"Hmm."

"Zhiyou, what about you?" Wu Jingzhong looked at Hong Zhiyou again.

"Me? I'm a lone wolf with no one to worry about." Hong Zhiyou didn't quite understand.

"That won't do."

"Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. Haven't you thought about bringing your parents and younger sister from the rural outskirts of Hangcheng here to enjoy a new life?" Wu Jingzhong's face held a smile, but his eyes gradually turned serious.

Hong Zhiyou was stunned.

If Wu Jingzhong hadn't mentioned it, he would have forgotten about the original owner's parents and sister.

"Station Chief, they are used to living in Hangcheng..."

Hong Zhiyou was about to refuse when he was interrupted by Wu Jingzhong:

"I have said that personnel matters are politics."

"If you don't value human sentiment and don't understand human affairs, how can you make progress in politics?"

"If a person doesn't even love their own parents, then what is the difference between them and a beast?"

"Can the leadership and the masses entrust the heavy responsibilities of the Party and State to you?"

"The Station Chief is right to lecture me; I, I will have someone go pick them up right away," Hong Zhiyou said, biting the bullet.

"No need."

"I have already arranged for Section Chief Xiao to go pick them up."

"They will arrive tomorrow."

Wu Jingzhong stopped pretending and said directly.

Hong Zhiyou was indeed a good blade.

Fast and sharp.

Especially the unexpected windfall from the winery, which made him even more determined to hold onto this blade for his own use no matter what.

He didn't think much of a marriage with his niece.

Mainly because Yingxue was too arrogant; this match would likely not succeed.

Wives, children, and parents are a person's weak points, a common tactic used by the Juntong Bureau to control its internal members.

By holding onto Hong Zhiyou's family, he would never be able to escape his grasp.

Wu Jingzhong smiled.

Hong Zhiyou also smiled.

Both of them smiled exceptionally brightly.

(End of chapter)