Chapter 495: I Have a Friend

By now, both knew each other's bottom lines, making future talks much easier.

Father Lou learned Li Li Xuewu's attitude toward his daughter and his attitude toward himself, so he also showed sincerity.

On Li Li Xuewu's side, from Father Lou's words, he understood the man's worries and his painstaking efforts, and thus gave the other an attitude in return.

Only after both had drunk this cup of tea did they truly begin the formal conversation.

"Watching Lou Xiaoe is managing your accounts?"

"Yes."

Li Li Xuewu honestly admitted that he had been making free use of the man's daughter, and shamelessly explained: "She said she wanted to exercise her ability to manage finances."

"Then I should thank you for giving her this opportunity? Hehe."

Father Lou nodded with a smile; since his daughter had already been given to the man, what was there to say about yours or mine.

"Very good. I also intended for her to learn more, but she never liked this before."

Speaking, he sighed slightly and said: "I once thought of training the eldest to take over my position. Hehe, who would have thought that in the end, it is my daughter who stays to care for me in my old age."

"Times change and the world shifts; who can predict everything accurately?"

Li Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said: "You are now retired at home; perhaps one day, when the situation changes, you could make a comeback."

"Hehe, I may never see that in my lifetime."

Father Lou said with great helplessness: "I only hope you all are well, and that the future is good for all."

"Don't you want to go see your son?"

Li Li Xuewu squinted his eyes, smiled like a little fox, and asked: "Perhaps you already have a grandson."

"Hahaha!"

Father Lou also squinted his eyes and laughed heartily, saying: "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. I converted half my family assets into cash for him to take away. If he makes something of himself, so be it; if not, so be it. I cannot be blamed."

Speaking, he scratched the white hair by his ear and said: "As for a grandson, how could any old person not miss one? But the times do not permit it."

"Mm, I understand."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Wait. Take it easy, exercise your body well, and live well. Perhaps in a year or two, when policies loosen, they will return."

"Let's not fool anyone while the two of us sit here."

Father Lou tapped the desk and said: "The lease on Hongcheng has thirty-one years left. Setting aside what happens after it expires, even if policies change upon expiration, do you think I can live to be ninety?"

"Everyone hopes for a long life of a hundred years. Hehe."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said: "How do you..."

"A person's worth lies in self-knowledge."

Father Lou said with a smile: "In my life, I have done no good deeds; how could I have the fate of living a hundred years?"

"But you, you have hope to witness that glorious moment."

"We will."

Li Li Xuewu nodded, lifted his teacup, and began to drink.

After all, he was not going to Hongcheng; why should he rush? He certainly shouldn't go out of his way to offer advice.

Father Lou interlaced his fingers, sat behind the desk, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and then asked: "How much do you know about Hongcheng?"

"Not much."

Li Li Xuewu explained: "I was a soldier in Yangcheng before, but I hardly went out; after a few months, I went straight to the south."

"I did go abroad, hehe, but they weren't very welcoming to us, so I didn't see much of the world."

"Because you went holding guns."

Father Lou leaned back slightly and said: "If you had gone with money, there would have been a scene of welcoming you along the streets."

"No, no, no."

Li Li Xuewu waved his fingers and said to Father Lou: "Going there with only money, they would welcome you along the streets and then slaughter you."

Speaking, disregarding Father Lou's changing expression, he continued: "You wouldn't be so optimistic as to think that going outside means entering paradise, would you?"

"Of course not."

Father Lou frowned slightly and said: "Much of our decades of suffering was inflicted by them. They have wolfish ambitions; kindness is absent."

"So, money on the other side is easy to spend, but hard to earn."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, raised his eyes slightly, and poured a bucket of cold water over his father-in-law's head.

Father Lou frowned at Li Li Xuewu and said: "If I take money and conduct business honestly, simply wishing to make money peacefully and become a wealthy old man, is that not allowed?"

"Hehe, that depends on how peaceful you are, and exactly how big a wealthy old man you want to be."

Li Li Xuewu picked up the brush on the table, dipped it in the inkstone to thin the bristles, tore a sheet of white paper from the desk, and drew a circle, roughly the map of Hongcheng.

"Such a tiny place, yet it holds millions of people concentrated together. The greatest financial tycoons need no introduction; but do you know how many billionaire tycoons exist on this piece of land?"

Father Lou's frown deepened further. Watching the brush in Li Li Xuewu's hand, he kept pointing to surrounding positions while explaining the general port and industrial layout.

He was in the interior; no, in Siqicheng. He had been trapped for twenty years. Hongcheng was no longer the Hongcheng of twenty years ago, and the world was no longer the world of twenty years ago.

Now he had long been far from the Jianghu, and the Jianghu had long since left no place for him to stand.

Though letters occasionally passed between them and current newspapers and periodicals reached his hands, his understanding was far too one-sided.

What he saw might be only what others wanted him to see.

"Shipping, real estate, electronics, light industry, finance, trade... If you had gone twenty years ago, there would still have been a fight. Now, the industrial cake has already been divided."

He explained the transformations of global development in this era to Father Lou one by one. Watching the stunned Father Lou, Li Li Xuewu asked the question that hurt Father Lou the most: "What do you think you could do if you went there with money, even if both your money and your life were preserved?"

Li Li Xuewu's question was hard for Father Lou to answer. He was an entrepreneur who started from real industry, and even a model of saving the nation through industry.

But the era will not remember how many people it crushed or what it took from them; it will only roll its wheels over the poor souls who cannot keep up with its pace.

Li Li Xuewu knew his words were cruel, but he did not want this old man to go to Hongcheng just to be played with.

If he liked it, in Siqicheng, Li Li Xuewu could play him too; either way, both money and person would be lost, so why run so far?

You just want to be deceived however you please; he has plenty of tricks here that you will believe.

"Where did you hear all that?"

Father Lou looked at Li Li Xuewu; he had just said he knew little, yet now he was lecturing him.

This young man is not honest!

"You don't believe me?"

Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, looking at Father Lou.

"Of course."

Father Lou shook his head slightly and said, "I am now deaf and blind, and those friends of mine know very little about Hongcheng, so it is rare to hear such detailed information from you."

This old man is not very straightforward!

Li Li Xuewu looked at Father Lou and couldn't help but mutter to himself; he hadn't seen much surprise on the man's face while he was recounting these details.

Clearly, he was not the deaf and blind man in the Four Gates City that he claimed to be.

"Hehe, some of my friends have capabilities."

For Li Li Xuewu, "having a friend" explained everything, and he paid no mind to the old man across from him setting up a confusing array.

"So, you still want to go to Hongcheng?"

"You don't approve?"

Father Lou looked at Li Li Xuewu very formally, clearly wanting to get Li Li Xuewu's advice.

"After so many years, visiting relatives should still be convenient, right?"

Li Li Xuewu did not answer his question first; instead, he asked a more personal question.

That was why the Lou family's several sons hadn't returned to visit relatives all these years.

Luohu Bridge was not sealed off; letters were allowed, and visiting relatives was permitted. Even if it had become difficult starting this year, it hadn't been difficult in previous years, had it?

Father Lou's expression instantly soured, yet he did not vent his anger at Li Li Xuewu.

Li Li Xuewu said no more, simply drinking tea quietly, waiting for the other's answer.

"Sigh~~~"

A thousand words turned into a long sigh; how many tears of longing had been frozen stiff by a cold heart.

"Then let's talk about your plan?"

Li Li Xuewu did not treat the old man harshly; he smiled and asked another question.

Father Lou nodded with understanding and said, "I intended to lay bare all the family assets here; sell what can be sold, and throw away what cannot."

"Run?"

Hearing Li Li Xuewu use the word "run," Father Lou's brows furrowed again.

That word was unpleasant, but it fit reality.

"If one has no choice..."

Father Lou gave his reply with a tone of helplessness.

"I understand your feelings."

Li Li Xuewu nodded, then said, "But I also believe Following Lou Jie has told you my opinions and views."

"Mm, I have thought about it."

Father Lou nodded and said, "I am very grateful to you, and I am certain you can protect us, but you can protect us for a time, not for a lifetime."

"That is true."

Li Li Xuewu nodded. "I believe you can cut through thorns and open a great path to heaven."

"Of course, I don't want to be a lamb."

Father Lou looked at Li Li Xuewu and said, "My original plan was to go over first, see the actual situation, and if it is convenient, start with restaurants and livelihood businesses; the foundation is low, the requirements are low."

After briefly recounting his plan, Father Lou shook his head slightly again.

"Now I see, I was thinking too ideally, and I believe you already have a suitable suggestion for me, don't you?"

"Hehe, that doesn't seem quite appropriate."

Li Li Xuewu said with a light laugh, "I am a person with a heavy calculating heart; I always think of achieving perfection in everything, being harsh on myself, and being the same with others."

"I understand; young people, after all, have plenty of energy."

Father Lou nodded; he was not unaware of the intricacies within this.

At this moment, he said seriously to Li Li Xuewu, "Just state your demands; if I can meet them, then you can propose the plan."

A satisfied smile appeared on Li Li Xuewu's face; Father Lou had been trying to dominate this conversation, but how would the premeditated Li Li Xuewu agree?

Hammering here and there, he finally got the old man to speak.

"You cannot leave."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Father Lou with bright eyes and said seriously, "At least under normal circumstances, you cannot leave."

"Are you afraid I will contact them?"

Father Lou obviously guessed something; his gaze fixed on Li Li Xuewu as he asked, "Then what meaning is there in me doing this?"

"The meaning is great."

Facing Father Lou's pressure, Li Li Xuewu said without changing his expression, "If you want to safely take the money out and also keep your current fixed assets."

"What do you mean?"

Father Lou moved the teacup in front of him aside, propped his body on the desk, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and said, "Speak plainly if you have something to say; we have already reached this point."

Although he had the idea of the golden cicada shedding its shell, he had not yet made his final decision.

He was of such an age; if he could avoid dying in a foreign land, that would be best; people must always return to their roots.

Furthermore, the businesses in Jingcheng are gone, but the real estate remains; these are things no one can take away from him no matter what.

Moving furniture is one thing, but you can't carry a house on your back, can you?

It wasn't that we couldn't leave earlier; now we can leave, so why haven't we? We were just waiting.

Waiting to see if this gust of wind blows past quickly, so he won't have to leave.

Now Li Li Xuewu has offered him the option to leave if he wants or stay if he wants; how could he not care?

If he didn't care, he wouldn't have let Li Li Xuewu come to his door today.

"I support your comeback."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Father Lou and said, "But not private; it will be public."

Hearing Li Li Xuewu's words, Father Lou suddenly understood.

Earlier, Li Li Xuewu had already said: abandon everything, stay in the country, and Li Li Xuewu would guarantee his safety.

Now he wants to take the second path; Li Li Xuewu must give him a path that guarantees both his life and his property and social status.

It seems this path means completely changing his class status to become a public employee.

"You cannot leave; work hard. The better you work, the more health, longevity, and blessings for your descendants."

Li Li Xuewu poured himself more tea with the teapot and said while drinking, "Father-son affection; who can deprive you of your family joy? But consider it family joy."

"Do you want to control this public enterprise?"

Father Lou now had some reservations about Li Li Xuewu. Ambition is good, but ambition gone too far is greed.

"How could that be!"

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand and smiled, saying, "Public is public; there can be not a single error, nor any ambiguity."

As he spoke, he pointed to himself and said, "I work for the state and won't take a single penny of private wealth. Public is public, private is private; they must never be confused."

"Then what do you want?"

Father Lou looked at Li Li Xuewu and asked, "You wouldn't create such a company just for our family, would you?"

"You're joking."

Li Li Xuewu put down his teacup and explained, "I have a friend whose family is responsible for leading foreign trade work."

"Of course, as I said, public is public, private is private."

After explaining, Li Li Xuewu emphasized again, "I actually hope Following Lou Jie goes out more; I fully support her developing her career in Hongcheng."

"So, am I just that kite string?"

Father Lou understood Li Li Xuewu's meaning now; this young man not only wanted his wealth and his daughter, but now even wanted to swallow him whole.

"You are overthinking it, hehe."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Father Lou and said seriously, "Even if I use a steel cable to fly a kite, if the kite wants to leave, I can't hold it back. I never test business deals with emotions; that is an insult to human nature and a moral collapse."

Father Lou looked at Li Li Xuewu and said, "Now tell me your plan. Let me see if my old bones can trade for a lifetime of peace."

The Federation of Industry and Commerce is a huge organization now; he is an important figure within this organization in Jingcheng, and what Li Li Xuewu mentioned is no stranger to him.

In some aspects, he truly admires this young man, but in business, hehe, he has been doing it all his life and won't be outdone by the young man before him.

"I will help you apply for residency in Hongcheng, then return. Following Lou Jie will go to Hongcheng as a family member and start a business there."

Li Li Xuewu pointed to the circle on the white paper and said, "You will have a legal company in Hongcheng that connects with the domestic company; you will be the mainland representative stationed at the Hongcheng company."

"A shell company, then?"

Father Lou nodded indifferently, indicating he understood Li Li Xuewu's meaning.

Don't talk about a vast ocean separating the two; that is only for ordinary people.

No matter when, that small bay has never blocked communication between the two places; simply put, Hongcheng's chickens, ducks, geese, and pork are all supplied from the mainland.

Including water; Hongcheng's water has always been supplied by the mainland.

It has always been so; how could the consumption of millions of people rely on that small island?

At this time, a certain tycoon's pig farm is right on the mainland.

Furthermore, why were all those high-rises built as soon as the doors opened?

If you say it's complicated, how complicated can it really be?

Father Lou previously wanted to leave immediately because of his connections with the upper levels; he couldn't do many things.

Now that he hears Li Li Xuewu can provide him a way out, many things can be reconsidered.

Father Lou never expected Li Li Xuewu to have such extensive connections.

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, smiled, nodded, and said, "Temporary; there are further arrangements later. We'll discuss that slowly; let's talk about the temporary first."

After explaining to Father Lou, Li Li Xuewu continued, "I will help you take your money to Hongcheng. Whatever the valuation, I will contribute an equal amount. Including Following Lou Jie's labor shares, the three of us will hold shares to establish a company."

"You may not know how much my assets are."

Father Lou shook his head slightly and said, "It seems Watching Lou Xiaoe didn't tell you."

"Hehe, similarly, you may not know how much my assets are."

Li Li Xuewu retorted indifferently and looked at Father Lou, saying, "As long as you invest, I will definitely raise the corresponding capital."

Father Lou nodded, temporarily agreeing with Li Li Xuewu's statement, then asked, "You just said the cake of industries has been divided. What do you plan to do? Don't tell me you want to start from the basic industries like I thought?"

"I said, that tiny place is stuffed with millions of people. Basic industries are all serving the poor."

Li Li Xuewu leaned forward, looked at Father Lou, and said, "The poor's money is the hardest to earn. They say gold is everywhere there, but I really don't want to earn the poor's money."

Father Lou lifted his chin, looked at the arrogant and confident Li Li Xuewu, and asked, "If you won't earn the poor's money, whose money do you want to earn?"

As soon as he asked this, he already had a guess in his mind.

The direction is nothing more than two: either the British, or the rich.

"Whoever has money, earn from them."

"Hehe."

Father Lou leaned back in his chair with a light laugh, looked at Li Li Xuewu with a meaningful expression in his eyes, and then asked, "Have you ever done business?"

Saying this, he rotated his finger and emphasized, "I'm talking about normal business."

"None."

Li Li Xuewu understood Lou Lou Xiaojing's meaning: normal business was visible, reasonable, and legal.

If counted this way, he truly had never done normal business, because such business was not allowed to exist now.

Whether it was starting with pear trading, exchanging goods in Jicheng, or the recycling station, including the first grain and baijiu deal in Gangcheng, the seafood and dried goods in Jinmen, the second "friend sponsorship" in Gangcheng, or the borderland bulk purchase, all were abnormal.

Lou Lou Xiaojing could obviously see through it, but he didn't know Li Li Xuewu had done so many things; yet thinking of the hundred thousand yuan spent on stones, he knew this young man had a substantial fortune.

If this fortune relied on Li Li Xuewu's father, who was a Physician, then Li Shun would have been worked to death.

So Lou Lou Xiaojing emphasized this "normal business" to tell Li Li Xuewu: there are rough-and-tumble founders, but no rough-and-tumble noble families.

Once in Gangcheng, Li Li Xuewu would lose his current identity and reliance; doing business would depend entirely on him.

"Then I'll tell you about some situations I know."

Lou Lou Xiaojing sat in the chair, very confident, and spoke to Li Li Xuewu with a somewhat instructive tone: "Current Gangcheng, although the cake has already been divided, still has opportunities, hence the saying 'gold everywhere'."

"You say I went twenty years ago? Heh, actually I went to Gangcheng twenty years ago."

Lou Lou Xiaojing didn't even hide it from Li Li Xuewu: "I have certain understanding of that place; I only returned after settling them down."

"From some communications, I could sense the desolation and opportunities of those years; with the development pace of the past decade, Gangcheng is continuing to develop and expand its manufacturing industry."

"Strong economic growth has made Gangcheng one of the Four Asian Tigers, on par with Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan."

"With rapid economic development, plus active local development of infrastructure and public housing, the quality of life for Gangcheng residents has generally improved."

Lou Lou Xiaojing tapped the table and spoke seriously to Li Li Xuewu: "This is also the reason I mentioned starting from basic industries."

"Including you and me, in the eyes of those across the water, we are all outsiders coming to grab food."

After introducing the actual situation in Gangcheng, Lou Lou Xiaojing continued: "Let's not talk about the public sector for now; just speak of the private enterprises after Watching Lou Xiaoe goes there."

"When you arrive on someone else's turf, you must find projects with low competition and modest profits; you can't think of making big money the moment you arrive."

"You must seek refuge in the hometown association, win over local magnates, pay taxes and make donations, grease the wheels where needed, and show proper respect; it's not the same as arriving with a gun in hand."

"So troublesome? And an association?"

Li Li Xuewu frowned; he didn't really understand the business trade, but he knew Gangcheng in this period was unstable; most movies from later eras spoke of this kind of thing, while business films were rare.

"Troublesome? Where is making money ever easy?"

Lou Lou Xiaojing shook his head slightly and said, "You must maintain good relations with peers, handle social connections, smooth over underground ties, and also cultivate relationships with those above; only then can you make money."

Li Li Xuewu frowned slightly; he was thinking of pooling his own money with the Lou family's to make a big move, at least one that would command respect.

The gold brought back from Gangcheng sitting in his hands was merely decoration, utterly useless; only money spent is truly money.

Hugging gold bars and sleeping every day would make one a miser.

Moreover, he thought: if exchanges between various regions within the country could make money, wouldn't exchanges between Gangcheng and Jingcheng be even more profitable?

In this era, there were not many great opportunities; he didn't want to miss any single one.

Lou Lou Xiaojing obviously saw through Li Li Xuewu's intentions; he knew young people couldn't sit still, looked down on small businesses, and wanted to leap to the top in one step, doing something big.

He himself had such fantasies when young, but time and experience had worn down his drive.

Reality told him that business was no child's play; you couldn't just do whatever you wanted.

If the situation weren't special, he wouldn't cooperate with Li Li Xuewu; their philosophies and motives were different.

This was the so-called "those with different paths do not plan together."

But the reality was, he had money, Li Li Xuewu also had money, and Li Li Xuewu had connections while he did not.

Now, with just Lou Lou Xiaojing, he didn't think his daughter was of peerless beauty, nor did he think Li Li Xuewu would be addicted to wine and women.

Then it was clear: Li Li Xuewu wouldn't be tied down by his daughter; why would he want to play along with him?

It was simply that he valued Li Li Xuewu's ability to generate wealth.

One had wealth, the other had ability; that was a situation where cooperation benefited both.

He also wanted to borrow Li Li Xuewu's ability to rise again, to preserve the current situation, and to engage in business activities; this was precisely the opportunity he had long dreamed of.

Now the conflict point between the two was their business philosophy; let's see today who could convince whom.

"Young man, have some patience; the world is yours."

Lou Lou Xiaojing took a sip of tea, then set down the teacup, letting Li Li Xuewu pour tea for him, and comforted him with words: "To take something, you must first give it; give and take, if you don't give, how can you receive?"

"How much can be earned?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at his father-in-law, who understood business well, put down the teapot after pouring tea, and asked the most direct and crucial question.

His question seemed to ask how much money could be made, but now everything was just talk on paper, with no specific project confirmed; so Lou Lou Xiaojing knew he wasn't asking how much a project would earn, but how much he himself could earn.

Don't let Li Li Xuewu's words about Following Lou Jie going out to start a business fool you; in reality, Following Lou Jie did not yet possess the talent for entrepreneurship.

What Li Li Xuewu had designed was to have Lou Lou Xiaojing standing behind him, able to establish a firm foothold on the mainland and expand territory in Gangcheng.

"It depends on the specifics."

Lou Lou Xiaojing raised his head slightly and said, "Of what is earned and what is spent, the split is three to seven."

"Only seventy percent?"

Li Li Xuewu's hand holding the teacup paused slightly; he didn't drink again, but set down the cup in his hand to express his dissatisfaction.

"Seventy percent is what is spent!"

Seeing Li Li Xuewu glaring, Lou Lou Xiaojing said helplessly, "Even earning thirty percent depends on others' moods."

"Whose moods?"

Li Li Xuewu's face instantly darkened.

Lou Lou Xiaojing also saw Li Li Xuewu's dissatisfaction, pointed at the map and rough industry distribution Li Li Xuewu had just drawn, and said, "Them."

"Them?!"

Li Li Xuewu arched his eyebrows, crossed his legs, tapped that piece of paper, and asked Lou Lou Xiaojing, "I traveled all the way from Jingcheng to Gangcheng just to look at their moods?"

Father Lou: "Correct!"

Li Li Xuewu: "I barely managed to save enough capital and gain status."

Father Lou: "Correct."

Li Li Xuewu: "I still have to curry favor with peers and manage social relationships."

Father Lou: "Correct."

Li Li Xuewu: "I still have to settle underground connections."

Father Lou: "Correct."

Li Li Xuewu: "I still have to befriend those above?"

Father Lou: "Correct."

Li Li Xuewu: "Then wouldn't I just be begging on my knees?"

Father Lou smiled bitterly: "Now you understand the helplessness of us merchants? To put it plainly, opening a shop to do business is begging on your knees."

Speaking, he tapped the table and said: "You are still young and haven't experienced the situation back then. The Hongcheng I see now is no different from the Sijiu Cheng of thirty years ago. Just as I said, how many people want to beg on their knees but have no way in?"

"Hehe."

Li Li Xuewu chuckled softly; it seemed Father Lou's meaning was that only with his current identity and status did he have the chance to go out and beg on his knees.

"Hmm~~~"

Li Li Xuewu said with a smile: "To be honest, that scrap recycling station is mine; you guessed that, right?"

Father Lou nodded slightly; he could guess that. Although he didn't know how Li Li Xuewu managed it, looking at it now, with favorable winds and rains and no one interfering, he must have capability.

"Then let me tell you, do you believe I made my first pot of gold by collecting scrap?"

Li Li Xuewu tilted his head, and before Father Lou could answer, continued: "Now I dare not say I am as wealthy as you, but you can see my brain for making money and my capability, can't you?"

"Hmm."

Father Lou had to admit that this young man accumulating this estate in half a year was indeed remarkable.

Regardless of how he earned it, look at him now living well; he simply isn't afraid of investigations.

To accumulate a first pot of gold in an environment where private business is forbidden is indeed the mark of a person.

"Then let me ask you, do you know why, when I could have made money, I didn't stay in Yangcheng at my third uncle's place to do business secretly during my transfer?"

Father Lou shook his head slightly; Lou Watching Lou Xiaoe had lived in the courtyard, so of course he knew the Li family's kinship relations.

Both Jicheng and Yangcheng added much luster to the Li family; this was also part of the reason the Li family lived well and was respected.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and tapped his knee where his legs were crossed: "I've been in the army too long; my knees aren't good; I can't kneel anymore."

Father Lou smiled with understanding and asked: "Then do you want to earn money standing up?"

Speaking, he shook his head slightly and said: "That is certainly possible. With your current status and capability, plus your existing capital, you can certainly earn money in Jingcheng, but only in Jingcheng."

Li Li Xuewu heard Father Lou's final emphasized words, raised his eyebrows, and said: "I don't understand this. I clearly have the ability to reach into Hongcheng; how is it less favorable than doing business in Jingcheng?"

"Because in Jingcheng you are a Deputy Division Chief; whatever you do is naturally convenient."

Father Lou looked at Li Li Xuewu very seriously and pointed at that paper, saying: "But once you go there, you are begging on your knees."

After saying this, Father Lou felt his tone was a bit abrupt, withdrew his hand, and advised Li Li Xuewu: "The status is different now. Going there is to earn money. Business isn't shameful."

"Shameful!"

Li Li Xuewu, with a cold face, looked at Father Lou and said: "It's damn shameful."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu was not polite, Father Lou also dropped his attitude and asked: "Then do you want to stand, or do you want to earn money?"

Li Li Xuewu: "I want to stand and earn money."

Father Lou shook his head slightly and said: "You can't earn it."

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, unbuttoned his shirt while continuing to press: "Can't earn it?"

"Can't earn it."

Father Lou sat in the chair, shook his head very decisively, and answered Li Li Xuewu's question affirmatively.

"Bang!"

Under Father Lou's surprised, wide-eyed gaze, Li Li Xuewu pulled the M1911 from his chest, slammed it onto that paper with a clatter, and asked: "This, can it earn?"

"Can earn, Sijiu Cheng."

Father Lou nodded, very certain.

This gun represented Li Li Xuewu's status and position, represented his ability to stabilize his current wealth structure and make money; of course, he would not deny it.

But in the end, he emphasized that this gun could not leave Sijiu Cheng, so if one wanted to make money, it could only be in Sijiu Cheng.

Li Li Xuewu nodded, noncommittal, placed that piece of jade seed material on the desk, and asked: "This, can it make money?"

Father Lou looked at that stone; this represented Li Li Xuewu's financial power and connections.

"Can earn, on your knees."

The gun cannot leave Sijiu Cheng; once money reaches Hongcheng, isn't it just having to earn money on your knees?

Li Li Xuewu placed the stone and the gun together on that paper, looked at Father Lou, and asked: "This, plus this, can I stand and earn money?"

Father Lou narrowed his eyes, glanced at the two items on the map on the desk, then fixed his gaze on Li Li Xuewu and asked: "Do you want to cross the river like a fierce dragon?"

"Hehe, 'With a rough path and blue clothes, we open the mountains and forests; we possess the barbarians and attach them to Huaxia; if we do not cry, we do not cry; if we cry, we startle the world.'"

Li Li Xuewu answered Father Lou's question with a passage from the Zuo Zhuan, then tapped that seed material on the table and said: "Going with money, you are certainly a lamb waiting to be slaughtered."

He picked up the pistol on the table, gestured with it, put it back in his chest while saying: "If we go, we must have this to go."

"So, what do you want to do?"

Father Lou now saw the nature of this young man clearly; this was a fierce wolf.

A wolf that was prepared, had blood, and had a purpose.

"Earn money, from the top down."

Li Li Xuewu fastened his buttons and smiled: "Capital has no mercy. Once you go over there, you'll have only a short time to set up—by the time they react, they'll devour you down to the last bone fragment. So move fast, precise, and ruthless."

As he spoke, he tapped the paper: "Buy land, do electronics, do finance, do trade."

"Go on."

Lou's father neither opposed nor endorsed Li Li Xuewu's words; he wanted to hear Li Li Xuewu's plan first.

"Hong Kong's land is worth its weight in gold, especially after the massive population influx in recent years, which caused severe land shortages."

Li Li Xuewu began with land, pointing out several reclamation sites, then said: "To survive here, land is the foundation. As society grows more stable and the economy more prosperous, owning land means you're never at the mercy of others."

"That's a problem."

Lou's father frowned: "You know land is worth its weight in gold—so with our little money, after buying land, what else can we do?"

"That's my second point: finance."

Li Li Xuewu explained: "Buy land for nine hundred and ninety-nine years—it's a fixed asset, so you need finance to activate it."

He looked at Lou's father and asked: "Do you understand banking?"

"Are you going to open a bank?"

Lou's father was startled by Li Li Xuewu's bold idea—just talking about land, and now suddenly banking?

"An investment bank."

Li Li Xuewu explained: "If one industry can be squeezed dry, what if several industries are linked together by an investment bank?"

"Real estate backs the bank, the bank feeds back into electronics, electronics is a cash-heavy industry that activates bank capital, while also connecting to trade—no need for me to explain trade."

"The thinking is good."

Lou's father looked at Li Li Xuewu: "You use money to buy land, let the bank take root, electronics bloom, trade bear fruit—what do you do with the fruit?"

"I'll handle it."

Li Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes: "Including other light industrial products that emerge from it."

Lou's father understood—it was egg distribution. Li Li Xuewu wouldn't put all his eggs in one basket.

They worked together on the upstream; downstream sales had other channels.

Although he had already realized Li Li Xuewu intended to use him as a kite string to control Hong Kong's companies, Li Li Xuewu never admitted it—but the difference was negligible.

Whether from the basis of cooperation or the setup of roles, everything was designed to exert control.

Of course, he understood Wu De Zuo Fa—business is business, emotion is emotion; they must not be confused.

"I'll think about this approach."

After a moment's consideration, Lou's father nodded and asked Li Li Xuewu: "How long will it take to arrange the identity?"

"Take it slow."

Li Li Xuewu smiled—he didn't expect an answer today. Just hearing Lou's father consider it meant he was already moving toward Li Li Xuewu's thinking.

Don't say he was bullying an old man—some prices were marked from the start; it's just a matter of whether you want to pay.

They were already in a cooperative relationship; today had been a good start.

Whether Li Li Xuewu's plans would work or not, at least he had a plan and was deliberately seeking development.

If Li Li Xuewu had simply said he'd send them off and help carry the money over, Lou's father would have worried.

"The situation won't change overnight, but you must learn to be discreet."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Lou's father: "Stop seeking ways to leave. Stop gathering with others to discuss these matters."

"I understand."

Lou's father nodded, speaking with melancholy: "We all know—no matter how much we talk, if there's no way out, it's useless."

"Good that you understand."

Li Li Xuewu explained: "I'll recommend you to state-run companies at the right time."

"Heh—he never thought that after half a lifetime of wealth, I'd have to start over."

With official matters settled, Lou's father smiled and gestured for Li Li Xuewu to drink tea.

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand and smiled back: "Jiang Jiang Ziya took command at eighty—you're still young."

"Hahaha!"

Seeing Li Li Xuewu understood, Lou's father laughed: "I hope I can retire by eighty—half a lifetime of toil is too exhausting."

"It's our fault for making you work so hard."

Li Li Xuewu stood up and said: "You must teach Lou Yan Jie well—I'll provide support. I hope you soon enjoy the blessings of grandchildren."

"I hope so."

Lou's father also stood, walked beside Li Li Xuewu, looked him up and down carefully, nodded slightly, and said: "She's been spoiled since childhood—childish at times. Take care of her."

"You're being too formal."

Li Li Xuewu followed Lou's father out the door, smiling: "People must grow. I see Lou Yan Jie is learning well already."

"Hahaha—I know my own daughter best."

Lou's father descended the stairs and saw his wife and daughter waiting in the living room. He asked: "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Li Li Xuewu glanced at his watch—unconsciously, he'd talked with Lou's father for over two hours; it was truly time to rest.

Thank you, Master Ai Kai, for your ten-thousand-coin reward!!! Last month, Master Ai Kai gave two ten-thousand-coin rewards, and Lan Zhu gave one—thank you so much!!