The boy did not understand why, but still obediently did as he was told. Today, he was wearing a white shirt. Once he tugged the sleeve down, it covered the mole on his wrist.
Out of sight, out of mind for Zhao Shengge.
Shao Yaozong misread it and thought the other man was not entirely without sincerity after all. He smiled and said, “Mr. Zhao really does know how to cherish beauty.” The air-conditioning in the room was indeed turned up rather high.
Zhao Shengge sat with one leg crossed and did not respond.
Shao Yaozong did not mind. He went straight to the point. “About the matter I brought up before, has Mr. Zhao considered it?”
Zhao Shengge circled with him. “We can discuss the land later. Let’s look at the goods first.”
“Of course.” Shao Yaozong was very straightforward. He ordered his deputy to bring out a case, open it, and display the contents.
Zhao Shengge lowered his eyes for a glance, then smiled very faintly. “For White Crane Hall’s supply line, this seems unworthy.”
Shao Yaozong paused slightly.
In Hai City, besides old prominent families with solid financial foundations like the Zhao, Jiang, Shen, and Zhuo families, there remained many underworld gangs from the previous millennium. They were brutal in their methods, disregarded rules, damaged the market and disrupted order, colluded with officials for protection, and repeatedly crossed red lines, lingering in gray territory year-round.
Because their networks of interest were deeply tangled and firmly rooted, Customs and the police had once had extraordinary headaches over them.
White Crane Hall was one of them. Mak Jiahui, who had recently been rumored to have been forced into jumping from a building by a single phone call from Zhao Shengge, had once been White Crane Hall’s deputy.
The people at the police station had some surface-level friendship with Zhao Shengge and had made repeated visits to invite this leader of the business world to participate in the cleanup. Since Minglong had always enjoyed very favorable customs policies, Zhao Shengge agreed. It could also be considered borrowing public power to get rid of these eyesore flies that disrupted the market.
Shao Yaozong had seen Mak Jiahui’s end and knew the higher-ups were truly determined to clean things up this time. White Crane Hall’s lifespan was likely near its end.
When the rabbit died, the fox grieved. When the lips were gone, the teeth felt the cold. His reaction was quick. Using the criminal evidence he held against White Crane Hall as a bargaining chip, he wanted Zhao Shengge to help him break away, clean himself up, and establish his own operation. In return, he promised Zhao Shengge a batch of extremely profitable goods and a piece of land in Baoli Bay.
Within the gang, Mak Jiahui had managed the capital flow. Shao Yaozong managed the supply lines and land. Even an old fox like Mak Jiahui, who had survived for decades, had fallen in Zhao Shengge’s hands. Shao Yaozong had already recognized the situation clearly. He considered himself incapable of fighting Zhao Shengge, and White Crane Hall was already at the end of its strength, impossible to rely on for protection. He could not be blamed for betraying his own side and seeking a way out.
The extremely profitable goods were contraband. Zhao Shengge had no interest in them.
But that piece of land was worth a great deal. It had been specially approved when the special administrative region was established. Money alone could not obtain it. Once the dock was completed, its annual shipping traffic would be measured in the hundreds of millions.
Zhao Shengge had coveted it for a long time.
Shao Yaozong thought the bargaining chip in his hand was very heavy.
What he did not know was that Zhao Shengge had already finished negotiating with the Financial Management Department. Once Hurricane No. 7 Thunder Operation ended, that batch of contraband and the operating line behind it would go to Customs. The land would go to Zhao Shengge.
Minglong would acquire it through bidding.
Zhao Shengge never got up early unless there was profit involved. This informant could not possibly be a charity performance.
“Mr. Zhao has sharp eyes. Don’t blame me for being cautious. If I’m painfully cutting off and handing over this overseas line, I naturally need to confirm that the other party truly knows the goods before I can feel at ease.”
“Then has Mr. Shao tested it out?” Zhao Shengge remained unmoved by all eight winds.
“Of course. Of course.” Shao Yaozong ordered his people to bring the real goods out from a hidden door for Zhao Shengge to inspect.
Zhao Shengge picked up two, turned them over in his hands, and pointed out several extremely minor flaws.
With underworld gangs, if one went along with them too smoothly, they would not believe it. Zhao Shengge’s pickiness instead made Shao Yaozong feel that he was sincerely interested in taking over this line of business.
“You don’t need to worry too much about this. Italians are used to revolvers anyway. They don’t misfire easily.”
Zhao Shengge glanced at him and neither agreed nor disagreed.
Shao Yaozong added, “This batch only fills three ships’ cargo holds. If the other side brings it up later, there’s still time to reassemble the rest.”
“Mm.” Zhao Shengge followed the opening and asked, “How much is left?”
“Eight ships.”
Shao Yaozong was not telling the truth either. In fact, it was thirteen ships. There were also several cases hidden in plain sight.
Inside Eagle Pond.
Because its spatial structure was so complicated, Eagle Pond was not only a pleasure house. Its basement also functioned as a safe-deposit bank. The Swiss were very good at keeping secrets.
Shao Yaozong had stored part of the goods there in advance. After all, the person he was meeting was Zhao Shengge. He had no choice but to keep a few extra cards in hand.
Yet Zhao Shengge had come alone. He also carried not the slightest air of fighting or killing about him. He leisurely tasted the wine the boy handed him.
“If they need to be modified, will Mr. Shao guarantee the schedule?”
Shao Yaozong smiled. “You may rest assured on that point, Mr. Zhao.”
He was reluctant to completely let go of this line after handing it over to Zhao Shengge, and still wanted a share of the transportation profits. If he could form a long-term partnership with Zhao Shengge, that would be best.
Zhao Shengge gave a soft hum and said they could try a few ships first. Shao Yaozong naturally said yes.
Seeing that Shao Yaozong did seem rather pleased, Zhao Shengge asked whether he had forgotten something.
Shao Yaozong said White Crane Hall’s crimes were too numerous to record, and the evidence needed to accuse it would still take some time.
Zhao Shengge looked at him for a while, then nodded in agreement as well. He said that was fine. Payment and goods could be settled together. Whenever the goods left port, the evidence would be handed over.
Shao Yaozong immediately looked somewhat troubled.
His original intention had been to wait until Zhao Shengge had truly formed a shared interest with him before laying out his cards. But judging by Zhao Shengge’s meaning, without evidence, the goods would not leave port. Without Zhao Shengge’s protection, his cargo ships could not cross the strait at all right now. And Italians were the most particular about punctuality.
Shao Yaozong could only say, “Then I’ll have someone organize part of it before the goods leave port and send it to your company through encrypted transmission.”
Zhao Shengge was not very satisfied. “How much is ‘part’?”
“About fifty to sixty percent.” This evidence was like a guarantee. Shao Yaozong was also a businessman. He could not leave himself without a backup. “With so many years of accounts laid out, some omissions are inevitable.”
“Fine.”
Zhao Shengge did not make things difficult for him either. In any case, Customs only needed a nominal justification to act. The people at the police station and the Inspectorate were very capable. Once a single opening was torn, pulling one strand would move the entire web.
The final matter discussed was the transfer of shares.
Zhao Shengge wanted to understand their board of directors’ situation within a short time and was willing to acquire the shares Shao Yaozong held.
As for Shao Yaozong, first, he wanted to break away as soon as possible, ideally leaving light and clean to go far away. Second, he intended to drag Zhao Shengge into the water. Agreements and promises were empty. A community of interests was the greatest backer.
Zhao Shengge flipped through the agreement he had brought and casually tossed it onto the table.
There was a crisp slap.
The sound was neither too loud nor too soft. His dark eyes stared steadily at the other man as he said, “If Mr. Shao transfers defective shares, I will invoke the Golden Act.”
Shao Yaozong’s whole body went cold.
He was certain Zhao Shengge had not read the clauses seriously just now, but with one glance, the other man had determined that there were defects in his shares.
The Golden Act was the “Golden Twelve Clauses” Zhao Shengge had proposed years ago when he had single-handedly accused a Wall Street giant in an overseas antitrust court.
After that lawsuit, which had been like an egg striking a stone, ended in victory, Zhao Shengge’s reputation rose swiftly. A finance reporter from The Belgian Times named it the Golden Act. It was also called the Zhao Shengge Act. In the financial circles of the time, it dealt a heavy blow to the white establishment. A young Chinese man had used his trading technique and unimaginable perseverance to force scales loaded with prejudice and discrimination back into balance.
When Zhao Shengge did business, he did not simply complete a profitable deal.
He turned it into a system.
He valued long-term mechanisms, solving a problem once and for all.
The Golden Act contained extraordinarily severe punitive measures for the malicious sale of defective shares. Later, it had been unanimously adopted into the market by the Hai City Commerce and Economic Association. It had no legal force, but as “market rules,” “industry custom,” and “public order and good morals,” it was cited and referenced in economic litigation.
Shao Yaozong did not dare play tricks in front of the act’s original author. He agreed to redraft the agreement after completing the property division and valuation.
Zhao Shengge appeared fairly satisfied.
The meeting ended.
Shao Yaozong invited Zhao Shengge to watch a performance he had reserved. In such a setting, one did not need to think to know it would be some bizarre erotic spectacle. To avoid unnecessary complications, Zhao Shengge agreed to take a look.
Shao Yaozong was very happy.
He could not figure out Zhao Shengge’s preferences, so he did not go too far.
Zhao Shengge had spent years immersed in the worlds of fame, profit, and pleasure. He had seen scenes far more absurd and obscene than this. He was also exceptionally arrogant, so his interest was thin.
But Shao Yaozong was indeed skilled in matters of sensual entertainment. Every person he had chosen was a top-grade beauty. Zhao Shengge watched for a while and still felt it meant nothing.
Seeing that Zhao Shengge remained unmoved and perfectly steady, Shao Yaozong teased, “Does Mr. Zhao simply look down on them, or does his heart already belong to someone? If it does, then I have offended you. I ask your forgiveness.”
Zhao Shengge found the other man somewhat ridiculous, and presumptuous besides.
Proud and self-contained, he answered, “Mr. Shao is thinking too much.”