LRAB Chapter 39: Provoking Envy
Chapter 39: Provoking Envy
In reality, what he said to Xu Wenbiao was just empty talk.
Song Zhaowen also wanted to eat alone.
But that won't work in Hong Kong!
Throughout Hong Kong, almost all the highly profitable projects have been largely taken over by the large British and Chinese capital firms in the city. For example, all the convenience stores in Hong Kong are owned by subsidiaries of Li Bancheng and Huang, most of the supermarkets belong to the Zhou family, and the catering alliance is owned by the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce.
Today, the "pissing beef ball" has gained momentum, and everyone knows it will be a golden goose.
No one would criticize Song Zhaowen if he only acted as a manufacturer, but since he wanted to both produce and distribute the products himself, the city's tycoons had to teach him a lesson.
For example, the checkout cycle is lengthened, or the products are placed in the worst and most remote locations, or they are simply not allowed to be put on the shelves at all.
If it stagnates for a few weeks and loses its buzz, and similar products hit the market, the market for "pissing beef balls" will be gone.
Also, his gang background makes him an easy target for sabotage from behind.
Trying to monopolize everything? You might become a sensation today, but you could also be brought down to the bottom in a single move tomorrow.
This is the harshest reality of doing business in Hong Kong.
Song Zhaowen doesn't yet have the strength or status to challenge those tycoons.
However, this business opportunity is merely a stepping stone. If it allows you to build connections with the city's tycoons, it will be entirely beneficial. One must know how to network upwards!
The boss in front of me has only been in Tin Shui Wai for half a month, yet he has already stirred up a huge storm.
She particularly admires strong and capable men, not to mention that her boss is extremely handsome.
She was even more determined to create an opportunity to be alone with him: "Brother Wen, I've got you all wrapped around my little finger!"
Song Zhaowen had no idea of the burning gaze Li Mei was giving him from behind.
Ring ring~
The mobile phone rang.
Song Zhaowen frowned; only a handful of people knew his private phone number.
"Hey, who is it?"
"Awen, I'm your Uncle Guang."
It was a call from Zhengxing's uncle, Dazhiguang. The two of them don't usually socialize, so why was he calling at this time?
Although he disliked the big, muscular man, Song Zhaowen's tone on the phone was very polite.
"Oh, it's Uncle Guang. What brings you here?"
"After working as a boss for two days, Wenzi's speech has become much more refined."
"Uncle Guang, I'm very busy, so please make your story short."
"I'll treat you to fatty goose tonight. Oh, and Li Tianyi will be there too. We'll meet at Weixian Fruit Market at nine o'clock."
Without waiting for Song Zhaowen's agreement, he hung up the phone.
"Damn it, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Brother Wen, are you really planning to go over tonight?" Xiao Zhuoxiao overheard everything.
Song Zhaowen shrugged: "Uncle Guang is, after all, a senior figure in the gang, so we have to give him face. By the way, Ah Xiao, you'll come with me tonight."
"Alright! Let's see if we don't get that old fox, Big Brother Guang, drunk to death."
"Don't try to take it from me, there's not enough for me to drink alone."
"Tch, does he think he's the god of wine?"
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At 8 PM, Shiweixian.
Two men in black suits, their eyes wary, stood at the entrance of the teahouse. They were Uncle Guang's men. Seeing Song Zhaowen get out of the car, one of them went up to him: "Brother Wen, Uncle Xiang and Brother Tianyi are waiting for you in a private room upstairs."
Song Zhaowen led Xiao Zhuoxiao inside. The teahouse was bustling with activity, but the private rooms on the second floor were quiet. When they reached the innermost "Pine Crane" room, two henchmen were standing at the door.
It's just a meal, but Big Brother Guang brought so many henchmen; you can tell he's incredibly vain.
Pushing open the door, the private room was filled with the aroma of tea. Da Zhi Guang, dressed in his ever-present silk Tang suit, sat in the main seat, smiling as he brewed tea.
Beside him, Lai Tin-yat, the resident guild leader of Kwun Tong, was wearing a floral shirt, his legs crossed, a toothpick in his mouth, glancing sideways at Song Zhaowen as he entered, with a half-smile on his face.
"Ah Wen's here, have a seat." Big Guang greeted him warmly, pointing to the empty seat next to Li Tianyi.
Song Zhaowen nodded to Uncle Big: "Sorry Uncle Guang, I'm late."
However, instead of sitting in the seat arranged by Da Zhiguang, he sat down in the empty seat opposite Li Tianyi and merely nodded to him.
Li Tianyi took the toothpick out of his mouth and played with it in his hand, saying sarcastically, "Oh, Hard Fist Wen, you're a big boss now, quite the big shot. Let Uncle Guang and me wait for you."
Song Zhaowen smiled and said, "There's a lot going on at the factory. I just finished dealing with it. It's not as leisurely as Tianyi's job in Kwun Tong."
"You..." Li Tianyi's face darkened.
"Alright, alright, I don't know if you two are just incompatible, you get so angry the moment you meet." Big Guang laughed and poured tea for the two of them. "Come on, have a cup of tea first, to soothe your throats. This Pu'er is my treasured collection, you can't find it anywhere else."
Song Zhaowen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and nodded: "Good tea, Uncle Guang, you've gone to so much trouble."
Li Tianyi also picked up his teacup, but didn't drink it. He just held it under his nose and smelled it, still glancing sideways at Song Zhaowen: "It's good tea, but I'm afraid some people won't be able to appreciate its flavor, thus wasting Uncle Guang's good intentions."
Song Zhaowen put down his teacup, looked up at Li Tianyi, and said calmly, "Brother Tianyi, isn't it a bit too hasty to conclude that I wasted Uncle Guang's good intentions?"
Big-Chubby Guang quickly waved his hand: "Hey, have some tea, have some tea, let's not talk about that. Ah-Wen, your business has been booming lately, everyone in Hong Kong knows about your 'Juicy Pissing Beef Balls.' We old guys are all happy for you. It's a source of pride for the triad to have such a capable and profitable young man like you!"
"Uncle Guang, you flatter me. It was just a small stunt, a stroke of luck," Song Zhaowen replied casually.
"Hey, luck is part of ability too," Big Guang said with a smile. "But Wen, as the business grows, you have to consider everything. You're managing production, sales, and all those other messy things on the side. Isn't it too much for you? Have you thought about finding some trustworthy and capable brothers to help you out?"
Song Zhaowen sneered inwardly; finally, they were getting to the point.
"It's very easy. Uncle Guang, I've already hired a professional manager. There are dedicated people in charge of production, sales, and finance. I just watch TV and drink tea every day. It's too comfortable." Song Zhaowen cut off the conversation.
Big Guang's smile froze for a moment, then wrinkles appeared even more, as if he hadn't noticed Song Zhaowen's perfunctory tone: "Oh, Wen, you're being modest. It's all over TV, your factory is running day and night, trucks are lining up to pick up goods, and your phone is ringing off the hook. How could it be easy? Your subordinates must be only reporting the good news, not the bad, so you won't worry. We experienced people know best: the bigger the business, the more worries you have."
He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke with an air of utmost sincerity: "Take those big companies and big bosses, for example. Which one is easy to deal with? Without a powerful backer or your own people to help you, you're likely to suffer losses. I'm not bragging, but I've been in the underworld for so many years, I know everyone from top to bottom; Ah Yat is well-connected in both the legitimate and criminal worlds. If the three of us can join forces, one inside and one outside, supporting each other, that would be rock solid. At that point, selling not only to Hong Kong, but also to Southeast Asia and Europe and America wouldn't be a problem."