Reply to Keats - Chap 21
For a long time, Tan Youming was very unhappy. Chen Wan no longer appeared at the gatherings of the young masters, but someone always mentioned his name and talked about his recent situation. Later, Zhao Shengge stopped coming.
He was not an important person, like a leaf that accidentally floated into the window, and could not occupy too much weight or occupy too long a position in Zhao Shengge’s heart.
Gradually, it seemed as if it was no longer remembered.
Zhao Shengge is very busy. He acts in a low-key manner, but is vigorous and resolute. The Baoli Bay Wharf project will be launched soon. It is said that nearly a hundred companies in Hai City are interested in investing, but in the end only the Shen family, the Jiang family, and the Xu family can get a share. Even the Zhuo family cannot get involved.
Among them, everyone speculated about the Xu family, saying that the young lady of the Xu family was indeed very charming.
Zhao Shengge has always been cautious about the economic system of Shanghai. If possible, he would prefer to cooperate with the mainland.
The mainland economy is stable, with strong policy support and control when necessary.
The three of them finished their meeting at Minglong Building and walked out of the conference room together. Shen Zongnian looked at his phone and said, “He Shengyuan agreed. We will meet at Xiaotanshan at nine o’clock next Wednesday night.”
He Shengyuan was a shipping tycoon in Hai City. Later, He Shengyuan went to the Netherlands to develop European routes.
Zhao Shengge wants to build a dock and port in Baoli Bay, and he can’t avoid this person.
Shen Zongnian said: “From what he said, he wants to bring some people with him.”
This is the case with informal meetings. With the presence of mutual friends or senior people in the industry, it becomes much easier for both sides to talk and there is more room for maneuver.
“We have to take people with us,” Tan Youming said. The other side had a huge group of people, and if they were just two or three, their momentum would not be good enough. Besides, “He Shengyuan likes to be lively.”
“What a pity…” Tan Youming crossed his legs, “No matter how lively he is, can he be more lively than me?”
Shen Zongnian: “…”
It has been quite some time since Zhao Shengge returned to China. He is no longer as unpopular as he was at the beginning. He only asks: “Don’t do anything unreliable.”
Tan Youming is a popular figure in Haishi City, and he has many friends from all walks of life, good and bad. Zhao Shengge is too arrogant and looks down on him.
“Tsk,” Tan Youming didn’t know what Zhao Shengge’s standard for “reliability” was. In fact, he felt that he was quite reliable, but the other party would definitely raise objections. He asked directly, “Who do you think is reliable?”
Zhao Shengge looked at him and said seriously, “I thought it was your job to invite people.”
“……”
Shen Zongnian, who rarely expressed his opinion, glanced at Zhao Shengge and suggested to Tan Youming: “How about Chen Wan?”
Wherever Chen Wan is, the atmosphere will be very good. Any naked negotiation or fighting will be shrouded in a layer of harmonious appearance. This appearance is very useful, and many things will be much easier to say.
Chen Wan never talks much, but she always has this magical effect.
Zhao Shengge was silent for a moment and asked, “Are there any other candidates?”
Tan Youming immediately leaned out from behind Shen Zongnian’s shoulder and responded to his suggestion: “No, I don’t know anyone more reliable than him.”
Zhao Shengge remained silent for a moment, then said softly, “If he’s busy, consider someone else.”
There is no point in forcing others or making things difficult for them.
Tan Youming looked at him in confusion, thinking that he was pretending to be righteous again. Tan Youming didn’t want to call anyone else, so he called Chen Wan first. The secretary said that Chen Wan was in a meeting.
Tan Youming called Zhuo Zhixuan directly again. Zhuo Zhixuan was in his own hotel and said, “I’ll ask him later, but he’s busy recently and may not be able to go.”
Chen Wan seems to be someone who can be summoned and dismissed at will, but that is because he is willing to do so. Otherwise, no one can force him to do something he doesn’t want to do.
Tan Youming asked with concern: “What are you busy with? Do you need help?” There was some sincerity in his tone. He used to treat Chen Wan for Zhuo Zhixuan’s sake, but later he really recognized and accepted her.
When Tan Youming makes friends, he doesn’t care about family background or status. He only cares about whether the person is interesting and to his liking.
Zhuo Zhixuan didn’t know that Tan Youming and Zhao Shengge were together, and he didn’t know that Tan Youming had turned on the speakerphone. He never had many reservations when talking to Tan Youming, and said sarcastically, “You are busy with blind dates, preparing to become the son-in-law of an oil tycoon.”
Tan Youming laughed out loud: “Oh, that old fox Xu Qihua has a good eye.” Things that were not even mentioned in the eight characters became true when he said, “You know what, his daughter was my former classmate in German class. That girl is very interesting and a good match for our Wan. When the time comes, let Wan send us an invitation and I will definitely give her a big red envelope.”
Zhuo Zhixuan said: “I will definitely convey it truthfully.”
Tan Youming hung up the phone, looked up and asked Zhao Shengge what he wanted to eat for lunch. Zhao Shengge didn’t know what he was thinking.
“Zhao Shengge?” Tan Youming called again.
Zhao Shengge shook his head, walked past him, and whispered, “You eat by yourself. I need to work.”
Tan Youming looked at Shen Zongnian in confusion: “You can’t work without eating.”
Shen Zongnan glanced at Zhao Shengge and said nothing.
Zhao Shengge returned to his office. He didn’t feel hungry and planned to continue working. This was his normal state.
Chen Wan has indeed been very busy recently. Ke Xiang is bidding for a very, very important case and has encountered some big problems, so he needs to find someone to mediate.
To make matters worse, Song Qingmiao has started to cause trouble for him again recently.
Song Qingmiao met Xu Enyi in the flower arrangement room. Xu Enyi saw the beautiful jade on her wrist and asked her a question, and the two of them became familiar with each other.
Song Qingmiao is not very old and looks very young, so it is easy for women to get along with each other very quickly.
“I asked someone to make this when my son was on a business trip.” Chen Wan went on a business trip to the northwest and personally picked out the jade at the raw stone field. It’s not the most expensive, but the workmanship is very good.
Xu Enyi narrowed her eyes and said, “He is very filial and has good taste. This is not the style of the mold.”
Song Qingmiao didn’t have the energy to appreciate the time and filial piety that Chen Wan had spent on her. She just fixed her smiling eyes on her and said with a double meaning, “He is indeed a good boy, and quite handsome.”
Ever since she knew that Xu Enyi’s Xu was the Xu from the Xu family, she became suspicious.
Xu Enyi was not shy at all and said, “Really? Do you have any photos? I’d like to take a look.” She studied art, and there are not many men with aesthetic taste nowadays.
Song Qingmiao took out her phone and opened the photo album to show her. Xu Enyi said directly: “Very handsome.”
“…” Song Qingmiao was delighted and said, “Next time you have time, ask him to pick me up. You young people can make friends.”
Xu Enyi nodded generously: “Okay.”
Song Qingmiao was very happy and told Chen Wan about it that night. Chen Wan was silent for a few seconds. Song Qingmiao probably couldn’t hear anything he said. Finally, he just said, “Sorry, I may not have time.”
This is the truth. The project is still not going anywhere and Chen Wan is overwhelmed and has no time to spare.
Moreover, Song Qingmiao was sometimes so outrageously naive that he didn’t know where to start. She made no sense at all and was very stubborn, as if it would be a huge loss if Chen Wan didn’t get to know Xu Enyi.
But they don’t think about who those people are. They can see through their plans with just one look.
Recently, the Chen family has been in fierce internal strife, and the second and third branches have been secretly exerting their strength. Song Qingmiao also began to get anxious and said angrily: “I asked you to accompany me, but you said you didn’t have time!”
Chen Wan worked overtime until his eyes turned red. Biting his cigarette, he asked softly, “Do you really want me to accompany you?” He was willing to spend a lot of time and money on Song Qingmiao, and had mentioned more than once that he wanted her to move out of the Chen house and live with him or buy another property.
Although Song Qingmiao is naive, absurd, and selfish, she is Chen Wan’s only blood relationship in this world, so Chen Wan still wants to be good to her.
But Song Qingmiao always refused straightforwardly.
Song Qingmiao knows how to control men, including her own son. She softened her tone and said earnestly, “Baby, you know what my mother’s first half of her life was like. You haven’t forgotten what happened in my childhood, have you?”
“I haven’t forgotten, it’s just that,” Chen Wan was a little disappointed and a little sad. He thought about it and asked, “Do you want me to make the same mistake again?”
“What do you mean?” Song Qingmiao’s voice suddenly turned cold. “You look down on me? Chen Wan, if I hadn’t been–”
“No!” Chen Wan interrupted her, “Of course not.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
It is not his place as a young man to judge the right and wrong of the hatred and entanglements of the previous generation. As a son, he should never speak to a mother like that.
He just wanted to defend what he thought was right to the greatest extent possible. Chen Wan softened his tone and apologized again: “I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
Song Qingmiao snorted softly.
Chen Wan chose her words carefully: “I just think that we can completely escape from the life we had before.”
No more hypocritical flattery for power and benefits, no more living in fear all day long because of intrigue and deception, life can be simpler and purer.
Song Qingmiao was so disappointed: “Escape? You are still so immature. How can you escape? You can only run away.”
Chen Wan smiled bitterly for a moment, and finally stopped having illusions about her. She said, “Yes, I’m sorry, I didn’t meet your expectations.”
Song Qingmiao wanted to say something, but someone from Chen Wan called him, so the call ended on an unpleasant note.
The partner came in and said, “Shi Zhangmin responded. He is willing to have a meal with you.”
Chen Wan finally smiled and said, “That’s great.”
Han Jin frowned and sighed, “Smoke less. You drank so much the past two days and you shouldn’t take good care of yourself. Don’t rely on your youth. You’re ruining your body.”
Chen Wan put out the cigarette and smiled: “It’s okay.” The pressure was too great and his brain would shut down if he didn’t vent it.
