Reply to Keats - Chap 22
The dinner was scheduled for two days later. Shi Zhangmin was in his sixties, with slightly gray hair at the temples. He was very easy-going and not arrogant.
In his early years, he was a famous action star on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and won the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor. Later, when he got older, he gave up acting and went into business.
Chen Wan is a technician. The initial stage of research and development costs a lot of money, so he urgently needs to build a production line with stable and strong funds. The economy of Shanghai has been sluggish in the past two years. He has taken a fancy to a red-headed project funded by the mainland, but such a good opportunity is usually not available to small companies like his.
Shi Zhangmin is very popular among the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and has a wide network of contacts. It is said that one of the directors there is an old fan of his. Chen Wan did not know him, but was introduced by a mutual friend. Chen Wan has a good relationship with people, and most people who can help are willing to lend him a hand.
Shi Zhangmin was willing to meet Chen Wansan only because of his sincerity in visiting him three times, and his old friend repeatedly assured him that this young man was worth meeting, and even if the matter could not be done, this young friend was still worth making friends with.
Shi Zhangmin met Chen Wan and found that she was indeed a very nice person. The two of them had a very pleasant chat.
But he still said it very directly: “Young man, why did you think of coming to find me? Coming to find me is the slowest and most roundabout way.”
Chen Wan knew it, but this was the fastest and shortest way he could find.
Shi Zhangmin said this, but he was not discouraged. He just said, “Mr. Shi, don’t say that. Even if it’s true, I’m not afraid of being slow.”
Seeing that he was able to keep his composure, Shi Zhangmin asked him some more questions about his plans, and Chen Wan answered them one by one.
Shi Zhangmin said: “I said I can’t help, not to be modest, this matter is very complicated.”
Chen Wan still didn’t show any disappointment on her face, so Shi Zhangmin said, “I can only help you guide the way, but you have to do the rest on your own.”
He was very happy that he agreed to Chen Wan. The chance was very small, but Chen Wan was never afraid of missing out, so he picked up the wine and toasted him.
Shi Zhangmin said: “It’s not certain that it will work. The relationships there are complicated and the officials are difficult to deal with. Can you drink? That kind of drinking is no joke. It’s torture.”
Chen Wan said: “I can drink quite well.”
“Even if you can drink, you may not succeed. Not only will you miss out on this ride, but you will also waste your time. Your capital leverage in the later stage is so long that it will be difficult to handle it.” In recent years, many billionaires with assets worth over 100 million have not survived.
“I know. I will try my best. Thank you Mr. Shi for your advice.”
Seeing that he was determined to jump into the Yellow River, Shi Zhangmin did not try to persuade him. After a few drinks, he got up and went to the bathroom. Chen Wan sent a message to his partner in the box, saying that he might have to go on a business trip recently and go there to check on the relationship.
Hearing the door open, he put away his phone, poured the wine, and said with a smile: “Mr. Shi–”
Shi Zhangmin was smiling, and a tall man followed behind him. A storm went through Chen Wan’s heart, but he stood up calmly.
He hadn’t seen Zhao Shengge for a long time, and Chen Wan was very busy.
But it is also possible that because he was warned last time, Chen Wan deliberately made himself very busy.
He was not sure whether Zhao Shengge wanted outsiders to know that they knew each other, so he just stood aside respectfully and did not call anyone.
Shi Zhangmin said enthusiastically: “Awan, this is Mr. Zhao Shengge, my friend. We haven’t seen each other for a long time. I met him on the road and invited him to come over for a drink.” He really didn’t expect to meet Zhao Shengge here.
How difficult is it to meet Zhao Shengge in Hai City?
Chen Wan smiled and greeted as if they were meeting for the first time: “Mr. Zhao.”
Zhao Shengge looked at him for a moment and felt that he had lost a lot of weight. He nodded in a businesslike manner and said, “Mr. Chen, long time no see.”
“……”
Shi Zhangmin looked surprised.
He originally didn’t want to let others know about his contact with Chen Wan, but after getting to know him, he still felt that this young man was a good person, but he was unlucky. There had been some rumors about his mother in the circle of Hai City before.
Maybe it’s because he’s getting older and more compassionate. He thought that if he could put Chen Wan in touch with Zhao Shengge, everything would be much easier. Who knew that they already knew each other?
“Ah Wan, you know Mr. Zhao, why didn’t you tell me?”
Zhao Shengge also turned to look at Chen Wan.
“…” Chen Wan hurriedly lowered his head to pour tea for Zhao Shengge and replied to Shi Zhangmin: “I didn’t know you and Mr. Zhao were friends.”
Zhao Shengge didn’t drink the tea and didn’t speak.
Shi Zhangmin just thought that Chen Wanlinglong was clever, but now he felt that he was a little dull, so he hinted to him in words and deeds that Zhao Shengge was the big shot in the energy field. If he followed his lead, not to mention the project, he wouldn’t have to worry about resources in the future.
But Chen Wan seemed not to have received his signal. He did not toast or talk to him. He had no intention of taking advantage of the situation at all. He just sat there and listened quietly.
While Shi Zhangmin was chatting and laughing with Zhao Shengge, he quietly asked the manager to order more dishes and opened the menu and read it page by page very seriously.
Perhaps he was preparing for the construction of the new dock. Chen Wan noticed that there was fatigue between his brows and he looked thinner.
After Chen Wan placed the order, he asked the manager to rush the serving of the dishes. Although he no longer felt that he could accurately understand Zhao Shengge’s taste, he did not dare to appear too attentive. He could only do his best to show the etiquette of entertaining guests. This meal was originally hosted by him to invite Shi Zhangmin, and if Shi Zhangmin’s friends came, they would also be his guests.
While Zhao Shengge was listening to Shi Zhangmin talking, he was watching the soup and snacks coming up one after another, still emitting mouth-watering hot steam. He felt a little uneasy and speechless.
He felt that he needed to re-evaluate whether Chen Wan was smart or stupid.
I have been sitting here for quite some time, but I haven’t said a word about business. Instead, I have been busy ordering dishes one after another.
Zhao Shengge watched the new dishes being served one after another until they were all finished. He suddenly asked, “Are you not full?”
He is not fierce, in fact his tone is gentle and gentlemanly.
But after these words were spoken, the remaining two people fell silent for a moment.
He didn’t mention anyone by name, but it was obvious that he was asking Chen Wan.
He didn’t say anything useful, but he was very serious about studying the recipes.
He was studying so seriously, but he didn’t eat. He ordered so much, but he didn’t even pick up his chopsticks.
“…” Chen Wan had no choice but to say, “The manager said these are new products of the season. Mr. Zhao can try them if he is interested.”
Shi Zhangmin, who was sitting in the middle, looked at the two young men calmly, with some doubts in his mind.
Hearing Chen Wan’s tone, he thought the two were not familiar with each other, but hearing Zhao Shengge’s tone, he was not sure.
Shi Zhangmin and Xi Ni smiled and said, “Come, let’s try it together. Ah Wan and I were just busy drinking and didn’t eat seriously.”
Zhao Shengge glanced at the people who had barely touched their chopsticks, sighed inwardly, and said, “Then let’s eat first and talk later.”
Chen Wan was quite happy to see that he was willing to eat. Since he had the lowest status, he made soup for everyone.
Zhao Shengge was in no mood. He watched him drink half a bowl before he drank.
As they ate and talked, Shi Zhangmin talked a lot while Chen Wan remained silent for a long time. Zhao Shengge took the initiative to follow up on Shi Zhangmin’s words and half-seriously asked about the capital injection.
Perhaps it was because his voice was low and cold, and there was an innate sense of oppression when he talked about business. Chen Wan was stunned for a moment, his mind flashed, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
He was quick to tactfully but firmly state that he had no intention of getting involved in the energy market.
Today, traditional real estate industries in Hai City are declining, and energy is the bulk of the economy. Kexiang is engaged in transit synthesis technology, which is only a small link in the energy assembly line. However, this technology is almost monopolized by Minglong. Even if Chen Wan has the latest patent, he cannot pose any threat to Minglong’s business territory.
The area of intellectual property is very sensitive, especially since current market and industry regulations are not perfect.
The more Chen Wan thought about it, the more he felt that it was inappropriate. He put down his chopsticks and poured tea for the two of them, as if to apologize for the offense.
“……”
At this point, Zhao Shengge and Shi Zhangmin were both silent.
Zhao Shengge leaned back in his chair and looked at Chen Wan with calm eyes. In his mind, he was thinking about what the other party had said to Song Qingmiao in Lianjing Temple that day.
never mind.
Chen Wan is not stupid.
Zhao Shengge has his own pride. Since Chen Wan regards him as a vicious person and tries to avoid him, he will not say another word.
He hardly ate the newly served dishes. He quickly stood up and politely said goodbye to Shi Zhangmin.
Shi Zhangmin tried to persuade Zhao Shengge to stay, but he still left.
Chen Wan felt anxious and a little helpless. He thought Zhao Shengge had a good appetite just now, but after talking about business, he lost interest.
He sighed silently, deciding that he had ulterior motives in the other person’s heart, which was an even greater crime.
Perhaps, no one in this world would believe that he really had no intention of getting anything from Zhao Shengge.
Changpei Literature Network (https://www.gongzicp.com)
After Zhao Shengge left, Shi Zhangmin said that Chen Wan was too honest.
Chen Wan smiled and said that he was not good at speaking.
Shi Zhangmin looked at him with a pair of not-too-cloudy eyes: “You’re not dumb in words, you’re dumb in heart.”
But a simple mind also means that it has no distracting thoughts.
Chen Wan poured him tea and asked the waiter to pack up the food. He had to take the table full of almost untouched dishes and snacks home and eat them slowly.
Probably. Shi Zhangmin said he was stupid, Song Qingmiao said he was stupid, and Zhuo Zhixuan also said he was stupid. Maybe he really was a very stupid person and had always been doing very stupid things.
