Tit For Tat (Beloved Enemy) - Chap 103
When they got to the ballroom, GuQingPei was overwhelmed from seeing so many people that he knew.
He had wanted to attend when he received the invitation from the Entrepreneur’s Association. But that is, only if he didn’t already know that YuanLiJiang and his wife would also be attending. This is actually a very good platform for communication and exchange of information because all the attendees are well-known people from the business sector. He usually would not miss these kinds of social opportunities.
What he didn’t expect was that through the most bizarre circumstances, he still ended up coming here.
Nonetheless, he raised his spirits and started to effortlessly meander around to socialize with these people, essentially using this opportunity to market his company.
YuanYang and LiuZiWen were not far away from him, but what GuQingPei did not noticed was that YuanYang’s eyes would occasionally graze toward him.
The banquet has not yet started. Everyone was still chatting and wondering around. After a while, GuQingPei heard someone calling him from a far distance. Turning his head, it was WangJin.
Holding his glass of champagne, he was about to walk toward WangJin. But as he passed by YuanYang, he was instantly grabbed. YuanYang lowered his head and warned, “You’re following me tonight.”
GuQingPei impassively pulled his arm away and continued on. With a welcoming smile, “Wang Ge, you’ve also came.”
WangJin laughed and patted his arm, “I haven’t seen you in a few weeks, heard that you’ve been busy trying to raise money. Calling you to come out for a meal and you didn’t even come. Is your time really that tight?”
“That’s not it, Wang Ge….. this is?”
“Oh, this is XX Group’s strategic director. I’ve only met him two days ago, very loyal, Director Zhang, this is my buddy, surnamed Gu.”
The two exchanged greetings with each other and swapped business cards. Then, they continued on chatting. Director Zhang’s eyes drifted behind GuQingPei, his expression brimming with enthusiasm, “Hey, Director Yuan.”
GuQingPei didn’t even know when YuanYang had started approaching them. YuanYang smiled as he greeted Director Zhang, “Director Zhang, long time no see. I have something to discuss with Director Gu, I’m going to borrow him first.” After saying that, he didn’t even bother to look at WangJin as he grabbed onto GuQingPei’s armed and pulled him to the corner of the venue.
GuQingPei expressionlessly swatted his hand away and adjusted his impeccable suit, “YuanYang, what do you really want to do today? Why don’t you just tell me in advance? If I feel that it is something beneficial, I could assist you. But if you’re trying to play some tricks, I’m advising you not to be too naive.”
YuanYang looked at him for a few seconds and then raised his lips in a smile, “I’ll tell you some insider news?”
“Say it.”
“The Entrepreneur’s Association will make an announcement today. The council is preparing to set up a Worker’s Labor Credit Union. It is said that the approval process has been successfully vetted through the different layers of organizations. At the latest, this can be approved by the end of this year. In principle, members have the opportunity to participate in buying shares.”
GuQingPei’s eyes lit up. This part of the credit union that implements the bank’s functionality is like a large-scale financing institution. Once the approval is granted, the value is immeasurable. At that moment, there will be an insurmountable influx of cash flow; whoever has hold of the controlling shares won’t have to worry about cashflow problems in the future. However, these kinds of privatize credit unions are absolutely impossible to establish. It can only be created in the name of a state-owned enterprise or a chamber of commerce that has close ties with the government. In this case, XX Entrepreneur’s Association is the most suitable institution.
This is indeed very good news. Even GuQingPei wanted to partake; however, he doesn’t have a lot of capital to invest in the shares. He himself is even skeptical that he won’t even have the rights to possess any of the shares. He softly voiced, “Continue on.”
“This is my dad’s operation. Once successful, there will be a graspable steady stream of cash. But he can’t do this operation alone so there would be a public solicitation of shareholders. Each share will be sold at 10 million to raise a billion in registered capital.”
GuQingPei gasped. Such huge start-up capital. It’s no wonder that few people would even dare, adding on to the fact that credit unions are rigged with constant challenges to get approvals. One must have great abilities to even attempt such venture. Now that person is YuanLiJiang, one of the most influential people in the city of Beijing. Only he would dare.
YuanYang looked toward the stage where WuJingLan is. Unknowingly, YuanLiJiang had brought WuJingLan along with him and had taken center stage to make a speech. YuanYang whispered, “All participating shareholders must have at least 5 shares. It can be offset against market price with excellent assets.”
GuQingPei nodded, “Now tell me. What are your intentions in telling me this?”
YuanYang smiled and retorted, “I’m asking you now. If I help you in financing your two thousand acres of land, how will you thank me?”
“I’ll give you 10% of the stocks.”
YuanYang is being sarcastic, “That’s very generous.”
“This land has a value of 30M yuan, you think that’s too less?”
“You’re assessment is just too high. I’ve examined that piece of land, even at 300M(t/n) fools might buy it. At most, the value can increase to no more than two hundred million if it was modified. Furthermore, now the market is in a slump, even if you want to change it up, it still can’t be sold at a good price. Why don’t you just cooperate with me and be a shareholder for the credit union?”
T/N: The value amount seems to be off here. Maybe this is not just referring to land value but assessment of completed value. This is translated directly from Chinese text.
GuQingPei’s eyes flashed, lost in thought.
YuanLiJiang’s calm voice sounded in the banquet hall. Everyone quietly listened to his speech and gave a warm applause from time to time.
YuanLiJiang and WuJingLan have a complete view of the entire venue. So very easily, they spotted YuanYang and GuQingPei standing in the corner. The two men looking at each other; their expressions looking complicated.
YuanYang glance at them, staying calm and collected, he turned his head back. He purposely patted GuQingPei’s back and leaned his head near his ears, “How long do you need to consider?” His action looked very ambiguous.
“The information you provide me is too minimal. I will need some time. The first thing I want to know is why do you want to pull me into this collaboration?”
YuanYang expressed an extremely ambitious smile, “I want the controlling shares.”
GuQingPei heart was surprised, “You want the controlling shares?”
“That’s right. I need your piece of land to compensate for part of the cash.”
GuQingPei softly muttered, “First off, your dad won’t give you the controlling shares. Second, the Chamber of Commerce is an agency full of hidden powerful and capable people, to take out 5B yuan in capital, there is a few people that could do so. Can you ensure that these people are not interested in this and not compete with you? This opportunity is a gold mine.”
“I’ll kick them out one by one.”
GuQingPei is silent for a few seconds before responding, “Including your father?”
“Including my father.” YuanYang expressionlessly looked toward the stage at his parents.
GuQingPei continued endure, but still manage to ask, “Why are you doing this?”
YuanYang whispered, “You don’t need to know right now.”
GuQingPei narrowed his eyes. In the face of such enticing interest, very few people will not be tempted. If one can really get the participating shares in the credit union, the subsequent splits in profits are enough to support any of future projects. But with the conflict between him and YuanLiJiang, it would be impossible for him to participate. However, YuanYang seems to be full of self-confidence that he would be able to, even going so far as wanting the controlling shares.
If one is to disregard YuanYang’s intent, this proposal is really attractive.
However, he had always maintained a clear-head. Uttering, “YuanYang, lies don’t need to speak so early. You don’t want to tell me, fine, but if you’re trying to use me to your advantage, you should first assess your own ability.”
YuanYang didn’t say anything, but there is a trace of chilled smile on the corner of his mouth.
After YuanLiJiang finished his speech, several other administrative presidents also went on to say a few words to him. The people underneath had already seated around the roundtable and began to enjoy their meals. But there were still many people walking around the banquet purposely trying to establish social networks.
LiuZiWen came with a piece of cake, “Aren’t you guys going to go eat something? All you did was drink tonight.”
YuanYang looked behind her and said, “Go outside for a while. Don’t come back within the next twenty minutes.”
LiuZiWen was stunned, but didn’t seem the least bit concerned. She put down the cake in her hand, turned and walked away.
GuQingPei turned around and sees YuanLiJiang and WuJingLan coming toward them. GuQingPei looked at them indifferently, not evading their eyes.
When the two arrived, YuanYang smirked and nodded, “Dad, mom.”
The couple’s facial expressions looked really bad, WuJingLan noticed that there was no one around, lowering her voice, “YuanYang are you doing this deliberately?”
YuanYang laughed, “Mom, I don’t know what you mean.”
WuJingLan was just about to speak when YuanLiJiang patted her hand to stop her. He looked toward GuQingPei, “Director Gu. Long time no see.”
GuQingPei nodded his head gently but didn’t say anything. With the resentment between him and YuanLiJiang, he didn’t care to give him any public common courtesy.
YuanLiJiang smiled, “I thought you would not dare to appear in front of me. What happened? Did YuanYang bring you here?”
GuQingPei also laughed, “This, ‘would not dare’, might I ask, where that come from?”
YuanLiJiang glanced at YuanYang and then said, “Director Gu went back on your words (broke your promise). Most people would be too ashamed to show their face but if Director Gu don’t feel a bit of guilty conscience, then what is there that needed to be explained?”
GuQingPei sneered, “How did I go back on my words?”
“You had said you didn’t have any interaction with YuanYang. But during this time, you did, right? ”
GuQingPei laughed, “You can’t watch over your own son, allowing him to get close to me, who is it to blame?”
The three faces from the Yuan family immediately changed. Especially YuanYang, whom is now secretly clenching his fists.
When GuQingPei thought of those pictures that made him lose all his prestige in the past, he can no longer suppress the hatred in his heart no matter how he tried. Seeing YuanLiJiang’s awful expression, he spitefully provoked by adding, “Chairman Yuan’s son does not want to return home. I can only say that the door to the Yuan family’s home is not strict, you can’t blame someone for not locking their windows right?”
WuJingLan’s tone is a bit bitter, “”Director Gu, you are being so aggressively overbearing. Did you experienced some sort of shock? This is so unlike you.”
GuQingPei gracefully adjusted his bow-tie and smiled directly at WuJingLan, “Director Wu, as a matter of fact, the harassment I have received from your Yuan family had been extremely unbearable. If you’re able to watch over YuanYang so that he would stop bothering me, I can’t thank you enough.” When GuQingPei said these words, he didn’t look at YuanYang. He didn’t need to look with his own eyes to feel his skin getting burned by the agonizing pain from YuanYang’s line of sight.
He knew that humiliating YuanYang in front of his parents and himself (YuanYang) would cause him a great deal of insufferable pain. YuanYang is such a prideful person, how can he not be affected? GuQingPei, himself, also felt miserable about it. Every sentence he said, his heart would felt such heartache. But that’s okay. It is the effect that he had wanted. He was getting really tired of YuanYang’s baffling actions and too lazy to even presume what YuanYang’s hidden intentions are. This ambiguous attitude towards him, what is it that YuanYang want from him? He didn’t want to guess and especially didn’t want to be played by YuanYang.
The change in YuanYang is so immense that he is like two completely different people compared to before. The little fierce dog that he liked had completely vanished two years ago. The YuanYang now is arrogant and schemingly ambiguous. It has been very exhausting for him to deal with, so he could only avoid him.
If YuanYang’s parents can assist him in this common purpose, then maybe he could be free.
At this time, a heavy arm laid on GuQingPei’s shoulder.
Four people stood in the corner of the banquet hall. The venue’s music was loud so no one around could hear their conversation. YuanYang’s action is just like a typical friend, casually putting his arm around the other’s shoulder. Only the parties involved knew that this close touch have a completely different meaning.
GuQingPei glanced at YuanYang.
YuanYang smiled and looked at his parents, his eyes shining, “Dad, mom, seeing my current situation, are you satisfied?”
YuanLiJiang’s face sunk, “What qualifications do you have to criticize your own parents?”
“How dare I.” YuanYang smiled as he shook his head, “I have to thank you both for forcing me to be mature,” He grabbed onto GuQingPei’s shoulder, “Let’s go, we still have something to discuss.”
GuQingPei also didn’t want to stay any further. He looked coldly at the couple then turned and walked away.
Because YuanYang drank liquor, he called the driver to drive over. So when the two stepped out of the venue, the driver had already parked the car in the front entrance waiting for them.
Before GuQingPei could even refuse, YuanYang shoved him roughly into the car.
GuQingPei can sense YuanYang’s wrath, but he did not regret it one bit. If the Yuan family of three (YuanYang’s parents and him), felt even slightly unhappy, he should smile, because in these recent years, all of his misery and distress had stemmed from them.
Sure enough, once inside the car, YuanYang harshly pressed GuQingPei against the door and looked at him coldly, “I take you there is not so you can talk shit about me in front of my parents.”
“Oh? Then what is your purpose? Should I have acted happily in love in front of their faces?”
YuanYang’s voice is gloomy, “GuQingPei, I’m not one to have a lot of patience and towards you, I have been overly tolerant. If you dare to piss me off again, you’ll have to bear the consequences.”
GuQingPei fired back in the same way, “What consequences? I wanna hear it.”
YuanYang narrowed his eyes and looked deeply at GuQingPei. He then reached out to knock on the driver’s seat, “Go to the house at the worker’s stadium.”
GuQingPei asked softly, “YuanYang, what do you want to do?”
YuanYang clasp his cheek, his nose rubbed against GuQingPei’s nose, whispering, “To put it simply, today I’m going to fuck you till you pass out.”
