It's hard to have a sense of propriety in today's society, where ambiguity prevails. Chen Ergou increasingly appreciates his sister-in-law Chen Yuanshu's grasp of distance. He thought of two urgent matters that might affect his future career and said seriously, "Sister, I want to discuss two important things with you. Firstly, is there an opportunity to promote a man named Wang Quan from the Jiangsu Tobacco Technology Research Center? He was originally the factory director of Xuzhou Cigarette Factory, but after the merger, he felt his power was weakened. I've investigated him and found that although his family doesn't have a strong background, he has some real skills in the Jiangsu tobacco industry. Promoting him might not bring many tangible benefits, but it definitely won't cause trouble."
"Jiangsu Zhongyan?" Chen Yuanshu furrowed her brow and said, "I'll help you ask around. My father has a secretary who's doing quite well now, specifically in charge of that area, but I don't know if he's useful or not. Also, I have a classmate at the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau who has some small power in his hands. Let me be upfront with you, these two guys aren't good people, and it'll take money to get things done."
"Brother Chen let out a sigh and said: 'Sister, I'm not afraid of losing money, what I fear is that there's no way to get it.'"
Chen Yuanshu smiled and said, "I'll do my best to handle this matter. I'll see how things go. If it's not too much trouble, there's no need for you to show up. This isn't something to be proud of. If it gets out of hand, there will be consequences. If we really have to spend a lot of money, I won't be the one footing the bill. You'll have to pay your share. I'm not being ambiguous about this, sister and brother should settle accounts clearly."
Chen Ergou nodded and said: "That's right, I like this about you, sister."
Chen Yuanshu smiled and said: "Less flattery and smoke bombs, what's the second thing?"
Chen Ergou paused for a moment, then said: "There's a coal boss who wants to survive this rectification campaign. He has two ways out now. Either he first signs a secret agreement with the government department that wants to take over his coal mine, and then starts mining as soon as possible, earning as much as he can. Or he swallows up some small mines around him to meet the requirements of Document No. 0. The former requires government connections, while the latter requires being able to navigate both black and white markets. Sister, with my remaining resources, I really can't get anything done on the government side, but I can find some desperate people who are willing to risk their lives for me. My intuition tells me that if this thing succeeds, even if I don't make it past Dogfighting Arena and Zhuyecai, I won't be completely out of options."
Shanxi.
"It's not easy to have influence in the central government, having officials in the imperial court makes things easier to handle, but my own network that I've built up over the years can't reach the core level, as a woman at this age and with this experience, it's unrealistic to think that I can rely on my own strength to get those provincial and ministerial big shots to take action. As for the relationships in my father's hands, unless it's a critical moment, there's no reason for him to come forward, human feelings are like that, use them once and they fade away, very realistic. To be blunt, if it weren't for you, a coal boss with several coal mines wouldn't even enter the eyes of the Chen family or mine, Floating Life, can you understand what I'm saying?"
"Hey, sis! First thing, you just take care of yourself a bit, second thing, don't worry about it, I'll handle it myself. After all, as a penniless guy like me, winning is a gain and losing isn't a loss. I can't just stand by and watch many lazy people lounging around, feeling complacent, I gotta get moving too."
”
For the last sentence, Chen Yuanshu didn't quite understand, and Chen Ergou didn't explain either. They parted ways with each other lost in thought. Chen Ergou called Cao Jingjian to say he would be late coming back, then got in his car and drove straight to Qian Lao Yezi's villa. Up until now, the concept of a high-ranking official was still quite vague for Chen Ergou - whether it was the municipal or county party secretary, or even the party secretary of a school, they were all rather formidable officials in his mind. This was the inferior root that had been cultivated during his time in Zhangjiashan and as a student. Therefore, every time he drove through this area, Chen Ergou couldn't help but feel nervous and drive very slowly, afraid of bumping into some big shot's wife or auntie - even looking at the little brats with runny noses on the side of the road made him feel like they had an air of superiority.
Cao Jingjian also said that although Qian Zixian is nominally a deputy provincial level, he is not inferior to the regular provincial departmental level. In Jiangsu, he and Wu Dun are both local tyrants, but they are different from those Guangdong provincial leaders who were previously arrogant and domineering. They are low-key and unassuming, at least on the surface, and do not give their political enemies any leverage. Therefore, they have a solid foundation in Jiangsu. Cao Jingjian's evaluation of him is that he is just unlucky, otherwise, he would be a political commissar. As a result, Chen Ergou is even more respectful to this old man, and for those who are indeed better than himself, Chen Ergou does not feel jealous or envious, but only hopes to learn from them the skills of being a good person and doing things properly. Because in Zhangjiacun, Chen Ergou uses facts to prove a truth, rather than standing afar and envying something, it's better to go and do something yourself, such as climbing the wall to peek at Zhang Widow's white skin, once bitten by a dog, just climb a few more times, and there will be a day of success.
Qian Lao's villa was allocated by the provincial government. For some years, that one building was full of ivy, especially eye-catching. After parking the car, Chen Er Gou rang the doorbell. Since he had called ahead to notify them, Xiao Bao, a young maid from Jilin Province, immediately opened the door with a smile on her face and a pair of beautiful small tiger teeth. Perhaps it was because they were both from Northeast China that she had a particularly good impression of Chen Er Gou. Occasionally, when he visited her, she would very quickly serve tea and pour water.
Qian Lao's son and daughter were quite unusual. His son had died in a car accident nine years ago, but the cause of death was still unknown. His daughter was a high-ranking executive at Morgan Stanley's Direct Investment Department, married to a foreigner and living in America. Unlike those high-ranking officials with many connections, this villa was usually quiet and deserted. However, tonight was a bit special because when Chen Er Gou parked his car, he saw two Hangzhou-licensed cars outside - one Buick Enclave and one brand-new Audi R8.
Chen Er Gou entered the house with curiosity and discovered something astonishing: Qian Lao was chatting happily with a young couple in the living room. The key point was that Chen Er Gou recognized the woman, who was none other than the woman he had outrun on the highway with his modified Passat, a wealthy and elegant woman. Chen Er Gou remained calm, while the woman seemed to have not noticed him at first and didn't change her expression.
Qian Lao invited Chen Er Gou to sit down, smiling as he introduced them: "Rong Rong, Xiao Chu, this is my adopted son, Chen Fu Sheng. He's about your age and knows a thing or two about cars. If you want to find a place to have fun, just ask him. As I always say, safety first - as long as you're safe, go ahead and cause some trouble. If anything happens, just give me a call, and it'll be taken care of."
Qian family was most happy to see Chen Erdou come to their door, not the little Northeastern-accented babysitter, but Huang Danqing, Qian Lao's wife. She used to sing in her youth.
In the southeastern coastal area, a famous family's daughter, Qian Zixiang, was being pursued by countless suitors. Despite being nearly 50 years old, she looked like she was only in her 40s due to her excellent self-care. She particularly liked Chen Ergou's authentic and elegant Beijing accent, which made him stand out as a rare talent. At first, she was taken aback by his exceptional skills, but soon became fond of this young man. It was clear that she didn't have much enthusiasm for the young couple in the living room, and after some small talk, she returned to her study. Only when the maid told her Chen Ergou had arrived did she come downstairs with a smile, holding his hand and asking about his well-being. The difference in treatment was obvious. The woman named Rongrong seemed unaffected, but the young man beside her looked somewhat unnatural, as if he was feeling stifled. Chen Ergou chatted with Huang Danqing about Peking Opera, slightly tilting his head to find that she had also coincidentally turned her gaze towards him. Their eyes met briefly before darting away, and both of their mouths curled up into a subtle smile, almost imperceptibly.
The cunning and crafty Old Moneybags and the clever Huang Danqing exchanged a knowing glance, their hearts beating as one.
"Rong Rong, this time you're staying in Nanjing for a few more days to accompany your Aunt Huang. She's always complaining that I'm busy and don't have time to go to the Chicken Temple with her to eat vegetarian food. Take this opportunity to listen to Peking Opera with her, stroll around Xuanwu Lake, and I can finally get some peace and quiet." Old Master Qian chuckled, "If you feel uncomfortable staying here, you can go to the Purple Gold Mountain Villa. The environment is nice there, and you can swim. The air is also good for morning runs. If you need to go out, just look for Fusheng, I'll assign him as your special driver. Rong Rong, this treatment isn't bad at all! When it's time to return to Hangzhou, don't tell your dad that Uncle Qian treated you poorly."
Chen Ergou noticed that when he said this, the old man's eyes had already swept over him and another young man, with profound implications.
"It's settled then, these two days Rong will accompany me, no one is allowed to disturb us." Huang Danqing had been accompanying her husband in the official circles for nearly 30 years, and she could see through the old man's thoughts with just a glance. She glanced at the still clueless Hangzhou young master, and sneered inwardly, then looked at Chen Erdou, and no matter how she looked at him, she felt that this adopted son of hers was the most pleasing to her eyes.
"Uncle Qian, I still have to find a few classmates in Nanjing to play together tonight. Since Rongrong lives here, I can rest assured. Then I'll leave first." The young man with the electric light bulb withdrew from the villa with a smile, looking innocent and without any complaints or schemes, but Chen Ergou had detected the hidden resentment behind his mask.
Waiting for him to leave, Old Master smiled and looked at his wife Huang Danqing, saying: "This kid named Chu Yang seems dissatisfied with our old couple's singing duet. It can be seen that he is not stupid, but the fire is still a bit lacking, and his emotions are not revealed on his face. This point is not to mention us, but even Rongrong is better than him by one level."
Huang Dan Qing nodded slightly, her body motionless, her posture elegant, her demeanor always classical and refined. She smiled and said: "That's right, that child is too young, not worthy of our Rong Rong. I think it's fine to let him drift in life, although his foundation is still small now, but didn't Old Qian also rise from a grassroots clerk step by step? A hero doesn't fear his background."
The woman's full name was Pei Rongrong. If it were someone from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces with a certain level of vision, they would subconsciously weigh her father's status when meeting her for the first time. However, since Qian Lao Yezi had a close relationship with her father, he didn't bother with this formalities. In front of Chen Er Gou, it was also unnecessary to go through this routine. The two elderly men believed that it was only a matter of time before their adopted son discovered her background and abilities. They thought it would be best for the young couple to get along, as it would strengthen family ties and create a strong alliance through marriage, which is what parents hope to see most. Qian Lao Yezi had initially worried that they wouldn't get along, but seeing them together seemed promising, so he made up his mind. Although he knew that Chen Er Gou couldn't satisfy Old Pei's expectations for at least ten or eight years, he also believed that while success is determined by heaven, human effort is still necessary. He took things one step at a time and left the living room to the two women, taking Chen Er Gou with him to his study.
A vase of celadon porcelain as tall as a person, a large splashed ink painting, majestic and awe-inspiring. One can tell the ambition of a man by the decoration of his study. Chen Ergou couldn't help but admire Old Master's broad vision. He had specially inquired about Old Master's rise to prominence, which was not marked by great waves, but what made people click their tongues in wonder was that almost every time an opportunity arose, Old Master grasped it firmly. In hindsight, it seemed ordinary, but if you put yourself in his shoes, it was a critical moment with swords drawn and bows stretched. Chen Ergou stood respectfully beside the desk, although Old Master had already allowed him to sit down casually, he still chose to stand aside, and Old Master did not force him either.
"That Chu Yang is the son of an old boss from Zhejiang Greentown Group, his maternal grandfather's family has some minor influence, but it's limited to Wenzhou. His family background is ordinary, and he doesn't have much substance inside. He thinks that going abroad can make him look good and show off, but it's not worth mentioning. He doesn't know the height of the sky or the thickness of the earth, yet he wants to pursue Pei Rongrong." The old man sat in his chair with his eyes closed, his words calm and serene.
Chen Ergou listened with rapt attention.
"You're a family man, I won't ask you to be a Chen Shimei. Besides, how deep the reeds are behind the scenes, I haven't gone to investigate, don't want to waste my energy. However, I want to let you know that people are just men and women, if you want to succeed, it's either dealing with men or women, neither can be neglected, only when both sides are handled well can you soar to great heights. I believe you understand this point better than anyone.
This woman Pei Rongrong is worth your investment, let me do the math for you. Being ordinary friends who eat and drink together is a profit of 10 million, being friends who can discuss business together is a profit of 100 million. If you have the ability to make her your confidante, how much you can gain is hard to say.
That's all I'll say, what to do next and how far you can go depends on your own abilities." The old man said lightly.
Chen Ergou's mouth twitched into a smile.
The old man had a premonition and muttered to himself, "Good kid, isn't he thinking of making her his mistress?" Thinking of this, he couldn't help but remind him, "Fú Shēng, the Péi family has a deep relationship with someone named Tái Fú Píng from Jiāngzhōu. Your relationship with Péi Róng Róng is best left at a suitable distance, don't overdo it."
Chen Fusheng smiled and said: "Old man, rest assured, I won't draw legs on a snake."
The old man, who held the power of life and death in Nanjing as a deputy provincial official, nodded with satisfaction, unfolded the rice paper, and Chen Erdou immediately helped him grind it. The old man said slowly: "I heard that you recently met a Shandong man, a Shanxi coal boss, is that right?"
Chen Ergou was startled and said, "Ah, his name is Wu Liang. I want to do something in the coal mine industry through him, because I think this time Shanxi coal mine rectification will not only eliminate a large number of individual households, but also give birth to one or several super-large coal bosses."
As a result, she said that it's no use asking for help from the Ten, it's too troublesome, and it's only to disturb Old Master You.
"There are many people like him in Nanjing, I just ignored them."
The old man raised his pen and said calmly, "Because this kind of thing consumes too much energy, it's not something that one or two people can decide on after communicating with a department. It often ends in frustration."
Chen Ergou sighed in his heart. Since even Lao Yezi was helpless, this matter was definitely hopeless, and he could only apologize to Wu Liang.
The old man's tone changed, and he wrote three cursive characters: "Tian Xing Jian". Strong and powerful, they seemed to pierce through the wood. He looked up at Chen Er Gou with a stern expression and said in a low voice: "Your vision is not bad, this rectification will definitely give birth to several super-rich people who are destined to be on the wealth list. I've calculated that there are about three or four of them, two of whom are already set. It's useless for me to tell you now, and there are two more spots that can be competed for. Now everyone is showing off their skills, it's complicated. The only thing missing is a bloody fight, which is the reason I don't want to get involved, just in case I offend someone who harbors resentment towards me. Since you have the heart, this time I'll accompany you in a gamble, dragging half of Jiangsu Province along with you. If we win, everyone will be happy; if we lose, it won't hurt our bones."
Chen Ergou was shocked, he definitely didn't think that his unintentional move would affect the entire province and get it involved in his plan. He said softly: "Old man, if you're having trouble, you can just stay out of this muddy water."
The old man smiled and said, "I'm not yet at the age where my eyes are dim and I've lost count of what's important. At 54 years old, I still have seven or eight years of political vitality left. I won't let you disrupt my own plans because of your actions. Policies are dead, but people are alive. Since I've brought this up with you, I've made up my mind to do something big. In the fleeting nature of life, I'll give you a tough task: capture Pei Rongrong in the palm of your hand. No matter what methods you use, whether it's moving her with emotions or enlightening her with reason, you must cultivate her into an ally. She hasn't shown her abilities in recent years, but after four or five more years, you'll understand her potential. At that time, it will be the critical period when this matter comes to fruition. She is not Chen Yuanshu or Fang Jie; she has great significance for you. It's up to you to grasp the situation and decide whether you're playing with fire or climbing the ladder of success. I hope you'll think thrice before acting, and be cautious."
"As if walking on thin ice, every step is a military campaign."
The old man wrote eight characters, this time not in cursive script, but in regular script, each stroke and dot meticulous and strict, yet with a hint of roughness that seemed to burst forth.
Chen Ergou's palms were full of sweat, unable to tell whether it was tension or excitement.
"You do your part, and I'll take care of the rest. This matter won't be rushed, we'll take our time to plan it out." The old man said slowly, his eyes gleaming with spirit. No matter what age a man is, ambition is always the best catalyst for bringing out their extraordinary talents. After waiting for his mood to calm down and become peaceful again, he seemed to say casually: "You've heard about Luo Xiao's situation at Xinyang Group, right?"
"A person who doesn't know how to repay kindness is like a mad dog that bites people randomly for self-protection, it's better off dead."
The old man said no more and acted as if he had never heard those words.
Xinyang Group is a star enterprise in Nanjing's Xinjiang Development Zone. Including Xinyang Group, even the entire Nanjing Chemical Industry Park and Jiangning Development Zone were all created by Old Master with his own hands. Among them, Xinyang is one of the benchmark enterprises, which was strongly supported by the Nanjing Municipal Government in its early years. As for the behind-the-scenes operations and hidden rules, they are intertwined, and no one believes that there aren't any. However, Old Master's cleverness lies in the fact that he has never defended himself with words over the years, but instead uses his achievements to prove who is the true contributor to Nanjing and Jiangsu. Of course, there must be some mistakes, and a recent example is the sudden collapse of Xinyang during the financial crisis. Everyone knows that Luo Xiao, the founder of Xinyang, is Old Master's proud disciple. Without Old Master, there would be no Luo Xiao or Xinyang. However, it turns out that this Luo Xiao is also a scoundrel who can only share wealth but not hardship. When the capital chain was broken and he was double-regulated, before Old Master even applied pressure to rescue him, Luo Xiao said he wanted to surrender. Regardless of whether there were any political enemies at play, Luo Xiao's actions were unscrupulous. In a rare move, Old Master remained silent, and just when everyone was waiting for Luo Xiao to reveal shocking secrets, they instead received news of his mysterious death in a darkly comedic turn of events.
At this moment, the truth came to light, and Old Master let out a sigh of relief. Although Luo Xiao's antics couldn't stir up much trouble, death was still the best outcome before things got out of hand. From start to finish, Old Master didn't intervene or say a word, keeping his hands clean and leaving no evidence behind. He thought to himself about what his adopted son Chen Fusheng had done. Old Master let out a soft sigh and said, "It's hard to paint the bones when drawing a tiger, Fusheng. The human heart is something that, just when you think you've seen through it, will always have unexpected twists and turns, and can't be trusted."
Chen Ergou stood quietly on one side and said, "Old master, when you have the chance, tell me about your youthful days. I'm particularly interested."
”
The old man shook his head slightly and smiled: "A good fellow does not mention past bravery."
Chen Ergou continued to grind the ink, treating calligraphy and painting as a way to cultivate his mind and nature, rather than just following the trend. He persisted for decades, which is a realm worthy of admiration. This old man was not greedy for money, nor fond of women, nor did he like to flatter or curry favor. He also avoided being overly ambitious, being careful in his words and deeds. Chen Ergou thought that perhaps the only thing that could defeat this old man was fate itself.
"Floating life, you go out and accompany your aunt to talk more, and also take the opportunity to communicate with Pei Rongrong for the first time, trying to leave a good impression. That kind of woman needs to be stewed in low heat at first, and then make a final effort to win her over." The old man waved his hand and said.
Chen Ergou left the study with a smile, the old man put down his pen and sat in the chair, gazing out of the window, muttering to himself: "Zheng Lan, if you were still here, my grandson would be about to enter middle school now."
The old man stood up, pulled open the curtains, and a gray mist filled the sky. The sky was still that vast expanse, forever impossible to see the end of. For an old man who would soon be approaching his sixties, no matter how prominent he was in politics, it seemed that he couldn't withstand the opponent's behind-the-scenes remark "No matter how glorious you are, you won't have any descendants to inherit" which pierced his heart like a knife. His usual stubbornness and determination made Qian Zixiang not show weakness even when alone, gazing up at the sky with a firm gaze.
This old man who seems lonely and helpless in the eyes of many politicians in the provincial capital may want to let all of Jiangsu know that he has not only Wang Zhenglan, but also Chen Fusheng!
Complete book
