Chapter 367: A Confusing Conversation
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
On their way back, Zhicheng Huang was still thinking about what had happened just now.
"Why had Dai Li become Duke Gaer's honorable guest?" said Zhicheng Huang. "He is just a normal coach, and his parents are simple wage earners. They don't have much money, neither do they have supporting backgrounds. I have investigated all his information."
Zhicheng Huang investigated Dai Li's personal information himself, so he knew well about Dai Li's family background and working experience. No matter how hard he tried, Zhicheng Huang couldn't figure out how Dai Li engaged in a friendship with Duke Gaer. From any standpoint, a domestic young sports coach should not have any connection with a British duke.
"There is always something in this world that happens unexpectedly." Dingtian Xiao acted more calm than did Zhicheng Huang. He lowered his head in concentration for a few seconds, then said: "After we go back, talk to Dai Li, and see whether he could help us meet Duke Gaer."
Zhicheng Huang looked at DIngtian Xiao, surprised, as he never thought that one day Dingtian Xiao would be willing to get off his high horse and ask Dai Li for help.
"Why, you look surprised? Is it losing face to ask Dai Li for help?" Dingtian Xiao smiled, then shook his head. "I understand why you think so. But if I could take this Canadian natural gas program, it would be nothing to lose face!"
Dingtian Xiao said, sighing as he thought back to old times. He then asked, "Zhicheng, have you been working in Dingtian for more than ten years?"
"Plus this year, it's been fifteen years. I have been working with you for ten years already." Zhicheng Huang nodded.
"Right, you didn't went through my starting period. At the time when you came working with me, Dingtian walked on the right trail, and was one of the biggest companies in the province. Hence, you have no idea about what I experienced when I was just starting my business."
Dingtian Xiao shook head again with a bitter smile, then continued: "I remember, at the very beginning, I often humbled myself in order to please people. I'm lucky that I was able to survive. I didn't care about saving face, as it couldn't bring me any fortune, so why did I need to?"
He went on: "As for now, in outsiders' eyes, I'm a successful entrepreneur, owning hundreds of billions of properties. But, actually, I still ask for help very often. The difference is that, many times now, I no longer need to humble myself, but rather do a win-win cooperation instead. It is essentially the same, however, as decades ago, when I paid money to beg others for help! Comparing with that, asking Dai Li for assistance makes me feel better. My daughter is going to be taken by him, so how can't I ask him to do me a favor?" Pausing here, Dingtian Xiao burst out in laughter: "But you were right about this young man. He is indeed very lucky!"
...
In another car, Chai's father and son, Zhennan Chai and Liang Chai, were sitting together in the backseat.
"You know that man?" asked Zhennan Chai.
"Yeah. He is Dai Li, YUnan Xiao's boyfriend. I met him in Yunan Xiai's birthday party," answered Liang Chai.
"Yunan Xiao's boyfriend? Then he will probably become Dingtian Xiao's proud son-in-law?" Zhennan Chai said, frowning with his eyebrows. "What is Dingtian Xiao doing? His future son-in-law apparently knows Duke Gaer, so then why does he want us Chais to build a bridge for him? Wait, who is his son-in-law anyway? He is regarded as an honorable guest by Duke Gaer, so then he is not a mainland Chinese, is he? Is he an overseas Chinese?"
"That Dai Li is just an ordinary mainland sports coach!" Liang Chai snorted.
"An ordinary coach? How can an ordinary coach become Duke Gaer's important guest?" Zhennan Chai didn't believe his son at all. But the next second, he took a long sigh, disappointed: "Anyway, I think we should book flight tickets back to Hong Kong soon."
"Why" Liang Chai asked subconsciously, then immediately got his father's point, asking: "Is it because of that Dai Li?"
Zhennan Chai nodded: "Dingtian Xiao came to us, aiming at our relationships in the UK. He hoped for us to build a bridge for him, so he could close a deal with Duke Gaer. That was why he was willing to share profits with us. But, now, he has found some other way. With that Dai Li, DIngtian Xiao could talk to Duke Gaer himself, so do you think he will still share some profits with us?"
"Such a big deal, and finally it comes to nothing? If Dingtian Xiao kicks us out and stands by himself, isn't he burning the bridge after crossing the river?!" Liang Chai said angrily.
"The business world is like a battlefield! If we Chais had sufficient funds, and are able to get this trade done alone, do you think I would cooperate with Dingtian?" Zhennan Chai said seriously, hoping to be teaching his son a lesson. "Now I feel that we should appreciate Dingtian Xiao, for he has taught you a lesson. He taught you how cruel the business world is!"
Liang Chai nodded in silence. After all, he was more than thirty years old, and was the third generation of successors in Hong Kong Chai's family, who had been leaning to do business by trial and error for years. After a brief time of excitement, he calmed down.
Although Chai's family was one of the original Hong Kong riches, no matter what were their total assets or liquid funds, the family was not as strong as Dingtian Group. Dingtian Group concentrated on real estate, since recently, housing prices had zoomed up. Thus, Dingtian immediately accumulated a large amount of properties. As long as it didn't go grab premium land on a large scale, Dingtian's financial chain would stay quite strong.
On the contrary, Chai's family made their fortune by shipping. Their main properties were hundreds of ocean-going freighters, wharf stock, and properties in Hong Kong. These things were worth as much as properties, but none of them could be liquidated within a short time. Therefore, the liquid funds that Chais could use were considered of far less worth to most than Dingtian's.
...
Dai Li received Zhicheng Huang's text: President Xiao invites me for dinner!
Dai Li stared at his phone diffidently: Will it be another Hongmen Banquet?
Hesitating for seconds, Dai Li finally texted back in agreement. To Dingtian Xiao, escape could not solve any problems at all. As his future father-in-law, he had to face him one day. At dusk, Dai Li arrived at the restaurant on time, which was located in the hotel Dingtian Xiao lived in.
"Today's appetizer is West Seashore halibut filet with lobster mousse. Entrees are Balmoral grilled venison, served with Madeira soft cake, truffle, red cabbage stew, roast potatoes, roast walnut, pumpkin and celery. In addition, there will be mango and lemon dark chocolate, and fruit, as desserts. I have told them to now begin service," introduced Zhicheng Huang.
Dai Li didn't know much about this. However, he felt that, since it was Dingtian Xiao's treat, it would not be low-grade fare. He guessed that these dishes could only appear in top-level banquets in the UK.
Sitting opposite him, Dingtian Xiao didn't say anything, but gave Dai Li an intense gaze, which made Dai Li a little anxious, and he dared not say anything. The two major characters sat in silence, the atmosphere suddenly becoming embarrassing around the table.
Saying nothing for about a minute, Dingtian Xiao finally broke the ice first: "I want to meet Duke Gaer for a big trade, and I want you to recommend me to him."
"OK, I will talk to him tomorrow." Dai Li answered without thinking, subconsciously agreeing.
"Good. Then let's have dinner." Dingtian Xiao remained wearing his indifferent look, no happiness, no sorrow, as if he hadn't talked to Dai Li just now.
That's it? Zhicheng Huang stared at the two. He was expecting a complicated conversation, perhaps one not as long as making three calls at the thatched cottage, but he figured it would at least take around half an hour to explain everything clearly, or to put off for a while. While in fact, the whole conversation only contained two sentences, and that was it.
Maybe president is unwilling to put off his pride. He said yes, but meant no. Zhicheng Huang considered this thought, feeling that it would be better to offer further details.
Hence, he said: "In the last few years, Dingtian Group has been transforming from a real estate developer into a diversified manager. Recently, president is planning to enter into the energy field, and natural gas is our preferred investment. Compared with petroleum, natural gas looks like a cleaner energy. Since the public is concentrating on environmental protection, president thinks highly of gas' potential."
Dai Li nodded. He learned from newspapers that the price of natural gas had been increasing, especially in winter, and that the high demand of heating caused gas shortages in many places.
Zhicheng Huang continued: "Natural gas which we have now is mainly imported from Russia and Qatar. Beyond these two countries, North America also has quite a few natural gas resources. In America, due to demands for industrial production, the majority of gas is used by locals. But Canadian gas is almost solely used for export."
He continued: "Canada is the third biggest natural gas producer, right after America and Russia. Meanwhile, Canada is also the world's second natural gas exporter. In fact, if they put more money into natural gas production, Canada will probably exceed Russia to become the world's largest gas producer."
"We Dingtian Group value Canadian natural gas resource, and wish to invest on this project. However, whenever referring to such a kind of investment, resistance is quite strong. They don't want us to invest in any energy programs in their countries. Therefore, to gain some profits in Canada's gas project, having enough money is simply not enough, we also need help from a third party, like, Duke Gaer."
"Duke Gaer's family entered into Canada at the beginning of the very first colony, and Duke Gaer's great grandfather used to be a governor in Canada. At that time, Duke Gaer's family bought a large scale of land there, which used to be barren fields. Duke Gaer didn't spend much on it."
Still talking: "Later, natural gas was found underground there. Although Canada was independent, and was no longer a British colony, the country didn't own legislative or constitutional rights, at least until in 1982, when the UK passed the Constitution Act. Hence, British traditional nobility kept their rights in Canada till today. Because of this, Duke Gaer owns much discourse power, as a large amount of Canadian natural gas is explored from their lands."
Dai Li took a long breath, processing all this information: "No wonder I saw you guys outside Duke Gaer's castle!"
"Do you think, we are so boring, that we come here just to make trouble?" Zhicheng Huang laughed.
Yes, I did. Dai Li talked to himself in his heart, but he dared not say so aloud. Instead he asked, "Did you meet Duke Gaer today?"
Zhicheng Huang shook his head. "This Duke Gaer really treats himself as nobility, never getting off his high horse. We went there yesterday, but he refused us, giving a box of cookies instead in apology."
"Were they blueberry flavored?"Dai Li casually replied, as he had the same cookies yesterday, too. At this moment, Dai L finally recalled that, who he saw through the window yesterday, were exactly DIngtian Xiao and Zhicheng Huang.
"So, how did you know Duke Gaer?" asked Zhicheng Huang.
"Well, it's a long story. Duke Gaer had an accident ten years ago..." Dai Li generally explained how he helped Duke Gaer recover.
As Dai Li ended the story, a waiter pushed a food trolley in, then put the appetizer halibut and lobster mousse on the table. Dai Li didn't bother, as he ate directly. The food looked pretty, but was served in a rather small amount, so it was finished within two to three bites.
Next came their entrees, Dai Li also gulped these down without thought.
Sitting at his opposite, Dingtian Xiao put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, then seemed to ask casually: "Dai Li, are you interested in working for Dingtian?"
Dai Li was dazed a little bit. He put down his knife and fork, and looked at Dingtian Xiao, confused.
"If you are willing to come, I can arrange a proper place for you, and I will also offer you some chances to prove your abilities. If you are indeed capable, in the future, you will have a chance to sit at my place," Dingtian Xiao said calmly.
As his words came out, everyone, including Dai Li and Zhicheng Huang, was shocked. Dingtian Xiao's place was none other than the president of Dingtian Group!
"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm just a coach, I don't know anything about running a business," Dai Li said, but he looked at Dingtian Xiao cautiously as he spoke, wondering what Dingtian Xiao truly meant.
"Learn to do so. Nobody is born to be an entrepreneur." Dingtian Xiao sounded serious.
Does he really mean it? thought Dai Li.
"Why, is this so unbelievable?" Dingtian Xiao looked at Dai Li, speaking in an oppressive way. "You like Yunan, but I say you are not fit. That's why I told you before, I don't want you to be together. You are not the right son-in-law in my eyes."
He continued: "But now I think that maybe I can give you a chance. I want to cultivate you, to see whether you will reach my standards or not. If you satisfy me, I will agree to you two being together. In the future, after I retire, I can pass Dingtian Group to you with trust, and you can take it as Yunan's dowry."
Dai Li was astonished upon hearing this, eyes widely opened, still trying to assimilate what Dingtian Xiao had just now told him.
Did I hear that right? To pass Dingtian to me? To give me an empire with hundreds of billions in market value? Dai Li only felt his mind must be deranged.