Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Ninety-Four: The Life of the Rich
I had coffee in front of me and casually picked up a newspaper from this morning. I was sitting in my room, feeling a little lazy. Yan Di had already opened the window for me with a smile, and the morning air blew in, instantly invigorating me.
As I had deliberately arranged, many media outlets were reporting on the arrest of a group of Japanese men for drug trafficking at that hotel yesterday. Because the Vancouver gang riots had just occurred, the media was eager to give extensive coverage to such shady dealings.
Moreover, I deliberately leaked the news.
A photograph shows Mitsuo Toya with a bandage on his head, a blank and ashen expression, accompanied by a large caption:
The Vietnamese are gone! And now the Japanese are here?
I must say, this title is entirely due to my malicious intent!!
The message I sent to the media, through the content of this article, skillfully conveyed a certain meaning:
The Vietnamese were once Vancouver's biggest drug traffickers! After the Vietnamese were eliminated, the Japanese came with drugs to wreak havoc on the people of Vancouver!
These Japanese are just as much of a bastard as the Vietnamese!
Although I didn't say these words explicitly, the meaning was implied in my language.
I finished reading the article with a smile, then made a call to the buck-toothed lawyer Zhou: "Give our dear journalist friends a 30% raise this month. I'm very satisfied with their work."
I'm smarter than Master Ba because I deeply understand the importance of the media! In this world, the media is essentially the shaper of your reputation! For example, if you donate a million to charity and the media doesn't report it at all, it's as if it's useless!
I donated 100,000 to charity. But the media hyped me up a lot... As a result, even though I donated less than you, in the eyes of the public, I am a philanthropist a hundred times better than you!
Of course, Western media are also very difficult to bribe. It took me a lot of effort to get Bucktooth Zhou to help me get a few reporters on my side.
However, Doug called shortly afterward.
Doug's tone on the phone was relaxed and indifferent, but he also subtly expressed some dissatisfaction with me.
After a night of interrogation, Doug, being no fool, sensed something was amiss. Those involved claimed to know absolutely nothing about the drugs… Initially, the police naturally assumed they were denying it. This is understandable; all arrested criminals vehemently deny their crimes. It would be suspicious if they readily confessed!
However, as the questioning progressed, Doug, being intelligent, noticed something amiss.
To my ally, I didn't intend to hide anything: "Indeed, these Japanese have some grudges against me. My dear Doug, do you think there's anything wrong with what I did? At least I handed them over to you through legal means... Otherwise, what would you expect me to do? Deal with them myself? Oh. That's easy, I'd send people to shoot them all in the street? Good heavens, then today's newspapers wouldn't be praising the police's efficiency, but rather they'd be protesting in front of the police station!"
Doug certainly didn't want me to cause any more trouble. During his term, he wanted Vancouver to be as peaceful as possible!
Moreover, the journalists I bribed lavishly praised the police operation's speed and effectiveness in their reports, showering the police with high regard. This was tantamount to me indirectly giving Doug a huge favor.
"Regardless of whether these Japanese people were involved in drug trafficking or not, the evidence is conclusive." I laughed. "As for what to do, that's up to you. They're not Canadian citizens. You see, I've handled things very carefully. The amount of drugs found on them isn't huge, but it's not small either. No major offenses, but plenty of minor ones. You police don't need to worry about it. Just deport them, that's all. Why bother with all that..."
"Okay, but remember, you owe me a favor." Doug hung up the phone.
I went to the hospital to check on Xiluo and Leiren again during the day. The two of them are getting along even better. Leiren is actually a very free-spirited and unrestrained young man, but my senior brother is too rigid and usually keeps him in check, not letting him show his true nature. But now that Leiren is with Xiluo, Leiren's true nature is immediately revealed.
He really is a little tiger! Lei Xiaohu!
Xiluo told him about the inner workings of the underworld, the bloody battles and strife, which filled Lei Xiaohu with excitement and longing. That's how young people are.
The two got along better and better. I went to check on them, and they even started exchanging martial arts tips in bed. Lei Xiaohu also promised Xiluo that once everyone recovered from their injuries, the two of them would have another good sparring session.
Today I had Xiao Huang send another batch of supplies to my senior's martial arts gym. It's the same fitness equipment as last time. I hope he won't refuse this time, but I'm worried he might, so I just went out first. That way, if he refuses and tries to find me, he won't be able to.
I took Yan Di and Qiao Qiao with me to look at houses.
I won a lot of money in Las Vegas, enough for a little splurge. The real estate agent recommended several beachfront villas and mansions, and today we're going to pick one we like.
This is a luxury villa located on a crescent-shaped beach. The sea is calm, and this unique topography ensures that there are no large waves in the surrounding waters.
Moreover, this is a private sea area; the two-kilometer-long beach is entirely designated as a private zone, accessible only to wealthy residents. Furthermore, a significant amount of money has been spent installing shark nets along the crescent-shaped beach's edge!
After all, these wealthy people don't want a shark swimming by while they're playing in the sea.
The villa covers 1,000 square meters, has a huge yard, and a swimming pool. It is equipped with a seawater filtration system that draws water directly from the sea into the pool, along with a drainage system, making it extremely expensive to build.
The room boasts a 360-degree panoramic sunbeam layout, ensuring ample sunlight from every vantage point. A spacious terrace and balcony allow guests to relax and enjoy the sea breeze and sunshine. The private garage can accommodate four cars.
It boasts top-of-the-line security and anti-theft systems, and is surrounded by affluent neighborhoods. A security company has been hired to patrol the nearby beaches. There's also a beach rescue team... and in the distance, a private marina provides a place for wealthy residents to moor their yachts.
I am very satisfied with all of this.
The life of the wealthy. They certainly know how to enjoy life.
Of course, the price was also extremely high. I paid a full thirty-five million US dollars to acquire this beachfront villa. However, at the time of purchase, due to my insistence, the property was registered under Yan Di's name.
Even Zhou, the buck-toothed guy who came to help me with the contract, couldn't help but feel a little envious when he saw this place: "I'd trade three of those villas you gave me for the one you have now!"
Of course, even if you buy a house in a place like this, the annual expenses are still considerable! The annual maintenance cost for such a house is around $250,000! In addition, there are additional expenses of $150,000 each year to pay the security guards' salaries, the beach access rights, and the yacht marina access rights!
That's unbelievable. The annual cost is at least four hundred thousand dollars!
No wonder, even though Zhou with buck teeth has a high income, he often complains about being poor in front of me.
However, I am still very clear that the house I bought is only at the level of an "ordinary millionaire".
There's a saying in the West: millionaires live the life of millionaires, multi-millionaires live the life of multi-millionaires, and billionaires... live the life of God.
The life of a true billionaire... I'm still a very, very long way from that.
I'm just indulging in a little bit of the $100 million I won from the Japanese in Las Vegas.
After completing the formalities, Yan Di and Qiao Qiao will be able to move in here in three days. Before that, a professional cleaning company will come to clean the place. The lawn outside will also be regularly maintained by a dedicated person.
Everything is so thoughtful that you don't have to worry about anything.
Of course, the cost is also quite high.
I don't need to worry about buying any more furniture or other household items. I'm happy to be free... I called over Xiao Zhu, the most resourceful guy in the group, and had him take a few brothers, get a car, and go shopping all over the world with Qiao Qiao and Yan Di.
As for me, I have important things to do.
Accompanied by Zhou with protruding teeth, I had lunch with a customs officer. After that lunch, I officially paved the way for Vancouver customs!
Although I spent countless amounts of money and effort, the benefits to me after paving this road will be immeasurable!
"What do you think I still need?" After finishing lunch, I carefully asked Bucktooth Zhou. Although this guy has a bit of a temper, there's no way around it; he's the only high-IQ strategist I have around right now.
"Huaxing Company needs more talent... I mean real talent, not gangsters." He glanced at me. "Huaxing Company is your first step in legitimizing your business. This company needs to operate like a legitimate company! So, you need these! Hire some professionals at high prices... Of course, financially, we have annual protection fees from our smuggling operations to process in our account, which is a bit tricky. We need to find one or two reliable financial experts, people who are cooperative and controllable. I'm handling all of this right now... Damn it, Chen Yang, you should give me a raise! I'm not just your lawyer now, but also your public relations manager, your financial advisor, and your driver!" He glared at me and continued driving.
“Dear Mr. Zhou, the buck-toothed lawyer, I remember you’ve already earned at least 150,000 yuan in commission from me in just one month.” I sighed, “Don’t worry, things will be alright, everything will be alright.” I smiled for a moment before getting serious, “Everything else can be taken care of slowly, but the finances must be settled as soon as possible. Do you have a suitable financial expert in mind?”
Sigh, you need to know how to falsify accounts, how to fool those tax officials, and also be loyal and reliable... It's really difficult.
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Ninety-Five: Recruiting Soldiers and Buying Horses
Wendi Sun, male, 29 years old, graduated from the University of Toronto with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in International Finance and International Trade. He is of Chinese descent and a second-generation immigrant. He has never been to China. His profile indicates he is an excellent student, not only excelling in his major but also serving as the quarterback on his university's football team.
Before I met him, I was imagining in my mind, how strong must this Chinese man be, who actually played rugby? Wouldn't he be like the Terminator?
But after meeting him, I realized I was wrong. This Wendi Sun was about 185 centimeters tall and, while he looked fairly muscular, was completely different from the rugby-playing muscleman I had imagined. He was also a very talkative guy, and our meeting was pleasant and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
After finishing lunch, I casually tossed aside my napkin, then smiled and extended my hand to him: "I hope we can have a pleasant working relationship in the future."
We have just discussed and agreed on the terms and conditions of the contract. Therefore, Sun Wendi will be appointed as the manager of the International Trade Department at Huaxing Company.
We both smiled with satisfaction, and then I couldn't help but ask, "I have a question... Um, I've seen that most rugby players are very strong, but I rarely see someone like you who maintains such a... um, well-proportioned physique."
Sun Wendi smiled, revealing a set of white teeth: "Oh, sir. You must have misunderstood. I play the quarterback position, which is equivalent to the guard position in basketball. It doesn't require players to be too muscular. Well, even in basketball, not all basketball players have the massive size of Shaquille O'Neal."
I smiled again. Not a bad guy.
This lunch determined the future head of Huaxing Company's trading department. And then, in the afternoon, I met with three more people.
Iglare, a Black man, 28 years old, graduated from Halifax Business School. He briefly worked for a medium-sized trading company and is proficient in ocean trade processes. His weakness is a lack of big-picture perspective, but he excels at details.
Luhmann, a white man of French descent, thirty-five years old, has worked for a foreign trade company for eight years. He was once the company's top salesperson of the year? Of course, that was five years ago. I checked his profile; his sales performance in recent years has been neither high nor low… a rather mediocre person. His abilities are probably good, but he seems to have lost his ambition. But that doesn't matter. I don't need him to be a leader; I need a veteran with rich experience, and he's perfect for that. He's like a jack-of-all-trades. Though unassuming, every company needs someone like him.
Xu Xin, female, 24 years old, graduated from Shanghai International Studies University, fluent in English and French, and knows a little Korean. She is also a good secretary. She has considerable experience in internal company administration. She has only been in Canada for six months and is a new immigrant. It is said that her whole family immigrated here, while she completed her university studies in China alone before coming. After reviewing her information, I decided that she would be the company's administrative secretary.
I vividly remember that when I was in China, at Fang Nan's company, Fang Nan's secretary, Ms. Qian Pan, was an extremely capable person—shrewd, efficient, decisive, and meticulous. Such a person would undoubtedly be an excellent assistant to the company's leaders! Because she could help you make up for many things you couldn't think of or had forgotten, and many of the trivial matters that bothered you no longer needed to be your concern; she could handle them all perfectly for you.
I met these three people in the afternoon. The black man, Igla, made me feel a little uncomfortable because most of the black people I know are hip-hop, like to be funny, and talk very fast, like they're rapping... But this Igla seemed to be a very serious person.
Just as I expected, Luhmann's face was somewhat expressionless, and his eyes were calm. Westerners rarely work for one company for eight years; changing jobs is very normal for them. Clearly, Luhmann had lost his edge; at only thirty-five, he looked like he was fifty. But it didn't matter. What I needed was his experience. Sometimes being a little conservative wasn't a bad thing. I didn't expect him to have the drive of a young person; as long as he didn't slack off and was present and hardworking, that was enough.
Xu Xin, however, surprised me. She was a very fashionable and charming girl, tall and slender. When she came to see me, she wore strappy high-heeled sandals and a short skirt, revealing a pair of smooth, straight legs. Clearly, she was the kind of fashionable girl who knew how to dress herself well. Her long hair was styled with slight curls, which added a touch of mature femininity to her originally innocent face. Her features were delicate, at least after makeup. As for before makeup… I was selecting employees, not holding a beauty pageant, so it's none of my business.
My only complaint is that her outfit was too sexy.
It's not that she was dressed provocatively; she wasn't. She wore a skirt that fell above her knees, but it was incredibly narrow and tight! I even suspected she deliberately bought a size too small… This tight skirt clung to her hips, making her rounded curves fully exposed when she turned or bent over… Her upper body was clad in a light-colored collared blouse with three-quarter sleeves. However, it was clearly a short style, intentionally revealing a small section of her smooth, delicate skin and the curves of her slender waist.
Frankly, when I saw her, I was also somewhat amazed... This is normal; even a normal man would take a second look at a beautiful woman on the street. However, after taking a second look, I immediately felt a bit dissatisfied.
She is indeed a very attractive woman... but so what? I've seen too many beautiful women, and I only glance at them a couple of times before losing interest... Besides, today is a job interview, a selection of company employees, not a Miss Hong Kong pageant. In that sense, I would even prefer her to dress more simply, elegantly, and formally! Not like a Barbie doll!
However, after chatting with her for a few minutes, I found her to be quite confident and seemed to have a good understanding of the secretarial work in the company. So I suppressed my slight dissatisfaction... I'll just keep using her for now. Anyway, this is abroad; if I'm not satisfied, I can fire her anytime.
Finally, I made the final decision on these candidates. Sun Wendi will become the head of the company's trading department, and I also gave him the title of vice president. The other three people, the black man and the Frenchman, were assigned to work under Sun Wendi, while Xu Xin became the company's office secretary—currently, she is also the only secretary.
Adding to the mix is Xiao Zhu, whom I've put into the company (someone I'm focusing on developing). Xiao Zhu is currently the most intelligent and resourceful young man I have under my command, and what's more, he's attended university (though he didn't graduate). Therefore, I didn't put him in any more violent or violent work, but instead put him in charge of some shady, intellectually demanding smuggling business. Currently, he's still working as an assistant to Bucktooth Zhou.
Bucktooth Zhou is the company's legal counsel, and currently also serves as the public relations manager and financial advisor. He's so busy he's practically running around like crazy. In his words, he hasn't had time to see his lover for two weeks.
The basic framework of the company has been established; the next step is to recruit more staff and expand further. However, I don't need to handle those personally. The people I've recruited are all capable of working independently, and we can let them handle the other ordinary employees we hire later.
That said, I naturally hold absolute authority over this company. Although the other gangs also own 30% of the shares... those people are real gangsters; they don't understand company operations. They're good at drug trafficking and wielding knives and guns, but they're completely clueless when it comes to running a company. So they basically don't concern themselves with company affairs; they just wait to receive their share of the profits each year.
Finance...sigh, I'm still short of a finance person!
This company still has many shady and illegal businesses, especially those involving illicit funds. I need a highly capable person who is also loyal to me in charge of finances...
Like I said before, we can find other people, but we really don't have any staff for finance right now. We'll have to let Zhou with buck teeth do it for now.
I'm back home... well, I mean the new mansion I bought by the sea. I have no idea what Qiaoqiao and Yandi and a few of my men went out to buy today, or how they've decorated the house.
I drove home, taking a specially constructed road into this affluent neighborhood. I parked the car in front of the gate, where a pillar stood with an electronic security system. I entered the password, the gate opened, and I drove inside.
To my surprise, there were already two new cars in the garage! One was a yellow, extremely rugged SUV, massive in size, with sharp lines, exuding a masculine strength and power! It was clearly a Hummer HK, the car that men all over the world love! A car driven by a real man!!
The other one was even more beautiful, with a compact and unique design and a sapphire blue body. A BMW Z8 sports car was parked in front of it.
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Ninety-Six: Swimming Pool Passion