"You're testing my limits." Qiao Qiao's father's face was somewhat unfriendly. He said slowly, "You've kidnapped my daughter, and you're also interfering in my business dealings! Heh heh! I, Qiao, have been in business all my life, and I've never seen such an arrogant and domineering junior as you."
“I’m sorry, Mr. Qiao.” I tried to be sincere. “I still respect you very much, but I have no right to decide on your request.” After a pause, I slowly said, “I know I am in the wrong regarding Qiao Qiao’s situation… If possible, I am willing to do anything to make amends, of course, anything within my authority and ability.”
“Oh…” Hearing my words, Qiaoqiao’s father’s expression softened slightly. He looked at me for a while and said, “Alright… If that’s the case, we can continue to talk… As for the ownership of the company, hehe… If this company can’t be negotiated, then we have other ways… You mentioned compensation, hehe… There are many kinds of cooperation, such as investment, equity participation, and so on.”
I pondered for a moment: "Can you tell me why you think so highly of Fang Nan's company? Although Deep Blue Entertainment is quite large and influential, it doesn't seem to be important enough for you to be determined to acquire it, does it? Although I don't know much about your business, I do know that before this, your business didn't seem to involve the entertainment industry."
Qiaoqiao's father thought for a moment, then slowly uttered two words: "Media".
"What?"
"If Deep Blue Entertainment were in someone else's hands, for example, if you acquired it, you could at most use it to make money, or cooperate with your American film company to invest in film and television or the domestic entertainment industry, and run an entertainment company... Even if it develops well, at most you could build a large domestic entertainment company. But if I get this company, it will be different... Let me put it this way, I plan to invest in media."
I was stunned.
Qiaoqiao's father sneered, "What, surprised?"
“A little,” I said with a wry smile. “From what I know, domestic laws censor the news, and media platforms are rarely open to individuals. Whether it’s newspapers, television, or even radio, there are absolutely no privately owned ones! The so-called media companies in China these days actually produce their own television programs and then find some TV stations to sell them. In other words, the platforms belong to the state. Whether it’s newspapers or television, these are state-owned and absolutely not open to private individuals! Those private media companies are all small-scale operations. If their programs are rejected by TV stations, they lose everything and face many restrictions… So, opening a media company in China is a joke! The state doesn’t allow private ownership of platforms like TV stations or newspapers. And without a platform, you can’t be called a ‘media company’ in the true sense!”
Qiaoqiao's father didn't speak, but just smiled gently.
His smile seemed unfathomable, which made my heart skip a beat... Could it be that this old fox is so powerful that he has broken the state's monopoly on the media platform?
But then I thought about it again, and it's absolutely impossible! In China, the state would never allow the existence of private television stations, radio stations, or newspapers! Our country's laws clearly state that the news media exists as the mouthpiece of the state!
Even though the economy has opened up in recent years, the control of public opinion cannot be easily relinquished to private businesses!
In recent years, some media organizations have been corporatized. For example, many provinces in China have established "XX Provincial Radio and Television Groups." However, these media companies are also state-owned. In fact, they combine the television stations and radio stations under the jurisdiction of the province into one company, but the company still belongs to the state.
Even if Qiaoqiao's father has a powerful background, he shouldn't be so powerful as to break through this barrier!
“Kid, don’t even think about it,” Qiao Qiao’s father said slowly. “Well, I can’t tell you the specifics until we’ve finalized the ownership of the company. But we can discuss this further. Fang Nan’s company is the best ‘shell’ I’ve been eyeing. Fang Nan is quite capable; after running it for so many years, the company has a well-established network and distribution channels, which perfectly suits my requirements. So, I still very much hope…”
I didn't say anything, I just looked at him.
Just then, I suddenly heard faint voices coming from outside the private room.
Faintly, there seemed to be a conversation between a man and a woman, accompanied by the sound of noisy footsteps.
The atmosphere of this once quiet business and leisure venue was suddenly ruined by these noisy people.
Qiaoqiao's father and I both frowned at the same time, feeling that the atmosphere had been interrupted and were somewhat displeased.
The private room was open-plan, and from my seat, I was facing outwards, so I could clearly see what was happening outside.
About twenty meters away from us, in front of a private room, stood a burly man in a suit. A tattoo was clearly visible on his neck. Judging from his figure, he was strong and imposing, followed by a group of men who looked like henchmen. Although they were all wearing suits, they didn't look like good people at all.
The burly man led a group of people to block the door of a private room, when they heard a woman's angry voice coming from inside: "Shen Shan, you've really torn off all pretense of civility! You don't care about any face at all!"
The woman's voice reached my ears, and my heart skipped a beat! Because the voice was so familiar!
Even amidst a hint of anger, the speaker seemed to retain a sense of composure and calmness...
Well, how should I put it? This kind of anger is definitely not the kind of panicked argument where you get red in the face and your neck gets worked up... rather, even when this person gets angry, it's like a master yelling at a disobedient servant. Even when angry, there's a certain air and posture of a superior.
The burly man at the door was facing away from us, and from the side, his expression was cold: "There's no need to talk about feelings... I'll say it again, at this point, there's no point in worrying about feelings. There's no relationship in the world worth risking my life for! You're not worth it, and the person behind you is even less worth it! Considering we were once on the same side, I'm just sending you back. If you understand what I mean, then hurry up and leave!"
The woman's voice carried a faint question: "Shen Shan, you dare to lay a hand on me? Hmm, you brought so many people here, are you threatening me?"
"I wouldn't dare." The man named Shen Shan remained unfazed. "In this world, my reputation comes from my friends, and my status is earned by my brothers! What I'm facing now isn't a small matter, but a matter of life and death! Of course, I have to take care of my brothers! I brought so many men here to let everyone know my stance, Shen Shan!"
The woman fell silent.
Seeing the standoff between the inside and outside of the private room, the staff at the business center were stunned. How could they dare to stop a group of men who didn't look like good people blocking the way? The hotel security guards also arrived, but stood outside, hesitant to come in... Judging from their timid looks, they seemed to be very wary of this man named Shen Shan.
When Qiaoqiao's father and I saw this, I was naturally puzzled, simply because I heard the woman's voice inside, which sounded vaguely familiar.
In my memory, the only person who could maintain such composure and calm demeanor even when angry was Yang Wei, who was known for her calm and rationality. But this woman was clearly not Yang Wei. Her voice sounded a bit hoarse, and she seemed to lack Yang Wei's composure even when faced with a collapsing mountain.
Just as I was lost in thought, Qiaoqiao's father waved his hand, and one of his men standing in the private room outside immediately came over and bowed: "Boss."
Qiaoqiao's father said calmly, "Go over there and tell Shen Shan that I'm here talking to a friend. Tell him to handle any issues outside!"
"yes!"
Qiaoqiao's father's henchman immediately went over, but before he could get close to the man named Shen Shan, he was stopped by a group of thugs behind him. After a brief exchange, the thugs, looking at him suspiciously, led the henchman to Shen Shan's side and whispered a few words to him.
The burly man named Shen Shan seemed to pause for a moment, then turned around and looked in our direction after a whisper. When his gaze fell upon the private room and he saw that Qiaoqiao's father and I were sitting face to face, he immediately smiled, then abandoned everyone else in the room and strode towards us.
Shen Shan walked to the door of our private room, but didn't even dare to come in. He stood outside and bowed slightly, saying, "Mr. Qiao... I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here. I've disturbed your conversation with your friend. I'll leave with my men immediately!"
Looking closely at the burly man named Shen Shan, one could tell he was no more than forty years old. He had a square face and ordinary features, but his eyes revealed a hint of fierceness. His suit was all designer brands, but the tattoo peeking out from under his shirt collar was rather conspicuous. He treated Qiao Qiao's father with utmost respect, while Qiao Qiao's father simply leaned back on the sofa. He glanced at him casually, grunted an "Mmm" through his nose, and then slowly said, "Alright, let's do it that way."
He paused for a moment before adding, "You, Shen Shan, have reached a certain level of status now. Remember, in such high-class places, it's best to be more discreet. Be mindful of your position from now on. Have your men leave first, then come back; I have some questions for you."
This light rebuke didn't elicit a single word of rebuttal from the man named Shen Shan. He nodded repeatedly, then left without a second thought, abandoning all other concerns, and immediately led his men out.
Taking advantage of Shen Shan's departure, I glanced at the private room in the distance where the group had blocked the entrance, and frowned, asking, "Who is this Shen Shan?"
"Who are they?" Qiaoqiao's father smiled and said, "They're in the same line of work as you, gangsters, I guess."
"oh?"
"Hmm." Qiaoqiao's father smiled, looking at me with a meaningful gaze: "In Shanghai, the influence of Qinghong is such that Shen Shan is at least a third-rate leader. He's a district head of Qinghong in Shanghai. However, I have a good relationship with some of the older members of Qinghong, and he respects me a lot."
Qinghong?
I frowned slightly!
But suddenly, a thought struck me! I couldn't help but look at that private room again! This time, I finally remembered who the woman speaking in that room was!
A few minutes later, Shen Shan returned. He seemed to have tidied himself up, buttoning up his shirt and making his suit much neater. He cautiously walked into our private room, glanced at Qiao Qiao's father, and only sat down cautiously after Qiao Qiao's father pointed to an empty chair in front of him.
"What exactly happened just now?" Qiaoqiao's father said calmly, "You're not a child anymore, how can you act so recklessly? This is a five-star hotel! People who frequent places like this might encounter some people you can't afford to offend! You actually dared to bring a bunch of people here to put on airs! If you run into some influential people who don't like you and want to mess with you, you'll be in deep trouble! Do you think this is some roadside tavern where you can act tough as you please?"
"No! No!" Shen Shan nodded repeatedly, wiping his sweat.
"What happened? It alarmed your boss, Mr. Shen, to come here personally with his men?" Qiaoqiao's father asked casually, but I noticed that he glanced at me as if intentionally or unintentionally.
Suddenly, I understood!
Qiaoqiao's father, this is actually asking on my behalf!
He is Miss Qiaoqiao's biological father, so of course he knows about my feud with Qinghong!
"Please don't call me that! Mr. Qiao, please just call me Xiaoshan." The man smiled bitterly, "What Boss Shen? That's what outsiders call me. Calling me that is shortening my lifespan." He sighed, "Alas, everything was fine until this woman almost ruined my life! Humph..." He was about to continue, but he glanced at me and shut his mouth.
“It’s alright, he’s just one of my nephews.” Qiaoqiao’s father’s words immediately dispelled his concerns.
"Yes, yes! There's nothing to hide anyway, it's already become the talk of the town!" Shen Shan sighed, unable to suppress a hint of his rough and rugged nature. He made a subconscious move as if he wanted to cross his legs, but then he saw Qiao Qiao's father's gaze and quickly straightened his legs before continuing, "You've heard about the trouble the Qinghong Sect has been causing lately, haven't you?"
"Yes. I've heard a little about it."
"Sigh! I don't know what evil has befallen us." Shen Shan shook his head, his face full of bitterness. "I'm stuck in the middle now, in a rather unfavorable situation. You know the power of our Qinghong gang; we all carry the prestigious name passed down from our ancestors. But for so many years, it's been three different factions, three major owners. Originally, the whole of Jiangsu and Zhejiang belonged to the 'Ren' faction. Jiangsu and Zhejiang are close together, but Shanghai is sandwiched in between. Logically, Shanghai, being geographically located between Jiangsu and Zhejiang, should have belonged to the 'Ren' faction." "My men. But as you know, Shanghai is such a lucrative place, such a bustling metropolis. How could we let one family sit on it so easily? So, the Qinghong gang in Shanghai has always been divided into three parts: Heaven, Earth, and Man. Each of the three major owners has sent people here to manage their businesses. Over the years, although there have been occasional squabbles among us, we're all from the Qinghong lineage. Even if there's a minor conflict, there's still some semblance of goodwill. We're all brothers, and it's just a matter of one hand fighting the other, no real conflict, so we've managed to coexist peacefully."
“Not bad. In Shanghai, you, Shen Shan, have now risen to the rank of manager. What can possibly be difficult for you?” Qiao Qiao’s father smiled.
"That's right!" Shen Shan slapped his thigh, unable to contain his anger: "It's that old bastard Ye Huan!!!"
When I heard the name "Ye Huan", my heart skipped a beat!
Qiaoqiao's father smiled without saying a word, but Shen Shan's face darkened: "Ye Huan has rebelled!"
"Rebelled?" Qiaoqiao's father chuckled. "Rebelled against what?"
"Damn it!" Shen Shan gritted his teeth. "I must have been blind! I actually exchanged sworn brotherhood certificates with this guy back then! Now I'm utterly humiliated! It's like mud falling into my pants—even if it's not shit, it's still shit! I don't know what's wrong with Ye Huan. He used to be in Nanjing, and he controlled the entire Jiangsu branch of the Qinghong Gang. The big boss of the Renzi Gang made him the head of the Jiangsu branch, practically a warlord! But this old bastard suddenly rebelled a few days ago. I heard that the big boss of the Renzi Gang wanted to remove him, and the people he sent to Nanjing were detained by Ye Huan! Damn it, this guy has some nerve! He dares to do something like this. I heard the big boss sent three groups of people, and he detained all three groups! He just won't hand over power! Now it's obvious he's rebelling against the boss and trying to establish his own power!"
After a pause, Shen Shan couldn't help but sigh, "But Ye Huan is indeed capable. I heard that his actions have caused an uproar throughout the entire Jiangsu gang! Nanjing is his stronghold, and he actually dared to turn on them and kill them! In just one week of internal purges, I heard that seven or eight corpses have been pulled from the Qinhuai River! Several leaders who refused to join him in the rebellion have all been killed by him. And the branch manager in Suzhou was beaten to death in his mistress's house. The guy in Changzhou was the quickest to react. Ye Huan secretly planted a bullet by his bedside at night, and that guy simply packed his bags and ran away. As a result, Ye Huan only sent a few people and successfully took over a piece of territory in Changzhou! Now, after just over a month, half of the territories in Jiangsu no longer obey the big boss's orders and have all changed their names to Ye!"
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter Fifty-One: I Am Still Me
Qiaoqiao's father smiled slightly: "And what about you?"
Shen Shan's expression changed, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Me? Hmph! Shanghai is so close to Nanjing, how could Ye Huan let me go? But he knows that I, Shen Shan, still have some influence in Shanghai, so he probably can't take me down by force. So he sent someone to talk to me, trying to get me to join him! Ha! Although I, Shen Shan, am a rough man, I'm at least not a fool!"
"Oh? What do you mean?" Qiaoqiao's father glanced at me deliberately and chuckled softly.
Shen Shan sighed, "Ye Huan won't last long! He's doomed! How could I, Shen Shan, be foolish enough to work with him!" He whispered, "Don't be fooled by the fact that Ye Huan has suddenly taken over half of Jiangsu in just over a month. That's because Jiangsu is his stronghold. He's been the big boss in Jiangsu for so many years, and his influence has already infiltrated the area. So when he suddenly rebelled, everyone was caught off guard, and he took control of such a large area in no time! He seems to be doing well now, but he might not be doing well at all! Right now, the big boss above has been caught off guard. When the big boss reacts and retaliates, Ye Huan might not be able to withstand it..."
"Is that so?" Qiao Qiao's father smiled. "But... the big boss of the Ren family only controls Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Now that Jiangsu has been lost, it's like the big boss has lost half of his power. He may not be able to suppress Ye Huan."
“Different! Different!” Shen Shan shook his head repeatedly, but quickly added, “Mr. Qiao, I’m not saying I dare to contradict you… Alas, it’s just that you’re not one of our Qinghong Men, so you don’t know our rules.”
He lowered his voice and slowly said, "Over the years, our Qinghong has been divided into three parts: Heaven, Earth, and Man. These are the three main factions, each independent of the others. We go our separate ways, but we are all from the same lineage. We usually coordinate and help each other out. Although we occasionally compete and fight over some interests, when it comes to crucial matters, we will definitely unite against external threats! Think about it… Ye Huan's actions have blown up, and it's no longer just a matter for the Man faction! Ye Huan has essentially betrayed the Qinghong name! And he's gained such a large territory all at once! This is outrageous! I estimate…" The three major bosses will definitely meet and discuss how to eliminate Ye Huan no matter what! Otherwise, tolerating such a rebellious individual living so splendidly is tantamount to tarnishing the reputation of the Green Gang! Leaving aside the issue of appearances… if Ye Huan continues like this, what if someone else follows his example… if the various bosses see Ye Huan's success and become ambitious enough to rebel and establish their own independent forces… that would be disastrous! Therefore, if the boss with the "Human" character can't eliminate Ye Huan alone, the other two bosses will definitely lend a hand! Although Ye Huan is currently successful, for him to fight against the entire Green Gang with only Jiangsu territory… that's still a dead end!
"So, Shen Shan, you've seen the tide and won't be on Ye Huan's side anymore?"
“Of course!” Shen Shan shook his head. “Although Ye Huan and I used to have a good relationship, I, Shen Shan, wouldn’t dare to betray my employer like this!” He pointed to the private room and said coldly, “That’s a pawn Ye Huan left in Shanghai. Damn it, in the past two or three years, this woman has been incredibly successful in Shanghai. She’s practically a well-known socialite! She’s brought Ye Huan a lot of benefits. Now she’s acting on Ye Huan’s behalf, trying to get me to join him. But I, Shen Shan, am not that stupid to risk my life like this!”
"Oh? So you mean? What are you planning to do?" Qiaoqiao's father squinted.
Shen Shan immediately said, "No, you misunderstood me... After all, Ye Huan and I exchanged invitations and became sworn brothers back then. Although he has now done something rebellious, the brotherhood is still there. I am not willing to join him in his troubles, but I also have to maintain a sense of loyalty... So, I will not kill this woman, but I will send her away!"
"Give her away?" Qiao Qiao's father laughed. "Ye Huan has kept this woman in Shanghai, and she must have built up quite a business over the years. She has put a lot of effort into managing this place, so how could she be willing to just give it up and leave?"
"Not leaving?" Shen Shan revealed a hint of fierceness, grinning and shooting out two cold glints from his eyes: "Not leaving? I'll send her off! Heh! I, Shen Shan, have personally come to see her off, so even if she doesn't want to leave, she'll have no choice but to go!"
"Haha!" Qiaoqiao's father laughed twice, then stood up and patted Shen Shan on the shoulder: "Not bad, you're quite sharp. Alright, I know you have things to do, go ahead and do your thing. I'll come over for tea when I have time."
After being patted on the shoulder a few times by Qiaoqiao's father, Shen Shan immediately looked flattered and stood up to take his leave.
Shen Shan walked outside, then suddenly shouted loudly at the private room inside: "Cang Yu! If you know what's good for you, I'll give you one day to leave Shanghai! Letting you go back is already a favor to Ye Huan! If you're still in Shanghai tomorrow... hmph!"
After saying that, Shen Shan strode out the door with his head held high.
I kept my expression unchanged, but I sighed inwardly.
Cang Yu... It really is Cang Yu!
Qiaoqiao's father, however, had been observing my expression, and suddenly said, "Is that... someone you know? Should we go over and say hello?"
I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head: "Let's forget it. We don't have any feelings left for each other. Sooner or later we'll just fall out, so it's better not to see each other at all."
I paused for a moment, then looked at Qiaoqiao's father and said, "Thank you!"
I know that the conversation he just had with Shen Shan was actually something Qiao Qiao's father deliberately told me.
Hey... Ye Huan, have you already rebelled?
As for why he rebelled... others may not know, but I do.
Presumably, the big boss of the "Ren" group discovered that I wasn't dead—well, with my grand return to the country, anyone who isn't blind knows I'm not dead! The big boss of the "Ren" group, knowing that the person who beat his son into a eunuch back then isn't dead, naturally knows that Ye Huan is not right!
Ye Huan was facing imminent downfall and loss of power... Knowing his nature, he made a final gamble by suddenly rebelling and seizing control of a province to establish himself as independent.