Shu Wen stared at his nephew with eyes blazing with anger. He really couldn't understand how his father-in-law, a hero of his generation, could have given birth to such a good-for-nothing grandson.
What made Dr. Shu Wen even more regretful was that he had brought Niu Hong along. He was simply a useless and troublesome fellow.
Only then did Young Master Niu realize that it was the old men sitting in front of him who had been scolding him. He immediately shrank back, looking aggrieved, and said, "Uncle, I... what did I do? I was just telling the truth..."
"That's enough, stop embarrassing yourself, Xiao Wu, take him home first..."
Since taking over the mantle of the old shipping magnate, Dr. Shu Wen has revitalized a family on the verge of collapse and is respected wherever he goes. But at this moment, he wishes there was a crack in the ground he could disappear into.
After reprimanding Niu Hong, Shu Wen turned to Old Master Qin and apologized, "Brother Qin, I'm so sorry for my rudeness..."
Niu Hong, who was initially unconvinced, was about to speak when he was pulled back by one of Shu Wen's attendants and reluctantly left the Qin family's villa.
"Hehe, it's nothing. Brother Niu is just very straightforward, which is quite rare..."
Old Master Qin waved his hand. He was too happy to care about anything else. He originally thought it might be a congratulatory couplet from Zhuang Rui's uncle, but he didn't expect it to be the handwriting of the old man who lived in seclusion in Yuquan Mountain.
In fact, Zhuang Rui was also taken aback when he first saw this calligraphy. Ouyang Zhenwu said he was asking his maternal uncle for a handwritten letter, but who would have thought that what ended up in his hands was written by his maternal grandfather himself.
Zhuang Rui understood that his grandfather was only doing this because of him. Otherwise, when Grandpa Qin went to Beijing a few years ago, Ouyang Gang would not have met with him. You know, every year some old friends from abroad would ask to see him, but the old man ignored them all.
The commotion caused by Niu Hong was just a minor incident at the banquet. After Old Master Ouyang's handwritten letter appeared, the atmosphere at the scene became even more lively. Even Qin Haoran and his brothers were surrounded by many people who had not been close to them before.
While casually responding to his friends, Zhuang Rui was filled with mixed emotions. The country's growing strength had attracted wealthy Chinese who hadn't previously prioritized the mainland market to flock in; otherwise, they wouldn't be so eager to cultivate a relationship with the Qin family. ...
Dr. Shu Wen, who was sitting next to Old Master Qin, suddenly stood up and walked towards Zhuang Rui. Those who were originally surrounding Zhuang Rui immediately made way for him after seeing who it was.
"Mr. Zhuang, I'm so sorry, the child is spoiled. Please don't take his words seriously..."
Dr. Shu Wen's words shocked many young people. This was hardly the way an elder spoke to a younger generation; it was clearly a conversation between peers, and there even seemed to be a hint of apology in his tone.
Zhuang Rui dared not be negligent towards this world-renowned shipping magnate, and quickly stood up, saying, "Dr. Shu, you're too kind. Just call me by my name. My friendship with Young Master Niu began with a misunderstanding..."
"Hehe, alright, then I'll take the liberty of calling you Xiao Zhuang. You young people should get along more. He's rather uncouth, so you can teach him a lesson when you have time..."
"No, no, Young Master Niu is a man of genuine character, and there are many things I can learn from him..."
Shu Wen stood there talking to Zhuang Rui, which made the young people feel very uncomfortable. With an elder in the room, they all lowered their voices several octaves.
After chatting with Zhuang Rui for a while, Shu Wen suddenly said, "By the way, Zhuang, I heard you opened a private museum. I have a few pieces of art from your country's Qing Dynasty. There's nothing special about keeping them. It would be better to put them in your museum so that more people can see them. You could arrange it sometime..."
Although the antiques in Shu Wen's possession were quite valuable, they seemed insignificant compared to the billions of dollars in business he might invest in in mainland China in the future.
In fact, Shu Wen also had his own connections in China. His main purpose in wanting to befriend Zhuang Rui was to prevent Zhuang Rui from hindering his future business. Dr. Shu was well aware that while these scions of powerful families might not be good at handling things, they were very good at causing trouble.
"Thank you so much, Dr. Shu. I'll have the museum's director come to Hong Kong in a while..."
Zhuang Rui didn't refuse and accepted it generously. Unlike national museums, private museums don't have various channels for recycling antiques. Zhuang Rui could only accumulate them little by little. Now that someone was willing to donate, Zhuang Rui certainly wouldn't be polite.
"Young man, why don't you go over and say hello to this old man?"
Shu Wen stayed by Zhuang Rui's side and hadn't left yet, but Fourth Aunt pushed Mr. He and also came to Zhuang Rui's place.
Chapter 1213 Receives High Attention
"Oh, Mr. He, I should be the one visiting you, but... I was afraid of disturbing the elders' conversation..."
When Zhuang Rui saw the gambling king arrive, he quickly apologized to Dr. Shu and went to greet him. This old man was not easy to fool. Although he was over ninety years old, he was very perceptive.
"You're all sweet talk, but this old man isn't falling for it..."
The gambling king smiled and glanced at Zhuang Rui, then looked around blankly. Immediately, those who had been surrounding Zhuang Rui felt as if they had been pricked by needles and retreated to the side.
Everyone knows that the Macau gambling king is not someone to be trifled with. Although he is now an old man who can't stand up, he still has the vigor of a tiger in his old age. That glance just now clearly showed that he didn't want them to surround Zhuang Rui anymore.
These second and third-generation heirs of super-rich families were all absolute elites. They greeted Zhuang Rui one by one and vacated the space.
Deep down, these younger generation members were extremely envious of Zhuang Rui. Normally, it was difficult for them to even speak to these old men, but now the situation was reversed, and these old men were actually eager to come and find Zhuang Rui.
"Dr. Shu, I heard you're preparing for a port project in mainland China recently?"
The gambling king seemed oblivious to the changes around him. After exchanging a few words with Zhuang Rui, he turned his wheelchair and slid a few meters to the right, then began talking to Shu Wen, who was standing next to Zhuang Rui.
Mr. He and Shu Wen were old friends. When Shu Wen asked the gambling king to gamble against Zhuang Rui, it was through Mr. He's request.
Shu Wen glanced at Zhuang Rui and saw that he was talking to Fourth Madam and didn't seem to be paying attention to them, so he smiled and said, "Uh, Mr. He's information network is quite good. There is such a thing..."
The gambling king raised his hand and lightly tapped Zhuang Rui, saying indistinctly, "That young man is very capable, don't let things get too tense..."
"I understand, thank you, Mr. He..."
Hearing the gambling king's high praise for Zhuang Rui, Shu Wen's regard for Zhuang Rui deepened, and he wondered if he should bring out his most precious Chinese antiques...
After pushing the gambling king to Zhuang Rui's place, the fourth wife released the wheelchair. After the gambling king and Zhuang Rui exchanged a few words, she walked to Zhuang Rui's side and said, "Young Zhuang, this share transfer puts me in a very passive position in the company..."
The reason for the forced "sale" of shares to Zhuang Rui was firstly because of Zhuang Rui's strong background in mainland China. Macau is adjacent to the mainland, and although it practices self-governance, everyone knows what's really going on. It's always good to maintain a good relationship with Zhuang Rui.
Secondly, Zhuang Rui is now a well-known new gambling king in the gambling world. Although he has not participated in many gambling games, he has never lost a game. He has successively stepped on several famous gambling kings to rise to the top, and has almost become a legendary figure in the gambling world.
Running a casino definitely requires a powerful figure to oversee it. Although Fourth Wife couldn't possibly hire Zhuang Rui, as a shareholder of the company, if they encountered any insurmountable obstacles, Zhuang Rui would still have to step in, wouldn't he?
However, Zhuang Rui's transfer of shares has thwarted Fourth Wife's plans. Although the Qin family and Zhuang Rui have a deep relationship, they are still a step away from each other. Moreover, Fourth Wife can no longer directly ask Zhuang Rui for help if anything happens.
"Ahem, Fourth Wife, this matter... I really had no choice. You know, there's a leadership change coming up on the mainland soon. Although I'm just an insignificant nobody, if I keep my shares in the Macau company, some unscrupulous people might..."
Zhuang Rui had long known that Fourth Wife would come to question him, and this was the answer he had prepared in advance. Political struggles are always the most brutal, and opponents will stop at nothing to stop them. Zhuang Rui's answer left Fourth Wife helpless.
"Alright, but if the company runs into any problems in the future and needs your help, Xiao Zhuang, you absolutely can't refuse..."
Zhuang Rui's words were so blunt that Fourth Aunt had no choice but to back down. Fortunately, the Qin family and Zhuang Rui were father-in-law and son-in-law, so even if they were separated by blood, they were still connected by tendons. She wasn't worried that Zhuang Rui would really abandon them.
"Well... let's talk about it later. With Mr. He around, what in this world can stump Fourth Wife?"
Zhuang Rui chuckled but refused to agree. The reason he went through all that trouble to transfer his shares like a fool was precisely because he didn't want to get involved in the murky waters of Macau.
Fourth Aunt wasn't angry. She smiled and said, "You slippery little thing, it's no use me begging you. When the time comes, Brother Haoran will beg you, and we'll see if you'll agree..."
Just then, Qin Haoran's gaze fell on Zhuang Rui. Fourth Aunt smiled at him, and Zhuang Rui's father-in-law quickly nodded in response.
"Oh no, this is bad..."
Zhuang Rui witnessed this scene and immediately felt a sense of foreboding. Although Fourth Wife was older and no longer attracted to him, she might still be incredibly charming and alluring in his father-in-law's eyes.
It's worth noting that when the gambling king married his fourth wife, it caused a huge sensation in Hong Kong and Macau, especially among the second-generation rich kids, who all secretly thought that a beautiful flower had been eaten by an old bull.
Zhuang Rui wondered if he should remind his mother-in-law to keep a close eye on her father-in-law, because the gambling king's influence was not so easy to exploit. If the gambling king was angered, even his own powerful connections would be powerless.
"Xiao Rui, you mustn't be impolite when speaking to Fourth Madam..."
As Zhuang Rui was lost in thought, a group of elderly men in suits walked toward him, the leader of whom was none other than the birthday celebrant, Old Master Qin.
"Grandpa, no way! Fourth Aunt is an elder I respect very much. Hello Mr. Li, hello Mr. Guo..."
Old Master Qin's words brought Zhuang Rui to his senses, and he quickly greeted the group of tycoons behind the old man. He couldn't be impolite, especially in Hong Kong, a society that has a relatively complete inheritance of traditional Chinese culture.
Li Ka-shing was quite amiable, always sporting those black-rimmed glasses that appeared in newspapers and magazines. He smiled and asked, "Xiao Zhuang, how is Mr. Ouyang's health? I had a conversation with him in the early 1990s, and it was very enlightening..."
Following behind Li Ka-shing was the real estate tycoon Guo, whose status in Hong Kong's business world was not much lower than Li Ka-shing's. Upon hearing Li Ka-shing's words, he nodded and said, "Yes, it's been almost twenty years in the blink of an eye. I really want to go and see Mr. Ouyang..."
Most of the people who have thrived in Hong Kong since its return to China have had very close ties with the mainland before the handover. On the other hand, some foreign families that were once extremely powerful in Hong Kong have either transferred their assets abroad or gradually declined.
Upon hearing the two leaders of the Chinese business community mention his grandfather, Zhuang Rui also became serious and said, "My grandfather is in good health. He often tells me that Mr. Li and many patriotic businessmen in Hong Kong and Macau have made great contributions to the country..."
"You flatter me, you don't deserve such praise, sir. We just did what we were supposed to do..."
Li Ka-shing and Guo Daheng wore smiles on their faces, waving their hands repeatedly, but their expressions were very pleasant. Clearly, being remembered by Ouyang Gang was a very happy thing for them.
After chatting with Zhuang Rui for a few minutes, Li Ka-shing suddenly said, "By the way, Zhuang, we old guys are here because we need your help with something..."
"You...you need my help?"
Even though Zhuang Rui was thick-skinned, he was startled by the old man in front of him. The combined wealth of these people was enough to cause a huge upheaval in the world's financial world, and could even overthrow several small countries. What could they possibly need his help with?
Not to mention Zhuang Rui, even some of the people around who were listening to their conversation were shocked. They stopped eavesdropping and gathered around. They all wanted to know what these Chinese business leaders couldn't do in this world.
"Hehe, I heard that young friend Zhuang has acquired a purebred Akhal-Teke horse. We old fellows are all horse lovers and would like to see it. I wonder if that's alright?"
Li Ka-shing's attitude was so sincere that Zhuang Rui almost panicked. "Damn it, I just want to see Zhui Feng, is it necessary to scare me like this?"
However, Zhuang Rui still respected the old man's character very much. At the very least, he did not ignore his own opinion and go to look at the horse just because he was a junior. He was very particular about details.
"Oh? Xiao Zhuang likes raising horses? I'll have to go check that out..."
Shipping magnate Shu Wen, who had been chatting with the gambling king not far away, turned his attention to Li Ka-shing after hearing Li Ka-shing's words. Like the other super-rich people present, he was a director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Moreover, Shu Wen is the most skilled horse breeder among these super-rich individuals. His horses have participated in many horse racing competitions around the world and have achieved excellent results. Even at the Macau horse races on weekends, the horses he races are all top contenders for the championship.
"My horse is not worthy of your approval. Since the elders wish to see it, then please go and take a look..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head with a wry smile. He knew in his heart that his Chasing Wind was no less than any famous horse in the world, whether in terms of size or pedigree. He was afraid that these people would see it and be unable to resist, and then they would ask him for a price, which would be troublesome.
"Brother Zhuang, I've been saying I want your Akhal-Teke horse since yesterday..."
"Yes, yes, Brother Zhuang, I've heard that your Akhal-Teke horse can run seven races in a row..."
Upon hearing that they were going to see horses, Bai Meng'an and the others, who were originally outside the crowd, squeezed in. In fact, these old men were not that strict; it was just that the difference in their status and age made these young people from Hong Kong Island somewhat afraid of them.
"That wasn't my idea..."
Zhuang Rui glared fiercely at Bai Meng'an. Why is this girl so gossipy?
Chapter 1214 Judging Horses
"Whether it's true or not, let's go and see, Dr. Shu. Maybe you'll have to relinquish your position as the top dog in Hong Kong..."
Guo Daheng smiled and joked with Shu Wen. You see, Shu Wen is very famous in the Hong Kong and Macau horse racing world. At least the racehorses raised by these people have never been able to gain an advantage over Shu Wen's horses.
It's worth noting that as directors of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and horse enthusiasts, these individuals invest a significant amount of money each year in purchasing top-quality horses from around the world.
These people invest a lot and sometimes achieve good results in competitions, but they can never beat the horses raised by Shuwen, which makes the group of old men very frustrated.
"Mr. Guo, I'm not as good as you in real estate, and I'm not as good as Mr. Li in manufacturing, but when it comes to horse racing, none of you are as good as me. You can't argue with that..."
Shu Wen laughed loudly upon hearing this. He, Li Ka-shing, and Guo Daheng had been old friends for nearly half a century, so he didn't hold back in his words. However, he was much more polite when speaking to Qin Xuanbing's grandfather.
"Let's go, let's go see. If Xiao Zhuang can beat you, it'll give us a chance to vent our anger..."
These old men were nothing like the business tycoons they once were. They looked like a bunch of petulant children, leaving Zhuang Rui dumbfounded. He thought to himself, even if he told others what he had seen today, probably no one would believe him.
Upon hearing that these prominent figures from Hong Kong Island were going to watch the horse races, the people who had been chatting outside gathered around, including some women. You see, in Hong Kong, horse racing betting is open to everyone, regardless of social status or wealth.