The atmosphere became tense for a moment.
Ning Yuan looked at her fourth uncle across from her, who was smoking silently, and said, "Fourth Uncle, the way you look at me makes me feel like a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered."
Uncle Si gave a forced smile and said, "Fat sheep? Little girl, what are you talking about? I'm a legitimate businessman."
Ning Yuan raised an eyebrow, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the table: "A legitimate businessman? Fourth Uncle, your business seems to involve both the legitimate and criminal worlds."
Fourth Uncle scoffed, "You flatter me too much."
Ning Yuan smiled faintly: "You don't even need to do it yourself, but there are plenty of desperate people in the underworld. As long as you give a few hints, someone will set their sights on me."
Listen carefully to what they say; a seasoned veteran like Fourth Uncle wouldn't casually mention kidnapping without a reason.
The speaker had ulterior motives, so she had to be careful.
Fourth Uncle glanced at her sideways, the thick smoke obscuring the glint in his eyes, and gave a noncommittal snort.
Ning Yuan suddenly pointed to the statue of Guan Yu and smiled slightly: "But when you're in the underworld, worshipping Guan Yu is all about loyalty. I trust Uncle Jiu and Uncle Fang, and I respect your skills, so I'm here to do business with you."
She paused for a moment, then said, "I think you, Fourth Uncle, don't intend to pass on the grudges of the older generation to an ignorant and innocent junior like me."
Fourth Uncle looked at her expressionlessly, and gave a forced smile: "I don't understand what you're saying. What are these old grudges?"
Seeing this, Ah Heng, unusually quick-witted, tried to smooth things over: "Fourth Uncle, please don't scare Xiao Ning, she's timid."
Fourth Uncle stared coldly at Ning Yuan: "Timid? This old man thinks she's very bold! She's no ordinary person, no wonder Ninth Brother and the others have taken a liking to her."
Ning Yuan was too lazy to waste words with him and went straight to the point: "Fourth Uncle, if you agree, we'll sign the contract. If you don't, I'll go find someone else. Whether you want to have someone kidnap me or something else, we'll settle it once and for all."
Uncle Si's expression changed. He held the walnut in his hand for a while, then sneered, "Fine, fine, let's sign the contract! Stop slandering me!"
The two discussed some details and finally finalized the specific plan for cooperation.
After signing the contract, Ning Yuan and Aheng left Uncle Si's antique shop.
As they left the store, Aheng asked Ning Yuan with some concern, "Xiao Ning, are you really going to help this old man sell his goods? His attitude is infuriating! He's obviously no good!"
What normal person would suddenly say something about kidnapping someone!
As she drove, she said, "Why don't we open a shopping mall and sell things, or open a coffee shop, just like we did back in the mainland? You're so smart!"
Ning Yuan gestured for Aheng to stop the car and pointed to the bustling Nathan outside the window, saying, "Aheng, look around. There are so many shops, department stores, and cafes. Can you tell what's going on?"
Ah Heng was completely bewildered, scratching his head: "What do you see? Isn't it just that it's very lively and business is good?"
Ning Yuan smiled helplessly: "Aheng, you think too highly of me. I'm not smart. I just took advantage of something that others didn't have, and copied the Hong Kong government's system to the mainland."
She looked out the window calmly: "The mainland is in dire need of reconstruction right now, and it lacks everything. I can make money by doing anything I want. It's different for the Hong Kong government."
If she hadn't been reborn, how would she know so much?
Back in Hong Kong, her mother gave her HK$800,000, saying it was her saved allowance.
She immediately spent most of her time looking for Rong Zhaonan, which already made her feel very sorry for her mother.
The Ning family also gave her pocket money, but it wasn't enough to support what she wanted to do.
The Tsim Sha Tsui Marine Tower project will take several more years to become profitable; it has only just begun construction.
She paused, then said calmly, "If I want to develop new business models within the Hong Kong government, I need connections and resources."
"Although Fourth Uncle has a tainted background and is hostile to the Ning family, at least he won't turn down money. Whether someone is an enemy or a friend depends on whether the two parties in the cooperation bring benefits to each other."
Ning Yuan narrowed her eyes. "Fourth Uncle has been in the Hong Kong government for so many years and has become so successful that even triads have to give him face. That means he's very powerful."
"Besides, he's still worried about Uncle Jiu and Uncle Fang for the time being, so he won't do anything to me in the short term. Our relationship is one of mutual exploitation."
Ah Heng nodded as if he understood, but after a while, he suddenly slapped his thigh: "Hey! That's not right, Xiao Ning! By using the Morning Light Socialite Club, aren't you also using the Ning family's influence? What if the Ning family stops you?"
Ning Yuan glanced at Aheng, looking completely bewildered: "Why is the Ning family stopping me? I have no intention of going against the Ning family. Why would the Ning family turn down money? They're not stupid."
Her gaze drifted to the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, a barely perceptible softness in her voice—
“When my mother was young, she organized the National Salvation Elite Women’s Association in Shanghai to raise funds for the war effort.”
“From the past to the present, these charitable organizations have always been established by her and Aunt Zhou using her dowry. Even when the Ning family injected funds later, it was still a mutually beneficial relationship of mutual assistance.”
There are also tax benefits to doing charity, including in terms of building a corporate image; otherwise, entrepreneurs wouldn't be so enthusiastic.
"I just don't want my life to be packaged and sold off like a commodity by the Ning family." Ning Yuan slightly curled the corners of her lips.
She's not stupid; even after arriving in Hong Kong, she still had to go through all the hardship of starting from scratch just to prove her integrity.
Ah Heng shrugged, leaned over and rubbed Ning Yuan's round face, then pulled her into his arms: "Fine, you're my woman, whatever you do, I'll support you!"
Ning Yuan: "Uh, well... do you still remember Wei Heng by the Huangpu River?"
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