Chapter 292 Dance Floor
Chen Jun took Zhou Zhengping to the Jinque Dance Hall on Huanshi East Road. The facade was not particularly ostentatious, but the neon sign was particularly eye-catching in the night.
Through the heavy soundproof door, one could faintly hear electronic music coming from inside.
This wasn't Zhou Zhengping's first time visiting a place like this.
Over the past year, he and Gu Yan have had frequent business dealings in the south, and he has frequented such places to entertain clients and build relationships.
Although the trading company he affiliated with on the street was far smaller and less well-connected than Gu Yan's industrial company affiliated with the Municipal Light Industry Bureau, he still managed to accumulate his first pot of gold by dealing in in-demand commodities such as electrical components and clothing fabrics, and his business was developing well.
As Zhou Zhengping pushed open the door, a wave of heat mixed with cigarette smoke, perfume, and alcohol hit him.
The lobby was dimly lit and swirling, playing Teresa Teng's "Tian Mi Mi" (Sweet Honey). Some stylishly dressed men and women were dancing slowly in each other's arms on the dance floor, while others sat scattered in booths drinking and chatting, making a lot of noise.
A waiter in a white shirt and black vest came up to greet them, and Zhou Zhengping gave Gu Yan's name and the reserved private room number.
The waiter led him through the corridor and into a private room.
The private room had good soundproofing; once the door was closed, the outside noise was reduced by more than half.
The room was small, with a dark red carpet, a row of faux leather sofas against the wall, a glass coffee table in the middle, facing a color TV and a Pioneer stereo system embedded in the wall, and a small karaoke machine next to it.
Zhou Zhengping sat down on the sofa. Not long after, a waiter knocked on the door and came in, bringing a pot of green tea and several plates of snacks.
He poured himself a cup of tea, took a couple of sips, then leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes to rest.
A whiff of alcohol mixed with cologne wafted over first.
Zhou Zhengping opened his eyes and saw that Gu Yan was wearing a brightly colored floral shirt and wide-legged flared pants, which made him look particularly flamboyant in the chilly weather.
He staggered and slumped onto the sofa next to Zhou Zhengping, tugged at his collar, and began to complain in a drunken haze.
"Damn it, those Hong Kong guys... they're as cunning as devils! They've been ripping off the terms and haggling over the price, trying to squeeze every last drop of oil out of me... They drink like there's no tomorrow, like alcohol is free..."
He rambled on and on for a while, then finally leaned back and said, "But... we finally got the contract, so it wasn't all for nothing."
After listening quietly, Zhou Zhengping reached for the cold tea, took a sip, and chimed in, "That's how it is in business."
He then turned to his own affairs, saying, "I'm going to Beijing for a few days. I don't know if my men can keep things stable and prevent anyone from stealing that batch of building materials we negotiated before."
His trading firm was still small and couldn't withstand too many setbacks.
Gu Yan stared at the spinning colored light ball on the ceiling and asked casually, "How was your trip to the capital? Did you see your aunt and Anping?"
"I saw them all. Anping gave birth to a son, and both mother and child are safe."
"Heh, I've got another little nephew. Did you give Anping the things I asked you to take?"
“I gave it to her. I also gave it to Zhiyi in person.”
Gu Yan sat up a little straighter, his drunkenness subsiding somewhat. "Didn't I say that Anping could just pass it on?"
Zhou Zhengping: "She went to visit Anping, ran into him, and gave it to him on the way."
Gu Yan stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly trying to determine the truth of his words, then slumped back down, raising his hand to rub his temples. "...As long as it's not a special trip to see him, it's fine."
He believes that it's best to keep things as they are, with everyone living peacefully and happily, and no one causing any further trouble.
The two were sitting quietly when the door was gently pushed open.
Chen Jun walked in carrying a white porcelain bowl.
"Boss, hangover soup, specially made by the kitchen. Drink some while it's hot, it'll make you feel better."
Gu Yan turned his face away in disgust, resting his head on the sofa. "I won't drink it! It tastes awful!"
Chen Jun smiled ingratiatingly and didn't urge them. He placed the bowl on the coffee table. "Boss, those Hong Kong businessmen haven't left yet. They're dancing outside as you arranged. How about I arrange a couple of 'dance partners' to dance with them and let them have some fun?"
Gu Yan considered it for a moment, then finally waved his hand.
"Forget it...their perfume is suffocating...let them play by themselves...if they want to find it, we'll see..."
As he spoke, his head tilted to the side, as if he were about to fall asleep.
Chen Jun hurriedly stepped forward, "Boss, boss, you're so tired, let me take you home, don't sleep here!"
Zhou Zhengping also stood up: "Xiao Chen, let me help you get him into the car."
Just as the two were about to reach out, Gu Yan opened his eyes, swung his arm to break free from them, and pointed at the bowl of hangover soup: "Give it to me! I'll drink it."
He had important business to attend to tonight and wanted to take this opportunity to introduce the group of Hong Kong businessmen outside to Zhou Zhengping, thus expanding his network of contacts.
Chen Jun quickly brought over the bowl of hangover soup as instructed.
Gu Yan took it, and as if he was sulking, he tilted his head back and gulped down the sour and spicy soup in several mouthfuls. After drinking it, he grimaced and his whole face scrunched up.
Fortunately, Chen Jun reacted quickly and handed over a cup of warm green tea.
Gu Yan drank several mouthfuls of tea before he could barely suppress the strange taste in his mouth.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, stood up, straightened his shirt collar and t-shirt, and said to Zhou Zhengping, "Come on, come with me. While those Hong Kong guys are still here, let me introduce you to them and help you become familiar with them. It'll be good to have more connections around here in the future."
Zhou Zhengping immediately understood the deeper meaning behind Gu Yan's special invitation to come here.
He raised his hand and patted Gu Yan's shoulder hard. "Thanks, brother."
Gu Yan laughed heartily, put his arm around his shoulder, leaned half his weight on him, and led him outside.
"Stop with the nonsense! Come on, I'll take you to see the real Buddha!"
Seeing this, Chen Jun wisely lagged behind a few steps and followed behind the two.
Upon entering the lobby, you are immediately enveloped by deafening disco music.
The powerful electronic drumbeats pounded in our ears, and the colorful spotlights spun wildly, cutting the dance floor into fragments of light and shadow.
On the dance floor, men and women were moving their bodies to the music with bold, energetic, and vibrant movements.
Gu Yan was used to this kind of scene. He put his arm around Zhou Zhengping and searched the booth area with his eyes, quickly locking onto his target.
He led Zhou Zhengping through the swaying crowd to a booth.
"Mr. Li! Why are you drinking tea alone? Where is he?"
Sitting in the booth was a Hong Kong businessman in his mid-thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He had a refined demeanor and wore a well-fitting suit, which seemed somewhat out of place in the flamboyant surroundings.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com