Chapter 76
The temperature difference between day and night in the Persian Gulf was significant. Zheng Juyong lay on the deck outside, coughing intermittently. Guan Ying lay alone in the cabin, draped in his white robe, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
"Hey, you'd better come in and sleep!" Guan Ying called him. He couldn't have fallen asleep if he was coughing like that outside.
Zheng Juyong slowly turned over outside and said, "Don't you want to live with me? It's too stuffy in the cabin. I can't stay here. Just go to sleep. I won't go in."
Guan Ying got up: "Your coughing kept me awake!"
In fact, he had been very restrained, but his fragile trachea was too sensitive in the cold night, and sometimes he couldn't suppress it, so he could only cough gently. However, through the cabin door, he wouldn't wake her. Zheng Juyong said helplessly: "Then I jump down?"
Guan Ying said impatiently: "I asked you to come in! Just bear with it, coughing outside, coughing, coughing, it's so annoying!"
Zheng Juyong folded his arms and went into the cabin, lying quietly on another bench opposite her. The coughing stopped naturally, but Guan Ying continued to toss and turn.
"Are you thinking about Daniel?" Zheng Juyong suddenly asked her.
She turned her head and looked across. He had his back to her.
"Why am I thinking about him? Crazy!" Guan Ying turned her back to him, accidentally dropping the robe covering her. "Hey, I don't mean to be nosy, but there are some things I won't tell you, but who else will? I understand that Kassim taught you to grow a beard so you could quickly become close to the workers at Daman Port, including the clothes you're wearing today... But now you've seen what Kassim is like. He's incredibly shrewd. You can't just adopt his opportunistic business tactics. When we do business overseas, the most important thing is genuine goods, trustworthiness, and strength, not relying on superficial packaging to please clients, and certainly not relying on exploiting people's personal affairs to close deals. While it might solve the problem quickly, it's not the right way. Being clever will only backfire. You've taken a beating this time, but you'll need to remember this lesson. From now on, when you're alone here, always prioritize stability over speed. Never take shortcuts again."
"You can't sleep because you're thinking about these things?" Zheng Juyong turned around and watched her pulling her robe towards her body.
The Persian Gulf is full of opportunities and temptations, but also filled with dangers and hidden reefs. These heartfelt words are all her personal experience from years of working here. At this moment of parting, she couldn't help but seize the opportunity, eager to tell him everything, even if it made him dislike her for being "nosy." Guan Ying turned over and looked up at the fluorescent light of the sea reflected on the cabin ceiling. She said seriously, "You may not be listening now. Maybe you still blame me for making a fuss and meddling in other people's business. In fact, the dispute between Nangang and Kassim is not afraid of litigation. Maybe Daniel's sudden change of mind has caused more twists and turns, but the liquidated damages clause is clearly written in black and white, and Manager Xu has collected sufficient quality inspection evidence. Eric will not miss this opportunity to make a name for himself in vain. As long as this lawsuit comes to the fore, even if it drags on for some time, Kassim will be the first to give in. He will definitely take the initiative to find a way to remedy the situation and calm the storm. As long as the people of Nangang hold their patience, they can wait for the day when they can make fair offers to Kassim."
The ceiling of the cabin was glowing with light, and apart from the sound of the waves, I could hear no response from him.
"Zheng Juyong, are you asleep?" She turned to look at him. His eyes were swollen, and it was hard to tell whether they were open or closed at night. Seeing no response, she muttered, "I've said so much, but it's really like playing the lute to a cow..."
Zheng Juyong smiled faintly and replied softly, "Okay, I'll remember that. Any other instructions?"
Guan Ying thought for a moment and said, "Don't keep the cold war with Uncle Zheng. If you run into any trouble in the future, remember to discuss it with your family. If Cui Shanshan hadn't called to inform me this time, how long would you have stayed in Yunnan? I don't know what happened between you and Qiao Qi, but I hope you can remember that you still have the responsibility of Xicheng Steel. Don't be so willful and don't act without considering the consequences."
"good."
His quick agreement seemed a bit perfunctory. Guan Ying sighed, "Alas, I've said everything I needed to say. It's up to you whether you listen or not!" Then she turned, her back to him, and closed her eyes. Behind her, there was no sound. He stopped coughing and talking. The gently swaying deck was like a cradle. Guan Ying finally settled down and fell asleep.
When she woke up, the yacht had already returned to the shore and docked. Zheng Juyong was sitting on the deck, staring blankly at the place where she was lying in the cabin.
When did he get up to start the boat, and when did he sit there, waiting for her to wake up? Guan Ying rubbed the corners of her eyes and found that he had hurriedly turned away and stood up from the deck.
He patted his trousers and pretended to be relaxed while talking to her: "I really admire you. You can sleep so soundly anywhere."
Guan Ying looked around, still a little puzzled: "Did you drive back by yourself?"
He was very dissatisfied with the question. "It's not that difficult. There are two poles, one for moving forward and the other for moving backward. You just didn't trust me last night, otherwise I would have returned long ago. This yacht belongs to a British labor company. We have to leave as soon as possible before the management arrives."
Guan Ying came out quickly: "Then why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
He jumped off the boat after her. "I just wanted you to sleep a little longer. The engine was so loud, but you didn't wake up. You were sleeping like you were unconscious."
Early in the morning, he spoke arrogantly again. Guan Ying put her hands on her waist, turned around and glared at him: "Zheng Juyong! Forget it, I will tolerate you for one last day."
Zheng Juyong smiled, lowered his head, and passed by: "I have tolerated you for more than 20 years."
......
In a small hotel near Balin Gate, Brother Liu met Zheng Juyong and Guan Ying.
Brother Liu had been on guard all night, his eyes darkening, but he was glad to have helped. As he led the two of them upstairs, he hurriedly reported the situation, "Kassim and his sister rushed over before dawn, worried that Fred would escape again. The three of them are talking in the restaurant right now. Manager Xiaodong and his wife also live here, and they're keeping an eye on him for me."
The second floor was the hotel's public dining room. It wasn't large, but since it was so early and there were no other guests, it seemed quite spacious. Three people sat at a table near the window. A Westerner named Fred was hunched over the table. Opposite them sat a Saudi man and woman, one in a white robe, the other in a black robe. I assumed they were Kassim and his sister, Sophia.
Cui Shanshan and Dong Zhiqiao were sitting far away at a small table at the door, one of them was concentrating on eavesdropping on gossip, while the other was constantly looking out the door.
"Sister Guan, are you okay? I heard from Brother Liu that you were trapped on the boat last night. There are many oil wells on the sea, and it is quite dangerous at night. Zhiqiao and I have been waiting for news from you." Cui Shanshan had been paying attention to the door and saw Guan Ying and her group first, and hurried out to greet them.
Guan Ying hurriedly reassured her, "It's okay, it's just that the cell phone signal is too weak. I figured you would contact Brother Liu. By the way, how is Zhiqiao?"
Dong Zhiqiao had been sitting on the chair and had not stood up. At this moment, he looked embarrassed and said, "I got a shot in my butt. Haha, it's still a little swollen. I finally sat down. I won't stand up to greet you."
He must have felt embarrassed last night because Cui Shanshan had taken care of him, especially on such a sensitive area as her buttocks. It looked like their relationship was progressing quite a bit. Guan Ying smiled and said, "Then don't stand up, or Shanshan will have to suffer with you."
The five people sat down far away, fell silent tacitly, and looked towards the table in the distance.
The Kassim siblings had their backs to the crowd and were still negotiating with Fred, but Fred kept his head down on the table, unwilling to face them.
Dong Zhiqiao whispered, "I just took a quick look. Kassim's sister is very beautiful and comes from a wealthy family. How could this man be so ungrateful? He lives in a small hotel like this and doesn't look wealthy. He's marrying above his station."
Brother Liu also said: "Well, a British man, hiding in Bahrain to work as an oil well worker, is actually the same as us, just a laborer."
Cui Shanshan: "Maybe he is very talented, otherwise why would Kassim's sister come here? Not many Saudi women marry abroad, and I heard it costs a lot."
Dong Zhiqiao became even more curious: "Brother Liu, you understand Arabic, so listen to what they are saying."
Brother Liu smiled and said, "I'm a half-witted person, so I was just guessing. If they mix in some English, I won't understand. But it's definitely not what you call marrying out, it's about marrying into the family. If that guy doesn't want to, what man would want to?"
Dong Zhiqiao's eyes lit up: "Marrying into the wife's family is so great, it can save you a lot of detours! If I can marry a wife who is more capable than myself, I would be willing to marry into her family. The children are still my own children no matter whose surname they have. A man's face is the least valuable." As he spoke, he inadvertently glanced at Cui Shanshan beside him.
Cui Shanshan pinched his thigh under the table: "You talk about it beautifully, but I don't know which man got stuck in his butt with a piece of debris in the hospital last night. The male nurse wanted to give him an injection, but he didn't even want to take off his pants?"
Dong Zhiqiao rubbed his thigh in pain. Guan Ying thought watching Cui and Dong bickering was much more interesting than watching a few foreigners in the distance, so she chuckled beside them.
Zheng Juyong looked at Fred in the distance and sighed.
Soon, Sophia suddenly stood up and cried out something, causing her brother Kassim to stand up and hold her down. Kassim, who hadn't lost his temper until then, seemed furious, but now he was scolding his own sister. Fred finally stopped crouching and sat up straight.
Dong Zhiqiao was the youngest and eager to hear gossip, so he urged Brother Liu: "What happened to them?"
Brother Liu whispered, "Sophia suddenly said she wanted to go back to England with him, but her brother didn't agree. He probably thought she was a heretic."
Guan Ying nodded. "I heard there are a lot of restrictions on cross-border marriages here. If a Saudi woman marries someone from outside the country, her future children won't be able to obtain Saudi citizenship. For her family, it's almost like she's abandoning the family for love."
Brother Liu: "Yes, it's difficult for both men and women. If Fred agrees to marry into the family, he must convert to the Yiqijinlan religion."
Dong Zhiqiao was shocked and said, "Oh, so complicated? Then it must be very difficult for them to be together. No wonder he ran away."
Cui Shanshan took a deep breath. "How foolish of a woman... For a man who runs away at the slightest difficulty, she's willing to give up her faith, her family, and even her nationality... Is it worth it?"
Dong Zhiqiao hurriedly defended himself: "I, Dong Zhiqiao, can give up everything, even my life!"
Cui Shanshan rolled her eyes at him. "Who wants to kill you?! Are you blaming me for smashing those fake camels of yours yesterday and causing you to get a sore butt? But didn't I take care of you all night? You're too delicate!"
Guan Ying chuckled as if she was enjoying the situation.
Zheng Juyong couldn't help but ask her, "They're arguing so much, why aren't you trying to stop them? Why are you laughing?"
Guan Ying turned sideways and whispered in his ear, "Didn't you see? The young couple is arguing!"
Zheng Juyong frowned, like a straight man: "Impossible, Dong Zhiqiao has feelings, but Cui Shanshan doesn't like him. She has always disliked him."
Guan Ying teased him softly, "Oh my god, it's so obvious, can't you see it? If Shanshan didn't like him, she wouldn't bother to scold him, let alone control him or accompany him. Do you understand flirting? Don't tell me that you and Qiao Qi don't even have this kind of experience..."
Zheng Juyong thought for a moment, "Among women, besides my mother, you're the only one who scolds me."
Guan Ying wanted to take back what he had just said and quietly moved his chair away.
The atmosphere at the window table grew increasingly tense, and no one dared to speak. Soon, Fred seemed to swear something solemn, and Kassim's anger finally subsided slightly. Sophia's sobs gradually subsided, and she began to smile a little. Finally, unable to resist her sister's love-mindedness and stubbornness, Kassim gave in, but still made a series of demands. Fred nodded in agreement, and then he took Sophia in his arms and left the restaurant.
As the two of them passed by Zheng Juyong, Fred extended his hand: "Mr. Zheng, sorry for all the trouble, and thank you so much. You are right, I shouldn't be a coward."
Zheng Juyong shook hands with him and said with a relieved smile: "At least, you didn't leave here. You are also waiting for her, right? Good luck!"
Fred raised his eyebrows, looked at Zheng Juyong and Guan Ying beside him, and couldn't help but smile in tacit understanding: "Good luck!"
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