Chapter 8: Where Did This Dog Come From?

Ultimately, Zhou Ming decided to arrange for Guan Sheng to stay at the Peninsula Hotel. On one hand, Zhou Ming was too lazy to argue with the bureaucrat over such meaningless matters. On the other hand, with Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing's current financial status, the money didn't matter much, so it was as if he was just dealing with a beggar.

That evening, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing invited Guan Sheng to dinner at the Peninsula Hotel. Fortunately, in this era, recreational and entertainment options were scarce in the mainland. Due to the lack of conditions, officials hadn't yet developed the extravagant and corrupt behaviors seen in later years. This saved Zhou Ming a lot of trouble. Otherwise, if he had known that there were many leisure and entertainment activities in Hong Kong or if he had requested some activities in the hotel room, it would have been a real hassle. After all, finding a companion in a foreign country and asking for a receipt wasn't something officials in later years did.

In these days, according to central instructions, Zhou Ming arranged for Guan Sheng to have a meal with Zheng Haolong and Li Cheng. This was necessary to establish a united front before the conference. However, it was clear that Guan Sheng had limited experience abroad and couldn't properly engage in the discussions.

When facing Li Cheng, Guan Sheng spoke in a very high-handed manner: "Mr. Li, you must believe that after Old Yang's Southern Tour, the mainland will not only strengthen its commitment to reform and opening up but will continue to deepen these reforms. We have reason to believe that the economy will further heat up with the deepening of these reforms. Your Changhe Industries has considerable influence here in Hong Kong, and the central government needs you to contribute to the nation and the people."

Later, when meeting the world-renowned shipping magnate Zheng Haolong, Guan Sheng took on a subservient demeanor: "Sir Zheng, you are the world's recognized shipping magnate with business dealings in various countries. With the nation undergoing reform and opening up, we can fully cooperate and complement each other. As long as you follow the central government's lead, it will be greatly beneficial to you. We can discuss specific cooperation details further."

Although Guan Sheng's statements varied depending on whom he was addressing, both business giants Li Cheng and Zheng Haolong unanimously judged him as someone who only spoke unrealistic and grandiose rhetoric.

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing discussed this privately, and Lin Muqing sighed, saying: "Zhou Ming, it seems your concerns were correct. This meeting is going to be troublesome."

Zhou Ming understood that Lin Muqing was worried that Guan Sheng might end up being ineffective and counterproductive, and he couldn't fathom why the central government would choose such a person. Perhaps Guan Sheng was the most knowledgeable official on economic matters, or there was some other hidden reason. However, neither Zhou Ming nor Lin Muqing were part of the system, so they couldn't guess the specifics.

...

Time flew by, and the day of the conference arrived. That morning, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing got up early, found another driver, and drove to the Peninsula Hotel to pick up Guan Sheng.

They had breakfast together at the Peninsula Hotel, and Guan Sheng said to Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing: "You must remember that although today's meeting is not a formal conference but a chance for the nation to engage with global Chinese entrepreneurs through Hong Kong, it is still very important for the country."

"This is a rare opportunity for the world to re-understand our country. You must be very cautious with everything you say and do. Understand?" Guan Sheng sternly instructed.

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing rolled their eyes inwardly at Guan Sheng's warnings. What he said was mere nonsense; the real problem was likely with Guan Sheng himself.

After breakfast, they arrived at a skyscraper in Central, where the meeting was to be held.

As Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing got out of the car and looked up at the towering skyscraper, Zhou Ming was interested in the conference despite his irritation with Guan Sheng. Given the diverse range of participants from both domestic and international businesses, the meeting was evidently very significant. However, Zhou Ming could not find any information about this conference from his previous life's memories. Although it might be due to a discrepancy in timing, there was no record of any similar conference from the late 1980s to early 1990s.

Nevertheless, the conference was right in front of him, and he had already met many of the participants, indicating that he was entering a world previously beyond his reach.

With this thought, Zhou Ming exhaled and walked with Lin Muqing and Guan Sheng toward the skyscraper. Just as they reached the entrance, the roar of a car engine was heard. Zhou Ming's bodyguard quickly pulled him and Lin Muqing back as a car drove aggressively towards them, causing Guan Sheng and his secretary to jump back in alarm.

Once the car stopped, Guan Sheng first patted his chest and then angrily criticized Zhou Ming: "What's wrong with you? Don't you know to take care of me first? Do you understand the concept of priority? Do you have any sense of hierarchy?"

After reprimanding Zhou Ming, Guan Sheng then angrily slapped the car that had suddenly arrived and shouted: "How do you drive? Do you know it's dangerous? Do you know where this is? Do you know who I am and what I'm here for? If something happens, I'll report you and have you arrested and executed!"

In the final moments, Guan Sheng kicked the car hard. A mocking voice came from the car: "Oh, where did this dog come from, daring to bark so arrogantly here?"

A middle-aged man in his forties got out of the car, accompanied by two tall men in black suits. Seeing these three men, Guan Sheng instinctively took a few steps back, feeling a frightening aura from them. He stammered: "Y-you... who are you? What do you want?"

Seeing Guan Sheng's fearful demeanor, the middle-aged man sneered in disdain. Without speaking to Guan Sheng immediately, he lit a cigarette and asked: "Before asking others, shouldn't you introduce yourself? From your accent, you seem to be from the mainland, and clearly don't understand the rules."

After speaking, he shook his head contemptuously. Guan Sheng suddenly found his courage and puffed out his chest: "I am Guan Sheng from the State Council's Ministry of Foreign Trade, here to attend the meeting as invited by Hong Kong!"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's disdain increased: "I thought you were just an ill-mannered mainlander, but it turns out you're an even more clueless bureaucrat! So, bureaucrat, listen up. My name is Liu Xiaotian, Chairman of Tianhua Group."

"What Tianhua Group? I've never heard of it. I'm telling you to apologize immediately, or I'll call the police and have you arrested!" Guan Sheng demanded.

Although Guan Sheng had never heard of Liu Xiaotian, Zhou Ming had. When he heard the name, he couldn't help but frown, and Lin Muqing's expression also became serious.

The reason was simple: Liu Xiaotian was a very troublesome figure. It wasn't about the size of his business but that he was a notorious underworld figure, one of the big bosses in Hong Kong. Many later films about gangsters were said to be based on him. According to later disclosures, he had a history of violence and numerous murders.

In short, if you offended Zheng Haolong and Li Cheng, you might just lose business and have no foothold in Hong Kong. But if you offended Liu Xiaotian, leaving Hong Kong alive would be a luxury.

Of course, this doesn't mean Hong Kong's underworld was out of control, but Liu Xiaotian's organization had that kind of oppressive power.

"What are you laughing at? You're about to meet your end, and you still have the nerve to laugh? I'm telling you, I'm a high-ranking official from the mainland, with many connections in the Hong Kong elite…"

As Guan Sheng continued to berate Liu Xiaotian, Zhou Ming couldn't help but step forward and pull him back. Guan Sheng, however, remained oblivious and scolded Zhou Ming: "Zhou Ming, what are you doing? We're representing the country here, so this matter must be resolved today!"

Just as Guan Sheng finished speaking, Liu Xiaotian responded: "So, Guan Leader, right? I agree that this matter must be resolved today, but not by you resolving it for me, but by me resolving it for you."

Liu Xiaotian's bodyguards started advancing aggressively towards Guan Sheng, startling him.

However, the bodyguards only took a few steps before stopping, not out of leniency, but because Zhou Ming and his bodyguard blocked their way.

Liu Xiaotian glanced at Zhou Ming and asked: "And you, where did you come from?"

At this moment, Lin Muqing also stepped forward and stood beside Zhou Ming: "Mr. Liu, please show some respect."

Liu Xiaotian raised his eyebrows, smiled, and signaled his bodyguards to return. "Oh, so you're a friend of Ms. Lin. I'll certainly give you this face. However, Ms. Lin must have a meal with me another day. That's what I call giving and receiving face, don't you think?"

"She won't be coming," Zhou Ming answered for Lin Muqing. "Mr. Liu, this isn't about face. It concerns the conference. Since you're here, you understand what this meeting represents. Guan Sheng is here representing the central government. If anything happens here, I'm sure you wouldn't want to bear the consequences."

Zhou Ming concluded by asking Liu Xiaotian: "What do you say, Mr. Liu?"

Liu Xiaotian narrowed his eyes, sizing Zhou Ming up for a while before asking: "What's your name?"

"Zhou Ming."

Liu Xiaotian repeated the name in his mouth for a while before saying: "Zhou Ming, I'll remember you. Goodbye."

Afterward, Liu Xiaotian and his bodyguards entered the skyscraper. Zhou Ming breathed a sigh of relief once they were gone.