Chapter 107: A luxurious appearance

Rhode Island is an independent state located in the southeast of Massachusetts. It is also the smallest state in the United States with the highest population density. On Sunday, September 16th, Ming Zhou and Muqing Lin took a car together to the Rhode Island Beach Club.

'This beach club is the best private harbour in the entire Hopes Bay. It is generally used for yacht club gatherings. It has the best and most complete facilities, the most convenient transportation, and of course the secrecy measures that many people praise. It is our excellence that makes many wealthy people like to choose this place for vacations and parties, or to bring business partners here for a swim. Sir and Miss, you have made the right decision by choosing here!'

After Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing got out of the car, the club manager took the initiative to come up to them and introduced them endlessly. After Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing arrived at the restaurant on the shore, Zhou Ming waved him away. Of course, Zhou Ming's words were still very tactful: 'Manager Gilman, this lady and I still have things to discuss, so please keep an eye on the harbour for me. If you receive any information from my guests, please let me know as soon as possible, okay?'

As the manager of the club, Gilman of course understood Zhou Ming's dismissal, so he left very understandingly.

After Manager Gilman left, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing each ordered a drink. Lin Muqing asked Zhou Ming, 'Do you think I'm dressed appropriately today? I originally wanted to wear formal attire, but I thought that today wasn't really any formal company negotiations, more like a negotiation party between several parties, but I can't be too casual, that wouldn't be formal enough...'

Before Muqing Lin could finish speaking, Ming Zhou interrupted, 'My dear Muqing, you are a natural clothes rack, of course you look great, and it's very suitable for today's occasion. Didn't you see that Manager Gilman didn't want to leave just now?'

Lin Muqing gave Zhou Ming a dirty look, but she was still very happy to be praised by Zhou Ming, because the purple ruffled-sleeve slim evening dress she was wearing today was something she had picked out after days of deliberation. It was elegant and grand yet not lacking in solemnity, and it was very suitable for today's occasion. After all, as Zhou Ming's woman, she knew very well how rare an opportunity this was, and she didn't want her outfit to detract from the occasion.

'But I really didn't expect that you, Zhou Ming, could actually convince those three families to join forces with you against the Adams family,' Lin Muqing said with emotion.

Zhou Ming shook his head and said with a smile, 'Don't even mention you, Muqing, I didn't expect it to go so smoothly either.'

Zhou Ming said, remembering the previous week, when he had visited the three families in one day. In the morning, he had gone to the Governor of Edward's villa, and after lunch, he had gone to President Lawrence's office at Harvard. In the evening, he had gone to the Lowell family's Auburn Castle, and had persuaded them one by one.

It was precisely because he had persuaded them that there would be this meeting today. This was the tone that Zhou Ming had set with Governor Edward, which was to get the spokespersons of the three families to gather together and discuss things face to face.

As for the location in Rhode Island, which is outside of Massachusetts, it is because of their special status. As the three major families of the Brighton Consortium, discussing how to deal with him under Adams's nose is undoubtedly a bit too rampant. In addition to worrying about the intervention of the Adams family, Tong Gang Li Cheng and Irbedov have not heard from them yet, which also makes Zhou Ming worry about the safety of Lin Muqing. Therefore, after much consideration, Zhou Ming chose this enclave of Rhode Island in southeastern Massachusetts.

Being able to convince the three families of Kennedy, Lawrence and Lowell was an incredible miracle in Lin Muqing's eyes, and the same was true for Zhou Ming himself. After all, these three families and the Adamses all belonged to the Brighton Consortium. Although there were major problems with the distribution of wealth and other matters within the consortium, they were still ultimately one and the same. Zhou Ming himself was not very confident that he could convince them to join him. At most, Zhou Ming just had the idea of giving it a try, and just happened to win in the end.

Although he could imagine it, Zhou Ming still sighed and said, 'Just because it went well that day doesn't mean it will go well today.'

'Do your best, Zhou Ming. I believe in you. Since you got through that day successfully, and you even convinced the Lowell family as a whole, you can do the same today!' Lin Muqing said.

'I hope so,' Zhou Ming said, taking a strong sip of his drink, and then said to Lin Muqing, 'Sister Muqing, since we're already here, let's take this opportunity to relax a little. What's meant to be will be, so don't stress yourself out.'

Zhou Ming then took Lin Muqing to the beach. Zhou Ming changed into a swimsuit and went swimming in the sea, while Lin Muqing, worried about having to touch up her makeup and do her hair at the last minute, still did not go swimming with Zhou Ming and sat on the shore instead.

Soon two hours had passed, and it was twelve noon. The club manager, Gilman, came over and asked, 'Sir and madam, has your guest not arrived yet? Do we need to prepare lunch?'

Facing this question, Lin Muqing volunteered, 'Prepare some desserts and drinks first. Mr. Zhou just went swimming in the sea and needs to replenish his strength and fluids. As for the other meals, don't prepare them for now.'

'Okay, but as a friendly reminder, all our meals are prepared with the freshest ingredients. If the best time for consumption is missed, and losses are incurred as a result, we will also charge it to your bill,' said Gilman.

'I know, there's no need to remind me about this,' Zhou Ming said with a frown.

Gilman then left to notify the kitchen, while Lin Muqing asked Zhou Ming, 'I remember you saying that you had an appointment with them for noon today, right? Why haven't they arrived yet? Did something go wrong? Should we give them a call?'

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, 'I don't think so. If they were able to come, they wouldn't need us to urge them. On the contrary, if there really is a problem, no matter how many times we call, it won't help. So Muqing, let's just wait patiently.'

They waited for four hours after Zhou Ming's words of 'be patient'.

As the sun gradually sank into the sea, Manager Gilman approached again: 'Sir and Madam, your friends still haven't arrived? Then it seems that your party will have to be postponed. Although you haven't used most of the facilities in the club today, all charges will still be deducted as usual. I need to let you know first.'

'Didn't we already know this when we signed the contract? It seems unnecessary to mention it again,' asked Zhou Ming.

Gilman explained with a smile, 'I'm sorry about this, because we've never had any Chinese guests here before, and we're a bit worried that you won't have enough money, which could cause some unnecessary trouble.'

Although Gilman's words were very tactful, Zhou Ming still understood that he just felt that the Chinese were poor and would haggle with him.

'Don't worry, I won't owe you a single penny of what I owe you,' Zhou Ming said.

'If that's the case, that would of course be best,' Gilman said. 'Also, do you need to continue waiting, Mr. Zhou Ming? Our contract does not cover the night, if Mr. Zhou Ming waits, it is necessary to continue to renew the contract.'

'Then renew the contract, as I said, I will not owe you a penny of what I owe you.' Zhou Ming emphasized again.

Gilman, who had received an answer, left contentedly. Looking at his departing back, Lin Muqing said unhappily, 'This Gilman is really arrogant, isn't he? We are at least customers, how can he be so condescending?'

Zhou Ming sighed and said, 'This is how Americans see the Chinese. In their impression, the Chinese are poor, petty and calculating, and have no sense of contract. Let's just leave it at that for today, Muqing, don't be angry. Anyway, I don't think we'll be coming here again in the future, so there's no point getting angry with such a condescending guy.'

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing were talking when they saw Gilman coming over again. Lin Muqing asked him impatiently, 'Didn't I just make it clear to you? What are you still doing here?'

'I want to tell you that we just received news that the guests you have been waiting for may have arrived,' Gilman said, his eyes looking a little strange.

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing didn't understand Gilman's eyes, but they did when they followed Gilman to the harbour.

A harsh roar came from afar, and as they looked, an amphibious plane with red and white stripes was landing on the sea and then driving towards the shore.

'My goodness, this is a limited edition amphibious plane from Bell. It is said that this type of plane has never been sold to the public, and only Bell has given it to some very important people. I have never seen such a plane in the club for such a long time. Sir and Madam, is this the guest you have been waiting for?' Gilman said in surprise.

Facing Gillman's surprise, Lin Muqing walked up to Zhou Ming and put her arm around his shoulder, while raising her eyebrows and answering Gillman, 'Yes, that's an important figure in the Lawrence family.'

'Lawrence family? Is it the Lawrence family of the Brighton consortium?' Gillman asked in a daze.

Lin Muqing nodded proudly and said yes, and this answer made Gilman gasp in shock. At the same time, he subconsciously straightened his back and became less respectful towards Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing. After all, someone who could make such a luxurious entrance was definitely an important figure in the Lawrence family, and since these two Chinese people could invite an important figure from the Lawrence family, their status was obviously not simple either.

Fortunately, I didn't say anything too offensive before, and I still need to be more respectful towards them in the future.

Gilman thought to himself, but he didn't know that this was just the beginning, and he still didn't think enough of Zhou Ming.

While they were talking, they saw the amphibious plane slowly dock at the shore. Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing went up to greet them together. Sure enough, Harvard President Lawrence got off the plane and took the initiative to warmly hug Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing, saying, 'I'm sorry for the delay, I kept you waiting.'

'It's fine, we understand, and Mr Lawrence, you were the first to arrive.' Zhou Ming said.

'Really? There's something like that? Those guys are really outrageous!' Lawrence said angrily.

'Never mind, but I believe they will come over, so I will take Mr Lawrence to sit down first.'

Zhou Ming said and took Lawrence to the dining room in the back. Just as they sat down, Gilman came over to inform them that someone else had arrived. Of course, this time Gilman's attitude was much more respectful than before.

However, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing were too busy to care about his change in attitude. They and Lawrence came to the port together and saw a luxury cruise ship not far away sailing over the white waves.

Looking at the cruise ship, Gilman exclaimed again, 'My God, this ship is the unique cruise ship from the Phoenix Shipyard, which is used entirely to showcase the company's advanced technology. I have only seen the concept at the Phoenix company expo, and I have never heard of this cruise ship being sold to anyone. Even many rich people want it but have no way to get it. Is this your guest?'

This time, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing did not have time to speak. Lawrence snorted first and said, 'This shorty from the Lowell family just likes to engage in these flashy things! Does he think he's awesome just because he owns shares in Phoenix?'

Almost as soon as Lawrence's words fell, they saw waves suddenly rolling on the surface of the harbour, and a huge shadow gradually rising from the seabed.

Gilman was so surprised that he could hardly keep his mouth shut. He pointed over there and stuttered, 'A submarine? Could it be a large private submarine?'

Looking at the restless sea, Zhou Ming smiled, 'It seems to be the Kennedys this time. Only they, the presidential family, can afford this kind of thing.'