Chapter 1019: Everything Revolves Around You!

The Jiang Family’s Old Mansion!

When Li Yi and the others arrived, the old man was listening to the radio in the living room, with a pot of steaming green tea sitting in front of him.

In the past, when the old man had nothing to do, his favorite pastime was drinking tea while reading the newspaper or a book, but now that he was getting on in years and his eyesight wasn’t what it used to be, he had taken to listening to the radio.

“Grandpa, I’ve come to see you!”

Hearing Li Yi’s voice, the old man’s half-closed eyes snapped open.

Upon seeing Li Yi, he smiled and said, “It’s Little Yi who’s back. Have a seat!”

Li Yi didn’t hesitate, immediately sitting down next to the old man and handing him a beautifully wrapped box.

“Grandpa, this is a gift I brought back for you from Hong Kong. I hope you like it!”

“Oh, what is it?”

“It’s a small radio. Don’t let its size fool you—it picks up signals just fine, and it’s easy to carry. No matter where you go, Grandpa, you can take this little gadget with you!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Hahaha, you’ve really put some thought into this. Grandpa, I love this gift!”

“I’m glad you like it!”

The old man nodded, then looked at Li Yi and said, “You didn’t come over today just to give me this little gadget, did you? Did that young comrade surnamed Wang come looking for you?”

Li Yi nodded immediately and said, “Yes, they just left my place.”

“You want to help them?”

“Well, you must know the relationship I have with them. I can’t just stand by and watch them get bullied without doing anything,” Li Yi said.

“Did you call Longcheng?”

“I did. Third Brother said you told him not to let him or Brother Jianhua help!”

“Can’t quite wrap your head around it? Does it bother you?” the old man asked with a smile.

“I do find it a bit hard to understand, but I’m not upset. You’ve walked a longer path than we’ve eaten salt—you must have had your reasons for doing this,” Li Yi said.

“That’s right. That kind of composure is far better than Long Yin’s or Long Cheng’s—especially Long Cheng’s. Back then, when I told him not to get involved in this matter, he caused quite a stir!” the old man said with a smile.

“Third Brother has a straightforward temperament and is a man of honor—those are his strengths!” Li Yi said.

“In an ordinary family, that would indeed be a virtue. But in a prominent clan, the flaws in his character are too glaring—he’s far too easy to manipulate. When that happens, not only will he suffer the consequences, but he might drag his family down with him,” the old man said with a sigh.

Hearing this, Li Yi couldn’t help but admire the old man in his heart. Experience truly comes with age; the old man’s insight into human nature was indeed spot-on.

In his previous life, Jiang Longcheng’s death and the Jiang family’s decline were both directly linked to his personality—didn’t that perfectly illustrate what the old man had just said?

“Grandfather, Third Brother is doing much better now. You needn’t worry so much—after all, Second Brother and I are still here!” Li Yi said.

“Hmm.”

The old man then fixed his gaze on Li Yi and continued, “Xiao Yi, I’ve heard about Director Wang and that spoiled brat from the Liu family. Given his relationship with you, he could be considered part of the Jiang family. If others bully him, it’s only right that we step in to support him.”

“The reason I haven’t intervened yet is mainly because I wanted to leave this opportunity to you!”

“For me?”

“That’s right. We certainly won’t stand idly by, but the one who steps in must be you!” the old man said.

Li Yi furrowed his brow, then asked, “Are you suggesting I bestow a favor on Old Wang and Li Gang to earn their gratitude?”

“It’s not just about gratitude; it’s also about establishing a principle in front of everyone!”

“What principle?”

“Everything revolves around you!”

“Centered around me… that…”

To be honest, Li Yi was utterly stunned. The old man’s words were clearly loaded with hidden meaning—could this be a sign that he wanted Li Yi to become the family heir?

Seeing the astonished look on Li Yi’s face, the old man said solemnly, “Xiao Yi, I had someone look into the matter between you, Director Wang, and Deputy Director Li. Grandpa has no doubt about your brotherly bond and friendship. If you were the one in trouble right now, I’m sure they would do everything in their power to help you.”

“But your status has changed. You are no longer just their friend; you are also the CEO of Starry Sky Corporation, the leader of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a core member of the Jiang family, and a national hero. You carry the hopes of so many people on your shoulders. You must tread carefully from now on, for every mistake you make could affect the fate of hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people.”

“That is precisely why you must now establish a principle: whether at the company, at home, or anywhere else, everything must revolve around you. Your words and decisions are orders—they are not to be questioned!”

Li Yi fell silent immediately. He wasn’t stupid; he naturally understood what the old man meant.

Clearly, the old man had seen through it: Li Yi’s relationships with Wang Anguo, Wang Anmin, and Li Gang were based on friendship—they were simply kindred spirits, with no one exerting dominance over the other.

But clearly, such a dynamic could only exist among ordinary people; it had no place within prominent clans.

Smaller clans must rely on larger ones to survive. In daily life, the young men of these smaller clans must revolve around the heirs of the larger clans—serving as henchmen, underlings, and vassals. That is the nature of the circle.

The Old Master is now clearly instructing him to build his own circle, one in which Li Yi is the sole core and the sole center.

Whether it’s Wang Anguo or Li Gang, or even Jiang Longyin, Jiang Longcheng, Jiang Longze, Ye Jianhua, and others—they all have to take his lead on major matters.

Isn’t that just making him the heir…

With that in mind, Li Yi immediately said, “Grandfather, I understand what you mean, but I think Second Brother is more suitable than I am. Fifth Brother would work too…”

Before he could finish, the old man shook his head and said, “Whether it’s Longyin or Longze, or even the second and third generations of the Ye family, they are all capable of maintaining the status quo but lack the drive to forge new paths.”

“But you’re different. You’re capable, have a broad perspective, and know when to advance and when to retreat. More importantly, you know how to make the right choices. You’re a natural leader. With you at the core, the Jiang, Ye, and Lin families—as well as everyone around you—will all thrive.”

Hearing this, Li Yi fell into a deep silence.

“Grandfather, I…”

Before he could finish, the old man cut him off, saying, “Don’t be so quick to refuse. Old Ye and I still have a few years left in us. As long as we’re here, the sky won’t fall just yet. You have plenty of time to think it over.”

“But you should know that once you reach a certain position, many things are no longer entirely up to you.”

Li Yi found himself in complete agreement with this.

Many people assume that those in high positions or with billions in assets enjoy greater freedom—that they can do whatever they please. But the opposite is true: the higher one’s position and the greater one’s wealth, the more constraints one faces.

Because a single decision of yours can affect the fate of many people, because so many depend on you for their livelihood. The saying “with great power comes great responsibility” captures this very truth.

In contrast, ordinary people at the bottom of society, aside from financial constraints, can usually make decisions based on their own preferences most of the time—the phrase “I’ll do as I please” holds true for them.

Just as Li Yi was deep in thought, the old man’s voice rang out again: “Xiao Yi, how do you plan to deal with the Liu family?”

“I’ve already had people gather evidence of Liu Dongping’s illegal activities. If possible, I intend to use the power of the media to thrust Liu Dongping into the spotlight and bring him to justice!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the old man cut in: “Do you intend to uproot the Liu family entirely?”

“Is that possible?” Li Yi asked, looking at the old man.

“There’s nothing we can’t do. Go ahead and do whatever you need to with the Liu family. I, Crazy Jiang, am not dead yet—that dimwit Liu isn’t going to be jumping around in front of me!” the old man said with authority.

“Grandpa, I understand. I’ll handle this properly!” Li Yi said.

“Good…”

………….

As the engine noise faded, the sounds of his mother and eldest sister chatting and laughing drifted in from outside the gate.

Before long, Li Yi saw his mother and his heavily pregnant older sister walk into the courtyard, followed by his brother-in-law carrying a grocery basket.

Apparently, after their prenatal checkup, they had stopped by the market on their way home.

Soon, his mother and the others entered the main house!

Upon seeing Wang Anguo and his wife, as well as Li Gang, Mother immediately exclaimed happily, “Why, isn’t this Captain Wang and Captain Li? And Captain Wang’s wife too! What brings you here?”

Wang Anguo immediately replied with a smile, “Auntie, we heard Brother Li Yi was back, so we just came by to pay a visit!”

“Then don’t leave after lunch—I’ll make you some braised meat!”

“Auntie, don’t go to all that trouble. We’ve got things to do later. We’ll have to eat another time!” Wang Anguo said with a smile.

Zhang Yuehong quickly interjected, “You’ve come all this way to visit—how could you possibly leave without eating?”

Under normal circumstances, Wang Anguo certainly wouldn’t have refused—after all, eating and drinking were essential ways for men to build rapport.

But right now, he was still on administrative leave, and the other comrades at the office had all received various disciplinary actions. One misstep could cost him his job—he simply didn’t have the heart to eat.

With that in mind, he immediately shot a pleading glance at Li Yi.

Li Yi naturally knew what he was thinking and understood his current state of mind. He immediately said to his mother, “Mom, Brother Wang and the others really do have important business to attend to. In a few days, once they’re done with their work, I’ll gather everyone together for a proper get-together. What do you think?”

“If they have important matters to attend to, they should take care of those first. There’s no rush to eat!” Zhang Yuehong replied.

“Auntie, once they’re free, I’ll come by to sample your cooking!” Wang Anguo said with a smile.

“Sure, just let Xiao Yi know before you come, and I’ll have everything ready for you!”

“Sure thing!”

After chatting for a few more minutes, Wang Anguo and the others took their leave.

Li Yi didn’t try to keep them, but walked them right out to the front gate…

After watching Wang Anguo and the others leave, Li Yi went back inside.

His mother and older sister were sitting on the sofa, chatting as they tidied up the food in the basket, while his brother-in-law was flipping through several medical reports.

Seeing this, Li Yi immediately asked, “Eldest sister, how did the checkup go today?”

“Everything’s fine. Blood pressure, blood sugar—all within normal range. The baby’s development is also going well!” his older sister replied.

“That puts my mind at ease!”

Then Li Yi added, “By the way, Mom, is my third sister staying at home or in the hospital while she’s on bed rest?”

“She’s not at home. She’s usually at the store during the day and only comes home at night!”

“She’s about to give birth, so why is she still going to the shop? Does my third brother-in-law just let her act so recklessly?” Li Yi frowned.

His mother sighed and said, “You know your third sister’s temperament better than anyone. Dalong can’t control her. I’ve tried to talk her out of it a few times, but it hasn’t helped. Why don’t you find some time to have a word with her?”

“Alright, I’ll go see her this afternoon!”

Thinking of the trouble Wang Anguo had gotten into, Li Yi decided to look into the matter first before visiting his third sister.

After saying goodbye to his mother, older sister, and brother-in-law, he went to his study.

Then, Li Yi picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number…

“Ring ring!!!”

After a few rings, the call was answered, and Jiang Longcheng’s familiar voice came through: “Who is this?”

“Third Brother, it’s me, Li Yi!”

“Brother-in-law, are you back?” Jiang Longcheng asked excitedly.

“Yeah, I just got back yesterday!”

“Hahaha, I’m glad you’re back. I’ll get in touch with Jianhua and that kid Lin Yi right away—let’s all get together for a proper reunion…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi cut in: “Third Brother, the get-together can wait. I have something very important I need you to look into right now!”

“What is it?”

“You must know this guy, Liu Dongping…”

Before Li Yi could finish, Jiang Longcheng cut in, “Brother-in-law, you’re trying to stick up for that Director Wang, aren’t you?”

“Third Brother, you know about this?”

“I do. It caused quite a stir a while back—everyone in the circle knows about it!”

Jiang Longcheng continued, “Actually, after we heard about it, Jianhua and I wanted to step in and help Director Wang. After all, he’s your brother, and we can’t just stand by and watch your friend get bullied. But the Old Man stopped us and told us not to get involved.”

“Do you know why?”

“I don’t know, but the Old Man told me that if you came to me about this, I should send you to the old family home to see him,” Jiang Longcheng said.

“Alright, I got it!”

Then Li Yi changed the subject and added, “Oh, right, Third Brother, the second round of dividends is about to come in. This time it’s roughly 130 million. Let Brother Jianhua know!”

“Really? That’s great!”

Suddenly, Jiang Longcheng seemed to remember something and said, “Brother-in-law, why don’t you skip going to the old mansion and bothering the old man? Third Brother will handle this for you. I guarantee that little bastard from the Liu family will have to bow his head and apologize to Director Wang!”

Li Yi knew this guy was worried that if he went to the old family home and brought up the dividend issue, his money would vanish into thin air—that’s why he was saying this.

But if he could really help resolve the Liu family’s issue, it wouldn’t be a bad solution—and it would save him the trouble of bothering the old man.

“Just bowing his head and apologizing?”

“Brother-in-law, isn’t a simple apology enough? Do you really want to…”

“That guy broke the criminal code, you know. And violating a woman’s will is a serious crime—how can a simple apology just wash it all away?” Li Yi said.

He didn’t go looking for trouble, but he wasn’t afraid of it either. Since they’d come right up to his doorstep to provoke him, he certainly couldn’t let them off so easily—it wasn’t as if he couldn’t handle them!

“Brother-in-law, if you want to send that guy to jail, that’s fine. But is it really worth going head-to-head with the Liu family over something this trivial? You have to know the Liu family’s influence isn’t weak—they’re just as powerful as the Huang family, if not more so!” Jiang Longcheng said.

Li Yi paused to think for a moment, then said, “Third Brother, whether we bow our heads and apologize or send Liu Dongping to jail, it means we’ve made enemies with the Liu family. As long as we give them a chance, they’ll definitely come back for revenge.”

“I’m not one to leave loose ends. Since we’re prepared to go to war with them, we have to strike a decisive blow and wipe them out completely!”

“In that case, we’ll need the Old Master’s approval. I can’t make that decision on my own!” Jiang Longcheng said with a hint of resignation.

“Alright, then I’ll head over to the old family home right now!” Li Yi said.

“Hey, brother-in-law, when you go to the old family home, could you please not mention the dividend issue to the Old Master? You know that once he finds out, he’ll definitely want to put the money back into the family’s general account. You can’t screw me over like that!” Jiang Longcheng said with a pitiful look.

Li Yi smiled and said, “I can only promise not to bring it up with the old man myself. But if he asks about it, I won’t hide it from him. You know I’m an honest, well-behaved kid!”

Hearing this, Jiang Longcheng’s expression twitched involuntarily on the other end of the line.

If he hadn’t thoroughly researched Li Yi’s background and witnessed his methods firsthand, he might have actually believed those words.

Whether it was the male educated youth who went down to the countryside with his cousin back in the day, or the Huang, Yang, and Gou families in Beijing, or even the wealthy clans over in Hong Kong—anyone who’s ever crossed his brother-in-law has never ended up well.

“A ‘good boy’ like you? What kind of ‘good boy’ is that!”

Li Yi was unaware of Jiang Longcheng’s complex expression at that moment. He was now curious as to why the old man had stopped Jiang Longcheng from helping Wang Anguo—was it out of concern for the Liu family’s influence?

It probably wasn’t that, after all. The Jiang family was currently at the height of its power, far surpassing a second-rate family like the Liu’s.

Plus, with such a powerful ally on their side, why would the Jiang family fear the Liu family? So the old man’s move must have been based on other considerations.

With that in mind, Li Yi immediately hung up the phone, then called Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen to head to the Jiang family’s ancestral home together…

………

Noticing Li Yi’s gaze, Wang Anguo immediately said, “Brother Li Yi, Gangzi and I are here to ask for your help!”

“What kind of help? Go ahead, Brother Wang, tell me!” Li Yi said.

As he spoke, Li Yi also scrutinized Wang Anguo closely, noticing that he looked somewhat haggard, with bloodshot eyes, severely sagging under-eye bags, and thick dark circles.

It was obvious at a glance that he hadn’t been getting much rest lately; clearly, he was dealing with some troubles.

Wang Anguo sighed, then said in a low voice, “Brother Li Yi, I’ve offended someone and been relieved of my duties!”

“Who did you offend? How did you end up getting demoted?”

From Wang Anguo’s expression, Li Yi knew the person he had offended was no ordinary figure.

Otherwise, knowing Wang Anguo as he did, he wouldn’t have come to him for help unless the situation was extremely serious.

Wang Anguo paused briefly before saying, “The man’s name is Liu Dongping. His father holds a high-ranking position in the military—he’s someone we simply can’t afford to cross!”

“Liu Dongping… How did you end up crossing him?” Li Yi asked, frowning.

Li Yi was familiar with this Liu Dongping. His father was a founding general who still held a high-ranking position in the military. Although he wasn’t exactly a figure of immense power and influence, in the eyes of ordinary people, he was still someone with connections everywhere.

The main reason Li Yi knew about this “Young Master Liu” was that the guy was also on the state’s list of key targets for crackdown next year—a notorious “legal expert.”

Wang Anguo clenched his teeth and said, “A month ago, our station received a report from a young girl claiming she had been assaulted. She even accurately provided the suspect’s name and place of employment. After receiving the report, I immediately led a team to apprehend the suspect, Liu Dongping, for interrogation!”

“That bastard was incredibly arrogant after his arrest. Not only did he refuse to cooperate with the investigation, but he kept shouting that we had no right to interrogate him. He even threatened the victim right in front of us. Naturally, we weren’t going to go easy on someone like that, so we interrogated him through the night.”

“But unexpectedly, just as our interrogation was about to yield results, the military suddenly intervened. Citing Liu Dongping’s status as an employee of a military-administered classified unit, they demanded we release him.”

“What was even more unexpected was that, just as the military arrived to demand his release, that beast actually slammed his head against the wall, leaving it bloodied and split open. He then insisted that we had tortured him to extract a confession. After that, I was relieved of my duties by higher-ups, and it even dragged Gangzi and the others into trouble…”

After hearing Wang Anguo’s account, Li Yi couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

In fact, when Wang Anguo first came to Beijing, he had anticipated that this might happen. After all, this city of For-Nine has plenty of everything—except for one thing: officials.

Especially the sons, nephews, and relatives of high-ranking officials—they were as numerous as the hairs on a cow’s back. Moreover, a significant portion of these people had already become corrupt and degenerate, viewing themselves as superior to others and frequently committing acts that provoked the wrath of heaven and the indignation of the people.

Wang Anguo and Li Gang, however, were the sort who detested evil with a passion; once confronted with it, they would naturally not stand idly by, and a direct clash was only to be expected.

What he hadn’t anticipated, however, was that it would happen so soon.

After all, it had been only a little over three months since Wang Anguo and Li Gang had arrived in the capital…

“Brother Wang, did you guys actually torture that guy to extract a confession?” Li Yi asked earnestly.

“No, we’re not stupid. That guy comes from a powerful family. If we’d tortured him, we’d be the ones in trouble in the end!”

Wang Anguo continued, “What I didn’t expect was that the guy would be so sneaky—he deliberately framed us. If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve beaten the hell out of that bastard back then!”

At that moment, Li Gang chimed in from the side, “I wanted to beat the crap out of that bastard back then, but you, Old Wang, wouldn’t let me. Now you’re regretting it, aren’t you?”

Li Yi shot him a glare before saying, “Since you didn’t lay a finger on him, there’s still room to work this out. If you’d actually hit him, this situation would be much harder to resolve.”

Wang Anguo nodded and said, “Brother Li Yi, I know the other side isn’t just anyone. Even with the Jiang family backing you, this isn’t something that can be easily swept under the rug.”

“I’m not asking you to help me get my old position back. I just hope my impulsiveness doesn’t drag Gangzi and the other comrades at the station down with me!”

Li Gang immediately interjected, “Old Wang, we weren’t the ones in the wrong here. Why should we…”

“Gangzi, don’t say another word. You’ve been in law enforcement for years—you’ve seen all kinds of shady dealings. Let’s just say, when you’re under someone’s roof, you have to bow your head!” Wang Anguo said with a touch of resignation.

Li Yi frowned and said, “I think Gangzi is right. We didn’t do anything wrong. Why should we have to put up with this injustice just because he has a father who’s a government official?”

“But…”

“There’s no ‘but’ about it. Since I was the one who transferred you to Beijing, I certainly won’t let you get pushed around for no reason!”

Li Yi continued, “Here’s what we’ll do: After you get back today, keep gathering evidence of that Liu guy’s misdeeds, and make sure to protect the victim. Leave the rest to me.”

“Brother Li Yi, you need to be careful not to overreach yourself with this. Don’t let us drag you into trouble!” Wang Anguo said solemnly.

Over the past few days, he had gathered information about the Liu family from various sources, and the more he learned, the more alarmed he became.

In his view, even if the Jiang family had the power to stand up to the Liu family, they likely wouldn’t risk antagonizing them just for the sake of an outsider like him.

The likelihood of Li Yi relying on the Jiang family to seek justice for them was slim. He couldn’t let Li Yi end up caught between a rock and a hard place over this—that would be a grave mistake on his part.

“Brother Wang, I’ve got this under control!”

“That’s good…”

Li Yi smiled and said, “Brother Wang, Sister-in-law, Gangzi, it’s rare for us to get together like this. Don’t leave after lunch today. I’ll whip up a few dishes in a bit, and we’ll have a good drink!”

An Hong immediately said, “Let’s not rush into drinking just yet. There’s something else I’d like to ask for your help with!”

“What is it, Sister-in-law? Go ahead!”

“Hehe, it’s good news. I’d like to ask you to help me propose to someone!”

“Propose… to whom?” Li Yi asked, looking curious.

“Brother Li Yi, it’s for me!” Li Gang, a member of the group, spoke up.

“You?”

Li Yi then asked again, “Who’s the girl? Do I know her? And why do you want me to help propose?”

Li Gang’s face flushed, and he replied, “It’s Ling’er!”

“That Ling’er?”

“Yes, Brother Long’s own younger sister!” Li Gang replied.

Hearing this, Li Yi froze for a moment. His third sister’s husband, Long Zhanjun, did indeed have a sister named Ling’er, but Li Gang and Long Ling’er didn’t seem to have much in common. Why on earth was this guy suddenly asking him to go propose to the Long family on his behalf?

“How did you meet Ling’er? What’s your relationship with her now? Do you know anything about her family situation?” Li Yi asked.

“Um… well…”

An Hong, standing nearby, saw Li Gang stumbling over his words and immediately interjected, “Gangzi’s the clumsiest. I’ll handle this. He and that girl from the Long family are actually dating right now.”

“How they met is simple. A while back, a drunk customer caused a disturbance at the shop, so Nana called the police. Gangzi was the officer in charge of the response, and that young lady was there at the time—that’s how they met.”

“After that, Gangzi started dropping by the shop for meals every few days. Before they knew it, they got close, and then they started dating! BB囍TR”

Li Yi looked at Li Gang, who was as burly as a bear, and then thought about Long Ling’er’s petite, delicate figure. It was definitely a case of a petite girl paired with a muscle-bound guy.

“As far as I know, Ling’er is only 19 this year, right? You’re 27—that’s a full eight years older than her. How could you even bring yourself to date such a young girl?”

Li Gang’s face flushed, and he quickly replied, “Well, it’s not like I wanted to, but whenever I see Ling’er, I just can’t help but want to protect her.”

Hearing this, and picturing Long Ling’er’s petite frame and innocent face, Li Yi couldn’t help but shake his head. Faced with a girl like that, any man would probably feel an overwhelming urge to protect her!

Besides, Li Gang wasn’t bad off at all, whether in terms of family background or personal circumstances. Aside from being a bit older, he was actually a good match for Long Ling’er. There was no harm in him stepping in to propose.

With that in mind, Li Yi immediately asked, “Do my third older sister and her husband know about this marriage proposal?”

“They should know. Ling’er asked me to come propose—she said to take advantage of her brother being home and settle things sooner rather than later!” Li Gang replied.

Since it was Long Ling’er who had asked Li Gang to propose, Li Yi had even fewer reservations. He said right away, “Alright, then go back and get everything ready for the proposal. Give me a call when you’re all set!”

“Okay…”

Just as they were speaking, the sound of a car engine suddenly came from outside…

……….

The next day!

When Li Yi woke up the next day, he found that Jiang Xue and the kids had already left for school.

He immediately got dressed and got out of bed.

Although the night’s exertions had left his body feeling slightly weary, his spirit was deeply satisfied.

Stepping out of the main house, he saw Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen clearing the snow. The thick layer of snow in the courtyard had already been mostly cleared away, revealing the red-brick pavement.

Apart from these two, Li Yi didn’t see a single other person.

“Qiangzi, Wen, where is everyone else? Where did they go?”

Hearing Li Yi’s voice, Zhang Ziqiang replied immediately, “My wife and Mrs. Ye went to the school, and Auntie and Brother Yang took Sister Meizi to the hospital for a prenatal checkup!”

“What about Yang Zhiwen and Xiao Wu? Why don’t I see them?” Li Yi asked again.

“We don’t need that many people back in Beijing, so those two are on rotation leave. They’ll be back in three days!” Zhang Ziqiang replied.

“I see. So does that mean you and Awen will be taking time off in a few days too?” Li Yi asked.

“Yes, I was just about to mention that. In a couple of days, Feng and I would like to take two days off. We’d appreciate your approval,” Zhang Ziqiang said.

“You and Zhang Feng are taking leave together—are you planning to get married, or are you going back to meet her parents?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

Zhang Ziqiang’s face flushed slightly before he said, “Our marriage application has already been approved. I plan to take advantage of our upcoming rotation days to take Ah Feng back to meet my parents. If we have time, we’ll also make a trip to Ah Feng’s family home!”

“That’s great news. Approved!”

Li Yi continued, “Just let me know before you leave, and you can drive the Volga back home!”

“No… I don’t think that’s necessary…”

Before Zhang Ziqiang could finish, Li Yi cut him off: “Don’t even think about refusing. There probably isn’t a train line to your hometown yet—do you really want to make Feng Feng transfer buses all the way there?”

“Driving the family car back will save you time and make you look good—it’s a win-win!”

“Well… all right then. Thanks, Brother Yi!” Zhang Ziqiang said.

“If it weren’t for you and Wen keeping me under close protection these past two years, I don’t know how many times those bastards would’ve tried to assassinate me. Don’t be so formal about such a small favor!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“It’s the least we can do!”

Zhang Ziqiang clearly didn’t want to dwell on the subject. Changing the subject, he added, “Oh, by the way, when Auntie left, she told us she’d saved some food for you in the pot and asked us to remind you to eat it!”

“Alright!”

With that, Li Yi strode toward the kitchen.

Upon entering the kitchen, he indeed saw a clay pot on the stove containing a small amount of golden-yellow millet porridge, and in the steamer basket beside it were several large buns giving off a fragrant aroma.

He didn’t even need to taste them; just by looking at the buns, Li Yi knew they were definitely his mother’s potato-filled buns.

Store-bought buns aren’t made this big, and the way the dough is pinched to create the folds is very different from how his mother makes them.

Without hesitation, Li Yi ladled out a bowl of porridge, picked up a bun, and stood right by the stove, devouring it in big bites.

The first bite was pure bliss!

It was that taste—the taste of home…

Having burned so much energy last night, Li Yi devoured four large buns in one go and drank two bowls of congee before finally putting down his bowl and chopsticks.

After finishing his meal, Li Yi paused to think for a moment, then decided to swing by the office.

Jiang Xue had told him last night that things had been particularly hectic at the office lately, with many people having to work late into the night before heading home, so he wanted to see for himself what all the commotion was about.

Besides, New Year’s Day was just around the corner, and it was time to start assigning some tasks.

More importantly, his wife had mentioned last night that An Hong had come to their home looking for him; if things went as expected, she must have had something important to discuss.

Now that he was back, he really should go see her!

However, when Li Yi arrived at the front door and asked Zhang Ziqiang and the others to get the car ready, he discovered that there was no car at home.

The family originally had two cars: the Volga that Jiang Longcheng had given them, and the Tigerhead Benz that Old Li had given to his third sister and her husband. Under normal circumstances, that was more than enough.

But now, the Volga was being driven by Zhang Feng, who had taken Jiang Xue and the children to school and usually didn’t return until the evening.

As for the Tiger Head Benz, his eldest sister’s husband had driven it to the hospital, and there was no telling when it would return.

With no car available, Li Yi had no choice but to abandon the idea of going to the hospital—after all, his home wasn’t exactly close to the office.

Since he couldn’t go in person, Li Yi decided to call first and ask about the situation.

With that in mind, Li Yi immediately went back inside, picked up the phone, and dialed An Hong’s office directly.

“Ring ring…”

After a few rings, the call was picked up.

“Hello, Star Investment Company. Who’s this?”

Hearing An Hong’s familiar voice, Li Yi immediately said, “Sis, it’s me, Li Yi!”

“Brother Li Yi… are you back?” An Hong asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

“Yeah, I’m back. I got back yesterday afternoon!”

Li Yi continued, “Xiao Xue told me you came to see me a couple of days ago. Was there something you needed?”

“There are indeed some matters I’d like to discuss with you, and there’s also something else I’d like to ask for your help with!” An Hong said.

“What is it? Go ahead, Sister-in-law!”

An Hong paused briefly, then said, “This is hard to explain over the phone. How about this: if it’s convenient for you, I’ll come over right now, and we can talk in person!”

“Sure, I’m at home right now. Come on over, Sister-in-law!” Li Yi said.

“Alright, I’ll be right over!”

After saying that, An Hong hung up the phone…

Half an hour later, just as Li Yi was thinking about what to make for lunch, he heard voices outside.

Through the window, Li Yi saw three familiar figures walk in from outside, only to be stopped by Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen.

The three were An Hong and her husband Wang Anguo, along with Li Gang.

Seeing this, Li Yi immediately went out to greet them!

Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen had met An Hong and the others before, but out of a sense of duty, they still asked a few brief questions.

Just then, Li Yi’s voice rang out across the courtyard: “Qiangzi, they’re all our own people—let them in!”

Following Li Yi’s instructions, Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen immediately let Wang Anguo, An Hong, and the others inside.

It had been a while since Li Yi and Wang Anguo had seen each other, so naturally, they exchanged pleasantries before entering the living room of the main house.

Zhang Ziqiang took on the role of a secretary for the moment, immediately serving tea and water to everyone.

After the brief pleasantries, Li Yi turned to An Hong and said, “Sis, you mentioned on the phone that you needed to talk to me. Can you tell me what it’s about now?”

An Hong nodded and said, “Let’s start with work. Over the past few months, we’ve established exhibition centers in more than forty major and medium-sized cities across the country, and now we host dozens of trade shows almost every day.”

“On top of that, while hosting these trade fairs, we’ve also implemented promotional strategies like prize giveaways, spend-and-save offers, and discounts. Sales have been climbing steadily. In just four short months, our revenue has reached 9.6 billion yuan. After deducting various costs, our net profit stands at 1.29 billion yuan.”

“The funds have already been remitted to headquarters. President Lan’s directive is that the company finalize its financial statements before New Year’s Day, and ideally distribute these funds to shareholders. So I’d like to seek your approval as the top executive.”

Li Yi replied immediately, “If the funds have already been recovered, then go ahead and distribute them. I have no objections!”

“Alright, I’ll take care of that in the next few days!”

Then An Hong added, “As for the rest, let An Guo discuss it with you—he’s the one who wants your help!”

Hearing this, Li Yi immediately turned his gaze to Wang Anguo standing nearby…

………

“Mom?”

Zhang Yuehong, who was sweeping the snow from the courtyard, heard a noise outside and immediately came out to investigate. Just as she reached the porch, she heard a familiar voice tinged with delight.

Upon closer look, she discovered that standing at the door was none other than her own son.

“Oh my goodness, it’s Little Yi!” Zhang Yuehong exclaimed, her excitement evident.

Li Yi hurried forward and gave his mother a big hug.

“Mom, why are you here? When did you arrive?”

“I’ve been here for over a week. Nana’s about to give birth, so I had to come over to help with her postpartum care!” Zhang Yuehong explained.

Li Yi immediately understood. It was a local custom for mothers to care for their daughters during the postpartum period; as long as a mother could spare the time, she would generally come to help.

Unless absolutely necessary, mothers-in-law were generally not expected to care for their daughters-in-law during this time.

The main reason is that women are emotionally very unstable after giving birth. If a biological mother takes care of the postpartum period, any shortcomings in care can be understood, and even if mother and daughter have a fight, they won’t hold a grudge.

But it’s different with a mother-in-law. If things really get heated, it’s hard to smooth things over (speaking from experience—I know this all too well).

So with Third Sister’s due date approaching, it makes perfect sense for her mother to come to Beijing to take care of her—it would be strange if she didn’t come…

“Mom!”

Hearing another voice from behind her, Zhang Yuehong immediately looked up and saw that her eldest son-in-law had returned as well, carrying a large suitcase.

“Oh my, Wenguang is back too! That’s wonderful—Meizi has been talking about you every day!”

“Mother, I’m back…”

Just as they were speaking, the door to the west wing was pushed open, and Li Yi saw his eldest sister emerge from the room.

His eldest sister was now more than five months pregnant; her belly was already showing, and with the thick cotton coat she was wearing, she looked noticeably fuller all over.

Li Mei’s gaze quickly swept over Li Yi… then settled on her husband.

Unable to contain the joy in her eyes any longer, she hurried toward Yang Wenguang.

Seeing this, Yang Wenguang hurriedly set down his suitcase and walked briskly toward her.

“Take it easy—there’s snow on the ground. Be careful not to slip!”

Absence makes the heart grow fonder; the two, who hadn’t seen each other in so long, clung to each other like two magnets, causing everyone else to instinctively turn away.

Although it was already the 1980s, social norms in BB囍TR were still relatively conservative; even married couples wouldn’t engage in overly intimate gestures in public.

Li Yi couldn’t stand watching his older sister and brother-in-law openly showering everyone with their love, so he immediately took his mother’s hand and headed inside, not wanting to be overwhelmed by all that public affection.

Back inside, Li Yi looked around but didn’t see his wife or their two kids.

Zhang Yuehong clearly sensed her son’s thoughts and immediately said with a smile, “Stop looking around—they’ve all gone to school and won’t be back for a while!”

“Zhang Feng and Yang Miao went to school too?”

“Hmm… By the way, Yi, have you guys eaten yet? If not, should I make you something?”

“We had lunch on the plane!”

Li Yi then glanced at his watch and saw it was almost five o’clock. He added, “But since both my brother-in-law and I are back today, you could prepare something special early so we can all get together!”

“Alright, then I’ll go buy some groceries!”

“No, the snow’s too deep outside. Let Awen go instead!”

With that, Li Yi called Zhou Wen into the house to give him a few instructions, then sent him off in the family car to the market to buy some groceries, while he got busy in the house.

“Xiao Yi, you just got back. Why don’t you rest for a bit? I’ll make dinner for you all!” Zhang Yuehong said with a touch of concern.

“Mom, I’m not tired!”

Then Li Yi changed the subject and asked, “By the way, Mom, how is my third sister doing? You’ve been in Beijing for over a week—why haven’t you been staying with her?”

Zhang Yuehong smiled and said, “I was actually planning to stay at Nana’s place, but Dajun’s home right now. Since he’s taking care of Nana, I didn’t go over. I’ll go stay with her after the baby’s born!”

Li Yi knew his mother had a rather traditional mindset and still favored sons over daughters. Just like his father, she always felt more at ease living with her sons.

So he didn’t press the issue further, but asked with a smile, “Has my third sister’s husband come back?”

“Mm-hmm, he’s been back for five or six days now!”

“Alright, then I’ll find time to go visit Third Sister!” Li Yi said.

“Good. Nana was talking about you just the other day, worried you wouldn’t make it back in time for the birth!” his mother said.

“No way—I’ve kept that in mind the whole time…”

Just then, his eldest sister and her husband pushed open the door and walked in together.

Seeing his eldest sister’s prominent baby bump, Li Yi immediately said, “Sis, please have a seat!”

Li Mei smiled and said, “I’ll just stand for a bit. Mom and Xiaoxue won’t let me do a thing every day—I’m either sitting or lying down. I feel like my body’s gotten all rusty!”

Li Yi smiled and asked, “Big Sis, have you been to the hospital for prenatal checkups lately?”

“Yes, I go once a month. Sometimes I go with Nana, and other times Xiaoxue takes me!”

“How did the checkups go?”

“Everything’s fine—no problems at all!”

“That’s good!”

Li Yi continued, “Your baby bump is showing now, so you need to be extra careful. Avoid doing any heavy work if you can, especially lifting heavy objects or holding little Ruirui. I’ll find a live-in nanny to take care of you all!”

Although Li Yi was concerned about what others might say and didn’t want to hire a nanny, he cared even more about his older sister’s health.

He could never forget that in his previous life, his older sister had lost her life due to massive bleeding from a miscarriage.

In this life, he would do everything in his power to prevent that tragedy from happening again…

“I’ll be careful, but let’s skip the nanny. You’re in the spotlight now—don’t give people a reason to pick on you!” his older sister said.

“It’s fine. I know what I’m doing…”

Before he could finish, his older sister suddenly said, “By the way, Xiao Yi, before Xiao Xue left for school today, she mentioned she was going to the Jiang family’s old mansion tonight. Why don’t you give Auntie a call and ask her to have Xiao Xue come back later?”

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, “No need to call. I’ll go to the school myself in a bit and bring them all back together!”

“That works too…”

Just as they were speaking, the sound of a car engine could be heard outside, and moments later, Zhou Wen walked in carrying two large grocery baskets.

Once Zhou Wen had entered the main room, Li Yi immediately took off his coat, grabbed the baskets, and headed toward the kitchen.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuehong immediately followed him in, ready to lend her son a hand…

Two hours later, the meal was nearly ready. It was almost five o’clock, and there was less than half an hour left before Jiang Xue got out of school.

Li Yi turned down the heat on the stove to a low simmer and asked his mother to keep an eye on the time, telling her to turn off the heat in half an hour.

After finishing these tasks, Li Yi took Zhang Ziqiang with him and drove the family’s million-yuan Mercedes-Benz straight to Beijing University.

When Li Yi and his group arrived at Capital University, classes hadn’t let out yet.

Parking the car outside the main gate, Li Yi and Zhang Ziqiang walked toward the campus.

After showing Zhang Ziqiang’s work ID, the two easily entered the campus.

However, Li Yi didn’t head to Jiang Xue’s classroom; instead, he went straight to the daycare center.

Since the daycare primarily served Capital University faculty, its schedule aligned with the university’s, with classes ending at 5:30 p.m.

As soon as Li Yi and Zhang Ziqiang reached the entrance of the daycare center, they heard the urgent ringing of a bell echoing across the campus.

At the same time, the nursery’s tightly closed doors swung open, and the parents waiting to pick up their children immediately surged inside to collect their little ones.

That’s right—at this time, parents weren’t being escorted out by teachers; instead, they had to go inside to pick up their children themselves.

This is mainly because daycare centers differ from kindergartens. The primary function of a daycare center is embodied in the character “托” (tuó), which means “to look after” or “to care for.”

In contrast, daycare centers have no age restrictions; the youngest children might be just two or three months old. Since these tiny babies can neither speak nor walk, parents have no choice but to pick them up themselves.

As soon as he entered the room, Li Yi spotted his two little ones.

Compared to the newborns, Yunrui, Yunjin, and little Ruirui were already considered older children, with a dedicated play area just for them.

Although it wasn’t very large, the children were having a great time playing.

However, just as Li Yi was hurrying toward his own little ones, he was stopped by a woman…

…………

Chapter 1,015: A Couple’s Late-Night Chat!

“Comrade, wait a moment!”

Seeing the female teacher blocking his path, Li Yi was taken aback for a moment and stopped immediately.

“Are you calling me?”

“Yes, hello, sir. Are you that child’s parent? I don’t recall ever seeing you before.”

The female teacher’s tone was polite, but her expression betrayed a hint of wariness.

It wasn’t really her fault that she was so cautious. After all, most of the children at this daycare were the children of the school’s teachers, and their parents or relatives often included experts and professors in various fields.

Losing a child—or even picking up the wrong one—could cost them their jobs, so they couldn’t afford to be careless.

Li Yi knew the suspicion stemmed from his infrequent visits, so he didn’t take offense. He replied directly, “Hello, teacher. I’m the father of Li Yunrui and Li Yunjin, and also Yang Rui’s uncle. I’m here to take them home!”

“Are you really Yunrui and Yunjin’s father? I’ve never seen you before.”

Li Yi immediately explained, “I’ve been working out of town. My wife or my mother-in-law has always been the one picking up and dropping off the children, so it’s perfectly normal that you haven’t seen me before!”

“I see. I’ll call Professor Ye right now to verify your identity. Until your identity is confirmed, you cannot take the children with you for the time being!” the female teacher said.

“Alright, I’d appreciate it if you could…”

Before he could finish, a familiar and delighted voice suddenly rang out from behind him: “Li Yi?”

It was his wife…

Li Yi immediately turned around and, sure enough, saw Jiang Xue standing about seven or eight meters behind him, holding a cloth bag and looking at him with excitement.

Beside her were Zhang Feng, Yang Miao, and his mother-in-law, Ye Lingyun. Among them, Zhang Feng was also looking at Zhang Ziqiang with an excited expression.

Just like Li Yi and Jiang Xue, this couple hadn’t seen each other for several months either.

The moment Li Yi turned around, the cloth bag in Jiang Xue’s hands fell to the ground, spilling a few books, and she took a few quick steps before running toward him.

Seeing this, Li Yi immediately opened his arms, scooped up the rushing Jiang Xue, and spun her around a few times on the spot, leaving the parents picking up their children nearby staring in astonishment.

Social norms were still quite conservative back then, and such displays of affection in public were indeed rare.

Once the excitement had subsided, Jiang Xue realized what she’d done and whispered, “Put me down! Everyone’s watching!”

Li Yi smiled and set her down.

At that moment, Ye Lingyun stepped forward and addressed the parents around them: “My son-in-law just returned from a business trip. The young couple hadn’t seen each other for several months, so they couldn’t help themselves. We’re sorry for the spectacle!”

Hearing Ye Lingyun’s explanation, the parents around them immediately understood and broke into warm smiles.

Most of them were young people themselves and often faced situations where their partners were away on business, so they naturally understood the couple’s feelings.

Although Li Yi didn’t think it was a big deal, he still took Jiang Xue by the hand and bowed to the crowd to apologize. After all, to many people, their behavior a moment ago had indeed been a bit out of line.

After this little incident, the group immediately went to where the children were playing and picked up the little ones.

Of course, with Jiang Xue and Ye Lingyun there to vouch for them, the dedicated teacher didn’t stop them this time, and Li Yi finally got to hold his two little ones.

However, to Li Yi’s frustration, perhaps because he had been away for a while, Yun Rui and Yun Jin seemed a bit distant toward him.

Once picked up, they struggled relentlessly and looked at Jiang Xue beside him with a look of grievance.

With no other choice, Jiang Xue and Ye Lingyun each took one child, taking them from Li Yi’s arms.

After that, the group left Jingcheng University.

They arrived home right at six o’clock; his mother and eldest sister had already set the table.

They immediately washed their hands and took their seats, then served the dishes and began their meal…

……….

Late at night, all was quiet!

On the large heated bed in the main room, the two lay side by side, panting heavily after their passionate encounter.

After catching their breath for a moment, Jiang Xue finally spoke up, “Have you taken care of everything over there?”

“It’s all taken care of!”

Jiang Xue’s eyes lit up instantly, and she said right away, “So does that mean you’ll be able to stay home a little longer this time?”

“Yeah, at least I don’t plan on running around before the New Year!” Li Yi replied.

“That’s great!”

“How have things been at home lately? Has anything special happened?”

Jiang Xue smiled and said, “Anything special, you ask…? Oh, right—my third sister’s husband stopped by a few days ago and brought over more than 300,000 yuan. He said it was the dividend for the past two months, so I put the money in the passbook.”

“Okay, anything else?”

“Oh, and Sister-in-law Ying gave birth a while back—it’s a boy!” Jiang Xue said.

“Haha, that’s wonderful news. Did you send them a gift?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

“I did. I gave the baby a red envelope, and I picked out a few sets of clothes that Yunrui hadn’t had a chance to wear yet and sent them over.”

Jiang Xue then explained, “When Yunrui was born, we received over a dozen sets of baby clothes from various families. But newborns grow so fast—many of the outfits became too small before he even had a chance to wear them, so they were perfect to pass on to Brother Jianhua and his family.”

“Alright, that’s all that matters—it’s the thought that counts!”

Jiang Xue smiled and said, “I also set aside a few outfits for Sister Na—I just don’t know if she’ll give us a little nephew or a niece!”

“It’s their first child—it doesn’t matter what they have!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

Although family planning policies have started to tighten up, as long as you’re not a government official, it’s not a big deal.

Besides, Third Sister and her husband were fairly well-off these days; if they really wanted a second child, they could just pay a fine.

“From what Sister Na said, it’d be best if she had a daughter!”

“Why not a son?”

“Hehe, she said she’s afraid a son would turn out like his uncle—too mischievous!” Jiang Xue said with a laugh.

Li Yi: !@#￥%……

“By the way, there’s something I forgot to tell you. When Mom came over a few days ago, she brought us over twenty thousand yuan, saying it was the village’s dividend.”

Jiang Xue continued, “I kept the money, but I haven’t put it in the bank yet. Do you think we should have Mom take it back, or what should we do with it?”

“Oh, I didn’t know about that. Did you ask Mom how the village’s harvest turned out this year?” Li Yi asked with interest.

Nianzishan Village is the only village in the entire Qing Shan County that has retained the commune system, and Li Yi was eager to find out how the village’s earnings were this year!

Jiang Xue replied immediately, “I asked. Mom said this year’s grain harvest is about the same as in previous years—actually, it’s even a bit lower—but the dividends have increased several times over compared to past years.”

“According to Mom, the per-capita payment this year is 1,250 yuan. Able-bodied workers can get an extra 1,800 yuan, and families with more members can receive as much as 10,000 to 20,000 yuan!”

Hearing this, Li Yi nodded in satisfaction.

Although the government had been raising wages for urban workers since last year, the days of the “36-yuan-a-month” era were soon to be a thing of the past.

Even so, a factory worker’s monthly wage doesn’t exceed 50 yuan, amounting to only about 600 yuan a year.

It was clear, then, that the village’s income had far surpassed the average for ordinary urban workers—and even compared to high-ranking officials like his father-in-law, it was more than a match.

“Not bad. Looks like that money wasn’t spent in vain!”

“Mm-hmm. Mom said everyone’s talking about how kind you’ve been!”

Jiang Xue continued, “When my second brother-in-law went back to pick up Mom, Uncle Feng and Uncle Zhang slaughtered a big fat pig and over a dozen chickens and geese for us overnight. Now our fridge is absolutely packed with meat—and I’ve already given quite a bit to Sister Na, Xinyao, and Feng Qian, otherwise there wouldn’t have been enough room!”

“Uncle Feng and the others were so thoughtful!” Li Yi said.

“They certainly are, but it’s a bit too much!”

“That’s not being too polite—it’s their heartfelt gesture. If we didn’t accept it, they’d be disappointed!” Li Yi said.

“Hmm!”

Just then, Jiang Xue changed the subject and said, “I forgot to tell you—Sister-in-law An Hong came by the other day. She asked when you’d be back. From the look on her face, it seemed like something had happened!”

“What happened…? Did you ask her?”

“I did, but she didn’t say anything. She just told me to let her know as soon as you get back!” Jiang Xue said.

“Alright, I got it. I’ll give her a call tomorrow!” Li Yi said.

“Okay…”

……….

After seeing Zhou Rui off, Li Yi fell deep in thought.

When Sang Chai and his group launched their attack, the authorities back home were already aware of the situation and took it very seriously.

After investigating the equity structures of the Xini Group, the Nanfei Group, and companies like Feilida and Dayang, the higher-ups realized this was no simple matter. The attack by these major conglomerates was far from just a few ordinary companies trying to make a profit.

What’s more, when these bastards struck, they had both the police department’s cooperation and triad organizations causing trouble behind the scenes—a two-pronged attack from both the underworld and the authorities, clearly intent on eliminating their target.

Their sudden alliance and declaration of war against Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce clearly revealed that their true intentions lay elsewhere—it was a ploy to eliminate Li Yi, the vanguard of the movement.

Upon learning the truth of the matter, authorities in Beijing began to grow anxious.

After all, if those people’s schemes were to succeed, it would be a blow to China’s international reputation.

Consequently, upon receiving the news, the higher-ups sprang into action.

Not only did they instruct the foreign exchange department to raise funds for Starry Sky Company, but various secret agencies—including State Security—also sprang into action, doing everything in their power to ensure Li Yi’s safety and providing intelligence support to Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and Shield Security.

Otherwise, relying solely on Yang Wenguang, Yan Guangming, and their team, it would be impossible to uproot organizations like the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Tiger Hall so easily.

Even so, the authorities in Beijing remained deeply concerned. After all, the enemy they were facing this time was no ordinary foe—not only were they immensely powerful, but there were also shadowy forces behind the scenes fanning the flames.

The outcome of the battle was still uncertain, so the Beijing authorities had made other preparations as well.

But what they never could have imagined was that Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce would manage to turn the tide against all odds. Not only did they foil the schemes of Sangchai and his cohorts, but they also made a fortune in the process.

More importantly, through this major conflict, the higher-ups recognized the potential of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce… no, to be precise, they gained a whole new understanding of its potential.

After all, the authorities’ greatest concern now is that those bastards might resort to desperate measures—wreaking havoc on Hong Kong Island’s economy under extreme pressure. And they have indeed been using this threat against us, leaving us somewhat hesitant to act.

But now things are different. With a single battle, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has swept aside the six major conglomerates, cementing its position on Hong Kong Island.

As long as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce exists, those bastards won’t be able to manipulate Hong Kong Island’s economy so easily—not even those pseudo-gentlemen from the British Isles.

Consequently, the importance of Li Yi, Star Company, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has suddenly become glaringly apparent, which is why the higher-ups have commended them.

On the international stage, the six major conglomerates’ assault on the Chinese Chamber of Commerce bore a striking resemblance to the six major sects besieging the Summit of Light. Behind the scenes, it reflected the intense, sword-and-swordplay-filled rivalry between major powers, naturally drawing the attention of nations worldwide.

What was expected to be a fierce battle turned out to be a professional player crushing a novice.

In particular, after Li Yi had successfully lured Sang Chai and others into a trap, he actually dispatched his team on expeditions to London, Tokyo, and New York—a move that clearly sent shockwaves through those with ulterior motives.

This inevitably brings to mind that ancient Chinese saying: “Those who dare to offend the mighty Han shall be punished, no matter how far they may be!”

It can be said that Li Yi and his team warned those with ulterior motives through their actions, while simultaneously enhancing China’s international prestige.

Now that the matter is settled, it is only natural to recognize their contributions and bestow rewards. Not only should Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and others be commended, but Li Yi, Zhou Rui, Yang Qian, Yang Wenguang, and Yan Guangming are also on the list.

Although Li Yi wasn’t particularly interested in this, he knew he couldn’t shirk his responsibilities.

After all, he might not care about such things, but Zhou Rui, Zhang Ziqiang, Yang Qian, and the others were counting on these merits for promotions and pay raises; he couldn’t hold them back.

Once a precedent is set, it’s not easy to turn back…

……….

The next day!

In a daze, Li Yi thought he heard someone knocking on the door. Half-asleep, he crawled out of bed.

As soon as he sat up, his head felt dizzy, and his mind went blank.

Sitting on the bed, Li Yi rubbed his temples as he tried to recall the events of the previous night.

Last night, his father-in-law had treated him, Jiang Longyin, his older sister’s husband Yang Wenguang, as well as Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and others to a meal at a restaurant to welcome them to the area.

During the meal, the group ordered several bottles of liquor. Although Li Yi hadn’t drunk much, his tolerance was well-known—just one small glass was enough to leave him feeling dizzy, so he’d fallen asleep as soon as he got home.

After resting for a while, Li Yi finally got out of bed and opened the door.

Seeing Yang Wenguang standing outside the door, Li Yi immediately asked, “Brother-in-law, what’s up?”

“Director Zhou has come to pick us up,” Yang Wenguang said. “He says the flight takes off at nine o’clock, so we need to hurry to the airport.”

Li Yi glanced at his watch and realized it was almost 7 o’clock.

And the flight they were taking today wasn’t a regular commercial airliner—it was a military aircraft.

The military airport was located in the northern suburbs, a good forty-plus kilometers from the provincial government compound, so time was a bit tight.

Li Yi didn’t want to keep them waiting, so he immediately asked his brother-in-law to gather the others quickly, while he went back inside to get dressed and wash up.

A dozen minutes later, everyone was ready. After a quick breakfast, they headed straight for the airport, accompanied by Zhou Rui and the others.

Upon arriving at the military airport, an Ilyushin-14 passenger plane was already waiting on the runway.

After military personnel checked Li Yi and the others’ credentials, they immediately escorted them to board the plane.

Once Li Yi and the others had successfully boarded, the cabin door closed, and the plane began taxiing down the runway…

After several hours of flight, at 2:00 p.m., the plane touched down smoothly at the Beijing Military District’s air force base.

When the plane took off from Guangzhou, the weather was fair and sunny, with the sun shining brightly.

However, upon landing at the airport, the scene was blanketed in snow, with snowflakes swirling through the air.

As soon as they stepped off the plane, the biting cold wind made Li Yi and his companions shiver uncontrollably!

Just as Li Yi was wondering how to get back to the city, he saw two jeeps pull up in front of them, and two young men in military uniforms stepped out.

The two young men quickly approached Li Yi and asked, “Are you Mr. Li Yi?”

“I am Li Yi. And you are?”

“We’re from the Internal Affairs Unit of the Beijing Military District. We’ve been ordered to wait here for you and your group!”

“By whose orders?” Zhou Yang asked curiously.

“Director Zhou’s orders!”

Realizing it was a vehicle Zhou Rui had arranged in advance, Li Yi didn’t hesitate. He immediately got into the car with Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Rui, and the others. After giving the address, the two Jeeps headed straight for the Li family’s courtyard house.

By the time the vehicles arrived at the Li family’s courtyard, it was nearly three o’clock.

After unloading the gifts they’d brought from the vehicles, Li Yi finally pushed open the gate to his home.

The moment he opened the door, Li Yi spotted someone in the courtyard who took him by surprise…

In the study, the conversation continued!

Seeing that both his nephew and son-in-law were looking at him, Jiang Shiying smiled and said, “It’s true, but the higher-ups are still reviewing it, so nothing has been finalized yet.”

“Dad, haven’t you only been in your current position for a little over two years? Why are they moving you again?”

Li Yi knew full well that in his previous life, his father-in-law had served two full terms as Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, rooting out corrupt officials across the province until the streets ran red with blood—earning him the nickname “The White-Haired Slayer.”

It had only been a little over two years—why was there already talk of a reassignment?

“It’s like this: a while back, Deputy Secretary Liu of the provincial committee reached retirement age, and soon after, quite a few people began vying for the position he left vacant.”

Jiang Shiying continued, “This matter didn’t have anything to do with me originally, and I wasn’t planning to vie for that position. But unexpectedly, just a week ago, Secretary Ren from the Provincial Party Committee suddenly called me in for a talk, saying the provincial leadership intended for me to take over Old Liu’s position.”

“I was completely in the dark about this at first, but now I think I’m starting to get it. The higher-ups probably appointed me as deputy secretary because of Yi!”

“Because of me? Could it be that ten billion in foreign exchange?” Li Yi asked, sounding a bit surprised.

“Not entirely!”

Jiang Shiying then explained, “That ten billion in foreign exchange is certainly important, but it wasn’t enough to get me promoted.”

“But recently, you’ve thwarted the British Empire’s schemes and have practically taken control of the entire Hong Kong business community. This will have a significant impact on our upcoming negotiations with London. Promoting me to a higher position is a reward for you and the Jiang family, and it’s also laying the groundwork for the future!”

“Father, if that’s really how you see it, then the higher-ups are being a bit stingy!” Li Yi said.

“Stingy?”

“Exactly. As far as I know, the Deputy Secretary and the Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection are on the same level. What kind of commendation is that?”

Li Yi continued, “If the higher-ups really wanted to reward you, it would have to be a provincial governor or the top provincial official—what’s the point of a ‘deputy’ title?”

Jiang Shiying’s mouth twitched. He knew his son-in-law had little interest in the political arena, so it was only natural that he didn’t understand the difference between the two positions.

He smiled and explained, “You don’t quite understand this. Although the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission are at the same rank, their standing within the province is vastly different—especially for a full-time Deputy Secretary, who is firmly the third-ranking official in the province.”

Jiang Longyin chimed in, “Brother-in-law, you may not be aware of this, but the position of Deputy Secretary is generally a stepping stone to becoming Governor, and it carries immense influence within the province.”

Although Li Yi knew which of the two positions was higher in rank, he wasn’t very familiar with these subtle distinctions. So, after listening to the two men, he nodded thoughtfully.

After a long pause, he finally spoke up: “Dad, so does that mean the higher-ups are planning to promote you to governor?”

“It’s hard to say for sure at this point. Old Chen mentioned earlier that he wants me to serve one or two full terms at the Commission for Discipline Inspection before transferring me back to Beijing, so it’s hard to be certain!” Jiang Shiying replied.

“Hmm, I see. If it works out, it would certainly be a good thing!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“I used to think this was a bit of a long shot. After all, my experience is somewhat limited, and I have no advantage over those other candidates. But now I feel more confident—it shouldn’t be a problem!” Jiang Shiying said.

“That’s good…”

Just as they were speaking, a sharp knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Immediately afterward, the voice of his older sister’s husband, Yang Wenguang, came through: “Xiao Yi, Director Zhou is here. He’s waiting for you downstairs!”

Hearing this, Jiang Shiying immediately said, “Comrade Zhou Rui must have something important to discuss with you. You go talk to him first. I’ll go make arrangements for dinner tonight. The three of us should have a good drink tonight!”

“Alright…”

The three of them then got up and walked out of the study!

Downstairs, Li Yi indeed saw Zhou Rui sitting in the living room, talking with Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and others.

Seeing Li Yi and the others coming down the stairs, Zhou Rui, Zhang Ziqiang, and the others immediately stood up from the sofa.

“Director Zhou, what brings you here?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

Zhou Rui smiled and said, “I mainly came to let you know the plane is ready—we’re leaving tomorrow morning. Also, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you!”

“Alright, let’s go upstairs and talk!” Li Yi said.

“Alright…”

After exchanging greetings with his father-in-law and Jiang Longyin, Li Yi led Zhou Rui upstairs.

Upon entering, Li Yi poured Zhou Rui a glass of water and said, “Director Zhou, please have a seat!”

After they had taken their seats, Zhou Rui immediately began, “We’ve already delivered that sum to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Old Xu is very grateful to you. He was originally going to come over in person to thank you, but unfortunately, he has a very important meeting today and couldn’t make it. However, he said that once you return to Beijing, he’d like to treat you to a meal!”

“Old Xu is too kind. We’re all working for the country—no one owes anyone anything!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“That may be so, but with your help, his position as Director of the Foreign Exchange Bureau is now secure, and his job has become much easier. It’s only right that he treat you to a meal!” Zhou Rui said.

“You’re not wrong about that. In that case, I’m definitely going to accept that meal, ha ha ha!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

After a few more light-hearted exchanges, Zhou Rui spoke again: “I heard from Comrade Yang Qian that you have a new investment plan in the works. Is that true?”

“I do have some, but not in the near future. For the time being, I plan to stay home and spend time with my family!” Li Yi said.

Actually, Li Yi had originally planned to visit Xiao Ri’s place before the New Year. Right now, it was just before the Plaza Accord was signed, and the economy there was in a phase of rapid development.

Although the Nikkei Index was growing rapidly at the moment, it hadn’t yet entered a period of explosive growth.

If he went over to invest at this time, he wouldn’t make a huge profit, but he could get a head start on positioning himself.

However, Yang Qian mentioned that the domestic foreign exchange market had already bottomed out, and with more than two years remaining before the Plaza Accord was signed, there was no rush.

Consequently, Li Yi immediately canceled the trip.

“So when do you plan to implement your investment strategy?” Zhou Rui asked.

“Sometime in May or June of next year!”

“Could you help secure some more foreign exchange from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange by then?” Zhou Rui asked.

“Sure, but the next investment cycle will be quite long, so Old Xu and the others need to be mentally prepared!” Li Yi said.

“Alright, I’ll let them know about this,” Zhou Rui said.

“Alright…”

Zhou Yang looked at Li Yi and said again, “Comrade Li Yi, there are some matters I’d like to discuss with you. Would that be all right?”

“What matters?”

“It’s regarding the work performance of Comrades Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the other two. Are you satisfied with their performance?” Zhou Rui asked.

“Old Zhou, why are you bringing this up out of the blue?” Li Yi frowned.

“Comrade Li Yi, don’t get the wrong idea. I have no ulterior motives regarding them. This is a necessary procedure before the promotion of special duty personnel!” Zhou Rui explained with a smile.

“Promotion?”

“Yes. A while back, Downing Street sent us a signal of reconciliation through secret channels. This will have a significant impact on the upcoming bilateral negotiations. Add to that the over a billion dollars in foreign exchange—you’ve really done a great job this time, so the higher-ups will naturally show their appreciation!” Zhou Rui explained.

“We… do you mean the higher-ups will be rewarding me too?” Li Yi asked in surprise.

“That’s right. You’re listed first on the commendation report!” Zhou Rui said.

“Director Zhou, just submit the commendation request for Qiangzi, Awen, and Xiaowu. I’ll pass on mine.”

To be honest, Li Yi really had no interest in this whole commendation business.

They say the first bird to stick its head out gets shot, and since he was now on the verge of becoming the world’s richest man, he really ought to keep a low profile.

Zhou Rui smiled and said, “It’s not entirely up to me. Our team is now under direct military jurisdiction. But don’t worry—awards from the National Security Bureau aren’t usually made public. As long as you don’t mention it, no one else will find out!”

“That’s good!”

Li Yi then added, “I’m very satisfied with the performance of Comrades Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the others. Without them, I might not have made it back alive from Hong Kong this time.”

“Oh, and Zhang Feng and Yang Miao—they worked hard to protect my wife and children. If possible, please give them a commendation as well!”

“No problem!”

“Director Zhou, you mentioned earlier that London has backed down and conceded to us. What exactly happened? Could you tell me about it?” Li Yi asked again.

“Certainly. Here’s what happened…”

At that moment, Zhou Rui began to explain the situation to Li Yi…

……….

Guangzhou. Provincial Government Compound!

In the study of the small two-story house, Li Yi, Jiang Shiying, and Jiang Longyin sat around a small round table, sipping tea and chatting.

Before returning today, Li Yi had specifically sent a telegram to Zhou Rui, first to have him go to the Shekou Port in Pengcheng to collect the money.

Second, Li Yi had asked Zhou Rui to pass along a message to his father-in-law and to tell his second older brother, Jiang Longyin, to come to Yangcheng for a visit—which is why they were meeting today.

Jiang Shiying took a gentle sip of the hot tea in her cup, then looked at Li Yi and asked, “Xiao Yi, the situation in Hong Kong has been very tense lately—it’s even affected Guangzhou. Are things still going smoothly for you over there?”

“It’s been okay. Things were indeed a bit turbulent a while back, but thankfully, we’ve defeated the enemy!” Li Yi replied with a smile.

“By the way, Old Chen called me out of the blue last night and had nothing but praise for you, saying you’d pulled off another major feat. What exactly happened?” Jiang Shiying asked again.

“Nothing much—I just managed to bring in another chunk of foreign exchange for the State Administration of Foreign Exchange!” Li Yi replied.

“How much did you bring in this time?”

Li Yi chuckled. “Over a billion dollars!”

“Wow, wow, wow… over a billion again? No wonder Old Chen praised you so highly!” Jiang Shiying said happily.

Li Yi just smiled and said, “Old Chen is too kind. It was just a small favor—nothing to make such a big deal out of!”

He wasn’t being modest. To him, earning foreign exchange for the country was truly just a side benefit—a bonus he picked up along the way.

After all, herding one sheep is the same as herding a whole flock.

“Come on, you don’t need to be so modest in your own home!”

Jiang Shiying continued, “By the way, are you planning to stay home for the long term this time, or are you just back for a few days?”

“I’m staying for the long haul. At the very least, I won’t be heading out again before the New Year!”

Li Yi had returned not only because his third older sister was about to give birth, but more importantly, because he missed his wife, his child, and his parents.

He decided that after his third sister gave birth, he would take his wife, Yunrui, and Yunjin back to their hometown for a while, and attend the little one’s wedding while they were there.

By the time all that was settled, the Lunar New Year would likely be just around the corner.

So, he definitely wouldn’t have time to come back to Hong Kong before the New Year.

Hearing this, Jiang Shiying immediately asked, “Things have just settled down over there. Won’t there be problems if you’re not at the company to hold the fort?”

“It’ll be fine. We’ve still got Old Huang and Old Li, plus Lan Xinming, Pang Feiyan, Yang Qian, and others—they’re all experienced professionals. It shouldn’t be a problem!” Li Yi replied.

“That’s good to hear!”

At that moment, Jiang Longyin, who had been standing nearby, picked up the thread of the conversation and said, “Brother-in-law, did you call me over here for a reason?”

“Yeah!”

Li Yi continued, “Second Brother, do you remember that matter I mentioned to you in Pengcheng back in September?”

“What thing… the highway construction project?” Jiang Longyin asked.

“Right, that should be finalized very soon!” Li Yi said, making a startling announcement.

Before leaving Hong Kong Island, Li Yi had already discussed the plan with Lan Xinming, Liao Yingxiang, and others: first, they would establish all the company’s departments, and then head to the mainland to make investments.

The first project Li Yi had selected was the expressway connecting Yangcheng to Pengcheng. In addition, he planned to build several five-star hotels in Pengcheng.

Jiang Longyin’s eyes lit up instantly, and he hurriedly asked, “Really? Which company is investing in this project?”

“Starlight Investment!”

“Starlight… I’ve never heard of that company. You know that this highway from Pengcheng to Yangcheng will cost at least two or three billion yuan. Do they have the financial strength for that?” Jiang Longyin asked.

“Starlight is a new company I funded and established. Its main business is investing in infrastructure, hotels, real estate, and more. As for financial strength, you needn’t worry—the company’s registered capital alone exceeds 50 billion Hong Kong dollars, and current committed capital has surpassed 120 billion Hong Kong dollars!” Li Yi said.

Whoa!

Hearing this, both Jiang Shiying and Jiang Longyin couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.

50 billion… 120 billion…

To them, these figures were truly astronomical.

Even though the country had been working to raise national wage levels over the past year or two, wages for ordinary workers in many provinces had only risen to a little over fifty yuan a month.

As for the salaries of high-ranking officials like Jiang Shiying and Jiang Longyin, they had reached nearly 200 yuan a month—but compared to Li Yi’s figures in the hundreds of millions, they were simply incomparable.

After the initial shock wore off, Jiang Longyin asked curiously, “Brother-in-law, didn’t you say before that you didn’t want to get involved in this mess? How come you’ve changed your mind now?”

Li Yi shook his head and said, “It’s not that I’ve changed my mind; it’s that I have no choice but to get involved.”

“What’s going on?” Jiang Longyin asked immediately.

Li Yi sighed, then proceeded to explain in detail the investment terms proposed by Li Futiao and the others to Jiang Longyin.

After listening to Li Yi’s account, Jiang Shiying said with admiration, “That Chairman Li is truly a shrewd man. The company is all yours, so if you don’t want to lose money, you have to put your heart into this. That way, their investment is guaranteed. Impressive!”

Jiang Longyin looked at Li Yi and said gratefully, “Brother-in-law, I’ve put you in a difficult position!”

Li Yi smiled and said, “I wouldn’t call it a burden. I didn’t want to get involved in this before mainly to avoid any appearance of impropriety—so people wouldn’t accuse me of engaging in a conflict of interest with you, my second brother.”

“Since they need me to step in now, it doesn’t matter. After all, national interests always come before personal ones. I just hope people won’t say I’m using you, my second brother, to line my own pockets.”

Before Jiang Longyin could speak, Jiang Shiying spoke up loudly: “Rest assured. The general public may not know your situation, but how could those leaders at the top not be aware? If anyone dares to spread baseless rumors, there’s no need for me or your second brother to step in and explain—there will be those who will stand up for you!”

“That’s right. If you were really the kind of person who used your connections to undermine the state, why would you keep bringing money back to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange? You’ve brought back at least tens of billions over the past two years, haven’t you?” Jiang Longyin chimed in.

“Hmm, hearing that from you guys puts my mind at ease!”

Li Yi continued, “Second Brother, the new company has just been established and is currently recruiting staff. As soon as they’re ready, Deputy General Manager Liao Yingxiang will bring his team over to negotiate with the Pengcheng City government…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Longyin cut in: “I understand. I’ll handle the negotiations personally. As long as their terms aren’t too unreasonable, I’ll agree to them.”

However, Li Yi shook his head and said, “Second Brother, you don’t need to go out of your way to accommodate Star Glory. I’m telling you this because I’m afraid that if you do, it’ll be too easy for people to find fault with you. We don’t need to ruin our reputation over a little money!”

Jiang Shiying added, “Longyin, don’t you see? Yi started this company to help boost the domestic economy, not to make money. Just listen to him!”

“I understand, but no matter what, I can’t let your company lose out. After all, if you lose money in Pengcheng, who would dare to invest here in the future?” Jiang Longyin said.

“Haha, Second Brother, no need to worry. While infrastructure projects require large investments and have long cycles, the return on investment is quite good—there’s no way we’ll lose money!” Li Yi said with a smile.

Infrastructure projects are all capital-intensive ventures. While they may not generate profits as quickly as financial investments, the likelihood of losing money is very low.

Besides, they were investing in the nation’s busiest highway, backed by Pengcheng—a city poised for takeoff. It would be nearly impossible to lose money!

“That’s good to hear!”

Jiang Longyin then turned his gaze to Jiang Longyin beside him and asked, “Third Uncle, I’ve heard rumors lately that your position might be adjusted. Is that true?”

Hearing this, Li Yi also became curious and immediately looked at his father-in-law…

………

After listening to Dolsen’s account, Li Yi’s brows furrowed.

According to him, just this morning, London had issued an order requiring all European families and companies to cease cooperation with the newly established Dolsons family; failure to comply would be considered a challenge to the authority of the British Empire.

At the same time, this order had also reached Hong Kong Island. Downing Street demanded that the Governor’s Office strictly enforce it and use every means at its disposal to suppress the Dolsons.

Although Dowson currently controls the British-owned conglomerates on Hong Kong Island, without the support of the Sassoon family and Downing Street, not only is his authority being questioned by some within the group, but he is also limited to mobilizing only the British-owned companies on Hong Kong Island.

As for the British-owned conglomerates in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, Dolsons had absolutely no influence over them.

Consequently, the Dolsons and the entire British-owned conglomerate now face immense pressure—plagued by internal strife and external threats—and could disintegrate at any moment.

Consequently, Dolsons has appealed to Li Yi for assistance.

If the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is willing to cooperate with them, their pressure will be significantly reduced.

At the very least, within the confines of Hong Kong Island, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s influence was unquestionable, and Li Yi’s prestige was unmatched.

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi asked, “What’s the Sassoon family’s stance? Have they taken any action against you?”

“Not yet. At least so far, the Castle hasn’t issued any orders targeting our family. They’ve merely severed our ties to the company shares and funds held by our branch—it’s more like they’ve expelled us from the family!” Dalson replied.

Li Yi nodded. He could understand this outcome; after all, his people were masters at hedging their bets.

“Dorson, how would you like me to help you?”

“If possible, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the British-owned Group could merge to form a brand-new chamber. Alternatively, I could lead the 44 families and over 150 companies of the British-owned Group to join the Chinese Chamber of Commerce!”

Hearing Dowson’s words, Li Yi couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Isn’t that just the classic “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”?

This guy really knows his strategy!

Once the British-Owned Group and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce merged, any external opposition against them would be tantamount to opposing the Chinese Chamber of Commerce—and by extension, the entire business community of Hong Kong Island.

The implications of this move were too far-reaching; even the Governor’s Office and the British Hong Kong government wouldn’t dare to pull off such a reckless stunt.

Furthermore, once the two chambers merged, the British-Owned Group would enjoy the same membership benefits as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce—a definite boon for a group already under immense pressure.

To be honest, Li Yi was quite tempted by Dolsen’s proposal—this was a golden opportunity to unify Hong Kong Island’s business community.

But after careful consideration, Li Yi decided to reject Dolsen’s request.

“Dawson, the Hong Kong Chinese Chamber of Commerce is merely a branch of the Global Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Our mission is to admit only Chinese business members. Whether it’s a merger or accepting your membership, it’s simply not feasible!”

Dawson stared at Li Yi intently, then said with a puzzled expression, “Li, you must know that if you accept our membership, you’ll effectively control the entire Hong Kong business community. I can’t understand why you’d reject this proposal. Are you worried about retaliation from London? But that shouldn’t be the case…”

Li Yi looked at him and said, “I don’t care about retaliation from those people in London. Their influence is certainly formidable, but defeating me won’t be that easy.”

“Then why…”

Before Dolsen could finish, Li Yi cut in: “There are two main reasons I’m refusing your request to join. First, I don’t want your membership to disrupt the atmosphere of unity within our Chinese Chamber of Commerce. As a leader, you should know how rare it is to have unconditional trust among members.”

“The second reason is because of you…”

“Me?”

“That’s right!”

Li Yi continued, “Dawson, even though we’ve buried the hatchet and are no longer enemies, in my eyes you’re still a wolf—and a lone wolf at that.”

“Although you joined us with the British-funded group under external pressure, you’ve never truly accepted it. Once you’re free from that pressure—or once the Chinese Chamber of Commerce no longer holds a power advantage over you—you’ll certainly break away from the Chamber and go your own way again…”

“Li, I can guarantee…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi smiled and said, “Dawson, there’s no need to rush into making promises—especially since your promises are worthless in my eyes!”

Just as Dolsen’s expression turned slightly awkward and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, Li Yi suddenly changed the subject and continued, “I’m not saying this to humiliate you, but to let you know that I’ve never underestimated you. I can help you—but not in the way you suggested!”

“Then what way is that?” Dolsen asked immediately.

Li Yi replied, “The biggest problem you’re facing right now isn’t external pressure, but internal unrest. In short, morale is low, and the team is hard to lead!”

“In light of this situation, I can support you in taking decisive action. Any companies or families willing to follow orders from London can be targeted.”

“At the same time, I can personally step in to organize a meeting between members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and your British-funded group to strengthen our cooperation.”

“Most importantly, I can help you exact revenge and establish your authority—making London take a major fall…”

“How exactly will you exact revenge and establish your authority, and what price will I have to pay?” Dolsen asked earnestly.

“Please allow me to keep the specific method confidential for now. As for the cost? Forget about it—after all, I already promised to help you out once!” Li Yi said.

Thinking of what was about to unfold in the British Empire, the corners of Li Yi’s mouth couldn’t help but turn up slightly.

However, to teach those Brits a harsh lesson, he couldn’t do it alone—after all, those bastards were now deeply wary of him.

So before taking action, Li Yi needed to find a few allies—preferably ones with a solid local foothold. Aside from the Henry family, Dolsen was undoubtedly the best candidate.

And that was the most important reason Li Yi was willing to help Dolsen…

After hearing Li Yi’s words, however, Dolsen shook his head and said, “That favor isn’t worth that much. If you can really help me get this revenge, I’ll transfer 3% of Jiasheng Company’s shares to your name!”

“No need. We already hold 10% of your family’s company; any more than that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Li Yi then changed the subject and said, “If you really feel you owe me, you can do me a favor in return!”

“What is it?”

“Facilitate the merger of the Hong Kong Island Stock Exchange and establish a United Exchange!” Li Yi said.

“Certainly. Mr. Li Futao has already approached me about this. I agree in principle, and I will do my best to persuade the leaders of the Kowloon Association and the Gold and Silver Association to join the United Exchange!” Dolsen said earnestly.

Jiasheng Company, owned by the Dalson family, specializes in securities trading. Unifying the stock market would be entirely beneficial for them—after all, only by making the pie bigger would everyone have the chance to get a larger slice.

Therefore, they naturally welcomed the merger of the securities markets.

“Alright, then it’s settled!” Li Yi said.

“Let’s work together!”

“Looking forward to working with you…”

……….

Chapter 1,010: Star Glory Investment Company!

The next day!

When Li Yi woke up, it was almost 11 o’clock.

The moment he opened his eyes, Li Yi’s mind went blank, as if he had lost his memory.

He knew he’d blacked out from drinking…

He lay in bed for a while, letting his mind settle, until his memories gradually returned, and a spark of clarity returned to his eyes.

Those guests yesterday had been far too enthusiastic; anyone of any standing wanted to come over and toast him.

Even with Old Huang and Li Yunbao there to help him turn down drinks, and even though Li Yi only took small sips when clinking glasses with others, his tolerance was simply too poor, so he didn’t last long before passing out.

In fact, Li Yi didn’t even know how he’d made it back to his bedroom, let alone when the party had ended…

Feeling the strong smell of alcohol on his body and a faint burning sensation in his stomach, Li Yi immediately got out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

Although showering on an empty stomach can lead to low blood sugar, he didn’t have time to worry about that—the smell on his body was simply too awful.

After showering and changing into some relatively casual clothes, Li Yi went downstairs.

It had to be said that the team hired by the Chen siblings was truly professional; there was no sign of the mess he had imagined.

All the rented tables, chairs, and dining sets in the courtyard were gone, and even the open area and lawn outside had been cleaned up. It was as if nothing had ever happened, which left Li Yi very satisfied.

When Li Yi arrived downstairs, Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the others were all there, seemingly deep in conversation.

In addition, Li Yi spotted someone who took him by surprise—Yang Qian.

As soon as they saw Li Yi coming downstairs, the group stopped talking and stood up from the sofa.

Walking over to the sofa, Li Yi first said to Zhang Ziqiang, “Go to the kitchen and get me something to eat. Make sure it’s light!”

“Got it!”

Li Yi then turned to Yang Qian and asked with a smile, “What brings you here?”

“Manager Zhao asked me to come and report to you!”

“Oh? What’s the matter? Why didn’t she come herself?” Li Yi asked, puzzled.

“Today, members of the Chamber of Commerce brought contracts to our company to redeem their principal and interest. Since the amount is so large, Manager Zhao needs to handle it personally, so she really couldn’t get away!”

Yang Qian continued, “As for the work-related matters, I’ll report them to you privately after you finish your meal!”

“Alright!”

After quickly finishing a bowl of plain congee and two vegetarian buns, Li Yi led Yang Qian to the reception room on the second floor.

After they had taken their seats, Li Yi asked immediately, “Go ahead, what’s on your mind?”

“Manager Zhao asked me to bring you this document. Please sign it as soon as possible!”

As she spoke, Yang Qian took a document out of her briefcase and handed it to Li Yi.

Li Yi took the document and examined it closely, realizing it was a funding request.

Once he had clearly read the reason for the allocation and the amount, Li Yi asked immediately, “Is this money intended for the State Administration of Foreign Exchange?”

“Yes!”

“So, does that mean the profits from the London, Tokyo, and New York teams have already been received?” Li Yi asked again.

“Yes, and the Finance Department has already converted a large portion of the US dollars into Hong Kong dollars, as you requested!” Yang Qian replied.

Li Yi nodded, then quickly signed his name at the bottom of the document.

After returning the signed document to Yang Qian, Li Yi said again, “I’ve signed the document. Have Zhao Xinlan prepare the funds as soon as possible and send them to the Wan Chai Pier. I’ll have someone contact the mainland to arrange for the money to be shipped back!”

“Should I let Director Xu and the others know?” Yang Qian asked again.

“No need. I’ll have Zhou Wen contact the State Security Bureau. After all, they’re the professionals when it comes to this sort of thing!” Li Yi said.

“Alright!”

“By the way, how’s the preparation for registering the new company coming along?” Li Yi asked again.

“Manager Lan Xinming is already handling it, but she needs your authorization!”

With that, Yang Qian took a thin document out of her handbag and handed it directly to Li Yi.

Li Yi picked up the document, glanced at it briefly, and then signed his name at the bottom.

After returning the signed document to Yang Qian, Li Yi assumed she would leave immediately, but to his surprise, she stared straight at him, showing no intention of taking her leave.

“Is there anything else?” Li Yi asked again.

Yang Qian didn’t speak. Instead, she took a thick stack of newspapers out of her briefcase and handed it to Li Yi.

With a hint of puzzlement, Li Yi picked up the newspapers and began to read.

After glancing through them for a moment, he was stunned.

The front-page headlines of all these newspapers were filled with reports on last night’s cocktail party—even the entertainment tabloids were no exception. It was as if nothing else of significance had happened on Hong Kong Island yesterday besides that grand event.

Some papers claimed that the cocktail party was a high-profile display of strength by Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, flexing their muscles in front of rivals and potential enemies.

Others claimed it was Li Yi’s declaration to Hong Kong’s political and business circles that he had become the top figure in the city’s business world—a coronation ceremony for the new king…

But regardless of which media outlet, the reviews of the reception were overwhelmingly positive.

After reading these reports, Li Yi couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth turn up slightly.

Although his true purpose in hosting this reception wasn’t what outsiders speculated—he simply wanted to gather with everyone before leaving and take care of a few matters along the way—

But achieving such an outcome wasn’t bad at all—truly, when you plant flowers with intent, they may not bloom, but when you plant willows without thinking, they grow into a lush grove!

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi asked, “Will this have any impact on the company?”

“Yes!”

Yang Qian continued, “Early this morning, quite a few people went to the company headquarters and asked us to handle their investments.”

“Also, influenced by these reports, investors are very bullish on the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s listed companies, and their stock prices have all risen—and significantly so.”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Excellent. Tell Lan Xinyi that no matter how many people entrust us with their investments, we’ll accept them all.”

“Yes!”

“All right, if there’s nothing else, you should head back to the office,” Li Yi said.

“Yes…”

After seeing Yang Qian off, Li Yi immediately summoned Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen to his office and instructed them to contact the State Security Bureau to arrange for the transfer of those billions of dollars back to Pengcheng as soon as possible and hand them over to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange…

………….

Over the next few days, aside from preparing for the new company, Li Yi spent the rest of his time taking Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the others shopping.

After all, they were about to head back, so they had to bring some gifts for their families.

Soon, the new company was up and running.

The new company was named Star Glory Investment, primarily engaged in infrastructure investment, real estate, and hotel operations, with a registered capital of 10 billion Hong Kong dollars. Li Yi personally served as its chairman.

Lan Xinming served as the company’s CEO, while the deputy general manager was Liao Yingxiang—the very person his third sister’s husband had mentioned to him earlier.

General Manager Liao was also a member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He owned several companies and had personal assets worth tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars, making him a powerhouse among Chinese business leaders.

The decision to appoint Liao Yingxiang as deputy general manager was partly due to his outstanding capabilities, particularly his deep understanding of infrastructure investment.

On the other hand, through his prior research, Liao Yingxiang fully understood the immense market potential across the strait and had already decided to expand his business there.

Consequently, Li Yi decisively invited Liao Yingxiang to serve as the company’s deputy general manager, entrusting him with full authority over investment operations on the mainland.

By the time these matters were settled, it was already mid-November, and Third Sister’s due date was just a few days away.

Subsequently, Li Yi, accompanied by Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and others, returned to Guangzhou…

………..

Seeing everyone looking at him, Li Yi fell silent.

To be honest, he really hadn’t expected Li Futiao to propose such terms.

Li Yi’s original intention was not to get too deeply involved in this matter; he merely wanted to explain the market prospects of investing in infrastructure to these people, and then have local governments across the country reach out to them.

Of course, if necessary, he could also act as a go-between for both parties.

To put it bluntly, Li Yi just wanted to play matchmaker—he had no intention of becoming the groom himself.

The reason for this was, on the one hand, that infrastructure investment was too cumbersome and complex, with a long investment cycle—Li Yi simply didn’t have that much time to devote to it.

If he had the time and energy, he could make more money by chasing short-term gains in the stock market.

On the other hand, it was to avoid the appearance of impropriety. After all, engaging in infrastructure investment inevitably involves dealing with Jiang Longyin, Jiang Longze, and even his own father-in-law; one misstep could lead to suspicions of improper influence.

Since Li Yi wasn’t short on money, he naturally didn’t want to get involved in such trouble.

At the same time, however, Li Yi understood what Li Futiao was getting at.

To put it simply, Old Li and his team just want a guarantee…

After all, they aren’t particularly familiar with the situation on the mainland, and they can’t stay there long-term to keep an eye on the project.

And infrastructure investment is notoriously capital-intensive and long-term; they’re genuinely afraid that if there’s a policy reversal over there, the hundreds of billions of their funds will go down the drain.

If he were to step in and set up a company specifically to handle infrastructure investments there, those concerns would disappear.

After all, everyone knows Li Yi’s background—the state stands behind him. With Li Yi leading the charge, there’s naturally no need to worry about the money going down the drain.

After thinking this through, Li Yi paused briefly before saying, “Old Li, I accept your terms. I will invest 50 billion Hong Kong dollars to establish a new investment company dedicated to investing in the mainland. I welcome all of you to invest and participate!”

Although Li Yi had reservations, they weren’t insurmountable—especially since the country was currently in urgent need of substantial foreign exchange.

Furthermore, since the proposal came from Li Futiao, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse outright, so he simply agreed.

“Very well. The Li family always keeps its word. Tomorrow, 10 billion Hong Kong dollars will be transferred to Starry Sky Company. Furthermore, regarding the new company, our family will only hold shares and receive dividends—we will not participate in day-to-day management decisions!” Li Futao declared.

“The He family is the same—10 billion Hong Kong dollars will be transferred tomorrow!”

“As for the Bao family…”

With the Li, He, and Bao families setting the example, other members of the Chamber of Commerce responded enthusiastically. Even before the new company was officially established, it had already secured over 120 billion Hong Kong dollars in committed capital.

Subsequently, Li Yi engaged in in-depth discussions with everyone regarding the new company’s equity distribution, organizational structure, and operational plans.

The meeting finally concluded just as the cocktail reception was about to begin…

……….

At 6:30 p.m., the sun had begun to set, and the heat had subsided compared to the afternoon. The cocktail reception officially began.

This reception was not only large in scale but also of an exceptionally high caliber.

Not only had all members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce attended with their families, but key figures from Dolsons and the British-owned conglomerate had also been invited.

Even the British Hong Kong government had sent a significant delegation, including Commissioner of Police Maxley and Chief Chinese Inspector Lam Lok-lam.

With representatives from Hong Kong Island’s political, business, and entertainment circles in attendance, tonight’s reception was no longer merely a business gathering; it had become a grand gathering of the island’s high society.

In the eyes of Li Futao, He Dongying, and others, this reception felt more like the coronation ceremony for Li Yi, the new king.

For from this moment on, across the entire island of Hong Kong, Li Yi had become the undisputed king…

……….

Although the scale of the reception was somewhat beyond Li Yi’s expectations, thanks to the help of Chen Chuhong, Chen Chuying, and the Qinglong Society in organizing it, as well as the on-site security provided by Shield Security, everything was well prepared.

Li Yi, having considerable experience with such events, handled the occasion with ease and poise.

After a brief opening speech, he handed the task of warming up the crowd over to a professional emcee, while he himself, glass of red wine in hand, struck up a casual conversation with Li Futao and others.

Just as everyone was deep in conversation, Dolsen walked over with a glass of wine. After clinking glasses with Li Yi, he asked if they could speak privately.

Li Yi didn’t refuse. Now that Dolsen had struck out on his own and had based his family’s core business in Hong Kong, he was bound to become a fixture in the city’s business circles.

Plus, the guy was smart—he’d sided with Li Yi twice in a row. So, in Li Yi’s eyes, he was now, at the very least, half a member of his inner circle.

Since he wanted to talk to him privately, Li Yi naturally intended to grant him that courtesy.

Led by Li Yi, the two went straight to a small meeting room upstairs.

After entering and taking their seats, Li Yi asked with a smile, “Tea or coffee?”

“Tea, please. It’s not a good idea to drink coffee after having a drink!” said Dolsen.

Li Yi immediately brewed a pot of Longjing tea and poured a cup for each of them.

“Go ahead, what’s on your mind?”

Dorson glanced at Li Yi, then asked, “Did you send invitations to Maxley and the others?”

“Yes, why?” Li Yi asked.

“Seeing those guys at an event like this is really off-putting.”

Dorson blew on the tea in his cup and continued, “Honestly, Li, inviting them to a reception like this isn’t a good idea. Even if you extend goodwill toward them, those guys might not appreciate it!”

Li Yi detected a strong sense of disgust in Dolsen’s tone, which showed just how much he disliked Maxley, Lin Luolan, and the others.

“Haha, I don’t need them to appreciate it. I invited them for a different reason!” Li Yi said.

“May I ask what that reason is?”

Li Yi smiled and said, “Dawson, you have some understanding of Chinese culture. Do you know what the teachings of Confucius and Mencius are?”

“I know that Confucius and Mencius are two highly wise figures in your Chinese culture, comparable in stature to our Western thinkers like Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato, but I don’t know much about their philosophy!” Dolsen replied honestly.

Li Yi smiled and said, “The essence of the Way of Confucius and Mencius lies in emphasizing the cultivation and practice of core virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity. You might not quite grasp that, so let me put it this way: it is a philosophy that transcends both the ‘Way of Hegemony’ prevalent in the Western world and the ‘Way of Kingship’ prevalent in the East.”

“The Way of Hegemony? The Way of the Ruler? The teachings of Confucius and Mencius?”

This barrage of unfamiliar terms instantly made Dolsen acutely aware of his own lack of knowledge.

Seeing the bewildered look on Dolsen’s face, Li Yi immediately explained, “Put it this way: the ‘Way of the King’ is when you slap your opponent across the face if they don’t obey, while the ‘Way of the Hegemon’ is when you slap them whenever you feel like it—even if they do obey. It’s all about doing whatever you please!”

“What about the Way of Confucius and Mencius?” Dowson asked instinctively.

“You give them a heads-up before you slap them!”

Dawson: !@#￥%……

You have to give a verbal warning before slapping someone? This is indeed a philosophy that transcends both the “Way of the King” and the “Way of the Hegemon.”

Dawson was a smart guy, and since Li Yi had explained it in such plain terms, he quickly grasped why Li Yi had invited Maxley and the others over.

Put simply, it was a show of force to let them know not to get out of line—or else he’d beat them up.

That’s exactly what Li Yi had in mind. He wanted to invite them here on this occasion so they’d see just how powerful the Chinese Chamber of Commerce had become.

Keeping a low profile and acting discreetly are certainly virtues, but they must be applied at the right time and in the right place.

At the very least, for Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce right now, keeping a low profile was not what was needed…

After finishing these trivial matters, Dolsen suddenly said, “Li, I need your help!”

“What’s going on? Has the Sassoon family declared war on you?” Li Yi asked, looking at Durson.

“No, it’s the London authorities who’ve stepped in. They’re planning a full-scale crackdown on the Dolsons!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yi’s expression immediately turned serious…

……….

Cloud Peak No. 1: The meeting continued!

Once everyone had signed, Li Yi spoke again: “After the meeting, you can have someone take the newly signed investment contracts to the finance department at Star Investment for settlement. That settles it.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than voices from across the conference room chimed in with expressions of gratitude.

This was truly an unexpected delight for everyone.

Once everyone had finished speaking, Li Yi spoke again: “Ladies and gentlemen, now that this matter has been resolved, the second thing I’d like to discuss with you concerns the future development plans for our Chinese Chamber of Commerce.”

At these words, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Li Yi.

“Although we ultimately triumphed over the overseas consortium’s joint assault—leaving them worse off than before—we must not forget that this victory was far from easy. There is still much we need to review and reflect upon!”

Li Yi continued, “For instance, when Sangchai and his group launched their surprise attack, hundreds of billions of Hong Kong dollars flooded into our stock market, catching us completely off guard. And when they launched their assault, many local companies on Hong Kong Island actively aided them—at one point, they forced us into a series of retreats. These ‘collaborators’ certainly played a significant role in that!”

“Therefore, while these events serve as a wake-up call, they also set new requirements for the future development of our Chinese Chamber of Commerce!”

“What kind of demands?” someone asked instinctively.

“First, we must maintain unity within our chamber and strengthen our cohesion. Only then can we unleash greater fighting power and stand firm against the challenges posed by all manner of demons and monsters. Ideally, we should establish a system or mechanism to ensure this.”

Li Yi continued, “Second, we must strengthen our own capabilities and reduce corporate risks. Remember, we must be strong ourselves to stand firm.”

“Furthermore, we must severely punish and hold accountable those traitors and collaborators who betray us. I’ve already had a list compiled of the local companies that cooperated with Sangchai and his group. Moving forward, our Star Company will unilaterally blacklist these companies. I hope everyone will follow suit—we must teach these spineless cowards a lesson…”

After Li Yi finished speaking, Li Futao immediately declared, “Brother Li Yi speaks the truth. The Li family fully agrees with this. As for any company that collaborated with Sangchai and his group this time—regardless of size—the Li family will never do business with them again.”

He Dongying chimed in, “The He family agrees as well. It’s time to set some rules for Hong Kong’s business community. How we fight among ourselves is our own business, but acting like ‘traitors’ when external enemies attack is unacceptable!”

“Exactly. Whether it’s an individual or a company, those who make mistakes must take responsibility. The Bao family will follow through on this!” Bao Chuanwang added.

“The Luo family also agrees with Mr. Li’s words and will cooperate fully…”

Seeing that the Li, He, Bao, and Luo families all agreed with Li Yi’s words, the others naturally had no objections and chimed in one after another.

Seeing this, Li Yi nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he made a decisive decision: “Since everyone thinks this is feasible, we will immediately, in the name of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, impose a total boycott on those companies and families that have colluded with Sang Chai and his group to target us!”

“Good, I support that!”

“I’m in favor of it!”

“I have no objections…”

……..

Once this was settled, Li Yi spoke again: “Finally, I’d like to discuss one more matter with everyone: our future investment plans!”

The moment he spoke, the conference room—which had been somewhat noisy—fell instantly silent. Everyone’s gaze turned back to Li Yi, their eyes brimming with fervor.

It was no wonder they reacted so dramatically. After all, every one of Li Yi’s investment moves had made people rich beyond their wildest dreams. It was no exaggeration to say that anyone who joined Li Yi’s investment plan could make money without lifting a finger.

On top of that, having just cleaned out Sang Chai and his crew, everyone had plenty of spare cash on hand, so naturally they were extremely interested in the investment plans Li Yi was about to reveal.

“Brother Li Yi, you already have a new investment plan so soon?” Li Fu asked excitedly.

“Yeah, and this time the investment scale is huge, with very attractive returns. The only downside is that the investment cycle is a bit long!” Li Yi said.

“Brother Li Yi, a longer cycle isn’t a problem, but I’m curious—what kind of return can we expect?” Li Futiao asked.

“Conservatively speaking, the annual compound return on investment should be around 50%!” Li Yi said.

As soon as he said this, everyone in the conference room immediately became excited.

Although a 50% annual compound return couldn’t compare to Li Yi’s previous deals, it was still mind-blowing in the investment world.

After all, current bank deposit rates hover around 5%, and the guaranteed returns from various investment firms are only about 10%—and that’s after paying a portion of the fees to the company.

“Brother Li Yi, what exactly is this project? Can you tell us about it?” He Dongying asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

“Investing in infrastructure on the mainland—things like highways, luxury hotels, and shopping malls!” Li Yi shared his vision.

At those words, everyone was stunned.

They had assumed Li Yi’s investment plan involved the stock market, but they never expected it to be an investment in the mainland—and specifically in infrastructure.

After all, infrastructure investment is notorious for its massive capital requirements, long time horizons, and high risks.

In an instant, the lively atmosphere in the conference room turned awkward.

After a long pause, Li Futiao spoke up: “Brother Li Yi, can the annual return on infrastructure investments in mainland China really reach 50%?”

“It can. And 50% is just a conservative estimate—the actual return could be far higher than I’ve projected!”

Li Yi wasn’t just spouting nonsense to attract investment. After all, in his previous life, the Hong Kong businessmen who were among the first to invest across the strait had, for the most part, made a profit.

And when it came to who made the most money, it was undoubtedly those who invested in infrastructure. Notable examples included the Guo family, who invested in hotels and shopping malls; the Li Ka-shing family, who invested in real estate; and the Ma family, who invested in highways, among others.

Of course, looking solely at the initial cash returns, the rate of return on investment wasn’t particularly high.

But as the mainland’s economy shifted into high gear, the appreciation of fixed assets far exceeded expectations.

Take the Kwok family, for example, who in the past invested in projects such as Beijing’s New Dong’an Plaza, Shanghai’s International Finance Center, and Guangzhou’s Tianhuan Center. When they entered the mainland market in the 1990s, their total investment amounted to only a few billion Hong Kong dollars.

Yet in just over two decades, the Guo family’s real estate holdings had ballooned to over 100 billion, with rental income from the mainland alone reaching 5 billion yuan—a return on investment far exceeding 50%.

Upon hearing Li Yi’s words, Li Futao immediately replied, “Brother Li Yi, I understand your point. The Li family is willing to invest 10 billion Hong Kong dollars in mainland infrastructure, but I have one condition!”

“What condition?” Li Yi asked immediately.

“I hope Brother Li Yi will set up a separate company to handle this. As long as you agree to this condition, our Li family is not only willing to invest 10 billion Hong Kong dollars, but we also promise not to interfere with the company’s operational decisions!” Li Futao declared, making a startling statement.

He Dongying chimed in, “Brother Li Yi, as long as you personally take charge of this, our He family is also willing to contribute 10 billion Hong Kong dollars!”

“The Bao family is the same. As long as Brother Li Yi agrees to this, the Bao family will contribute 8 billion Hong Kong dollars!”

“As for the Luo family…”

Hearing the statements from these major families, everyone’s gaze in the conference room once again turned to Li Yi…

……..

The next morning!

In his sleep, Li Yi seemed to hear a clinking sound coming from downstairs, and he woke up immediately.

Opening his eyes and confirming the sounds were indeed coming from downstairs, he quickly got dressed, got out of bed, opened the door, and went downstairs.

As soon as he reached the staircase, he saw Chen Chuhong and Chen Chuying, brother and sister, directing a group of men and women as they bustled about in the living room.

In addition, there were quite a few vehicles and people outside, seemingly setting something up.

Li Yi suddenly remembered: yesterday afternoon, he had called Old Huang to tell him about the cocktail party he was hosting at his home that evening.

Li Yi had originally intended to invite Old Huang’s entire family to the party, but after Old Huang learned of the situation, he said he would send people to help with the preparations.

Clearly, this task had fallen to the siblings, Chen Chuhong and Chen Chuying.

Without delay, Li Yi hurried toward the living room.

As soon as Li Yi came downstairs, Chen Chuhong spotted him and immediately walked over with a smile.

“Sis-in-law, thanks for your help!”

Chen Chuhong replied with a smile, “It’s only natural. With your wife not here, how could you, as a man, possibly handle everything on your own!”

Li Yi looked at the people bustling about. He saw that they were not only setting up an outdoor kitchen and a buffet table outside, but some were also building a stage.

Some were even unloading various sound equipment from a large truck.

Seeing all this, it was clear this party was no small affair.

“Sis-in-law, is it really necessary to build a special stage? We haven’t invited any celebrities to perform!” Li Yi said.

“Of course we are! I’ve already had people contact quite a few bands and singers—they’ll all be performing tonight. We can’t do without a stage!” Chen Chuhong replied.

“Do we really need to go to such great lengths?”

To be honest, Li Yi’s purpose in hosting this cocktail party was not only to foster relationships but, more importantly, to attract investment for his domestic business.

So, he hadn’t even considered all that superficial nonsense.

Chen Chuhong glanced at Li Yi and said, “Brother Li Yi, I don’t suppose you’ve seen today’s newspaper yet?”

“The newspaper?”

“Yes. News that you’re hosting a business cocktail party at your home has spread like wildfire. Multiple newspapers have reported on it, and it’s quickly sparked heated discussion among the business community, political circles, the entertainment industry, and the general public.”

Chen Chuhong continued, “Right now, this reception has captured the nation’s attention. It’s even overshadowing the Legislative Council plenary session the government is holding tomorrow—we can’t take this lightly!”

Li Yi was taken aback at first, then said with a look of surprise, “How did this happen? I just wanted to bring everyone together for some fun and to discuss a few business matters on the side—I didn’t intend for it to get this complicated.”

Chen Chuhong smiled and said, “You’re not the same person you were two years ago. The people of Hong Kong Island may not know the Governor or the Commissioner of Police, but there’s no way they don’t know you.”

“Is it really that exaggerated?” Li Yi asked with a laugh.

Chen Chuhong replied immediately, “Not a bit exaggerated. You’re not only the leader of Hong Kong’s business community, but also the pride of us Chinese.”

“Who in Hong Kong doesn’t know by now? It was you who forced the police to crack down on those vicious triads, seeking justice and revenge for us ordinary citizens. It was you who made the Governor’s Office bow their heads and apologize. And it was you who led the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to defeat those foreign conglomerates, bringing glory to the Chinese people.”

“Right now, you are a hero in the eyes of the ordinary people of Hong Kong Island, so naturally, your every move is closely watched!”

After hearing Chen Chuhong’s explanation, Li Yi felt a complex mix of emotions—touching, yet also anxious, but above all, deeply ashamed.

His original intention in taking down those triad organizations wasn’t to stand up for the common people and seek justice for them, but to counter the underhanded tactics employed by the Governor’s Office.

But he never expected the public to misunderstand…

With that in mind, Li Yi nodded and said, “In that case, we can’t cut corners on this cocktail party!”

“Right. I’ve arranged for the professional banquet team at the Emperor Hotel, and I’ve invited several well-known bands and singers to perform. Captain Yan has also deployed a squad from the security company to maintain order. I’ll make sure this cocktail party is a resounding success!” Chen Chuhong said.

“I’ll leave it to you, Sister-in-law. Just handle the arrangements. When the time comes, have them settle the bill directly with Manager Zhao Xinlan at the company!” Li Yi said.

“Alright…”

………

Before long, it was 5:00 PM.

There was still an hour left before the cocktail party began.

But traffic jams had already begun to form all along the foot of Taiping Mountain, with large numbers of police officers stationed there to maintain order.

Meanwhile, the Genting Villa District was already bustling with traffic and teeming with activity.

The large conference room on the top floor of Cloudtop No. 1 was packed to the brim; all full members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce had arrived.

They had been notified of an impromptu meeting to be held before the cocktail party began, so they had all arrived well in advance.

Gathered in small groups of three or five, they were discussing business matters, exchanging gossip about prominent families, or talking about international events…

The atmosphere was electric!

Just then, the conference room door swung open, and Li Yi, Li Futiao, Huang Lixing, and others walked in together.

Seeing this, everyone in the room immediately stopped talking, and all eyes turned to Li Yi.

Li Yi and his group strode to the front of the conference room and took their seats at the head table.

As the convener of the meeting and the organizer of the reception, it was naturally up to Li Yi to deliver the opening remarks.

He raised his hand in a gesture of silence, signaling everyone to quiet down.

Then, Li Yi began, “I’ve invited everyone here today under the guise of a cocktail party. Aside from encouraging more interaction among you all, there are a few matters I’d like to discuss with everyone. I hope I haven’t inconvenienced you!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Futao chimed in with a smile, “Brother Li Yi, you’re being far too modest. This is a rare opportunity that money can’t buy—how could you possibly call it an inconvenience?”

“That’s right—this is a tremendous opportunity. Others would kill to be here,” He Dongying chimed in with a laugh.

“You’re absolutely right. Brother Li Yi, you have no idea—right now, invitations to these cocktail parties are being resold for 100,000 Hong Kong dollars each, and even then, they’re practically impossible to get…”

……….

Listening to everyone chipping in with their comments, Li Yi was in high spirits.

“Thank you all for coming. With less than an hour left before the cocktail party begins, let’s get down to business!”

Li Yi continued, “The first thing I want to address is the 50 billion Hong Kong dollars I borrowed from you all a while back. That matter has now been resolved, and the company is ready to repay the money to everyone.”

Before anyone could react, Li Yi suddenly clapped his hands toward the door.

Immediately, Starry Sky’s CFO, Zhao Xinlan, entered the room accompanied by several staff members, carrying a stack of documents.

After entering the conference room, they immediately approached Li Futiao, He Dongying, Li Chaoren, Bao Chuanwang, and Old Huo, handing them the documents and asking them to sign.

When they read the contents of the documents, they were all stunned.

“Brother Li Yi, what are you doing? Our Li family clearly only invested 5 billion. Why are you returning so much?” Li Futiao said, looking utterly astonished.

Li Yi smiled and said, “When we arranged this loan, I made it clear: if we lose money, it’s considered a loan from me, Li Yi, to you; if we make a profit, it counts as your investment. Now that we’ve made a profit, naturally we must settle it as an investment.”

“That’s out of the question! Besides, even if we treat it as an investment, there’s no way it could be this much!” Li Futiao protested.

“Don’t worry. This is calculated based on the overall return on the company’s short-term investment. Without taking any commission, this is indeed the amount!” Li Yi said.

“Brother Li Yi, this is way too much—we can’t accept it!”

“Exactly. We agreed it was a loan—how could we possibly accept extra money?”

“Exactly. If we take this money, what kind of people would we be…”

Li Yi tapped the conference table in front of him to signal for silence, then said with a smile, “In my view, no amount of money can buy the trust you’ve placed in me. You’ve treated me like a brother, so naturally I won’t treat you as outsiders. Go ahead and sign the documents—I have more important matters to discuss with you all.”

Seeing that Li Futiao and the others were about to speak up, Li Yi turned to him and said, “Old Li, you’re the president of our Chamber of Commerce and my elder brother. You need to set an example for everyone!”

Seeing the determination on Li Yi’s face, Li Futiao knew this wasn’t just for show. He nodded immediately and signed his name on the document.

Seeing this, the others all signed their names as well…

……….