"Old Zhou, rest assured, once the inspection team goes over, I will contact the relevant leaders at the Ministry of Commerce. We will definitely provide our compatriots in Hong Kong with a favorable business environment."
"I believe our country and government will be very willing to welcome our Hong Kong compatriots back to invest and build our nation together."
Chen Yang knew very well that by '97, Hong Kong would undoubtedly return to the motherland.
Establishing friendly relations with domestic leaders a little earlier now would certainly be beneficial in the future.
As long as Zhou Shengsheng followed his advice, invested well in the mainland, and refrained from any illegal activities, he would experience a smooth transition without any risks when Hong Kong returned.
Although the mainland was poor and blank now, it was precisely this blank canvas that allowed for great art. With such a vast market and almost no competitors, as long as Zhou Shengsheng managed well, his jewelry business could expand throughout China in the future.
Gold was valuable at any time!
"Mr. Chen, I didn't expect you to have connections with the mainland government. This puts my mind at ease even more."
"Since that's the case, one favor deserves another. I need to exchange some Renminbi. Since we're going to the mainland, we need some money on hand."
"I see the exchange rate between Renminbi and US dollars is about 1.485 RMB to 1 USD. I'll take 500,000 US dollars, and when we get to the mainland, please trouble Mr. Chen to exchange it into Renminbi for my inspection team."
Zhou Shengsheng said casually. Upon hearing his words, Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat.
Five hundred thousand US dollars! He was currently most in need of US dollars. Those two television production lines alone would cost two to three hundred thousand US dollars, and he also needed to bring back some foreign exchange for Zou Chenguang as a gesture of goodwill. He couldn't have too much US dollars.
However, Chen Yang maintained a calm demeanor, as if 500,000 US dollars was nothing to him.
"Old Zhou, since you think so highly of me, I will certainly handle this matter for you."
"To be frank, the mainland is rather in need of US dollars. Let's not talk about 1 USD to 1.485 RMB. I'll give you 1.5 RMB directly."
"For 500,000 US dollars, I will exchange it for you into 750,000 Renminbi."
"Once we arrive in the mainland, in our Anhui province, I, Chen Yang, will cover all the expenses for hospitality, accommodation, dining, and entertainment. I will make sure your inspection team is well taken care of."
A magnate like Zhou Shengsheng was someone he absolutely had to embrace tightly.
The current Chen Yang was not even comparable to an ant in front of him. To exchange Zhou Shengsheng's 500,000 US dollars, Chen Yang would have to use all his cash flow.
Yet, this 500,000 US dollars was a drop in the bucket for Zhou Shengsheng, of no consequence.
This was his first time going to the mainland for inspection and investment, and he wasn't very confident. He was only taking a symbolic amount of money to test the waters; how could he take a large sum?
This was the gap in their strength!
However, Chen Yang was not discouraged. He had the advantage of being a reborn individual. His greatest confidence lay in knowing how the economy would develop in the future, and he was confident that he would eventually catch up and even surpass Zhou Shengsheng's current wealth.
"Mr. Chen, I haven't met a young man like you who I find so likable in a long time. I hope we can cooperate happily in the future."
After finishing his morning tea, Zhou Shengsheng, in a rare gesture, stood up and shook hands with Chen Yang to bid farewell.
This made Butler Liu, who had followed him for over forty years, cast a few more glances at the young man. Since the master had taken charge of the Zhou family, the number of people he had praised so highly was no more than five.
And among them, this young man named Chen was the only one!
Butler Liu didn't know why this young man had gained his master's favor, but he trusted his master's judgment.
The last person his master had favored had merely been a low-level officer in the police station, but now he was one of Hong Kong's four major Chinese detectives and would soon be the Chief Chinese Detective.
Therefore, even if Chen Yang was just an unknown young man from the mainland, solely based on his master's favor, he was worth remembering.
Once his master had selected the inspection team, he would specifically instruct them not to antagonize this young man surnamed Chen, not to be ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, and to avoid being arrogant on the mainland, which would enrage his master and be a grave mistake.
"Miss Huang, this is twenty thousand US dollars. It's for the master. Please send it to the Zhou residence along with Mr. Chen later."
Although Butler Liu had many thoughts racing through his mind, he said nothing aloud. He merely smiled at Chen Yang in a friendly manner.
Then, as he passed Huang Lizhen, he handed her an envelope wrapped in brown paper, which contained twenty thousand US dollars.
As for when Huang Lizhen would deliver the 30,000 Hong Kong dollars to the Zhou residence, or if she would deliver it at all, he wasn't worried in the least.
There was no one in all of Hong Kong who dared to default on a debt to the Zhou family. As long as they weren't foolish enough to die, anyone would quickly send the money to the Zhou residence.
"Butler Liu, please rest assured, I will deliver the money to the Zhou residence as soon as possible. You and Old Zhou, please take care."
Huang Lizhen held the twenty thousand US dollars in the brown paper envelope. For the first time, she felt the money was so hot in her hand.
The main reason was that Chen Yang was present. Butler Liu's action clearly let Chen Yang know that she had been trying to profit from him.
If she hadn't recognized Chen Yang's value before, it would have been fine. After this matter, they could have gone their separate ways.
But now, she was truly unwilling to let go of Chen Yang, this man with such a promising future, for the sake of money.
Putting aside Chen Yang's unique charisma, just the fact that the influential Mr. Zhou valued him indicated that his future achievements would be limitless.
"Mr. Chen, this money, please take it. You can return the principal of 30,000 Hong Kong dollars to me later. I'm so sorry. I wanted to make a profit from you back then, but I didn't expect you to help me earn this money in the end."
Huang Lizhen gritted her teeth and directly took out twenty thousand US dollars.
Chen Yang looked at the woman's pained expression and waved his hand.
"No need, keep this money."
If Huang Lizhen had silently pocketed the twenty thousand US dollars today, Chen Yang would have considered them strangers from then on and would not have wanted to deal with her for anything.
A woman whose eyes were solely on petty gains was the most troublesome; such a person would definitely try to cheat you in business.
But Chen Yang could clearly see that Huang Lizhen came from an ordinary background, and these twenty thousand US dollars were definitely a windfall for her.
Yet, she could bear the pain of taking out the money to return it to Chen Yang, asking only for her principal.
At least from this aspect, this woman had aspirations. She could restrain her greed, which was a quality necessary for great endeavors.
"Mr. Chen, please don't be angry, I..."
Upon hearing that Chen Yang didn't want the money, Huang Lizhen didn't feel happy at all, but rather worried, thinking that Chen Yang was angry.
Putting herself in his shoes, if she had the opportunity to exchange money for twenty thousand US dollars, and someone had taken it for 30,000 Hong Kong dollars, anyone who was tricked like this would be angry.
"I'm not angry, Miss Huang. We weren't familiar before, and it was understandable for you to try to profit from me. Now that we're familiar, I'm very grateful that you're willing to return this money to me."
"Miss Huang considers me a friend, so we can't treat friendship as business. Take this money back."