National Tide 1980.

Throughout history, whether in conflicts between nations or in commercial disputes, there has always been one persistent problem that cannot be eradicated at its root: spies who leak information.

Often, the more critical the moment of the game, the easier it is for these figures lurking in the shadows to disrupt the situation, making the already difficult game even more passive and dangerous.

Just like the recent controversy surrounding the amusement park in Beijing.

In fact, the reason why the Japanese side was able to accurately grasp the concerns of the district government and make unreasonable demands step by step is that it would have been impossible for them to grasp the meeting dynamics of the district government so quickly without an insider tipping them off.

So, once there was one, there was bound to be two. Right after the core strategy for dealing with the Japanese side was finalized in the meeting room of the Chongwen District Government.

That very evening, the news quietly reached the ears of the Japanese representatives at the Beijing Amusement Park.

…………

January 1991, 2, afternoon.

In the office of the Japanese general manager of the Beijing Amusement Park, the air conditioner was blowing warm air, but it couldn't dispel the chill in the room.

With a loud "smack," General Manager Yuichi Sugimoto slammed the folder in his hand onto the table and began to growl at his deputy, Kenta Sato.

"Sato! It's all because of your clumsy suggestion! I warned you long ago not to pressure the Chinese side too much, and to know when to stop! But you insisted on those greedy conditions, and now things are completely out of control! The Chinese side is not taking our threat to withdraw seriously at all, and instead plans to use administrative means to fine us. Moreover, they are planning to find a replacement and kick us out of the game completely!"

Meanwhile, the Japanese executive manager, Kenta Sato, was livid, his temples throbbing with anger as he was scolded, but he resolutely refused to admit his mistake.

He retorted, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Sugimoto-kun, you're being far too pessimistic! The Chinese side simply lacks the technology and experience to operate a modern amusement park. They're looking for a replacement? How easy is that! In all of Asia, besides our Japanese companies, which other company is capable of operating such a large-scale amusement park? I don't know where you got this information, but this must be a bluff from the Chinese side, designed to force us to make concessions!"

"bluff?"

Yuichi Sugimoto sneered, opened the folder, and pushed it in front of Sato. "The district government already has a specific candidate in mind. His name is Ning Weimin, and he is the overseas manager of Pierre Cardin China Company! I have had someone urgently check his entrepreneurial resume overnight. Please take a good look at these documents first, and then tell me whether this is just bluffing or not!"

"Pierre Cardin, the French clothing company? Are you kidding me?"

Kenta Sato scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain.

As he reached for the folder, a hint of disdain lingered in his fingertips.

I thought to myself, how could a sales manager from a clothing company understand the operation of an amusement park? Is he even qualified to be their replacement?
However, when Sugimoto Yuichi saw his nonchalant attitude, his tone became even more unfriendly.

"Do I look like I'm joking? Even though time is tight and the information we have is limited, you'd better understand the situation before saying such things."

Kenta Sato dared not be arrogant anymore. He lowered his head with suspicion, his gaze falling on the three characters "Ning Weimin" in the name column on the first page of the document.

Next, when his gaze swept over the first line of resume description, the corners of his mouth, which had been pursed, instantly froze, and the contempt on his face seemed to freeze solid.

His fingers unconsciously gripped the document tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force, and his page-turning movements, which were initially casual, became slow.

"She works in the sales department of a clothing company, yet she opened the best imperial cuisine restaurant in Beijing... and even expanded the restaurant to Ginza, Tokyo? In just six months, it has become famous and is now the most upscale Chinese restaurant in Tokyo?"

Kenta Sato's voice grew softer and softer as he read, his initial anger vanishing completely, replaced by an undisguised astonishment.

His brows were furrowed tightly, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the paper as if trying to see through the words.

He abruptly turned the page, his fingertips trembling slightly with tension, his eyes scanning the new text eagerly.

"In just three years, branches have opened in Kyoto and Osaka? The head chef has become a regular on TBS food programs? He even refused a Michelin star rating?"

When he said those words, his voice already trembled slightly.

Cold sweat seeped silently from his forehead and slid down his cheeks, but he was completely unaware of it.

Then, when he saw the titles "inventor of the rolling suitcase," "creator of the Easy-Lap brand company," and "earning millions of dollars annually from patent licensing," Kenta Sato felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face, and he froze on the spot.

The folder in his hand slipped onto the table with a "thud," scattering several sheets of paper, but he forgot to even pick them up. His mouth was slightly open, as if something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound for a long time, leaving only his heavy breathing, which was particularly clear in the quiet office.

"This...how is this possible?"

He finally found his voice, but it was so hoarse it was unrecognizable.

His eyes were filled with disbelief and terror, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"How could one person achieve this level of success in completely unrelated fields? Clothing, food and beverage, suitcases—these are all completely unrelated industries... Just what kind of monster is he?"

Perhaps it was because Kenta Sato was too slow in flipping through the documents, and they couldn't wait for him to finish reading them all.

When he got to this point, Sugimoto Yuichi, who had been holding back his anger, couldn't help but interrupt and simply laid out all the key information.

"What's even more surprising is that this is only half of the story. The rest will likely surprise you even more. This person was also actively involved in stock investment in Japan, and his restaurant was also owned by him. What's most surprising is that he successfully withdrew from the market before December 1989, selling off all his stocks and real estate."

"Did they withdraw before the end of 1989?"

Kenta Sato looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He suddenly raised his head, his pupils contracted sharply, and all the color drained from his face, leaving only a deathly pale complexion.

Even though he had been working in the capital, he was well aware of how devastating the Japanese stock market crash was after the end of 1989.

Not to mention how many large companies were ruined in that crisis, even his and Sugimoto's stock accounts in Tokyo shrank dramatically, losing almost half of their respective assets.

And this Ning Weimin was able to make an accurate prediction and escape unscathed?

Isn’t this too magical?
"Although there are no specific figures, it's amazing how he miraculously avoided the major market crash that started at the end of the year before last. Clearly, he made a fortune through speculation in the Japanese stock and real estate markets. That's why he later returned to Beijing with the money he earned in Japan, where he began large-scale investments, establishing numerous companies in various industries and venturing into different fields. And you would never guess that he's the investor in the renovation project of Longtan Lake Park not far from us, and the aquarium project that the Chongwen District government values ​​most is his work..."

Yuichi Sugimoto's voice continued to come, each word like a heavy hammer blow to Kenta Sato's heart.

The last sentence, in particular, startled Kenta Sato so much that he staggered back a step, his back slamming heavily against the cold wall with a dull thud.

For no other reason than that the aquarium project was located not far from them.

They had a premonition that if the aquarium were built, it would likely compete with the amusement park for visitors.

Therefore, they have not only paid close attention to the progress of this project, but have also tried many ways to stop or persuade the government to relocate the project.

Unfortunately, the district government's attitude remains unwavering.

As they gradually learned, the aquarium project was a key project that had been submitted to the city government, with a total investment more than twice that of the amusement park.

In particular, this project is not a purely commercial project; it also has special significance in popularizing marine science among the public. In terms of social impact and the importance of popular science education, it far surpasses that of a commercial amusement park.

Regardless, the district government was determined to ensure the project's successful completion, so they gave up hope.

However, from that time on, they were curious about what kind of company dared to invest heavily in a high-risk project like an aquarium in an inland city like Beijing.

From an operational standpoint, this project is undoubtedly unprofitable and requires extremely strong capabilities to succeed.

Now they finally know.

Faced with such an opponent, Sato naturally lost his previous blind arrogance. All his strength seemed to have been drained in an instant, and he could only mutter in disbelief.

"It can't be such a coincidence, can it? The aquarium is actually a project invested in by this person. If that's the case, it's indeed possible that the Chinese side bought our shares through this person's funds. This guy actually used money from Japan to become a threat to us..."

But this is far from over. Sugimoto Yuichi continued, “What’s money? That’s secondary. The most crucial thing is that this person is familiar with the way we Japanese operate and knows our weaknesses. To be honest, there’s something about his resume that even surprised me. Do you know what he did in Tokyo? He married the big star Matsumoto Keiko. He’s the Chinese man who stole our ‘Number One Beauty.’ In other words, he has a woman behind him who can influence the Japanese entertainment industry. Even in Japan, he has connections and funds. If the district government really invites him here, all our advantages will vanish! With his influence, even if he doesn’t know how to manage an amusement park, it probably wouldn’t be difficult for him to poach professionals from Japan or even buy a company that operates an amusement park.”

Upon hearing this, Kenta Sato felt dizzy and almost collapsed to the ground.

He finally realized how ridiculous his previous judgment was and how foolish his provocative actions were.

This Ning Weimin not only has capital and business acumen, but he also has connections in the Japanese film and business world, making him fully capable of taking over the amusement park!
In particular, as a native of Beijing, his understanding of the local area and his connections there certainly far surpass those of these outsiders.

Where is China bluffing? It has clearly found their nemesis.

To be honest, if the positions were reversed, he, as a member of the district government, would definitely be willing to let his side withdraw and be replaced by Ning Weimin.

He slumped into the chair behind him, his hands hanging limply at his sides, his eyes staring blankly at the ground, muttering repeatedly, "It's over...it's completely over...we've kicked a hornet's nest..."

The disdainful attitude from just moments ago vanished, leaving only a deep-seated fear and regret.

He finally saw the current situation clearly and realized that his misjudgment this time had really messed things up.

He was confident that the Chinese side would have no choice but to compromise, but he did not expect that the other side could find such a ruthless character, which completely disrupted his entire plan.

"Then... what should we do now?"

Sato's voice carried a hint of panic, the previous toughness gone. "If we're really replaced by this Ning Weimin, not only will we be unable to provide financial support to headquarters, but we might not even be able to recover the funds we've already invested. Headquarters will definitely hold us accountable..."

"How dare you say that?" Seeing his dejected and useless state, Sugimoto Yuichi really wanted to curse him out.

The original purpose of calling him in to hold him accountable was secondary; the main reason was to get his help in coming up with ideas.

Looking at it now, Sato is just a tough idiot who's all bark and no bite. We can't count on him anymore, and he can only rely on himself.

Taking a deep breath, Yuichi Sugimoto forced himself to calm down, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, "At this point, there's no room for a head-on confrontation. We must take immediate remedial measures. First, with the Spring Festival approaching, the most important holiday in China, we should take the initiative, prepare generous gifts, and visit the district government leaders. We should be humble and show our sincerity in renegotiating. Depending on the situation, I think we can agree to their condition of profitability next year. Let's try to stabilize them first and absolutely prevent them from actually bringing Ning Weimin into our fold. At the same time, we should also visit the husband of this big star and see if we can persuade him not to get involved in this mess. After all, his wife is Japanese, and his business base is probably in Japan. No matter how much he invests in China, how much money can he make? For the sake of Japanese industries, he wouldn't necessarily want to go against us, would he?"

Kenta Sato nodded quickly, "This method is feasible! Chinese people have always valued reciprocity. If we take the initiative to show goodwill, even if it can't immediately dispel the district government's idea of ​​finding a replacement, it can make them feel less urgent and allow them to delay for a while. As for Ning Weimin, he can earn so much money, he's definitely not stupid, he should carefully consider the pros and cons of this matter."

"There's a second point."

Sugimoto Yu's eyes narrowed, a calculating glint in his eyes. "We can't pin all our hopes on negotiations. We also need to have backup plans in mind. If they really decide to completely break with us, we can't let them get away with it so easily. I remember there's a Kowloon amusement park in the suburbs of Beijing that the Kumamoto Group has invested in, right? We can contact them and propose transferring our shares to them. This aquarium already overlaps in theme with their amusement park. If we let this Mr. Ning take over our amusement park, do you think the Kumamoto Group will be worried?"

"Transfer to the Kumamoto Group?"

Kenta Sato paused, then his eyes lit up. "That's right! How come I didn't think of that! Kumamoto Group is a well-funded, truly large corporation. They have long-term ambitions and intend to expand their investment in China. They'll definitely be willing to pay a premium for our shares. That way, we can at least ask for a high price for our shares. The head office is so short of money right now, they might actually be tempted by Kumamoto Group's offer. Anyway, we've already made enough money during the most profitable years of the amusement park! These rides are getting old, and maintenance costs will inevitably increase year by year in the coming years. If the head office really authorizes us to sell our shares, then we can return to Japan openly and legitimately, without having to get entangled here any longer!"

“That’s right. This is our way out.” Sugimoto Yuichi’s face showed a relieved smile. “So the most important thing now is to race against time. These things must be settled before the Spring Festival. On the one hand, we need to feign negotiations with the district government to buy time, while at the same time contacting Mr. Ning to keep him out of the mess. On the other hand, we need to contact the Kumamoto group as soon as possible to discuss the share transfer. As long as these things are done, no matter what, we can get out unscathed and give the head office a satisfactory explanation.”

Kenta Sato breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stood up.

"Sugimoto-kun, I'll arrange it right away! Leave the contacting of the Kumamoto team to me; I know their on-site representative! However, regarding the gift-giving visit during the Lunar New Year, going together will better show our sincerity!"

Sugimoto Yuu nodded, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. "Remember, when you go to negotiate with the district government this time, while your attitude must be sincere, don't make too many concessions easily. Just keep them calm for now. Once we reach an agreement with the Kumamoto group, we won't need to be beholden to the Chinese anymore!"

"Yes, sir!" Kenta Sato bowed in response, his tense nerves completely relaxing, and his previous fear and regret disappearing.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned to prepare for contacting the Kumamoto group, not even bothering to tidy up the documents scattered on the ground.

Just then, the office door was slammed open, and a translator in an amusement park uniform rushed in, pale-faced and panting, without even knocking.

He rushed to Sugimoto Yuichi in a panic, his bow trembling, and reported in broken Japanese in a hurried voice.

"General Manager Sugimoto! Manager Sato! No...no good! The ward government...the ward government has come to inspect! They're right at the main gate, looking very aggressive, they don't seem to have any good intentions!"

"what?!"

Yuichi Sugimoto and Kenta Sato exclaimed almost simultaneously, their expressions, which had just begun to brighten, instantly freezing.

Kenta Sato abruptly stopped in his tracks, staggered, and nearly bumped into the corner of the table.

His eyes widened in disbelief, his throat tightened, and his voice trembled. "People from the district government? How could they be so fast? Could it be that they've already made a decision today?"

Yuichi Sugimoto looked as if he had been punched hard in the face; his previously composed face instantly turned bright red, then quickly faded to a livid blue.

He sprang up from his chair, slamming his hands hard on the table until his knuckles turned white. The warm air from the heater on his face sent a chill down his spine.

His previous composure and calculation vanished, replaced by rage and panic from having his plans disrupted.

"How many people did they bring? Who is in charge? What are they investigating?"

Yuichi Sugimoto's voice was filled with barely suppressed anger, his eyes fixed on the employee as if trying to extract all the answers from him.

"More than a dozen people came, including firefighters, sanitation workers, and market regulators!"

The translator trembled with fear and answered rapidly, “The leader was Deputy District Head Xu, who is in charge of commerce at the district government! They said… they wanted to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the park’s safety facilities, food hygiene, and special equipment maintenance. They also demanded that we immediately provide all relevant ledgers and records. Their attitude was very tough; they said if we didn’t cooperate, they would issue a fine on the spot!”

"Deputy District Head Xu? A comprehensive inspection?"

Yuichi Sugimoto repeated these words through gritted teeth, his chest heaving violently.

He never expected that China's actions would be so swift and decisive, giving them no chance to prepare.

He originally thought he still had time to take the initiative to visit and show goodwill and delay the situation, but the sudden inspection by the Chinese side completely disrupted his plans.

Now, let alone visiting the district government leaders, even getting through the current inspection is a problem—the fine is still fined, and more importantly, this might mean that the district government has already reached an agreement with Ning Weimin, which means they are truly in a passive position!

Kenta Sato stood to the side, his face ashen, his earlier relief completely gone, replaced by deep terror.

He could naturally deduce that since the Chinese side was no longer leaving them any room for maneuver, it must have had sufficient confidence to dare to break off relations so openly.

Ning Weimin's appearance had already put them in a precarious situation, and now the government's inspections were coming one after another. This was clearly a form of retaliation, like trapping a dog and trying to drive them to their deaths!

"Quickly...get the person in charge of administration here right now!"

Suppressing his panic, Sugimoto Yuichi sternly ordered the translator, "Also, quickly tell the security team to stall them at the entrance and say I'm coming right away!"

"Yes, sir!" The translator quickly bowed and retreated, closing the office door as if fleeing.

The office fell silent again, with only Yuichi Sugimoto's heavy breathing remaining.

He slammed his fist on the table, scattering the documents everywhere. The hum of the heater sounded like a death knell.

Kenta Sato turned around shakily, looking at Yuichi Sugimoto, his voice trembling with tears. "Sugimoto-kun... what do we do now? If they really reach an agreement, we're finished..."

Yuichi Sugimoto did not answer. He stared intently out the window at the direction of the amusement park, his eyes filled with rage and resentment.

All he knows now is that China is coming on strong and has taken the initiative, while they have very few cards to play.

This hurdle is really difficult to overcome... (End of Chapter)