National Tide 1980.

Businessmen are almost always good at weighing the pros and cons.

Therefore, although Ning Weimin's invitation was suspicious and his intentions were worth being wary of.

However, out of respect for General Manager Yoshida of Dentsu Corporation, and after being earnestly reminded by him, General Manager Ikei agreed and decided to keep the appointment to meet with Ning Weimin.

However, he also had his own pride and insistence, and his response was to postpone the time by a few days, while the location remained the same.

This is because, given his advantage, he wants to maintain more control.

The passage of time itself is a form of pressure; you can't just meet whenever the other person wants.

By adopting an attitude of indifference towards whether or not to talk, he can gradually erode the other party's bottom line.

In typical negotiations, the battle usually begins well before the negotiators even sit down at the table.

Secondly, he couldn't fight an unprepared battle. Since he had already learned from Yoshida that Ning Weimin was not to be underestimated, he had to gather intelligence to know himself and his enemy.

…………

Three days passed in a blink of an eye.

Yu Zhen Ge, a Chinese restaurant on the second floor of Block A, Pier Carton Building.

At 11:20 a.m. that day, Ikei arrived at the appointment with his Hong Kong manager, Huang He, and his secretary.

As soon as they arrived at the restaurant area, they were led by the hostess at the door to a quaint private room.

The environment inside the private room was surprisingly quiet.

The mahogany tables and chairs were polished to a shine, and ink paintings of landscapes hung on the walls. A faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, creating a world apart from the hustle and bustle outside. It was truly a perfect place for a private conversation.

What was even more surprising was that the host had not only arrived early in the private room, but was also sitting there alone, without any attendants by his side.

Was he the only one there?

Is it overconfidence, or is it an attempt to lull them into a false sense of security?

Chi Jing and the others were slightly stunned, but before they could think any further, Ning Weimin had already slowly stood up.

A gentle smile appeared on his young face, and his gaze fell precisely on Chi Jing, instantly recognizing Chi Jing's identity.

He then extended his hand and bowed slightly in accordance with Japanese etiquette, calmly introducing himself.

"General Manager Ikei, I've long admired your name. I am Ning Weimin. It's a pleasure to meet you. Please take care of me."

His Japanese was fluent and standard, without the slightest awkwardness, and his tone was calm, without any deliberate flattery or arrogant arrogance.

This composure, so unlike his age, drew even more surprise to Ikei Hajime's eyes.

"Mr. Ning, it's a pleasure to meet you."

He extended his hand without making a sound and shook hands lightly with Ning Weimin. His fingertips quickly withdrew the moment they touched, showing proper manners while deliberately maintaining a distance.

To be honest, Ning Weimin's good looks and refined manners were beyond his expectations, completely contrary to his image of a tyrannical barbarian.

The dinner was particularly simple in style, with no large amounts of meat or fish piled on the table, which suited his taste.

Ikei has worked in China for several years and is very familiar with the Chinese people's habit of being extravagant when entertaining guests.

It seems that everyone who sits at the dinner table becomes a drunkard or a starving ghost, as if they won't be satisfied until they've eaten and drunk themselves into a stupor.

Little did they know that this action would actually make the guests look down on the host's taste.

Few people understand that the focus of a business dinner is not on the food itself, but on what is discussed during the meal.

From this perspective, Ikei had a very good impression of Ning Weimin upon their first meeting.

However, Huang He, who was following behind him, had a completely different feeling.

First of all, Huang He came with the order given to him by Chi Jing to "gather details".

He eyed Ning Weimin warily, like a hunting dog poised to pounce, not wanting to miss a single subtle expression.

In his view, Ning Weimin was far too young, and his temperament was so gentle and refined that it was hard to associate the person in front of him with the legendary image of "marrying Matsumoto Keiko" and "owning a huge business in Japan," let alone a formidable opponent who could shake the Kumagai Group's plans.

He couldn't help but secretly speculate that the other party's current situation was probably entirely due to the help of his celebrity wife.

In the end, he's just a gigolo.

Secondly, Huang He also lacks a clear understanding of his own position.

He always felt that he was a favorite of Ikei, and his status as the port manager of the Kumagai Group was far beyond that of an ordinary employee.

Especially in mainland China, he unconsciously felt a sense of superiority, believing that he should be above all other mainlanders.

Seeing that Ning Weimin was only exchanging pleasantries with Chi Jing, he straightened his back, raised his head slightly, and waited for Ning Weimin to turn around and extend his hand to him in a polite manner.

However, he misjudged his own worth, and Ning Weimin had no such intention at all.

After merely gesturing for Chi Jing to sit down, Ning Weimin ignored everyone else and sat down himself.

At the same time, he raised his hand to signal to the waiter waiting beside him and gave the order in a calm tone.

"You can serve the food now."

The waiter responded and quietly slipped out.

Throughout the entire process, the other party didn't even spare Huang He a single extra glance.

Such a gesture might not seem like much to the accompanying secretary.

Female secretaries are used to playing a supporting role, keeping to themselves and remaining silent.

But for the proud and arrogant Huang He, this was undoubtedly a blatant and humiliating disgrace.

The other party clearly didn't take him seriously!

This was the first time he had ever encountered such a cold and indifferent treatment in all his years of working in mainland China.

As he was forced to pull out the chair and sit down, a nameless anger suddenly surged from the bottom of his heart, burning his face, which turned pale and then red.

Unfortunately, nobody paid any attention to him; he was like a ghost.

Chi Jing and Ning Weimin were still sizing each other up, and the private room fell into a temporary silence, the atmosphere quite subtle.

Neither of them took the initiative to speak, waiting for the other to reveal their hand first—the initiative in the negotiation, which everyone wanted to firmly grasp.

Therefore, out of consideration for his status as the host, Ning Weimin finally spoke up.

Even so, he wouldn't get straight to the point; he would still start with trivial matters. This subtle conversational skill is important and necessary in business settings.

This not only makes him appear less like a businessman driven by short-term gains, but also suggests that he doesn't take his negotiating opponent too seriously, subtly enhancing his own aura.

"General Manager Ikei, you've been working in China for quite some time now. What are your thoughts on the Chinese food here?"

Ning Weimin's tone was as relaxed as if he were chatting with an old friend, with a hint of nonchalance.

Upon hearing this, Ikei nodded slightly, a perfectly timed smile appearing on his face.

"Chinese cuisine is indeed profound and extensive, quite different from the Chinese food I've eaten in my home country. It seems to have countless dishes, including all kinds of delicacies. However, if I may be frank, sometimes I feel that some dishes are cooked in overly complicated ways, losing some of the original flavor of the food."

His words were purely polite, something he had probably done countless times to deal with officials and businessmen in Beijing, trying to save face for them while also maintaining the prestige of his country. In reality, it was as if he had said nothing at all.

But Ning Weimin didn't care. All he wanted was to bring up the topic so he could use it as a springboard for his next move.

"Then you must try the dishes at this restaurant today. To be honest, I also own this place. It specializes in imperial cuisine, and some of the dishes are the same as those at my Chinese restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo. It's very popular with Japanese customers in Tokyo. I hope you can give me a fair review later..."

However, just as he was about to continue his introduction, Huang He couldn't hold back any longer.

This guy was seething with anger, still feeling humiliated from being ignored earlier. Seeing the two talking about Chinese food, he immediately felt he had found an opportunity.

He boasted that the catering industry in Hong Kong was far more prosperous than that in mainland China, and that he had eaten everything that flew in the sky and ran on the ground.

This was a perfect opportunity for Ning Weimin, who was about to introduce Chinese cuisine, to regain face and make his presence felt.

So, seizing the opportunity, Huang He cleared his throat and interjected with a deliberately arrogant tone.

"Mr. Ning, as a native of Hong Kong, I believe I have some authority to speak on Chinese cuisine. In reality, all that talk about imperial cuisine is just a gimmick. Ultimately, it all comes down to the skill in using the finest delicacies."

As he spoke, he deliberately raised his chin and glanced at Ning Weimin, clearly showing off his knowledge.

"I've eaten quite a few shark fin banquets. The Cantonese-style shark fin soup and the Fujian-style Buddha Jumps Over the Wall are truly exceptional. Especially shark fin rice, which is a status symbol in Hong Kong!"

Upon hearing this, Huang He straightened his back even more and spoke faster, "The key to shark fin rice is that the shark fin needles must be thick and dense enough, and the broth must be simmered for a full twelve hours. The broth, made with old chicken, old duck, abalone, and dried scallops, must be so thick that it clings to the side of the bowl. Then, the soft and tender shark fin is mixed with the fragrant and sticky rice, and every grain of rice is soaked in the broth. The taste is fresh, mellow, and rich. That's what makes it authentic. Nobody in mainland China knows how to eat it yet."

Upon hearing this, Ikei's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He wasn't against shark fin, but he felt that Huang He's timing in interrupting was too deliberate, and the boasting and provocative tone was too obvious, which made him lose his composure and lower his overall level.

Especially in such a tense negotiation setting, discussing these trivial matters is meant to ease the atmosphere. Huang He's eagerness to show off and his obvious attempt to suppress the other party only makes him seem petty.

However, Huang He did not notice Chi Jing's dissatisfaction. Instead, he became more and more enthusiastic, looking like a Chinese food connoisseur.

"Mr. Ning's restaurant probably also sells shark fin, right? To be fair, the way shark fin is prepared on the mainland is always a bit lacking. Either the soup base isn't rich enough, or the fins aren't cleaned properly and have a fishy smell. The restaurants in Hong Kong are the most authentic; that's true mastery of cooking."

He deliberately emphasized the words "port city," his words exuding a sense of superiority, as if he had tasted far more delicacies than Ning Weimin had ever seen.

Ning Weimin never interrupted him. He simply picked up the teacup in front of him, took a slow sip, looked at him calmly, and even had a faint smile on his lips.

Ning Weimin only slowly put down his teacup after Huang He finished speaking, his spittle flying everywhere.

"Excuse me, who are you...?"

"I am the Hong Kong manager of the Kumagai Group, my name is Huang He." Huang He finally had the opportunity to introduce himself.

"Ah, it's Manager Huang. It seems you're quite knowledgeable about shark fin."

"I wouldn't dare call it research; it's just that I've eaten more of these highly nutritious foods than others, so I only know a little bit about them."

"Oh?"

Ning Weimin raised an eyebrow, his smile deepening. "In that case, I'll have someone bring over a few bowls of braised shark fin soup later, so Manager Huang can try them and see how our restaurant's shark fin really tastes."

When Ning Weimin offered to treat him to shark fin soup, Huang He mistakenly thought that Ning Weimin was taking advantage of his offer and that this was a gesture of goodwill.

He couldn't help but feel smug again, puffing out his chest even more.

Just as he was about to boast a few more words, Ning Weimin's next words were not so pleasant to hear.

"However, I disagree with some of what Manager Huang just said. Shark fin has no nutritional value whatsoever. It seems that Manager Huang's understanding of shark fin is indeed insufficient."

"How could that be? Isn't shark fin a great tonic?" Huang He immediately became unhappy. "Mr. Ning, don't talk nonsense."

To everyone's surprise, Ning Weimin's smile widened even more. "You eat shark fin, I sell shark fin. Of course, I have my reasons for saying that."

His tone shifted abruptly, the casual ease fading, replaced by a sharp edge. "You might not like hearing this, but it's true. Shark fin is mainly a gelatinous substance, like pig's trotters or chicken feet. Yes, shark fin is rich in protein, but unfortunately, the human body lacks the amino acids that can synthesize from shark fin protein. So, despite its high price, a bowl of shark fin soup has about the same nutritional value as an egg. Most people eat shark fin soup just for a psychological feeling, pure self-deception. Shark fin is not a panacea at all; the claims of its nourishing properties are just marketing rhetoric. Otherwise, how would they sell it to customers?"

These words were nothing short of a slap in the face to Huang He, and he was determined to oppose them to the bitter end.

"I don't believe you. You're making this up, aren't you? Experts have clearly said that shark fin can fight cancer."

"Shark fins have anti-cancer properties, but to process them into shark fins, you first need to use lime alkali to remove the scales, then grind them to remove the sand, then sun-dry them and store them. Before eating, they need to be soaked for several days, skinned and deboned, and stewed for a long time. The anti-cancer components are long gone by the time they are processed."

After being rebuked again, Huang He lost face and almost resorted to sophistry in his rebuttal.

"But even if you say that, why is shark fin so delicious? Isn't that the advantage of rare delicacies surpassing ordinary ingredients?"

Unexpectedly, Ning Weimin not only had a reasonable argument, but also went further and further astray.

"If that's what you mean, then you're completely wrong. Shark fin has no flavor other than a slight fishy smell. Its so-called deliciousness comes entirely from the broth. Even without shark fin, it would still taste good with such a broth. In fact, shark fin hasn't been a delicacy for very long. In ancient times, shark fin was just a coarse food for fishermen by the sea. It wasn't until the late Qing Dynasty, during the reign of Empress Dowager Cixi, that stir-fried shark fin appeared on the imperial kitchen's menu. To put it bluntly, it only became prestigious because the Qing imperial court gilded it."

These words, spoken slowly and deliberately, were as resounding as a slap in the face, striking precisely at Huang He's vanity.

He was completely speechless. He opened his mouth, but could not utter a single word of doubt. Every point Ning Weimin made was beyond his understanding of shark fin and completely shattered his pride in his "decency".

His previous arrogance vanished, leaving only embarrassment and awkwardness on his face, and he lowered his head unconsciously.

However, Ning Weimin never intended to make things difficult for Huang He, nor did he want to show off his knowledge.

Seeing that Huang He had completely fallen silent, he didn't bother to look at the other's embarrassing situation anymore and turned his gaze back to Chi Jing.

His tone returned to calm, with a hint of deliberate easing, skillfully steer the conversation back to the main topic.

“General Manager Ikei, I think some business projects are like this shark fin soup. On the surface, it looks glamorous and delicious, like a ‘delicacy’ that can bring rich returns, attracting people to flock to it. But in essence, it may not really have that much value, and it may not be what diners really want to buy.”

These words immediately shifted the tense atmosphere in the private room, which had been created by the debate, and the focus returned to the core of the game between the two men today.

Chi Jing looked up at Ning Weimin, his eyes showing a hint of understanding—he knew that the groundwork had been laid and Ning Weimin was finally about to reveal his trump card regarding the Beijing amusement park.

He put down his teacup, tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and responded calmly.

"Mr. Ning's words are quite intriguing. I wonder which one you mean by 'a project like shark fin'?"

Ning Weimin smiled, not stating it directly, his tone relaxed yet confident.

"General Manager Ikei is a smart man, I don't need to spell it out. The core reason we're sitting here today is still about the Beijing Amusement Park. The reason I've talked so much about shark fin with Mr. Huang is simply to illustrate a point—appearances are often deceptive. What's truly important is the project's intrinsic value, not its superficial 'glamour.'" (End of Chapter)