National Tide 1980.

Upon hearing this, Ikei abruptly stopped tapping his fingers on the table.

Those sharp eyes narrowed slightly, their scrutinizing gaze falling on Ning Weimin's face, as if trying to see through his gentle appearance and uncover the calculations in his heart.

Having navigated the business world for many years, Ikei has seen too many opponents like this—appearing gentle and refined on the surface, but secretly employing underhanded tactics.

"Essential value?"

He slowly repeated those four words, his tone carrying a hint of cold sarcasm, "Mr. Ning, your words sound quite high-sounding. But in my opinion, no matter how much you say, it's probably just an excuse for you to take the Beijing Amusement Park from us, isn't it?"

He leaned forward, his aura suddenly becoming sharp, and every word he uttered carried a piercing intent.

"Let's stop beating around the bush. To be frank, the equity transfer agreement between Kumagai Gumi and Nichi-Sōgo has been approved by the district government; it's just one step away. Mr. Ning, meeting with us at this time is simply because you're unwilling to be left out and want to persuade us to back down. But what makes you think you can? Is it because you made your fortune through speculation in Japan, or because your restaurants are doing well, or because you invented the patent for the rolling suitcase? Or is it because of your senior management position at Pierre Cardin?"

"Yes, I've already learned about your entrepreneurial history, Mr. Ning. I admit that you have a brilliant mind, and your experience of starting from scratch is nothing short of legendary. I also know that you've established yourself in the Japanese business world and have a considerable network of connections. You even have a remarkable wife who can influence the Japanese media through her influence in the Japanese entertainment industry. But if I may be frank, we are not Dentsu, a company that survives on advertising revenue; we are Kumagai Gumi, a company that specializes in construction engineering."

"For a capital-intensive company like ours, survival depends on the reputation we've earned in the industry through technology and quality. We don't care about advertising; we don't need to rely on you at all. You and your wife have no influence over our decision to acquire Beijing Amusement Park. And you should also know that even your municipal government is on our side in this matter. So I advise you to give up this project and stop wasting your time."

These words were direct and to the point; Ikei made no attempt to hide his hostility and resistance, and his words were filled with arrogance.

He was certain that he was not afraid of Ning Weimin and Matsumoto Keiko's influence in Japan, nor was he afraid of Ning Weimin's connections in the officialdom as a "local tyrant".

In his view, as long as he held firm to his position, Ning Weimin would be helpless and destined to leave disappointed.

But in fact, he made some major misjudgments about things, which he was far from realizing at the time.

As a result, the atmosphere in the private room instantly became extremely tense, and even the faint sandalwood scent in the air seemed frozen and stagnant.

Huang He sat to the side, his previously droopy head slightly raised, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Ning Weimin was even more gloating.

He was eager for Ning Weimin to suffer a setback, so that he could wash away the humiliation of being ignored in public and rendered speechless by the rebuttal.

Fortunately, the waiter entered at that moment, carrying several plates of delicate cold dishes, which perfectly eased the tense atmosphere in the room.

Scallion oil-dressed wood ear mushrooms, garlic-flavored pork belly, smashed cucumber, and osmanthus-scented glutinous rice lotus root—all simple home-style dishes, yet arranged neatly and elegantly, pleasing to the eye.

In addition, there were four bowls of shark fin soup that Ning Weimin had just added on the spur of the moment. Before the lids were even lifted, a rich and lingering aroma filled the air, making one's throat tighten.

It must be said that even if this food has no special nutritional value as Ning Weimin said, the restaurant's cooking skills are indeed impeccable.

Even Huang He, the "shark fin expert" who had just scoffed at the mainland's shark fin cooking methods, was drawn in by the aroma. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and his eyes revealed an undisguised craving.

Ning Weimin raised his hand to signal the waiter to serve the dishes, and a gentle smile returned to his face, as if the confrontation just now had never happened, and he showed no signs of being oppressed.

"General Manager Chi Jing, please try these side dishes and shark fin soup first. They are all the specialties of the chefs at Yuzhen Pavilion. I dare not say that the cooking techniques are particularly superb, but they are clean and delicious."

Chi Jing looked at the light and elegant cold dishes on the table, then glanced at the fragrant shark fin soup. His physiological instincts made it impossible for him to refuse this perfectly timed offer.

Moreover, he already had a good impression of Ning Weimin's choice of a home-style banquet instead of extravagance, and his previous sharp aura dissipated somewhat due to this sudden touch of warmth and homeliness.

He silently picked up his chopsticks, but instead of touching the gimmicky shark fin soup, he first picked up a piece of smashed cucumber.

The crisp cucumber, coated with a little minced garlic and balsamic vinegar, is refreshing and appetizing. The perfect balance of sourness and aroma instantly dispels the awkwardness left by the previous verbal exchange.

Chi Jing's brows relaxed slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes—it was truly rare to see such a simple home-cooked dish prepared with such meticulous attention to heat and seasoning.

He then picked up a piece of osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice lotus root, which was soft, chewy, and not sticky.

The sweet fragrance of osmanthus and the refreshing aroma of lotus root intertwine in the mouth, sweet but not cloying, with a smooth and pleasant taste.

After tasting two side dishes, Chi Jing's tense expression eased considerably. The hostility in her eyes as she looked at Ning Weimin lessened, replaced by a greater appreciation for the dishes.

Huang He, who was standing to the side, could not wait any longer. When he saw Chi Jing pick up his chopsticks, he eagerly picked up the shark fin soup in front of him.

He carefully lifted the lid, and a rich, fresh aroma immediately wafted out. The milky white broth was thick and clear, with each shark fin needle clearly visible, making it look extremely authentic.

Huang He scooped a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The rich broth melted on his tongue, fresh but not fishy. The chicken wings were soft, chewy and tender, even more flavorful than the ones he had eaten at many high-end restaurants in Hong Kong.

He originally wanted to find some faults, but the texture and taste were absolutely flawless.

The sarcastic remark that was on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back, leaving only a look of pure enjoyment on his face.

Even the way she looked at Ning Weimin had less hostility and more complexity.

This mainland Chinese man, whom he considered a "gold digger," actually ran the restaurant so well.

Chi Jing also picked up a small spoon, scooped up a spoonful of shark fin, and tasted it.

The richness of the broth and the texture of the chicken wings made him put down his spoon, and his gaze towards Ning Weimin became more sincere, no longer the completely scrutinizing look from before.

“Mr. Ning, you are indeed skilled at running a restaurant, and your culinary skills are quite excellent. Especially these Chinese dishes, which are light yet delicious and very much to my liking, even better than the expensive dishes I have eaten in many so-called high-end restaurants and five-star hotels in Beijing. I think that if you are willing to drop the matter of the equity of the Beijing amusement park, Kumagai Gumi China Company will be happy to become your customer in the future, and will try to hold banquets here and support your restaurant business.”

This was the first time since meeting Ning Weimin that Ikei had genuinely expressed his appreciation.

As soon as he finished speaking, the heavy atmosphere in the private room completely dissipated, replaced by a subtle relaxation.

At least when it comes to "eating," Ikei approved of Ning Weimin's restaurant and developed a better impression of Ning Weimin—perhaps this is the magic of food, which can easily melt away the barriers between people.

But Ning Weimin was by no means the kind of person who would abandon his original intention for such a small gain; he even secretly laughed to himself that Chi Jing had stolen his lines.

"General Manager Chi Jing, you flatter me. I've always believed that cooking, like doing business, is all about putting your heart into it. As long as you put your heart into it, even the simplest home-style dishes can be made to taste satisfying. I also thank you for your kindness. The fact that you're willing to patronize my restaurant shows that you're a magnanimous person and an excellent negotiator..." Ning Weimin's words made Chi Jing smile as he listened, and his mood became more and more relaxed.

However, just when he was almost certain that Ning Weimin had learned to make choices and would no longer harbor any delusions about the amusement park, the other party's tone suddenly changed.

"However, I'm very sorry, but I still want to acquire shares in the Capital Amusement Park. Please forgive my insistence on this point—it would be better for the Kumagai Gumi to give up on this matter, focus on your main construction business, and let me have the Capital Amusement Park."

"you!"

The smile on Ikei's face froze instantly, his relaxed expression suddenly tightened, and the sharp aura that had dissipated earlier returned.

He clenched his chopsticks tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, his eyes filled with astonishment and anger.

"Mr. Ning, what do you mean by this? I thought we had reached a preliminary understanding, but you're just making fun of me?"

Huang He, standing to the side, slammed his hand on the table. The fresh aroma of the shark fin hadn't even faded from his tongue when his anger surged to his head.

He suddenly stood up, pointed at Ning Weimin, and angrily rebuked him.

"Mr. Ning! Don't push your luck! General Manager Ikei made this suggestion out of pure goodwill, and you're simply ungrateful! Do you really think you can get what you want by being a rogue and pestering me?"

The tableware on the table trembled slightly from his slap, and a few drops of soup from the shark fin soup spilled out.

His earlier appreciation for the dishes was completely wiped away by his anger.

The atmosphere in the private room instantly plummeted to freezing point, even more tense than the previous standoff.

Ke Ningwei remained calm. He raised his hand to signal Huang He to calm down, not bothering to argue with him at all, and kept his gaze fixed on Chi Jing.

"General Manager Ikei, please don't be angry. I am not trying to make fun of you, nor do I have any ill intentions. I just want to make one point: I am determined to get the Beijing Amusement Park, but I have never thought of breaking ties with your company, much less causing unnecessary business disputes."

He paused, softened his tone, and spoke with the rationality of a businessman.

"We are all profit-driven businessmen; the core issue is discussing profits, not fighting for victory. Rather than fighting to the death over a project, it's better to sit down and figure out how to ensure both sides get a greater return. Our conflict, in the end, is nothing more than a price issue. If we can negotiate a mutually beneficial deal like friends, why would we have to fight? Who wants to start a pointless business war?"

Ikei's anger subsided slightly, but his eyes remained sharp as knives.

"Oh? What do you mean by that, Mr. Ning? Are you suggesting that if we give up our shares in the amusement park, we'll get a much better return than if we were to acquire it directly?"

His tone was full of skepticism; in his view, it was simply a fantasy.

"exactly."

Ning Weimin nodded without hesitation, then took out a blank notepad and a pen from his briefcase and placed them on the table.

"If I'm not mistaken, after the Kumagai Gumi successfully acquires the Kyoto Amusement Park, they will most likely maintain its current scale and do some simple renovations, right? But in that case, all the amusement park can bring you is the operating profit of the existing model. It's stable, but how much can it generate?"

He paused briefly, looked at Chi Jing with clear eyes, and continued speaking.

"Although Beijing has a population of ten million, due to transportation limitations, only about three and a half districts residents are likely to actually visit the amusement park. Based on the current situation, you'd be lucky to make a net profit of two million RMB per month. Of that, 40% has to be given to the district government, meaning that even after a year of hard work, you'd only make a maximum of fifteen million RMB in profit—equivalent to about five hundred million yen at the official exchange rate. Compared to your initial investment of 2.2 billion yen, it would take four and a half years to break even. More importantly, you'd also have to manage the cultural tourism operations, which you're not good at, and you'd need to prepare several billion yen in operating capital. Such an investment and return might not be proportional."

Ikei did not refute him, but simply looked at him silently, gesturing for him to continue.

"But if the amusement park were in my hands, the situation would be completely different."

Ning Weimin's eyes gleamed with determination and sharpness. "I'm different from you. What I want to do isn't maintain the status quo, but a large-scale upgrade and renovation. I want to expand the existing scale of the Beijing Amusement Park as much as possible, link it with my aquarium, add theaters, hotels, restaurants, and shops, and integrate the two venues to create a super theme park that can rival Tokyo Disneyland. If conditions permit, I also want to develop a high-end residential community in the surrounding area. I have made a preliminary estimate that the total investment for the park renovation project alone—including building new themed venues, introducing advanced amusement equipment, renovating infrastructure, and creating supporting commercial streets—will be approximately 20 billion yen."

"Twenty billion yen?"

The number struck like a thunderbolt, causing Ikei's pupils to contract sharply and his fingers gripping the teacup to tighten abruptly.

Even Huang He, who was still furious, was completely stunned. His anger was instantly replaced by shock, and he subconsciously sat back down, his eyes filled with disbelief—they never expected that Ning Weimin's ambition was so vast.

“That’s right, 20 billion yen, which is roughly 700 million yuan.” Ning Weimin’s tone was firm, filled with undeniable confidence. “And the core strength of the Kumagai Group lies in construction engineering. I can clearly promise that as long as the Kumagai Group agrees to relinquish its amusement park shares, I will entrust not only the amusement park’s renovation project but also the subsequent construction of the commercial complex to the Kumagai Group. You know best how low labor costs are in mainland China. With your technology and experience, you can at least get a 30% profit, right? More importantly, I can settle the yen directly with you through Sumitomo Bank in Tokyo, completely eliminating your exchange rate risk.”

Seeing Ikei's increasingly serious expression, he continued, "You should do the math—if you operate the amusement park yourself, the annual profit will be at most 500 million yen. But by undertaking this renovation project, your company can get at least 5 billion yen in profit, and if you add the commercial residential project, the profit will only be more. Moreover, the construction period is at most two years, the results are quick, the risk is low, and you don't have to worry about operations at all. More importantly, once this project is completed, it will definitely be a major cultural tourism project that attracts national attention. If Kumagai Gumi wins it, it will not only greatly enhance its reputation in the Chinese market, but also allow it to access the government's key project resources, and subsequent construction business will naturally expand accordingly. This is absolutely a great thing for you with no downsides."

Ning Weimin put down his pen, leaned forward slightly, and looked at him with a frank and sharp gaze.

"General Manager Ikei, you are a shrewd businessman, and you can see the superiority of one over the other at a glance. Now you should understand, right? I'm not trying to kick the Kumagai Group out of the game, but rather to give you a bigger 'cake' that's more suitable for you. We don't need to fight over who wins or loses; we can work together to make money."

The private room fell silent again, with only the occasional car horn sound seeping in from outside the window.

Huang He stared intently at Chi Jing, his eyes filled with anxiety and trepidation, eager to know the general manager's reaction.

Meanwhile, Ikei leaned over and stared at the sticky note on the table, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the surface, making a soft "tap, tap, tap" sound, the rhythm chaotic and disordered, which perfectly reflected the turmoil in his heart.

Ning Weimin's words were like a boulder, stirring up a thousand waves in his heart.

He was both shocked by Ning Weimin's almost insane ambition and unable to ignore the huge profits behind that massive construction order.

Giving up equity in the amusement park may seem like a concession, but it guarantees a profit of over 5 billion yen, which is more than the income from operating it for four and a half years, and it is less risky and more profitable.

Any shrewd businessman can figure this out.

But he couldn't help but hesitate when it came to giving up the amusement park that was about to be acquired—after all, this was an important step for the Kumagai Group in its strategy to develop the cultural tourism market in China.

The choices made involve a precise weighing of interests and, more importantly, a crucial decision about the future. (End of Chapter)