National Tide 1980.

Perhaps Ning Weimin himself felt that he hadn't changed much.

But in the eyes of others, he is actually becoming more and more like a big shot.

He's the kind of person whose word is law, and who can easily discuss deals worth tens of millions.

He's the kind of person whose train of thought often leaves others struggling to follow, yet he can turn an idea into reality.

They are the kind of people who frequently make creative moves that can change the face of a city or the economic trajectory of a region.

Otherwise, when he came to Hong Kong, so many people wouldn't have paid attention to his movements, actively inquired about his news, or spontaneously come to the airport to pick him up.

However, Ning Weimin has never been an ostentatious person, nor does he like to flaunt his wealth.

Unlike the billionaires in Hong Kong, most of them become very high-profile after they get rich.

He only rides in Rolls-Royces and Mercedes-Benzes when he goes out, and is surrounded by a group of bodyguards in suits. He seems to want to have the word "rich" engraved on his forehead so that everyone will look at him with new eyes.

These symbols have led many people to secretly wish they could "stab them in the heart."

On the contrary, Ning Weimin would always try to remain ordinary and low-key, hiding his wealth and status, unless necessary.

Yao Peifang didn't know whether it was out of safety considerations or because she just naturally liked it this way.

In any case, Ning Weimin is very humble in his dealings with others, and his words and actions are steady and reliable, which is not at all like someone his age.

Most of the wealthy young men his age were still squandering their time in a life of pleasure and debauchery, and none of them possessed his composed demeanor.

So when that familiar figure finally appeared at the end of the passage at the airport, Yao Peifang was not surprised at all.

Ning Weimin was wearing a simple white short-sleeved shirt, paired with khaki casual pants and ordinary white canvas shoes, and carrying only a black backpack.

Unlike his usual solitary travels, this time he was accompanied by two assistants on his trip to Hong Kong.

Even with assistants by their side, they didn't exude any ostentatious aura.

Because Ning Weimin's two assistants were dressed in similar clothes to him, each carrying a suitcase, and followed steadily half a step behind Ning Weimin.

Following closely behind Ning Weimin, they mingled in the bustling crowd, maintaining a perfect sense of propriety, as if they were a group of friends traveling together.

If Yao Peifang hadn't been so familiar with Ning Weimin, it would have been difficult to distinguish them from the crowd at first glance.

But this seemingly ordinary figure, once recognized, instantly quieted the originally noisy arrival gate.

After Yao Peifang, it was Xia who was the first to react.

Her face immediately lit up with a warm smile, and she hurried to greet him. "President Ning! You've finally arrived!"

Mr. Hung, the 14K triad boss, also put away his usual serious expression and followed Ah Xia forward, extending his hand, "Ning Sheng, welcome to Hong Kong. You must have had a long journey."

Before they could say more than a few words, Lin Bingkun, Tsui Hark and his wife, Mai Lingzhi, and Jet Li all stepped forward to greet them, their tone full of respect.

If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would believe that these influential figures in Hong Kong's entertainment, business, and underworld circles were all consciously surrounding Ning Weimin at this moment.

They were incredibly kind and approachable, without the slightest airs; rather, they were like a group of students waiting for their teachers.

This scene, witnessed by the unsuspecting passengers around them, inevitably drew curious glances.

Who would have thought that this simply dressed young man with a backpack, mixed in with them, would have such a grand entrance?

So for a moment, many people's eyes changed, probably because they mistakenly thought Ning Weimin was the son of some wealthy family in Hong Kong.

What's even funnier is that because the people surrounding Ning Weimin were so enthusiastic and eager to exchange pleasantries with him, Yao Peifang, who was actually there to pick him up, was excluded until the very end when she finally got a chance to step forward.

Moreover, influenced by these people, even her attitude unconsciously became much more respectful than usual.

"Mr. Ning, you must be tired from your journey."

When Ning Weimin saw her, a gentle smile appeared in his eyes, and he nodded slightly.

"Peifang, you've worked hard too. It's all thanks to you taking care of things here these past two months."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a reassuring power, which was perhaps his greatest charm.

That simple sentence made Yao Peifang feel that all the hard work of the past two months was worthwhile.

"Of course, Mr. Ning."

Yao Peifang quickly replied, "Everything has been arranged according to your instructions, and the car is waiting outside."

Ning Weimin hummed in agreement, his gaze sweeping over the crowd surrounding him, a polite smile appearing on his face.

"You're all so busy, yet you still went out of your way to pick me up. I'm so grateful. I didn't want to bother you, but I didn't expect to trouble you all like this."

"Ning Sheng, what are you saying! It's our honor that you could come to Gangcheng."

Tsui Hark said with a smile, "Nan Sheng and I are planning to take you to try the newest seafood stall in Hong Kong. It'll be a welcome dinner for you. Please do us the honor."

Mai Lingzhi chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Ning, our entire crew is looking forward to your arrival! I've also made a reservation at Jumbo Floating Restaurant."

Ah Xia added, "You're coming this time, so you should stay a few more days. I'll show you around the port city."

Ning Weimin smiled and waved his hand, "Thank you all for your hospitality. There's no need for a welcome dinner; I appreciate your kindness. I have a lot of things to do in Gangcheng this time. Once I'm done, I'll treat everyone to a get-together."

His tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness. Seeing this, the crowd stopped insisting and expressed their willingness to cooperate with his arrangements.

As they spoke, Ning Weimin had already finished exchanging brief pleasantries with everyone.

He didn't linger and gestured to Yao Peifang.

"Peifang, let's go first."

He then nodded to everyone, "Everyone, please go back now. We'll contact you later if anything comes up."

After speaking, he turned and walked towards the airport exit, still maintaining his calm and unassuming demeanor, as if he weren't the one who had just been surrounded by a group of important figures. Yao Peifang quickly followed, feeling increasingly moved.

This is probably what makes Ning Weimin so special: despite possessing enough wealth and power to make others flaunt it, he has always maintained a clear head and a low profile.

It is precisely this low-key and composed demeanor that makes more people willing to trust and follow him, allowing him to have such a deep network of connections and influence in a place like Hong Kong, where hidden talents abound.

However, as they watched Ning Weimin's figure gradually disappear into the distance, none of the people who came to pick him up dared to be negligent in the slightest and left without paying any attention.

Instead, they became even more polite, with almost everyone saying things like, "Ning Sheng, we'll see you to the door," or "Ning Sheng, please do us the honor of visiting sometime." They escorted him all the way to the airport exit before watching him leave.

As Ning Weimin and his group got into their car and drove away, Xia couldn't help but turn to Mr. Hong and mutter to herself about Ning Weimin's low-key nature.

"He's still the same as always, without any airs. Look at him, where is the pomp and circumstance of a super-rich man? They say clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse. He has earned 300 billion yen just from parking lots in Japan, but he still travels so simply. If his wife weren't with him, he would look like a white-collar worker."

Mr. Hong nodded in agreement, but his thoughts were completely at odds with Ah Xia's.

"But that's the demeanor of someone who achieves great things. The more important a person is, the more they know how to conceal their brilliance. It's remarkable that he understands this at such a young age. I didn't understand this until at least ten years later than him. It's a pity that you don't understand this yet."

His teasing only fueled Xia's resentment. Just as she was about to retort, Mr. Hong's tone became serious again. "However, look at him, he doesn't have many people with him. That's not good. Hong Kong has been quite turbulent lately, with more and more robberies of jewelry stores in the city center. It's fine if he stays in the hotel, but who knows what might happen if he goes out. So, to ensure Ning Sheng's safety, you should arrange for a few of your men to accompany him every day as bodyguards. We can't let him encounter any danger in Hong Kong."

These words were a very necessary reminder. Xia immediately realized her oversight and thanked them.

Just as A-Xia was making arrangements by calling her mobile phone, Ning Weimin had already gotten into the vehicle arranged by Yao Peifang.

The car slowly drove away from Kai Tak Airport, heading towards the Regent Hotel.

Sitting in the car, Ning Weimin looked calmly at the port city street scenes rushing past the window.

It was as if he had just come on a normal business trip; no one could guess what he was thinking.

No one could have predicted the commercial waves he would create in this exceptionally bustling international city over the next few days.

…………

The car smoothly drove into the entrance of the Regent Hotel.

After getting out of the car and passing through the impressive revolving door, Yao Peifang led Ning Weimin and two assistants straight to the elevator.

The hotel lobby was still brightly lit, and the waiters in red uniforms greeted guests with polite smiles and nods. A faint fragrance filled the air, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the airport.

This was the first time that Ning Weimin's two assistants had ever been to such a bustling place as Gangcheng.

I was fine in the car, but once I got off, I couldn't control my curiosity and couldn't help but look around.

Only Ning Weimin remained calm, as if he had long been accustomed to all of this.

Inside the elevator, Yao Peifang remembered something and quickly reported it to Ning Weimin.

"Mr. Ning, Sister Xia knew you were coming, so she specially arranged for the hotel to reserve the presidential suite on the top floor. Is that alright with you? And what about these two people with you? I'll make arrangements for them separately?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Weimin gently shook his head, his tone gentle but his attitude clear.

“No need to trouble them, they can stay with me. But the presidential suite is too ostentatious, let’s just stay in a regular suite. Whether there’s a sea view or not is fine, I’m not picky. How about this, which floor do you want to stay on? We’ll go to your room first, and you can call the hotel to coordinate and get two sea view suites right next to yours. It’ll be convenient for everyone to be close together.”

Yao Peifang was stunned for a moment, and a somewhat troubled look appeared on her face.

She subconsciously lowered her voice: "President Ning, this...this might not be appropriate, right? The presidential suite is a thoughtful gift from Sister Xia. She had it vacated in advance and prepared for several days. If you refuse directly, won't she be offended? Besides...and I'm staying in an ocean-view suite too. How can your accommodation be inferior to mine?"

She did have some doubts.

Xia has always respected Ning Weimin. This time, she specially reserved the presidential suite because she wanted to treat Ning Weimin well. Her respect and goodwill were very clear.

If Ning Weimin directly refuses, it will inevitably make A-Xia feel that her feelings have been betrayed.

More importantly, she was staying in an ocean-view suite.

As her boss, Ning Weimin's accommodations were not only inferior to hers, but even if they were the same, it would seem somewhat improper and show a lack of distinction between master and servant.

If this gets out, people might think that the people around Ning Weimin don't know how to behave.

Ning Weimin saw her concerns, a calm smile appeared on his face, and his tone was firm.

"Don't worry, Xia won't take offense. Knowing me as she does, she'll know I'm not just being polite. Just tell her that I think the presidential suite is too luxurious and too big, it's really unnecessary, and it's better to leave it to those who like extravagance. For me, being comfortable is the most important thing."

"As for the lack of distinction between master and servant, these are just external formalities. What we value in doing things is effectiveness, not these empty rules. You worked hard in Hong Kong for two months to pave the way for me, which is commendable. You deserve to stay in a sea-view suite. Living next to you will make it easier for us to coordinate our work and discuss anything at any time. Isn't that better?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Yao Peifang's tense expression, and then added in a joking tone.

"You have to understand, even in the past, landlords and rich people didn't just exploit people. During the wheat harvest, in order to give their farmhands the strength to work, they would feed them white flour while they themselves ate coarse grains. Call it winning people's hearts or a pragmatic choice, but isn't that the right thing to do?"

Yao Peifang was taken aback, and was instantly enlightened by those words.

She then realized that Ning Weimin's low profile was not a pretense, but a deeply ingrained way of managing people.

As for the slight restraint and unease in his heart, it was mostly dispelled by the example he used.

"Well, boss, you've finally spoken your mind. So this is what it means to be a boss. I was secretly touched all along. Turns out, in your heart, I'm just a beast of burden, meant to do all the heavy lifting for you..."

Looking at Ning Weimin's composed expression, Yao Peifang's worries gradually dissipated, and she couldn't help but smile.

Unexpectedly, Ning Weimin remained defiant, "Hey, you, Boss Yao, are nothing. You're the head of Dachuan Entertainment. Don't misunderstand me, we're on the same level now, so naturally I have to teach you the ways of exploitation. Only if you know them can we make more money. If you really want to say there's any difference between us, it's simply that I'm Huang Shiren and you're Mu Renzhi..."

These words made everyone in the elevator burst into laughter. Not only Yao Peifang, but also her two attendants laughed out loud, and the slightly restrained atmosphere instantly relaxed.

However, none of them knew from beginning to end that the real boss of the Regent Hotel was standing right in front of them.

The so-called presidential suite "reserved" by Ah Xia and the sea-view suite that Yao Peifang stayed in for free were, in the end, just accommodations arranged by the boss for his employees.

Ning Weimin kept it a secret, so they were kept in the dark from beginning to end, simply assuming that A-Xia was giving him special treatment because of Ning Weimin, without thinking anything of it. (End of Chapter)