National Tide 1980.

Following Lin Bingkun into the private room on the second floor of Lu Yu Tea House, before Lin Bingkun could even introduce them, the host sitting inside had already heard the commotion and stood up from his seat, smiling as he looked towards the door.

Ning Weimin quickly took two steps forward and bowed slightly in greeting, "Good morning, Mr. Huo. Good morning, Mr. Zhenting."

He was carrying only two bags of rouge rice. Although the packaging was exquisite, it was still obvious that they were not particularly expensive and were probably just local products for food and drink.

In fact, it's not as good as the bird's nest and deer antler in the hands of subordinates.

Lin Bingkun, watching from the side, felt a pang of anxiety, fearing that the Huo family would take offense, and quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Mr. Huo, Weimin came all the way from the capital this time. He didn't know what you liked, so he brought some local products and some tonics..."

Mr. Huo waved his hand, signaling the waiter to take the things from Ning Weimin's hands.

Not only did he not seem to mind at all, but his expression became even gentler.

"Local products are the best, they show the most sincerity. Actually, the tonics are too expensive, bird's nest and deer antler are very pricey, so please don't be so polite in the future. To be honest, I'm not particular about eating delicacies, I like corn and taro the most. I eat them at least once a day. If you can bring me some whole grains in the future, that would be the best."

Ning Weimin never expected that Mr. Huo was as down-to-earth and kind as the legends said, without the slightest bit of pretentiousness or haughtiness.

He hesitated for a moment, then agreed somewhat awkwardly.

"These two packets are Rouge Rice. It comes from Yuquan Mountain in western Beijing and can only be found in Beijing. So I wanted to give you a taste of something new. As for corn and yams, Beijing also has local varieties. I've remembered what you said. Next time I come to Hong Kong, I'll definitely bring you some white corn from western Beijing or Caiyu yams from Daxing."

Hearing Ning Weimin say this, Mr. Huo became even happier.

"Good, good. You've come all the way from the mainland and still remember me. This kindness is more precious than anything else. It's a small gift but carries great meaning. The sentiment is the most valuable thing."

As he spoke, he personally gestured for people to sit down. “Please sit down, please sit down. I love making friends from the mainland. When you come here, please make yourselves at home. Don’t be shy.”

Everyone took their seats in turn, and a waiter came forward to pour tea for everyone.

Fok Chun-ting then raised his hand to signal the waiter that they could serve the signature dim sum.

Soon, all sorts of local delicacies were brought up in a continuous stream.

Mr. Huo held his teacup, his gaze fixed on Ning Weimin, his tone sincere.

“I’m a few years older than you, so I’ll call you Ah Min. I invited you here today because I heard you donated eight million Hong Kong dollars to make a charity film. Your actions not only help our compatriots in the mainland, but also help these filmmakers in Hong Kong. At such a young age, you have such a sense of responsibility and courage; you are truly a young talent.”

Ning Weimin quickly bowed modestly.

"Mr. Huo, you flatter me. I was just doing my duty, it's nothing to mention. On the contrary, you have done many truly great things for the country and your hometown over the years. Compared with your achievements, I am far inferior. To be honest, you have always been someone I admire and someone I learn from."

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, his eyes were open and honest, without a trace of flattery or arrogance.

Mr. Huo was even more impressed, saying, "Not at all, not at all. My abilities are limited, and there's not much I can do for the country. I'm not worthy of such a reputation. You're still young, and you'll definitely do more than I can in the future."

"I dare not compare myself to Mr. Huo. I only wish to take you as my role model and do more things that are beneficial to my hometown and compatriots."

Unlike Mr. Huo's cheerful demeanor and Ning Weimin's polite exchanges, Huo Zhenting's suspicions deepened because of Ning Weimin's tactful and articulate responses. At this moment, he couldn't help but ask a question.

"Mr. Ning, judging from your speech and your knowledge, you are no ordinary person. May I ask which university you studied at and what kind of education you received?"

Needless to say, before meeting him today, he had already learned some of Ning Weimin's background through Lin Bingkun.

Therefore, he couldn't help but think that Ning Weimin must have received higher education and had a profound knowledge base to have made such a name for himself in Japan.

However, Ning Weimin smiled calmly and revealed a situation that greatly surprised everyone.

"To be honest, Mr. Zhenting, I didn't study much. After graduating from junior high school, I was sent to the countryside as part of the Down to the Countryside Movement. My formal education only goes up to junior high school."

Huo Zhenting was clearly taken aback, his face showing a hint of surprise and even disbelief.

"Oh? Mr. Ning only graduated from junior high school? Then where did you get your business acumen that allows you to operate so successfully overseas? It couldn't have just come out of thin air, could it? I heard that Mr. Ning is not only the inventor of the rolling suitcase, but also built a considerable empire in Japan in just a few years. Is Mr. Ning really one of those one-in-a-million business geniuses?"

His tone carried a hint of questioning, and even subtly increased doubt about his honesty.

After all, it is highly unusual for a young man who only graduated from junior high school and was sent to the countryside to work to have such outstanding business acumen.

Especially when Ning Weimin said this, he was calm, without the slightest sense of inferiority or any deliberate attempt to hide it.

This kind of calm and composure is something that shouldn't be found in someone who hasn't read many books.

Huo Zhenting's question was direct, and the atmosphere in the private room instantly became slightly tense. Ning Weimin's subordinates were all a little nervous, afraid that if Ning Weimin gave a bad answer, he would be looked down upon by the Huo father and son, or cause unnecessary suspicion.

Lin Bingkun frowned slightly, secretly sweating, and wanted to speak up to smooth things over, but Ning Weimin gently stopped him with a look.

Ning Weimin remained calm, his eyes were resolute, and his tone was sincere and firm.

"Mr. Zhenting, my success today is entirely due to a stroke of luck and meeting a good mentor. It's true that for a long time, private enterprises almost completely disappeared in mainland China. Even today, there are very few business people in mainland China who truly understand how business works. Most of them are newcomers who responded to the reform and opening up. But this doesn't mean that knowledge has been lost or interrupted, at least not entirely. After all, there are still people who truly understand business. I was luckier than most people to meet a good mentor who taught me the business wisdom passed down from our ancestors. Otherwise, no matter how smart I am, I couldn't possibly know how to do business out of thin air. It's all thanks to my mentor that I learned knowledge, broadened my horizons, and was able to grow rapidly, succeed, and even accumulate my first pot of gold in the relatively closed environment of mainland China by relying on the experience summarized by my predecessors."

Upon hearing this, Huo Zhenting's first reaction was that Ning Weimin was making excuses and concealing his true origins.

Such a legendary experience, can it really be explained by a folk master?
That's a rather far-fetched argument.

Having studied abroad, he highly values ​​higher education and believes that there are no other ways to cultivate talent in contemporary society.

But Mr. Huo was different; he was a rough-and-tumble hero who had seen countless people.

He doesn't blindly believe in the so-called elite education of foreign universities. Based on his own life experience, he learned by doing and figured things out on his own, starting from scratch.

He observed Ning Weimin's eyes, tone, and demeanor, noting his composure and poise from the moment he entered until now. This only increased his trust in Ning Weimin, and he even took the initiative to agree with him.

"Well said. Knowledge doesn't necessarily have to be acquired through books; oral transmission is also a way. Besides, truly useful skills for making a living aren't taught in schools, and even teachers themselves don't know them. Schools can only teach students the most basic knowledge. For any industry, the real learning begins from the day you graduate from school."

Mr. Huo's words made his stance clear and set the tone for this issue.

For a moment, Fok Chun-ting couldn't ask any more questions.

However, the process of Ning Weimin's teacher examination did not end there.

"Amin, I heard you have a lot of experience in the catering industry. You've also run a successful restaurant in Japan, so you're quite the expert. What do you think of our Lu Yu Tea House today? Could you give me some suggestions for improvement?"

Ning Weimin understood that Mr. Huo's gentle question was still a test for him.

Simply saying nice things won't work, nor will you foolishly nitpick at people's faults. The best approach is to say something meaningful, that you're not an amateur, and that makes people happy.

He looked around and slowly began to speak.

"You're too kind. As a junior in the business world, how could I presume to offer any suggestions for 'improvement'? Besides, I'm not yet familiar enough with the lifestyle and culinary preferences of the people of Hong Kong. Actually, your Lu Yu Tea House has many advantages for me. First and foremost, its simplicity is truly admirable. The decor is understated and unpretentious; the aroma of tea and pastries greets you as soon as you enter, creating a very comfortable atmosphere. It's clearly a long-established business built on genuine skill and reputation, with a rich history and solid foundation, making it genuinely trustworthy. This is why regular customers feel welcome, and new customers feel at ease. The reputation built by a century-old establishment alone is enough to guarantee a thriving business. This is something most businesses envy. It's an intangible asset and industry advantage that requires time and years of accumulated reputation. In addition, what I admire most is that most of the service staff here are elderly." "They are all long-time employees. This shows that as the owner, Mr. Fok, you are kind and considerate, which is why you've been able to retain these long-time employees. Conversely, these long-time employees have become the face of this place, further enhancing the charm and reputation of this long-established business. I think this is precisely what I should learn from you, Mr. Fok. As for suggestions, I only have one: in my opinion, you could further increase the fame of Luk Yu Tea House by renting out the space to film crews for movies and TV series. Sooner or later, it could become a landmark in Hong Kong. This would not only increase the enjoyment for both new and old customers but also attract a steady stream of new customers through the tourism market. After all, Hong Kong films have a significant influence in Southeast Asia; those who have seen the movies will have an impression of the place, and if they have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong, many will definitely want to experience the atmosphere depicted in the films."

Mr. Huo nodded repeatedly, his face showing genuine appreciation.

"Well said. Doing business is essentially about understanding people's needs. In the end, it's about being a good person. If you can understand this, your future is limitless. Is this what your master taught you?"

"Yes, business is all about people. My mentor told me this from day one."

“Good, very well said. Well… Ah Min, have you ever thought about opening your Beijing cuisine restaurant here? I’m really looking forward to being able to taste authentic Beijing flavors in Hong Kong.”

Upon hearing this, Ning Weimin's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Huo! I do indeed intend to do so. I will definitely open the shop here as soon as possible, and I will look forward to your guidance then!"

Huo Zhenting saw this and felt somewhat displeased that his father was showing such favoritism and courtesy to a young man from the mainland whom he had just met. He felt that his father was being too too eager to befriend him.

He then picked up the conversation, his questions becoming noticeably sharper: "Mr. Ning, I've also heard that you have a wide range of businesses in Japan, including clothing, restaurants, bookstores, and travel agencies. But I'm a little curious, which one is your real main business?"

The tone wasn't harsh, but those present, including Lin Bingkun and Ning Weimin, could detect a hint of sarcasm.

Everyone's faces showed embarrassment and surprise, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Ning Weimin remained calm and composed, offering a faint smile.

“Mr. Zhenting, to be honest, I do a bit of everything. I go wherever there is a reasonable profit. But if you break it down, my business is actually quite systematic. If you want to summarize it, you can make it clear in two sentences. One is to go out and the other is to bring it back.”

He paused, then explained clearly, "The so-called 'going global' is actually about promoting culture, getting foreigners to recognize what China excels at, and earning a cultural premium. In film, bookstores, and restaurants, I'm using our cultural advantages and human resources to make money from the Japanese."

"As for the so-called 'bringing them back,' the purpose is to help solve the urgent needs of the mainland. Travel agencies bring Japanese tourists into the country, and material recycling companies transport industrial raw materials and second-hand equipment back to the country to fill the domestic gap. Thirdly, I run a business in Japan, which can arrange for my compatriots to come to Japan to earn money and then send it back to the country to spend. Although I am just a small businessman who likes to speculate, I also hope to do my best to help the country solve some practical difficulties and increase national strength. So what I need most now is a reliable cargo tanker and a captain and crew I can trust to connect these two ends."

Needless to say, given that the Huo family started out in the shipping industry, Ning Weimin's words were tactfully laying out his core needs.

But Fok Chun-ting pretended not to hear and didn't respond to the conversation. Instead, he changed the subject and his tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

"I see. But everyone says that Mr. Ning's greatest skill isn't in business, but in speculation. I heard you accurately timed the market peak in Japan, your insight even surpassing that of experts. So, are you here in Hong Kong this time to speculate on stocks or real estate? How much profit do you plan to make before you stop?" (End of Chapter)