That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1208 This is my last chance (two in one)

Pei Wencong acted quickly and sent Aqiang to the capital two days later.

After all, Pei Wencong was a big boss who held several positions at the same time. It was impossible for him to stay in a place like the Soviet Union all the time waiting for the opportunity, so he sent his most trusted men to scout ahead.

"Hello Mr. Li, I'm Huo Renqiang. I've arrived in Beijing. When do you think I can come visit you?"

Li Ye smiled and asked, "Where do you live in Beijing? Do you live in Kita-ni-jo?"

A Qiang agreed: "Yes, yes, when I come to Beijing, I always stay at home."

Li Ye said: "Then I'll come find you after get off work! Please prepare some dishes. I'm bringing some friends with me."

Ah Qiang said quickly: "Okay, okay, I'll wait for you at home."

After get off work, Li Ye took Qu Qingyou and Jiang Shiqi to Kita-ni-jo.

When A Qiang married female reporter Pan Xiaoqing, the second master of the Guan family happened to be selling his house, so A Qiang bought his house. Li Ye had been to a wedding before, so he was familiar with the place.

As soon as Li Ye's car stopped outside the door, A Qiang came out to greet him with a smile.

Li Ye was very surprised when he saw Aqiang at first glance.

Because he hadn't seen Aqiang for more than a year, and he had gained a lot of weight, from a skinny southern "handsome guy" to a slightly plump guy with a big belly.

Li Ye couldn't help laughing and said, "Aqiang, it's only been a year since we last met. How much weight have you gained?"

A Qiang said embarrassedly: "Mr. Li, when you reach middle age, everything goes well, it is normal to gain some weight."

Li Ye thought about it carefully and felt that Aqiang seemed to be one or two years older than him, so he was already a middle-aged man in his thirties.

So Li Ye smiled and said, "Everything is going well? It seems that you are very satisfied with your current life, Aqiang!"

Ah Qiang said bluntly: "It's all thanks to Mr. Li that I now have a son and a daughter, and I live a rich life. In short, the past few years have been like a dream."

Li Ye waved his hand and walked towards Aqiang's house, saying, "Don't always say that it's all thanks to me. Your own destiny is in your own hands. You have the life you have today because of your hard work."

A Qiang, who was following behind, smiled and did not argue with Li Ye.

He knew how capable he was. If he hadn't come into contact with Li Ye eight years ago, even his boss Pei Wencong would have gone bankrupt. He, a scumbag who was despised everywhere, would most likely have become a street thug again.

And now, Aqiang is the deputy general manager of film, television and cultural investment under Pei Wencong. He lives in a mansion and drives a luxury car. No matter where he goes, others look at him with respect.

Ah Qiang, who grew up in Hong Kong Island, knew very well that without the help of a noble person, people from the lower class would find it difficult to break free from the restrictions of their original class in their lifetime. He jumped from the lower class to the middle class without any effort, but simply followed Pei Wencong's lead.

Pei Wencong's status rose with the tide following Li Ye. If he said that it was not thanks to Li Ye, he would be heartless.

After entering Aqiang's house, Aqiang first took out a stack of information.

"Mr. Li, these are the candidates selected by Mr. Pei. They will go to the Soviet Union to join me one after another. Please take a look to see if they are suitable. If not, Mr. Pei will look for new candidates."

Li Ye opened the information and casually looked through it, and found that more than half of the team members were white foreigners.

There is no other way around it. When going to the Western world to make money, white managers are indeed more useful. But when those people come to develop on the territory of the Flower-Growing Family, don’t they also need yellow compradors?
All the same, no problem.

Li Ye asked: "Aqiang, do you know all these people?"

A Qiang said: "Some of them I know and some I don't, but they must obey my command, otherwise I will not show mercy."

"You won't be lenient?"

Li Ye raised his head and asked in surprise: "Why are you so ruthless? You don't want to chop people with a machete again, do you?"

A Qiang's face suddenly turned red with embarrassment: "Mr. Li, I mean to fire them. I won't do it if it's not necessary."

"You're right not to do it. I didn't ask you to go to the Soviet Union to kill people."

Li Ye cursed with a smile, then said seriously: "You are going to the Soviet Union as a serious businessman, a very wealthy businessman, do you understand?"

"I understand, Mr. Li, Mr. Pei has told me, what I have to do is to try to buy back what we need."

"Okay, I'm glad you understand. Let me introduce them to you. This is Lao Qu and this is Lao Jiang. They both just came back from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. You can ask them any questions you have."

"Really? I really have a lot of questions to ask!"

A Qiang was overjoyed and started chatting enthusiastically with Qu Qingyou and Jiang Shiqi. After listening to them for a while, Li Ye knew that A Qiang was mainly interested in two topics.

First, are all Soviet women plump? Second, is the current Soviet Union in a time of turmoil, the kind of time when heroes emerge.

Li Ye could understand the first topic because he had read Aqiang's hand-drawn comics and knew that the heroines in his comics tended to be plump.

As for the second topic, Li Ye didn't know what to say.

When a whale dies, all things come to life. A year later, Soviet Russia could certainly be described as a time of chaos.

But every hero in troubled times must have stepped on countless bones to be born. How can a child like Aqiang, who doesn't even want to pick up a machete, be a hero?
Even if Li Ye arrived at someone else's territory, he had to quietly plunder limited flesh and blood, so as not to become a skeleton in the eyes of the hero.

"Aqiang, I'm back~"

When a few people were chatting animatedly, a woman's voice suddenly came from outside.

Li Ye glanced outside and found that it was Pan Xiaoqing who came back with her two children.

Compared to the fat Aqiang, Pan Xiaoqing has not changed much. Even after becoming a mother of two children, she doesn't look much older.

It's just like what some people say, a woman's youth needs money and self-discipline to maintain, and neither is indispensable.

Li Ye greeted Pan Xiaoqing: "Reporter Pan, long time no see, you really look younger and younger."

Pan Xiaoqing pushed the two children to Aqiang, then smiled and said to Li Ye: "I am no longer a reporter, I am concentrating on taking care of the children at home!"

Li Ye looked at the two children and said with a smile: "Look at how lively these two children are. You have done a good job in raising them."

The two children were not much older than Li Ye’s own children. At this moment, they jumped into A Qiang’s arms, chattering happily.

"Dad, we went to the museum today. It was exactly like what you said. There was so much history~"

"Of course! We, the flower-growing people, are the only civilization that has not been interrupted."

"The palace we visited was so big that we couldn't see it all even after walking for half a day."

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll tell you the secrets of the palace some other day, okay?"

"Good~"

The two little kids agreed in unison, and from their bright eyes, one could see their admiration for their father.

At this time, Li Ye finally understood what Aqiang meant by "everything goes well".

Men from flower-growing families have a strong obsession with reproduction and regard getting married and having children as one of the most important tasks in life.

So when a man has a child, the tense string in his heart will relax a lot. When he is satisfied, isn't it easy for him to gain weight?

. . . . . . . . . . .

After talking to the children for a few words, Aqiang asked Pan Xiaoqing curiously, "Didn't you say you had dinner with an old friend? Why did you come back so early?"

Pan Xiaoqing said worriedly: "I was actually having dinner with a few friends, but I just heard some very important news, so I hurried back."

A Qiang asked curiously, "What news is so important?"

Pan Xiaoqing looked at Li Ye, and then said in a deep voice: "My friend knows a few foreign affairs personnel. They said that the Soviet Union is very unsafe now. If it is not necessary, it is not recommended to do business there."

A Qiang was stunned, his face suddenly darkened: "Don't listen to their nonsense, there are many people doing business there now, so how can it be unsafe?"

But Pan Xiaoqing insisted, "But our life is good now, there is no need to take risks. You have to think about the two children."

At this time, the two children also tried to persuade Aqiang in their baby voices.

"Dad, please don't go to the Soviet Union, okay? Mom and we can't live without you."

"."

Li Ye looked at Pan Xiaoqing silently, carefully observing her subtle expressions, and slowly smiled.

A stupid woman is a stumbling block to a man's career, but according to Li Ye's understanding, Pan Xiaoqing is not a stupid woman. When Aqiang arrived in Beijing on the first day, Pan Xiaoqing happened to be out looking for materials, and then she continued to interview Aqiang for more than 20 days.

When the twenty days were over, when Pan Xiaoqing saw Aqiang off, the two of them "kissed goodbye" in broad daylight.

How could such a decisive woman hold her husband back?

So now it seems that Pan Xiaoqing used safety as an excuse to make Aqiang give up the opportunity to fight in the "troubled times". After all, some of the trendsetters who went to the north to make a fortune later ended up not very well.

But Li Ye believes that there must be something behind this, and it is intriguing.

A Qiang frowned and pushed the two children to Pan Xiaoqing.

"Okay, go play outside with mom for a while."

The two children looked at their mother in confusion, obviously waiting for her instructions.

But Aqiang didn't wait for Pan Xiaoqing to speak, and shouted without question: "Xiaoqing, take the child out immediately."

Li Ye was surprised.

Aqiang used to be completely bewitched by Pan Xiaoqing, but now, he can be so tough?
Pan Xiaoqing looked at Aqiang in astonishment. She obviously didn't expect Aqiang to be so disrespectful to her in front of outsiders.

She was about to refute, but Aqiang suddenly raised his head and looked at Pan Xiaoqing sharply.

Pan Xiaoqing was stunned for a long time, lowered her head, and led the two children out.

A Qiang then said to Li Ye: "I'm sorry, Mr. Li, women are ignorant and embarrassed."

Li Ye smiled lightly.

In recent years, Aqiang has not only gained weight, but also become smarter.

But Li Ye asked again: "Aqiang, although I think that doing business in the Soviet Union is not too risky as long as you are careful, it is not as stable as your current life.
So I'm asking you again, are you sure you want to go?"

"I am sure."

A Qiang looked at Li Ye and said firmly: "Mr. Li, I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time."

Li Ye asked in surprise: "You've been waiting for a long time? Why?"

Ah Qiang sighed, and then said: "Mr. Li, before 1982, I knew nothing about the mainland, until I read your book "North Wind Flying", and I still remember the first part of it, there were foreigners in our army of the Flower Planting Family"

"Mr. Li, you may not understand how I felt at that time. I grew up in an orphanage and later on the streets. My elder brother told us to be more open-minded and to classify people into different levels. The police and lawyers are not easy to mess with, but the most difficult ones are the foreigners."

"I still remember that year, a few of us who were the best fighters were scolded by a drunken foreigner, but in the end we didn't beat him up."

"Even though Mr. Pei is rich now and has hired many Western managers like Veronica, they are polite to us on the surface because of the money, but in fact they still look down on us in their hearts."

"When I was poor, I didn't have the heart to think about these things, but now that I'm rich, I'm very distressed. So I asked Mr. Pei and Mr. Luo, what should I do to make those Westerners stop looking at me with contempt?"

"Mr. Pei had no way to answer me, and Mr. Luo just shook his head, but Ms. Fu gave me a positive answer."

Aqiang's eyes lit up: "Ms. Fu said that as long as the Flower Planting Family is strong enough, no matter which country the foreigners are from, they will all bow down to us, just like during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, when everyone will pay homage to us."

Li Ye was surprised.

Because this answer was given by Li Ye when Fu Guiru was discussing with him.

After all, Li Ye had seen the situation decades later and knew that the yellow skin by then would be on par with the white skin that they once looked down upon.

No matter which country you are in, as long as you encounter difficulties, the embassy can provide you with strong support. This is a clear proof of the mainland's gradual strengthening and development over the past few decades.

However, Li Ye did not expect that Aqiang, a lower-class person who was born and raised in Hong Kong Island, would have such high expectations for the strength of the mainland.

"This time Mr. Pei sent me to the Soviet Union, but he didn't tell me what to do specifically. He just told me to do everything I could to buy things.

But I know that as long as it is what you want to do, Mr. Li, it will definitely be beneficial to our strength. "

"."

Li Ye laughed and asked, "Why do you think that what I want to do is beneficial to our strength? Isn't it okay for me to make money?"

Ah Qiang slowly shook his head and said, "No, I have read Mr. Li's book no less than ten times, I believe I am not wrong."

[Okay! I think you flattered the right person.]

Li Ye patted Aqiang on the shoulder: "Don't worry, we are still young and we will see that day."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

After Li Ye left, A Qiang went to Pan Xiaoqing with a gloomy face: "Why did you say those words in front of Mr. Li? What do you want to do?"

Pan Xiaoqing was also angry and said immediately: "Am I wrong? The north is so dangerous, why should we let you go alone? Even if we let you go, there should be a reason. You can't let others take advantage of you without knowing the reason."

"I'm being used?" Aqiang's eyes widened: "Who do you think is using me?"

Pan Xiaoqing said firmly: "You are being used and you don't even know it. You were obviously the first person to follow Mr. Pei, but look at what Liao Min has been like over the years? So many people who came later have climbed over your head."

"This trip to the Soviet Union is dangerous, so you are the one who was reminded of me? Just go if I ask you to go! At least make it clear what you are going to get, either a position or shares."

"."

A Qiang shook his head speechlessly, then asked: "Who told you these words?"

Pan Xiaoqing said, "Don't worry about who told me this. Just tell me if it makes sense or not."

"Ha~"

A Qiang laughed sarcastically, then said: "No matter who told you that, stay away from him from now on, or don't blame me for being rude."

Seeing that Pan Xiaoqing was about to say something, A Qiang directly reached out to stop him, and then said in a deep voice: "When I was hanging out on the streets, I knew that whether a younger brother is successful or not depends on whether you are useful to the boss, not how long you have been with the boss."

"I was indeed one of the first people to follow Mr. Pei, but over the years, I have been less and less useful to Mr. Pei. So many people who came later climbed over my head because they were more capable than me and could help Mr. Pei make more money than me."

"In a club, the boss wants to favor you, but you also need to be capable, otherwise others will not accept it. If someone is dissatisfied, there will be discord in the club, and other clubs will take the opportunity to cause trouble."

"I have been in charge of many film and television projects over the years, and some people are already jealous. It would be difficult for Mr. Pei to give me more."

"Do you know how many people wanted this opportunity? But Mr. Pei gave it to me. This is the last chance for me."

Ah Qiang pointed his finger at Pan Xiaoqing's forehead and said coldly, "If I don't do a good job this time, you will have to give up all your shares, even the ones you are in charge of now, to others."

"."

Pan Xiaoqing looked at Aqiang in shock and finally understood the cruelty of capitalism.

Once you are no longer useful, you will be kicked out no matter how senior you are.

. . . . . . . . . . .

After Li Ye, Qu Qingyou and Jiang Shiqi left, the two buddies also had their own opinions about Aqiang.

Jiang Shiqi said, "Uncle, although Ah Qiang is very ambitious, he doesn't seem to be anything special. Is it necessary to ask him to cooperate with Jin Peng?"

Li Ye said calmly: "It's mainly because his identity is different from ours, so some things are much easier to do. Besides, Pei Wencong will also be there by then."

"Oh, so that's it?"

Jiang Shiqi didn't say anything more, but Li Ye could see that he was still a little confused.

After all, Jin Peng now has many blond-haired, white-skinned Westerners under his command.

But Li Ye didn't tell him that there would still be many things that the West would embargo on importing into the mainland. Even if the Su Goose was torn into pieces, there would still be many restrictions.

Take that big ship for example. Even though the whole world knew that the mainland wanted to buy it, they still used the pretext of "buying it to build a casino" to circumvent those annoying restrictions.

However, after comprehensive screening, the person must have a suitable identity and be trustworthy, and there are really not many people who are suitable.

Pei Wencong is suitable, but Aqiang is even more suitable.

(End of this chapter)