Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2730 Money is Everything (Second Update, Please Subscribe)

There is a pot of orchids by the office window.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto the orchids, making the water droplets on the green leaves appear somewhat translucent.

Pushing aside the case file, Zhang Xiangrong stood up from his desk, took a few steps around the office, then went to the window, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a few more puffs.

At this moment, his face showed no anger, only calm. Zhang Xiangrong stared out the window for a long time before speaking:

"The investigation company has confirmed this news; the real buyer of the ship is indeed Iran."

The "investigation company" he mentioned is an intelligence and investigation arm of the North Borneo Company, specializing in data processing, information security, and business intelligence analysis. It provides market trend analysis for the company's trade and investment decisions.

The research company covers more than 200 offices in over 80 countries and shares economic and policy updates in real time through its internal system.

Investigation companies are not unique to North Borneo companies, because they believe that "intelligence is money." Therefore, large companies in SEA have strong intelligence capabilities, and the strongest intelligence capabilities are found in multinational corporations that integrate trade, finance, and information functions.

The Borneo Investigation Company is the most capable of these companies, and according to Western journalists, it even possesses an intelligence network more powerful than that of the CIA.

Although Xinghe Trading Company is not a direct subsidiary of the company, it can still share some information, just a little late.

"There's no doubt about it; only they would spend a lot of money to buy an old oil tanker."

Chen Lixin said:
"Manager, what should we do now?"

He said that because his company had business dealings with Da Dong.

What are your thoughts?

When questioned by the manager, Chen Lixin said:
"Such people should have no place in this world."

Chen Lixin's tone was very calm. His answer made Zhang Xiangrong smile.

“This is Hong Kong, and he’s not from SEA.”

"Same."

Chen Lixin stated directly:

People always have to pay the price for their actions.

Nodding slightly, Zhang Xiangrong said:

"Yes, betrayal always comes at a price. What's your advice?"

Chen Lixin pondered for a moment, then said:
"I'll stop all cooperation with Da Dong and also get the news out through the press. I want to see what they do."

Looking up at the manager, Chen Lixin said:

"Actually, this is also an opportunity, don't you think?"

Looking at the young man before him, a hint of appreciation flashed in Zhang Xiangrong's eyes, and he said:

"Indeed, this is indeed an opportunity!"

Having said that, he turned his gaze to the window and muttered to himself as he looked out:
"After all, so many years have passed..."

……

"Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise."

Most of the time, people only remember the good fortune and don't consider the misfortune.

Over the past few days, Zhou Changdong has been in a state of extreme excitement.

Even during layovers, Zhou Changdong's heart was pounding all the way from Greece.

After completing that deal in Greece, the reward he received—no, the profit he made—was astonishing.

This was enough to transform him from an ordinary shipbreaker into a wealthy man envied by everyone.

When the plane finally landed at Kai Tak Airport, Zhou Changdong's hands were still trembling slightly, and he could barely walk without feeling excited.

After leaving the airport, he hailed a taxi, leaned against the back seat, and told the driver his destination.

"Go to Tuen Mun, Tai Tung Ship Dismantling Company."

"Da Dong!"

The driver glanced at the passenger in the rearview mirror and said:

"Are you going to discuss business, sir? Let me tell you, whatever you do, don't do business with that traitor surnamed Zhou."

"Traitor? What do you mean by that?"

Zhou Changdong's heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling.

"Sir, you've just returned from abroad and probably don't know yet that Zhou Changdong of Da Dong colluded with foreign devils to sell oil tankers to Iran. Does Iran know? They confiscated a lot of SEA's investments, so Chang'an is sanctioning him. That traitorous dog surnamed Zhou is actually helping the Iranians buy ships."

The taxi driver's words made Zhou Changdong's heart tighten. He had been immersed in the joy of suddenly becoming rich, and he never expected it to turn out like this.

"So, no matter who you do business with, never do business with a traitor like that. If you're going to dismantle a ship, my neighbor's relative's second uncle's cousin..."

At this point, Zhou Changdong had lost interest in what the taxi driver was saying; he was simply thinking about how to respond next.

Traitors...

That's how it is. Weren't there many traitors in Hong Kong back then? Yet, none of them seemed to lose a single piece of flesh.

What's wrong with cooperating with foreigners?
Isn't SEA also run by foreigners?

They all genuinely believe they're a family...

At this moment, Zhou Changdong was completely unaware that a catastrophic disaster had been quietly descending upon him over the past few days.

When the car arrived at the entrance of the Dadong Shipyard, Zhou Changdong's already solemn expression became even more rigid after he got out of the car.

The factory area, usually bustling with activity, was eerily quiet; not a sound could be heard at all. "What's going on?"

Zhou Changdong's heart skipped a beat. He quickly walked into the factory area. The factory was empty. The old ship, half broken, was sitting there on the slipway, but no workers were around it.

The entire shipbreaking yard was like a dead place.

He quickly looked up at the steel plant on the other side, and thankfully, he could still hear the sound of steel rolling.

"Boss, you're finally back!"

Deputy Manager Zhang Fengshan rushed out of the office building in a panic, his voice trembling.

"I've been trying to contact you these past two days."

Zhou Changdong grabbed his arm and asked urgently:
"Fengshan, what exactly happened? Where has everyone gone? Why are all the factories shut down?"

Zhang Fengshan sighed, then said:

"Boss, we've been blacklisted by the entire industry. Ever since the news of your sale of the ship in Greece came out, it quickly made it into all the major newspapers, and they all called you a traitor... and then, the trouble just kept coming."

First, several real estate companies that we were cooperating with called to cancel their rebar orders, saying they no longer wanted to do anything with us; then, the bank called, saying they would immediately withdraw all loans and that if we couldn't repay on time, they would seize the factory.

"what?"

Zhou Changdong, as if struck by lightning, looked on in disbelief and said:

"A ban? Why? It's just selling ships, isn't it? Aren't they overreacting?"

"Overreaction?"

The deputy manager shook his head with a wry smile and said:
"Boss, do you really think nobody knows about this deal? Everyone guessed that you sold the ship to someone connected to Iran. The SEA sanctions are there for all to see, and nobody wants to get implicated by cooperating with us. Besides, it's the SEA. You, you've gone so far as to side with foreigners, that's why you're called a traitor."

Besides, everyone there has dealings with businesses and banks, so no one dares to risk their business and future. The Real Estate Association and the Banking Association have both stated they will no longer cooperate with you, Boss.

Standing there, stunned, Zhou Changdong's mind went blank. He had never imagined things would develop to this point.

He originally thought that as long as he kept it secret, no one would find out, and even if they did, he could make up for it with the profits from the deal.

But he never expected that in just a few days, the outside world would react so strongly.

"Where are the workers? Where have they all gone?"

Zhou Changdong suddenly snapped out of his daze and asked urgently:
"Is it because of the bank that you weren't paid on time? It's okay, I made a lot of money this time. Even if they don't do business with us, we still have HSBC and Standard Chartered!"

Zhang Fengshan shook his head and said:

"There are more and more rumors outside, saying that the boss is colluding with foreigners and betraying the country. The workers have all quit, and even the workers from the neighboring steel plant are clamoring to quit."

Just then, a commotion arose at the factory gate. A group of steelworkers huddled together and rushed over as soon as they saw Zhou Changdong.

"The one surnamed Zhou is over there!"

Seeing this, Zhou Changdong's heart tightened, thinking that these workers were going to punish him. He quickly shouted loudly:

"Wait a minute, everyone! Wait a minute! The company made a lot of money this time, so I'm giving everyone a raise!"

A raise!

These workers always need to be paid, so as long as their wages are increased, everything will be fine.

As for the real estate association, they'll probably only boycott for a few months, and once the storm passes, everything will naturally return to normal.

From the crowd, a worker stepped forward, looked at Zhou Changdong, and said:

“Boss, we do things with a conscience. Colluding with foreigners and betraying our country is absolutely unacceptable. We don’t want to make that kind of dirty money!”

After he finished speaking, the other workers echoed his sentiments, and then one by one they turned and left.

Watching the workers' departing figures, Zhou Changdong completely lost control of his emotions, and he shouted somewhat agitatedly:

"Acting on my conscience? Aren't I acting on my conscience? Isn't the purpose of doing business to make money? What's wrong with me? A businessman! Isn't the purpose of a businessman to make money? It's not like two countries are at war. Even if there were a war, was my business illegal?"
No!

I did not break the law.

Besides, this is Hong Kong Island, not SEA. What are you all pretending for!

But his roars received no response; the workers had long since walked away.

The vast factory area fell silent once more, with only Zhou Changdong standing there, his face filled with despair.

"boss……"

Zhang Fengshan walked quietly to his side.

Slowly turning around, he looked at Zhou Changdong as if grasping at the last straw. He strode over, grabbed Zhang Fengshan's hand tightly, and said urgently:
"Fengshan, you can't leave!"

"You've been with me for so many years, the factory can't do without you. You know I made a lot of money this time, we'll definitely get through this. You know nobody remembers anything. If you don't leave, I'll give you a raise! I'll go recruit more workers, offering even higher wages, someone will come eventually! After all, everyone needs to be paid!"

Gently withdrawing his hand, Zhang Fengshan shook his head and said:
“Boss, I’m sorry, I have to leave too. No one will come. There are so many shipbreaking yards in Hong Kong, and jobs are everywhere. No one is willing to risk being scolded to work at Tai Tung. I have a family, and I can’t risk them.”

He spoke very directly, directly about the safety of his family, because no one knows what might happen to a traitor.

"No...no, that won't happen,"

Zhou Changdong shook his head and said:

"How could that be? It's just a transaction, not selling out the country... making money, what's wrong with that?"

Suddenly, Zhou Changdong said excitedly:

"As long as I have money, nothing can stop me! I have plenty of money now, and I will continue to do it, to help the Iranians, or even the foreigners, as long as I can make money..."

At this moment, Zhou Changdong seemed to have gone mad; his eyes were filled with fanaticism, and he even muttered:
"When I've earned hundreds of millions, you can all go to hell. You'll all be begging to help me again. Money, money is everything..."

(End of this chapter)