Who would still be a social slave when they are so rich?

As soon as Su Yan left the hotel, he called Bai Xiangwen.

At first, Bai Xiangwen was a little puzzled, thinking that Su Yan had encountered something in Bingcheng. But to his surprise, as soon as he answered the phone, Su Yan said that she wanted to see him and had something very important to discuss with him.

Upon hearing that he had something very important to discuss with him, Bai Xiangwen immediately thought of Su Yan opening a hot pot restaurant. He figured he was looking for him to find out who owned high-quality shops.

Thinking of this, Bai Xiangwen was overjoyed and immediately agreed. The two then arranged to meet at a teahouse called Xuejian on the banks of the Songhua River.

It's unclear whether Bai Xiangwen was nearby, but by the time Su Yan arrived at Xuejian Teahouse, Bai Xiangwen was already waiting at the entrance downstairs.

"Mr. Bai, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" Su Yan's eyes flashed with surprise when he saw Bai Xiangwen. He had only been there for a few minutes, but he didn't expect Bai Xiangwen to arrive before him.

"Haha~ I just arrived at Mr. Su's place less than two minutes ago!" Bai Xiangwen took over the conversation with a smile, raising his left hand in a gesture of invitation. "Mr. Su, let's go in first, I've already booked a private room!"

"Please!" Su Yan also made a gesture of invitation.

He didn't go in without a clear conscience. He understood that Bai Xiangwen was so respectful to him only because of his elder brother, and he was well aware of that.

Bai Xiangwen must be a regular here. As soon as he entered, a beautiful young woman with a slender figure, wearing a professional short skirt, greeted him with a smile before he even spoke: "Mr. Bai, it's been a while since you've been here."

As she spoke, her gaze lingered briefly on Su Yan, carrying just the right amount of curiosity and a hint of barely perceptible shock. She noticed that the renowned CEO Bai was actually half a step behind this young man; if she hadn't been so observant, she wouldn't have noticed this detail at all.

This inevitably piqued her curiosity about the young man, making her wonder what his background was that allowed him to outmaneuver a business tycoon like Bai Xiangwen. However, her years of experience made her suppress her desire to find out.

Bai Xiangwen laughed heartily, clearly pleased, but didn't forget to step aside and say, "Manager Sun, this is General Manager Su, my distinguished guest. Today, you'd better bring out your best tea, 'Snow-Topped Emerald'!"

"Of course, Mr. Bai, the private room you reserved is ready. Please follow me!" Manager Sun walked gracefully forward, leading them through the elegant and quiet teahouse lobby and straight up to the second floor.

The private room is located on the second floor overlooking the river, offering a superb view. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the shimmering Songhua River resembles a golden silk ribbon, and the willows along the riverbank sway gently in the breeze. The scenery alone gives one a fresh and elegant feeling.

After we were seated, the tea master, dressed in a traditional cheongsam, entered quietly. Her skillful warming of the teaware, placing of the tea, brewing, and serving were all performed with effortless grace.

There was originally going to be a guzheng and pipa performance, but considering that Su Yan wanted to talk to him about business, Bai Xiangwen waved his hand. Manager Sun immediately understood and asked the tea master and the guzheng and pipa players who had just entered to leave the room, and thoughtfully closed the door gently.

The room fell silent immediately, with only the soft bubbling of the boiling water in the teapot and the occasional sound of the wind passing by outside the window.

"Mr. Su, don't let the unassuming appearance of this teahouse fool you. It's actually a popular spot for many local business owners, and many deals are made here!"

As Bai Xiangwen spoke, he picked up the small teacup, made a gesture of respect towards Su Yan, and then introduced the tea in the cup: "This Snow Peak Green Tea grows on the steep peaks of the cold northern lands and is nourished by snowmelt all year round. The tea has a fresh and cool taste. Mr. Su, please try it. If you like it, I will ask Manager Sun to prepare some later."

Upon hearing this, Su Yan raised his eyebrows slightly. In the past, he was completely ignorant about tea, but during his time in the capital, he had tasted quite a few fine teas in his elder brother Su Chen's courtyard house.

I've had the privilege of tasting tribute tea, imperial tea, and even the original Da Hong Pao tea tree once. Having been exposed to all sorts of top-quality teas, I believe I can say a few things about tea tasting.

"If Mr. Bai can recommend this tea, then I must give it a good try!" Su Yan smiled as he picked up the teacup. He first smelled the aroma of the tea, and it was indeed as Bai Xiangwen had said, with a faint, refreshing fragrance.

I took a small sip. The tea was slightly astringent at first, but it quickly turned into a refreshing and mellow flavor, like melting snow water, sliding down my throat and leaving a unique cool fragrance on my lips and teeth.

Su Yan put down his teacup and couldn't help but praise, "It is indeed a good tea. It has a refreshing taste and a long-lasting sweet aftertaste. It is a top-grade spring tea from the north."

A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Xiangwen's eyes. He hadn't expected Su Yan to have some knowledge of tea ceremony. His smile widened. "It seems that Mr. Su is quite the expert. The annual yield of Xue Ding Han Chun tea is extremely low. It's rare to find someone who can appreciate its flavor on their first sip."

Bai Xiangwen felt a little ashamed when he thought about the first time he came here. He remembered that it was General Manager Yang of Changlong Group who brought him here and he tasted Xue Ding Han Cui tea. At that time, he only said that the tea was good. He never expected Su Yan to give such a comment.

Su Yan was genuinely pleased with Bai Xiangwen's praise: "Haha~ President Bai is too modest. It's just that when I was in the capital, I tasted a lot of top-quality tea at my elder brother's place and learned a little bit about it."

"If there's a chance, I'll get some tea from my older brother and we can taste it together, Mr. Bai!" After being taught by his older brother Su Chen, Su Yan has gradually gained experience in making empty promises.

Sure enough, Bai Xiangwen's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing Su Yan's words. Tea that could be collected by a big boss must be something that is hard to find on the market.

Bai Xiangwen's smile instantly turned incredibly warm. He quickly picked up the teapot and personally refilled Su Yan's teacup, his tone slightly flattered: "Oh, Mr. Su, thank you in advance! It's my honor to be able to taste the boss's treasured tea!"

He was speaking from the heart. If he could really get his hands on the tea treasured by Boss Su Chen, he could show off in front of General Manager Yang and others at Changlong Group, and let these local bigwigs know that he, Bai Xiangwen, could also reach the top, which would make things much easier for him in the future.

Different levels of existence each have their own symbols representing their status. If Bai Xiangwen had a few packs of white-box cigarettes that Su Chen "took" from the old men, he would be confident enough to take over one-third or even half of the livestock breeding industry in Heilongjiang Province.

Su Yan smiled slightly and accepted Bai Xiangwen's thanks with equanimity, knowing that the "pie" he had drawn was just right. Then, he changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious and less relaxed than before: "President Bai, the reason I asked you out today is that there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Bai Xiangwen immediately sat up straight, his expression becoming serious. He knew the real show was about to begin: "Mr. Su, you're too kind. Forget about discussing it, just tell me!" He paused, then continued, "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Su wants to talk about the hot pot restaurant, right? You're looking for a good shop, aren't you? That's easy!"

"You probably remember Mr. Yang from Changlong Group at Mr. Su's engagement banquet, right? He happens to have a fantastic location right in the center of Central Avenue, a two-story building with each floor over a thousand square meters, which would perfectly meet Mr. Su's needs!"

Su Yan listened to Bai Xiangwen's enthusiastic introduction with a smile on his face, but did not respond immediately. After Bai Xiangwen finished speaking, he slowly picked up his teacup and took another sip of the clear "Snow Top Emerald" tea!
Bai Xiangwen was an extremely shrewd person. Seeing Su Yan's calm and composed demeanor, and his lack of eagerness to respond, Bai Xiangwen's heart skipped a beat. He realized that he had misunderstood, or that he had oversimplified the situation.

It seems that this young Mr. Su is not just looking for a shop; he is probably planning something big. After figuring this out, Bai Xiangwen's smile remained, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry as he quietly waited for Su Yan to continue.

Su Yan put down his teacup, mimicking his elder brother Su Chen's manner of speaking, lightly tapping his fingers on the smooth mahogany table. His gaze met Bai Xiangwen's, his tone calm yet carrying an unprecedented composure: "President Bai, the place you mentioned does sound quite nice, a prime location on Central Avenue, but..."

He paused slightly, noticing Bai Xiangwen's eyes narrow slightly, before continuing, "What I want to discuss with Mr. Bai today is not just a matter of a shop!"

"Hmm?" Bai Xiangwen leaned forward slightly, feigning great interest. "I'd like to hear more about what plans Mr. Su has in mind!"

He was also thinking to himself that it seemed the boss's younger brother, after being personally instructed by the boss, was really going to make a big splash.

Su Yan took a deep breath and explained his elder brother Su Chen's idea of ​​a "pan-Northeast catering alliance" in detail, combining it with his own understanding.

Instead of immediately making empty promises, he started by discussing the current state of the catering market in Harbin and even Northeast China, analyzing its fragmented nature and lack of strong integrated brands. He then talked about his plan to create a high-end hot pot brand, using it as the core to integrate high-quality supply chains, property resources, and networks to build a mutually beneficial platform.

“So, Mr. Bai…” Su Yan looked intently at Bai Xiangwen, “What I need is not just a shop, but the entire future catering market in Northeast China! I hope to get your help to integrate the resources around us and let us lay a solid foundation in Harbin!”

After speaking, Su Yan hesitated slightly, then added, "Of course... this was also instructed by my elder brother."

He didn't resort to any roundabout or manipulative tactics. Su Yan knew that only by directly addressing Bai Xiangwen's innermost thoughts could he attract him and become his companion on his future path!
Su Yan's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a storm in Bai Xiangwen's heart.

“The entire catering market in Northeast China…” Bai Xiangwen repeated subconsciously. Even though he was used to seeing all kinds of things, he couldn’t help but be shocked by this grand goal.

At the same time... he also realized the meaning of Su Yan's last sentence. If he hadn't understood it, he wouldn't have achieved his current position.

He hadn't forgotten the goal he'd set for expanding into the Northeast market in front of his boss, Su Chen. He naturally understood his boss's intentions: to value his abilities and "ambition," to help him achieve his goals, and to make him a guide or "protector" on Su Yan's path in the business world!
The only problem that needs to be addressed in this "Pan-Northeast Catering Alliance" plan is resource integration, or in other words, integrating personal connections. This is difficult for Bai Xiangwen. He can bring these people together, but he cannot unite them into a cohesive force.

But... Su Yan can do that!
Take General Manager Yang of Changlong and General Manager Chen of Yangwei, for example. Who wouldn't want to have a relationship with General Manager Su or even their own boss, Su Chen? Now that such a good opportunity is presented to them, how could they possibly miss it!

Once Mr. Yang, Mr. Chen, and others are on board, they can quickly establish a solid foundation in Harbin and Qiqihar. Through the connections of Mr. Yang, Mr. Chen, and others, they can then expand outwards in a snowballing fashion, making their business bigger and stronger.

If they grow to a certain scale, even without leveraging their own networks, people will come to them on their own. If the "Pan-Northeast Catering Alliance" plan is actually realized, not to mention how much money they can make each year, the network of connections alone will be enough to shake the entire Northeast.

Bai Xiangwen also knew that achieving such a goal was not as simple as he had imagined; in fact, it was exceptionally difficult.

His left hand clenched and unclenched under the table repeatedly, indicating that Bai Xiangwen was not at peace. His mind was racing, weighing the pros and cons and the opportunities involved.

But he quickly remembered Su Yan's last words, "Of course... this was also instructed by my elder brother," which, like a magic needle in the East China Sea, completely dispelled his last trace of concern and wavering.

In the future... regardless of success or failure, Bai Xiangwen is someone Su Chen has already taken notice of. As long as he trains Su Yan, the boss will surely treat him well.

Moreover, this grand strategy was personally orchestrated by the boss behind the scenes, and Bai Xiangwen was chosen to be one of the executors and promoters of this grand strategy, so how could he back down!

Having figured everything out, Bai Xiangwen's eyes grew brighter, the thoughtfulness in them gradually replaced by a sharpness and decisiveness. He suddenly raised his head, his gaze piercing as he looked at Su Yan:
"Young Master Su, no, Master Su!" His form of address subtly changed, becoming more solemn and authoritative. Without the slightest hesitation, he sat up straight and said decisively, "It is my honor that the boss and Master Su think so highly of me, Bai Xiangwen! I, Bai Xiangwen, will do my utmost to fulfill my duty!"

"General Manager Yang of Changlong, General Manager Chen of Yangwei, General Manager Li of Weitai... I'll contact these people and organize the event!" Bai Xiangwen went straight into work mode, speaking quickly and clearly, full of efficiency. "But they're the type who won't act until they see results. We must make the Pan-Northeast Catering Alliance plan complete and thorough so that it can serve as bait that they can't refuse!"

The two engaged in a heated discussion on this issue. Bai Xiangwen even asked Manager Sun of the teahouse to buy two notebooks so that he could record the key points of their discussion in order to prepare for the subsequent plan.

They chatted for hours until their stomachs started growling.

Su Yan and Bai Xiangwen exchanged a glance and laughed simultaneously. In just a few hours, their relationship had made a leap forward.

Only now did Su Yan fully understand his elder brother's good intentions.

……

Just as Su Yan and Bai Xiangwen were discussing where to get something to eat, Su Chen at the hotel… received a long-distance phone call! (End of Chapter)