Tycoon: From Rags to Riches

Chapter 200: Chapter 175: Alpha Wolf

"Tightly holding the Cyan Flower keepsake~"

"Keeping the promise~"

"Partings are always spent in disappointment~"

...

In the third-floor lounge, a million-yuan sound system was playing Zhou Chuanxiong’s "Cyan Flower."

Outside the window, snow filled the sky.

Inside, the fragrant aroma of tea curled through the air.

Gu Heng sat in the host’s seat at the central tea table, facing Qian Zhengxing, Wang Baoshan, and Jiang Man.

"Nine Bends Yunchong!"

"Moon God Bull!"

Gu Heng’s movements as he prepared the tea were elegant and graceful, like flowing clouds and moving water.

"Have a taste."

Gu Heng held a fairness pitcher from Yilin Hall’s Qilin series, pouring the clear, fragrant tea into the lidded bowls in front of Qian Zhengxing, Wang Baoshan, and Jiang Man. The bowls, too, were all precious pieces from Yilin Hall.

"Chairman Gu, did you go to Zhonghai just to stock up?"

Wang Baoshan gazed at the numerous shelves behind Gu Heng, all filled with fine wines, rare teas, and famous cigars. Even though he had been sitting here for a long time, the shock in his eyes had yet to fade.

When Gu Heng had previously said that unopened cases of 2013 national Maotai weren’t even worthy of being his bottom-shelf stock, he had secretly been a bit skeptical, feeling Gu Heng was boasting a little.

But after following Gu Heng up to this third-floor lounge and seeing the many fine wines resting in the liquor cabinets, he realized Gu Heng hadn’t been boasting at all. In fact, he had been a little too humble.

Setting aside the foreign spirits and red wines, the Maotai collection alone was enough to be a real eye-opener.

There was the ’80 "Black-Glaze Maotai," the ’58 "Golden Wheel Maotai," the ’83 "Yellow-Glaze Maotai," the ’97 "Hong Kong Handover Commemorative Maotai"...

As far as the eye could see, every bottle was auction-grade.

As for the unopened cases of 2013 national Maotai they had just been drinking, he had as many as one could want. They weren’t even worthy of being displayed openly and were all stuffed in the bottom cabinets.

In addition, there were limited-edition imported cigars, rare teas that cost thousands of yuan per brew, precious tea sets from Yilin Hall, and enamel-painted Cigar Humidors from Thick Mountain Kiln.

Wang Baoshan considered himself a man who had seen the world, but he was still profoundly shaken by the scale of Gu Heng’s collection.

’The value of this lounge alone is probably enough to buy two more hilltop villas in Yu Cui Garden, isn’t it?’

"My friends in Zhonghai say the same thing about me."

Gu Heng sipped his tea and replied with a smile, "It’s mainly because I’m a bit obsessive-compulsive. I can’t stand seeing these shelves empty. It bothers me if I don’t fill them all up."

As they were joking, the lounge door was pushed open.

Jiang Ruan walked in from outside carrying two fruit platters. She placed one on each side of the table, then silently sat down beside Gu Heng.

"Would you like a cigar?"

Jiang Ruan asked Gu Heng softly.

"Of course."

"I was waiting for you."

Gu Heng replied with a smile.

"Which one would you like?"

Jiang Ruan asked.

"Open another box of the Habanos GR."

Gu Heng gestured. "Let President Wang and Qian Hang have a taste."

"Alright."

Jiang Ruan agreed, standing up again and walking towards the cigar cabinet.

Since she was the one who had helped Gu Heng organize the lounge, she knew the location of every cigar, fine wine, and rare tea by heart.

Soon, Jiang Ruan took out an unopened box of Habanos GR and brought it to the long table.

The black, piano-lacquered box made it look exceptionally high-end.

Jiang Ruan skillfully opened the box, her slender, pale fingers gently brushing over the neat row of cigars.

"President Wang, Qian Hang, would you prefer a straight cut or a V-cut?"

Jiang Ruan asked politely.

"A straight cut is fine. Thank you for your trouble, Miss Jiang."

Wang Baoshan quickly replied.

"I’ll have a V-cut. Thank you, Miss Jiang."

Qian Zhengxing also responded quickly. Looking at Jiang Ruan before him, he subconsciously compared her to Luo Xiwen in his mind.

’Jiang Ruan is cold and aloof, while Luo Xiwen is dignified and graceful.’

’The two women have different temperaments, but both are paragons of beauty in their respective styles.’

’Jiang Ruan is more like Gu Heng’s private treasure, a beautiful consort hidden away at home, not easily shown to outsiders.’

’Luo Xiwen, on the other hand, is more like his public face—the kind of woman who can grace any formal occasion.’

’Each has her own merits. I wonder which one Gu Heng truly favors more.’

While Qian Zhengxing was lost in thought, Jiang Ruan had already skillfully cut the caps for both his and Wang Baoshan’s cigars and lit them.

After handing the cigars to Wang Baoshan and Qian Zhengxing, Jiang Ruan then lit another one for Gu Heng. However, unlike with the other two, she tested the draw on Gu Heng’s cigar beforehand—and she did a direct draw test, no less.

Such treatment really let Gu Heng put on a bit of a show.

When Wang Baoshan and Qian Zhengxing saw this, they both secretly resolved to have their own mistresses go learn a thing or two after they returned. In the future, they wanted to show off in front of others just like Gu Heng.

"Chairman Gu, Qian Hang just told us quite a bit about Chu Zhengxiong."

Wang Baoshan took a puff of his cigar, a look of pure comfort spreading across his face. "I don’t know much about Chu Zhengxiong, but I have had a few dealings with his younger brother, Chu Zhengnan."

"Go on."

Gu Heng nodded slightly, gesturing for Wang Baoshan to continue.

"Chu Zhengnan and Chu Zhengxiong are full brothers, with an eight-year age gap."

"If Chu Zhengxiong is the Wolf King, then Chu Zhengnan is the alpha wolf."

"The guy has a strong gangster-like air about him. He’s a bit simple-minded and acts very recklessly. At Xingchuan International, he doesn’t listen to anyone except Chu Zhengxiong. Whatever Chu Zhengxiong tells him to do, he does."

"Currently, he’s in charge of managing Xingchuan International’s most important foundational assets: the Platinum Association, the Xiyue Club, and the Celestial Bath Spring. Although he’s only a vice president, his power is no less than that of Xingchuan International’s president."

Gu Heng listened to the information from Wang Baoshan, cross-referencing it with the data from the two due diligence reports provided by Deloitte China and Jun Cheng Law Firm.

"Do you know who’s backing the Chu Brothers?"

Gu Heng lifted his cup for a sip, suddenly posing the question to Wang Baoshan and the others.

For Chu Zhengxiong to have stood firm in Ji Province for over a decade without falling, he must have had someone sufficiently powerful supporting him from behind. Otherwise, he would have likely been carved up and devoured by others long ago.

"Well..."

"We’re not clear on that."

Qian Zhengxing and Wang Baoshan exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

"No matter."

"If you don’t know, you don’t know."

Gu Heng smiled. "I was just curious. Who is actually backing the Chu Brothers has nothing to do with me, anyway."

"Indeed."

Qian Zhengxing nodded. "Some things are better left unknown."

"Let’s not talk about them anymore."

"Drink your tea."

Gu Heng knew that Qian Zhengxing and Wang Baoshan had already said all they could. There was no point in continuing the conversation, so he ended the topic and turned to other matters.

The group sat in the lounge, drinking tea and enjoying their cigars until late into the night. Qian Zhengxing and the others eventually took their leave one by one. After seeing them off, Gu Heng also turned and went back to his room to rest...

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