The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 352 Making Peace
"My surname is Wu, and my boss is Bao Sheng."

Liu Hua frowned and said, "Is it Bao Sheng, the shipping magnate's son?"

The man nodded: "That's right, our boss would like to invite you and your family to a dinner party."

"Okay." Liu Hua nodded. "Tell me the time and place, and I'll be there on time tonight."

The man smiled and said, "I'll pick you up from the hotel at six o'clock tonight. Have a good day."

After the man left, Rosamund Kwan recovered from her astonishment: "Brother-in-law, that's Bao Sheng, the shipping magnate, the Bao Sheng who took over Wharf Holdings."

Liu Hua nodded: "Yes, but I don't know why he contacted me. I have no connection with him and no business dealings with him. I'm still a bit confused."

“You’ll find out when you get there,” Liu Feifei said with a smile. “I’ve heard of Mr. Bao. He’s a patriot, so he definitely won’t make things difficult for you. Maybe he wants to do business with you.”

Liu Hua's wealth was previously just an abstract feeling, but now it's becoming tangible in Rosamund Kwan's mind. Bao Sheng, that's a tycoon! To be invited by such a big shot, her brother-in-law must be something else.

If Rosamund Kwan could also attend the banquet and have some interaction with Mr. Bao, then she could walk sideways in the Hong Kong entertainment industry. Both TVB's tycoon, Mr. Shao, and Golden Harvest's Mr. Zou would look at her with more respect.

Of course, Rosamund Kwan didn't say those words out loud. She knew how to maintain boundaries. If she didn't, she wouldn't have been able to navigate so many wealthy people so easily.

That evening, Mr. Wu arrived in a Rolls-Royce to pick up Liu Hua, and Liu Hua was not the only one attending the banquet; his family members and even Rosamund Kwan were also present.

"Mr. Bao said this is a family dinner," Mr. Wu said with a smile. "Since I'm getting to know you, I'll naturally bring my family along."

This Rolls-Royce is Mr. Bao's car, so the paparazzi who had been waiting in front of the Regent Hotel for the past two days to take photos of Rosamund Kwan were able to take photos of her getting into Mr. Bao's car.

Mr. Bao received Liu Hua and her family at his home. The old man was kind and friendly, chatting with Liu Hua about everyday things, and even gave Liu Hua's daughter a piece of jewelry as a gift.

Business was never discussed at the dinner table, so Liu Hua didn't know what Mr. Bao's purpose was.

After the meal, Mr. Bao invited Liu Hua to his study, where they were about to discuss serious matters.

“Mr. Li from Cheung Kong asked me to act as a mediator,” Mr. Bao said politely. “He said he doesn’t know how he offended you, which has caused him to have no way to invest in the mainland. He wants me to help mediate and ask you to be lenient.”

When Li Ka-shing acquired Wharf Holdings, he helped Mr. Bao. Although Mr. Bao also made a lot of profit, he remembered the favor and agreed to Li Ka-shing's request.

Liu Hua smiled and shook his head: "He didn't offend me, he broke a taboo. It wasn't me who blocked his way, he blocked his own way."

Mr. Bao frowned and asked, "He didn't tell me in detail. Could you tell me?"

“My company produces carbon fiber, which was still under secrecy at the time. This secrecy wasn’t something I wanted to keep secret, but something the country wanted to keep secret,” Liu Hua said with a smile. “Li Ka-shing couldn’t wait to monopolize the business and wanted to acquire or invest in it, while at that time my factory was supplying military enterprises and aerospace departments.”

"It was indeed a bit reckless," Mr. Bao sighed. "But it shouldn't be a big deal. Since neither side has lost anything by not agreeing, right?"

“That’s not the reason. As I said, it was a confidential period at the time. I don’t know his source of information, but he shouldn’t have had this information.”

Bao Sheng suddenly realized: "So that's what I did wrong."

“Investment is fine, but it’s wrong that he knows things he shouldn’t know. I don’t know how the higher-ups treat him, but I’m not going to speak up for him.” Mr. Bao paused for a moment before tentatively saying, “Can’t you make an exception for him?”

Liu Hua shook his head: "The problem doesn't lie with me, but with him."

"He just wanted to contribute to the country's development."

Liu Hua smiled dismissively: "I saw him once before at the gate of my factory. My biggest impression of him was that he never stood up straight. His purpose is different from yours."

Liu Hua's words had a double meaning, and Mr. Bao understood what he meant.

Liu Hua smiled and said, "Let's not talk about these unpleasant things. Now that Mr. Bao is ashore, will the shipping business continue?"

"Of course, our company has not given up on the shipping business."

"We are currently designing new LNG carriers in mainland China," Liu Hua said with a smile. "Natural gas transportation will be a hot sector in the global maritime transport industry in the future, so Mr. Bao might as well add some to his portfolio."

"Oh!"

Mr. Bao immediately became interested: "Is there some progress being made in the development of LNG carriers in China? How come there's been no news about it? Can you tell me about it?"

"What's there to keep secret about commercial vessels?" Liu Hua said with a smile. "Besides, I'm the deputy chief engineer for this project, responsible for the design of marine materials and power systems."

Mr. Bao immediately showed great respect. As someone in the shipping industry, he naturally knew how complex the design of LNG carriers was, and the fact that Liu Hua was in charge of the design of ship materials and power equipment spoke volumes about his importance.

"I never expected Mr. Liu to be so talented," Mr. Bao said with a hint of flattery. "Our city's newspapers introduce you as an expert in semiconductors, but I never imagined you could also be involved in ship design."

"My original profession was mechanical design and steelmaking, but I accidentally made some achievements in semiconductors, which is why I was praised to the skies."

So Mr. Bao asked a lot of questions about LNG carriers, and he asked about every little detail.

Liu Hua also gave the most detailed explanation. Finally, Mr. Bao said with a smile, "New things are usually the hardest to promote. Your ship adopts a new design. I, Mr. Bao, am not very capable, but as long as your tests show that it is qualified, I, Mr. Bao, am willing to be your first customer."

Liu Hua smiled and nodded: "I will report this matter to higher authorities, and then sincerely invite Mr. Bao to visit the Jiangnan Shipyard."

"my pleasure."

Aside from the matter concerning Li Ka-shing, everyone else enjoyed themselves immensely throughout the night, and Mr. Bao escorted Liu Hua to the front door.

After Liu Hua left, Mr. Bao sat in his study for half an hour before finally picking up the phone and dialing a number.

"Old Li, you didn't get that thing done."

I don't know what was said on the other end of the phone, but Mr. Bao said expressionlessly, "Patriotism isn't conditional. You have to be sincere. Our personal gains are only the benefits that patriotism brings us, not the reason we patriotize. Think about it carefully. I can't help you."

(End of this chapter)