Twenty years of cold chain

When Hu Shutong came to the Xishan Villa again, it was as quiet as ever. Only Guan Wentao and the old butler were there. Every time he came here, it gave him a sense of isolation.

But stepping into the villa this time, Hu Shutong felt as if he were visiting for the first time. Under the stairs, by the windowsills, and even in the corners of the dining room and living room, there were many potted plants, some placed and some hanging, including caladiums, cordyceps, and spider plants, and many more that Hu Shutong couldn't name.

On one side was the fragrance of flowers, but on the other side was something that surprised Hu Shu even more. The living room was filled with the aroma of seasonings, and a copper hot pot was bubbling on the dining table, surrounded by small plates containing beef and mutton, tripe and duck intestines, crab meat and oysters, tofu skin and mushrooms.

Every time I come here, there is a rather aloof atmosphere, but seeing such a lively and bustling scene today truly warms my heart.

"Mingjiang gets terribly cold in winter when it rains, Mr. Hu, why don't we chat while it's still warm?"

Hu Shutong took off his coat and hung it on the wall. Just as he was about to sit down with his briefcase, he suddenly hung it next to his coat.

Guan Wentao gestured for the butler to bring over the wine, but the elder took his time and slowly poured a full glass for Hu Shutong. When it came to Guan Wentao, he poured a long, slow glass, and after exchanging glances, he finally filled it to the brim.

As they picked up their wine and chopsticks, Hu Shutong was completely at ease. His impression of Guan Wentao was always one of profoundness and coldness, like the chill of late autumn or winter, but today he was drastically different, or rather, he had never seen him in such a good mood before.

"You must have noticed, there are a lot more flowers in my house now."

"I bet it was Xiaoman who gave it to me."

Hu Shutong couldn't help but laugh. "I remember when you asked me about the prospects of flowers that year, I wasn't really knowledgeable about it. It was just my gut feeling. Luckily, it was the right path."

Guan Wentao said, "I didn't care too much about the prospects. At that time, I only knew that with you in charge, everything would be fine. But looking back step by step, I realized that I had underestimated it."

Hu Shutong didn't say too many polite and humble words, but smiled and raised his glass in a toast.

In the hot pot, different aromas of steam rise gently, fish slices tumble and roll, and bean curd sheets peek through the red oil. Before you know it, Hu Shutong is relieved of the pressure he has been under on his journey.

Unlike the courtyards or terraces of the past, where one had to carefully read every word spoken, and every moment of silence made one worry about saying something inappropriate, even taking a sip of coffee required careful observation, this place now gives one the feeling of being a guest in a comfortable and welcoming setting, where conversations can even feel like casual home-cooked meals.

"I think you probably already know that Xiaoman won't be joining Minghe. She has a successful career and a bright future ahead of her. Nothing could be more satisfying than that."

Hu Shutong wasn't entirely clear about the rift between Guan Wentao and Guan Xiaoman. Judging from what Hu Yuntong revealed, the root of the problem likely lay in the conflict between the two mothers. Those were things from one or two decades ago, but their impact on the siblings continues to this day.

"If Xiaoman were just a rich girl, she would never work with Yuntong. I see it clearly. What she is doing now is what she wants most, and what she is willing to pay for for many years to come. Shutong, we are both brothers, and we both have influence with the Hu and Guan families."

Clearly, Guan Wentao was fully aware of the situation. Upon reflection, it seemed that Hu Yuntong and Guan Xiaoman had been together for five years. Guan Wentao's words bore a striking resemblance to what Hu Shutong had previously said to his younger brother.

Guan Wentao's thoughts were far from ordinary. He was well aware of the Hu family's worries. Ultimately, he would have to give an answer to this matter. As long as he made his stance clear to Hu Shutong, just like the flower garden plan, things would proceed very smoothly.

There weren't many things that Guan Wentao cared about. The future of the flower garden was secondary. What mattered most was that he saw changes. When he received the flowers from Guan Xiaoman, little did he know that an even bigger flower was blooming in his heart.

Hu Shutong's dedication to the flower garden was unparalleled by any other partner. From the very beginning, he invested Tongxing's top-tier personnel, and later even jointly established a marketing department. Looking back, Hu Shutong and Guan Wentao clearly shared a tacit understanding.

Another glass of wine was downed. The changes that Hu Shutong witnessed in this villa—the smoke, wine, and meat—were also evident. For Guan Wentao, it was the same every time he saw something different. Even though the person in front of him carried the same bag each time, the contents of that bag were different each time.

Thinking back to our first meeting, he was still busy working on the Nalongshan Summit. Now, he's already involved in large-scale fundraising, and it's a separate fundraising effort unrelated to the "headquarters." This clearly shows how fast Tongxing has grown in recent years. Moreover, someone like Guan Wentao always seems to have an unseen eye to see what he wants to see.

A short while later, Guan Wentao glanced at the briefcase hanging on the wall. It was a peculiar sight, as if all the details to be discussed could be conveyed simply by looking at it from afar.

"Mammoth Fund can do angel rounds, but the problem is that the angel financing section of Mammoth Fund has a limit set when it was established. Even if I give you the highest level, it probably won't satisfy Tongxing's current appetite."

Hu Shutong understands this point. Angel funds have never been very large. In the system of systematic funds, the angel round is the riskiest, and personal relationships often dominate, with many deficiencies in the mechanism.

Times have changed, and what was applicable before may not be sufficient now. As Guan Wentao said, Tongxing's needs are no longer what they used to be. In the current booming logistics sector, investors are still struggling to find a precise threshold for delivery financing, which also means there is a great deal of room for growth.

"Have you considered launching the angel round and Series A round simultaneously? This way, I can use the angel round as a stepping stone to start things up and extend to the Series A round. Once it's launched, not only can Mammoth open a targeted Series A investment fund, but we can also attract more funds to support this round of financing."

At this point, one has to admire Guan Wentao's considerations. Hu Shutong didn't say a word about financing, but the other party had already made things very clear.

The main purpose of the plan hanging on the wall is there—

A-round battlefield!

……

I've loved cold chain logistics for twenty years.