Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

Li Guangdong's smile remained unchanged, but in his heart he was already gritting his teeth. He could understand what Chen Dong meant by mainly operating the two major markets of China and America, which was the true Europe. As for Southeast Asia, in Chen Dong's eyes, Singapore was too small and not qualified.

If someone else had said this, Li Guangdong might have laughed it off, thinking it was just jealousy of the achievements of Singapore. But when Chen Dong said it, it was utter contempt.

Moreover, the offshore financial trading center that Chen Dong is currently setting up in Tuocheng has indeed encroached on Singapore's core business, which is why Li Guangxiong is so annoyed.

Li Guangdong is a smart man. Smart men know that no matter what their negotiating opponent says to provoke them, they must always be vigilant to avoid falling into the opponent's trap.

He gently put down his chopsticks, his gaze slowly sweeping over the dishes on the table, and said with a smile, "I greatly admire Mr. Chen's ambition. Singapore is indeed a small place with a small population, unlike supermarkets like China and America."

"However, small places also have their advantages. Small boats are easy to turn around, and some things are actually easier to accomplish."

Chen Dong smiled but didn't respond. He simply raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Li Guangdong's. Li Guangdong tilted his head back and drank the Moutai in his glass clean, while Chen Dong only took a sip.

Chen Dong's silence was obvious to both of them. The others at the table didn't notice. Chen Xiangui was telling Fang Rusong about Chen Rongfei's childhood anecdotes, which the teachers listened to with great interest. Chen Zaiguang occasionally glanced at Chen Dong but didn't ask any questions.

Li Guangdong tasted a few more bites of the two new dishes Chang Liangming had served, making small talk and praising the chef's skills. Chen Dong placed his chopsticks on the rim of his bowl and casually asked, "Mr. Li, have you been staying at the Yingbin Hotel during your stay in Tuocheng?"

When Li Guangdong saw Chen Dong's posture, he knew that the host was trying to get rid of the guest. In Tuocheng, if a host suddenly puts his chopsticks on the bowl like that while eating, a sensible guest would know that the host was trying to get rid of the guest and that he should say what he wanted to say quickly and not dawdle.

"Yes, I've been here for a few days now," Li Guangdong said calmly. "The changes in Tuocheng are truly astonishing. My secretary and I take taxis around every day, and the more we look, the more we feel that this place will probably surpass Hong Kong in the future."

"Hong Kong has its own destiny, and Tuocheng has its own path. The two are incomparable," Chen Dong said in a flat tone, already showing some impatience. "Mr. Li, if you like watching, then watch more. But remember to let me know before you leave, and I'll see you off at the airport."

Li Guangdong had already sensed the impatience in Chen Dong's words, but he remained polite and refined. He raised his glass to Chen Dong and said, "Mr. Chen, my arrival today was rather hasty and abrupt, and it's almost time to end the banquet. There are many things that are inconvenient to say to you. How about another day when you have time, I'll host a banquet at the Tuocheng State Guesthouse to welcome you?"

Chen Dong didn't try to stop him. He stood up and gestured for him to leave, saying, "No need to reschedule, let's do it the day after tomorrow."

"In that case, I shall take my leave now," Li Guangdong said without further delay, standing up to leave. Seeing that he was leaving without taking the gifts he had brought, Chen Xiangui said, "We have not been hospitable to our guests, so there is no need to leave the gifts behind."

Li Guangdong just smiled. Although Chen Rongfei had politely declined, Li Guangdong had no intention of taking the gift back. He got into the "Zhaoyebai" taxi that had been waiting there and drove away.

"Ah Dong, look at this," Chen Xiangui said to Chen Dong, indicating what to do with the gift and suggesting that he take it to Chen Dong when he went to see him the day after tomorrow.

"Uncle, it's alright. Since he brought it all and insisted on giving it to us, we don't have to refuse it. Let's just keep it for Rongfei," Chen Dong said with a smile.

"Alright," Chen Xiangui returned to his seat. At this time, the women serving the dishes had finished serving the last sweet soup. People who often attend banquets know that the final dish in Tuocheng is sweet soup and sweet dumplings. Serving this dish is to tell the guests that there are no more dishes to serve and that they can leave the banquet after they finish eating.

"Dear friends and family," Chen Xiangui said to the crowd, "this concludes my eldest grandson Rongfei's college entrance celebration banquet today. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality. I wish you all good health. Thank you!"

"good!"

*Slap slap slap!*

After Chen Xiangui finished speaking, Cai Gensheng immediately lit firecrackers. The firecrackers signaled the end of the banquet. Everyone picked up a pack of Huazi cigarettes from the table. Some people took the Maotai that they hadn't finished drinking.

The children excitedly ran around, grabbing drinks from the table regardless of whether they were open or not. The village women, hearing the firecrackers, had already come over with their bowls and basins. Although they weren't eating at the feast, they still came to help clean up, dumping the leftovers from the table into basins to reheat for another meal the next day.

Ronghui and Rongguo had their eyes on the golden ruyi that Li Guangdong had brought long ago. As soon as the banquet ended, they quickly ran over, vying to help their brother Rongfei carry the golden ruyi home.

"I'm the older brother, I'm strong, I'll carry him!"

"No, that's not true! Even though I'm the younger brother, I'm stronger than you, and I can eat half a bowl more than you at every meal!"

"You little glutton!"

"You're swearing!"

Seeing the two brothers arguing fiercely, Chen Xiangui walked over, stuffed the box into a bag, and carried it himself. "Valuable items, children shouldn't play with them, do you understand?"

"Uncle, but this doesn't look expensive," Ronghui said, tilting his head. In his memory, he only played with golden things casually at home.

"It's not expensive, but it's heavy. If something is heavy, it's valuable. Kids can't play with it, you know?" Chen Xiangui wasn't going to talk to these two brats about the value of gold; they wouldn't understand anyway.

"Huh? Is that so?" Rong Guo immediately pointed at his older brother Rong Xiong and exclaimed, "Brother Rong Xiong, isn't that wine bottle you're carrying heavy?"

Chen Rongxiong, who was carrying an unopened bottle of Moutai liquor off the table, replied with a puzzled look when Rong Guo asked him, "It's heavy, what's wrong?"

"These are valuable items, children shouldn't play with them, Grandpa said so, put them back quickly," Rongguo said, hands on his hips, looking like a little adult, scolding Chen Rongxiong.

"What? Grandpa was lying to you. There's no such thing as something being heavy being valuable. My mom even made me help carry water," Chen Rongxiong rolled his eyes at his two silly younger brothers. "So water buckets are valuable? If I said that, my mom would definitely give me a good beating with a rattan cane."

Ronghui and Rongguo, those two rascals, only then realized what was happening. By then, Chen Xiangui had already walked away with the bag containing the golden ruyi. The two of them immediately ran after him, shouting, "Grandpa, you're lying to the children! Be careful, or you'll wet the bed tonight!"

The adults who were still tidying up the tables and chairs nearby burst into laughter upon hearing what the two little kids said.