I practiced my spirituality alone in Hong Kong.

Chapter 112 The Governor's Welcome Dinner

When Su Xingning returned home from the hospital, she saw Su Chichuan standing in the center of the room as soon as she entered the living room.

He held an invitation card with a gold-embossed bee design in his hand, pacing back and forth with his eyes shining like he had won the lottery.

"What's wrong, Dad? Aren't you going to the company today?"

Su Xingning was somewhat surprised.

She knew very well that her father was a devout believer in social Darwinism, who not only treated his employees like cattle and horses, but also treated himself like livestock, working himself to the bone.

Sometimes, seeing him come home after working overtime for several days in a row and then running a marathon for several kilometers, Su Xingning really worries that one day her father might have a heart attack and collapse while running.

It was the first time ever that I'd seen him at home on a weekday.

But Su Chichuan waved the invitation in his hand in front of his daughter as if showing off.

"Which company are we going to today? There's nothing bigger happening in Hong Kong today!"

"The Governor of Hong Kong was to host a banquet for all the social elites of Hong Kong to welcome a guest from Europe."

"Li Ka-shing, the richest man in Hong Kong, Henry Fok, the 'King of Sand', Mr. Fu, and Ms. Hu Xian—these top Hong Kong business tycoons will all be there. Why bother going to a company when you have the chance to meet them?"

"And do you know what that distinguished guest from Europe was called? Her name was Isabella Bonaparte!"

He is a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor of the First French Empire who once swept across Europe!

"This little bee emblem is the symbol of the Bonaparte family. Today, the representative of this top European family is coming to Hong Kong."

Seemingly annoyed by Su Chichuan's smug look, Liu Wanyi, who was sitting on the sofa next to him, complained, "What are you so smug about? You spent so much money to pull strings and buy an invitation to the banquet."

They can't even get into the main entrance of the banquet hall. They're not even as good as the waiters, at least they can get into the banquet hall and serve a dish.

What, Mr. Fu? What does Bonaparte have to do with you?

Spending so much money just to see what those big shots look like from afar, what a waste of time.

Su Chichuan snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "That's just a woman's view!"

Do you know what kind of occasion that was? It was the most prestigious banquet in all of Hong Kong!

Even those who manage to get into the outer circles are all influential figures; these are connections that money can't buy.

"And who says I can't see Mr. Fu? I've treated Mr. Fu's secretary to so many meals and served so much good wine."

Mr. Fu is also attending a banquet today, and that secretary can help me make an introduction.

Liu Wanyi pouted and continued sewing her embroidery, too lazy to listen to him talk.

Su Chichuan was somewhat annoyed that his wife didn't like him.

As the saying goes, a daughter is her father's little cotton-padded jacket. He looked at Su Xingning and said expectantly, "Xingning, why don't you come to the banquet with your father?"

Go and get ready, change into a pretty dress, and put on some light makeup.

"With your natural beauty, you'll look good no matter what. You'll be the most beautiful woman at the banquet, and all the young men there will be completely mesmerized."

Su Xingning lay on the sofa, crossed her long legs, and flipped through a relationship magazine titled "How to Win Back a Man's Heart".

"I'm not going."

Why?

"My mom said it's just an outside spot. Even the waiters can get into the banquet hall, but you can't."

You can fawn over those so-called big shots and curry favor with them; I can't afford to lose face like that.

Su Chichuan was a little embarrassed when his daughter saw through his thoughts, but he quickly straightened his back: "So what if it's an outer area? It's still the outer area of ​​top-tier banquets! Many people can't even get through the gates of the outer area in their entire lives!"

Such a great opportunity, with your classmates and friends, especially Li Chang'an whom you talk about all the time!

"Does their family have the means to access the resources your father gave you?"

Su Xingning's bright almond-shaped eyes turned cold.

Why do you always bring up Li Chang'an? Don't you feel uncomfortable if you don't belittle him a little?

Seeing that his daughter was angry, Su Chichuan's tone softened unconsciously.

"Dad—I'm not trying to belittle him, I'm just stating the facts."

Society is divided into classes, and Li Chang'an's current circumstances are no longer a good match for a girl of your class.

Then Dad wants to take you to a higher social class, so you can meet even more impressive boys —

"I don't need it!"

Su Xingning picked up the book, strode into her bedroom, and slammed the door shut.

Liu Wanyi said helplessly from the side, "Every time you mention Li Chang'an, you break up with Xing Ning. You just never learn."

"And why don't you think Chang'an has a bright future? When you were his age, you had just moved to the city and weren't doing as well as him."

"Those were the days. There won't be many more opportunities to climb up like that. How can that kid Li Chang'an compare to me?"

Besides, Xing Ning just hasn't figured it out yet.

Once she goes to university and sees more of the world, she'll realize that listening to me is the right thing to do!

Su Chichuan grunted, put on his most presentable Italian custom-made suit, and walked out the door.

Su Chichuan drove away from Hong Kong Island and arrived at Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, where he stopped in front of a coffee shop.

Looking ahead from here, you can see a beige Baroque palace-style building.

The entire building stretches horizontally, dignified and symmetrical, like a graceful "Far Eastern noblewoman" standing quietly on the shore of Victoria Harbour.

This is the famous Peninsula Hotel, one of Hong Kong's most renowned landmarks.

Queen Elizabeth II, US President Nixon, and many other international dignitaries have stayed at this hotel.

Countless Hollywood stars and European and American tycoons have stayed there.

The Governor of Hong Kong hosted a welcome dinner for the distinguished guests from the Bonaparte family at the Peninsula Hotel.

Su Chichuan straightened his tie in front of the mirror in the car, wiped his shoes with a handkerchief, and then got out of the car and entered the coffee shop.

He was going to wait here for Secretary Song, who was introduced to Mr. Fu by Xu Nanjia's family.

In order to establish this connection, Su Chichuan treated his clients to no fewer than five meals, each time incurring enormous expenses.

Just one or two bottles of foreign liquor that he had never even heard of cost him almost half a month's worth of revenue.

Su Chichuan glanced at his watch and, seeing there were still ten minutes until the appointed time, asked the waiter to bring two cups of coffee.

As a result, half an hour passed while I sat there.

Su Chichuan still hadn't seen anyone. The coffee he had prepared for the other person had gone cold, so he even had to get two or three more cups.

Finally, after waiting for another ten minutes, a silver-gray Mercedes-Benz slowly pulled up in front of the coffee shop.

Upon seeing a man wearing round-framed glasses inside the car, Su Chichuan immediately put on a smile and went out to greet him.

"Secretary Song, thank you so much today. Without you, I definitely wouldn't have had a chance to enter the banquet, let alone meet Mr. Fu."

Secretary Song hummed in acknowledgment and nodded her chin, which was her way of greeting him.

"Mr. Su, this is an opportunity you have worked hard for yourself."

Alright, Mr. Fu will be arriving at the venue soon. He'll be very busy tonight, with many plans later. Let's hurry over.

Su Chichuan followed Secretary Song and walked quickly toward the Peninsula Hotel.

At this time, the streets near the Peninsula Hotel were under traffic control by the Royal Australian Police, with officers standing guard on the streets and responsible for verifying identities before allowing people to pass.

Led by Secretary Song, Su Chichuan arrived at the garden next to the Peninsula Hotel, which was the so-called banquet area.

Financial elites from Central and real estate tycoons from the Mid-Levels were all quietly gathered in this small garden, chatting amongst themselves.

Su Chichuan waited here with Secretary Song for a while, and finally heard a commotion from the crowd.

A man in a dark suit got out of a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.

Those around him who saw him respectfully greeted him as "Mr. Fu".

Mr. Fu did not respond to the greetings from those around him.

When Secretary Song saw him coming, she immediately went to greet him.

"Boss, this is the person in charge of the building materials company who was introduced by Deputy Director Xu from the Political Department."

"I've done very well in the building materials industry in Hong Kong, and I've always admired you, sir. I've come today specifically to say hello."

"Introduced by the head of the political department?"

Mr. Fu then looked at Su Chichuan.

Su Chichuan quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Hello, Mr. Fu. I have long admired your name. It is my honor to meet you."

"You're quite well-informed. Our Fu family's investment and development plans in Hong Kong haven't even been finalized yet, and you've already come knocking on our door."

o

Seeing that Mr. Fu was interested in him, Su Chichuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He was just about to introduce himself to the other person further when...

But they found that Mr. Fu's gaze was fixed on the front, as if he had seen someone important, and his attention was instantly shifted away from him.

"Fu————"

"Boss Su, please wait for Secretary Song's news regarding the follow-up matters. She will contact you if it is appropriate."

After Mr. Fu finished speaking, he walked quickly toward the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel.

Su Chichuan finally managed to meet Mr. Fu, but before they could even exchange two sentences, Mr. Fu left, leaving Su Chichuan standing there somewhat helplessly.

Secretary Song, standing beside him, said, "Since the boss has spoken, we can only ask Boss Su to go back and wait for news."

After saying that, Secretary Song left.

Su Chichuan was somewhat frustrated. He took two deep breaths to suppress the disappointment and resentment in his heart, and looked in the direction where Mr. Fu had left.

He was eager to know who this person was that could make a big shot like Mr. Fu take the initiative to talk to him.

If it were some top-tier big shot, he would accept his bad luck.

Su Chichuan arrived at the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel, which was only accessible to formal banquet guests.

He soon spotted Mr. Fu and a young man he was talking intimately with.

The other person wasn't wearing a formal suit, just a casual shirt and jeans.

Su Chichuan usually doesn't dress this casually when he goes grocery shopping.

Just as Su Chichuan was wondering which aristocratic family the other party was, the young man seemed to keenly sense his gaze and turned to look at him.

Su Chichuan saw his face clearly and couldn't believe it.

"Li Chang'an?!"