Golden Scale [EN]: Chapter 139

184. Hidden Agendas

Early Monday morning, Hou Longtao practically burst into Gu Quanzhi’s office, slapping yesterday’s “People’s Daily” onto the desk. “You’ve really made a splash.”

“Hmph,” Gu Quanzhi dismissed the newspaper with a wave, feigning disinterest. “You didn’t come here just to gloat, did you?”

“I’m here to learn from the master. You handled this beautifully, exceeding all expectations. I’m impressed. I knew you were capable, but to this extent? You have to tell me how you pulled it off.”

“Anything else? Out with it,” Gu Quanzhi said, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at the younger man.

“Hehe, I can’t hide anything from my second brother or you. We’re friendly, quite close, but not close enough for you to do me such a big favor. Frankly, I didn’t expect you to actually make it happen.”

“Hmm,” Gu Quanzhi nodded. “You know I brought Zhong Chu from Hong Kong to butter you up, right?”

“Bullshit,” Hou Longtao clapped his hands, stood up, paced the room, then plopped back into his chair, pointing at Gu Quanzhi. “It’s refreshing to be around you. We’re both smart, constantly trying to figure out what the other is thinking, what they can and can’t imagine. Some might find it tiring, think it’s bad to be scheming, but I find it stimulating.”

Gu Quanzhi wasn’t surprised by Hou Longtao’s sudden burst of energy. “Only those who enjoy the game have a chance of winning in a scheming world.”

“Just tell me,” Hou Longtao said, calming down slightly. “The day you mentioned Zhong Chu, I knew you were trying to flatter me. But when I saw the news yesterday, I thought, you’ve already taken care of this, why the extra flattery? So, I started to wonder about your real purpose in bringing the Dou sisters here, which you’ve now admitted. So, now I have to assume you benefited at least as much as I did from the Guangdong situation, probably even more. You figured I’d find out sooner or later how much you gained, so you didn’t consider it a favor. We’re just scratching each other’s backs.”

“It’s mutual benefit, but not just between us. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have worked.”

“I know that. So, tell me, who else benefited, and how much? I want to know how big of a hornet’s nest I accidentally stirred up.”

“Hmm…” Gu Quanzhi tapped the table lightly, looking up in thought. “What do people hate most these days?”

“Presumably, corrupt officials.”

“Corrupt officials who don’t serve the people.”

“That makes sense.” Hou Longtao nodded. In fact, the people’s expectations are quite low. As long as officials genuinely solve problems and do practical things for the masses, no one really cares if they skim a little off the top.

“The Qing government was rife with corruption. The people were full of complaints about the corruption and bribery of officials at all levels.
Everyone knows the principle that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The imperial court also deeply hates corrupt officials.” Gu Quanzhi looked at Hou Longtao. “Do you understand what I’m getting at?”

“I understand,” Hou Longtao said, recognizing another history lesson. “Please, continue.”

“Empress Dowager Cixi [the de facto ruler of China from 1861 to 1908] once tried to crack down on corruption, and several important officials were brought down, some committing suicide, some going to jail. But the most rampant ones weren’t the inner officials; the outer officials, relying on their distance from the emperor, caused the most public resentment. But those powerful regional officials had deep-rooted influence, and Empress Dowager Cixi couldn’t bring herself to punish them. Actually, she didn’t have the guts, as she had countless connections with those outer officials.”

“Now that Emperor Guangxu [the emperor of China from 1875 to 1908, but largely under Cixi’s control] is in power, he wants to make sweeping changes?” Hou Longtao asked, a little excited; he was very loyal to the emperor.

“Hmph, Guangdong is a chicken.”

“Emperor Guangxu has been in power for a while. Why wait until now to kill the chicken? And why now, just because Yuan Shikai’s nephew [Yuan Keding, son of a powerful general] is also unhappy with that chicken?” Hou Longtao still had questions.

“Guangdong is different. Emperor Qianlong [the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty] designated it as a port for attracting merchants; it’s rich.” Gu Quanzhi curled his lips. “The officials in Guangdong feel they can sit as equals with the imperial court, bargain with them, playing the game of ‘a general abroad may not accept all the emperor’s commands.’ If there’s an opportunity to clean them up, Emperor Guangxu won’t miss it.”

“Why is now a good time?”

“Because of you.”

“Me?”

“Hahahaha,” Gu Quanzhi laughed heartily. “You’re a lucky star. The Guangdong Governor’s Office has close ties with the Eight Banners [hereditary military institutions of the Qing dynasty], actually, the Eight Banners have connections with all the powerful regional officials, but because Guangdong is rich, the Eight Banners get the most benefits. Although Emperor Guangxu always promises not to touch the interests of the Eight Banners when he wants to rectify the Guangdong officialdom, if a large number of local officials are removed and investigated, the Eight Banners will be affected to some extent, and losses are inevitable. So, the Eight Banners always obstruct Emperor Guangxu’s policies, either openly or secretly. Emperor Guangxu doesn’t want to lose their support, so he hasn’t taken strong action.”

“With me, he has the support of the Eight Banners?” Hou Longtao stroked his chin, his eyes narrowed. “Yuan Shikai’s nephew is that influential?”

“Originally, the Eight Banners didn’t really want to disagree with Emperor Guangxu. Before, it was just a matter of public duty. Now that there’s a layer of personal feelings involved, the balance naturally shifts.”

“Hehe,” Hou Longtao finally understood his importance. “So, what benefits did Yuan Shikai get?”

“That’s too simple. Take a guess.”

“How’s Yuan Shikai’s business in the south lately?”

“Hehehe, it’s easy to guess. Also, all the new officials in the Guangdong Governor’s Office are there thanks to Yuan Shikai’s nephew. If they need help with anything, they shouldn’t refuse.”

“I understand,” Hou Longtao knew he was referring to his air purifier business. “What else does Yuan Shikai’s nephew need to do?”

“Just like after taking down the treacherous merchant last time, I guess Yuan Shikai’s nephew will go after the defeated dogs, taking the opportunity to have the new officials help out, and also appease the Eight Banners. As for the specifics, it’s up to Yuan Shikai’s nephew to decide. Whether he can take care of all aspects is also a test and exercise for him.”

“I believe he’ll handle it.”

“That’s good. Any other questions?”

“Yes, about the Russian matter, why can’t we ask for more?” Hou Longtao stopped using code words. “Russia has so many good things, like oil, airplanes. Just asking for a few tons of titanium, isn’t that a bit unambitious?”

“Greedy,” Gu Quanzhi said, pointing at Hou Longtao. “We’re extorting them. How much we can extort depends on how much leverage you have. Chekov is doing business with you with clear prices. You already have a big profit margin. It’s not like he can’t live without your product. Even with those few tons of titanium, you have to be careful with your words, not just bluntly demand it. Want airplanes and cannons? Hmph.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Hou Longtao scratched his head. “I always feel like this whole thing isn’t that reliable.”

“How so?”

“Chekov seems to trust me a lot. He even bluntly told me that he killed Kurnikova’s original godfather, revealed all his secrets to me, his relationship with 譬 [Pi, likely referring to a high-ranking official], his purpose in doing business with me. Don’t you think that’s strange?”

“It’s possible he’s a big fool, just trusts people easily. It’s also possible he has a deep understanding of himself and you.” Gu Quanzhi raised his eyebrows. “Which reason do you think it is?”

“If you put it that way, it must be the second one.”

“Hmm, think about it. What negative impact does knowing those things have on him, and what positive impact does it have?”

Hou Longtao lit another cigarette, his fingers lightly tapping the table. He was unconsciously imitating Gu Quanzhi’s movements. “There’s no negative impact. The positive impact, well, it should all be from my psychological perspective, right?”

Gu Quanzhi raised his eyebrows, tacitly acknowledging it…

“Take a look at this.” Long threw Sunday’s “Beijing Youth Daily” onto Tian Donghua’s desk, pointing to the news about the arrest of the Mai gang.

“What’s this?” Tian Donghua picked up the newspaper. “What does it have to do with us?”

“That’s Hou Longtao’s doing.” Long sat down on the sofa, putting his feet up on the coffee table.

“What do you mean?” Tian Donghua frowned.

“Remember the last time Hou Longtao and I discussed dealing with someone?”

“I remember, is it them?”

“No,” Long said. “They just blocked Hou Longtao’s path.” He recounted the whole story, from Hou Longtao’s feud with Hao Zhiyi to the Guangdong gang’s involvement. “So many people died for his little thing.”

Tian Donghua picked up the newspaper and read the report carefully. The last paragraph mentioned that the fall of the Mai gang had also exposed a network of official-bandit relationships in Guangdong.

“What’s wrong? Are you hot?” Long asked.

“No.”

“Your forehead is covered in sweat.”

“Oh, I just took some medicine to induce sweating. I’ve had a slight fever.” Tian Donghua wiped his forehead, looking at the shiny water stains on his hand. He looked up at Long, the coldness in his eyes flashing for a moment. “You didn’t just want me to see how powerful Hou Longtao is, did you?”

“Of course not, I’m not his PR guy.” Long lit a cigarette, squinting. “I think this is a good opportunity for us to strike.”

“Why?” Tian Donghua clearly disagreed.

“What do you mean, why? He’s dealing with the southern underworld. If something happens to him now, the remnants of the Mai gang will be the prime suspects. Even if it doesn’t succeed, no one will suspect us.”

Tian Donghua closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, slowly shaking his head.

“What’s wrong? No? You don’t agree?”

Tian Donghua remained silent.

“Say something.” Long was getting anxious.

“Long, people who do great things must be patient.”

“Tch, what does this have to do with patience?” Long was about to explode. “Opportunity knocks but once. He’s made such a big enemy. If we don’t take this opportunity to take him down, what are we waiting for?”

“This isn’t a good opportunity.”

“Why?”

“Hou Longtao is cautious. He understands that even a centipede dies hard. Even if he’s almost taken down the Mai gang, he’ll never underestimate them. Do you think he’ll be more careful? Besides, we know Hou Longtao is the mastermind, but the people in Guangdong may not. If he deliberately hides his involvement, how could they seek revenge on him?”

“Sometimes you have to gamble. Otherwise, if you just wait and wait, when will we ever get there?” Long asked this question frequently.

“Soon,” Tian Donghua smiled slightly. “Soon.”

“You always say soon, soon. When is soon?”

“He’s going to Germany this time, and he’s landed a big deal with Russia,” Tian Donghua didn’t answer directly. “The formal negotiations will be in a few days, you know that, right?”

“Of course, I know that. Everyone’s been busy with this lately.”

“Once this matter is finished and the new factory in Russia starts construction, the time will be ripe.”

“Really?” Long’s eyes lit up. “How do you plan to do it?”

“Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed. You’ll know when the time comes.” Tian Donghua raised his head and let out a long breath…

Hou Longtao rolled a pancake for Ekaterina, the tall Russian beauty sitting next to him, and put it on her plate. The negotiations that morning had gone very smoothly. The price had been agreed upon, and the remaining details were technical, such as the factory location.

Marry couldn’t wait to stuff the pancake filled with Peking duck into her mouth. “Mmm…mmm…” She made sounds like she was moaning. “It’s amazing, Peking duck, mmm…amazing.”

“Hahahaha,” Hou Longtao started rolling a second one. “There’s plenty. You can eat as much as you want.”

“Can you only eat it in Beijing?”

“No, there’s a branch in Los Angeles. Although I haven’t been there, I heard it’s very authentic.” Hou Longtao handed the pancake to her.

“Mmm…” Marry took a bite and started “humming and hawing” again. “Once this is done, I’ll be stationed in Los Angeles.”

“You’ll get tired of eating it every day. Eating it once every few months, that’s what you call enjoyment.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“Your father couldn’t come because of health reasons. Didn’t Anna make a fuss about coming with you?”

“Hmph,” Marry smiled contemptuously. “She’s afraid I’ll throw her off the plane.”

Hou Longtao could guess how deep the conflict between these rich stepsisters was.

“If you want to see her, it’s not difficult. She’s already notified her agent that she’ll be attending the Beijing Open, just to see you.”

“Let’s not talk about her,” Hou Longtao said. “I want to talk business.”

“Business? Business should be discussed at the negotiating table.”

Hou Longtao reached out and pinched the woman’s thigh through her wool skirt. “The business I want to discuss can’t be discussed at the negotiating table.”

“If that’s the case,” Marry moved his hand away, her expression unchanged. “It’s better not to mix personal feelings, don’t you think?”

“You’re right,” Hou Longtao pulled back. Although this Russian girl wasn’t old, she must have received formal education, followed her father around, seen the world, and had a lot of practical experience. He couldn’t underestimate her, and couldn’t expect her to make concessions in business just because they had a fling. “I want a thousand tons of titanium every year.”

“Titanium? You’ve come to the wrong person, right?”

“No, I want a thousand tons of titanium outside the plan every year.”

“What do you mean, outside the plan? Titanium isn’t a controlled metal, it’s not like uranium or something. You can just go directly to the manufacturer to buy it.”

“It’s not just your family that has connections with the government,” Hou Longtao was a little dissatisfied with her reaction. It was clear she didn’t see him as an equal. “Since I’m asking you this, there’s no need to give me the official line, right?”

Marry had never looked up to Hou Longtao. She didn’t understand why her father valued this young man so much. Although she had slept with him, she didn’t think he had the qualities of a mentor or the potential to be on par with her family. “How much can you earn from the air purifier business? Have you calculated it? You’re still asking me to add benefits? Aren’t you being too greedy?”

“The benefits are mutual,” Hou Longtao began counting on his fingers. “President 譬’s international reputation will increase greatly, the Russian government’s fiscal revenue will increase, the Chekov family’s income won’t be less than mine, and there are some other small benefits that I won’t mention. To put it bluntly, I’m just a tool for you to gain benefits.”

“Don’t say that, it’s not like you’re not making any money.”

“All I get is money,” Hou Longtao lit a cigarette. “You should understand that when business reaches a certain level, money becomes the least valuable gain. Just like you’re doing this mainly not for money, I’ve also surpassed the level of just making money.”

“What you get is not just money, but also the friendship of the Chekov family.”

“Yes, I value the friendship of the Chekov family very much, so my suggestion is that I buy titanium at the original price, but give you a discount of ten dollars on the price of the air purifier. Moreover, if this titanium business is successful, it will also promote the strategic partnership between China and Russia. I’m not trying to scare you, China’s rise is unstoppable. China and Russia, whether openly or secretly, should cooperate to counter the United States. This is a historical necessity.”

Marry didn’t speak, but looked at the Chinese boy up and down. To give up 250 million US dollars in profit with a single sentence, he was indeed not an ordinary businessman.

Hou Longtao waited. “I know this isn’t something you can decide alone, and it won’t be resolved in a day or two. Fortunately, our negotiations have just begun. After you go back, you can discuss my request and proposal with your delegation members and inform your father.”

“What if we don’t agree? Will you not cooperate with us?”

“Of course not,” Hou Longtao smiled slightly. “I don’t want to lose the Chekov family’s friendship.”

“Hmph, if you say that to me, doesn’t that mean you have no bargaining chips?”

“I’m confident that you’ll meet my requirements. Whether you start from the big picture or just focus on the shortest-term interests, my proposal is absolutely attractive.”

Marry knew very well that this matter was beyond Hou Longtao’s control. If her side didn’t meet his requirements, even if he wanted to continue selling air purifiers, the Chinese government would definitely put pressure on him, forcing him to withdraw. “I will do my best to make it happen.”

“That’s great.”

“How will you thank me?” Marry stretched out a long finger, dipped it in the sweet bean sauce, and then put it back in her mouth to suck on it, her charming eyes flashing at him.

“You want thanks before anything’s even been accomplished?”

“I’ll pre-pay the thanks, and your chances of success will be higher.” Marry’s hands reached under his abdomen and began to undo his belt.

“Hahahaha,” Hou Longtao picked up his phone and dialed Zhi Ji’s number. “Don’t let anyone in.” He put down the phone and put his fingers in her mouth.

Marry immediately began to suck on his fingers, her hands not stopping, squatting down to pull his trousers and underwear down to his ankles.

“This is also very delicious when smeared on corn on the cob.” Hou Longtao picked up a dish of sweet bean sauce from the table and brought it to her.

“OK, Let me try it.” Marry rolled two fingers in the dish, smeared the thick sweet bean sauce on the upper half of his erect penis, and then began to suck it greedily.

“Mmm…” Hou Longtao closed his eyes and raised his head, his left arm relaxed and hanging beside his body, his right hand pressing on her head, slowly thrusting his hips upwards, using his dick to fuck her mouth.

Marry sucked the penis clean, then switched to stroking it while licking it wildly.

Hou Longtao stood up, grabbed the woman’s blonde hair with his left hand, and slapped her face with his cock with his right hand. “How is this, my little *****?”

Marry didn’t show any dissatisfaction, her face full of lust. She looked up at him lewdly. “Ah…ah…this is the hardest, hottest thing in the world. It will melt me from the inside out.”

“Hehehe,” Hou Longtao grinned lewdly and picked up the dish of sweet bean sauce again, poked his dick in it, and then inserted it into her mouth. “Suck it.”

Marry’s hands were all clenched on the thick penis, moving back and forth, her lips sucking wildly on the flesh exposed outside her hands.

Hou Longtao twisted his upper body, grabbed the tablecloth on the table and lifted it, clearing most of the table.

Marry immediately stood up, sat on the table, her right leg hanging outside the table, her left foot stepping on the table. She was wearing a pair of knee-high black leather boots, which didn’t affect her bending her legs. “Come here, cowboy.”

“Why do you always call me cowboy?” Hou Longtao walked over, stood between her legs, and pinched her breasts through her high-necked sweater with both hands.

“Didn’t you live in California for more than four years? Western cowboy.” Marry unbuttoned his top.

“How much do you know about me?” Hou Longtao pulled her sweater off her shoulders, pinching her thick chest muscles. “My family is from the KGB [Soviet intelligence agency].”

“You know everything about me?” Hou Longtao opened her front-buttoned bra, pressing his thumbs on her hard nipples and rubbing them.

“Ah…” Marry’s right hand grabbed his penis, her left arm wrapped around his neck, and kissed his mouth. “Almost everything, but don’t get me wrong, it’s not because I have any special interest in you, it’s entirely because of business.”

“I didn’t misunderstand,” Hou Longtao took a step back. “Between us, there’s only business and sex, and maybe some friendship.”

“Not maybe, there is some friendship.” Marry tore open the crotch of her black pantyhose, pulled open her panties, and propped open her wet labia with two fingers…(Golden scales are not things in a pond)