Since it was a welcoming banquet, there was no need for unnecessary formalities.
The banquet lasted from 11 o 'clock to 1 o' clock in the afternoon, and the actual meal time was only one hour. But Jiang Chen didn't have any complaints. One reason was because the food at the banquet was impeccable, and the other was because the concierge made him feel at home.
Liu Haotian was responsible for welcoming Jiang Chen. He wasn't tall, had a crew cut, and looked energetic. His manner was humorous and polite. During his stay in Hua, he would accompany Jiang Chen on his daily trips. Whether it was to visit relatives or to investigate investments. His main responsibility was to be the driver, and at the same time, to solve all kinds of problems for the VIPs to maintain their international image.
Although there was no schedule in the afternoon, Jiang Chen clearly underestimated the enthusiasm of the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The Phantom helmet was only on the shelves for two weeks before Wall Street analysts re-evaluated Future Group's market value, and the valuation reached a terrifying 500 billion USD. This was a conservative estimate based on the uncertainty of the maintenance cost of the supercomputer used by Future Technology, as well as the development cost of the helmet.
If Future Group went public on NASDAQ and disclosed the details of its operations, no one would doubt that its market value would exceed 700 billion and replace Apple as the world's most valuable technology company.
For such a highly sought after company, and a company that went global from Hua, the Ministry of Economy and Trade obviously wouldn't give up on the opportunity. All kinds of favorable policies were placed in front of Jiang Chen. The only requirement was for Future Group to invest in a factory in China.
It would be best if it was a factory for the Phantom helmet.
But after drinking tea for an entire afternoon, the two sides didn't reach any substantial results. Jiang Chen didn't agree on the investment, especially regarding the construction of the factory, he didn't even mention it.
Although the Ministry of Economy and Trade was anxious, there was nothing they could do. They had already offered all the policies they could offer, but Jiang Chen didn't seem to be interested at all, which made them a little confused.
Was this person not here to discuss business? Thinking about the task given to them, the representative from the Ministry of Economy and Trade felt helpless as he looked at Jiang Chen drinking tea.
Of course, they were confused.
Jiang Chen, of course, was here to discuss business, but not with the Ministry of Economy and Trade. At most, they were just pawns sent by the higher-ups to test him. Even if there was no substantial progress today, the higher-ups would not make things difficult for them.
Jiang Chen was waiting for someone with enough power. If Hua paid enough attention to him, then this person would arrive very soon.
It was just as he thought.
After the state banquet in the evening, Jiang Chen sat in the Hongqi L9 in front of the Shangjing Hotel. Liu Haotian, who was responsible for receiving him, sat in the driver's seat. After starting the car, he didn't immediately go on the road.
"Do you have a reservation later?"
"No, is there a problem?"
"A big shot wants to see you."
Jiang Chen looked at Liu Haotian in the rearview mirror.
"Who?"
"An old man … Don't worry, it's a good thing that you don't have to be so wary." Liu Haotianyong returned Jiang Chen's gaze with a smile. "If it's convenient, I can take you there now. Of course, if you have other arrangements, tomorrow is also fine. "
"Then let's do it now." Jiang Chen leaned back in his seat and said in a relaxed tone, "There's a business forum tomorrow, I may be busy."
Liu Haotian smiled and held onto the steering wheel as he got on the road.
…
The scenery outside the window flew by, and the bustling scene gradually faded away as they turned into a slightly retro city. The car didn't drive for long before it stopped in front of a quaint but majestic courtyard. The bodyguard standing at the door put his hand on his waist until he saw Liu Haotian get out of the car.
Liu Haotian opened the door for Jiang Chen and gestured for him to get in.
"Please, Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Chen looked up at the words on the courtyard door and suddenly looked at Liu Haotian with a meaningful look.
"I thought you were just a driver, I didn't expect you to be so simple."
"Not at all, I'm just an ordinary concierge receptionist," Liu Haotian said humbly.
Jiang Chen smiled and didn't say anything else. He crossed the high threshold and walked straight into the courtyard.
On the gate he had just crossed, there were two large words written in regular script.
The layout of the courtyard was elegant and elegant. The rockery and pond complemented each other. Although he didn't know much about traditional culture, Jiang Chen could still see that it combined the characteristics of the northern climate and mimicked the design of the Suzhou gardens.
Although there wasn't anything valuable in the courtyard, Jiang Chen knew that to own such a large courtyard in Shangjing where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, money alone was not enough.
With Liu Haotian's guidance, Jiang Chen followed the path paved with bluestone and arrived at the tea room in the main building. Here, he saw an old man with white hair. From Liu Haotian's respectful expression, the old man's identity was not simple.
The tea room's layout was simple. There was only one table, a chess board, and a pot of tea …
Tea again. Jiang Chen's eyebrows twitched. After drinking tea for the entire afternoon, he felt nauseous at the sight of tea.
"You're not going to sit?" Seeing that Jiang Chen didn't move, the old man said pleasantly.
Hearing this, Jiang Chen politely smiled and sat on the sofa across from the old man.
"How should I address you?"
"My name is Liu Xiangguo. Based on age, it's not a bad thing for you to call me uncle." The old man poured hot tea for Jiang Chen and himself.
Liu Haotian looked at his father with surprise, but he quickly withdrew his gaze.
"Uncle Liu." Jiang Chen knew how to address him.
Uncle Liu seemed to be pleased with Jiang Chen's title as he smiled and examined Jiang Chen with the eyes of an elder looking at a junior. The turbid but shrewd pupils hid the sharpness in the rising white mist.
Although it was disguised, Jiang Chen could still clearly feel the prying eyes. However, even if he noticed the prying eyes, Jiang Chen still didn't react and responded to the obvious probing with indifference.
"Did Uncle Liu invite me here just to invite me to tea?" Jiang Chen smiled.
Liu Xiangguo didn't see through him, so he withdrew his probing eyes without batting an eyelid.
"There's no special purpose. I often see you on the news. It's a rare opportunity, so I wanted to see you."
"Oh? Then can I have the honor to know Uncle Liu's evaluation of me? "
"A talented man."
Hearing this, Jiang Chen paused for a moment before he humbly smiled.
"You're too kind."
To Jiang Chen's humility, Liu Xiangguo only smiled. He took a sip of tea and didn't make any comments.
Just as Jiang Chen helplessly thought that the old man would be like the people from the Ministry of Economy and Trade in the afternoon and play riddles with him, Liu Xiangguo put down the teacup and suddenly said.
"Based on your appearance, Mr. Jiang is the type of person who likes to get straight to the point, so I won't play riddles here." He paused before he continued, "For the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, or the cooperation between Future Group and Hua, how sincere are you?"
When he heard this sentence, the lack of interest on Jiang Chen's face instantly disappeared, and a smile finally appeared on his face.
It finally came.
He had waited for this sentence for a long time.
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