Chapter 1253 Zhao Guozhong
"Young master, the time set by the Vermilion Bird lineage is a bit late, and there's only one ordinary private room left."
"To be honest, although the Vermilion Bird lineage of the Kyoto Su family is part of the Kyoto Su family, they have always been ostracized by the Kyoto Su family. To put it bluntly, they are just ordinary nobles... An ordinary private room is more than enough to host them..."
Manager Li, as the manager of the Huanghe Grand Hotel, had access to information from all directions.
As far as he knew, this Vermilion Bird lineage came from the countryside and was not valued by the Kyoto Su family. There were also many rumors that the Vermilion Bird lineage was about to be expelled from the Kyoto Su family, so he didn't pay much attention to them.
"Slap!"
A slap landed squarely on Manager Li's face.
"Young Master Huo Du, did I say something wrong?"
Manager Li clutched his swollen face, tears welling up in his eyes.
Huo Du glared, stating decisively, "First, the Vermilion Bird lineage has a great kindness to my Huo family. How dare you insult the Vermilion Bird lineage? Should I hit you?!"
"Second, you actually arranged the Vermilion Bird lineage in an ordinary private room!"
"Am I wrong to slap you?"
The Huo family's benefactors?
Manager Li was on the verge of tears.
This Vermilion Bird lineage had just arrived in Kyoto, and how had they become the Huo family's benefactors? What was going on?
"Young Master Huo, it's all my fault for not recognizing your status and placing the Vermilion Bird lineage in an ordinary private room. I am truly sorry..."
Manager Li lightly slapped himself a few times.
"Is an apology enough?"
Huo Du's expression turned cold.
"I'll go arrange another private room for the Vermilion Bird lineage right away!"
Manager Li trembled in fear and turned to leave, but then he seemed to recall something and said awkwardly, "But Young Master Huo, we have no better private rooms left at the Huanghe Grand Hotel."
Huo Du glared at Manager Li and said, "Find me a pushover and make them get out of the Imperial Suite for me!"
The Imperial Suite was the top-tier private room in the Huanghe Grand Hotel. The minimum consumption to qualify for entry was over 300,000 yuan. Those who could afford to enter the Imperial Suite were all powerful and wealthy individuals.
This made things difficult...
Manager Li blinked, and the list of occupants in the Imperial Suite flashed through his mind. Suddenly, his heart moved, and he said, "Young Master Huo, I've got it! The Zhao family in the Imperial Suite Number Two is a pushover!"
Huo Du nodded slightly, "The Kyoto Zhao family has merely discovered a new salt mine, to put it bluntly, they are just nouveau riche. Let's make an example of them. If they refuse to leave, have them forcibly removed!"
In Kyoto, a place not lacking in wealthy individuals, wealth alone could no longer measure the influence of a family or faction. Power and connections were the true measures of a family's strength. Older, established wealthy families simply looked down on nouveau riche individuals.
This was because these nouveau riche lacked the backing of substantial power, and a single misstep could potentially lead to their downfall.
"I'll go now!"
Manager Li turned and left, while Huo Du headed straight for the ordinary private room of the Vermilion Bird lineage.
...
In the ordinary private room.
Su Yunxi, Jiang Biyun, Old Master Su, and the just-arrived Chen Xuan were all present.
However, beside Old Master Su was an old man in his seventies or eighties.
This old man, in his seventies or eighties, looked frail but had a spirited demeanor. However, from a feng shui perspective, his facial features were not good, his forehead was dark, and he looked like he was about to face misfortune.
Chen Xuan, having just arrived, did not know the old man's specific identity. However, judging by his appearance, he was likely Old Master Su's archenemy. The old man's attitude towards Old Master Su was extremely unfriendly, even filled with sharpness and cunning.
"Old Su, I didn't expect that I, Zhao Guoqiang, would have the chance to meet you here. Your Vermilion Bird lineage must have really made a lot of merit in the past..."
The old man said with a smile, but there was a hint of mockery in his eyes.
"Indeed, perhaps no one would have expected that my Vermilion Bird lineage would re-enter Kyoto!"
Old Master Su showed no anger and smiled faintly.
Having experienced so many difficulties, very few things could stir Old Master Su's heart anymore.
"Heh heh, is that so? But in my opinion, staying in the countryside is also good, at least it guarantees safety. But Kyoto is different, it's a jungle where the weak are prey to the strong. Although you are from the Kyoto Su family, the Kyoto Su family may not consider you as part of the Kyoto Su family!"
"I think it would be better for you to quickly return to the countryside to seek peace and safety."
Zhao Guozhong said recklessly.
Old Master Su couldn't help but frown.
Jiang Biyun was also displeased. She couldn't help but resent encountering such a pest on such a fine day.
Chen Xuan blinked and confirmed that this person meant no good.
Su Yunxi said in a low voice, "This guy is called Zhao Guozhong, and he's from the Kyoto Zhao family. He used to be Grandpa's archenemy. When we were in Kyoto before, there were frequent conflicts. However, the Kyoto Zhao family's strength is not great, and Grandpa has always suppressed him."
"Now that our family has fallen on hard times, this Zhao Guozhong is probably here to mock us."
Chen Xuan glanced at Zhao Guozhong and uttered two words: "Sick!"
They were eating here peacefully, yet this guy came to find a sense of superiority. Wasn't this a sign of sickness?
"Old Master Su, do you know why I came to the Huanghe Grand Hotel today?"
Suddenly, Zhao Guozhong said in a deep voice.
"Why?"
Old Master Su pondered for a moment and replied.
Zhao Guozhong smiled and said, "Old Master Su, to be honest, this year our Zhao family discovered a large deposit of salt ore in a piece of land, valued at tens of billions. Our Zhao family naturally wants to celebrate."
"That's truly gratifying." Old Master Su said blandly.
Su Yunxi and the others showed no reaction. A mere ten billion was nothing to the Vermilion Bird lineage, whose net worth was already in the hundreds of billions.
After Zhao Guozhong finished speaking, he observed the expressions on Old Master Su and the others' faces.
He was expecting to see envious, jealous, and hateful expressions, but everyone was very calm, showing no emotion.
Zhao Guozhong couldn't help but frown. It felt as if his punch had landed on cotton.
Damn it, they must be pretending. These Kyoto Su family members were too good at putting on a show!
With one plan foiled, he hatched another!
Zhao Guozhong chuckled and said, "Old Master Su, although we had many conflicts before, in our reunion after a long separation, we can be considered friends who fought before becoming friends."
"You've just arrived in Kyoto, and the Vermilion Bird lineage doesn't have any industries here, does it? How about this, I invite you to jointly develop the salt mine. What do you think, Old Master Su?"
Old Master Su was taken aback, and the others were also surprised.
Was Zhao Guozhong being so kind?
Could it be that Zhao Guozhong was genuinely doing this out of old ties?
However, regardless of whether it was sincere or not, Old Master Su had no intention of agreeing, mainly because this was just a mine worth tens of billions.
The procedures for mine development were complex, the risks were not small, and with the ongoing environmental checks, it was even more difficult.
Old Master Su was not optimistic about this business. He was about to refuse, but at that moment, Zhao Guozhong suddenly said, "Old Master Su, then it's settled!"
"Hahaha, I wish us a happy cooperation!"