Chapter 12 The Fifth of December

In December, on the fifth, Su’s father took Su Yebiao out to attend an engagement banquet, meeting a group of uncles and aunts. Returning to the seaside villa in Qide Digital Port, Su’s father was all smiles. He took off his coat, grabbed a wet towel to wipe his face, and said, "Son, Vera's situation is a bit special. Her parents aren't ordinary people. They like things like wine, art, and whatnot. What kind of gift do you think I should prepare? Would it be too tacky to just give them an office building? It's still a token of appreciation, but I really can't talk to that bunch of artists. I'm a rough kind of guy."

"…Even I would cringe if I heard that. How is an office building tacky?"

Su Yebiao's taste in life wasn't exactly high either. He really couldn't muster any interest in so-called high-society activities like fine wine, opera, and symphonies. In contrast, Vera's parents lived a much more refined life, but they certainly weren't arrogant types with their noses in the air, just a bit more out of touch with the common folk.

After a moment's thought, Su Yebiao added, "Or I can ask the art consultant to find a painting she likes and give it to her. You don't have to worry about it, Dad."

Su’s father nodded. "That works too. They’re giving you a daughter, so we should at least try to keep things balanced and avoid making them feel slighted. You're getting more and more out of hand. If the Nan Gong girls want to beat you up, don't blame me for siding with them."

"Don't worry, the grass next to the rabbit's hole has been eaten clean. There won't be any more surprises. Like the saying goes, 'If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be slant.' Didn't you feel even a little guilty when you were teaching me?"

"…I'm your father. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

After eating dinner, they went out for a walk by the sea. The seawater in Victoria Harbour sparkled. The winter wind was a bit cold, and the two shores were lined with tall buildings and mansions, creating a mesmerizing night scene. Su’s father, with his hands behind his back, asked, "Your Qianxun Mansion, the official opening is during the Lunar New Year, right? Do you want me to prepare some flower baskets for you then?… Forget it, so many people will be lining up to flatter you; you definitely won't be lacking any. I still haven't been to the top to take a look. The world's tallest skyscraper, the scenery should be pretty captivating."

"Yes, it's opening soon. The eight floors below are a shopping mall, and above that are luxury hotels, office buildings, plus luxury apartments and an observation deck. I've been to the observation deck. It happened to be raining that day, and it felt like I was in a sauna. I couldn't see anything."

From the beginning of the project, watching Qianxun Mansion being built bit by bit, the novelty had long worn off. At this moment, Su Yebiao felt a sense of relief that it was finally completed, that he no longer had to keep thinking about it. The long construction period of several years was really exhausting.

Su’s father continued, "Some of the apartments are quite nice. You can see Nanshan Mountain, and the sea view to the west. If you live high enough, you can even see the city's night view, right? Remember to keep one for me. I'll stay there when I occasionally go to Peng City. Lately, people have often asked me to find people for projects. The company is basically all in Peng City. The mainland emphasizes balanced regional development, so dispersing things a bit is actually good for you. It's just a little troublesome when you're running around for inspections."

Picking up a flat stone, standing on the shore and skipping it across Victoria Harbour, Su Yebiao clapped his hands and smiled. "I understand. Internet companies and some high-tech companies concentrate their headquarters in Peng City to facilitate business. Next, they'll go to various places to set up branches. Projects like processing plants, tourism, Tao Bao Preferred, and Yinhai Fine Selection will focus on the central and western regions. In fact, I've already built many logistics transit warehouses to help transport local specialties and fruits."

Su’s father reminded him, "You should also help yourself with publicity, so as not to waste your charm on the blind. Now everyone just knows how rich our family is, and every move we make is watched. For example, some time ago, a shop sold fake bags. It was clearly the brand's own fault, hiring an employee who swapped the pillars. Because it was sold from our Sihai Shopping Center, the whole mess was pinned on our family, and the impact is already different."

One could see that his father seemed a little worried. Su Yebiao, of course, understood the need to be careful at the top. He said, "Doing business well is certainly important, but crisis public relations is also very important. Our family should establish a separate company responsible for clarifying and resolving negative news before it escalates. In the future, everyone will have a smartphone, browsing information anytime, anywhere. The destructive power is much higher than traditional media."

"Yes, son, you understand these things better. The news about the fake bags seems to have spread online."

After hearing his father's words, Su Yebiao affirmed, "If someone is swapping the pillars, that's a criminal offense and very easy to settle. You're getting older, so cultivate your temperament and worry less. I see Uncle Zhao and the others from Dongrun Group are happily opening up land in Mogan Mountain, drinking tea every day, tending to flower gardens and vegetable gardens. Their days are so comfortable."

His father immediately retorted, "Comfortable my ass, it sounds so boring. I've been busy for most of my life. How can I just stop and relax? I only have this little hobby left. I'll only retire when I really can't do anything anymore. While my energy is still good, I can still help you take care of things. When I've opened three hundred Sihai Shopping Centers and the market is almost saturated, I'll find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters to retire."

Some people are tired after a lifetime of hard work and want to retire in peace. Some people feel that being idle is meaningless and would rather find something to pass the time. Seeing that his father didn't think that way, Su Yebiao didn't say much, but seriously reminded him, "Even I feel like my body isn't as good as it was a few years ago. Don't you and Mom be afraid of being a bother. If you feel uncomfortable, go to the hospital for a check-up. Make sure to have regular physicals, and cut down on smoking and drinking."

Su’s father impatiently waved his hand and said, "I know, I know. You're not that old, but you're already nagging."

…

Sihai International Group mainly deals in real estate, construction, and building materials. After so many years of development, it has eight listed subsidiaries, covering industries such as cement, elevators, bathroom plumbing, home appliances, and transportation. If Su Yebiao's achievements weren't too dazzling, Su’s father himself would also be a heroic figure. How could he be like he is now, where when others mention him, they only care that he's Su Yebiao's father?

Tonight, it was rare for the father and son to take a walk and chat about many things. For example, the third aunt who left a few years ago was cheated on and married in Malaysia. Not only was all the money swindled away, but she also owed two million in debt. When the creditor came to Su’s father, he still softened in the end, not only helping to pay off the debt, but also giving her some living expenses. After that, there was no more contact, completely cutting ties.

There was also Uncle Qiu, whose son, Qiu Yaorong, recently acquired a private equity fund company, preparing to imitate the asset management model and do asset management business. Considering the increasingly strong gunpowder smell of the subprime mortgage crisis, Su Yebiao couldn't help but sigh, thinking that this guy was really a talent, always able to accurately pick out sunset industries…