As Song Qing explained, the entire situation became clear.
Did Yu Zhou not understand the principle that the wind will destroy the tree that stands out from the forest?
He was now in such a vortex.
Yes, it wasn't because Yu Zhou himself was powerful or impressive, but because the businesses he had built had begun to attract the attention of the big players.
That's why this situation had arisen.
To be precise, he had been targeted, and by someone whom even the Song family had to treat with respect, and even avoid offending.
As a result, even the Song family had to weigh how to proceed without offending this person, and ideally, to acquire Yu Zhou's shares.
Were the Song family greedy? They were indeed, but this was normal business thinking.
Even Yu Zhou couldn't stop them from making such decisions.
Because everything they were doing was correct. If Yu Zhou were to get involved in the matters between the Song family and others over this issue, he wouldn't deserve to be a businessman.
"My uncle left in such a hurry because of this person."
"Otherwise, he would never have left so early."
Speaking of this, Song Qing clearly hesitated. These matters shouldn't really be told to Yu Zhou.
After all, this was a matter between the Song family and that influential figure. However, the current situation demanded an explanation.
Especially if the Song family still intended to cooperate with Yu Zhou.
"Actually, I'm more curious, who is this person that makes you so wary?"
"You know, in my mind, your Song family is already a prominent family in Jiangbei. I can hardly imagine what kind of person could make you so concerned, even to the point of being hesitant?"
It wasn't that Yu Zhou was being nosy; anyone would be curious, right?
Because, while you might not be able to control many things, when things reach a certain point, many situations will become evident.
How powerful was the Song family? They practically had no rivals in Jiangbei.
Yet, even so, they had to consider this influential figure and were willing to let go of the "fat meat" they were about to swallow. This was almost unimaginable to Yu Zhou.
"He's not exactly someone we must flatter, but rather, the cooperation between our Song family and him is too close."
"Even during the restructuring of Tailong Light Industry, his influence and money were involved."
"So, it is precisely because of this close relationship that our Song family is so wary."
"It's not the same as dealing with official matters."
After thinking for a moment, Song Qing finally spoke.
It wasn't that the Song family had to flatter or couldn't offend this person. Rather, the cooperation involved was too extensive. Even if the other party's strength was inferior to theirs, they couldn't make a decision quickly under such circumstances.
In the eyes of many, profit was very important, but it was not as important as such partners.
So, upon hearing this, even Yu Zhou was somewhat surprised.
Did this mean that the Song family had indirectly offended their deeply cooperating capital providers to cooperate with him?
As Yu Zhou thought of this, he immediately felt something was amiss.
If this were indeed the case, then he really needed to be careful.
After all, if the Song family could offend their partners to cooperate with him at this time, would they also be able to offend him or become his enemies when greater benefits arose?
Yu Zhou understood this logic even before, but understanding it was one thing, and having it explicitly stated was another.
As a result, Yu Zhou's gaze towards Song Qing began to change.
Because Song Qing told him this, didn't that imply he was indirectly reminding him?
"The way you put it, I'm even more curious who this person is."
"Being targeted by such a figure is not a good thing for me!"
Yu Zhou smiled slightly. Although his mind was already racing, he maintained an innocent demeanor on the surface.
Hearing these words, even Tang Long, who was behind him, felt his hair stand on end.
What had he just heard? Why were the big bosses he encountered while working in the government not so calculating?
But in the private sector, both Song Qing and his boss gave him the impression of being in a mutual calculation, yet doing so in the open.
This defied logic!
Tang Long felt that after this dinner, he absolutely had to have a good talk with his boss.
Because he had never encountered such a situation. When he was in the government, his boss's words always had hidden meanings; this was almost the way bosses communicated.
However, their hidden meanings and calculations were not explicitly stated.
It required one to guess, to slowly comprehend.
But these two people in front of him spoke almost frankly, without mentioning subtle thoughts, yet putting their subtle thoughts in the open.
This sense of incongruity even struck him as unbelievable.
"One of the leading energy enterprises in Jin Province."
"They have nothing, but they have money, unfathomably deep money."
"So, if he wanted to, he could buy out Tailong Light Industry entirely, and then buy several more companies like Tailong Light Industry, without difficulty."
This simple statement instantly stunned Yu Zhou.
Because he never expected that the one targeting him would be such a person.
A leading energy enterprise, and a private one at that? They existed in this era, but weren't those people still in their nascent stages of development?
Why had they reached this level already?
Were they already encroaching on the real economy? And had they cooperated with the Song family?
If these people truly began to impact his industry, then he might not be able to compete.
After all, if they were willing to invest heavily, they could completely replicate his path and create another "San Pi Ma" within a year.
This was not alarmist talk, because these people had a nickname.
They were called "Coal Barons"!