My phone rang again, and it was Xie Jiabao: "Xiao Hao, your uncle and I are at the elevator. See if Godfather is resting. If it's convenient, we'd like to come up."
I said, "The Chairman is already up. He knows Brother Hui is coming and is waiting in his room. You both come up, and I'll meet you at the elevator."
Xie Jiabao quickly agreed. I exchanged a look with Wen Siqiang, and Wen Siqiang followed me towards the elevator.
Wen Siqiang: "Boss, should I call some people?"
I said, "If he sees through us, calling people won't help because he might not expose us on the spot. If he doesn't see through us, calling people would be counterproductive."
Wen Siqiang didn't say anything and followed me to the door.
The elevator was going up; they must have arrived.
The elevator doors opened, and not just two people, but a group emerged!
Leading the way was Xie Jiabao, and the other was none other than A Hui. Seeing A Hui in person, I was taken aback. If he was truly A Hui, he was completely different from what I had imagined.
The middle-aged man beside Xie Jiabao looked like a sickly person.
He was tall and thin, with long hair and a pale, refined face. He wore a white suit, even his leather shoes were white.
He looked like a walking advertisement for drugs.
He walked with a soft gait, far from what the rumors suggested.
Xie Jiabao saw me and said enthusiastically, "Xiao Hao, this is your Uncle Hui. Hurry up and greet him."
He truly treated me like his son, speaking directly.
I quickly bowed respectfully: "Uncle Hui!"
A Hui glanced up at me impatiently. I felt a wave of cold air, sending a chill down my spine.
I quickly stepped aside and led them to meet the senior.
This Brother Hui was indeed different. A formidable person didn't necessarily need a strong physique; his gaze alone could kill!
My heart sank. If he were a brute, I might have had some confidence. But this was a sinister person, his face devoid of any expression, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.
Although Xie Jiabao was the youngest in the Xie family, his claim to leadership was well-deserved.
Xie Jiabao, no doubt, and the second Xie from that day—neither of them could be a leader.
Only this Xie Jiahui, who looked like he'd suffocate if he didn't have a cigarette, could shoulder the responsibility.
Wen Siqiang ran ahead to open the door, and Xie Jiabao quickly ushered Brother Hui in. Four bodyguards followed, two standing on each side of the doorway.
I told Wen Siqiang to stay outside while I went in.
Qian Fugui was responsible for serving tea. After entering, Xie Jiabao exchanged pleasantries with the senior and introduced Brother Hui to him.
This time, a slight smile curved Brother Hui's lips, just for a moment, before his expression returned to its usual somberness.
I quickly gestured for them to sit on the sofas, with the senior sitting opposite them. I promptly brought out cigars and lit one for the senior.
The senior took a puff, slowly exhaled the smoke, and then said, "I didn't expect Jiabao's brother to be so young. Where do you work?"
Brother Hui raised an eyebrow and said expressionlessly, "To Chairman, I do some small business in the provincial capital. It's nothing worth mentioning."
The senior chuckled, "How can our Xie family brothers do small business? You just didn't want this old man to know. Alright, I won't pry further."
The senior had turned the tables on him, making Brother Hui seem a bit uncomfortable. He said, "Chairman, you flatter me. I haven't achieved much. I'm just helping my brother manage his business there. There's really nothing to speak of."
The senior, "Is that so? Family businesses need brothers working together. By the way, does A Hui know about the project my elder brother and I are currently cooperating on? If you're interested, we can expand it."
Brother Hui, "I saw my elder brother's situation and had some questions, which is why I came to seek your advice."
The senior, "What exactly is unclear?"
Brother Hui, "I don't understand the route the goods take. Logically, they should pass through many checkpoints. I just don't understand how they get through."
The senior, "That's simple. What you see on the manifest is each step of its journey, but it always passes through smoothly, correct? There's no need for me to hide this from you. In fact, these goods were never in the containers, not even on the ship. We have our own dedicated transportation chain, where all the links are cleared, ensuring unimpeded passage."
Brother Hui, "As far as I know, we transported five hundred kilograms of goods this time. Five hundred kilograms, including packaging, would fill a small truck. Even if it wasn't on the ship, where was it hidden? Where along the ship's hull could so much be placed?"
The senior, "Good question!" He paused after speaking. Brother Hui continued to stare at the senior expressionlessly, while Xie Jiabao looked visibly nervous.
The senior, "Jiabao, do you remember something I said? 'The cargo chases the ship.' I didn't explain it clearly back then. In fact, it wasn't hidden on the ship's hull but was sunk into the sea using a special device, connected by chains. The ship dragged it along. Therefore, it could pass through any checkpoint."
Brother Hui nodded and then asked, "I'd like to ask an unrelated question. Where exactly overseas is the Chairman located? I could have a place to stay when I go out."
Here it comes. I knew he wouldn't be so easily convinced; he must have other tricks.
The senior took another puff of his cigar, flicked the ash into the ashtray, and said unhurriedly, "My home is on a small island nation in Europe, and my business is mainly in South America. If you want to come, ask me first to see where I am."
The senior spoke neither subserviently nor arrogantly, remaining calm.
Brother Hui was clearly not satisfied, but he couldn't ask for more details.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Xie Jiabao quickly said, "We have a small matter to attend to, so we won't disturb the Chairman any longer."
He then stood up to leave.
Brother Hui remained seated and waved to Xie Jiabao, saying, "Big brother, wait a moment. I still have one thing I don't understand and would like to ask the Chairman."
The senior, "Of course, say whatever you need to. We are family, no need to be so formal."
Brother Hui, "Chairman, when did you go abroad? And how long have you been abroad?"
This question seemed light, like a mere greeting, but it concealed a great deal of information.
Those who have been away for too long lose their local demeanor; their actions and mannerisms differ from those who stay. If you've been away for a short time, how could you build such a large business?
No matter how we pretend, we can't impersonate someone who has lived overseas their whole life. Perhaps it might fool Xie Jiabao, who doesn't go out much. But someone like Brother Hui, who deals with the outside world extensively, has seen all sorts of people. You say you've returned from overseas, so you've returned from overseas?
This is truly difficult to answer.