Chapter 344: The Most Powerful Enemy

"Yeah... it might rain today..."

Cui Ziqing tightened her clothes around herself and couldn't help but move a little closer to Zheng Qian.

He smiled, not explaining anything.

The "change in weather" he was referring to implied something else.

Back at the hotel they had booked earlier, a document lay on the table; it was a fax sent from Jiangnan.

Although it was already 2023, the hotel happened to still have a fax machine, living up to its reputation as a top-tier hotel.

The sender was Jiang Yanran.

In fact, she had already briefed Zheng Qian on this matter previously, which was the real reason he chose to come to Subei.

The original Five Shipping Alliance had fallen apart; apart from Asia Shipping, the other four companies, plus Yuehua Shipping, with which Zheng Qian had significant conflicts, had all been absorbed by a mysterious The Group.

Note, they didn't form an alliance; they were completely acquired and became a brand-new shipping The Group.

The financier was someone from JZH, though it wasn't clear exactly who at the moment.

However, she vaguely felt it was inextricably linked to the three major clubs in Shanghu.

If her speculation was correct, it was highly likely to be the young master of the Shanghai Americas Club.

Only someone of that caliber could mobilize such terrifying funds and cause such a behemoth to change hands overnight.

In Jiang Yanran's words.

This was no longer just a capital flow at the ten-billion level.

Overnight, it had brought her incomparable pressure.

What made her feel most uneasy was that the other party hadn't even sent anyone to contact her, as if they didn't care at all about the original leading The Group, Asia Shipping, which left Jiang Yanran somewhat confused.

The document placed before Zheng Qian contained detailed data of this nature.

He lit a cigarette and closed his eyes slightly.

The situation seemed even worse than he had imagined.

It was that, as things had developed to this point, Zheng Qian finally felt immense pressure.

For the first time, he realized there were problems that money couldn't solve.

This was no longer a battle that could be ended just by throwing money at it; even if he poured hundreds of billions into it, he might not necessarily succeed, and it might even attract the attention of the upper echelons of the state apparatus.

To withstand this aggressive offensive, what Zheng Qian needed to do was find an opportunity to probe.

That was why he had come to Subei City.

This buffer zone between it and Shanghu was the most suitable place for setting up his layout.

"Shanghai Americas Club."

Although that person was only targeting the Five Shipping Alliance, but... Zheng Qian vaguely felt that he was coming for him.

"Since you're here, just settle in; you don't need to panic too much. Since they haven't sent anyone to contact you, you don't need to take any initiative either. Right now, all you need to do is hold on and don't let Asia Shipping fall."

"Tell me how much funding you need, and I will try my best to allocate it for you. You don't need to worry about the rest; I have my own arrangements."

After sending this message, Zheng Qian fell straight asleep.

Anyway, he had a system, what was there to be afraid of?

Could it be that in this world... someone else also had such a system?

...

The next day, Zheng Qian took Cui Ziqing out and about as usual.

Perhaps because of what happened the day before, the atmosphere between the two of them had undergone a subtle change.

Sometimes as they walked, she would subconsciously hold Zheng Qian's hand, just like a couple out for a stroll.

It was quite enviable to others.

Looking at the Favorability above her head, Zheng Qian couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

It was already close to 90 points; if things continued like this, it would almost reach the level of discussing marriage.

If... hmm... if he proposed to take her, Cui Ziqing shouldn't object, right?

No... if he took every girl around him, wouldn't that be too reckless...

But counting it up now, there were already quite a few girls he had been with, so adding Cui Ziqing wouldn't make much difference.

"What are you thinking about?" Seeing Zheng Qian lost in thought, Cui Ziqing couldn't help but ask.

Suddenly she seemed to realize something, frowning, "I, I didn't mean to investigate you, but you're attracting too much attention now. Even if I don't look for information, I still hear some rumors. Is it related to Asia Shipping?"

Zheng Qian had originally thought his little thoughts were guessed, and felt a bit embarrassed.

But he didn't expect her to say that, and couldn't help but be stunned, "You know about it too?"

"Yes, and I heard that the capital behind it is extremely powerful and mysterious. Is this... related to you coming to Subei?"

"That's right. Since you brought it up, I might as well tell you. I brought you here because I hope you can help me take charge of the big picture here. If I were to charge directly into Shanghu, it would be a bit too eye-catching."

"Many people with ulterior motives would notice my intentions."

"So I need to establish an outpost in Subei first; investing in Shanghu from here would be a completely different nature."

Hearing this, Cui Ziqing couldn't help but feel a bit dejected.

So... so Zheng Qian needed me to help him handle business matters, which is why he found me, not because of anything else... But... doesn't this also mean that I am important to him?

That's right, among the many girls around him, he didn't find anyone else, but chose me.

That means I can do things they can't.

Thinking of this, Cui Ziqing was actually a bit happy instead.

However, she quickly realized something and said hesitantly, "But if your hypothetical enemy is the Shanghai Americas Club, one of the three top clubs, I'm afraid the small-scale operations in Subei might not achieve the effect you expect."

Zheng Qian nodded with satisfaction.

"You're right, but don't worry. A business war against such a behemoth can't be ended in a day or two, right? It's bound to be a very long process, so I'll take you to meet someone first."

"Hmm? This is..."

After wandering around, Cui Ziqing was surprised to find that Zheng Qian had brought her to LIN MIX again.

Wasn't this the bar they came to yesterday?

"What do you think of this place?"

After entering the private room, Zheng Qian lit a cigarette and asked with a smile.

"It's not bad." Cui Ziqing nodded.

"LIN MIX in Subei is considered an established bar; it has been operating for many years and has a total of ten branches in the city. It has long been coveted by the Su Family; their family must acquire it if they want to join the Songshang Club."

"But let's think about it from the other side; what do you think of the Su Family?"

Zheng Qian took a deep drag of his cigarette and spoke eloquently to Cui Ziqing.

But suddenly, his tone changed. He was clearly planning to buy this nightclub brand, so why did he mention the Su Family?

Could it be...

Cui Ziqing swallowed, looking at Zheng Qian in disbelief, "You want to buy the Su Family?"

"Relying solely on the scale of this nightclub brand is definitely not enough. That young master of the Shanghai Americas Club actually provoked Jiang Yanran; it's impolite not to reciprocate. He has a woman he likes very much who runs an Asia TOP-tier bar in Shanghu."

"I am accumulating energy, preparing to take down that brand."

"Besides, it's said that there are three top clubs in Shanghu; apart from the Shanghai Americas Club, there are two others. Shall we... join one of the clubs and have some fun?"