Nan Chen agreed to have some wine under Ouyang Duo’s persuasion.
The wine was indeed exquisite. Nan Chen could tell from its color and fragrance even without tasting it. Also, he knew that the wine was certainly not cheap, probably over a hundred thousand.
Ouyang Duo’s passion for red wine was well known in the circle.
“Chen, let’s have a drink on our collaboration.” Ouyang Duo seemed to be in a bubbly mood.
Nan Chen heard him clearly. He mentioned “collaboration”.
What collaboration? In what sense? There must be some other implication behind this.
Nan Chen resorted to remain deadpan and adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
After drinking for a while, Ouyang Duo started running on the relationship of the two families all these years and how advanced and speedy Sunshine Corporation was developing.
He talked about a lot of things except for one — South City, the project in Vietnam.
Nan Chen remained silent. He wanted to see what Ouyang Duo was up to and how long he would continue with his act.
Toward the end of their meal, Ouyang Duo had enough of red wine and he turned to look at Feng Jialing and Ouyang Qing. “Have you finished eating? If you do, then let the driver send you home first. I have matters to discuss with Chen and we’ll shift to some other place.”
“You’re still not going to leave yet? Haven’t you already had enough wine?” Feng Jialing asked.
“Not yet. We still have important business to discuss and it’s not convenient for both of you to join in. You just go home first.” Ouyang Duo waved at them.
Feng Jialing was still going to say something when she was suddenly stopped by Ouyang Qing. “Mom, since Dad has important matters to discuss with Chen, we’d better get home first.”
“But…”
“Let’s go. Let them talk about their business and we shouldn’t disturb them,” Ouyang Qing urged her.
Feng Jialing was amenable and listened to her daughter, so she stood up and left with her.
“Chen, we shall leave too. Let’s continue our discussion at some other place,” Ouyang Duo said.
“Why don’t we just talk here?” Nan Chen was tired of playing along with Ouyang Duo.
He started to get impatient. And now he still wants to shift place? Is this ever going to end?
“Let’s go. This is the place for dinner. Let’s go get a drink somewhere else where I have stored some great wine there.”
That’s impressive! The wine for dinner was already superb, and he is still planning to have a better one?
Ouyang Duo seems to be in a really good mood.
“Alright then.”
Since they had not talked about the actual deal, Nan Chen could not leave right then.
After leaving the restaurant, Ouyang Duo invited Nan Chen to carpool with him and then, the driver sent them to the Orchid Club.
It was a vintage club in the Flower City which Nan Chen was no stranger to.
It was exactly where the one-night stand between Ning Ran and him happened.
Even though the club had been there for years, it did not look too old because it would be restructured and refurbished every year, always giving its members a refreshing experience.
New clubs had emerged and this place was no longer the most high-end club in Flower City, but it was still very popular and prosperous.
In fact, Ouyang Duo did store a bottle of wine here. It was a Lafite from the 1990s.
While the wine was being decanted, Ouyang Duo finally started talking about the Vietnam project.
“Chen, I’m very sorry. The old schoolmate of mine was very stubborn and said that he’s a principled man. Since those assessment reports were not authentic, it has to be reassessed. Hence, the issue cannot be solved temporarily,” Ouyang Duo said with guilt.
However, Nan Chen replied placidly, “It’s okay.”
“You must be blaming me, right? I was the one who had promised to help you solve this problem but in the end, I failed to do so. I’m indeed very ashamed.”
“No, I’m not blaming you, really.” Nan Chen’s tone was still very calm.
“I was very regretful so I’ve been contemplating the matter until an idea popped up in my mind which could alleviate this crisis we’re facing.”
Nan Chen looked at Ouyang Duo, signaling him to continue.
“Truth be told, I have some investments in Vietnam as well including a piece of land which is a-few-hundred-acre. It was located only tens of kilometers away from where your project is based.”
Nan Chen still did not speak and was waiting for Ouyang Duo to carry on.
“My land is in a very strategic location as well and is also very promising. Besides, all the necessary procedures and formalities for development purposes have been completed, from environmental protection to every other aspect.”
With that, Ouyang Duo paused to take out his phone and handed it to Nan Chen.
There were a few pictures of the documents which showed the completion of necessary formalities.
Nan Chen simply took a look and returned the phone to Ouyang Duo.
And then, he kept quiet again and waited for Ouyang Duo to lay out his plan.
“This wine is almost ready, let’s drink while we talk.”
It was indeed a very fine wine. The scent wafted into his nostrils as he held the glass close to his lips.
Though remarkable, it was nothing new to Nan Chen. Even though he did not drink this kind of wine every day, he would usually have them a few times a month.
“How is it? This wine is not bad, isn’t it?” Ouyang Duo asked Nan Chen.
“Very good,” Nan Chen commented pertinently.
Ouyang Duo was very pleased. “I knew Chen has good taste. It’d be only a waste if such fine red wine is given to those who have no taste.”
Nan Chen remained silent as he was not interested in such meaningless casual chat.
He only wanted to know what Ouyang Duo was trying to tell him. And what is the plan he has that could solve the issue at hand?
“What do you have in mind?” Ouyang Duo asked again.
Nan Chen looked at Ouyang Duo with a perplexed face, showing that he did not understand what Ouyang Duo meant.
As a matter of fact, Nan Chen had roughly figured out his real intention. But he chose not to say it and waited for Ouyang Duo to say himself instead.
“Well, actually, it’s very simple. Even though the project of Nanshi Corporation was suspended, mine is still going on. You can build roads across my land whereas other basic facilities like water and electricity can also be installed starting from my land. The necessary formalities on my side have all been completed and hence, there will be no restrictions. If we collaborate and combine our projects into one and develop together, then all the issues could be solved.”
Ouyang Duo had finally spoken out what was really in his mind.
And it was about the same as what Nan Chen had expected.
“You are a talented businessman. I’m sure you can understand what I meant, right? Your project in Vietnam has not achieved the necessary approval for development, unlike mine. But, if we collaborate, then your project could use my approval instead. A collaboration would enable us to develop the biggest project and build the greatest city in Vietnam, isn’t this a win-win situation for us, Chen?”
Nan Chen reached out to take his wine glass and took a sip. He was trying to calm his agitated emotion.
It had taken several years for Nanshi Corporation to analyze the South City project in Vietnam. On top of that, a tremendous amount of money, as well as manpower, had been invested into it to initiate the project.
Nan Chen was aware of every bit of hard work and effort that had been poured into the project.
But now that the project had taken shape, Ouyang Duo bought a piece of land not far away and took advantage of his ties with the Vietnam government to complete the necessary formalities.
He did nothing but bought a piece of deserted land and is now using it as a ticket to cooperate with us. And he calls it a win-win situation?
Anyone with a reasonable mind could tell the difference between a piece of land and a city. And that’s still not accurate; because even an idiot knows that a piece of land does not equate to a city.
Turning a piece of land into a city required intricate design, rational planning, and an extended period of development.
All these things had been done by Nanshi Corporation while Ouyang Duo, who did nothing but make use of his relationship with the government and a piece of land, wanted a piece of the cake and he had the cheek to call it a mutual gain.
This is not a win-win situation. It’s looting!
