Hong Kong Tycoon: Starting from Delivering Dongfeng Express

Chapter 198 Ye Dongsheng: Call your dad to talk to me!

After listening to their stories, Ye Dongsheng frowned slightly and sighed.

"I didn't expect this matter to have such a big impact, affecting even you all!"

"Who says otherwise! That's why we've come to you, Brother Ye, hoping you can help us out!"

Ye Dongsheng put down his wine glass, a troubled look on his face.

"Without the approval slip, this matter will be difficult to handle!"

Fatty Wang said with a smile, "Brother Ye, actually, approval slips aren't necessarily that important; they're just for show."

"Look, you're a Hong Kong businessman; the city government is practically begging you for favors. As for us, we're just a few locals with some influence. Who would dare to really do anything to us?"

Now Ye Dongsheng completely understood that these people didn't have the necessary permits, but they still wanted to make money, so they came to him!

Without a permit, that's smuggling!

Ye Dongsheng immediately shook his head: "Precisely because I am a Hong Kong businessman, I must abide by the rules here. My business in mainland China is not a one-off transaction. I cannot afford to give anyone a handle to use against me, which could affect the business of Dongfeng Express!"

The group exchanged glances, and two of them spoke up:

"Brother Ye, why be so serious? Even without the approval, it's not a big deal. It's not like no one's doing it these days. They're just turning a blind eye."

"Brother Ye, do you not trust us? Do you think we can't handle this?"

"It's not that I don't trust you all, it's just that I, Ye, am rather timid and dare not cross the line!"

Seeing that Ye Dongsheng showed no sign of relenting, the group was quite displeased. They thought to themselves, if they had the approval, they could operate openly and honestly, contacting any other shipping company they wanted without having to come to Ye Dongsheng.
Someone was about to say something when Fatty Wang interrupted them, then looked at Ye Dongsheng and said:

"Okay, Brother Ye, you just need to bring the goods over to us and hand them over. If anything goes wrong, it will only come back to us. We brothers will definitely not implicate you!"

Ye Dongsheng smiled and said, "You're joking, gentlemen. Without the permit, if these goods are discovered during inspection, how can I, Ye, explain myself? My ship and my men will be detained on the spot!"

Lu Yu said, "Brother Ye, I heard that you have a good relationship with Director Hao of Customs and Director Wu of the Port Authority. How could the port possibly investigate you?"

Ye Dongsheng narrowed his eyes. These guys are quite shrewd. I went to great lengths to befriend Director Hao and Director Wu, not to do their bidding for your benefit!

Using my connections to get things done for you? You're really dreaming!

"Hehe, please don't misunderstand, gentlemen. I just had a normal meal with Hao Guan and Director Wu, and consulted them on some business matters. Hao Guan and Director Wu have always been impartial in enforcing the law, how could they possibly engage in favoritism or corruption?"

With that, Ye Dongsheng cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "If I had the approval slip, I would definitely have helped you with this matter. But since I don't have the approval slip, please forgive me!"

Silence fell over the room, then suddenly someone spoke in an unfriendly tone:
"Mr. Ye, that's not fair. You've accumulated so much wealth in such a short time, who would believe you're a coward? Is it that you can't help, or that you're unwilling to help?"
You've eaten today, and we've addressed you respectfully as 'Brother Ye,' so you look down on us, don't you?"

Ye Dongsheng's smile faded. He picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, then leaned back in his chair and said calmly:

"Heh, you think you can get my attention just by treating me to a meal? Who do you think you are? Your dad would be the one talking to me!"

The man slammed his hand on the table, stood up, pointed at Ye Dongsheng, and roared, "You son of a bitch..."

The two men beside him quickly pulled the man back, but he continued to curse, "Damn it! You really think you're something special! There are so many Hong Kong businessmen, do you think we can't get anything done without you?"

Ye Dongsheng wasn't annoyed. He chuckled and said, "I'm not exactly a big shot, but there are still some newspapers in Hong Kong that are willing to listen to me. I remember, your name is Song Chao, and your father is Director Song in the education sector, isn't he?"

When I get back, I'll tell the newspapers all about it. They say our Chaoshan education bureau chief has "superb" family education; his son is trying to force Hong Kong businessmen to participate in smuggling…

Song Chao's expression suddenly changed: "You! You dare!"

If Ye Dongsheng really makes a scene and stirs up public opinion in Hong Kong, affecting the local investment promotion plan and damaging the local image, then his father's official career may be over!

Ye Dongsheng crossed his arms and said calmly, "Do you think I dare?"

Fatty Wang suddenly stood up, walked over and kicked Song Chao in the leg: "What the hell are you doing? Get out!"

Song Chao, his face flushed and panting heavily, glared at Ye Dongsheng before turning and walking out of the room.

Fatty Wang returned to his seat and looked at Ye Dongsheng, saying, "Boss Ye, this Song Chao is just a show-off, don't take it to heart. But what you said just now wasn't very pleasant to hear. Were you mocking us for relying on our families?"

Ye Dongsheng smiled and shook his head: "It's not a joke, I would definitely use these resources if I had them! As long as it works!"

However, I'll show respect to those who give me face. But if anyone acts recklessly in front of me, don't blame me for not giving them face!

Today I'll teach you a lesson: if you want to cooperate with others, you must first figure out what value you can provide!
If you can't provide anything, why should I risk helping you smuggle goods? Do you think I'm stupid or easy to bully?

Fatty Wang nodded:
"It seems Mr. Ye really doesn't value us. Well then, we won't keep you any longer today. But Mr. Ye, I've heard Hong Kong businessmen say something: business is all about negotiation."

If anything happens to your shop later, or if you encounter any difficulties in your business, feel free to come to me anytime, and we can discuss it further. Then you'll see if we can bring you any value!

Ye Dongsheng slowly stood up: "Then I'll wait and see. Farewell!" After Ye Dongsheng left, the others looked displeased: "Brother Ning, that Ye guy really doesn't know what's good for him!"

Fatty Wang chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Ha, haven't you heard people say they look down on our value!"

"Damn it, does he really think we can't deal with him? So what if he's arrogant in Hong Kong? He'll have to cower here! I'll go back and find someone to teach him a lesson, show him how to behave!"

Fatty Wang waved his hand: "We need to be careful about the impact. I heard that the guy surnamed Ye is very influential in Hong Kong. If he really stirs up controversy, it won't look good for our family either."

Nowadays, the shipping routes from Chaoshan to Hong Kong Island are actually handled by two groups of people.

One group consists of local state-owned shipping companies. These companies can easily pull strings and smuggle in some personal goods, but getting them to make large-scale purchases definitely requires approval.

The other group consists of international shipping companies from the Bao and Dong families in Hong Kong. Even city leaders have to treat influential businessmen like Bao the shipping magnate well. How could they dare to bring up smuggling with such big companies?
These second-generation rich kids know their place. Even if they wanted to target such a big company, they couldn't; they'd just get a scolding from their families when they got back.

At this time, Dongfeng Express emerged. The company was not large, but it had its own ships that could shuttle between Chaoshan and Hong Kong Island. It immediately caught the eye of these second-generation rich kids and became a good target for cooperation.

They can't afford to offend the Bao family, but surely they can handle a small company like Dongfeng Express? Let's give your main business a little nudge and see if you cooperate!

On the other side, Ye Dongsheng walked out of Yongping Restaurant, got into his car, and glanced back. Those guys inside were definitely plotting how to deal with him!
To be honest, he didn't want to cause trouble, but this ship traveling to and from Hong Kong Island was being targeted by these second-generation rich kids who wanted him to cooperate in smuggling, so he couldn't agree to it!
Although there was a permit, it was official profiteering, but it was not illegal. All procedures were compliant and it was just a business activity. Even if these people got into trouble in the future, Dongfeng Express would not be held responsible.

But if there's no permit, then it's considered joint involvement in smuggling! That's a serious matter, and could be interpreted in many ways!
To be honest, before the new century, the coastal areas were very wild. There were some black industries that many local people knew about, and they even had nicknames for them: pharmaceutical manufacturing, printing, and transportation.

Manufacturing medicine is poison; printing money is counterfeiting; and transporting goods is smuggling!

The first two are definitely dealt with if discovered, but it's different for "transportation" people. Those who are protected by their second-generation relatives may actually get away with it. Just like they said, the relevant inspections turn a blind eye.

But Ye Dongsheng really didn't want to get involved with these people in illegal activities. If they did some things together, the relationships would become complicated.

If it were anywhere else, it wouldn't matter, but this is Chaoshan!
The people in Chaoshan are incredibly bold!
Ye Dongsheng knew that in the future, this interest group would commit a major crime that violated the heavenly rules, directly destroying the imperial sword that had been sent here, alarming the Heavenly Court, and causing the future of the Chaoshan region for the next few decades to be ruined here. All blessings and favors from heaven would be canceled, and they would not be allowed to even think about it.

Otherwise, given the current thriving development trend of Chaoshan and its possession of Shantou Port, known as the southern gateway, it wouldn't have fallen behind economically in just a few decades, failing to even rank among the top in Guangdong Province, and experiencing a continuous outflow of population.

Although Ye Dongsheng didn't know if these second-generation rich kids were involved in this matter, he really didn't want to get involved with them!

However, Ye Dongsheng also knew that since the other party had set their sights on his Dongfeng Express ship, they probably wouldn't give up so easily.

Although these second-generation elites did not directly use the power held by their fathers, their combined influence is considerable.

Even if you bring up Director Hao and Director Wu, it won't intimidate them, which shows something.

Ye Dongsheng now faces two paths: one is to find someone in the city with a more powerful background than them, such as the son of a top official, so that he can intimidate them by making his statement.

However, Ye Dongsheng estimated that this path wouldn't be easy. After all, he had just said that sufficient value needed to be offered for the other party to be willing to help. What could Ye Dongsheng bring to this leader's son? If there wasn't enough value, they wouldn't risk offending him to settle things.

Moreover, as mentioned earlier, Ye Dongsheng doesn't really want to get involved with these people in the Chaoshan officialdom.

Another option, as he mentioned, is to go back to Hong Kong Island and publicize the matter to exert pressure through public opinion. However, doing so would have serious consequences. After tarnishing the local image, how could you expect to do business well here? At that point, it wouldn't be the privileged elites who would step in, but their fathers directly!

Thinking of this, Ye Dongsheng shook his head and sighed inwardly. When a business grows big, it's inevitable to encounter such things. It's impossible to smooth things over just because you're a Hong Kong businessman.

That's why he personally visited several places this time. If he wants to do something long-term, he has to pay respects to the local bigwigs, and it would be best to find a powerful local bigwig, get on good terms with him, and have him protect him.

In the Chaoshan region, besides the officials in the city, are there any other powerful local figures?
Ye Dongsheng thought of someone and, upon returning to the shop, immediately picked up the phone:

"Hey, Hao Guan, I'm so sorry to bother you so late!"
Yes, I have something I'd like to ask for your help with! You mentioned before that you have friends in the XX military region; if it's convenient, I'd like to pay them a visit!

……

The following day, Shantou Port, Haojiang District, xx's residence.

"1, 2, 3, 4!"

"Stand at attention, rest for a while!"

As Ye Dongsheng passed by the training ground, listening to the soldiers' loud slogans, a familiar feeling welled up in his heart, just like returning home!
Seeing Ye Dongsheng stop to watch the soldiers training, a burly man in military uniform with two bars and three stars on his shoulders smiled and said, "Boss Ye, how are our soldiers?"

Ye Dongsheng gave a thumbs up: "Impressive! It is precisely because of such an elite force that we can defend our motherland's borders from foreign invasion! Commander Zhang, I look forward to the day when you land on Hong Kong Island!"

Hearing Ye Dongsheng's words, Commander Zhang was even more delighted and laughed loudly, "Hahaha, don't worry, we will definitely protect Hong Kong Island and ensure a safe handover in ten years!"

A moment later, Ye Dongsheng sat opposite Division Commander Zhang in the office. Ye Dongsheng took the initiative to ask, "Division Commander Zhang, I heard that two months ago, our superiors issued a policy that the troops will have to support themselves from now on?"

Upon hearing this, Division Commander Zhang sighed: "There's nothing we can do. Even though we've already laid off quite a few people, the financial burden is still very heavy. The higher-ups' intention is that funding is limited, so we have to earn our own money and support ourselves!"
To be honest, when this policy was announced last year, we were completely clueless and still have no idea what to do.

During this period, due to limited national fiscal revenue, the military faced problems such as aging equipment and a lack of training facilities, in order to meet the needs of military modernization, including the upgrading of weapons and equipment, the renovation of barracks, and the improvement of benefits.

Therefore, in 1985, the higher authorities made an exception for the military, allowing them to engage in business to earn money in order to alleviate funding shortages and solve the military's financial deficit problem. This policy was not completely stopped until 1998.

This is the purpose of Ye Dongsheng's visit today. He doesn't want to help those second-generation rich kids smuggle money, but he is more than willing to help the army earn money to solve the funding shortage!
(End of this chapter)