Hearing these words, Kesley, the manager of the local branch of Swire Shipping, noticeably calmed down. However, with an expression of unwillingness and jealousy on his face, he began to complain:
"Thank you, Fujiwara-kun. I really don't understand. You are both of the yellow race, yet you and your fellow Japanese citizens are so humble and friendly, whereas this new boss is so cold-blooded and has even committed the intolerable sin of discrimination."
"Before God, all men are equal!"
It was just that white people bathed in more of God's light, so it was only natural for them to be the managers of this world. And others should accept being managed. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could just be harmonious, friendly, and happy? He sighed inwardly.
"People are different from one another." Sitting on his knees across from him, Fujiwara closed his folding fan and shook his head elegantly:
"Besides, you might not know this, but she is Chinese and comes from a family of powerful eunuchs. Twisted and cold blood flows through her veins."
"So that's how it is."
The two chatted for a bit longer, and the branch manager learned more about Su Ning's deeds from Fujiwara, causing cold sweat to drip down his forehead.
Damn it, why was his luck so bad?
It should be known that the emperor was far away, and he had skimmed a lot of fat off the top here—doing side jobs, taking kickbacks, doing everything he shouldn't have done along with what he should.
Therefore, he absolutely could not leave his post.
Otherwise.
If these things were exposed and fell into the hands of someone like Su, not only would he have to spit out all the money, but he would also likely end up in prison!
Thus, he looked at Fujiwara with an unprecedentedly low posture:
"Japan is a wonderful place. Having stayed here for so long, I even feel like I'm half-Japanese. So I really don't want to leave. I hope Mr. Fujiwara can help fulfill this wish of mine, and I will cooperate with you even better in the future."
This cooperation naturally did not refer to ordinary shipping business.
Well, it was similar.
It was just that the cargo consisted of sensitive things like grain, weapons, and people.
Swire Shipping's business was massive, with many routes and ships. Plus, as a Portuguese company, it inherently enjoyed a superior status in the Asian region. Using them as a front made it very easy to cover up such activities.
Kesley had helped Japan do this kind of thing before.
But his asking price was not low.
Furthermore, since he wasn't one of their own, the Japanese side actually had quite a few misgivings—
But now, none of that was a problem!
Fujiwara was overjoyed, but he didn't show it. Instead, looking somewhat troubled and embarrassed, he said:
"To be honest, I can't guarantee that you'll be able to escape this disaster. As you know, Su... is simply too terrifying and too crazy. But we will do our best, hoping she will make a concession for the sake of business."
What, just do your best?
That wouldn't do.
Kesley's nerves were already stretched to the limit. Even though he knew Fujiwara might be saying this on purpose, he still wanted to grasp this last straw.
He pleaded again and again.
Fujiwara appeared troubled on the surface, but inwardly he was blooming with joy.
In the past.
This damn white man had been incredibly arrogant.
Now, the tables had turned.
"Sigh, just our Japanese side alone might not be enough to sway her. After all, she is simply too rich." At this point, Fujiwara's tone couldn't help but turn a bit sour.
But this was only temporary. Once they occupied China.
They would naturally redistribute the wealth of the Chinese people.
They would let more qualified people possess it!
Like him.
"Alright."
As if unable to withstand the pleading, Fujiwara nodded with a face full of difficulty. "Since we are friends, I've thought of a method that might work. We can persuade the other business partners of Swire Shipping. They probably don't want a familiar face to be replaced either, as that would be too troublesome. If we unite together, she should consider it carefully."
"She definitely will."
Kesley's tone was full of relief.
He indicated that he wouldn't just stand by and watch either.
Having cultivated his presence here for so many years, he had acquired quite a few interests and connections. To demonstrate his influence, he gave an example.
Mr. Huo, a tycoon from Nanyang.
He owned vast tracts of land and plantations, earning countless amounts of money every year. The most crucial point was that rubber and grain were simply too important, which granted him a special status.
Unexpectedly, Fujiwara laughed:
"Mr. Huo and I are very good friends. Not long ago, he even said he would come visit me as a guest. But his grandfather fell ill, and he's been busy taking care of him, so he couldn't make it."
In reality, it was just a minor illness.
But who asked the situation to be so special?
Mr. Huo himself had considerable assets, but his grandfather was the true big shot. Being elderly, he had Mr. Huo help manage the businesses.
That was why everyone gave him face.
The delicate part was.
The grandfather wasn't his biological grandfather. Old Mr. Huo had few descendants; his only son had died young. His daughter-in-law gave birth to a grandson, but an enemy seeking revenge abducted the child, leaving no news of whether he was dead or alive.
The daughter-in-law went mad with longing for her child.
By chance, while attending the one-year-old birthday banquet of a relative's child, she went crazy and claimed the child as her own, taking him in to raise. That child was Mr. Huo.
It had to be said that his luck was truly exceptional.
He was just a child from a distant relative's family that was barely related to Old Mr. Huo anymore. His original family could only be considered not poor, yet by a twist of fate, he was raised by the Huo family.
To top it off, he was handsome and exceptionally intelligent.
Even Old Mr. Huo gradually began to view him in a different light, and barring any accidents, he would inherit the family fortune in the future.
But ultimately, he wasn't biological.
Naturally, he had to keep a low profile and act as Old Mr. Huo's most filial and considerate grandson.
However, Kesley didn't care about any of that.
He only cared about one thing—whether Mr. Huo had the time to join their alliance. Fujiwara said he would send a letter and try hard to persuade him.
Things were proceeding very smoothly.
...
On the other side.
Su Ning was already preparing to leave Portugal; she had squeezed out almost all the value she could.
There was no use staying any longer.
She had sent Su Er ahead to the United States. Firstly, it was to sort out and receive those assets, cementing her identity.
Secondly, during the Great Depression.
There were simply too many opportunities.
As a robot whose programming was engraved with unconditional obedience to its master's commands.
Su Er naturally had no objections.
Before leaving, he merely instructed Lin Sen on all sorts of matters in meticulous detail.
Most of them were about Su Ning.
"...The Miss's wake-up time is unfixed, but you must ensure that the room temperature is maintained at exactly twenty degrees Celsius when she wakes up—no higher, no lower. At the same time, her toiletries should be ready. For washing her face, you must prepare one basin of cold water and one of slightly hot water; the Miss is accustomed to using hot water first and then cold. Also, regarding clothing preparations, even if the Miss has no plans to go out, you should prepare at least three sets of outfits based on the temperature, current fashion trends, and her preferences..."
Suddenly, he stopped.
He seemed to have thought of something.
Looking at Lin Sen, a trace of apology appeared on his handsome face:
"I'm sorry, I seem to have said a bit too much. The Miss hasn't asked you to serve her personally, so you probably won't need these experiences."
The others who accidentally witnessed this scene: ...
What's going on.
Suddenly, breathing felt a little difficult.
"No need to apologize."
Assistant Lin lowered his head to adjust his cuffs and smiled faintly. "The future is ever-changing. Just because I can't use it now doesn't mean I won't be able to use it later."
"The Miss is a nostalgic person."
"Yes, I am very grateful for that. It's because of her nostalgia that the Miss returned to China," and it was because of that he met the greatest turning point of his life. "Hearing Chinese spoken and being surrounded by familiar Chinese faces makes the Miss feel right at home."
To anyone else, this sounded like a veiled jab at Su Er's mixed-race background.
But how could he let such an attack get to him?
Instead of getting angry, his smile grew even more radiant as he nodded:
"China is a beautiful place, which is why it could nurture someone as wonderful as the Miss. Although it is a pity that I am not Chinese, fortunately, the Miss is tolerant enough to allow me to stay by her side."
The secretary watching the battle from the sidelines silently translated this in her head:
The Miss discriminates against Caucasians.
But so what?
It just proves how special I am!
Hiss, she didn't even dare to look up at Assistant Lin's expression. Then she remembered her own position as a secretary... Was this the kind of fierce competition she would have to face in the future? Her legs felt a bit weak.
At that moment, both sides noticed her presence and looked over. The secretary's scalp instantly went numb, as if she were being targeted by two fierce beasts.
Realizing she was there to report to Su Ning, they withdrew their gazes.
Lin Sen smiled. "Perfect timing. The reorganization at Swire Shipping is almost complete, and I need to report the specifics to the Miss. Let's go together."
After saying that, he looked at Su Er again:
"By the way, when is Assistant Su heading to the United States? The Miss has a lot on her plate right now, so I might not be able to see you off."
"I'll just wish you a pleasant journey in advance."
"There's no rush," Su Er replied unhurriedly. "My flight is this afternoon. I'll go with you. It's about time to change the tea the Miss is drinking anyway."
...
Naturally, Su Ning neither knew nor cared about these things. Of course, sipping the freshly changed tea that suited her taste perfectly, she couldn't help but sigh to the system:
"It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to go from extravagance to frugality. Now that Su Er is leaving, I actually feel quite reluctant to see him go."
"Then make him stay," the system replied perfunctorily.
"I can't," Su Ning said heavily. "To complete the mission, my personal luxurious enjoyment is nothing... Su Er is so expensive, of course I have to make the most out of him."
System: ...
What a scummy person.
Unable to stand it anymore, the system rolled its eyes. While humming in agreement to multitask, it went to check the responses to the post it made last time. Sure enough, it had become a hot thread again. Probably everyone came to admire the big shot and thank it for the reminder.
Seeing that there were fewer likes than comments.
Its heart sank.
Looking further down at the comments, its mood hit rock bottom. Faced with numerous vicious remarks, the system found that it actually wasn't that upset. It should have known.
The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind.
An outstanding system is the same; jealousy will rain down upon it.
Disheartened.
It typed a few lines and closed the thread.
Back outside, Lin Sen's report was also coming to an end:
"...Although there were some minor troubles, the progress has been generally smooth. Contrary to public opinion, after the implementation of the reorganization and adjustment strategy, statistics show that the feedback from most employees has been quite positive. After observing for a while longer, we can confirm that the matter has been successfully concluded."
Su Ning nodded without much surprise.
Speaking of which.
In Swire Shipping, the ones who were truly fired, demoted, or even sent to prison were not many, and they all deserved it.
After all, racial discrimination and such.
Were just to establish her persona. How could someone as kind-hearted as Su Ning possibly have that!
She clearly treated everyone equally.
As long as they were human, no, intelligent beings, everyone was a prize pool, a granary... with no distinction between high and low.
Therefore, while outsiders claimed that Swire Shipping was being recklessly tossed about by Su Ning and was doomed to fail, the reality was the exact opposite. It was like a giant having its rotting flesh removed; it looked weak, but it was actually in better shape than ever before.
"Very good, well done."
Su Ning did not skimp on her praise. Lin Sen modestly expressed that it was all his duty, and then he did not forget to mention Assistant Su's contributions.
Su Er was naturally modest as well.
Everyone was happy and harmonious.
The atmosphere was just right.
No one noticed the secretary's pale face—perhaps it was just hard to tell on a Caucasian person. She desperately tried to lower her presence, hoping no one would notice her.
"Maria, what is it that you need?"
It was over.
She still couldn't escape.
Su Ning watched with great interest as the secretary's expression shattered like the sky falling when her name was called. Hmm, if she were a plot character, this wave alone could squeeze out at least a tenth of the reward.
So, what was the bad news?
"Are you saying that many clients have banded together to protest and do not want to change the branch manager?"
"Yes."
The secretary nodded with difficulty. How could she be so unlucky?
She just wanted to show her face in front of the boss.
Instead, smack—
She slapped the face of the boss's favorite!
Suddenly thinking of the subtle tension between Lin Sen and Su Er, and the fact that she herself was white... For a moment, her mind was flooded with words like taking sides, factional struggles, and scheming. She could barely stand steady.
"Let me see."
She handed it over in a daze. When she realized what was happening, she saw it was Lin Sen who took it, and then Su Er leaned over as well. The two of them were speaking in Chinese with serious expressions.
Neither of them even spared her a glance.
The secretary: ...
She breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, she felt puzzled and slowly calmed down to think...
Not long after.
"Miss, the ones taking the lead are likely the clients from the Japanese branch." To support this conclusion, Lin Sen rattled off a series of data, while Su Er supplemented and provided timely explanations from the side.
"Japan?"
Su Ning straightened up. Thinking of the current timeline, she understood why. She casually reached out her hand, and the next second, the document was in her grasp. A heavy line had been drawn through the name Fujiwara.
Looking further down.
She raised an eyebrow.
Huo?
Lin Sen noticed where her gaze lingered. "The Huo family primarily deals in plantations. Rubber, coffee, sugar, and grain are all major commodities for them. They are a major client of Swire Shipping. The person currently in charge of the Huo family is named Huo Xiang. This matter was likely instigated by him."
"Huo Xiang."
Reading the name out syllable by syllable, Su Ning suddenly began to laugh.
Xiang, as in 'to assist'.
In the original novel, this "male lead" strongly disliked this name. Outsiders all called him Mr. Huo, Young Master Huo, or Master Huo. Ye Tang didn't know this and was tricked by the others in the inner household into calling him that once, resulting in her being given the cold shoulder for a long time.
The book never directly explained why.
However, some fans, with the rigor of textual research, pieced things together from various sources, guessed, and vaguely arrived at an answer.
Huo Xiang was likely the "fake young master" in a true-and-fake young master trope.
Judging from the name Xiang.
Unfortunately, he wasn't the type of fake young master favored and protected by those in power. His only stroke of luck was that the true young master never appeared.
Even so.
It left him with deep scars.
Tell me, isn't that enough to attract fans!
Su Ning remembered that after this unverified background was dug up, the amount of fan fiction and derivative works about Huo Xiang increased significantly.
His ruthlessness and lack of a bottom line were attributed to his lack of a sense of security.
Changing women like changing clothes, keeping a whole yard full of women, using any means necessary to marry the female lead Ye Tang only to show her no affection and instead plunge her deep into household scheming—all of this was because he had never been loved and didn't know how to love.
Anyway, no matter what bad things he did.
Or rotten things.
In the eyes of his fans, it could all be explained away by this word "Xiang." Su Ning remembered it clearly because she had once been unable to resist arguing with them online many times.
Hate endures far longer than love.
Even if she were to forget everyone else in the world, she would never forget Huo Xiang!
And so, the others watched as Su Ning's expression suddenly turned frigid, as piercing as winter ice. "Just hearing the name makes me sick. No wonder he is fraternizing with the Japanese."
Lin Sen nodded in understanding:
"The purge will proceed as planned. However, aside from the Japanese, the true motive of the others is likely to use this opportunity to drive down the prices."
"Is that right? Then I will just raise the prices."
Su Ning smiled nonchalantly.
