359: Chapter 353: Discovery 359: Chapter 353: Discovery Peach Blossom Immortal Brew had always been on Chen Hai’s mind in terms of advertising.
The king of advertising slots, acquired after spending over thirty million yuan, could not possibly go unused by the time for airing without having even begun the filming process.
Generally speaking, domestic television advertisements are simple and straightforward, often seeming somewhat unsophisticated.
Compared to the domestic scene, Xiangjiang’s advertising industry was undoubtedly more developed.
Given that Peach Blossom Wine Industry’s Peach Blossom Immortal Brew was sure to be priced at a premium, Chen Hai naturally wanted the advertisement to be upscale.
Since he was coming to Xiangjiang anyway, he had initially planned to focus on Wang Dehui’s matter first before tackling the advertisement filming.
Such a schedule might seem somewhat rushed.
However, in Chen Hai’s view, given the work efficiency of the local companies, once everything was agreed upon, the actual filming would not take much time.
After all, some of Xiangjiang’s film companies often only needed about ten days to shoot a movie.
However, at this moment, an unplanned glimpse of Qingxia drinking in a scene on TV brightened his entire mood.
“Boss, are you saying we should hire Miss Qingxia to shoot the advertisement for Peach Blossom Immortal Brew?”
Previously, Bai Baoshan and Xiang Dong had not even considered this possibility.
But now, after being prompted by Chen Hai, they silently recalled the scene of Miss Qingxia, dressed in a bright red robe, standing in the water and joyously drinking from the Peach Blossom Immortal Brew.
Just imagining that scene, let alone actually seeing it, they found it breathtakingly stunning.
“Boss, your idea is absolutely brilliant…”
Looking at each other, Bai Baoshan and Xiang Dong displayed undisguised admiration, giving Chen Hai hearty thumbs-up from the bottom of their hearts.
“We’re not very familiar with the entertainment circle here.”
“You two are off duty for the next two days, while I’ll handle my issues here.
It might not yet be your turn to step in.”
“In your spare time, once Bai Xiaohang and Tian Mingjian return, you could explore the local entertainment scene.”
“See if you can find out how we might get in touch with Miss Qingxia.”
After pondering for a moment, Chen Hai spoke again, giving instructions to the two men before him.
Naturally, he could use divination to find Miss Qingxia’s whereabouts if he wanted.
However, given that there wasn’t any pressing urgency, he felt it more appropriate to try contacting Qingxia through regular means.
In Xiangjiang, he had brought several people along; it’s not like he had no one to utilize.
Letting his subordinates handle it was the way to go!
If he, as the boss, had to use supernatural powers for everything and rely on divination to find answers, wouldn’t that make his job overly demanding?
…
Hong Kong, within a private room of a certain restaurant.
Six or seven people gathered, eating and drinking merrily.
Zhang Zihao, dressed in a white suit and looking quite scholarly, stood out prominently among the group, like a crane among chickens.
Although the room wasn’t packed, a closer look revealed that these individuals seemed clearly divided into two factions.
“Brother Huan, you were the first to bravely face off with the officer in the street with an AK during the gold shop robbery!”
“I have long admired your notoriety and have tremendous respect for you.”
“I’ve always wanted to partner with you for a big deal, but unfortunately, you’ve been unwilling to agree!”
“I even heard recently that you’ve set up a shop in the Mainland, selling smuggled electrical appliances.”
“So what?
Is the appliance business not doing well?
Or have you realized that legitimate business isn’t as profitable as making big deals with me?”
While frequently toasting to the fierce-looking man beside him, Zhang Zihao joked with a laugh.
This man, named Ye Shihuan, was also well-known as a fierce bandit in Xiangjiang.
Zhang Zihao had always considered himself an intellectual.
However, when it came to action, he felt that his group was somewhat lacking.
Having Ye Shihuan and his men join his team would perfectly complement the biggest weakness of their gang.
Despite the considerable amount of money obtained from the airport robbery years ago, simply sitting and depleting it wasn’t the solution.
Zhang Zihao himself was a big spender.
After having eight million stolen in Hao River last year and nearly a year thereafter, his remaining funds were dwindling.
He had long been eager to embark on another major deal.
Hearing from his subordinates that Ye Shihuan had reached out to join him, he was overjoyed and hastily came.
“Brother Hao, here in Xiangjiang, your reputation as a tycoon is much louder than mine.”
“Originally, I had no intention of coming out of retirement and just wanted to quietly run my electronics business.”
“But speaking of this, it really annoys me.”
“Selling smuggled electronics over there is indeed lucrative,” he confessed, “but this business, without a solid backing, you simply can’t manage!”
“In that environment, it’s hard to meet the King of Hell, but even harder to deal with his minions.”
“Any time one of those minions shows up, I have to bow and scrape, treating them like royalty.
If the money isn’t right, trouble could come knocking that very day.”
“Why do others rake in heaps of cash selling smuggled electronics, while I…”
“Months into it, the business seemed promising, I sold a lot of electronics, but when it came time to settle the accounts, the tiny bit of money I risked my neck for in gold shops was nearly all lost!”
…
Whenever Chen Hai spoke of the humiliations he suffered selling electronics in the Mainland, he would relentlessly complain, filled with resentment.
If selling electronics was so profitable, why would he bother coming to Xiangjiang to join forces with Zhang Zihao and wade into these murky waters, plotting some big deal?
“Brother Huan, you could have been the Great Thief King but chose to sell electronics instead, I really don’t know what to say about you!”
Watching Chen Hai, who seemed as aggrieved as a resentful wife from all the suppressed frustrations, Zhang Zihao couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
He quickly added, “Let’s not dwell on those unhappy experiences; they’re in the past now.”
“Here in Xiangjiang, there’s a ton of money just waiting for us brothers to pick it up.”
“Your willingness to join me in big business shows your respect for me, your way of giving me face.”
With that, Zhang Zihao paused.
He looked to the side at one of his men, “Han, bring out the welcome gift we prepared for Brother Huan, let’s show him our sincerity!”
“Alright, Brother Hao!” The one called Han picked up a briefcase from under the table.
Then, he opened the briefcase and conveniently rotated it.
The inside of the briefcase was now fully visible to Chen Hai and all.
Stacks of thousand-dollar bills filled the case.
Seeing the money inside the briefcase, Chen Hai remained composed, but the few men who had come with him couldn’t hide the gleam in their eyes.
“Brother Hao, throwing money at us the moment we meet, what do you mean by this?” Chen Hai stared straight at Zhang Zihao, his expression unreadable, and challenged him.
“Brother Huan, I, the millionaire, treat my brothers well.
I don’t skimp on financial matters!”
“There’s a million in the case, no strings attached, just a simple welcome gift.”
“Take this money and enjoy yourselves before we start the big deal, drink the strongest liquors, and enjoy the company of the finest women,” Zhang Zihao said, shrugging indifferently and smiling.
“Alright, I’ll take the money.”
“I accept this on behalf of my brothers, and thank you, Brother Hao, for your generosity!” Chen Hai frowned, pondered for a moment then finally nodded, taking the briefcase and securing it.
At that precise moment, Zhang Zihao’s cellphone suddenly rang.
After looking at the caller ID, he didn’t avoid Chen Hai and the others but picked up the phone and began the conversation.
“What?
You’re at Hao River’s dock and saw that huge guy who stole our eight million?”
“The two men are preparing to take the ferry over to Xiangjiang?”
“Feng, are you sure you’re not mistaken…”
Zhang Zihao had only exchanged a few words when his demeanor, usually calm and gentlemanly, drastically changed, his face flushing with exasperation.
The person robbed of the eight million that day, besides Zhang Zihao and Han in the room, was also Feng, who had made the call.
This matter had always been a closely guarded secret among the three of them.
Even Zhang Zihao’s most trusted wife was told that the eight million was lost in a casino; he never mentioned to her that it had been stolen.
This was for a simple reason.
For a figure as infamous as the Great Thief King of Xiangjiang to have been robbed by two unknown lowlifes?
It was too embarrassing to let such a story become public knowledge!
Now, however, upon suddenly hearing from Feng that the tall man who stole his money reappeared, he completely lost his composure, failing to control his emotions.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken so openly, letting everyone in the room hear.
Sensing the peculiar expressions on the faces of those in the room, Feng felt a burning shame.
Zhang Zihao, still on the phone with Feng, sensed the strange looks he was receiving from everyone and immediately realized his mistake.
After instructing Feng to keep an eye on the targets, he hurriedly hung up the phone.
“Brother Hao, since we’ve taken your money, we’re all one of you now!”
“Your problem is our problem.
Leave it to us to take care of those two guys who robbed you and get your money back!” Chen Hai, always a man of his word, glared fiercely at his subordinates as he declared.
“Let’s go together, directly to the docks!”
Zhang Zihao nodded, waved his hand, and the group marched out of the room in a formidable procession.