Let you be a great man, not a scumbag

Chapter 1801 Can it still hold on?

Jiang Cheng glanced at him and smiled slightly. "Sit down."

Seeing that Jiang Cheng didn't respond, Jiang Xin felt embarrassed, but pretended to be easygoing.

"Has everyone not arrived yet?"

Jiang Cheng slowly picked up the teacup in his hand, blew on it, took a sip, and looked at Jiang Xin: "I only invited you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xin visibly froze for a moment.

He was somewhat surprised when Jiang Cheng invited him, since his previous meetings with Jiang Cheng were always arranged by others.

When Jiang Cheng invited him out this time, he thought he would finally be able to talk about the scheme that Jiang Cheng had organized.

But I never expected that this would be a private invitation.

This... left him momentarily confused about Jiang Cheng's meaning.

I shouldn't have offended him.

He feigned surprise and said, "Wow, thank you so much for the treat, Brother Cheng."

Jiang Xin deflated the expression she had just made with a joking tone.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the private room, and a waitress in a plain cheongsam walked in with a menu, her eyes crinkling at the perfect angle: "Gentlemen, the dishes at this restaurant are different every day. This is today's menu."

After saying that, Jiang Cheng handed over the menu with the dark pattern.

Jiang Chengzhi raised his hand and took one portion, leaving the other portion hanging in mid-air.

Seeing that Jiang Cheng didn't hand her the menu, she subtly withdrew it and lightly tapped her knee with her fingertip.

The smile on his lips remained unchanged, but a quick glance in his eyes revealed a hint of calculation before he casually picked up his teacup.

After taking the menu from the waiter, Jiang Cheng flipped through it and said in a calm tone, "This restaurant was recommended by a friend. Apparently, the owner is from Beijing and makes authentic Beijing-style dishes. We're from Shanghai and we're tired of eating local Shanghai cuisine all the time, so we'll try something different today."

Jiang Cheng's decision not to hand her the menu made Jiang Xin even more uneasy.

He nodded reluctantly and replied with a smile, "That's right. When you come to Beijing, you should try the authentic Beijing cuisine. I was on a business trip here before, but I couldn't find a suitable restaurant."

Jiang Cheng swiped through the names of several dishes with his fingertips, without looking at Jiang Xin, and crisply announced to the waiter: "Shredded pork with sweet bean sauce, grilled pork, and a plate of stir-fried liver with pickled garlic. For the main course, we'll have the signature braised noodles, and for the soup, we'll add a hot and sour cuttlefish egg soup."

After announcing the names of the dishes, simply hand the menu back to the waiter.

Seeing that Jiang Cheng hadn't asked Jiang Xin a single question about "what he wanted to eat," the waiter politely inquired, "Sir, would you like anything else?"

Jiang Xin's smile froze for a moment, then she waved her hand, her tone deliberately relaxed: "Brother Cheng ordered authentic Beijing cuisine, no need to add more."

"Okay, please wait a moment..."

After the waiter left, the atmosphere in the private room became a little quieter.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and put on his easygoing smile again.

"Are you also following the updates from LoveBooks?"

Before Jiang Xin could even calm down, Jiang Cheng casually steered the conversation back to square one, a truly brilliant move.

He clicked his tongue inwardly, but dared not show it on his face.

Having spent so many years navigating the business world, I've long since developed the skill of speaking to people in a way that resonates with everyone.

Even the most cunning old fox in his own company rarely makes him so cautious.

But when facing Jiang Cheng, he always felt as if his thoughts had been seen through, and he was being led by the nose from beginning to end.

He remembered that Jiang Cheng was only close to 19 years old, but his calm and composed demeanor and his ability to manipulate people were incredibly sophisticated.

It's important to understand that the Jiang family's influence in Kyoto is unfathomable, far surpassing that of a local rare-earth family like theirs. Jiang Cheng's private invitation to him couldn't possibly be something as simple as just having a meal.

Jiang Xin picked up his teacup and took a sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, but he couldn't suppress the unease in his heart. He concealed the complexity in his eyes, put on his polite smile again, and continued Jiang Cheng's words: "Of course, Brother Cheng, when you make a move, it's always accurate and ruthless. We're just here to get a little benefit and watch the show."

"Sigh, I didn't expect we had such similar hobbies." Jiang Cheng put down his teacup and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

When Jiang Cheng learned about Jiang Xin's family business in rare earths at the bar last time, he had his security team investigate their home.

The Chiang family was known as the "Rare Earth Kings" 18 years ago.

However, things have become tough since the policy was implemented this year.

Mining quotas are being tightened, and environmental protection red lines are being drawn more and more strictly.

The technological barriers to deep processing are ridiculously high.

The Jiang family held the mine, but could only watch helplessly as their profits were squeezed thinner and thinner.

The days of making easy money from rare earths are long gone.

Not to mention the internal family disputes.

The older generation clings to the old mines and refuses to let go, while the younger generation wants to transform but lacks funds and connections.

With just one policy implemented, the vast family business began to show signs of being on the verge of collapse.

He snapped out of his thoughts, looked up at Jiang Xin sitting upright opposite him, picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone revealing no emotion.

"Just watching the fun isn't interesting, why don't you join in?"

Jiang Xin did not expect Jiang Cheng's attitude to change so quickly.

The hand holding the teacup tightened.

He mentioned it briefly at the bar that day, but Jiang Cheng didn't give a definite answer or even acknowledge him.

Today, I suddenly asked myself to have a sip of soup.

Even though I knew there was a problem...

But I still told the truth: "Of course I wanted to, but I was too embarrassed to ask before, afraid that Brother Cheng would think I was trying to take advantage of him."

Jiang Cheng is someone who possesses the ability to sense thoughts.

Although Jiang Xin's face remained composed, it was clear that she had many thoughts running through her mind.

After chuckling softly, Jiang Cheng tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

His tone was casual yet carried an undeniable certainty: "Doing business is all about give and take, sharing profits, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about."

As soon as he finished speaking, he changed the subject, his gaze landing on Jiang Xin's face, and went straight to the point: "Speaking of which, your family's rare earth business seems to be having a tough time lately, doesn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xin's smile froze instantly, and the movement of holding the teacup stopped in mid-air.

My heart skipped a beat, and I instantly understood.

Jiang Cheng's invitation to meet him today wasn't simply about making money for him; he was clearly eyeing the Jiang family's rare earth industry.

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me.

He pursed his lips, his fingers unconsciously stroking the cold glass.

The Jiang family's rare earth industry is the foundation built by their ancestors and the basis for the entire family's livelihood.

Over the years, regardless of market fluctuations, the power to control the industry has always remained firmly in the hands of the Chiang family.

If Jiang Cheng were to get involved, he could certainly use his capital and extensive connections to turn the current predicament around.

However, they will inevitably take the lion's share of the benefits, and may even have to relinquish some of their core say.

At that time, the conservative old shareholders in the family will definitely jump out and fight to the death to oppose it.

Not to mention that this involves the wealth accumulated by the Chiang family over generations, which is not as simple as just taking a small share.

He was torn between his inner turmoil and his outward appearance, but he dared not reveal the slightest hint of it.

He could only manage a forced, composed smile, his tone so steady it betrayed no flaw: "Brother Cheng is joking. It's just market volatility. The Jiang family's foundation is strong enough to withstand it."