Chapter 224: Three Smiling Faces Thrown to the Ground

On the third floor of the Kalai Hotel, Su Tianyu, Su Tianbei, and Yu Mingyuan waited from around 3 PM until about 7:30 PM without seeing You Yifan himself. Apart from room service bringing water twice, no one else had even come in to speak with them or greet them.

In the room, even Su Tianyu and Yu Mingyuan with their good patience were becoming impatient, constantly checking their watches, smoking, and drinking tea that had gone cold.

Su Tianbei was originally a hasty person - with his previous temperament, he would definitely have left long ago. But this time was different, because Old Tong's words had been very clear - whether Wei Xiangzuo could rise to power depended heavily on the navy's say, and whether the association could survive also depended entirely on whether Old Wei could come to manage Zha'nan. Only if he became gang leader could maritime trade reopen and the Tongji Association have stable income to support people.

For all these reasons, though Su Tianbei had waited several hours, he hadn't complained once, only becoming slightly distracted and falling asleep on the sofa.

At first Yu Mingyuan and Su Tianyu still talked, but by the end they had become numb, neither speaking to the other, only staring blankly at the door.

Time passed until after 8 PM when footsteps finally sounded at the long-quiet door. The young man who had shown them in earlier looked at them in surprise: "Oh, you haven't left yet?"

"Hehe, no," Yu Mingyuan laughed awkwardly, standing up.

"I thought you'd left long ago - got busy and forgot there were still people in this room," the young man came over smiling saying: "Sorry about that - Brother Fan was playing business mahjong with some friends, just finished now. We're going to sit at an entertainment city in Longkou - why don't you... leave first and we'll arrange another time?"

Yu Mingyuan suppressed his negative emotions and asked with a full smile: "Brother, when will Brother Fan finish entertaining? We can follow and wait a bit longer."

Yu Mingyuan's humble attitude was actually unavoidable, because if they didn't see You Yifan today, then arranging tomorrow would require troubling Old Tong who had already left, and most importantly, it wasn't certain they could even get an appointment. So he wanted to see You Yifan today - whether successful or not, at least make first contact to get familiar.

"Hehe, in such a hurry?"

"Yes, we really want to talk with Brother Fan!"

"Then follow along - we're going to Top Prestige Entertainment City," the young man looked down at his watch. "But can't say what time it will end."

"Fine, no problem, we'll wait," Yu Mingyuan immediately nodded and stepped closer to the young man, softly dropping a hint: "Also trouble you to remind Brother Fan at an appropriate time to chat with us briefly. We can also exchange contact information and meet privately later - I'll definitely thank you in person... because I really wasn't prepared today."

These words were already very direct, but the young man seemed unappreciative, only smiling and replying: "Just talk with Brother Fan - I can't make decisions."

With that, the young man didn't say more to everyone, only quickly left the room.

After watching him leave, Yu Mingyuan turned to look at Su Tianyu: "Shall we go?"

"Mm, let's go!" Su Tianyu hadn't eaten since the afternoon, just sitting on the sofa drinking tea - he was already very tired but still forced himself to stay alert and nod.

The two called Su Tianbei and quickly left the hotel, driving directly to Top Prestige Entertainment City in Longkou District.

In fact, Su Tianyu and others arrived at the entertainment city less than five minutes after You Yifan's group, so they conveniently opened a small private room next to the latter's and casually ordered some drinks.

To show sincerity, Yu Mingyuan called over the entertainment city's sales manager and directly put down 50,000 yuan deposit in their account system, telling him that all consumption in You Yifan's room tonight would be charged to his account, with any excess refunded or shortfall made up.

The manager was definitely a sensible person - when he went to You Yifan's room to toast, he specifically mentioned this matter, but You Yifan only smiled without saying anything.

......

In the small private room, Su Tianyu stared blankly at Yu Mingyuan, suddenly saying: "Feels like you've matured a lot overnight."

Yu Mingyuan took a sip of beer, only replying flatly: "No one can help me regardless of everything anymore."

Su Tianyu fell silent.

"Order some takeout - I'm hungry," Yu Mingyuan said with a smile, showing no sadness in his expression.

Su Tianyu nodded and took out his phone to order some takeout.

After Yu Jinrong's sudden death, Yu Mingyuan's whole demeanor had changed. His young master's airs were gone - no more throwing money around carelessly, no more relaxed and carefree sitting in the boss's chair. Instead he looked like a grassroots entrepreneur who had to be careful everywhere and bow his head everywhere.

Yes, society was just that cruel, and there was no room for willfulness in the adult world. Today's Yu Mingyuan was like a property salesman carrying a briefcase running around everywhere - customers were hard to deal with, and if you dared show attitude or turn and leave, there would be no food to eat tomorrow.

Previously, with You Yifan's attitude, Yu Mingyuan might have thrown a glass of wine in his face, but today he not only had to bow but also pay for the other's private room.

Time and experience would always make you grow up.

......

The three brothers sat in the private room eating takeout, waiting until after 1 AM when You Yifan finally appeared. Whether pretending or truly drunk, his face was flushed and his steps very unsteady as he walked in.

"Oh my, Director Yu, I'm really sorry - two superiors from Zone One came and I absolutely had to arrange things - kept you waiting long," You Yifan said smiling with cupped hands.

"Hehe, no problem, we were just resting here," Yu Mingyuan shook hands with him.

You Yifan gripped Yu Mingyuan's hand, his body swaying as he said: "I drank too much, threw up twice - lost my composure, lost my composure!"

"Sit down and rest a bit," Yu Mingyuan moved to offer his seat.

"Won't sit, won't sit, I still need to see friends off," You Yifan waved his hand stiffly, breath reeking of alcohol saying: "That matter you wanted to discuss with me, no rush... I'll set aside a day later to talk with you. Oh my, we're all friends - one word can settle it! Like this, it's late... I'll see them off first, give your number to Mingming, I'll call you later. Sorry about this, keeping you waiting so long."

With that, You Yifan staggered out while his follower came over with a phone saying softly: "Director Yu, give me your number."

Yu Mingyuan's face was full of smiles: "Good, good!"

"I'll call you about the bill money later."

"What are you saying, isn't that slapping my face? Take down my number..." Yu Mingyuan said as they exchanged contact information.

This day, the three brothers waited about ten hours, finally only getting to see You Yifan briefly without even a chance to talk.

The three left.

In the car, Su Tianbei asked with furrowed brows: "What exactly did he mean?"

"Hard to say," Su Tianyu said with bloodshot eyes from exhaustion, looking up to tell Yu Mingyuan: "Prepare some money - that's never wrong."

"I fucking prepared a hundred before!" Yu Mingyuan replied.

"Not enough," Su Tianyu shook his head.

In another car, You Yifan closed his eyes, half asleep.

"Brother Fan, what do you think about this Yu family matter...?"

"Let them wait - wait for the policy order to come out before saying anything," You Yifan replied impatiently.

......

After the three brothers returned home, they continued waiting for You Yifan's call, but to their dismay, a week passed without him contacting them.

During this time Su Tianyu called Old Tong several times, asking him to tactfully inquire what You Yifan's meaning was, but Old Tong said he also had difficulty talking to You Yifan and told Su Tianyu to wait longer - if there was still no movement later, he would lose face to arrange another meeting.

With You Yifan not giving approval, they didn't dare restart maritime trade at the port. Without income, the association could only rely on the small profits from the sanitation company and the Zhou family's investment to maintain operations.

But this couldn't go on long term, so Yu Mingyuan was worrying at home until his hair was almost white.

This morning, Zhou Tonghui who had rushed over from Huadu to participate in the startup made breakfast for the five lazy guys and shouted: "Food's ready!"

Since Zhou Tonghui moved into the Yu family home and took the title of vice chairman, his basic work content was cooking, filling cars with gas, and cleaning inside the house.

At first Yu Mingyuan was very embarrassed and wanted to hire two new housekeepers, but Zhou Tonghui seemed quite enthusiastic about doing it. He didn't seem to mind these things but rather enjoyed them, and could even find time to look at the sanitation company's materials and understand the association's situation.

Zhou Tonghui's humility and optimism were in his bones - after leaving home, without various elders and three or four big brothers supervising, his whole person became much more relaxed, feeling happy every moment.

"Little Zhou, you being so diligent is somewhat acting us - making us look really useless," Big Bai came down from upstairs. "You're a pure second generation black, why not stay home eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, doing some capital offense business - running here to suffer with us, aren't you sick?"

"I think this is quite good - my teacher said I have a service personality."

"Then wouldn't being a gigolo be better? Can both enjoy yourself and serve."

"Get lost!" Zhou Tonghui cursed and waved his hand saying: "Come eat!"

Everyone came over hearing this and bent down to sit at the dining table, while Su Tianyu habitually turned on the Yu family's half-wall-sized TV to watch the morning news.

"Today, Zone One's Autonomous Supervision General Assembly and Dragon City's Autonomous Political Assistance jointly issued New Era Year 63's No. 1 Foreign Trade Control Order document. Due to the continued escalation of conflict in Xinaluo, Kasalo and other regions in Dragon City's south, with most regions in chaos, seriously affecting our city and Zone One's border security, after multiple failed negotiations, Zone One's Political Assistance, Military Political Department, Autonomous Supervision General Assembly, Dragon City's Autonomous Political Assistance and other units jointly decided after multi-party consultation to completely cut off trade transport relationships with Monan and Xinaluo regions, and begin recalling laborers long active in the Xinaluo region..."

Su Tianyu watched the news with tightly furrowed brows: "It's over - those above are having a falling out with Xinaluo's official army!"

......

In an apartment at Tianhong Port, You Yifan rushed to the living room with his toothbrush, asking excitedly: "They issued the order?!"

"Yes, sealed it," a man in the living room replied nodding with a smile.

In a mountain region of Xinaluo, at Chi Army headquarters, Zhao Weihu slammed the table and stood up: "Damn it, it still came!"