Chapter 43: Left and right

'Mr. Tiger, just as you predicted, Zhou Ming came to see me just now and asked about the Brighton Consortium. I told him the main components of the Brighton Consortium, and he also expressed his willingness to cause trouble for the Brighton Consortium. This surprised me, because no normal person would do this, especially when his career is just getting started and he has made some small achievements. Many people would choose to develop steadily and protect themselves. After all, it is not easy to start a business from scratch, and no one wants to repeatedly experience the process of starting a business. That is not a good dream.'

In the president's office in the Bank of Tang Dynasty building, Hoover stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office overlooking the Charles River not far away, holding the phone in his hand. At the moment, he was the only person in his office.

'Yes, it seems that Mr. Tiger is right. Zhou Ming is a young man, so he has the drive of a young person.' Hoover hesitated for a moment before continuing, 'But he also has many shortcomings. Before he left, he specifically asked me about the relationship between the Brook and Brighton consortia. I think he is still too obsessed with his hatred and is not really trying to lead the way for us.'

'Of course I understand that someone like him won't really be willing to work for us, but at least he can't be so obsessed with his personal grudges, right? This approach is too small-minded, and he is not a long-term investment target. My suggestion is to wait and see what he does.'

Hoover paused after he finished speaking, listened carefully to the response from the other end before saying, 'Mr. Tiger, don't worry, I know exactly who I am and where I stand. I will do everything in my power, even though what comes next will not be pleasant.'

Hoover ended the call without hanging up directly. Instead, he glanced at the time and then dialed the extension number of the secretary at the door: 'I'm done here. You can clear the customers at the door, asking them to leave first if possible, and tell them that their deposits will definitely be fine, and that we will have important customers coming here soon.'

...

Meanwhile, Zhou Ming had already arrived at the underground parking lot with his bodyguard Zhang Lin and got into his Buick.

'Zhang Lin, don't you feel that I just agreed to help Hoover deal with the Brighton Consortium for them, and that I've been used as a pawn by them?' Zhou Ming suddenly asked, turning his head.

Zhang Lin didn't seem surprised by this sudden question. On the one hand, he was a military commander with an extremely strong psychological quality, and nothing could surprise him in itself. On the other hand, Zhou Ming often sought him out to chat when he was free, and although their relationship was one of task, there was also a kind of emotional connection between them. Therefore, Zhang Lin was used to it.

'On the surface, it seems like that, but given the situation, you don't really have a choice. After all, you've now made enemies with the Brook family, and the Brook family is a member of the Brighton Consortium. Right now, the Brighton Consortium hasn't made a move, perhaps because they don't need to or for some other reason, but no one can guarantee that you won't run into them in the future.'

Zhang Lin analysed little by little, 'Zhou Ming, you are new here in Brighton. It is simply impossible to fight the Brighton Consortium alone without information or conditions. You must seek an alliance. Now that someone has already extended an olive branch, there is nothing wrong with you taking advantage of the situation. Regardless of their motives, at least you can be assured that when you encounter the Brighton Consortium in the future, you will have someone to help you.'

'I didn't think Zhang Lin could analyse so much from such a small thing, but I don't think as much as you,' Zhou Ming said. 'I was just thinking that I came to the United States to make a career for myself, but it turns out that I don't understand the situation in the United States, nor do I know the composition of which consortium. Even if I want to fight with which consortium, I can't find an opponent, let alone the focus. Now that someone has finally shown me the way, of course I want to seize this opportunity.'

Zhou Ming's words left Zhang Lin dumbfounded. After a while, Zhang Lin said with a bitter smile, 'It seems that I am still too conservative. I only want to find allies to fight against the Brighton Consortium together, but you have thought about how to get rid of the Brighton Consortium or replace it in the future.'

Zhou Ming shook his head and laughed, 'Zhang Lin, in fact, I may not be as ambitious as you think. I have no intention of becoming Chen Sheng and Wu Guang. I just have a vague feeling that the situation in the United States is not as stable as expected. At least, in the midst of these American consortia fighting with each other, perhaps I can do something too.'

After a while, Zhang Lin started the car and took Zhou Ming back to the dormitory. But sometimes things just happen to be so coincidental. As Zhou Ming's car was leaving the entrance of the building, another car drove over from the other side, just missing Zhou Ming's car. On the other car was old Brooke, along with his lawyer Sapir.

Old Brooke also arrived at the Tang Dynasty Bank building. He got out of the car and headed straight for Hoover's office.

When Brooke arrived at Hoover's office, he happened to see the secretary politely persuading other customers. Brooke playfully said, 'Why is Mr. Hoover's office in such a mess? Is the Tang Dynasty Bank going bankrupt?'

His words attracted everyone's attention. As a senior senator from Massachusetts, Brooke was immediately recognised.

'Brooke, you were behind today's events, weren't you?' Someone accused Brooke.

Brook smiled slightly in response: 'I'm very happy that you said this, which means that my influence has risen even further. However, Shorty, I advise you to be careful with your words. It's best to add a respectful form of address before Brook, because whether you can get your deposits back before the Tong Dynasty Bank goes bankrupt depends on me.'

Before anyone could react in surprise, the secretary came forward and said, 'Hello, Mr Brook, Mr Hoover is waiting for you. Please come with me.'

Hearing the secretary's invitation, old Brooke waved to the others again: 'Gentlemen, I am very happy to see you here. It makes me understand what kind of idiots are waiting to be saved by me. Goodbye.'

Old Brook said arrogantly and then walked into Hoover's office. The people outside were very angry, but they could do nothing about Old Brook. First of all, not to mention Old Brook's status as a senior senator, the Adams family behind him was even more unbearable. Just saying that Old Brook may indeed have come today to inject capital into the Tang Dynasty Bank, I'm afraid he really came to save them.

Hoover is still hooked up to the drip. Old Brook couldn't help but smile when he saw him like this: 'Mr. Hoover is a major general of the Tang Dynasty Bank, how has he become like this?'

'There's nothing I can do about it, it's the situation that forced me to do it!' Hoover replied helplessly. 'But Mr. Brook, I don't think you came here today just to mock me, did you?'

'Of course not, I'm not that boring,'

said old Brook as he sat down in front of Hoover. He continued, 'Well, we can now get down to business. Regarding my previous proposal, I wonder how Mr. Hoover has considered it?'

To this question, Hoover said with difficulty, 'Mr. Brook, I have already communicated with headquarters regarding your price, and it is difficult for them to accept it. So I hope that Mr. Brook can increase it a little more. As long as I can convince headquarters, then we can sign the contract immediately.'

'Is that so?' said old Brook. 'But Mr Hoover, you must understand that you are not selling the entire Bank of Tang Building, but only the lease rights to a portion of the floors, which happen to be the least valuable part of the building. And with all due respect, given the current financial situation of the Bank of Tang, these floors are useless to you even if you don't sell them to me, aren't they?'

'I don't deny that,' Hoover said, 'but Mr. Brook, the price you're offering is really unacceptable. You know that I am only the branch manager of Tangren Bank, and the real decision-maker is the headquarters. So since you, Mr. Brook, really want these floors and I really need to sell them, why don't we compromise? This is just a waste of our time, isn't it?'

Old Brook raised an eyebrow and then began to enumerate Hoover's resume: 'Mr. Hoover, you graduated from USC in 1959 and then joined the Tang Dynasty Bank. In the past 21 years, you have worked your way from the most basic bank manager to your current position as the head of the Brighton branch.'

Facing Old Brook's detailed narration, Hoover did not say a word. He just looked at the other person quietly, waiting for the other person to reveal his true intentions.

Old Brook did not disappoint Hoover. After going over Hoover's resume, he said, 'So Mr. Hoover is also a smart person, so I don't think there is any need for us to play any tricks. For example, Mr. Hoover just mentioned the headquarters. If I am not mistaken, Tongyang Bank should have already given Mr. Hoover full authority to make decisions. Am I right?'

Hoover still didn't say a word, and then Brook said, 'Now the Tang Dynasty Bank's funds are in an unprecedented crisis, with people desperately selling their shares. There are still so many people waiting to withdraw their money, and many floors of the bank building are basically just window dressing. If I give up today, then they will lose value. So, Mr Hoover, will you still stick to your choice?'

Brook leaned back in his chair after he finished speaking, looking at Hoover with confidence.

The two of them just stared at each other for a long time, and Hoover finally gave in when Brook became impatient and was about to leave: 'Mr Brook, I agree to your price.'

Brook sneered in disdain: 'I'm sorry, Mr Hoover, if you had agreed a minute ago, I would have agreed, but now I've lost patience, unless you're willing to give me another ten percent discount.'

'You're robbing me!' Hoover exclaimed angrily.

'Mr Hoover, don't say I didn't warn you, my patience is wearing thin, you need to make a decision quickly,' said Old Brook.

Hoover took a deep breath and then nodded quickly, 'Okay, I agree.'

Old Brook laughed heartily, 'This is really good news, it's just a pity that if Mr Hoover had agreed earlier, then it would have been the best of both worlds.'

Hoover ignored Brook's teasing and simply took out the contract and said, 'Mr. Brook, now that your lawyer is here, let's just sign the contract first.'

'What a hot-tempered guy.' Brook gave the contract to his lawyer, Sapir, and then asked him, 'Mr. Hoover, may I ask, after the Tang Dynasty Bank incident, did Zhou Ming come to see you?'

'It seems that Mr. Brook is still very concerned about Zhou Ming. I don't understand why you are asking this question,' Hoover said.

'I do care a great deal about that little fellow, and I want to throw him into the Charles River and feed him to the fish every minute,' said old Brook. 'But now, if he hasn't come to see you yet, I just hope you'll tell him to get plenty of his blood pressure medicine ready, because I've got a very exciting show planned for him, only it's not going to be very friendly.'