Chapter 96

However, considering the public setting, Old Li finally said, "Allen, just say hello." His implication was not to get overly involved.

Furen also felt that he could crush the Ma family with a flick of his little finger, so he said with little concern, "Uncle Li, some people are just asking for it. I’d feel embarrassed if I didn’t hit them." This remark made the Ma family’s stomachs hurt.

Old Li was smiling inside but showed no expression on his face, taking a small sip of red wine.

Ma Rui was quick to notice that Old Li was not going to help either side, so she quickly gave Ma Guolun a look and pushed Ma Guojin away.

Glancing at the desolate backs of the Ma family as they left, Old Li tactfully did not ask Furen about his next move against the Ma family. Instead, he greeted the next group of guests.

"Ha ha, Director Dong, how have you been?"

Actually, there was no need for Old Li to introduce him. Furen knew that the square-faced old man in front of him was Dong Hua, the highest administrative official in all of Hong Kong, as he appeared on the news quite often.

"Old Li, you’re doing well too. It’s rare for you to come today, you must have a few more drinks later!" Dong Hua’s face was full of smiles, and he did not dare to be the slightest bit disrespectful to Old Li.

"Of course, of course!" Old Li responded to Dong Hua while pulling Furen over and introducing him, "Old Dong, let me introduce you to someone. This is Furen. Don’t let his youth fool you; he’s a hidden tycoon and played a part in the 1997 financial rescue!"

"Oh!?" Dong Hua’s interest was immediately piqued. To have Old Li praise someone as a "tycoon" meant they were already quite wealthy. Now, with the addition of the word "absolute," Furen’s wealth was evident.

"Mr. Fei, you are truly young and accomplished!" Dong Hua extended his hand to Furen, "The financial crisis was severe. Without the strong support of the mainland government and the city’s tycoons, it would not have been resolved so quickly. I didn’t expect you to have played a part in it!"

Furen shook his hand and smiled, "Director Dong, you flatter me. Loving the country and Hong Kong is what we should do. Besides, I’m a police officer now!"

Old Li added, "Just got suspended!"

"Oh?" Dong Hua was slightly surprised, assuming Furen’s role as a police officer was more of a hobby. However, knowing Li Chaoren, if Old Li specifically mentioned this, it was either because the suspension was questionable or because he held Furen in high regard. Regardless, Dong Hua felt he needed to inquire. Thinking this, he whispered to his male secretary, "Call over the Police Commissioner, Xu."

The male secretary listened to the order and quietly left, returning shortly with a middle-aged man in a suit with a round face. Before Dong Hua could introduce him, Furen stepped forward and saluted, "Sir!"

The round-faced middle-aged man, Police Commissioner Xu Qinan, instinctively returned the salute, but his gaze was full of confusion as he looked at Dong Hua.

"Ah Nan, let me introduce you to Mr. Furen. He’s also a police officer, so I thought it would be good for you to meet," Dong Hua said, leaving the rest unsaid, testing Xu Qinan’s understanding.

Xu Qinan, having served in the upper echelons of the police force for many years, was sharp. Seeing Li Chaoren there, he knew this was more than just a casual introduction, so he pulled Furen aside to chat.

After learning about Furen’s suspension, Xu Qinan was satisfied with the Regulatory Department’s decision but realized that Dong Hua’s reason for calling him over was not about the suspension. "By the way, Allen, what’s your relationship with Old Li?"

Furen was vague, "What relationship? Just business partners!"

Xu Qinan immediately picked up on the underlying meaning, realizing Furen must be quite wealthy. Otherwise, Li Chaoren, who believed in the saying "a young man’s words are unreliable," would not have partnered with him. Thinking about the police public housing plan currently under review, he instantly understood Dong Hua’s intention.

"Allen, have you heard about the police public housing plan?" Xu Qinan probed.

"Somewhat, what about it?" Furen countered.

Xu Qinan smiled bitterly, "The plan is good, but it’s too expensive. Unless the Police Force raises some of the funds, the Hong Kong government won’t approve it."

Furen pretended not to understand, "Then raise the funds!" but inwardly cursed Dong Hua.

Xu Qinan, with a thick skin, said, "Allen, don’t dodge the question. Can you help the police raise some funds for our colleagues?"

Furen spread his hands, "But I’m suspended. Why would it be my responsibility?"

Xu Qinan nearly choked. If Furen were reinstated, regardless of whether it was proper, as a police officer, he would have no reason to donate, as the public housing plan did not benefit ranks above probationary inspector. If Furen were outright dismissed, why would he donate to a department that had fired him?

Fortunately, Xu Qinan had a thick skin and smiled awkwardly, "Precisely because you’re suspended, it’s easier for you to donate. Of course, it’s not mandatory. You can decide for yourself, but the donation drive hasn’t started yet!"

Furen was taken aback, "Donation drive?!"

"You didn’t know?" Xu Qinan was surprised.

"I didn’t know!" Furen shook his head, "Old Li dragged me here."

Xu Qinan was speechless, explaining, "This New Year’s banquet has been held for many years, and there’s always a donation drive to help alleviate the financial pressure on certain government departments. Each department has a budget, but sometimes expenses are hard to control!"

Furen sneered, "Old Xu, are you joking? The Hong Kong government could solve everything by selling a piece of land!"

"You make it sound easy!" Xu Qinan retorted, "In any case, support us more, don’t let the Police Force fall behind."

"Alright! Even if I don’t donate, I’ll encourage Old Li to do so," Furen laughed, "By the way, how much is the shortfall for the public housing plan?"

Mentioning this, Xu Qinan felt a headache, holding up two fingers, "In billions of Hong Kong dollars, understand?"

Furen smirked, "Not that much!"

"Two billion isn’t much?" Xu Qinan was exasperated, "Our annual budget is over a hundred billion, but that covers the welfare and salaries of tens of thousands of police officers and the maintenance of facilities and vehicles. It’s hard to manage."

Furen sighed, "It seems the Police Force is still poor! A regular officer’s monthly salary is nearly ten thousand, which is a hundred thousand a year. With a force of thirty thousand, that’s three to four billion just in salaries! Alright, since the Regulatory Department gave me a long leave, I’ll make a small donation."

Xu Qinan was speechless, thinking, "What long leave? That’s a suspension, isn’t it? Is he being sarcastic?"

But Furen didn’t bother to explain and returned to Old Li and Dong Hua’s group.

"Allen, how did your talk with Ah Nan go?" Dong Hua asked.

"Pretty good!" Furen replied casually, turning to Old Li, "Uncle Li, don’t do this again. I thought we were here for a banquet, not to throw money around. If I had known, I would have just written a check and had you bring it."

Old Li and Dong Hua exchanged glances and laughed heartily.

When Xu Qinan came over, Furen knew he had something to say to Li and Dong, so he excused himself and mingled with the other guests. At such a banquet, socializing was the main focus. Whether you knew someone or not, if they looked approachable, you would chat with them. If not, a brief toast would suffice as a greeting.

Furen circled the crowd a few times but didn’t make it back to Old Li before the donation drive began.

The donation at the banquet was not like a charity auction, which required bidding. Instead, it was more like a bidding process. Waiters circulated among the guests, handing out envelopes. Inside were donation forms detailing the government departments or large charitable organizations, such as the Red Cross, that needed donations.

The minimum donation was ten thousand dollars. Donors filled out the check, sealed it in the envelope, and wrote the specific department or organization on the outside before placing it in the donation box. Later, the amounts would be tallied, and the names publicly announced. The person who donated the most to each department or organization would be invited to speak on stage.

In short, it was a way to spend a certain amount of money to make an appearance in front of the city’s elite, expanding one’s influence. This was the gimmick of the banquet’s donation drive.

However, skipping the auction process made the donation much simpler. The entire process took less than half an hour, and the mobile donation boxes were brought to the stage for public tallying.

Soon, the list of donors for each department and organization was announced by twenty or so beautiful models (etiquette girls) on stage.

First, the list of organizations was read. The Red Cross was first, with the highest donation coming from a wealthy man in the food industry, who donated sixteen million Hong Kong dollars. He accepted a floral wreath and a cheek kiss from a model, then the Red Cross president thanked him, and he made a speech.

Furen watched from below and sneered, "Boring!"

A young man standing next to him interjected, "Brother, you don’t understand. This is your first time here, right?"

"How so?"

The young man didn’t answer immediately but scanned the models on stage, praising, "Tsk tsk, the quality of the models this year is higher than in previous years. It’s a treat for these old men."

"What do you mean? Are you saying this banquet is a brothel?" Furen raised an eyebrow.

"Not that serious, but these models are willing to attach themselves to the wealthy!" The young man sneered, "It’s a mutual agreement, not a brothel. Look at that one, the foreign girl holding the Police Force sign. Her figure is amazing, and her face is beautiful!"

Furen, who wasn’t paying much attention, followed the young man’s finger and saw the foreign girl he was talking about. He immediately froze.

Why does this woman look so familiar? No, she’s an assassin!

(Please recommend, please collect, all kinds of requests!!)

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