Manhattan, New York.
Over the next few days, both parties engaged in intense negotiations.
Regarding the shares in the gold mine Liu Ren had put on the table, the DuPont family quickly dispatched investigators to verify everything. The actual value of that mine far exceeded the thirty million dollars the two sides had initially tallied—it was projected to reach forty million!
Faced with such overwhelming temptation, neither party had any reason to refuse. Even the fierce objections of General Motors president William Durant could not stop the decision of the DuPont family and Little John.
Half a month later, contracts were signed, and Cadillac was formally merged into the Silver Rock Group!
Looking at Liu Ren’s smiling face, Little John remarked, “Liu, you seem to be celebrating a bit too early. Cadillac isn’t especially lucrative—at least nowhere near as profitable as that gold mine of yours!”
Hearing this, Liu Ren replied noncommittally, “Of course I know that, but mining gold is a troublesome business. Better to leave it to you gentlemen!”
Giving Liu Ren a knowing look, Little John did not deny it. After all, the mine was in Brazil, far beyond Liu Ren’s reach. The DuPonts and Morgans, however, were an entirely different matter. Forget Brazil—even if it were in Antarctica, they would send people to dig out every ounce of gold. From the very moment capital was born, every drop of its blood had been soaked in sin.
The men didn't matter. What mattered was the gold mine—especially one worth forty million dollars in this era!
***
New Jersey.
Inside the brand-new automobile factory, the workers were utterly bewildered. Hadn't they been told they were moving to a new plant? How had they ended up here instead?
Just then, a manager stepped onto the podium and announced, “Gentlemen! Starting today, everyone is getting a raise! As long as you work hard, Cadillac will give you everything—a house, a car, even your dreams...”
As the manager delivered his rousing speech with fiery passion, A Chao looked on skeptically from beside Liu Ren. “Where’d you find this guy?”
“Wall Street. Picked him right off the sidewalk! With a silver tongue like that, why waste his time trading stocks?”
Chuckling with amusement, Liu Ren glanced up at the 'Renwang Shield' emblem above the factory and said, “Now that’s more like it. How could the Renwang not have his own Renwang Shield?”
“Renwang? Who? You?”
A Chao stared at him dubiously, feeling a bit dazed.
“My loyalty reaches to the clouds, and my benevolence and righteousness are without peer. Isn't that obvious enough?”
Liu Ren spread his hands toward A Chao, as if asking whether anyone in all of New York could possibly be more virtuous than him.
Staring at Liu Ren in utter disbelief, A Chao fell silent for a long moment before saying, “I've seen shameless men before, but I've never seen anyone quite as shameless as you!”
“Well, haven't you seen one today?” Liu Ren shot back playfully, bursting into laughter.
After handing several automotive sketches over to the design department, Liu Ren stepped back to delegate authority. After all, he knew nothing about automobile engineering. Rather than blindly meddling, he was better off focusing on aesthetics. General Motors might also be using the V6 engine developed by Cadillac, but what did that matter? Their cars were hideous! Having come from a future era, Liu Ren refused to believe his aesthetic taste could be worse than that of the people living in this one.
Upon returning from New Jersey, Liu Ren threw himself into his work.
Watching Liu Ren study corporate management day in and day out, A Chao couldn't help but feel a touch of admiration. Not everyone could endure being chewed out and scolded black and blue every single day while still persisting in their studies.
Liu Ren's thought was simple: *I never had the chance to prove myself back then, but now I want to show everyone that I'm not inferior to anyone!*
Having finished the paperwork before him, Liu Ren had just set down his pen when his secretary knocked and stepped into the office.
Looking at the shapely woman before him, Liu Ren asked, “What is it, Lucy?”
“Boss, a gentleman named Vito Corleone made an appointment to see you three days ago.” Presenting the schedule to Liu Ren, Lucy smiled warmly.
Tapping his desk, Liu Ren pondered for a moment. “Vito Corleone? All right, I have time now. Send him up.”
Watching Lucy leave, Liu Ren felt a momentary sense of detachment. Why would this future 'Godfather' come looking for him? He had already handed most of that kind of business over to Gatsby.
At the thought of Gatsby, Liu Ren pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation. That fellow seemed to have gotten a bit too full of himself lately. All of New York knew about a mysterious Long Island tycoon throwing lavish parties every week, inviting all the high-society elites and spending like a total idiot.
Of course, Liu Ren’s assessment was quite literal: Gatsby really was just tossing money around like water. Splashing out enormous sums of wealth without restraint was practically begging for trouble. If Liu Ren hadn't been shielding him, Gatsby probably would have landed in prison several times over already. When you assume the IRS is stupid, you really ought to question your own intellect.
A few minutes later, Lucy led Vito into the office.
Their eyes met, and Vito looked at him in disbelief. “Are you... Liu?”
“Sharp memory, Vito. But should I call you Vito Corleone, or Andolini?”
Teasing him lightly, Liu Ren rose from his chair and extended a hand with a broad smile.
“Good heavens, it really is you! My God!”
Staring at Liu Ren, Vito was thoroughly shocked. Back when he first arrived in New York, he had crossed paths with Liu Ren. Who could have imagined that in less than ten years, this man would rise to heights far beyond his reach? *(In history, the elder Godfather Vito arrived in New York in 1901; the timeline was altered to suit the story.)*
“Hahaha! Have a seat, Vito. It’s been nine years since we last met, hasn't it?”
Liu Ren invited him to sit and asked Lucy to bring in a bottle of vintage red wine.
As the bottle was uncorked, Vito smiled and said, “I'm truly stunned by what you've accomplished, my friend!”
“Just a bit of luck, plus a few tricks of the trade.” Liu Ren arched a brow as he poured the wine.
Vito could read between the lines; the risks involved were certainly not that simple. Life in New York was hard enough for a Sicilian like him, let alone for someone like Liu Ren.
The two talked for a long time, catching up on the past years and discussing many things. After all, when they first met, they had genuinely connected as casual friends crossing paths in life.
“I came to thank you—because of Don Ciccio. He was the man who murdered my father.”
With the small talk concluded, Vito brought up his true reason for coming.
Hearing this, Liu Ren smiled. “No need for that, Vito. That bastard simply failed to show me proper respect.” Pausing, Liu Ren looked at him. “What are you doing these days? Do you need any help?”
“I'm in the olive business! As you know, it doesn't make much, but it's enough to get by.” Vito smiled, conveying that he was content with his life.
Yet upon hearing his answer, Liu Ren tapped the desk. “That won't do, Vito. Wealth is infinite; you need to show a bit more ambition! Tell you what—I have a shipment on hand. The risk is slightly higher, but the profit is handsome...”
Caught off guard, Vito fell silent for a long time before asking, “You're willing to trust me?”
“Of course, my friend. To me, money is just a number now.” Liu Ren wore an easygoing expression.
After all, he wasn't about to admit that Gatsby, that fool, was currently too busy throwing money away chasing after his dream girl to remember his actual trade. Even so, Liu Ren didn't hold it against Gatsby. If a man attained great wealth without returning home to show it off, wouldn't all that fortune be in vain?
Chapter 39