I'm back in 1990

Chapter 547: Returning to Shanghai Together

Originally, Huang Yanguang invited Huang Xiaochuan to his home with the intention of having a meal, asking him about his hometown, and getting to know this young man from his hometown who could spend tens of millions without batting an eye. However, the two unexpectedly discovered that they were related by blood within five degrees of kinship. This made things more complicated, so Huang Yanguang not only called his two sons back but also instructed the housekeeper to have the kitchen prepare a sumptuous family feast. Huang Yanguang wanted to warmly entertain his cousin.

After they were seated, Huang Yanguang introduced his family members to Huang Xiaochuan.

Huang Yanguang's wife passed away four years ago, so he is now all alone. His eldest son, Huang Shanqing, is currently the vice president of Jiaming Group and has a son and a daughter, both of whom are still studying at university in the UK. His second son, Huang Shanxi, with Huang Yanguang's support, founded an energy company, which is actually a floating gas station. Singapore, as an important node in the Strait of Malacca, has become a popular stop for cargo ships to refuel and resupply due to its geographical advantages and energy prices.

So don't underestimate the seemingly insignificant project of offshore refueling; it is a very profitable business. However, due to the 98 financial crisis and the sanctions imposed on Saddam Hussein, global oil prices have risen from $10 to $30 per barrel.

Furthermore, at the beginning of the year, OPEC announced production cuts, which further exacerbated the rise in oil prices, leading to a surge in costs for Hwang Sun Hee Energy Company and making its operations extremely difficult.

Huang Shanxi's wife gave birth to three sons and two daughters for the Huang family, a total of five children, the oldest of whom is only fifteen years old.

After hearing the introduction, Huang Xiaochuan realized that Huang Yanguang's family was quite prosperous.

During the casual conversation, Huang Shanxi asked Huang Xiaochuan for his views on the oil economy.

Because Huang Xiaochuan deals with these economic trends and related data every day, he naturally has a relatively clear understanding of oil prices and the global energy situation in 2000.

Then, under the expectant gazes of the Huang family, Huang Xiaochuan thought for a moment and said, "Although OPEC is currently intervening in the market to control oil prices through both production cuts and increases, Russia is not subject to OPEC's control. Starting this year, Russia's oil exports have been gradually increasing, and the price is 20% lower than OPEC's pricing."

Influenced by this factor, the degree to which OPEC member countries adhere to the agreement is questionable. Furthermore, the US doesn't want Russia to profit too much from oil. Therefore, I believe there is a significant possibility of a decline in oil prices next year.

After listening to Huang Xiaochuan's analysis, Huang Shanxi decided to check the situation tomorrow to see if it was true. If it was really as his nephew said, he would fire some people in the company immediately. Damn it, they had never mentioned that Russian oil exports were increasing. They were just taking the company's salary for nothing. What was the point of keeping them?

Although it is not yet certain whether Huang Xiaochuan's words are true or false, Huang Shanxi, who has been working in the energy industry for many years, is somewhat convinced, because the general trend is there, and some things cannot be fabricated by making up lies.

"Come on, Xiao Chuan, I'm in a good mood today, have a drink with me." Huang Yanguang raised his glass of red wine and beckoned to Huang Xiao Chuan.

Huang Xiaochuan also raised his glass to Huang Yanguang before taking a sip of red wine.

The Huang family rarely drinks domestic baijiu (Chinese liquor), so Huang Xiaochuan followed suit and drank red wine tonight. Huang Yanguang, for the first time ever, poured himself half a glass of red wine because of Huang Xiaochuan.

After they had some drinks, Huang Yanguang asked, "Xiao Chuan, when do you plan to go back to China?"

Huang Xiaochuan had already decided on the date of his return. He told Huang Yanguang, "I plan to return to China the day after tomorrow. If it's convenient for you, you can come back with me. My father happens to be in Shanghai, so you can meet him first, and then I'll arrange a car to take you back to your hometown in Yuexi."

Upon hearing this, Huang Yanguang immediately made a decision. He gently tapped the table and said, "Okay, it's settled then. I'll go to Shanghai with you the day after tomorrow."

After the family dinner at Huang Yanguang's house ended, Huang Xiaochuan expressed his gratitude for Huang Yanguang's hospitality and then took his leave.

When Huang Xiaochuan returned to his new house in Shengtao Bay, Zhang Yun had been waiting for him outside for a long time.

Huang Xiaochuan wasn't surprised to see Zhang Yun. He would have been surprised if she hadn't come tonight. So he had the driver stop the car, and after he got out, Zhang Yun walked towards him.

Huang Xiaochuan didn't chase him away, but instead said calmly, "Let's go inside and talk."

In Huang Xiaochuan's view, he had already dismissed Zhang Yun from her post and had ordered the acquisition of Xue's oil refinery. The matter was considered over at this point, since Zhang Yun and the Xue family had an unbreakable blood relationship with his two sons.

Therefore, he did not show any aversion to Zhang Yun's arrival.

After the two sat down in the living room, Zhang Yun couldn't wait to say to Huang Xiaochuan, "There's something I need to make clear to you. I didn't know what my grandfather told you beforehand."

Huang Xiaochuan waved his hand dismissively, saying, "This matter is no longer important."

Zhang Yun, however, did not think so. In her opinion, she could give up the CEO position of Changhong Capital. Although it would have some impact on her, she would absolutely not take the blame for Huang Xiaochuan's misunderstanding of her.

So Zhang Yun emphasized again: "It may not be important to you, but it is very important to me. It involves my innocence, because I really didn't know that my grandfather would make those unreasonable demands of you. If I had known, I would never have let you come to Singapore."

Huang Xiaochuan looked at Zhang Yun and said, "I believe you really don't know, but there's one thing you need to understand: it's precisely because of your relationship with the Xue family that I can't continue to entrust Changhong Capital to you for management."

"I accept your dismissal of me as CEO of Changhong Capital, but I want to make it clear to you that I was not involved in this matter from beginning to end."

Huang Xiaochuan was getting annoyed. He had already told her that he believed she was indeed being kept in the dark, so why couldn't this woman understand?

"As I just said, I believe you were unaware of this. Do you understand now?"

Zhang Yun didn't know if Huang Xiaochuan truly believed her or was just trying to get rid of her as quickly as possible.

However, she could sense Huang Xiaochuan's impatience from his expression and tone.

For Zhang Yun, being the CEO of Changhong Capital wasn't really that important. Even without that position, she would still be a fashion icon in New York's social scene and a queen of financial investment on Wall Street.

Furthermore, she can continue to short the Nasdaq. Thanks to her partnership with Huang Xiaochuan, she also has her own businesses and companies in the United States.

When she sensed Huang Xiaochuan's impatience, she knew there was no need for her to continue arguing with him; she had already said what she needed to say.

Zhang Yun stood up: "I've said everything I needed to say, I should go now, or I'll become annoying."

Huang Xiaochuan didn't try to stop her, and stood up as well: "I'll see you out!"

Before leaving, Zhang Yun asked, "When do you plan to return to China?"

Huang Xiaochuan had already made up his mind, so he told Zhang Yun without hesitation, "The day after tomorrow!"

Zhang Yun made a decision instantly: "I'll go to Shanghai with you. Anyway, I don't have anything to do right now, so I might as well stay in Shanghai for a while, spend the summer there, and then take Yawen and Luca back to the United States."

Huang Xiaochuan did not object to Zhang Yun's decision. He had no right to make decisions for this woman; it was her freedom to go wherever she wanted.

"Sure, but Mr. Huang from Jiaming Group will be returning to Shanghai with us then."

Zhang Yun naturally knew Huang Yanguang of the Jiaming Group. He was the chairman of the board of directors of the Jiaming Group, and most Singaporeans knew him, since the Jiaming Group had developed a lot of real estate in Singapore.

She asked casually, "Huang Yanguang?"

Huang Xiaochuan nodded: "Yes!"

Zhang Yun felt something was strange. These two people had absolutely no connection, so how did they know each other?

Seeing Zhang Yun's confused expression, Huang Xiaochuan didn't hide anything from her and told her the whole story.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yun covered her mouth in surprise: "This is too fantastical!"

Huang Xiaochuan smiled but didn't say anything. In Huang Xiaochuan's view, the source of the fantasy came from his own strength. If he hadn't spent a fortune to buy the largest villa in Shengtao Bay, Huang Yangguang probably wouldn't have been interested in getting to know him, and naturally none of these things would have happened later.

Furthermore, if he were just a distant, poor relative of Huang Yanguang, he probably wouldn't have been invited to the Huang residence. Hasn't he noticed how many years this old man has been away? He hasn't even gone back once. The reasons he gave were just excuses. If he really wanted to go back, would someone tie him up with a rope?

However, this is human nature, and Huang Xiaochuan can understand it. Besides, Huang Yanguang is the most senior member of the Huang family, so he should be respected. Otherwise, if Old Huang finds out, he doesn't know how he will scold him.

Two days later, the group took an Airbus ACJ330 to Shanghai. Because there were too many people accompanying Huang Xiaochuan, Zhang Yun, and Huang Yanguang, Zhang Yun's "Global Express" could not accommodate them all. She also wanted to stay on the same plane as Huang Xiaochuan, so she chartered a private plane with Singapore Airlines.

This aircraft is actually the business jet version of the Airbus A330, boasting an ultra-luxurious cabin. This is consistent with Zhang Yun's style—if you're going to use something, you have to use the best, which coincides with Huang Xiaochuan's philosophy of "being frugal at home but extravagant on the road."

After Huang Yanguang boarded the plane, Zhang Yun, who was already on the plane, took the initiative to greet him.

"Hello, Chairman Huang!"

Huang Yanguang didn't recognize Zhang Yun. He looked at Huang Xiaochuan with suspicion first, then looked at Zhang Yun and asked, "Who are you?"

Zhang Yun smiled and introduced herself to Huang Yanguang: "My maternal grandfather is Xue Xiangsheng of the Xue Group, you know him, right?"

Huang Yanguang naturally knew Xue Xiangsheng, and the two even had some dealings. One was from Shazhou and the other was from old Shanghai. In Singapore, a place teeming with people from Fujian and Guangdong provinces, they were naturally quite close.

It's worth noting that people from Fujian and Guangdong provinces tend to stick together very closely, and due to differences in lifestyle, they can be somewhat xenophobic.

Huang Yanguang and Xue Xiangsheng naturally couldn't get along with those people. As fellow townsmen from Wu, they would naturally visit each other, but they weren't close friends.

Upon hearing Zhang Yun's words, Huang Yanguang knew who Zhang Yun was. He knew that Xue Xiangsheng had returned to China to find his daughter and granddaughter, but he had never met Zhang Yun and her daughter.

"So she's Old Xue's granddaughter!"

However, Huang Yanguang was still puzzled as to how his grand-nephew Huang Xiaochuan and Xue Xiangsheng's granddaughter Zhang Yun could know each other.

"Xiao Chuan, are you going with him?"

Huang Xiaochuan naturally wouldn't casually reveal his relationship with Zhang Yun, so he quickly came up with an excuse.

"You didn't know, did you? Catherine was my university lecturer at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics for two years."

Huang Yanguang found it unbelievable after hearing this.

Zhang Yun then advised, "Please sit down first, we'll have plenty of time to talk later, the plane is about to take off!"

Along the way, Huang Yanguang chatted with Huang Xiaochuan and Zhang Yun while carefully observing them. He always felt that the relationship between the two was more than just that of teacher and student. However, he knew that his nephew was married, and given Zhang Yun's status, it was impossible for her to be a concubine. So how could he guess the true relationship between the two?

However, he still guessed that Huang Xiaochuan's trip to Singapore must be because of Zhang Yun. Otherwise, why would his grand-nephew suddenly come to Singapore?

Adhering to the principle of seeing through things but not saying them, Huang Yanguang chatted and laughed with the two young men all the way. When he got tired, he would rest for a while on the plane. Five hours later, the plane landed at Pudong Airport.

Huang Xiaochuan first took Huang Yanguang to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel for a short rest, and then went directly to his parents' house, while Zhang Yun returned to her residence in Shanghai.

When they arrived home, Old Huang was teaching his eldest grandson, Huang Zemin, how to write calligraphy.

"That's right, you need to press your wrist down like that. See, this time the characters have more strength, right?"

Hearing someone enter the house, Old Huang didn't even look up and casually asked, "Who is it?"

"Dad, it's me!"

The grandfather and grandson looked up and saw Huang Xiaochuan.

Huang Zemian, holding a calligraphy brush, called out, "Uncle!"

Huang Xiaochuan replied with a smile, "Mianmian is practicing calligraphy!"

As he spoke, he leaned closer to take a look and praised, "Not bad, not bad, you've inherited three-tenths of your grandfather's skills."

Huang Xiaochuan then looked around and asked, "Dad! Where's Mom?"

Old Huang picked up his teacup and said, "She went to learn sword dancing with your mother-in-law. She found a teacher, and your mother is learning with her too!"

Huang Xiaochuan nodded to indicate that he understood, then pulled Old Huang aside: "Dad, I have something to tell you!"

"What's wrong?"

"Dad! Isn't there a man named Huang Yanguang living in the house at the far west end of our old home?"

Old Huang was taken aback: "How did you know?"

Because Huang Xiaochuan hadn't been to the old house many times and didn't know much about it, his sudden question left him somewhat bewildered.

Huang Xiaochuan didn't keep his father in suspense and told him everything about his meeting with Huang Yanguang.

Upon hearing this, Old Huang immediately asked excitedly, "Where is my uncle?"

Huang Xiaochuan smiled and comforted his father, "Dad! Look how worried you are. Your great-uncle came to Shanghai with me and is resting at the hotel now. I'll take you to see him later."