Chapter 63: Money Cannot Buy Happiness

To open a factory, one simply needs sufficient capital. Opening a hotel, however, requires not only funding, but also connections both in the open and in the underworld. When comparing the external strength of a factory owner to that of someone running a hotel, there is simply no contest.

Seeing Chen Sheng suddenly turn hostile without any hint of compromise, Chen Anlong felt uneasy and his mind began to work quickly. The two were not exactly lifelong friends, but they had known each other for years, having met in Taiwan. Chen Anlong had cursed someone in the hotel corridor, affecting the hotel's reputation. Chen Sheng's anger was understandable, yet his words suggested he was not concerned about the hotel's name so much as he was about the insult to Hao Meng.

Only then did Chen Anlong grasp the crux of the matter: Why was Chen Sheng so eager to protect Hao Meng, even at the cost of offending an old friend? How had a mere madam suddenly been promoted to a senior executive? Both matters seemed out of the ordinary.

With lingering doubts, he lowered his stance, draped his arm over Chen Sheng’s shoulder, and whispered, “Brother, don’t be angry. I know I was wrong. Look at all these people watching; I need to save face. Let’s go to a private room, and you can say whatever you like. Is that alright?”

Having already made his position clear in front of everyone, Chen Sheng nodded and scolded, “If you drink too much, sleep at home. Don’t come out looking for trouble.”

He then turned to the tearful Wang Fang and said, “Go greet Vice President Hao and ask her to come to Mr. Chen’s private room when she’s finished. If she’s really busy, it’s fine if she comes a bit later.”

It appeared Chen Sheng was berating Chen Anlong, but in reality, he was covering for his old friend, using drunkenness as an excuse and paving the way for an explanation later.

With Wang Fang sent off, the two entered the private room. Chen Sheng slapped Chen Anlong’s shoulder twice and said, “Do you know you’ve already caused trouble? When Hao Meng comes in, lower your stance and apologize. She’s someone who values money above all else—apologize and give her a little extra cash, and this should blow over.”

Chen Anlong stared at Chen Sheng, reluctant. “Do I really have to apologize to a mainland whore?”

With only the two of them present, there was no need for pretenses. Chen Sheng was not angered by the slur, but warned, “Next time, keep your mouth shut around others. If you call Hao Meng a whore again and she hears it, you might really find yourself in trouble.”

“She’s just a madam—slightly more popular than the others. Why are you protecting her so much, and why did you promote her to vice president?”

Chen Sheng took a pack of mint-flavored cigarettes from his pocket, tossed one to Chen Anlong, and lit it for him. “Dongguan is changing fast, and relationships shift with the times. Hao Meng is not who she used to be.”

He recounted the dispute between Wang Wenyu and Deputy Manager Zhang, and how Lu Fuen, eager to curry favor, had the police seal off the hotel doors for Hao Meng.

Chen Anlong finally connected the dots. “Damn, twice in one day I’ve gotten tangled with that woman. Hao Meng’s ties to the tough guy are deep—maybe even intimate. If she’s his girl, I can’t understand how they get on so well together.”

Chen Sheng asked, “What tough guy? Twice in one day? What happened? Tell me everything.”

Chen Anlong explained how Hao Meng had recruited Jiang Fan and how he’d spent most of today in the security squad, laying everything out.

---

Chen Sheng pointed at Chen Anlong, disheartened. “For someone supposedly successful, you’re not making the best use of the people around you. Instead, you keep getting hung up on trivial matters. I think you should learn more about social dealings from your factory’s Deputy Manager Tang.”

“And that woman—I’ve seen her once. Look at her dress, her aura, her speech; she’s not ordinary. Don’t get dazzled by a pretty face. If we offend someone we can’t afford to cross, money won’t solve it.”

“Don’t worry. I know she’s not someone I can provoke. I won’t try again. I’m actually thinking of how to make her acquaintance—just need some cash and time. Let’s put that aside for now. If I manage to connect with her, you’ll be the first to know.

But as for Deputy Manager Tang at my factory, he’s really something. I suspect he knew all along that she was the tough guy’s girl and used me as a stepping stone to curry favor, trying to forge his own connections.”

Chen Anlong shared his suspicions with his old friend.

Chen Sheng had always hoped that, through Hao Meng, he could meet Wang Wenyu, but Hao Meng kept evading and refused to introduce him. Now he feared offending her. Hearing that Chen Anlong wanted to cozy up to Wang Wenyu, he was delighted—if it worked, he could ride this connection himself. In return, he even began considering Tang’s case for Anlong.

After some thought, Chen Sheng said, “You’re probably overthinking it. If he wants to curry favor, he can do so openly. He’s not working for you just for the salary, but to help his uncle oversee investments. He doesn’t have to cater to you like the other deputies.

I think Zhan Haocheng, his nephew, has real skills and helps you get things done. There’s no need to let minor things sour the relationship.”

Chen Anlong nodded outwardly but inwardly disagreed, still convinced Tang was using him.

They finished discussing Deputy Tang and moved on to Jiang Fan.

Chen Anlong generously ordered two bottles of Louis XIII. As the attendant poured their drinks, the guests Anlong had invited arrived, and the topic shifted away from Jiang Fan.

Glasses were raised and emptied. By eleven, after entertaining other guests, Hao Meng finally entered the room.

Chen Sheng gave up his seat to her as a sign of respect and smoothed over Anlong’s earlier insult.

After Chen Sheng finished, Anlong raised his glass to her, unprecedentedly humble. “Vice President Hao, congratulations on your promotion. You know, after a few drinks, I might forget even my own parents. Please don’t take my rambling seriously. I’ll drink this whole glass as an apology—you can do as you please.”

In this world, everyone longs for a reliable backer. Now that she had one, Hao Meng cherished the opportunity. While protecting herself, she entertained guests more graciously than before, aiming to avoid physical compromise and maximize her tips.

The issue raised by Wang Wenyu had, contrary to Chen Sheng’s expectations, not negatively impacted the hotel. Instead, guests in Hao Meng’s rooms spent more generously, and many came specifically because they heard Wang Wenyu was backing her. As a result, Family Harmony’s revenue rose by nearly ten percent.

---

Clients who once sought Hao Meng for her beauty now became sycophants, whether they had business or not. They visited her room, sat with her, and gave generous tips to curry favor. That was why she was so busy.

Tips for vice presidents were certainly higher than for madams, but generally started at five hundred; tips above a thousand were rare.

Now, every client Hao Meng entertained tipped more than they would for any other vice president. By the end of the night, the wad of bills tucked behind her walkie-talkie was thick.

Wearing a suit to work, she could keep money in her pocket, but tucking it behind her walkie-talkie wasn’t for convenience—it was meant to remind clients not to forget the tip. This was a habit all madams had, and even after her promotion, Hao Meng hadn’t changed her approach to earning extra money.

Being publicly insulted as a whore was a pain she could not express. Before she entered the room, Wang Fang had already told her about Anlong’s remarks.

She came only because Chen Sheng had instructed her—she couldn’t refuse the boss.

After listening to Anlong’s explanation, Hao Meng suppressed her hurt and pretended not to care, saying, “Mr. Chen, you are Family Harmony’s valued guest. As long as you’re happy, anything goes.”

Seeing that Hao Meng didn’t hold a grudge, Anlong counted out two thousand from his bag and handed it to her, feigning sincerity. “Thank you, Vice President Hao, for not minding my foul mouth. I only learned of your promotion today and didn’t prepare a gift. Take this and buy yourself something you like.”

With her promotion, clients’ attitude and words when giving money became more respectful.

Drinking foreign liquor was an art—not only did it require special glasses, but there were rules about how much to pour. After pouring, the glass would be rolled on the table; only when the liquor stayed at the rim without spilling was it proper.

Hao Meng drank a glass with Chen Sheng and Anlong for Chen Sheng’s sake, took the generous tip, and politely excused herself, leaving the room. The hidden sorrow in her heart made her unwilling to linger.

Having drunk quite a bit, Hao Meng left the room and didn’t visit any other waiting guests, instead asking a server to decline further requests.

Returning alone to her dormitory, she counted her tips for the day—nearly six thousand. Looking at the money she once never dared to imagine earning in a single day, she found no joy.

Knowing Jiang Fan had made her weary of this life, she now regretted entering the world of dust, lacking even the courage to pursue love. Now, though clients no longer harassed her with lewd advances, she remained stuck in this world.

Scenes of her first meeting with Jiang Fan surfaced in her mind, along with memories of Wang Wenyu’s resolute expression when he was willing to be her tool.