The two engaged in quite a bit of casual talk, debating rather lofty and profound subjects, occasionally soliciting my opinion. I certainly wasn't in the mood for such refined discourse, so I turned to Cheng Susu and said, "I want an iced milk tea. Go get it for me."

Susu rose without a word and headed for the canteen window. I then addressed Fang Yanmeng and Xiao Chuchu: "And while you’re at it, grab me a few extra chicken legs, chicken wings, cola, fries, a burger, and a sandwich..."

"What on earth are you planning?" the two women asked, staring at me.

I gestured toward the other pair. "I'm treating these two senior executives. They’ve gone to great lengths to explain so much knowledge to me—it’s worth more than ten years in school. How can I not show some appreciation?"

The two pouted and left. Cheng Yan and Shang Yu were dumbfounded. If there was anyone in this world who could command these three women simultaneously, it had to be me.

Unable to guess my purpose in sending the three women away, Cheng Yan asked, "Exactly who are you, sir, to be able to instruct all three of them at once?"

I motioned them closer conspiratorially. They leaned in, and I pulled out the ID card belonging to the Deputy Director of the National Security Bureau, deliberately using my thumb to cover the 'Deputy Director' title, flashing it briefly before their eyes.

"You two must swear to secrecy," I warned. "This is my license to kill. Don't breathe a word of this. I’m the type who holds a grudge easily, petty, and prone to jealousy. Sometimes, I can’t even control myself."

Susu returned, balancing the iced milk tea. "What are you three whispering about? So secretively."

I smiled and slipped the ID back into my pocket. "The two bosses just instructed me to treat you well, lest some other men get any improper ideas about you. If someone were to snatch you away, I’d go absolutely berserk."

Cheng Yan and Shang Yu had seen it clearly: the card bore a heavy steel stamp and a big red seal, the photo and name all matching. They knew the National Security Bureau was a state security agency, filled with truly formidable figures. If they decided to pin something like 'endangering national security' on you, you'd be in deep trouble you couldn't easily escape.

The two men quickly picked up their trays. "Manager Cheng, we're full. You take your time. Goodbye."

Fang Yanmeng and Xiao Chuchu returned. "Hey, hey! Why are you leaving? Zhao Qian said he was treating you to dinner!"

Susu stopped them. "Stop shouting. Zhao Qian dislikes them. He must have scared them off while we were gone."

Fang Yanmeng and Xiao Chuchu grumbled. "He is annoying enough. Going on and on as if they are the only ones who know anything here."

Ultimately, Premier Qiao settled at a table with several magnates. Among them were Fang Chaoyang of Chaoyang Energy, Lin Zhenxing of State Petroleum, Sun Dong of State Power, Wu Cheng of State Bank, Hua Guoliang of Huashi Pharmaceuticals, Xiao He of State Television, Jin Xin of Hanhai High-Tech, and Qiu Sihai of Global Communications. These individuals were the vanguard of the national economy. Even if they hadn't sought him out, Premier Qiao made a point to approach and greet them.

"Good afternoon, Premier Qiao. Good afternoon, Premier Qiao..." Everyone stood up to offer their respects.

"Please, eat. I'm just stopping by. I couldn't finish this morning's report due to time constraints. I heard Yuejin Construction has shown astonishing growth this year. Is Manager Cheng not present?"

Qiu Sihai of Global Communications replied, "Premier, Elder Cheng isn't here. He has handed over all company affairs entirely to his daughter, Cheng Susu. She’s over there, fussing over some brash young pup who seems to have attached himself to her all morning."

Qiu Sihai wasn't old, but Global Communications was a joint-stock communication giant whose revenue surpassed Huaxia Mobile. He was still unmarried. He had expected Hua Qingqing from Huashi Pharmaceuticals to be present today, but due to the issue with the B-serum, she hadn't appeared, sending her father instead to the semi-annual summit. Aside from Hua Qingqing, the only person who caught his attention at the gathering was Cheng Susu. As for the young ladies from the Fang and Xiao families, his thoughts mirrored those of Cheng Yan and Shang Yu—those two weren't the most practical or useful prospects.

Fang Chaoyang and Xiao He naturally followed Qiu Sihai’s gaze to that area. Both turned beet red. The 'brash young pup' Qiu Sihai mentioned was actually the boyfriend of their treasured daughters! This was becoming quite a spectacle. Several others at the table already knew what had transpired before the meeting that morning, and it made everyone wonder what outsiders would think.

Lin Zhenxing, the head of State Petroleum, asked, "Whose son is that? I haven't seen him around before." Lin Zhenxing was unaware of the conflict the two girls had with their fathers before the morning session.

Wu Cheng of State Bank inquired, "Aren't those two next to him the youngest daughters of Old Fang and Old Xiao? What is their relationship with those women?" He, too, missed the morning's events.

Fang Chaoyang and Xiao He felt extremely awkward being suddenly questioned. Although Fang Chaoyang harbored suspicions about the true identity of this ingredient procurer, he had no evidence to suggest this young man was worthy of being entrusted with his daughter's future. Xiao He was even more mortified; he felt his daughter had been led astray entirely by that boy. Previously, his daughter followed his every word, but recently she not only resigned from all her posts at the television station but also bungled the cooperation agreement with Pan-American Media—all because of that scoundrel.

"We don't know him!" Xiao He declared. "I suspect that boy is likely a fraud. I don't know how he met my daughter and Old Fang's child, but we should have him arrested and interrogated."

While they were discussing things, no one noticed Premier Qiao getting up and walking away. It wasn't until the Premier reached out to shake the hand of the supposed fraud that the crowd snapped back to reality.

Premier Qiao addressed me warmly. "Little Zhao, I see you are here too. I had to rush off this morning due to an urgent matter and didn't notice your arrival."

I quickly replied, "Premier Qiao, you are too kind. I am just looking around casually; I wouldn't dare disturb your work."

Premier Qiao said, "Come over and sit with us all. Mingling and getting to know everyone better will be beneficial for future work initiatives."

We couldn't refuse the Premier's invitation. Thus, the four of us sheepishly walked over to the table of giants. The looks from my two 'would-be fathers-in-law' felt like they were trying to strip me bare; I was too intimidated to look up at them.

The other executives pressed forward anxiously. "Premier, what is the meaning of this? Who is he...?"

Premier Qiao announced, "Let me introduce you. This is Comrade Zhao Qian. Little Zhao, say hello to your uncles. For a considerable time ahead, these gentlemen will be your colleagues. Everyone must cooperate actively to ensure the work proceeds smoothly."

Everyone present was stunned. This seemed utterly preposterous. Setting aside Zhao Qian's identity, there was no way someone his age could be called a colleague of the titans seated here. Yet, no one dared voice the question, as it was clear Premier Qiao was not joking.

The fact that I was appointed Economic Advisor must have been discussed between the Chairman and Premier Qiao. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled about this title. Leading these fellows against the Americans—if we succeeded, great. If we failed, I’d be cursed by them. I would much rather go solo: fight decisively, kill a few more people if necessary, and immediately walk away if things went sour.

The pressure now was immense. Success meant everything was fine, and my two potential fathers-in-law’s impressions of me would change. But failure would not only disgrace me; it might implicate Premier Qiao and Chairman Li as well. From this day forward, every step I took felt like walking on thin ice; everything demanded extreme caution.

"Premier, please be frank with us. Who exactly is he, and how do you know him?" Xiao He could hold back no longer, asking Premier Qiao again.

Premier Qiao asked, "Oh? Did you know each other already?"

Xiao He replied, "The reason is quite complicated; please don't worry about that for now. We only want to know his true identity."

Premier Qiao smiled and turned to me. "Little Zhao, why don't you tell us who you are?"

I answered sheepishly, "I'm nobody special. Just a retired soldier who happened to meet Premier Qiao, and I am grateful that you thought highly enough of me to introduce me to all these uncles."

Premier Qiao chuckled, turning back to the group. "We’ll discuss it tonight. After the banquet, the Chairman will hold a small meeting with you all, and everything will be clear then. Alright, I’ve stayed long enough. Please enjoy your meal; I must leave now."

Everyone rose to see him off. Xiao He grabbed his daughter. "Tell me right now what’s going on, or I'm sending you straight home and you won't be allowed out again!"

Xiao Chuchu replied, "Won't you know tonight? We're full. Let's go, Zhao Qian, Mengmeng, Susu, hurry up!"

Xiao Chuchu deliberately ignored her father’s anxiety and hurried us away. Behind us, the crowd looked utterly bewildered. How did that fraud suddenly become the Premier’s friend? And judging by the Premier's words, he even knew the Chairman. No one would believe such a person was ordinary.

Xiao He discreetly pulled Fang Chaoyang aside. "Old Fang, what do you make of that young man?"

Fang Chaoyang asked, "Do you think your daughter is a fool?"

Xiao He bristled. "Old Fang, that’s unfair. My Chuchu is sharp! She manages the TV station's operations better than those returned Master's graduates from the States."

"Exactly," Fang Chaoyang countered. "My daughter isn't a fool either. Do you think two intelligent women, plus a capable female executive, would be duped by a mere swindler?"

Xiao He whispered, "Are you suggesting this young man is not simple? If he weren't, he wouldn't have connections with both the Premier and the Chairman. But who is he? I know the young man from the Tan family; it’s definitely not him. I can’t think of anyone else in Da Long Country with that level of influence."

Fang Chaoyang picked up his tray. "You think about it. I'm done eating."

Xiao He grabbed his tray and hurried after him. "Old Fang, why are you so unconcerned? Aren't you worried about your daughter? Seeing how close they are, I’m terrified they might have already done everything. What are we going to do?"

Fang Chaoyang replied, "I can't be certain about your girl, but I can guarantee mine is still a young lady."

Xiao He grew agitated. "Old Fang, we've been getting along great recently. I don't like what you just implied. Your daughter is a good girl, but mine is a bad girl, is that it?"

The afternoon exhibition of corporate achievements felt like a sightseeing tour for the four of us; we enjoyed it immensely. The new products displayed by every company were diverse. Cheng Susu’s company booth even featured a computer simulation rendering of the renovated old district of Jingdu City.

Although Wugong had bumped into us several times while accompanying the other executives, he steered clear. Seeing this, Cheng Susu winked gleefully at me. After all, what girl doesn't want her boyfriend to be powerful? Preferably so powerful that no one in this world would dare cross or touch him.

Cheng Yan and Shang Yu also crossed paths with us a few times. They greeted us very courteously now, no longer showing off their talents in front of Cheng Susu.

The evening banquet was typical of high society—focused on ceremony rather than appetite. I couldn't even find a corner to pile up food and eat heartily. The three girls kept me occupied the entire day, making me feel more exhausted than ever before.

The long-awaited meeting of the giants finally arrived. That meant as soon as this mess was sorted out, I could go home and sleep.

This small meeting room was silent. There were fewer than 20 people present. Naturally, Xiao Chuchu and Fang Yanmeng couldn't attend. Although the companies they now managed were huge, security protocols barred them from knowing about this.

The Chairman stood at the front, looking over everyone seriously before saying, "Gentlemen, everyone here today is an outstanding national entrepreneur. What we are discussing is not how to run your companies or manage staff, but rather how to protect your corporate achievements."

The attendees hadn't known the meeting's agenda beforehand, but every executive present had been carefully vetted and possessed absolutely reliable political backgrounds.

The Chairman picked up a document from the table. "I have a report here. From the beginning of the year until the end of May, several hundred billion US dollars in cash equivalents entered Da Long Country’s market. The central bank was forced to issue massive amounts of RMB to cope, and our national economy saw significant prosperity over six months. Real estate prices soared, the stock market entered a strong bull run, and the RMB appreciated nearly two yuan against the dollar in a short period. However, I am not here to discuss good news. I believe everyone remembers the Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s. Now, the US is using trade quotas as an excuse to demand freedom of the press and economic freedom from us again. You are all economists and management experts; I don't need to elaborate on the crisis looming here."

The people below murmured amongst themselves. Some only focused on wars of military aggression and failed to give enough weight to economic invasion. Many fixate only on the Taiwan Strait or the fact that the US military has established another base in Central Asia, never realizing that the catastrophe of economic collapse is far more severe than the consequences of a military war.

The Chairman continued, "In the last two years, acquisitions of our enterprises by US conglomerates have been common, such as the Carlyle Group acquiring our Xuzhou Heavy Industries. What do the Americans want? They ultimately seek to control our nation's core technology, establish global technological monopolies, and thereby control, enslave, and exploit our people! Furthermore, they aim to divide our nation!"

"Don't think I am being alarmist. The breakup of the Soviet Union is a prime example. Some comrades might argue that the collapse of the USSR was caused by the Cold War arms race and flawed domestic policies leading to economic ruin. But have you considered this: maintaining an arms race relies on economic strength. The US economy was stronger than the Soviet Union's during that time, so the US won, and the Soviet Union disintegrated. Now it’s our turn. Our nation’s current economic and military strength is not as great as the USSR's during the Cold War, yet the US is impatiently reaching its greedy hands toward our economy. While we establish sound policies to mitigate risks, we must also use our ingenuity to outwit the Americans—and perhaps even make a huge profit off them!"

The crowd responded in unison, "Yes! The Americans are not invincible. We withstood the Asian Financial Crisis back then and protected Hong Kong's prosperity and development. This time, we will certainly protect our fruits and not let the Americans snatch a single cent away!"

"Exactly!" the Chairman affirmed. "The descendants of the Dragon have never feared anyone. We have the confidence and the capability to win this economic war! Since the capital reserves of Da Long Country's enterprises cannot compare to those of US conglomerates, to achieve victory, everyone must unite closely and concentrate superior forces to strike the enemy."

They responded again, "Chairman, please lead us in another economic war! With you as our strong backing, we fear nothing."

Premier Qiao interjected, "Everyone, please settle down. The Chairman's time is extremely tight; he cannot devote all his energy to this matter. However, the Chairman recommends a candidate who will lead you to ultimate victory in this battle."

The Chairman continued, "The candidate Premier Qiao mentioned is my Economic Advisor, Comrade Zhao Qian."

Swish. All eyes searched around. Those who knew the name immediately locked onto the target; those who didn't frantically started asking questions.

"Come up, Little Zhao, and meet everyone," the Chairman beckoned to me.

With just the title of Economic Advisor, everyone expected an elderly scholar, perhaps over fifty with hair as white as snow. What was this young man in his early twenties doing hopping onto the stage?

The Chairman noticed their confusion. "Don't judge his capability based on his age. Age does not represent one's ability."

Xiao He, who had been perplexed since noon, was the first to stand up and ask, "Chairman, we need to know who he really is and if he is qualified to lead these 'locomotives' seated here."

The Chairman stated, "Due to national security considerations, I can only tell you that he is my Economic Advisor. I understand this is difficult to accept, but can you, for my sake, give him an opportunity? An opportunity to showcase his talent. If he fails in the initial engagement, I will have nothing more to say. If he can bring substantial profits to everyone, why quibble over his age or identity?"

The people present were shrewd. Seeing the Chairman strongly endorse this person, some began to offer support, setting the tone. Once a few led the way, the rest became easier to manage. After some discussion, everyone expressed firm support for the Chairman's decision.

I knew that to truly earn their respect, I needed to speak with facts. With the capital and strength currently at my disposal, making a modest profit off the Americans wouldn't be difficult. Once the first shot was fired successfully, the rest would fall into place.

The Chairman gestured for me to capitalize on the momentum and say a few words. So I addressed them: "Uncles, aunts, elder brothers, and sisters, I won't waste time with platitudes. There is no hierarchy of leader and follower between us. I currently have opportunities to make money, and if you are willing, we can share them. If you are not, you can withdraw right now. This battle is about national unity, and I don't want anyone who stays to harbor any divided loyalties."

I paused, but no one rose to leave or voice an objection. They all had their own calculations going. With assurances from both the Chairman and the Premier, even if they were skeptical, they had to show deference to these two significant figures. To simply leave now would certainly sour the Chairman’s and Premier’s opinion of them in the future.

I continued, "Since everyone is willing to stay, I won't drag this out. I intend to make the Americans pay a heavy price for their arrogance. My goal is to take advantage of their overconfidence and greed, not just to make money, but to teach them a lesson about underestimating Da Long Country. If anyone has second thoughts along the way, you are free to leave. But if you stay, you must commit wholeheartedly!"

Everyone had made up their minds; this was something they had to do. However, there were no specific requirements for how much capital to invest—just throw in a few million initially to test the waters.

I am not skilled at long political speeches, but the Chairman and Premier are such figures! I spoke for only a few sentences, yet they kept the meeting going until two in the morning. I was exhausted. I’d rather use that talking time to go home and sleep, conserve my energy, and fight the Americans tomorrow.

Xiao He couldn't sleep after returning home. He called Fang Chaoyang. "Old Fang, do you think that boy is reliable? The Chairman didn't seem to be joking around. What exactly should we do about this matter?"

Fang Chaoyang replied, "Since you know the Chairman wasn't joking, why are you asking again?"

Xiao He said, "If he really does have some skills, and he’s the Chairman’s and Premier’s favored confidant, didn't we act a bit excessively this morning? Will he hold a grudge?"

Fang Chaoyang noted, "I didn't say much this morning. But if he dares to have an opinion of you, have you seen the way he looks at your precious daughter? As long as your daughter is around, he'll have to address you respectfully as father-in-law."

Xiao He reflected. "Come to think of it, you really didn't say much this morning. You're too sly. But doesn't your daughter also have to call him father-in-law? Your daughter is his girlfriend too."

Fang Chaoyang sighed. "My Mengmeng is certainly no match for your Chuchu. I fear you'll be a grandfather soon, while my daughter is still just a child."

Xiao He chuckled with distinct satisfaction. "That's right. My daughter takes after me—her aim is true and her strike is swift. Your girl, on the other hand, has been too tightly managed by you two. There aren't many capable men in this world, and when you spot one, you have to move immediately. Your hesitant, dithering couple simply can't compete with our Chuchu."

Fang Chaoyang countered, "You’ve already admitted the father-in-law status yourself. Next time you run into that young Zhao, you'd better not shout or make a scene; he’s our superior now, after all."

"Let’s stick to business first," Xiao He pressed. "I want to know how much capital you plan to invest, and if there’s any risk involved."

"You should be asking your daughter about that," Fang Chaoyang replied smoothly. "I suspect the happy couple is currently engaged in some quality time right now. You’d best call tomorrow. Do exactly what she tells you, and I guarantee it’ll be a sure profit with no losses."

Xiao He’s tone soured. "Are you implying something with that remark, Old Fang? My daughter is his girlfriend, and isn't yours too? Dare you say your daughter is home right now? For all we know, yours is the one currently getting cozy with him. If you have questions, tomorrow is probably best for you too."

Fang Chaoyang sighed, the sound crackling over the line. "Two people nearing ninety years old are actually speculating about their daughters being intimate with the same man—it's utter nonsense. I’m going to bed."

Because the meeting ran so late, I drove straight over to Xiao Chuchu and Fang Yanmeng's place afterward. Cradling one on my left and one on my right, I was utterly content. What more could a man ask for in life?

I often wonder what expressions my two fathers-in-law would wear if they knew their daughters were both held in my arms like this. Regardless, they can’t keep their daughters away from me now. Even if they disapprove, it won't matter. In a couple of years, I’ll simply present them with a little grandson, and then we can all bask in the harmonious joy of family bliss.