Chapter Seven: The Coal Tycoon with Five Wives

Watching Niu Shengli leave, Zhao Zejun was overcome by an absurd feeling.

He had spent three hundred thousand yuan on researching an elixir of immortality? And Old Niu acted as though he were doing him a tremendous favor, as though Zhao had landed an extraordinary bargain.

“Old Niu is actually a decent fellow. He’s just not very educated and can be a little crude. Whenever he talks to me, it’s all fathers, mothers, and ancestors. Don’t take it personally.”

“That doesn’t bother me. Chairman Wang...”

“Call me Brother Wang,” Wang Yan said.

“All right, Brother Wang. What exactly is the story with his pharmaceutical factory? Does he really have a factory researching an elixir of immortality?”

Lying beside him, Wang Yan curled the corner of his mouth and shook his head with a smile. “The factory is real. Old Niu’s ideas may be unreliable, but when it comes to doing things, he’s methodical enough. He imported a great deal of equipment from overseas, invested tens of millions, and properly set up a pharmaceutical company.”

Zhao Zejun felt reassured. Even if a factory worth tens of millions failed to produce an elixir of immortality, it was still a genuine business. At least Old Niu was not handing his investment over to some con artist.

“Oh, Brother Wang, what’s really going on with President Niu? An elixir of immortality? How did he come up with that idea—and actually believe in it?”

Zhao Zejun glanced back to make sure Old Niu had truly gone, then pointed at his own head, silently asking whether the man was not perhaps a little insane.

No ordinary person would do something like this. But if he were insane, how could he have become the head of Deyuan Coal Mine, one of the most famous family businesses in the entire province?

“He’s simply like that. He isn’t educated, and he’s rather obsessive.”

Wang Yan gave Zhao Zejun a rough account of Old Niu’s background.

Old Niu’s full name was Niu Shengli. Deyuan Coal Mine was his family business—a company made up of a number of small and medium-sized coal mines—and Niu Shengli was the man at its helm.

As a child, Niu Shengli had scavenged coal cinders around the mines. He came from a poor family. Over the years he had made a fortune and earned plenty of money, but as he approached sixty, he still had no son. Desperate, he married five times. At last, the fourth wife gave birth to a big, healthy boy the previous year.

That very day, Old Niu had a paternity test performed. Once it confirmed the child was his, he immediately rewarded his fourth wife with a luxurious villa and fifty million yuan in cash.

Since having a son, Niu Shengli had gained a new source of joy—and a new cause for worry.

He was already fifty-eight. His energy was declining by the day, and his health was deteriorating. Would he live long enough to see his son grow up and successfully take over the family’s coal mines, ensuring that Deyuan Coal Mine remained in the Niu family’s hands? While he was alive, he could keep everything under control. But what if he grew old and died before his son had come of age? What would happen then?

So Old Niu began traveling everywhere in search of doctors and medicines, first seeking ways to improve his health and extend his life. He wanted to live a few more years—at least long enough for his son to grow up and become capable of taking over the family business before he finally departed this world.

People at their level did not lack money, and they had all sorts of unconventional connections. They knew every kind of eccentric and unorthodox figure in society. Somehow, what had begun as a search for health and longevity started out harmlessly enough: he followed elderly Taoist masters into the mountains, practicing breathing exercises and martial arts for the sake of his health. But somewhere along the way, it somehow turned into “research into immortality.” He even seriously invested in a pharmaceutical company, established a laboratory, and made a great show of hiring a group of professionals to develop an elixir of immortality.

Any scholar or scientist of even modest renown would certainly refuse to get involved. They could not afford to bring such disgrace upon themselves. Old Niu knew he was uneducated and lacked the ability to conduct such lofty scientific research. He probably also felt that walking this “scientific path” alone would be too lonely, so he began trying to recruit everyone he met as an investor.

If Zhao Zejun had not been the one who came today—if it had been Wang Zejun or Li Zejun instead—Old Niu would have tried to recruit him all the same. But thirty thousand would never have been enough.

Zhao Zejun’s status as a student at the University of Science and Technology added considerable luster. He was a student at a prestigious university, he could produce three hundred thousand yuan, and he was willing to go mad alongside Old Niu. Not one of those three conditions could be missing.

“The circle of coal bosses is a chaotic one. It has every kind of strange character imaginable. Once you get to know a few more of them, nothing will surprise you anymore.”

Having said this, Wang Yan gave Zhao Zejun a meaningful look.

“As for your three hundred thousand, you can’t say it was spent for nothing. Don’t let Old Niu’s erratic behavior fool you—he’s impeccable as a person. If you build a good relationship with him and he’s willing to stand up for you, there aren’t many problems in Southern Jiangsu Province that can’t be settled. And if he really does develop some bizarre medicine one day, you might even make a little money alongside him.”

Zhao Zejun felt slightly puzzled. This was his first time meeting Wang Yan, yet Wang Yan seemed to know him quite well.

Wang Yan took a cigar from the box on the table and offered it to Zhao Zejun. Zhao did not accept it.

“That stuff is too strong. I’m not used to smoking it.”

“Cigarettes are worse for your health. At your age, you probably haven’t noticed the effects yet. At least one thing Old Niu says is right: good health is worth more than anything. The richer people become, the more afraid they are of death.”

Holding the unlit cigar between his fingers, Wang Yan pointed toward the enormous swimming pool in front of them.

“What do you think of this club?”

Zhao Zejun looked at the vast pool, where only a few people could be seen.

“The setting is excellent, though ordinary people probably couldn’t afford to come here.”

Wang Yan nodded and asked, “Old Niu has been talking to me a lot lately about the health and fitness industry, and he’s made me somewhat interested. What do you think the prospects would be for opening a large, comprehensive fitness club like this in a prosperous district?”

“There are more and more wealthy people these days, and even ordinary people have seen their living standards improve. There’s certainly a market for professional fitness and leisure services. However...”

Zhao Zejun paused and did not continue.

“However what?” Wang Yan asked.

“It’s nothing. I’m still at the stage of building up my initial capital, so the level at which I consider these matters is different from yours, Brother Wang.” Zhao Zejun smiled. “In any case, if it were me, given the same amount of time and investment, I would definitely choose an industry with relatively higher profits.”

Wang Yan laughed heartily and tapped Zhao Zejun with the cigar between his fingers.

“You think too much. You didn’t want to say outright that my judgment was poor, so you took the scenic route. I’m a businessman too. If an investment doesn’t make money, why would I invest? Tell me—if you had money on hand and were preparing to start a business, what would you choose?”

“The most profitable field would still be the energy industry you’re involved in, of course, Brother Wang,” Zhao Zejun said.

“Everyone knows coal mines make money—even children know that. Say something else.” Wang Yan waved a hand.

“Brother Wang, don’t make me look foolish. Talking business in front of you would be like teaching a fish to swim.”

“It’s not the same. People like us have made money from the mines far too easily, so our vision is inevitably limited, and we’re prone to complacency. You’re young. Your perspective and the breadth of your outlook are different from ours.” Wang Yan turned to glance at Zhao Zejun. “There’s no need to be modest. When I was your age, I couldn’t have achieved what you have.”

“You flatter me, Brother Wang.”

Zhao Zejun thought for a moment before speaking.

“I can’t say for certain which specific industry will be the most profitable, or which will be second. But if I had to offer an opinion, I’d say the broad direction of profitable investment may change over the next ten years.”

“The direction of profit?” Wang Yan braced both hands against the chair and sat upright. “That’s an interesting way to put it. Tell me more. What exactly do you mean by the direction of profit, and how will it be different?”