Back To The 80s: President's Doted Wife

Chapter 1698 - 1699: A Notable Character

It’s actually not that hard to dig into Shen Rong’s background. He even published an autobiography, and although there may be some exaggerations, Cheng Yaozu hired a private detective to verify the details, and most of it aligns with the autobiography.

Shen Rong is sixty-eight this year, born a poor boy in a remote fishing village, from a family not worth mentioning—impoverished, the kind of unwanted child that neither grandfather nor grandmother loves, stubborn in nature, once he sets his mind on something, he does it regardless of right or wrong.

Before liberation, life was tough. Unfavored at home, after being beaten so badly that his leg almost broke, he ran away from home, venturing across the country.

According to him, he dug coal and even sneaked onto coal trains, visited the Capital, traveled to Jiangnan, did all kinds of odd jobs and sometimes resorted to petty thefts just to have a meal.

He wouldn’t say much about his childhood incidents, only mentioning a turning point when he worked as an errand boy in an underground casino and learned many skills, later becoming a small-time thug, and eventually, he turned the tables, becoming the owner of a small casino, which initially held only a dozen people or so, and gradually expanded bigger and bigger.

Shen Rong had talent, brains, and enough ruthlessness—his ruthlessness was being able to be ruthless to himself. As long as there was still breath left in him, he could fight with his last breath, putting everything else at stake.

Precisely because of this, his business gradually flourished, though not coming from a legitimate source, yet he managed to launder the money clean, then ventured into various businesses.

After decades of turmoil, Shen Rong is already a well-known overseas tycoon, perhaps not yet as wealthy as he could be, but enough to indulge. Thus, he has two wives, four or five children, living life to the fullest.

As for businesses, besides casinos, there are others like enterprises, department stores, all openly legitimate.

Nowadays, he married the Third Mistress, none other than Chiang Qing, at the advanced age of nearly seventy, while his eldest son is already forty-five.

As for his dealing in both legal and illegal sectors, no matter how legitimate a casino is, in the eyes of the righteous, especially domestically, it falls into the black sector. How could such a black sector not have underworld connections?

”Never mind his origins, just his boldness alone makes him a character,” Cheng Yaozu remarked, looking at the documents in hand.

Ning Ge crossed his arms in silence.

Cheng Su pursed her lips, seemingly deep in thought.

”Does the Shen Family have any business domestically?” Ning Ge looked at Cheng Yaozu and asked.

Cheng Yaozu replied, ”Most of their business is in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but it’s coincidental, too—they are looking to venture into the domestic real estate and hotel industries.”

Ning Ge raised an eyebrow, ”Which areas?”

”In several major cities, also in the Capital, but it seems their family has internal unrest.” Cheng Yaozu explained.

Ning Ge listened, showing a hint of interest, looking over at him.

Cheng Yaozu smiled and said, ”This man, marrying many wives sometimes isn’t a good thing. For example, when it comes to inheritance, there’s plenty of contention. Both of Shen Rong’s wives are formidable, each with children, all wanting to secure more resources and funds from the old man, isn’t there contention then?”

”So, coming to the domestic market, is it the first wife’s or the second wife’s side?” Ning Ge asked again.

”Could be either. The eldest, Shen Qizheng, is quite moderate, while the second wife’s son, Shen Qihong, is sneakier and shrewder. I reckon that if Shen Rong considered diversified investments, he might allocate assets to each, whoever can develop is the glory of the Shen Family.” Cheng Yaozu, coming from a good background, spoke confidently about these matters.

Ning Ge nodded, noticing Cheng Su in a daze, and couldn’t help but give her a gentle push: ”What are you thinking?”