Chapter 132: Hosting a Banquet

"Follow me this afternoon; I am taking you to a dinner party."

The next day at noon, Chen Feng called Zhang Wenhao and said exactly that.

Zhang Wenhao asked with a smile, "Are you going to take me out to see the world?"

Chen Feng laughed and replied, "What kind of world is this, damn it? You will know later. Even I am just a nobody, but I am just creating some opportunities for you. How about it? Do you have time?"

Zhang Wenhao nodded and said, "Yes. Tell me when, and I will come find you."

"Five o'clock this afternoon," Chen Feng blurted out. "Wait for me at home; I will drive over to pick you up."

"Alright."

At five o'clock, Chen Feng called as promised to say he had arrived at the entrance of Zhang Wenhao’s residential complex. Zhang Wenhao told his mother he wouldn’t be home for dinner and hurried downstairs. Outside the gate, Chen Feng’s S65 was already parked there. As Zhang Wenhao approached, Chen Feng pushed open the passenger door and smiled, "Get in."

Once inside the car, Zhang Wenhao couldn't help but ask, "What is the plan for tonight?"

Chen Feng laughed. "Zhang Zhi handled things well yesterday, so I’m doing him a huge favor today while I’m at it."

Zhang Wenhao asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Chen Feng explained with a smile, "The Hanlin Ecological Park is a bit unique. Years ago, most of the construction there was handled by developers from Wenzhou. They wanted to turn it into a city within a city, using the beautiful scenery and convenient transport as a gimmick to build high-end real estate nearby. But they didn't have good connections with the municipal committee, so others sabotaged them, and they had to withdraw their capital before they went broke. Then Zhang Zhi took over the half-finished park and continued the development. He invested tens of millions of his own money, took out loans of over a hundred million from the bank, and pulled in many outside investors. But he only opened recently, and his network isn't wide enough. The local wealthy figures in Jiangcheng aren't really buying it. If he can't attract enough high-end clients, it’s going to be very difficult for him to turn a profit."

Zhang Wenhao nodded and asked, "So you’re planning to bring some people over to introduce to him?"

Chen Feng smiled. "The main point is to introduce them to you. As for him, it’s just a way to return a favor. Think about it: I have to host this dinner somewhere anyway. If I hold it at his place, he will be grateful to me, and I won't have to spend a cent. Isn't that killing three birds with one stone?"

Zhang Wenhao laughed, "You really have calculated every layer of these relationships."

Chen Feng waved his hand dismissively. "It’s just playing to people's interests. I am the one introducing these people, so I can also pull them back with a single word. Zhang Zhi understands this logic, so he will certainly try his best to please me in the future. Perhaps after this meal, even without me asking, he will take the initiative to offer me some 'dry shares.' It could mean millions in extra annual income for me, and I don’t have to do anything—just selling my face is enough."

Zhang Wenhao pondered for a moment and understood the logic. "Dry shares" were quite different from actual equity. If someone held 20 percent in dry shares, they would simply receive 20 percent of the net profit during the annual dividend, but they would own nothing of the company itself. If Zhang Zhi were smart, he would give Chen Feng these shares; although he would lose some profit, the business Chen Feng could bring him would be far greater. Meanwhile, Chen Feng was essentially getting something for nothing—a win-win situation for both.

Chen Feng then said to Zhang Wenhao, "These business people love to invest in human relations, especially in those who have more capability than them. They will spare no effort to fawn over them. Even if it doesn't guarantee a return, if it works, the profit will be substantial. Today, I’m introducing you to them, but how much oil you can extract from them depends on your own ability."

Zhang Wenhao nodded but gave a self-deprecating smile. "I’m afraid I’m nowhere near as professional as you. If I mess up, please don’t laugh at me."

"I won't," Chen Feng said with a smile. "Don't think about taking advantage of others for free at first. Once you take something for nothing, you have to provide a return. If there’s no profit for them, they won't give you another chance. Therefore, at the beginning, you must think about how to create benefits for yourself without harming their interests. These people will be happy to engage in such things endlessly."

"For example," Chen Feng explained, "if you hear that a developer is building a project, and you go to him asking to buy a couple of apartments at a discount, even if he agrees, he won't necessarily be happy. He is doing you a favor at the cost of his own interests, and he’ll be waiting for you to return that favor later. But if you happen to be in the business of manufacturing doors and windows, you can approach him and get the contract for the doors and windows of his project. For him, the money is coming out of the same budget anyway; it makes no difference who does it. By giving it to you, he loses nothing and feels he’s done you a favor. The difference between these two approaches is massive."

Zhang Wenhao nodded, enlightened. "One is borrowing a chicken to lay eggs, and the other is killing the chicken to get the eggs."

"Exactly," Chen Feng snapped his fingers and grinned. "You are a quick learner."

Chen Feng then added, "Here is a small test: after dinner tonight, within half a month, come up with a 'borrowing a chicken to lay eggs' idea and execute it. I am only helping you set up this dinner; I won't interfere with what happens afterward. It's up to you." He cautioned, "Don't be too greedy at first, trying to get rich overnight. You might end up with nothing."

Zhang Wenhao nodded. "I understand. I will do my best."

***

As the car drove into the Hanlin Ecological Park and arrived at the parking lot in front of the main building, Zhang Zhi—who had been waiting for a long time—trotted over before the car had even come to a complete stop. He opened the door for them personally and said respectfully, "Brother Feng, Mr. Zhang, I have arranged the dining room. Please take a look later; if there is anything you are unsatisfied with, just let me know. I will make sure it is corrected."

Chen Feng smiled slightly and nodded, while Zhang Wenhao said with a smile, "Manager Zhang, don't call me Mr. Zhang every time. Just call me Wenhao."

Zhang Zhi nodded and said, "Alright, Wenhao. And you don't have to call me Manager Zhang anymore; it sounds distant. I’m a bit older than you, so just call me by my name."

Zhang Wenhao replied quickly, "I can't do that. You are much older than me; calling you Brother Zhang is only right."

Zhang Zhi did not object. He smiled and said, "Then I will be bold and accept that. Come, Wenhao, Brother Feng, let’s go inside."

Zhang Zhi had put a lot of effort into tonight. In the banquet hall where Zhang Wenhao had held his class reunion, he had placed only one large table, with six beautiful waitresses in sexy cheongsams standing in a row, making for a pleasant sight.

Chen Feng frowned slightly and said to Zhang Zhi, "There was no need to arrange it here. It's too empty and looks too formal. Once the dinner starts, you’ll find it inevitably awkward and stiff. A private room doesn't need to be huge; a moderate size is fine. And don't use a table that is too large; the lazy Susan should be manual, not electric."

Zhang Zhi asked in confusion, "Brother Feng, won't that make the bosses feel it’s not grand enough?"

"Grand, my ass," Chen Feng waved his hand. "I invited them here, but they don't want grandeur; they want a sense of formal intimacy. Don't treat them like big shots, or they'll get ahead of themselves. What you need is to interact with them on an equal footing, not appear beneath them. In other words, do you want them to see you as a lackey or as a brother?"

Zhang Zhi suddenly realized the truth. He had indeed placed the bosses Chen Feng invited on a pedestal, which was why he tried to make it so formal, forgetting that this dinner was hosted by Chen Feng. Chen Feng would never lower his status to be that polite to them. Chen Feng's words hit home, and Zhang Zhi even felt a bit of internal shame—why was there a sense of inferiority at work in his own heart?

Zhang Zhi quickly called over the hotel manager and gave orders. A few minutes later, he was notified that a new private room was ready. Zhang Zhi respectfully invited Chen Feng and Zhang Wenhao to follow. Once they arrived, Chen Feng nodded in satisfaction. "This is the effect I want. The space isn't too big or too small, so it won't feel uncomfortable, and there won't be any distractions. The dining table is the core of the room. Once they sit down, all attention will be focused there, and that will make the atmosphere natural."

Chen Feng added, "Only two waitresses in the room: one to serve food and one on standby. As for pouring wine, let those people do it themselves. Someone will definitely scramble for the job."

The time set with the bosses was 6:30, but from 5:40, people began to arrive. Chen Feng did not go out to greet anyone. He sat naturally in the main seat, with Zhang Wenhao on his right. He deliberately placed the wine glass in front of the seat on his left face down, signaling that the seat was reserved and no one should covet it.

Even Zhang Zhi was forbidden from going out to greet them; he was only told to arrange a few pretty waitresses in the lobby to guide the bosses to the room when they arrived.

This arrangement gave Zhang Wenhao a sense of the unusual.

Every boss entered in the same way: a waitress knocked on the door, Chen Feng said "Come in," and the waitress would open the door and step aside. The boss would then walk in with a smile. Upon seeing Chen Feng in the main seat, they would greet him with a mix of smiles and respect. Chen Feng would not stand up; he would just casually point to a seat and say "Please." The person would then sit down.

In this way, these people lost their air of authority the moment they entered. No one was putting them on a pedestal, and they lowered themselves before Chen Feng. Chen Feng easily kept the situation firmly under his control.

By 6:10, all ten guests had arrived. They didn't act like big bosses; they were very polite to the waitresses, adding "please" to every request.

The waitresses poured high-quality tea for everyone, and each setting had a pack of expensive Huanghelou cigarettes and a fine lighter.

Before the dinner officially began, the guests chatted among themselves, but what interested Zhang Wenhao was that no matter what topic they were discussing, they always tried to find a way to bring Chen Feng into the conversation. Chen Feng responded with casual, meaningless pleasantries. When the time came, Zhang Zhi knocked on the door and asked, "Brother Feng, it's time. Should I have the kitchen start serving?"

Chen Feng smiled and waved his hand, saying casually, "Come, come, Old Zhang, don't bother yourself. Let your staff handle it. Come sit here."

As he said this, Chen Feng patted the empty seat on his left with his left hand.

Everyone in the room had been secretly eyeing the two seats next to Chen Feng. When they entered, they noticed a young man sitting on the important right side, while the left side was empty—but with the glass inverted, they hadn't dared to claim it.

When Chen Feng beckoned to Zhang Zhi, the other ten people instinctively looked at him. They instinctively thought: this was Zhang Zhi's place, and his relationship with Chen Feng must be extraordinary for the dinner to be held here and for him to have the seat of honor.

Zhang Zhi understood perfectly. Seeing the surprised looks of the bosses, he felt deeply grateful to Chen Feng. He immediately signaled the lobby manager to handle the service and then walked around the table to sit on Chen Feng’s left.

If it were the old Zhang Zhi, he would never have sat down without a word. He would have brought out fine cigarettes, ripped the pack open from the bottom, and handed them out individually—a sign of respect, and a detail regarding the filter tips that wealthy bosses were very particular about.

But because of Chen Feng’s earlier instructions, Zhang Zhi acted naturally. The bosses were very curious about who these two men flanking Chen Feng were.

Chen Feng then smiled and said, "Come, everyone, let me introduce you."

The room went silent. Chen Feng placed his right hand on Zhang Wenhao’s shoulder and said, "This is my good brother, Zhang Wenhao. We have a bond forged in life-and-death situations. I hope you all will look after him in the future."

Everyone was surprised. Zhang Wenhao looked to be only eighteen or nineteen, yet Chen Feng spoke of him as having a bond forged in fire. This message had to be taken seriously; perhaps the main purpose of this dinner was for this young man.

Zhang Wenhao said politely, "Brothers, I hope you will look after me in the future."

The guests replied one after another, "Brother Zhang, you are too polite! Brother Feng’s brother is our brother. We are all family now. If you need anything, just contact us." They didn't forget to pull out their business cards and hand them over.

Zhang Wenhao collected the cards, and Chen Feng added with a smile, "Wenhao might need your help with some things in the future, and I hope you will pay attention to it."

"Of course, of course!"

The room was filled with consensus. Chen Feng then patted Zhang Zhi on the shoulder and said, "This is Zhang Zhi, owner of the Hanlin Ecological Park and a good friend of mine. It just opened, and you may not have been here yet. Come by often; I am here quite frequently."

Zhang Zhi took the hint and handed out his cards, saying, "Everyone, please feel free to come by whenever you have time. Just like Brother Feng, treat this place as your own."

The others nodded, understanding the implication. The phrase "I am here quite frequently" carried a lot of weight. Did it mean they could find Chen Feng here, or that he held shares in the place?

Very quickly, everyone reached the same conclusion: Chen Feng was a powerful figure who was usually hard to reach, so his meaning must be the latter.

Waitresses began bringing in cold dishes. Chen Feng said to the waitress, "Open a bottle of wine for each of these bosses. Bring me a bottle of red wine."

The waitresses complied. Chen Feng had a reason for not letting them pour the wine: these bosses didn't need waitresses to pour for them; pouring for each other was the "feeling" they wanted.

After all, besides Chen Feng, there were other bosses present, and getting to know each other could lead to new business opportunities.

Before Zhang Wenhao could pour his wine, the middle-aged man on his right proactively poured it for him. Zhang Wenhao noticed that no one was pouring their own wine; they were all pouring for their neighbors. Zhang Zhi also proactively poured a half-glass of red wine for Chen Feng.

Once the glasses were full, everyone waited for Chen Feng to open the toast. Chen Feng raised his glass and said, "Thank you for coming today. Don't be too formal. Eat well and drink well; that’s what matters. Get to know each other. You are all leaders in Jiangcheng’s business world. A bit more interaction might even contribute to Jiangcheng’s GDP."

The room erupted in agreement. "To Brother Feng! Thank you for your generous hospitality today!"

Chen Feng didn't say much. He smiled, clinked glasses with Zhang Wenhao, and drank half the glass in one go.

The others followed suit, clinking glasses with each other and finishing their first drink.