Chapter 78: Ambition & Entangled Fate.
Hao Ren asked, "Mister Deen, would you like to change the world with me?"
The people all looked at him and thought he was too young and may be that's why he was saying all these things. Mister Deen smiled and asked, "Very well, tell me, how do you intend to change the world?"
Hao Ren replied, "The human population needs a lot more than what the planet can give. Also, we need to give back what we take or the planet will collapse. You are all big business figures and this fact is something you all should acknowledge, that if we did not change the way we use our resources, we will be in deep shit real soon. The global temperature change is already evident, right?"
The people nodded and Hao Ren continued, "We need to develop better technology, and even better ways to conserve the resources. If we fail in that, the consequences will only become more devastating. I am establishing a research center, the primary focus will be advanced technology, and medicine. The products will be sold all over the world.
The profit will be distributed according to the contribution and a significant part of the profit will be kept aside to aid the under privileged. What do you think? Although it is quite money consuming I am willing to invest 500 million for the first two projects even if their is no one to support me."
The sheer amount of the initial investment shocked the people. Mister Deen asked, "Are you sure about the number you wish to invest?"
Hao Ren nodded confidently and as he said, "I have been earning a lot thanks to the western rise and fall of the crypto currencies and also the trade."
The people looked at each other, while Hao Ren just leaned back in his chair, watching them silently for a minute before they began to discuss. He picked up a cup of tea and handed it to Han Lingshi who was sitting beside him in a daze. She looked at him with her eyes brimming with questions.
Hao Ren noticed this and leaned over to whisper in her ears, "I will answer all your questions after we are done here."
Han Lingshi nodded as she took the tea cup. Hao Ren began to participate the discussion and soon he was leading it. The business moguls heard his ideas and expectations, and they could not help but acknowledge his skill. Klaus was sitting in the corner, watching the people talk and he could not help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. Because these people were all top players.
Two of the people were top mining tycoons, but they knew about the side effects of mining and wanted to do something for the world.
When Hao Ren told them about a few things he could think of in the future, the two people board the ship. After a couple of hours the rudimentary outline of the research center and the foundation was set up. The collaborators took part in the foundation, they were willing to be the face of the foundation in their countries and ask more people to join them.
However they all were somewhat dicey about the research center, and told Hao Ren that they would like to see the results produced by the research center before investing in it. Fair enough, although they like how Hao Ren viewed things, but they were not going to put in money in it until he can make those dreams reality.
...
The breakfast was extended into a lunch, and Hao Ren decided that he would cook for everyone. Old Lady Hua did not want to let him use her kitchen but Hao Ren proved his prowess by brewing the perfect tea that soothed her soul.
Inside the Kitchen Hao Ren decided to cook the traditional recipes and was making some noodles when he started humming a song, "Two time press, two times stretch, fold in four, life goes on."
Old Lady Hua looked at Hao Ren in surprise and asked, "Where did you learn this song?"
Hao Ren replied with a smile, "My elder sister wrote it when she had trouble remembering mom's recipe of noodle making."
The old lady asked, "Was your sister named, Hao Mei?"
Hao Ren's hands froze the moment he heard the name. He looked at her and asked, "How do you know?"
Old Lady Hua sighed and said, "I met her once, when she was visiting the capital a few years ago. She was stranded in the rain, and I called her inside. We shared a meal, and she helped me with the noodles. She sang the same song. That meeting changed my life."
Hao Ren could not understand what was going on here and the lady continued, "It was Hao Mei who told me to try and establish a restaurant that serves authentic traditional tea and food. After that we stayed in touch for a few months before she just vanished. I don't know what happened and have no way to get ahold of her either. How is she?"
Hao Ren looked at Old Lady Hua and said, "Umm, she left the world five years ago. Cancer."
The shock on old lady Hua was evident. She took a few minutes to regain her composure and said, "Please accept my condolences."
Hao Ren replied softly, "Thank you."
Old Lady Hua said, "Ever since I have established this place, I have been keeping a share of my income for her. I hope you can accept it on her behalf."
Hao Ren was surprised and stopped again, before he could say anything, Old Lady Hua said, "Your sister was an ambitious person. She wanted to give your family a lavish life. This is why I hope you don't deny her last wish."
The young man had a complicated expression on his face and finally he sighed and nodded. He began to work his way on the noodles and the old lady said she would give him a check when they are about to leave. For the next couple of hours, Hao Ren worked tirelessly, yet his brain was not focused on the food.
Thankfully, he had the skills of the top chef and thus Lady Hua was shocked.
...
Outside the business tycoons were still talking about the foundation and how they could engage people to participate. Han Lingshi was a good hostess, she kept them engaged in the conversation by dropping apt topics at crucial times.
She looked at the silver robot and said, "Grace, can you check how long will Ren take to finish cooking?"
Grace nodded and after a few seconds she said, "Peiter said that they are helping Master Hao with the plating and the food will be served quickly."
Han Lingshi nodded and the people began to talk about the robots. They would ask the bots about various things and situations. All the bots were enabled peer to peer server system so the information was being shared seamlessly.
The bots answered quickly and accurately, a few minutes later, Hao Ren came over with food trolleys and the bots served the dishes to the people. Han Lingshi noticed that something was off with Hao Ren so she said, "Ren, you sit, I will host."
Hao Ren nodded and Han Lingshi instructed Grace to introduce the people with the dishes and the drinks. The people began to eat and a few of them placed orders for ten house bots each. Hao Ren just nodded with a faint smile on his face.
The meal did not last long and in the end the people walked away after promising Hao Ren that they will be sending over their representatives in a few days to discuss the further structure of the foundation. They would also decide upon the name when they negotiate the situation.
They all were flying in from different countries and had to go back to deal with the issues. Hao Ren saw the people off, and lady Hua brought over a cheque. Hao Ren looked at the cheque with a heavy heart and the lady said, "In the past seven years that I have set up this shop I have made ten million, of which, three million belong to Hao Mei.
If not for her idea I would have never been able to live a decent life. Please accept this."
Han Lingshi was confused but Hao Ren took a deep breath before he collected the cheque named to him. Then he bowed to the lady and left the place silently. Han Lingshi wanted to pay the bill but the lady denied, saying this meal was on the house as a thank you to Hao Ren's sister.
Han Lingshi caught up to her husband and found him sitting inside the car. She sat beside him and raised the partition after asking the driver to move. Heath followed behind in another vehicle. She asked softly, "Ren, what is it?"
Her voice was akin to a whisper, afraid of disturbing him. Hao Ren could sense the care and concern in her voice and said, "The lady said that she knew Mei, but if its true, then how come she was not aware of her cancer? The timeline she claims does not add up. There was surprise on her face when I told her about Mei's death. I cannot shake the feeling that something is up with her.
That she is hiding something from me."
Han Lingshi frowned and said, "Probably you are thinking a bit too much. It could be that your sister hid the truth from her. There are many explanations."
Hao Ren thought about it and nodded. How could there be a secret?
...
Lady Hua came to her room after sending of Hao Ren, then she took out a piece of paper and wrote down a few words on it. Then she tore the paper into pieces and blew upon them before the paper fluttered away. The lady mumbled, "The thread of fate is entangled deeply, how would you deal with it."