Rebirth: Super Banking System Chapter 2359 - 2199: Totally Worth It

While Shi Ze enjoyed a conversation with a longtime acquaintance.

Europe.

Switzerland.

Zurich.

Tang Qing's plane descended gently onto the runway; the yearly Davos gathering had returned once more. In Switzerland at this moment, dawn was just breaking, following a brief pause in the snowfall that had lasted only two days.

Shortly afterward.

The motorcade pulled up to the historic castle estate.

"Haha!"

"At last, you've made it." Standing at the entrance, Ge Feng—the ever-enthusiastic party crasher—lifted his glass with a grin. He'd beaten Tang Qing there by a full day, and Mu Jian had tagged along for the excitement too.

Yet.

He left his family behind since the trip wasn't just for casual dining and talks; a serious agenda loomed as well. That evening, a modest assembly was set to occur right there.

Centered around Hummingbird associates.

As such.

No relatives tagged along.

...

"Brother Feng."

"Brother Mu."

Tang Qing beamed and offered his greetings.

At those words.

The pair inwardly marveled; despite his lofty position, he showed no trace of superiority and still called them by those familiar titles. Such modesty was indeed exceptional.

"Step inside and take a seat."

"Alright."

Once indoors.

The cozy blaze from the hearth chased away the chill right away; settling into chairs, they dove into discussions about recent happenings. Ge Feng passed his time playing with his children; heading to the office? That was unnecessary.

Handling tasks remotely from Ge Family Manor proved utterly delightful.

Mu Jian.

Had welcomed his second kid, now a month old. He occupied himself on his personal ranch, tending crops, watching over livestock, angling for fish—embracing a relaxed existence.

"..."

Upon reflection.

He noticed he was the most occupied of them all.

Fine.

Tang Qing felt no jealousy regardless. Should he crave that kind of routine, he could adopt it without delay, yet settling into idleness eluded him; responsibilities piled far too high.

Body relaxed.

Mind racing.

Either way.

Staying occupied suited him better; discovering moments of ease amid the hustle felt rather satisfying.

"You've really packed a lot into this year, eh!" Ge Feng remarked with a helpless chuckle, making him feel like a total slacker by contrast, forever idling about.

The year 2009.

Tang Qing had certainly stirred up a storm.

First off.

The Epoch second-generation device debuted, flying off shelves across the globe.

Secondly.

The "Civilization" franchise dropped three films, raking in almost 4 billion USD in ticket sales. Add in merchandise earnings, and it became a staggering cash cow, hauling in fortunes every single day.

Thirdly.

TikTok hit the scene.

These days.

It's exploded worldwide, with the international edition live. Even though ERV stepped in to snag a big chunk of the market, its triumph remains beyond question.

Fourth.

The Aircraft and Submersible left everyone in awe.

Fifth.

Wan Qing Mining staged a dramatic return, teaming up with steel sectors from over a dozen nations, diving into city-building fundraisers valued at hundreds of billions, and grabbing a massive slice from two key steel zones.

Before.

He'd doubted Wan Qing Mining's prospects; the burdens were excessively weighty. But today, admiration filled him completely, genuinely awed by Tang Qing's prowess. Sure, whispers of shady tactics lingered.

Still, triumphing.

Counts as talent.

Sixth.

...

Seventh.

...

Looking back on 2009, Ge Feng grasped just how much Tang Qing had accomplished, shaking things up massively. A fortune hitting 400 billion USD seemed almost surreal.

"Nothing special."

"Stay vigilant though—the tallest tree draws the gale." Ge Feng cautioned subtly.

Those words landed.

Tang Qing grinned.

"Got it."

He fully understood the implication; a Huaxia figure climbing to such heights—claiming Western powers ignored it would ring false.

Crackdowns.

Schemes.

Were bound to emerge soon.

Nevertheless.

That view belonged to Ge Feng; while the Ge Family stood as Europe's and America's premier Huaxia political-business clan, they lingered outside the consortium core, catching only glimpses.

In truth.

Concerning him.

Inside the consortium, debates swirled—some pushed to recruit him, others favored pressure, often testing alliances prior to any pushback.

Yet.

Such splits were rare.

Previously.

Pulling Gitti into the fold disrupted the 'agreement' on moves against Myanmar and its 'key figures,' Tang Qing included.

Remember.

From external eyes, ties between Tang Kai and Ling.

Thus.

Unavoidably, he fell under the 'pro-Myanmar' label too, clouding calls for action against him much like the Myanmar issue.

Consequently.

To this day.

No Western aggression has targeted him. Ge Feng's worries drew from 'past lessons,' while Tang Qing's assurance stemmed from mastery.

Now.

A fresh influencer has entered the Western consortiums; plotting against him wouldn't even secure agreement, much less execution.

To stir confusion.

Was that tough?

As their discussion flowed.

By the gate.

A discreet Maybach rolled up, and Yu Sheng emerged, straightening his attire before heading in. The previous night, Ge Feng and Mu Jian had dined at his home.

Though they skipped an overnight stay.

As a Zurich native, Yu Sheng wouldn't impose by seeking lodging there.

...

Come midday,

Ma Yun touched down via flight too. As a key Hummingbird investor, skipping the meetup was impossible, even if his timing lagged—he hadn't flown with Tang Qing.

Stepping out.

He once more marveled at the majestic old castle.

Regrettably.

Way too pricey.

He lacked Tang Qing's lavish streak, dropping fortunes merely for a handful of annual days. After linking up with Ge Feng and crew, Ma Yun exchanged warm hellos.

Taking seats.

Leisurely banter ensued.

Topics jumped around.

Eventually.

"How about a polar adventure next year!" Ge Feng suggested out of the blue, prompting Mu Jian to nod eagerly, "Excellent plan."

"I'm in."

Tang Qing had no objections.

Pure recreation!

"Haha, perfect—I'll handle the icebreaker rental, and we'll make it unforgettable." Ge Feng volunteered to foot the bill; the cost wouldn't dent much, capping at a billion at worst.

A small expense.

Leasing.

Not purchasing—shelling out a billion to host Tang Qing and pals, he'd dodge personal outlay and bill it to the family.

"I'll handle fuel costs."

Mu Jian chimed in once more.

His father-in-law dominated oil, so no real hit to his wallet.

"Food and beverages are on me," Tang Qing offered.

"..."

Off to the side.

Ma Yun gave a bitter laugh; these folks really knew extravagance, yet the idea appealed—a voyage through ice promised thrilling memories.

After a pause.

He added, "I'll manage my own share."

"Haha!"

"CEO Ma, your wit shines—glad to have you join."

"..."

...

That afternoon.

Fresh snow began drifting down. Thanks to invites, numerous partners had flocked to Zurich ahead of schedule, a few as early as a week prior, sightseeing in the interim.

Back today.

At the doorway.

Over a dozen black-suited guards rigorously scanned arrivals; plenty of attendees brought security, and some even included young heirs for worldly exposure.

Though their lineages impressed.

Still.

This occasion's caliber soared high, spanning dozens of nations with elite families from each, all formidable in their own right.

Normally.

Interactions stayed sparse.

This round.

Tang Qing linked them via Hummingbird, forging ties. Earlier, effects seemed subtle, but reviewing now.

The partnerships proved immensely valuable.

Amid everything.

The biggest gain lay not in Hummingbird itself or e-commerce ties, but in the expansive web of connections built around this venture.

Influence.

At home, they'd scaled summits, even swaying major policies, yet overseas sway remained limited.

Today.

This 'shortfall' could slowly fill.

Worthwhile.

Even operating in the red.

Remained worthwhile!

Deficit or not, they'd never allow Hummingbird to collapse.