Finding Cui Sanye was not difficult. Many locals, especially the older ones, would know him. If you asked them who the richest man in the Hexi River region was, they might not know about Anshi International or Ou Corporation, but they would unanimously say, "That would be Cui Sanye!"
Cui Sanye was not a nickname, but his actual name.
The innkeeper said that Cui Sanye's original name was Cui Sangu. In the 1960s, the upper part of the character "谷" (gǔ) was actually "父" (fù). Apparently, when Cui Sanye's father registered his household, the clerk made a typo and wrote "爷" (yé) instead of "谷". Cui Sanye only realized his official name was "Cui Sanye" when he received his ID card.
In Fan County, those familiar with Cui Sanye did not call him Sanye, but Sangu. This meant that people who knew him considered his name "Cui Sangu," while those who didn't and learned of him through official channels believed his name was "Cui Sanye." Therefore, Ping An and his companions, even if they found someone who knew Cui Sangu, might misunderstand and fail to find him because they used the name Cui Sanye.
After this misunderstanding, Ping An and the others realized why this "master" was so mysterious; people who didn't know him couldn't find him at all.
The innkeeper said that from the 1980s to around 2000, Cui Sanye was the biggest coal boss in the Hexi River region.
Indeed, in a resource-based city, it would be strange if the richest man wasn't a coal boss.
And Cui Sanye, as the richest man in the Hexi River region, was not just a title.
"At his peak, Cui Sanye owned fifteen coal mines. How rich was he? I remember one year, a bank president, arrogant and overbearing, bullied a small business owner. After getting drunk, he insisted that the business owner kneel and call him grandfather," the innkeeper said. "When Cui Sanye found out, the next day he ordered his accountant to withdraw all the money deposited in that bank—this was no small matter. I heard it eventually alerted the head office, who sent people to negotiate. It took them half a year to raise the funds. Reportedly, three banks were emptied to do it."
To be able to empty banks, how rich must he be? Even An Jing, who had witnessed wealth, couldn't help but stick out her tongue. This master was truly formidable.
After 2000, Cui Sanye responded to the government's call and handed over all his coal mines to the state at a very low price, setting a good example among coal bosses. After that, he was seen less and less, but people always said he was still in Hexi.
If he was so famous, why did no one recognize him?
Before 2000, the media was not as developed, and besides, this master never accepted interviews, so no one knew what he looked like.
After learning Cui Sanye's story, Ping An asked, "Then how do we find this... master!"
"Go look for coal bosses. That group of old coal bosses, wherever they usually gather, that's where you'll find him," the innkeeper said.
Leaving the restaurant, Ping An stared intently at the Fan County town before them, not saying a word.
"Brother, do you know where to look?" An Jing asked curiously.
"What do you think?" Ping An retorted.
"Former coal bosses were all billionaires. I'm not sure if they are in Hexi, but I doubt they're still in this small county town," An Jing said. "If I were one of those coal bosses, I'd buy a yacht and go traveling."
"That's what I'm thinking too. They're all getting on in years now; they're probably living in villas in tourist cities," Gao Xiaofei chimed in.
"How about this: we'll find a place to rest tonight, get up early tomorrow, and I'll take you to try our luck," Ping An said with a smile.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Ping An, pulling Gao Xiaofei and An Jing, headed straight for the old town of Fan County.
"Brother, do you know where to find that person?" An Jing asked happily, seeing Ping An's purposeful demeanor.
"No, I'm just taking you two for an authentic Fan County breakfast, and maybe trying our luck," Ping An said.
The three of them wandered through the narrow alleys of the old town, eventually arriving at a breakfast shop without a sign.
"This is it. I did some research overnight. Their lamb shaomai is the best in Fan County!" Ping An patted his stomach and led the way inside.
The breakfast shop looked like an old establishment, with old wooden plank tables for customers.
"Boss, three portions of lamb shaomai, three bowls of fermented rice soup!" After sitting down, Ping An called out in a familiar tone and then began to cautiously observe the surrounding customers.
The shaomai and fermented rice were served. An Jing and Gao Xiaofei ate with relish, but Ping An seemed distracted.
"What's wrong, brother? Eat up!" An Jing reminded him kindly.
"Oh, okay!" Ping An responded perfunctorily, picked up his bowl, and ate heartily.
After an authentic Fan County breakfast, Ping An and his companions settled the bill and prepared to leave. But as Ping An reached the door, he suddenly turned back and shouted into the shop, "I'll fuck your mother, Cui Sanye!"
Ping An's shout was sudden and caught everyone off guard, including a bald old man wearing a vest and slippers. Upon hearing Ping An's "greeting," he jumped up as if electrocuted and yelled, "I'll fuck your mother! Who are you? Get out here, who's cursing!"
The old man stepped forward. Ping An looked at the dumbfounded An Jing and Gao Xiaofei and said triumphantly, "I found him!"
It was probably only someone like Ping An who could think of such a way to find someone.
Ping An waited for the old man to vent his anger completely before obediently sitting down opposite him.
"Cui Sanye, it's really not easy to find you," Ping An said directly. "My name is Ping An..."
"Scram, I don't accept interviews." Cui Sanye, without even looking up, immediately cursed.
"Uh, it's not about interviews." Ping An was a little stunned. This master was truly a master.
"I don't participate in advertisements or events, not at all." Cui Sanye continued to eat his breakfast, preoccupied.
"It's not about those either. I mainly want to talk to you about something," Ping An said ingratiatingly, acting meek.
"Scram, I don't want to talk." Cui Sanye picked his nose, said firmly, and then ignored Ping An entirely.
This was the kind of person who could shut down a conversation in three sentences.
Ping An, having never suffered such a setback, was about to speak again when An Jing stopped him.
"Uncle..." An Jing sat down next to Cui Sanye and called out softly.
"Scram, I don't fall for the young woman's tricks!" Cui Sanye glanced at An Jing and continued to spew profanities.
Young woman?
An Jing froze for a long time. She looked down at her attire and exploded.
"Wait, wait, wait, I'll do it, I'll do it," Gao Xiaofei quickly pulled An Jing away before she could fly into a rage, then with a mischievous grin, sat next to Ping An. "Grandpa, are you eating breakfast!"
"Nonsense, are you here to eat shit?" Cui Sanye looked at the obese Gao Xiaofei with disgust and completely shut down any possibility of conversation.
Outside the small eatery, Ping An, An Jing, and Gao Xiaofei, the most capable people in Hexi City, were at a loss.
"Let's tie this old man up?" An Jing said angrily. "Find a secluded spot and deal with him slowly."
"Xiaofei, do you have handcuffs? Let's take him away!" Ping An said angrily as well.
" I know where this old man lives. I'll smash his windows sooner or later," Gao Xiaofei said through gritted teeth.
"I just had dinner with the Philippine Minister of Energy last month. Urge them again, and try to get the oil well infrastructure project done by the end of the year. The sea is different from the mainland, and overseas is different from domestic. All employees abroad will receive a bonus of 100,000 yuan at the end of the year, of course, in US dollars..."
"Foreigners are unreliable! Project number seven is finished, isn't it? Why are you letting that group take over? What do you mean? If I buy an island, whether it's for storage or tourism, it's up to me!"
Following the old man all the way and listening to him all the way, Ping An sincerely believed that the person before them was either crazy or the absolute richest man in Hexi.
They finally arrived at the old man's home. It looked like an ordinary farmhouse courtyard.
The courtyard gate was open. After the old man rode his bicycle in, Ping An and the others followed.
"Master, your physique is truly remarkable."
Watching Cui Sanye dismount his bicycle, Ping An, half-squatting and catching his breath, couldn't help but continue to flatter him.
"Hey, what exactly do you guys want by following me?" Cui Sanye looked at Ping An, slightly curious. "If you can't give me a good reason, I have dogs in my yard."
"Sanye, I told you my name is Ping An, a shareholder of Anshi International," Ping An said slowly after catching his breath. "I've come to talk to you about company matters today."
"Anshi? What connection do I have with Anshi?" Cui Sanye thought for a moment, waved his hand, and was about to release the dogs.
"Old man, you own eleven percent of Anshi's shares, didn't you forget?" An Jing got off the car, holding a stack of documents.
"I've been involved in many businesses in my life, who knows!" Cui Sanye looked at Ping An and An Jing suspiciously, took the stack of documents, and indeed found his name.
"Come in." After reading the documents, Cui Sanye finally stopped ordering them to leave.