Chapter 1846 - 1846
Liu Zhizhong was still going solo; he took a taxi and headed to King's College.
Because he knew it was a workday, Ma Xudong would be on campus.
Since he had a position in the International Politics Research Office and was an outstanding doctoral student, the college provided him with a dormitory for free.
On weekends, however, Ma Xudong still went home.
Back then, when his son was mixed up with Xiang Wenhua's daughter, Xiang Wenhua didn't blame him at all. Instead, he gave a large compensation, directly transferring fifty million US dollars from an overseas bank of the Xiang family.
You read it correctly; the Xiang family has an overseas bank!
The most powerful family in the Southern part of Eastern Pot, the Xiang family, has its own bank overseas, and it is virtually wholly owned. The foreign management team holds only 1% of the shares. The remaining 99% belong entirely to the Xiang family.
The assets of this bank have now exceeded 20 billion US dollars. So, just imagine, isn't that terrifying?
A powerful family can reach unimaginable levels of success. In Eastern Pot, while the common people are increasingly living in poverty, the special classes still worry neither about earning nor spending money.
Especially for a centennial family like the Xiang family, with ancestral merits and the hard work of descendants, their empire only grows bigger and bigger, without any issues at all.
Of course, there are also families with ancestral merits that have gradually declined and disappeared from the public eye, and there are many. But no matter what, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse, and the descendants of such families can live much better than ordinary people.
The Xiang family is wealthy and generous, so why worry if they only keep getting bigger?
Therefore, the compensation given to Ma Xudong was generous enough to allow him to live very well in England even after losing money from domestic corruption, with no worries for the rest of his life, right?
Yet, Ma Xudong only spent part of the money to buy a fairly old villa in the outskirts of London, renovated it, and lived there with his son.
On weekends, he would return to the villa. During weekdays, he stayed at the college.
This was something Liu Zhizhong was aware of before he lost contact with Ma Xudong.
After experiencing an anti-corruption case, Ma Xudong's pursuit of life was no longer about money. Anyway, he didn't have to worry about food and drink.
He focused on reading, studying, and research. His mental state changed, and his achievements were quite remarkable; he even became somewhat well-known in his circles. Meanwhile, his income was more than sufficient for the living expenses of him and his son.
His son was also a genius, winning scholarships every year at university! Moreover, Xiang Wenhua still considered him as family and deposited ten million US dollars for him in the bank, as a form of emotional bond between them.
You have to say, the Xiang family does things very generously!
Liu Zhizhong took a taxi to King's College and easily found Ma Xudong's dormitory.
It was a single, fully equipped dormitory for doctoral students, with three bedrooms, two living rooms, and a gym.
British people take education seriously! If you're talented, you rightfully receive good treatment.
Thus, Liu Zhizhong couldn't believe it was a student dormitory as he looked at the very ornate wooden door.
Moreover, this student apartment had only four floors and was equipped with two elevators!
Wow, talents really do get different treatments!
He rang the doorbell, and it was around 8 PM.
Ma Xudong came to open the door, and seeing a tall, handsome middle-aged man he didn't recognize at the door, he was dazed.
Before Liu Zhizhong, the former brother-in-law/easy-going uncle of the past Ma Xudong, had truly changed a lot!
Ma Xudong's skin even seemed more delicate, looking very much like a man in his early thirties, appearing so young.
Moreover, his figure was impeccably managed, tall, strong, and muscular.
In China, would you dare to think this is a man almost in his fifties?
Unsurprisingly, Liu Zhizhong mused to himself: from the air to the water to the food here, the standards are indeed high! With healthy diets and the promotion of fitness concepts, Ma Xudong has reached a new height in life.
Ma Xudong was somewhat puzzled, but he spoke fluent English, "Sir, who are you? What brings you here?"
Listening to such English, Liu Zhizhong couldn't help but sigh at the importance of a language environment!
He responded in English as well, "Secretary Ma, long time no see! It's an honor to visit you here. You might not remember who I am, but once we sit down and talk, you might recall some things."
Liu Zhizhong didn't use his original voice, so Ma Xudong really couldn't recognize him.
However, Ma Xudong thought this might be an old acquaintance from China. Many people knew him, so it was normal not to remember them.
Someone who calls him Secretary Ma in Britain must be special, right?
So, Ma Xudong hurriedly invited Liu Zhizhong into the room.
Ma Xudong's living room was also quite understated yet luxurious.
After they sat down, Liu Zhizhong took off his disguise, revealing the image of Chi Zhongshui.
Ma Xudong recognized him immediately and was shocked, "My God, President Chi Zhongshui, is it really you? My God, to meet such a young and magnificent president like you is truly fortunate."
Ma Xudong grasped Liu Zhizhong's hand and was genuinely excited.
In his research field, Chi Zhongshui was a hot topic! After all, Chi Zhongshui was a young politician who had led significant influential events in the recent international political landscape!
In Ma Xudong's current research project, there was indeed research on Chi Zhongshui.
Many other prominent international political science professors and experts worldwide were also studying Chi Zhongshui.
Some were researching Chi Zhongshui's political ideology, some his developmental trajectory, and others his influence on new political forms, etc.
In foreign countries, especially developed nations and regions, if you are willing to engage in research work, there are often funds available, making it feasible to carry out various projects.
With financial and treatment guarantees, researchers have no worries and don't have to attend meetings or learn how to ingratiate themselves. Their research outcomes are truly outstanding. Some results and people are beyond imagination, though many people don't understand them, yet they are useful for the development of humanity.
Scientific research promotes human progress, an irrefutable fact.
At this moment, meeting his research subject, Ma Xudong couldn't maintain his scholarly demeanor and was genuinely excited.
But who knew, Liu Zhizhong immediately switched to speaking Chinese...