Twenty-eight
But the closer Lin Weiping got to the company, the colder his heart became. Thinking back to Xiao Liang's previous attitude towards Lao Zhou—it was like an unyielding ox—she had suddenly turned on him. The reason was undoubtedly that a large sum of money was involved. Xiao Liang must be as prickly as a hedgehog now, wary of everyone. Moreover, he didn't know if Xiao Liang truly considered Lao Zhou the worst person in the world. What if it was just his youngest daughter's change of heart? The advice Lin Weiping had given her would be relayed to Lao Zhou, dragging her into trouble that had nothing to do with him, and possibly even dragging Shang Kun down with her. It seemed Lao Zhou was somewhat aware of Shang Kun's asset transfer before the divorce. If Lao Zhou used this as leverage, Shang Kun would have no choice but to remain silent, and might even have to sacrifice some of his own interests to appease Lao Zhou.
It seems the meeting with Xiao Liang later won't be easy. At the very least, I can't say anything definitively, and Xiao Liang has to draw his own conclusions. I can only guide him, not express my own opinions, and I have to speak in a way that resonates with him. I absolutely cannot leave him any leverage. But I can't break my promise to Lao Wang. It's difficult, very difficult.
Fortunately, Xiao Liang didn't wait listlessly in the company's open space. Instead, she leaned against the door of the general manager's office, her head tilted to the side. As soon as she heard footsteps, she looked up and practically rushed over to hug Lin Weiping's neck tightly. From her trembling body and the sounds coming from her nose, it was clear she was crying. Lin Weiping had never liked physical contact, especially with women he wasn't very familiar with. He hesitated for a long time, then reached out and gently patted Xiao Liang's shoulder, saying, "Let's talk inside. Calm down. Time is running out. Don't just keep crying." As he spoke, he practically dragged her onto the sofa in the room, saying nothing more than giving her a glass of water. Then he sat opposite her, quietly watching Xiao Liang slowly regain her composure.
People are all pretty much the same; the more you comfort her, the more aggrieved she feels, and once she starts crying, she can't stop. Letting her cry without saying anything is actually the best way to stop it sooner. Of course, if there's nothing urgent waiting around, then it's fine to comfort her; crying it out is like a psychological release, while suppressing it might lead to cancer.
At this moment, nothing is better than being straightforward. Seeing that Xiao Liang had the time and energy to reach for the cup, Lin Weiping knew that Xiao Liang's grief had come to an end. He then said directly, "You agreed to meet at three o'clock in the afternoon to hear the lawyer read the will. It's a little past one now. Including the time it takes you to get to your father's company, you have at most half an hour left."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Liang swayed, glanced at his watch involuntarily, and cried out hoarsely, "Sister, since you know, why don't you come with me? I can't handle such a big scene at all, and I don't know how to pack up the things Dad might give me. Wouldn't I have to rely on Lao Zhou again then? I know he's just waiting for me to run out of options and come to him again. No, I can't let him have his way."
Lin Weiping thought to himself: Is this just a fit of pique, or have you truly seen through Lao Zhou's character, or perhaps you don't even know yourself? Hmm, the latter is most likely. A girl who has just lost her father, and whose former lover has now revealed his true colors, is impossible to calm down and think things through. At this moment, she's like a drowning person, clinging to whatever she can. If the person being clung to doesn't make a decision, she might even lose herself. Lin Weiping couldn't readily agree or refuse Xiao Liang's request, so he evaded the issue, saying, "Lao Guan, uh, since your father thought of making a will two years ago, he must have considered it carefully. In these two years, he must have made some revisions to the will after much deliberation. He wouldn't be unaware of the distribution of his assets, nor would he ignore your abilities, Mrs. Guan's abilities, and other factors. So just listen today; your father will definitely have a good arrangement. But this is only the first step."
Xiao Liang rolled his eyes with difficulty, thought for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "Yes, Dad knows me very well, actually better than I know myself." Of course, Xiao Liang would not have admitted this just a day ago.
Lin Weiping nodded and said, "That's good. The contents of a will are nothing more than the division of property. I dare not say how much your father will give you, but I believe he will not treat you unfairly. That's beside the point; there's no point in saying more now. It all depends on your father's consideration. Then, the next thing is how you handle the property you get. In any case, even though it's Sunday and your father's company can't deposit or withdraw money from its bank account, Lao Zhou's decision to freeze all the company's finances was correct. Regardless of what happened before or after today, Lao Zhou's actions today objectively helped you a lot." Lin Weiping subtly left herself a loophole here, saying a few good words for Lao Zhou. That way, even if Xiao Liang's mind changed later and she reconciled with Lao Zhou, she would have something to say now, so neither Xiao Liang nor Lao Zhou could blame her.
Xiao Liang refused to accept this reality, stubbornly saying, "Him? Don't mention him. Sister, tell me what I should do?"
Lin Weiping smiled and said, "If your father gives you cash and real estate, that's the best thing to do. You know what that means. If he gives you a factory or something, you should first see if you have the ability to take over such a large enterprise. Note that it must be taken over independently. It's like ruling an empire. If you rely on someone else, you'll be a puppet, and you could be replaced at any time, or even... anything could happen."
Xiao Liang replied without hesitation, "No, I can't control that."
Lin Weiping looked at her and smiled, "Not having done it before doesn't mean you can't do it well. Don't underestimate yourself."
Xiao Liang blurted out, "No, I actually observe your words and actions every day, summarizing them again and again when I get home. I know I'm nowhere near your level, and besides, many of your words and actions are things I couldn't have guessed at all. I'm self-aware."
Lin Weiping was shocked upon hearing this. She had always thought Xiao Liang was Shang Kun's spy, and had been observing Xiao Liang's every word and action. So that was Xiao Liang's purpose! She had misunderstood her, and also misunderstood Shang Kun. No wonder Lao Guan, who knew his daughter best, would lower himself to ask for her help in a critical moment. In Xiao Liang's eyes, she was probably some kind of idol. Besides surprise, she also felt a sense of pride.
Seeing her silence, Xiao Liang assumed she was angry and quickly explained, "I'm not a voyeur, really not. I just did it for fun, posting my experiences of taking over Liao Huizheng's mess in diary form on a password-protected site called S. It became incredibly popular, everyone kept asking me to write more, and they all loved the persona of you. So I was stuck, submitting my work every day. The more I wrote, the more I enjoyed it. When I analyzed what I wrote, I realized I'd only seen the surface. That's how I gradually learned to analyze. The more I analyzed, the more I admired you, and the more afraid I became. But when this happened today, you were the first person I thought of. I believed you would help me. When you agreed to help, I immediately felt relieved. I'll listen to whatever you say, really."
Lin Weiping was stunned again. Such unwavering trust—she couldn't even remember the last time she'd shown it to anyone. Perhaps she'd always been complicated-minded, never truly opening her heart to anyone. Even now, with Shang Kun, though she knew he was good to her, she remained wary, fearing this and that. She imagined Shang Kun felt the same way. She didn't know whether to envy Xiao Liang or worry about her. She felt it wasn't right to still hold back with Xiao Liang at this time, but after much deliberation, she abandoned the impulsive thought. Yes, she already had a reputation for being experienced and composed; a sudden impulse would likely be unforgivable, seen as a lapse in judgment, and she might be caught red-handed. Xiao Liang, on the other hand, wouldn't be taken seriously; people wouldn't care about her impulsiveness, and she could act freely. People are just different; getting angry won't help. Ultimately, character determines destiny.
Suppressing his impulsiveness, he continued steadily, following his own train of thought: "Since you don't know how to take over management, the only remaining options are contracting or asset transfer. And the sooner you do these, the better, because a company can't be ownerless for long. The longer it's ownerless, the more chaotic it becomes, and the less favorable the price will be. Between contracting and transfer, I favor transfer—it's a clean break. You lack experience managing manufacturing companies and won't understand the intricate losses that contracting can cause, making it impossible to prepare in advance. Even those familiar with manufacturing company management can't understand the operations of other industries, so they'd be confused when they first took over, let alone you. Regarding the transfer, your father's will might have restrictions, such as giving priority to your stepmother under equal conditions. As long as the conditions are suitable, you don't need to object." Lin Weiping believed that with Old Wang's powerful methods, he wouldn't let Xiao Liang's assets be transferred to Mrs. Guan. He was happy to speak impartially and fairly, simply guiding Xiao Liang towards the transfer. However, to be fair, the transfer was indeed the most reasonable solution for Xiao Liang. Otherwise, Lin Weiping would have been unable to do it if he hadn't been honest with her.
Xiao Liang wanted to speak, but Lin Weiping stopped him with a light press of his hand. "Time is tight, just listen to me, we can think about it on the way. If it's a transfer, your father may have already specified the price of your share in his will. If not, that's okay. The simplest way is to look at the financial statements for this month, find the fixed assets, see how much it is, and then add a reasonable percentage. If you want to be more precise, you can find an accounting firm to do an appraisal for you, and then it's up to you to decide."
Xiao Liang couldn't help but interrupt hastily, "What is this percentage?"
Lin Weiping laughed and said, "You can argue right now that you've been shortchanged, that your stepmother got much more than you deserved, and Mrs. Guan will definitely give you a good answer. Alright, time's up, you should get going. I won't see you off; I'm going to the docks. If you can't decide on something, you can say so now and we'll discuss it later. Go on, be brave and strong. You are your father's daughter, and everything you have is what you deserve."
Xiao Liang jumped up as if on cue, stood there stunned for a long time, then suddenly came up and hugged Lin Weiping, who was slowly getting up, before vowing, "I will never be bad, but I will report to you whenever I have the chance."
Lin Weiping smiled and reminded him, "Remember to call me away from everyone else, otherwise if people find out I'm your advisor, I don't rule out the possibility of being bribed and betrayed by someone." Although it was said in jest, he believed it would definitely have an effect on Xiao Liang, who was currently feeling very prickly.
Xiao Liang nodded and said, "No, I'll go now. Thank you so much, sister." She then hurried away. Lin Weiping listened to her fading footsteps, feeling a pang of guilt. Although her words to Xiao Liang today weren't meant to harm her, but rather to benefit her, there was still an element of using her. Yet, Xiao Liang seemed to trust her so much as her sister, making her own thoughts seem incredibly impure, even somewhat dark. When, when did the sunshine begin to leave her heart?
Xiao Liang practically ran into her father's company's conference room. Although it was her father's business, she had always been resentful, and this was the first time she had come here in person. All the way, she kept thinking about Lin Weiping's words, which lessened her sorrow considerably. Who says there's no affection in wealthy families? What outsiders don't know is that affection isn't absent from childhood; rather, it's worn away by the constant scheming and infighting. Having genuine feelings becomes an anomaly. This might be why Lao Guan grew increasingly fond of Xiao Liang. Looking around, he saw only one family member who was truly sincere towards him, although this sincerity was something he couldn't bear, as it was always expressed through sidelong glances.
Upon entering, they saw a large, hollow round table, around which everyone sat, their expressions mostly serious. Seeing Shang Kun, Xiao Liang suddenly remembered seeing him at the hospital in the early morning; he was with Lin Weiping, and the two seemed quite intimate. Her father had once said that Uncle Shang was a reliable person. Did that mean Sister Lin had found the right person? That was truly wonderful.
Just as she was about to find a seat, a person suddenly darted out from behind her, reaching the round table a step ahead of her. The person was about forty years old. He didn't sit down; instead, he leaned on the table, panting. Old Wang immediately said to Shang Kun, "What is Bai Yue'er doing here? Who called her?"
Shang Kun shook his head and said, "I don't know. Either Mrs. Guan asked her to come, or Old Zhou asked her. There's no reason for it. Just wait and see."
Bai Yue'er looked around the room before saying, "Hmph, Lao Zhou, what's all the fuss about? Last night, when someone woke you up in the middle of the night, you were even smiling. Do you think I didn't know? It must have been one of your lovers asking for your help. So there really are beauties here. Mrs. Guan, don't take it personally, I wasn't talking about you." She then glanced at Xiao Liang. "Who are you?"
Even someone as dense as Xiao Liang could tell that this was Old Zhou's wife, Bai Yue'er, a notoriously jealous woman. Not long ago, Lin Weiping had suffered an undeserved calamity because of her. Seeing her interrogating him as if no one else was around, he immediately retorted without hesitation, "Who are you? Besides those involved in the will and the three old friends entrusted by my father, who invited you here?"
Bai Yue'er sneered, "I understand now. So you possess the wealth and lust that Old Zhou loves most. No wonder he's so enthusiastic about them. Let me tell you how your father made these three friends. A few years ago, they went on a tour to Southeast Asia together. Everyone else in the group was fine, but these four brothers insisted on going to see striptease shows and finding the dancers at night. That's how they got together, sharing the same filthy tastes. You think they're some kind of upright gentlemen? They..."
Old Wang glanced at Old Zhou, and seeing that Old Zhou was clenching his fists and remaining silent, he whispered to Shang Kun, "Was it Mrs. Guan who sent this to make things difficult for us? To tell us not to speak or make any moves?"
Shang Kun thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It doesn't seem like it. But it would be best if Mrs. Guan had called him; things would be easier then." At this moment, he could already sense that a storm was brewing. Old Wang's face froze upon hearing this, turning ashen.
Seeing Bai Yue'er's incessant chatter, Mrs. Guan slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "My husband's body is barely cold, it's none of your business how he is treated. Originally, I respected you as the wife of my husband's old friend and didn't want to say anything, but now that you've treated my husband so badly, I no longer consider you a friend. Please leave within ten seconds, or I'll have someone throw you out."
The Guan brothers, who had been standing at the door, immediately rushed over and flanked Bai Yue'er. Bai Yue'er panicked. Seeing that Old Zhou had no intention of comforting her, and realizing that she was a woman and couldn't afford to suffer any more, she had no choice but to slink away. However, her outburst undoubtedly created a rift in the hearts of Old Wang and Shang Kun, and also made them more wary.
Xiao Liang was stunned. She never imagined her well-dressed father and old friend would be like this. The stepmother, knowing her husband died in a car accident with another woman, was still fiercely defending him, showing she was used to it. No wonder Old Zhou's wife acted so outrageously; she was a successful career woman and couldn't stand being treated like this. But did Sister Lin know that Shang Kun was this kind of person? There's a saying: "Keep your eyes open before marriage." Yes, she had to tell Sister Lin, to help her see things clearly and avoid being taken advantage of. So later, when she had some time, she secretly sent Lin Weiping a text message, detailing Bai Yue'er's disturbance and her words.
Lin Weiping received the text message and pondered it for a moment. Who could have invited Bai Yue'er? Was it Old Guan's wife? It didn't seem likely. Judging from Xiao Liang's description, if Bai Yue'er had been invited by Old Guan's wife, why would she tolerate being humiliated in front of everyone instead of publicly exposing Old Guan's wife? However, it couldn't be ruled out that Old Guan's wife had subtly let her know about the gathering through other means. Bai Yue'er was intelligent enough to figure it out indirectly. If that was the case, Mrs. Guan was an extremely shrewd and capable person, and Xiao Liang's situation was truly precarious. Thinking this, Lin Weiping replied to Xiao Liang: "Mind your own business, don't act impulsively, stick to the established plan, avoid problems you can't solve for now, and deal with them later."
But after putting down her phone, Lin Weiping's thoughts drifted back to that message. Bai Yue'er's arrival was so precise; someone with ulterior motives must have informed her, and Lao Zhou couldn't be ruled out either. But by doing this, she had also gotten herself involved and exposed by Bai Yue'er. Was there any benefit in that? She thought about it for a long time but couldn't come to a conclusion. Lin Weiping's thoughts inevitably returned to the matter of the four brothers' pursuit of pleasure in Southeast Asia. She had been trying to avoid it, but found her mind too chaotic to avoid it. Of course, she knew that middle-aged men's pasts weren't completely clear, but thinking about it was one thing, saying it was another. Even if she knew perfectly well that when men first became rich, they wanted to try everything with their money, like going to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand to see pole dancing or gambling heavily in Macau, she still couldn't accept that this had happened to Shang Kun, and that she had found out. She tried to suppress her frustration, but couldn't resist picking up her phone and forwarding Xiao Liang's message to Shang Kun. After sending the message, she remembered Shang Kun's joking remark, "Xiao Lin, don't you think you're really good to me now?" Was this what they called being blinded by concern? Logically, even if he wanted to delve deeper into the matter with Shang Kun, he shouldn't have done it now. There was no guarantee that Shang Kun wouldn't lose his temper and harm Xiao Liang on the spot. Besides, it wasn't convenient for him to call and defend himself now; it was clearly a situation where Xiao Liang would suffer in silence. Lin Weiping wasn't without regret after sending the message, but not sending it would have made him even more depressed. After sending it, however, he felt a sense of unease. Was he afraid Shang Kun would admit it, or afraid he would call and complain? He didn't know. His mind was a mess. He couldn't continue with the dock business, and since he hadn't received a reply from Shang Kun, he had no choice but to drive home.
Shang Kun received Lin Weiping's text message. He frowned as he read it, knowing without asking that it must have been Xiao Liang's well-intentioned but misguided act. He nonchalantly turned off his phone, glancing at Lao Zhou. He was now certain that Lao Zhou had sent Bai Yue'er to warn him and Lao Wang beforehand, to prevent them from ruining his plans and to make them understand that even small matters he possessed could be damaging. However, he was afraid of openly angering Lao Wang, so he only dared to subtly provoke his wife into causing a scene in front of everyone, embarrassing them and implicating himself as well. This way, no one would suspect him, and he could easily absolve himself of responsibility, shifting all blame to Bai Yue'er. But wasn't he afraid of ruining his own reputation and losing face in front of Xiao Liang? Didn't he need Xiao Liang's favor? This was the only thing Shang Kun couldn't understand. Unbeknownst to Shang Kun, the relationship between Lao Zhou and Xiao Liang had reached a stalemate. He was now forced to use any means necessary to sever Xiao Liang's connection with Shang Kun and Lao Wang, leaving Xiao Liang with no one to rely on and ultimately forcing him to return to his embrace.
Seeing the lawyer reading a notarized document, Shang Kun pulled Lao Wang aside and quietly voiced his doubts. Lao Wang listened, stared at the ceiling for a moment, and then said softly, "Since you're willing to state this, you must think it's almost certainly correct. I trust you most in this regard. Damn it." Shang Kun quickly kicked him under the table. Lao Wang immediately realized this wasn't the time to get angry, straightened up, but didn't even glance at Lao Zhou. The two of them each sent a text message, then smiled at each other and listened attentively as the lawyer got to the point.
On his way home, Lin Weiping's phone rang, startling him so much that he almost jumped. He quickly pulled over and parked before answering, only to find it was an unfamiliar number. Lin Weiping could almost hear the sigh of disappointment in his own heart. He answered, and it was John Chen calling. Lin Weiping had almost impulsively accepted John's invitation to dinner. After hanging up, he was subtly shocked: Why did he care so much about Shang Kun?
Old Guan's will was extremely detailed, specifying who received how much, what each portion was for, and its value—almost everything was crystal clear, leaving his family with virtually no reason to argue or fight. He also distributed the inheritance fairly, even considering the brothers who had helped him build his empire. However, they received cash, not shares. Old Guan explained in the will that he feared such a dispersed distribution would lead to infighting. Everyone was deeply grateful for this windfall, and given the traditional belief that death is a great loss, their respect for Old Guan only grew stronger, and they were eager to help him support his new leader.
After the lawyer finished reading, everyone remained silent. It turned out they hadn't been unprepared for a fight. Although no one spoke before the reading, the atmosphere was tense enough that even the most obtuse person could sense it. But Lao Guan's considerations were so thorough that they were practically impeccable. Anyone who dared to voice their dissent would likely be killed by the others' glares.
The tense atmosphere was first broken by Lao Zhou's phone ringing. Everyone saw him listen for only a few seconds before his expression changed drastically, and he looked towards the corner where Lao Wang and Shang Kun were sitting. Lao Zhou, after all, felt guilty and ultimately dared not sit next to his two old friends who knew his character well. Seeing this, Shang Kun immediately asked Lao Wang in a low voice, "What did you do?"
Old Wang didn't turn his head, but looked at Old Zhou with a grin and said softly, "I just had someone follow Bai Yue'er to her house and smash some of her windows. I don't hit women. What about you? You should have sent out some text messages too."
Shang Kun smiled slightly: "My method takes a bit longer, so it might not be effective until tomorrow. You know, Lao Zhou makes several containers a day on average. If a few of them run into trouble with customs or inspection and delay his contract delivery time for a month or two, how would he feel? But I'll let him wait two or three days and see how he performs. I can't bring myself to take someone's job."
Old Wang chuckled and said, "You're more cunning and ruthless than me."
Shang Kun smiled, but didn't look at Lao Zhou again. He got up and walked towards Mrs. Guan, beckoning Xiao Liang over to talk. As he approached, Mrs. Guan said, "Mr. Shang, I really didn't call Bai Yue'er just now."
Shang Kun smiled and said, "It couldn't be you. A professor-level woman should have some class, but she's ruined by certain people. Enough said. We were talking around the table earlier, that's for formal occasions. Now that the will has been read, the family should sit closer and talk things out. Xiao Liang, bring a chair over and sit down. The brothers who fought alongside Lao Guan are no different from family, so sit down too. I'd like to say a few more words."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Guan burst into tears. She had been holding back her tears since entering the meeting room, but now, after hearing Shang Kun's words, she felt as if he had taken all her grievances and confusion upon himself, and she felt much lighter. Her crying also made Xiao Liang cry, but he managed to suppress it as well, restraining himself in front of everyone, only managing to wipe away his tears.
Shang Kun sat down and said, "First, no one should ask me how Lao Guan died. When judging a person, look at their character. Second, the family has been divided, and the property rights are each in their own hands. But Xiao Liang must remember that you have a half-sister in this world. Her mother was also your elder. Now that Lao Guan is gone, you should work together even more and not fight amongst yourselves." As he spoke, he looked intently at Xiao Liang and Mrs. Guan.
After all, Mrs. Guan was an experienced woman. She reached out and took Xiao Liang's hand, saying, "Yes, your father took care of you before, so I didn't pay much attention to your affairs. If you need anything in the future, just come to me. Your sister likes you very much. After all, you are related by blood. Come and see her often. She is still young and needs care. Perhaps it will be easier for us to get through this sad period together."
Xiao Liang hadn't had a proper conversation with Mrs. Guan before, and hearing her sincerity, she was touched. She quickly said, "Auntie, I understand. I was young and impetuous before and didn't know how to be tolerant. You'll have to keep an eye on me in the future." She was straightforward and didn't know how to be tactful, so she simply laid out her thoughts directly: "Auntie, Uncle Shang, and Uncle Wang are all here, so I'll just say what I'm thinking right here. Before I came, I was already thinking that if my father handed the company over to me, I definitely wouldn't be able to manage it. I want to transfer my shares as soon as possible, and I'm here to ask for your opinions."
Shang Kun was a little surprised, but then he realized that it might be the result of Lin Weiping's guidance. He then said, "This was originally the third point I wanted to make. When Old Master Guan was still alive, Mrs. Guan was already managing these two companies, but Xiao Liang has no experience at all. I originally wanted to ask everyone to suggest suitable and reliable candidates to assist Xiao Liang on the spot today, but Xiao Liang's own idea is also one of the solutions. Let's see what Mrs. Guan thinks first."
Mrs. Guan wasn't surprised. She still held Xiao Liang's hand and said slowly, "I've considered your idea before. I was also worried that I wouldn't be able to hold on and decided to transfer the shares to live a quiet life. But my brothers woke me up, saying that if I transferred them, I would be too idle and would overthink things at home, making life even harder. So I thought I'd hold on for another year and see. I hope my husband's spirit in heaven can bless me. As for you, you're supporting such a big situation on your own. Although your father's friends are all kind-hearted people, it's unrealistic to expect them to take time out of their busy schedules to help you all the time. I don't think there's anything wrong with your consideration of transferring the shares."
Xiao Liang nodded repeatedly, choking back tears, and said, "Auntie, I now realize that I misunderstood you so much before. I feel much more at ease with your support. According to my father's will, if you need anything, I will give you priority in transferring the property. I would feel most at ease if it were transferred to you."
Mrs. Guan waved her hand wearily and said, "No, I haven't even settled into my own business yet, how could I dare to take out funds for acquisition? Besides, I don't have that much capital at my disposal. Moreover, your father's division of assets was very clever, and it was probably something he had carefully considered. Although my piece and your piece are both building materials, the raw materials are completely different. I am only familiar with my piece and do not want to expand into other industries for the time being, but I will find a good buyer for you."
Taking the opportunity, Shang Kun said to Lao Wang, "Since Xiao Liang has made up his mind, you, as his uncle, shouldn't sit idly by. You must know a lot of people in the building materials industry, so you should take on most of the task. With you as the middleman, the transaction will be easier to manage."
Old Wang naturally understood Shang Kun's meaning and hurriedly said, "Give me three days. If I don't find a buyer within three days, I'll buy Xiao Liang's company myself. Anyway, I always got my building materials from Lao Guan before I built houses, so I don't have to worry about sales. I should be able to manage it well."
Shang Kun glared at him, thinking he was too hasty and his words were too obvious. He glanced at Lao Zhou and saw that Lao Zhou's expression had changed drastically as he stood outside the circle. So he tried to smooth things over, still a little worried that Lao Zhou might do something too outrageous. "Lao Zhou and I have no connection with these industries, but we do know a few people. We'll ask around later. Lao Guan has already given a rough price. Xiao Liang, you need to get someone to estimate a precise price in the next few days. You need to hurry. Lao Zhou is thoughtful; he's sealed all the accounts beforehand. Now, Xiao Liang, you don't need to rest. Mrs. Guan should send someone with her to the finance department of her company to complete the handover, just in case anything goes wrong. Although it's going to be transferred, Xiao Liang still needs to sign off on the operations for the next few days. It would be best if Mrs. Guan also sent a reliable person to guide her. With all the big shots here, let's decide on the candidate here."
Once the dust had settled, Shang Kun and Lao Wang followed Lao Zhou out. Lao Wang couldn't help but tease, "Kun, I've certainly experienced your nagging today. No wonder all the ladies are looking for you; there's a reason for it now."
Shang Kun glanced at Lao Wang, and seeing that Lao Zhou was far away, he shook his head and said softly, "You, I've helped you so much and you don't appreciate it at all. Forget it, you heartless bastard. I need to go and explain to Xiao Lin right now. Xiao Liang sent her all of Bai Yue'er's words. I didn't even turn on my phone for you, and now look what I'm getting, being laughed at by you."
Old Wang was stunned. He stopped by the car and thought for a long time before finally saying "Oh," and slapping his forehead. "You're much more cunning than me. I understand now. Your mediation between Lao Guan's wife and Xiao Liang was mainly to isolate Lao Zhou, so that Xiao Liang wouldn't fall into Lao Zhou's trap again if she couldn't find anyone to talk to, and my plan would be hopeless. You really are a master of indirect methods. No wonder my old man said that if you went into politics, he would definitely promote you. You have a bright future. It's a real pity you're not an official."
Shang Kun got into his car and laughed, "I'm no good at being an official. I'm not ruthless enough, and I'm not thick-skinned enough. For example, I'm already thinking that I've already caused enough trouble for Lao Zhou. I was originally going to tamper with his containers, but now I think I'll pass. He didn't get any benefit from it anyway. You go back and remember my kindness. Find me a nice new house; I need it."
Old Wang laughed and said, "A wedding room? No problem. I'll give you the top two floors of a luxury apartment that's already topped out. I originally wanted to live there myself. The layout is specially designed, so I'll just decorate it and hand it over to you."
Shang Kun laughed, "Wedding room, my foot! Xiao Lin is probably seething with resentment towards me right now. He hasn't even turned on his phone. If my wife leaves, he'll come after you. By the way, I don't need you to do the renovations. I'll handle it myself. I think Xiao Lin's ideas are a bit different from others." With that, he waved and drove off like a shot. Usually, it was Old Wang who would be in the lead.
Old Wang couldn't help but chuckle: These two, they rose to prominence because of their phones, and they fell because of their phones. It seems Shang Kun really fell for Lin Weiping's spell.
Chapter
Twenty-nine
Lin Weiping entered the private room she had arranged with John and discovered that she wasn't the only one there. John, Waldo, and his former subordinates filled the table with twelve people. Waldo sat at the head of the table, John to his right, and to his left sat a middle-aged man she didn't recognize. The former subordinates were seated in clearly defined groups: three remained with the company, and five had switched jobs to Lin Weiping's team. Only one seat was reserved for Lin Weiping, to John's right. Lin Weiping knew immediately from the group that this was a trap.
John said as soon as she entered, "Lin, let me introduce you to someone, Fang Ye, the company's current vice president. He was recommended by Mr. Waldo's classmate when he was studying in the United States. He used to work in our industry in Guangzhou, so it's a perfect fit for him. He got the hang of everything right away."
Seeing that Fang Ye didn't react to John's words, Lin Weiping immediately realized that Fang Ye's English was probably not very good, or at least his listening comprehension was poor. He smiled and said, "How wonderful, with a local talent helping you, John, you're like a tiger with wings." As he spoke, he only glanced at Fang Ye, ignoring him.
Fang Ye immediately whispered to him about Lin Weiping's identity. He quickly stood up, handed over his business card, and said, "Mr. Lin, I've heard so much about you. I'm new here, and I hope you'll give me some guidance in the future." Once he stood up, it became clear that he was good-looking, had a tall and straight figure, and was dressed appropriately, looking like a worldly white-collar worker.
Lin Weiping exchanged business cards with him before sitting down, smiling slightly. "Mr. Fang, you're too kind. If I were still with the company, you'd be my superior, and I'd need your guidance. What company did you work for in Guangzhou before?" As he spoke, he thought to himself, "Less than a year, and the changes are enormous. My status, position, and even the wealth I've accumulated have all risen to unprecedented heights. Come to think of it, I really have to thank Shang Kun for the opportunity." But then, thinking about Shang Kun, Lin Weiping's heart softened, and he took out his phone and turned it on.
Fang had been observing Lin Weiping's demeanor and behavior. From the moment she appeared at the door, he found her incredibly charming. He couldn't understand how a company in heavy industry could produce a woman of such caliber. Before coming, he had inquired about Lin Weiping and learned that she was now the CEO of a company of similar size, which reassured him that she wouldn't return to take his job. Upon meeting her, however, he was instantly captivated and felt somewhat inferior, especially seeing Lin Weiping and John communicate directly without a translator. When she asked him something, he replied, "I used to work in Panyu, mainly in sales."
Lin Weiping laughed and said, "That's Mr. Lin's company. I just met with him in the north after the Spring Festival. His sales policies are very flexible. Everyone says that their sales team can conquer any stronghold. Mr. Fang, I'm starting to feel worried about you joining my former company."
The words had barely left his mouth when the door was flung open, and a panting girl entered. Upon seeing her, Waldo immediately said curtly, "Girl, you're late again." The girl quickly and obsequiously sat down between Waldo and Fang Ye. Lin Weiping thought, "This must be the translator." Sure enough, when Fang Ye answered Lin Weiping, she began translating, "Mr. Lin, you're actually joking. Although our two companies' products look similar, they're positioned in different markets, so there's not much market conflict."
Lin Weiping laughed and said, "Of course, that's on the premise that I always stick to the high-end market. But as you know, it's lonely at the top. If there's a big project coming up, I'll still put aside my pride and get a big contract so I can enjoy a few months of peace and comfort." As she finished speaking, Lin Weiping noticed a slight misunderstanding in the translation; she wasn't sure what "high-end" and "lonely at the top" meant, but she let it go and just smiled at the translator.
Fang, being a shrewd person, quickly realized she was referring to the major municipal project about to be put out to tender. They had come today to discuss two things with Lin Weiping: first, to recruit some technical personnel—those present—and second, the tendering process itself. Unexpectedly, Lin Weiping preemptively stated his intentions, leaving Fang unable to subtly persuade him to give up; this was no trivial matter. It was only then that Fang realized Lin Weiping was no pushover.
John was a little confused by the translator's words, so he asked, "Lin, what do you mean by 'big contract'?" Fang secretly cheered at his question, unaware that John's mistake was a fluke due to a translation error; he thought John was feigning ignorance. Considering John's past actions, Lin Weiping couldn't be too harsh. If John continued to play dumb, it would put Lin Weiping in a very awkward position.
Lin Weiping looked at John and smiled, "Your translation is wrong. My original meaning was this and that." She repeated what she had said, "Now you should understand." The translator blushed immediately, unsure whether to translate or not.
John naturally understood her meaning, and Waldo knew it too; neither of them were fools. Waldo went straight to the point: "Miss Lin, in your opinion, who has a better chance of winning the government tender between us?"
Lin Weiping felt that although Waldo was arrogant, his demeanor was still aggressive, and he needed to be prepared: "There's no winner or loser here. The winner has nothing to be happy about, because the price will definitely be driven down due to this competition, and the profit margin won't be as good as other contracts. The losers can take advantage of the winners' busy work to seize the market that the winners usually occupy and snatch up their advantageous customers. For products like ours that are highly localized, the profit might not necessarily be lower than the winners'. Who wins and who loses is a matter of opinion." Lin Weiping didn't want to continue the conversation, so he simply smiled and said in both Chinese and English: "Goodness, so many dishes have been served, I've been so busy talking that I haven't even taken a bite. I'm really letting down Mr. Waldo's hospitality."
Seeing this, everyone had no choice but to stop.
Lin Weiping had only taken a few bites when Shang Kun called, as expected, indicating that he had been dialing every now and then. "Where are you? I couldn't find you at your house."
Lin Weiping suppressed a mix of joy and annoyance and said calmly, "Having dinner with people from my old company."
Shang Kun knew he had to persist relentlessly, so he laughed and said, "How lucky you are! I'm starving downstairs at your place. I probably caught a cold last night on the highway, and I'm a little dizzy. I was thinking of asking you for a bowl of ginger soup. Which restaurant are you at? I'll come over right away for a bite."
Lin Weiping thought for a moment before saying, "There are already thirteen people at our table. Why don't you come over and I'll book another table for you to eat at by yourself? It's the restaurant where you treated me to late-night snacks before."
This restaurant was one of Shang Kun's strongholds. Normally, Lin Weiping wouldn't need to make a reservation; it wouldn't be a problem if there weren't any tables available. However, since he was going to great lengths to establish a connection with Lin Weiping, he naturally wanted to sit at the table she had reserved, so he readily agreed. Lin Weiping put down the phone and said to the waitress next to her, "Please reserve a table for me, just for one person. When he arrives, serve him some ginger and brown sugar noodle soup. I'll pay the bill."
Fang had been watching Lin Weiping closely. He noticed a slight change in her expression and tone when she answered the phone, although her face remained calm throughout. He sensed that the caller must have an unusual relationship with her. Seeing her put down her phone, he raised his glass and said, "I've been talking so much that I haven't had a chance to toast you, Ms. Lin. It's a pleasure to meet you today. Since I joined this company, I've seen traces of you everywhere, and I've often heard people talk about you. I've always wanted to meet you, and it's an honor to do you the honor of drinking this glass with me today."
Lin Weiping knew that if he kept drinking like this, his old subordinates would all come to toast him one by one. He couldn't just drink one and not another; if he drank so much, he'd be at a disadvantage when he met Shang Kun later. The others were manageable now, but Shang Kun was the most difficult to deal with, and he couldn't let alcohol cloud his judgment. He quickly smiled and said, "Thank you, Mr. Fang. I'll treat you to drinks privately sometime. It's not convenient today, so I'll serve tea instead. Please feel free to drink as you like." He then took a sip of tea himself. This Fang was too smooth-talking. Even if he had joined the company on the same day as John, it had only been less than a week. How could he make such a claim?
Fang looked at her thoughtfully, smiled, tilted his head back and downed his drink, saying, "Okay, I'll remember what President Lin said." He had considered pestering her to drink more; business people usually have a few lines like that. But seeing Lin Weiping's cold eyes, he knew she didn't care about today's meal. If he forced her to drink, she might just lose face and get away, so he had to back down.
John said to Lin Weiping, "I already told you the day I came. Now, most of our production line technicians have gone to your place, making it difficult to carry out our work and ensuring quality. So today I've invited everyone here to plead with you in person for your help. If they come back, please don't stop them. Give them some reassurance, okay?"