"Of course, I'm talking about the so-called talent and ability that you think make you better than Siyi,"
Xiao Ming said, "In my opinion, Old Mr. Shen is getting on in years and is inevitably becoming muddled and short-sighted. At least in the realm of investment, you can't hold a candle to Siyi in your next life.
If you don't admit it, then do you dare to gamble with this brother of yours who you claim is just wasting food?"
Shen Siqi narrowed his eyes and turned around, "How shall we gamble?"
"Based on Qianshan Group's current market value, the shares Siyi owns are worth about eighty million.
He'll use these shares as collateral to borrow five million.
If he earns less than one hundred million within a week, those shares will be yours.
Otherwise, you will have to sell seven percent of your own shares to him at the price of five million."
Shen Siqi's eyebrows shot up, "Are you serious?"
Xiao Ming didn't answer but looked at Shen Siyi instead.
Shen Siyi gritted his teeth, "Yes! I'm serious. Do you dare to bet?"
Shen Siqi looked at him and then at Xiao Ming, shaking his head with a smile.
"So this is your scheme. Mr. Xiao, I have to admit, you're smarter than all the fair-weather friends Siyi has made in the past twenty years combined."
Xiao Ming crossed his legs and lit another cigarette, "I'm all ears."
"Ever since Qianshan Group went public and shareholders' shares were diluted, even my father only owns nineteen percent. My eleven percent and Siyi's seven percent were inherited from our mother.
Once I give him another seven percent, he will leap to become the third-largest shareholder of Qianshan.
Afterward, he only needs to slowly buy more than five percent from the market and other shareholders, and my father will have to hand over the chairman's seat.
What a clever calculation! But..."
At this point, Shen Siqi's voice suddenly turned sharp, "Shen Siyi, you conspire with outsiders to swallow up your own family business. Are you still human? Do you have any face left to call yourself a member of the Shen family?"
"Bullshit!"
Shen Siyi was so angry that he started hopping, "I just wanted to get an advance of five million for petty cash, but you obstructed me every step of the way and insulted my brother.
I was forced into this by you!"
"Did I make you covet the Qianshan Group?"
"You..."
"Siyi," Xiao Ming interrupted him, "don't be impulsive, your brother is just baiting you with words. If you trust me, just wait and see."
Shen Siyi took several deep breaths and stood behind him, glaring at Shen Siqi, "I'll listen to whatever Ming says!"
Xiao Ming smiled at Shen Siqi, "Listening to Mr. Shen's tone just now, it seems like you have no doubt that Siyi will be able to come up with a hundred million in five days."
"Isn't that simple?" Shen Siqi spread his hands, "Just shuffle some funds around in his account and that will get him a shareholding worth seventy or eighty million and the status of the second-largest shareholder. Even I want to take that deal."
"But what if a third-party company was hired to audit and ensure that every penny is Siyi's investment profit, and that it all belongs to him personally?
Of course, this can be written into the gambling agreement."
Shen Siqi was stunned.
According to Xiao Ming, this agreement would be absolutely in his favor.
Because, purely through investment, turning five million into a hundred million in five days is a joke unless pies fall from the sky.
Even with the backing of Qianshan Group, he didn't think he could achieve that, much less the chronically useless Shen Siyi.
But why? Why would Shen Siyi still go for a bet that he's bound to lose?
It couldn't possibly be just to gift the shares to me, could it?
There must be a catch!
After much thought, he said, "I will have the group's legal team draft the gambling agreement to ensure every detail is standardized and reasonable."
"Fine."
Xiao Ming nodded without hesitation, "But you only have half a day.
Before the end of the workday, the gambling agreement must be signed, otherwise, you will have to advance five million to Siyi unconditionally."
"Deal!"
Shen Siqi turned and left.
As the door of the private room closed, Xiao Ming heard a long exhale behind him, and Shen Siyi spoke in a deflated tone, "Ming, whether I end up in wealth and glory or down and out on the streets, it all depends on you now."
Xiao Ming chuckled, "Your brother suspects I'm eyeing the Qianshan Group. Don't you have any thoughts about that?"
"No."
Shen Siyi slumped to the floor, leaning against a chair leg, "Even if you truly are eying it, you'd still have to go through me! I'm aware of my limitations. In any case, when it comes to management, my brother is far more capable than I am.
Qianshan Group would be better off in his hands than ruined by me."
Xiao Ming nodded, "It's true, but have you considered one thing?"
"What's that?"
"No matter how successful a businessman is, there's always a chance they make a wrong decision. Your brother is not a deity, and Qianshan Group might fall apart under his management too."
Shen Siyi shuffled closer to Xiao Ming and looked up, "But statistically, the likelihood of me ruining it is always higher, right?"
"What if he's already on the path to ruining it now?"
Shen Siyi sprang to his feet, "Ming, what do you mean by that?"
Xiao Ming flicked the ash from his cigarette, "Your monthly pocket money has always been fixed. Before, no matter how recklessly you spent, no one cared. So why is your brother reacting so strongly to you just getting an advance of five million? Afraid I'll con you? Ridiculous!
Over the years, just the amount you've been swindled out of by various girls is far more than this, not to mention the money you've lost to Bangxi in bets."
Shen Siyi turned pale, "Ming, are you saying... our family business doesn't even have five million to spare anymore?"