_1Actually, when Xiao Ming's words had fallen, not only did Duan Zhengde show shock, Duan Hongqing also raised his eyebrows, and even Zhou Jicang, who was having an enthusiastic chat with Jiang Yonghan, glanced at him.
Only Zhou Qingyuan wasn't surprised at all, his gaze filled with interest and curiosity.
"Sir Duan doesn't need to be too astonished, and you, Sir Duan, don't rush to get angry,"
Xiao Ming continued, "As a maritime-focused enterprise, Qingyuan Group suddenly coming to establish a branch deep inland in Longyin, I can only think of two possibilities.
One is to establish a logistics distribution and transfer center, and the other is to venture into inland river shipping.
Given that Qingyuan Group has already grown strong, it would be difficult for another qualitative leap. If I were the decision-maker, I would certainly choose to open up the internal and external transport routes, to reduce costs in exchange for greater profit margins.
Therefore, I surmise that the purpose of Sir Duan setting up the Longyin branch here is to coordinate centrally, to nibble away at the inland river shipping market."
Previously, Duan Zhengde's understanding of Xiao Ming was limited to Duan Hongqing's description of the party last night and had no direct impression.
At this moment, listening to Xiao Ming succinctly expose the intentions and decision-making of Qingyuan Group, his heart was shocked and he was finally convinced.
Before anything else, just this precise insight and analytical ability alone qualifies him for the middle and senior management of Qingyuan Group.
What is called talent?
Xiao Ming is the living answer.
After all, experience trumps youth. Duan Hongqing was much calmer than Duan Zhengde. He picked up a jade green shrimp and ate it, speaking deliberately, "You, young man, do indeed have keen eyes.
However, even if you've discerned my intentions, it doesn't explain how you knew about Zhengde's acquisition targets."
Xiao Ming's smile didn't waver, "That's precisely the reason why I instigated the conflict tonight, to put both of you in a tight spot."
Duan Hongqing was taken aback, then squinted at his son, "Zhengde, those three shipping companies, who contacted them?"
Duan Zhengde wasn't foolish; he was just more straightforward. At this moment, he also realized the situation, and his complexion began to pale.
"It was... Wan Xingping..."
Bang!
Duan Hongqing slammed his palm onto the table, startling Duan Zhengde, who quickly stood up, bowing his head and clasping his hands, silent.
At the age of nearly forty, he still behaved like a child, clearly indicating the Duan Family's strict upbringing.
"Sir Duan, what are you doing? You're jumping at everything, one can't even drink in peace,"
At this time, the only person who could speak up to smooth things over was Zhou Jicang.
Duan Hongqing, angry, pointed at Duan Zhengde, "I, of all people, have always been astute, how the hell did I end up fathering such a pig-headed son like you?
How dare you entrust such crucial company business to a swindler? If it weren't for me fortuitously meeting Xiao Ming last night, would you damn well have sold me out along with everything else?"
Duan Zhengde's head hung even lower, still without a word of retort.
"That's a bit unreasonable to say, isn't it? I remember quite clearly, when you started your business, didn't you also get swindled by a shell company to the point of losing everything?"
Zhou Jicang said, "When doing business, who the hell hasn't encountered a few con artists? Even someone as shrewd as Xiao Ming was scammed three years ago to the point of losing his underpants!
Being deceived often has nothing to do with intelligence. The more emotionally inclined people are, the easier they fall victim.
Zhengde is straightforward. He'll learn from this pitfall. A little mentoring and warning should suffice. But is there really a need for such an outburst?"
"Besides, hasn't Xiao Ming already exposed the fraudster? What's the rush?"
Having listened for a while, Jiang Yonghan now vaguely understood that even a big enterprise like Qingyuan Group could encounter fraudsters, and it was his son-in-law who had exposed him. He felt a surge of pride and took pleasure in the accomplishment.
With his anger now fully vented by Zhou Jicang, Duan Hongqing naturally could not continue his reprimand and snorted coldly, "Dense as a block of wood, what are you standing there for? Have you not rushed over to toast Xiao Ming and thank him for saving your life?"
Duan Zhengde immediately sat down, holding the cup solemnly with both hands, but Xiao Ming was a step ahead, saying, "Elder brother, Sir Duan is exaggerating. I have a feud with Wan Xingping, so it was also for my own sake. It was just a coincidence."
After all, it's my face that's been lost, and it's a bit difficult to pick up now. Don't blame me for it."
Duan Zhengde was quite open-minded and carefree, "Aside from you and Qingyuan, everyone seated here is my elder, and besides, both of you have sharper minds than I do. What's the use of keeping face for me?
I just hope that you don't think your older brother is too silly, and in the future, let's keep in touch in Longyin. Help me out more when there's something."
"Sure thing. If there's any good project in the future, just let me join in," Xiao Ming said readily, seizing the chance to benefit, prompting Duan Hongqing and Zhou Jicang to burst into laughter, calling him a cheeky monkey.
After a few more drinks, Duan Zhengde asked again, "Do you know about Shengyuan, Daxing, and Fenghe, these three shipping companies?"
"For that, you'll have to ask my father-in-law."
Xiao Ming turned to look at Jiang Yonghan, "Dad, you've been at the Port Authority for so many years; you must have heard of these three companies, right?"
Jiang Yonghan's biggest flaw in character was that he was somewhat timid and not very shrewd. However, for the same reason, he was much more earnest at work than some of his slicker colleagues.
He did indeed have impressions of the three companies that Xiao Ming mentioned.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "If I remember correctly, Shengyuan is from the provincial city, Daxing is in Longyin, and Fenghe is a company from Lanzhong City downstream.
I don't know much about the former or the latter, but I vaguely remember an incident involving dockworker salary disputes involving them a couple of years ago; it was quite a big deal, and there were even fatalities.
Daxing is even worse. It's said that its owner has relatives in the river transport department, bullies the market, acts with impunity, and almost monopolizes the shipping business in Longyin.
What's strange is that its tax reports show year after year losses, always teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Not only has it never paid taxes, but it has also received quite a few subsidies.
There are even rumors that the owner might be involved in money laundering.
Anyway, true or false, if you're going to do business with Daxing Shipping, it's best to stay extra vigilant."
Duan Zhengde was already breaking out in a cold sweat after hearing all this.
Being cheated in an acquisition and losing some money didn't really matter. Qingyuan Group was large enough that losing a few hundred million wouldn't hurt, but if it got involved in market bullying and money laundering, that would be serious.
As the saying goes, a big ship takes time to turn around. Once a group of that size gets embroiled in such a scandal, cleaning it up without spending hundreds of millions would be impossible.
Not to mention the reaction of the stock market, where evaporating a few billion wouldn't be surprising.
Duan Hongqing's forehead vein throbbed as if he were about to erupt in anger, while Duan Zhengde, having come to his senses, immediately stood up with his cup in hand, offering a respectful toast to Jiang Yonghan as a junior.
After the toast, he formally thanked Jiang Yonghan for his guidance and then proposed hiring him as a shipping consultant for the Qingyuan Longyin branch with a monthly salary of five thousand.
It should be noted that at this time, inflation wasn't so severe, and the average salary was just over a thousand, with Jiang Yonghan's own salary at only fifteen hundred.
Therefore, the five thousand offered by Duan Zhengde was not stinginess, but a genuinely high-paying proposition.
This was evident from Jiang Yonghan's reaction.
The old man was simply stunned.