After the meal, the couple chatted idly for a while before Jiang Xue left.
The design plans for the two apartments at Kanjiang No. 1 had been finalized, and what followed was to run around the market and begin construction.
Fortunately, Yang Hanqing knew that overworking her would drive Xiao Ming insane, so he assigned her two assistants to run errands and handle various coordination and liaising tasks. She only needed to oversee the details and quality.
At three in the afternoon, the stock market closed, and none of the eighteen stocks Xiao Ming had bought turned red. The ten million he invested turned into over fifty million, earning more than five hundred percent in half a day.
This was even after he missed the peak prices of three stocks at noon because he wasn't watching the computer, otherwise the earnings would have been even higher.
Of course, compared to having lunch with his wife, he wasn't concerned about this little bit of money.
Duan Hongqing was an impatient man and called just fifteen minutes after three o'clock; his voice was filled with smugness.
"Kid, it's over, can you compete? If not, just concede directly and save yourself the back and forth."
Xiao Ming smiled, "I wanted to ask you the same thing. Is the contract ready?
Let me be blunt, I don't have much spare cash on hand right now. If your price is too high, then you'll have to agree to let me pay in installments, and I can't spare a single share less."
"Heh! You've got quite the attitude! How much did you earn?"
"Over forty million, not quite fifty."
"How much capital?"
"Ten million."
"Damn! Are you blowing smoke without tax, boy? As long as you can name which three stocks today had such high increases, I'll consider you the winner!"
"Oh, sorry, sorry! I forgot to mention, I bought a total of eighteen stocks; that's the overall earnings."
"Eighteen?" Duan Hongqing's tone turned scornful, "Xiao Ming, this kind of trickery is too low-level, it's contemptible."
Xiao Ming didn't bother to explain, "It's not clear over the phone. Name a time and place, and we can discuss it when we meet."
"Fine. I'm at Qingfeng Tea House right now having tea with friends; just come over here. Zhou and his daughter are also here."
After ending the call, Xiao Ming began printing all of today's transaction records.
Yun Shi Yu pushed the door open, saw the clean lunch box on the coffee table, and asked, "How was lunch? Did you like the flavor?"
"Get me a folder from inside."
Xiao Ming pointed to the file cabinet in the corner, and then continued, "The taste was great, but remember to have your chef make lunch according to your portion size in the future.
If you really want to treat me to a meal, give me a permanent free card for Yunding Restaurant. I'd definitely go there for every meal, rain or shine."
Yun Shi Yu's eyes dimmed; she took a folder out for him and said with feigned contempt, "Have some shame, okay? I just didn't finish my meal today and didn't want to waste food, that's all. You really think you're the lord of the manor, huh?
And 'permanent free'? Why not just ask me to give you the restaurant outright?"
"That works too. But before the handover, you'd have to fire all the staff."
"Why?"𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
"I'm afraid you won't pay them their wages, and then they'd come asking me for it."
"Get lost!"
The girl kicked Xiao Ming's chair and left with a huff, taking the lunch box with her.
Back in her own office, Yun Shi Yu sat down on her swivel chair and was lost in thought for a moment, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears.
Xiao Ming's words could not have been clearer.
I want the object, not the person, meaning I am only interested in your abilities, adding too much of what shouldn't be there is nothing but trouble for everyone.
Do I really stand no chance at all?
She lay down on the desk, overwhelmed with worry.
He had finished organizing the printed records, Xiao Ming left the office. Before he reached the company's entrance, he heard someone shouting loudly outside.
"...Are you blind, or are you deaf? Wasn't I clear enough just now? This man is Mr. Shen from Qianshan Group, the older brother of your major shareholder Shen Siyi!"
"I'm sorry, sir," came the weak voice of the receptionist. "Our chairman has personally ordered that without an appointment, no one is allowed inside.
If you need, I can make an appointment for you right away!"
"An appointment with your mother!" the man's tone became even more aggressive. "A tiny, insignificant company with so many ridiculous rules.
Mr. Shen from Qianshan Group has graciously come here in person, and you should take it as a great honor, understand?
I command you to call that Xiao and Shen Siyi right now and have them come out to meet us!"
"Sir, I'm just a receptionist, I don't have the authority to contact the leadership directly, please don't make this difficult...ah!"
The receptionist suddenly let out a shriek, and Xiao Ming hurriedly quickened his pace and ran over to see three men standing at the company's entrance.
One of them, with a face full of anger, was holding a half bottle of mineral water, and the receptionist's face and chest were already soaked, with water still dripping down her hair.
Seeing Xiao Ming arrive, the receptionist's mouth puckered in distress, on the verge of tears: "Chairman, they..."
"Go to the restroom and take care of yourself," Xiao Ming said softly. "Don't worry, you did well. You won't be punished, and you'll get a bonus this month.
If you feel unwell afterwards, you can also go home and rest. It won't be counted as leave or absenteeism."
"Thank you, Chairman!"
No longer feeling aggrieved, the receptionist walked past Xiao Ming, carefully covering the soaked front of her blouse.
"Xiao Ming."
It was then that Shen Siqi, positioned slightly at the back, spoke up with a haughty expression, "I'm here to discuss..."
"Who are you?" Xiao Ming interrupted him. "Do you have an appointment?"
Shen Siqi was taken aback, his countenance then showing displeasure.
"How dare you speak to our Mr. Shen like..."
The young man with the mineral water reached out to grab Xiao Ming's shoulder, but suddenly a large hand pressed down on his head and with a loud bang, his head collided forcefully with the reception desk.
The young man staggered, slumped to the ground, stunned by the impact, staring as blood slowly trickled down his forehead, neither moving nor making a sound.
Shen Siqi and his assistant both stepped back in shock, looking at Xiao Ming as if they had seen a ghost.
They had never encountered such a crude and barbaric company owner in business talks; he was like a street thug!
Xiao Ming, as if nothing was amiss, took a paper towel from inside the reception to wipe his hands, and asked Shen Siqi, "Is this person with you? The moment he opens his mouth, all that comes out is shit, it stinks to high heaven.
Our company might not be big, but it's not a place where just any stray dog can enter."
Shen Siqi narrowed his eyes and after a moment, said to his assistant, "What are you waiting for? Our man has been assaulted, call the police!"
The assistant hurriedly took out his phone.
"Hmm, yes, the police should be called."
Xiao Ming pointed to the surveillance camera on the ceiling, "Qianshan Group executive, big young master of the Shen Family let his underling bully the weak, and violently attacked a woman powerless to fight back.
The financial headlines would surely love this story."
Shen Siqi pressed down on his assistant's hand, his expression darkening.
"Xiao Ming, I came today at the arrangement of our chairman to specifically discuss a collaborative matter with you.
I warn you not to be ungrateful; angering Qianshan will lead to consequences and Shen Siyi won't be able to save you!"
"Oh really! That does sound pretty serious."
Xiao Ming stroked his chin as if pondering. After a moment, he suddenly kicked the young man on the ground, sending him sliding towards the elevator door, before saying, "I don't like this person. Unless he is fired, all talks are off the table."