1Reincarnated into a new life, Xiao Ming's greatest realization was that human greed is boundless.
It is both the driving force behind human advancement, and the root of all evil,
as well as the code to enslavement.
Once you master this code, you can ascend to the throne and become the king of the world.
Yun Shi Yu and Bai Xuechao both thought Xiao Ming had the ability to move mountains with minimal force, almost devilishly clever, but in reality, he had simply grown accustomed to it.
Just like a top student who had mastered the method of learning, everything has a thread, and once you pull it, all problems can be unraveled.
Two days later, Shen Anhe announced his resignation as chairman of the Qianshan Group board and handed over his nineteen percent shareholding to his second son, Shen Siyi, to manage in full.
In those two days, Shen Siyi had already purchased another 10.5% of Qianshan's shares from other shareholders, and together with the 7% he originally held and the 7% he won from Shen Siqi, his control had reached 43.5%.
Following that, he convened his very first board meeting, where he became the new chairman with an overwhelming majority.
He then expressed his intention to sell 10% of his shares in exchange for one hundred million in capital to compensate for the errors his brother had committed.
And naturally, the buyer of these shares was Ruiye Holdings.
With this, coupled with the 16.5% owned by Yun Group represented by Yun Shi Yu, the three parties collectively controlled 60% of the shares.
Qianshan Group was essentially in Xiao Ming's hands.𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong media "Entertainment Finance Weekly" broke a story: the chairman of Dabang Group, listed on Xiang Island from the mainland, Cao Zhining, had secretly conducted a paternity test, with doubts emerging that the presumptive heir of Dabang might not be his biological child.
The news was accompanied by photos of Cao Zhining sneaking into a forensic identification institution.
Once the report was released, domestic financial media scrambled to reprint it. Although the general public could not see it, it caused considerable discussion and controversy within the industry.
As a matter of course, the past history of Cao Bangxi and the rotten things he had done were dug up, and even women and aggrieved husbands came forward to publicly accuse the Cao family's son of his wicked deeds.
There was also a rumor that Cao Zhining's wife had made a scene at the company, and some people vaguely heard words like "I just want to make you a cuckold, raising someone else's son," angering Cao Zhining into smashing half his office.
For a time, all three members of the Cao family were under the spotlight with various opinions and rumors flying around.
Although this situation was not severe enough to cause a significant plunge in Dabang's stock price, it did create considerable volatility, with a general downward trend.
Initially, due to the issue of frozen demolition compensation, the stock price had already dipped slightly, and coupled with the impact of this disgusting affair, it had fallen by 5.7% in less than a week, evaporating more than one hundred million in market value.
In the midst of the chaos, Xiao Ming received a call from Cao Zhining, who wanted to discuss the matter of investing in the company.
Arriving at Dabang Group again, Xiao Ming saw no reception and thus anticipated the outcome of the day.
Indeed, the receptionist greeted him with her standard formulaic smile and told him that the chairman was meeting important guests and asked him to wait in the meeting room.
The treatment was a bit better than last time, at least he wasn't left sitting on a cold bench outside.
Xiao Ming smiled and followed the receptionist to the meeting room, walked straight to the head of the table, crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, and ordered, "Coffee, freshly ground."
The receptionist rolled her eyes, turned, and left, soon returning with a cup of coffee which Xiao Ming immediately knew was instant by the smell.
"If this was your own decision, then I suggest you start looking for a new job soon."
The receptionist turned her head and walked away, muttering under her breath just loudly enough for him to hear.
"Like a clown, do you really think you're someone special?"
Xiao Ming simply smiled, saying nothing.
He waited for another half hour, the instant coffee had long been finished, and he had smoked two cigarettes when the meeting room door finally opened.
"Mr. Yan, please come in!"
Cao Zhining greeted with a smile, gesturing a haughty-looking middle-aged man inside.
The middle-aged man was in a suit without a tie, and two buttons of his shirt were undone. His face was bulky, his hair cropped short, and his gaze fierce, not seeming like a businessman at all, more like a gang boss.
In fact, he was both.
Yan Yongxing, the head of Daxing Shipping Group, was the one introduced to Duan Zhengde by Wan Xingping, and Xiao Ming, of course, knew him.
He remembered, in his previous life, not long after Yan Yongxing had swindled Duan Zhengde, he became a shareholder of Dabang Group, living another couple of carefree years until his backer fell from power and he was finally held accountable in the fall, convicted on multiple charges, and sentenced to death.
They had even met in prison.
Of course, this lifetime's Yan Yongxing would never know this.
Upon seeing Xiao Ming, Yan Yongxing's eyes narrowed and he let out a cold snort, casually choosing a seat to sit down in.
Cao Zhining, seeing Xiao Ming take the main seat, took a moment to think, then purposefully chose the one opposite Yan Yongxing.
The three of them formed a triangle of sorts.
"Mr. Yan, this is our rising star in the Longyin business world, a promising youngster of the younger generation, the Chairman of Ruiye Holdings, Xiao Ming, Mr. Xiao."
Cao Zhining cheerfully introduced them, "Mr. Xiao, this gentleman hardly needs an introduction. The veteran in Longyin's shipping industry, the General Manager of Daxing Ship Services, Yan Yongxing, Mr. Yan."
Yan Yongxing took out a half-smoked cigar from his pocket and lit it, pretending not to hear.
Xiao Ming flicked some ash into his coffee cup, remaining silent.
Cao Zhining didn't feel awkward at all, laughed again, and said, "I'm really sorry, I've encountered some trouble recently, and I believe both of you have heard about it.
All in all, everything is under control.
Currently, due to the relocation project for the shantytown area, our company's board of directors has decided to introduce some foreign capital. Both of you have demonstrated your capabilities and have shown interest in our company by extending your olive branches.
Therefore, in the spirit of openness and transparency, I have invited both of you here to discuss this matter together. What do you both think?"
Yan Yongxing tapped his fingers on the table, impatiently saying, "I don't like to beat around the bush when doing business. Get to the point and tell me the specific terms."
Xiao Ming was studying his coffee cup as if the commonplace porcelain was some kind of antique, concentrating intensely.
"Mr. Yan is a straight talker, so I won't waste time," Cao Zhining said, the smile still on his face, "Our company plans to release 5% of our shares to raise two hundred million in funding. Which of you is interested?"
Yan Yongxing snorted with derision, his contempt plain on his face, "Dabang's current market value is less than nineteen billion, and you want to exchange two billion for just 5%? Mr. Cao, are you delirious with fever, or do you think I can't do math?"
Cao Zhining shrugged, "Well, I name my price, you pay your money, what's wrong with that?"
"Fine! You want two billion? Let's talk about exchanging it for a 20% stake."
"What does Mr. Xiao think?" Cao Zhining turned to face Xiao Ming.
"My thoughts? Mr. Cao, didn't you already know?"
Xiao Ming paused, then deliberately said, "Oh, sorry sorry! I forgot to say the other day's quote doesn't count anymore.
Um... my latest offer is: one billion for a 15% stake.
Remember, this price is only valid for today, tomorrow it will be even lower."
Cao Zhining was stunned. Yan Yongxing opened his mouth to curse, "Fuck! I thought I was harsh enough, but I didn't expect the kid to have such a sharp bite.
Damn it, are you out of your mind?"