The sky was already nearing dawn, so I called Xia Huren to check, and he confirmed everything there had returned to normal. It seemed no more strange occurrences would surface tonight, and with things settled like this, there was no point in going back; I might as well head straight home to change.

At seven o'clock, just as I was drifting off to sleep, my phone abruptly woke me. I opened my eyes to see the rain had stopped outside.

"Brother Zhao, it’s Xu Jing. You need to hurry over; that Yu Qinghai has really shown up at the door."

I almost forgot about it. It seemed the strange events of the past couple of days had muddled my mind. I needed to get there quickly; after all, I was now the biggest shareholder in Baixing Shopping, and the board members had to listen to me.

Yu Qinghai was a straightforward man, and he didn't strike me as the villainous sort. He shook my hand with some effort: "Hello, I am Yu Qinghai. You must be the legal representative for Tieniu Tofu Company."

I shook Yu Qinghai’s hand in return: "That’s me. Manager Yu, you understand the whole story now, right? I was left with no choice. I couldn't just stand by and watch my tofu rot on my hands. So, finding the optimal sales method meant acquiring Baixing Shopping."

Initially, Yu Qinghai didn't know who the acquirer was, but when the information was deliberately leaked, he was shocked. He knew Baixing Shopping had been selling Tieniu bean products all along—items he didn't really value much, given their slim profit margins and difficulty in storage.

Not long before, he had conducted a spot inspection at the supermarket only to discover all the Tieniu tofu had been replaced with Jiniu tofu. It was a minor detail he wouldn't have noticed otherwise, but now, hearing that the acquirer was Tieniu Tofu Company, he couldn't help but connect the dots.

Following that, Manager Leng from the procurement department was summoned to the company overnight. After rigorous interrogation, Manager Leng finally confessed to accepting bribes and forcibly removing Tieniu bean products from the shelves. He also revealed that Tieniu Tofu Company had threatened that Yu Qinghai was to meet their boss by 8 AM. It was only then that Yu Qinghai realized with a sudden clarity that it was one of his subordinates who had messed up and angered the other party.

But this Tieniu Tofu Company was too ruthless—no, they were too powerful. Could selling tofu for ten years really equal Baixing Shopping’s entire annual revenue? The answer was no. Yet, a company like that had managed to acquire Baixing Shopping. There must be a master supporting them.

Yu Qinghai was now the second-largest shareholder, and the board structure was about to undergo significant changes. Whether he could remain president now depended largely on the intentions of the major shareholder.

"Manager Zhao, that’s quite a move. I concede defeat. I’ve already fired Leng. Today, I’m here to await your instructions," Yu Qinghai said, though he sounded resigned, he had accepted reality.

Talking to a straightforward person saves effort. I didn't beat around the bush either: "Manager Yu, you exaggerate. I brought you here today to discuss the future development of Baixing Shopping."

"Oh?" Yu Qinghai was quite responsible regarding his work; moreover, Baixing Shopping represented the culmination of half his life's effort. So, he listened intently: "Manager Zhao is now the company’s largest shareholder, and your intentions will heavily influence the board’s decisions. May I first hear your thoughts?"

I stated my vision: "Baixing Shopping needs to develop toward becoming a diversified mega-group with a rapid expansion model. The current scale of the supermarket chain is too small. Our first step is to bloom nationwide, and then expand overseas. Furthermore, Baixing Shopping's merchandise is currently entirely externally sourced. In the future, the company must integrate production and sales, saving all the profit margins taken by intermediaries. This way, we can allocate a portion back to the shoppers to drive even better development for Baixing Shopping."

Yu Qinghai countered: "Rapid expansion requires enormous capital and carries significant risk. Personally, I think it’s better to take every step solidly. Besides, those board members are all quite old; they won't agree to take such a risk."

I snorted. So many companies with great development prospects had been ruined by a pack of stubborn old fools unwilling to advance. "Manager Yu, you don't need to worry about that. I intend to inject two hundred million in investment into Baixing Shopping for a start. I can buy back the shares held by those board members at a high price. If they refuse to sell, it doesn’t matter; the company will immediately undergo restructuring, and by then, their shares will be diluted, stripping them of any right to voice objections."

Xu Jing, who was acting as the recorder on the side, made a $ gesture toward Yu Qinghai. Yu Qinghai exclaimed in shock, "Two hundred million dollars?"

I corrected him: "Of course. What good is two hundred million Renminbi?"

The truth was, I didn't have a single cent to my name right now. I used to have over ten million, but in the last six months, I’d spent it all wooing those girls; I was completely tapped out. The funds provided by the Chairman had either been invested in the Northwest Zhaodi underground railway construction or given to Xiao Chuchu and Fang Yanmeng.

I planned to wring these two hundred million dollars out of Taozi. Even though he would whine again about not having enough money to build his company, as long as he hustled for a few more nights, he’d earn it back. What was between my brother and me? Besides, the hen that lays the golden eggs in the stock market—that whole operation—was hatched by my initial hundred million.

Seeing Yu Qinghai considering my proposal, I added: "Manager Yu, I won't hide anything from you. I personally don't have a head for business; I can only lay out my general ideas. For the specifics, I really hope the three of you can take charge. I believe that within a year at the most, the new Baixing will stand at the top of the world, looking down on all competitors."

My encouragement seemed effective, compounded by the fact that Yu Qinghai had been constantly exasperated by those old fogeys on the board for years. Now, having a chance to develop Baixing Shopping into something grand, he was naturally delighted. The only thing that bothered him slightly was that he used to be the major shareholder and was now second; he used to run the show single-handedly, and now he was working for someone else—this caused Yu Qinghai a flicker of resentment.

"Manager Zhao, I actually came today with the intention of demanding an explanation. I just couldn't accept that a small tofu company could acquire my prestigious listed company. But now, I must admit I'm impressed by your boldness and strength. Since you trust me, I won't be ungrateful. Just tell me what you want me to do."

Yu Qinghai was a man of his word. Moreover, his management experience was exactly what Xu Jing and the Village Chief currently lacked. With him as the leader, I believed the future Baixing Shopping Group would become famous throughout the world. Even if he harbored any ill intentions, with Taozi and me around, what was there to fear about Xu Jing and the Village Chief being taken advantage of?

"Manager Yu, you will remain the company president. However, during the equity transfer, write down Li Tieniu’s name. Do not put my name on the documents; there are certain things I cannot explicitly tell you. Also, although Tieniu Tofu acquired Baixing Shopping, after restructuring, Tieniu Tofu Company will only be considered a production branch under the Baixing Shopping Group. As for my status as the legal representative of Tieniu Tofu Company, that must also be revoked."

Writing the equity under Comrade Li Tieniu’s name meant that legally, Baixing Shopping now belonged to Li Tieniu himself. I didn't care; when we set up the tofu company, we agreed there was no distinction between us. Besides, Comrade Tieniu came seeking me out when he emerged. We had gotten to know each other deeply over the past six months; he was absolutely the kind of person where, ‘If he handles it, I can rest easy.’

However, Comrade Li Tieniu strongly objected. While he was deeply grateful for my trust, he felt this was too precarious. He said carrying such immense wealth might give him nightmares. This remark made Yu Qinghai and Xu Jing chuckle.

I certainly didn't want my name written down; otherwise, I didn't know how many future issues would pile up. More importantly, I was already a national official now. If I had a bunch of enterprises listed under my name, those gossiping busybodies would drown me in their saliva! After careful consideration, I set my sights on Xu Jing. This girl was perfect: honest, reliable, and beautiful. Let's just write her name down.

"Then write Xu Jing’s name. From now on, she will be the great boss of the Group company, a modern-day strong woman. You two just need to help her out. We all profit when things go well, and I'll block anything difficult."

Xu Jing’s face flushed crimson. She suddenly thought of the phrase 'Boss's Wife.' She could understand writing the Village Chief as the legal representative; after all, the Village Chief was a founding figure, someone who had followed Brother Zhao for a long time, loyal and honest. But putting her name down? What did that mean? Did she, an outsider, deserve Brother Zhao's such profound trust? Did Brother Zhao consider her one of his girlfriends?

Although Yu Qinghai felt a slight sense of loss about the company changing hands, he quickly recovered: "Sister-in-law is so beautiful and capable; I believe she can fully take over the company before long."

This time, Xu Jing couldn't stay put. She abruptly stood up and whispered, "Brother Zhao, I need to step out for a moment," before suddenly running out of the office.

Yu Qinghai asked, "Why is little Xu so shy?"

I laughed heartily: "Old Yu, you're in trouble. She's not my girlfriend; look how embarrassed you made the poor girl."

Yu Qinghai rubbed the back of his head sheepishly: "Actually, you two look quite well-matched."

After the laughter subsided, I said, "Alright, Brother Yu, we’re family now. You must never think of slacking off from now on. You need to shoulder the company's affairs entirely. The Village Chief and Xu Jing are novices. Besides, the company has a stake in your success—if you don't work hard, who will?"