Chapter 341: 335 The Five Star Supermarket, a New Era Has Arrived!

Li Boss: "Then how much do you want?"

Tan Meili: "Raise the monthly salary to 5 million!"

Li Boss: "!!!!"

Tan Meili suddenly grew angry: "What? You won't? I am a Legislative Councilor now. If the price is still at the 1 million level, then isn't this Legislative Councilor position of mine worthless? You get both a mole and a Legislative Councilor; you've profited. You spend 1 billion a year on a bodyguard team, yet you're stingy with 5 million a month for a big shot like me? Are you saying I, Tan Meili, am not even worth as much as a bodyguard?"

"If you won't accept these terms, then we can go our separate ways."

Go separate ways?

Li Boss was stunned: "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu you betrayed him?"

Tan Meili: "I am afraid. But you're afraid too. Every time Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu fights you, he uses fair and square methods. If he finds out you're playing dirty... don't forget, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu was a gangster; his methods are very flexible."

"Li Boss... you wouldn't want Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu to find out about this, would you?"

The corner of Tan Meili's mouth curled up.

Heh heh heh~~~

The Smirking Queen!

Li Boss was completely numb; he hadn't considered this angle.

Damn!

It's a boomerang!

At the same time, he began to realize that the sinister plot involving computer viruses must absolutely not be carried out.

If Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu discovered it, he definitely wouldn't be able to handle Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, because his own subordinates were law-abiding citizens, while Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's subordinates were all gangsters.

The last time Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu told him, "Everyone is equal when holding a weapon," it still applied now!

Damn it!

How could the "positive energy" Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, praised by all of Hong Kong, have subordinates so much worse than his own!

Unbearable!

Tan Meili: "5 million, are you giving it or not?"

Li Boss hesitated.

He began to weigh the options.

Right now, Li Boss had two choices:

Choice one: Continue supporting Tan Meili as a mole, spending 5 million Hong Kong dollars a month, without being able to do much real damage to Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu. To a businessman like Li Boss, this expenditure and return were completely disproportionate and unacceptable.

Choice two: Stop using Tan Meili as a mole and stop the payments. Furthermore, the seven moles and spies sent over must also be withdrawn.

In the end, out of a businessman's rationality, and remembering Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's words, "Everyone is equal when holding a weapon"...

Forget it, let's make a strategic retreat!

At worst, he would just win it back fair and square.

He was, after all, a man with assets worth tens of billions, nearly a hundred billion; it was impossible to lose to Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu fair and square.

Besides, he didn't believe Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu could keep this Five Star Supermarket running!

When the time came, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu would lose seven or eight hundred million, and with the loss of reputation, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's losses would exceed 1 billion!

He would count that as a win.

Thinking of this, Li Boss felt much better.

"Ms. Tan!"

Li Boss said solemnly, "I have decided that our cooperation ends today. I will also recall those few moles."

"Huh?"

Tan Meili thought to herself: Damn, I didn't swindle the money!

Li Boss gave a spring-breeze-like smile and shook hands with Tan Meili: "Thank you very much for our cooperation during this time. Although our cooperation has ended, we are still good friends."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Boss left.

Not long after, the sound of Li Boss's continuous "Achoo~~~ Achoo~~~" sneezes echoed in the stairwell, then gradually faded away.

Tan Meili felt a wave of disappointment.

She picked up the phone and called Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "Zu-ge, Li Boss said he won't cooperate with me anymore; I couldn't swindle any money out of him."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "............"

Damn, Li Boss escaped a disaster.

"Then first thing tomorrow morning, quickly arrange a meeting with those seven moles and see who wants to stay? They are all talents."

Anyway, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu could see their loyalty levels; he wasn't afraid of spies.

Tan Meili: "What if some don't want to stay?"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "Need you ask? Sue them for damaging company interests and make them pay. 2 million each. If they don't have the money, have a loan shark company lend them the money to pay it back."

Tan Meili: "Boss, won't doing that..."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "We're gangsters; that's just how we do things."

Tan Meili: "............"

Unbearable!!

A new day, the sun rose.

Sheung Wan, Shun Tak Centre.

16th floor, Five Star Supermarket office area, Conference Room 1.

The seven moles sat in a row, looking at each other.

They were moles, after all; now that they were all gathered, it was clear something big was happening, and it definitely wasn't good!

"Tap tap tap~~~"

Tan Meili, dressed in a suit, walked in, looking sharp and cold in her high heels.

"Clap~~~"

Seven employment contracts were thrown onto the table.

"Alright, moles, I met with your Li Boss last night, and he said he's terminating our cooperation."

As soon as these words were spoken,

The seven moles' hearts skipped a beat!

A terrible omen!

Tan Meili adjusted her glasses, revealing a cold, queenly radiance:

"You have two choices now:"

"First: Become employees of Five Star Supermarket, and from now on, have no further dealings with Li Boss. I will still give you important responsibilities."

"Second: Leave Five Star Supermarket."

"It's up to you to choose!"

Tan Meili: "You only have one chance to choose."

The seven moles looked at each other.

"I choose to stay!"

"I'll stay too!"

"I think Five Star Group is great; I like the atmosphere here."

"I like Five Star Group's corporate culture!"

Four moles raised their hands immediately, reacting quickly.

Then, another mole named Chen Zhihao hesitated for a moment; he was a crafty person with many thoughts, so he thought about it and raised his hand: "I'll stay too."

Tan Meili glanced at him, then looked at the last two moles.

"I choose to go back."

"I'm going back too."

Tan Meili smiled: "Very good..."

She threw five contracts onto the tables of the five moles: "Sign them. Your treatment remains the same. Follow me to see Zu-ge later."

The five moles took the contracts and began to sign.

Tan Meili looked at the other two moles: "Since you two are returning to Cheung Kong Group, we will sue you for 'damaging Five Star Group's interests.' You can either pay compensation or go to jail!"

The whole room was shocked.

"On what grounds?!" The two moles who wanted to leave were suddenly anxious.

Tan Meili said coldly: "You are commercial spies; isn't that reason enough? Someone will talk to you shortly."

One mole panicked: "But I don't have any money!"

Tan Meili: "No money? Mortgages, loan sharks, anything will do."

"!!!!"

The two moles' faces turned pale.

The five moles who stayed were trembling, secretly rejoicing that they had chosen to stay.

20 minutes later,

Tan Meili brought the five moles to the Five Star Group building to meet Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu.

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's office,

The five moles stood in a row, heads bowed in guilt.

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu looked at these five moles, Loyalty: 78, 75, 74, 83, 10...

"Hmm? 10?"

What is this guy trying to do?

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu looked at the fifth mole and checked the list: "Chen Zhihao, is it..."

Chen Zhihao's heart skipped a beat. Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu said to Tan Meili: "This guy isn't honest... make him pay and get out."

Tan Meili nodded: "Yes!"

Chen Zhihao was suddenly terrified. He was just poor and afraid, wanting to be a double agent and make money on both sides, but he didn't expect to be exposed the moment he met Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu.

"Mr. Guan, I am loyal to you; I have no ulterior motives..."

He wailed.

"Get out!"

Shortly after,

He was dragged away by Hung Hing lackeys, served with a "loan shark package."

The other four moles broke out in a cold sweat.

Loyalty forced up +1+1+1+1!

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu smiled, as gentle as a spring breeze: "Don't be afraid. I can tell you are loyal to Five Star Group. From today on, you are all part of my Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's family!"

!.

Family Man!

The four moles quickly left Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's office; when the cold wind hit them, they realized their backs were soaked with sweat.

Just then, Fang Zhanbo walked past them with his head held high, knocking on Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's office door.

"Boss!"

Today, Fang Zhanbo was here to report on two things.

1: The short-selling of Electric Light Company had ended, and final settlement with the brokers was complete.

2: Withdraw the funds and re-short the stocks of Cheung Kong Group and Watsons Group.

"After settlement, deducting leverage interest, we made a total profit of 2.1 billion Hong Kong dollars."

"And our Five Star Group takes 600 million Hong Kong dollars of that."

"Of the 2.1 billion, we kept 600 million for risk management, and leveraged the remaining 1.5 billion into 6 billion. We should reach agreements with major brokers today to short Cheung Kong Group and Watsons Group."

Mount Pingding, Li family villa.

Early morning,

Li Er woke up and passed Li Boss's bedroom.

"Achoo~~ Achoo~~~~"

A series of sneezes came from inside Li Boss's bedroom.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Li Er walked in to check on Li Boss.

"I'm fine, just caught a cold." Li Boss was getting dressed; his spirit was still good, just a bit congested.

Li Er felt relieved and left Li Boss's bedroom, unable to help asking the bodyguard: "Where did Dad go last night? How did he suddenly catch a cold?"

Bodyguard: "Went to see someone."

Li Er: "See who?"

Bodyguard apologized: "Confidential."

Li Er: "???"

I can't even be told? This only piqued his curiosity further.

Soon, Li Boss and Li Er finished washing up and came to the dining room to start breakfast.

Four or five newspapers were laid out in front of the two of them.

"Five Star Group's 60,000-square-foot Super-Sized Supermarket, Opening October 20th, Shocking Debut!"

"Five Star Supermarket, Hong Kong's Biggest Behemoth, a New Destination for Shopping and Tourism, Come Experience Its Grandeur!"

"Five Star Supermarket Vows to Kick Off a New Era of Supermarkets!"

"Traditional Supermarkets Like ParknShop and Wellcome Are Already Behind!"

Li Er flipped through "Five Star Supermarket Vows to Kick Off a New Era of Supermarkets!", a mocking expression on his face. He had known about this Five Star Supermarket for a long time, and he had studied the data on Five Star Supermarket and Watsons Group carefully. His conclusion: Five Star Supermarket's model was naive and suicidal; it wouldn't last long.

"Ultimate service? Double the salary?"

"Not afraid of losing money!"

"Heh~~~ The higher they are lifted now, the harder they'll fall!"

"This Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu is really too arrogant, thinking that just because he won against the Li family a few times, he can win every time."

Just then,

The television in the dining room finished its commercials and began playing ATV News.

Since when? Three months ago? Five months ago? The Li family had switched from watching TVB to watching ATV News.

Host: "Good morning, fellow citizens, welcome to ATV Morning News..."

"Here is today's news..."

"Yesterday, while our station's reporter was interviewing on the streets near Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan, they saw a huge supermarket sign that read, 'Hong Kong's Biggest Behemoth, 60,000-square-foot Five Star Supermarket to Open Shockingly'."

"You know, Hong Kong's biggest supermarket is the ParknShop in Causeway Bay, which is only 12,000 square feet, while ordinary ParknShop and Wellcome stores are only 5,000 square feet... and this supermarket is actually 60,000 square feet..."

Li Boss and Li Er turned livid with anger upon seeing this.

The bias in ATV's reporting was too obvious!

It was practically pointing at the Li family's face and saying: Your supermarkets are too terrible, don't you know?

Damn,

You bought shares in ATV, so what!

News host continued:

"Our reporter contacted the supermarket manager and obtained the supermarket's permission to have the honor of visiting this Five Star Supermarket that is about to open."

Li Boss and Li Er had a mouthful of bitter bile.

Aren't you guys partners filming a commercial? And you're still putting on an act for me!

News host: "As soon as we walked in, everything inside the supermarket gave our reporter a huge surprise."

The TV camera switched, showing the interior of the supermarket: bright lights, luxurious decor, a dazzling array of goods, and an incredibly large space.

"From daily fresh produce to imported luxury goods, this supermarket has everything, satisfying all the one-stop shopping needs of citizens. It is worth mentioning that Five Star Supermarket General Manager Ms. Tan Meili promised our reporter that they would provide all customers and citizens with an ultimate shopping experience..."

"For example: Lifetime free maintenance for purchased electrical appliances..."

"And free electrical appliance repair service: even appliances not purchased at this mall can be repaired for free here..."

"All products that fail quality standards are free!"

"10 times compensation for all expired products!"

"Providing clothing ironing and repair services."

"Equipped with a large number of small-sized children's restrooms for children's convenience."

"Free jade appraisal."

"Providing loving free umbrellas."

"Equipped with a professional testing team to conduct quality control inspections on all food in the supermarket, ensuring food safety."

"..."

"In addition, Five Star Supermarket has set up a children's playground inside, ensuring that adults can happily and relaxedly shop..."

The camera showed a 3,000-square-foot super-sized children's paradise (colorful ball pit, slides, small carousel, etc.)...

"At the same time, Ms. Tan Meili vowed that Five Star Supermarket is a new brand created by Five Star Group, a bold challenge to the traditional supermarket business model, with a super-sized shopping mall experience, ultimate thoughtful service, and powerful quality control..."

Li Boss watched the news with a solemn expression.

Although he didn't think much of it,

Still!

He could still feel a sense of pressure from the report in this news.

It was a force—the power of change!

At this moment, the host began to undermine traditional supermarkets like Wellcome and ParknShop:

"Facing the shocking debut of this new type of supermarket, we can't help but ask, can those traditional supermarkets like Wellcome and ParknShop still keep up with the pace of the times?"

"Are the old and backward, narrow shopping spaces, limited product selection, and lack of innovative service models... still able to continue?"

Li Boss felt a darkness before his eyes, and a wave of anger rose up.

If you want to run an ad, run an ad, why are you stepping on Wellcome and ParknShop?

News host: "Now, let us look forward to the shocking opening of Five Star Supermarket in three days. We believe it will attract countless citizens to shop with a brand-new look and unique charm."

The news ended!

The father and son finished breakfast and quickly left the villa.

Li Boss headed straight for the Cheung Kong Group building.

"Ring ring ring~~~~"

In the car, the HSBC Taipan (person in charge) called: "Li Boss, your Cheung Kong Group and Watsons Group have been shorted again."

Li Boss's face sank slightly: "Thank you, Taipan!"

(End of chapter)