Chapter 1873: A Small Problem

"Overseas Trust Bank?" Elder Jian said with a smile, "Isn't this also yours? What difference does it make if Qiu Dongfang buys a stake?"

"The difference is huge," Zhou Andong said. "The executive director and president of Overseas Trust Bank is named Zhang Xuan, and her grandfather is Zhang Qianjin."

Elder Jian was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "Fine, handle this matter as you see fit. Let's leave it at that for now."

Zhou Andong hung up the phone, thinking that Zhang Xuan had gone to Xiangjiang right after the New Year, and he had no idea how she was doing.

He hadn't asked, and that girl hadn't reported to him either; it was a bit too improper.

Zhou Andong then picked up the phone again and dialed Yuan Wanqi's office.

"Boss, what are your orders?"

Yuan Wanqi was very surprised; they had just spoken on the phone yesterday, so why was he calling again today?

"Give me the office number for Zhang Xuan, the president of Overseas Trust Bank."

"..."

Yuan Wanqi was speechless for a moment. "Are you really my boss, or are you an impostor?"

"I've just been too busy," Zhou Andong said, his face neither flushing nor paling. "I haven't had time to check in, and she actually hasn't reported to me either. It's too improper; I must dock her pay."

Yuan Wanqi muttered something and gave Zhang Xuan's office number to Zhou Andong.

"I held a meeting with the Investment Department yesterday. First, we'll withdraw 230 million USD to enter the real estate sector, focusing primarily on acquiring residential homes, apartments, and commercial storefronts.

Additionally, based on our analysis, there is a very high probability of a financial crisis erupting in Mexico. If it does erupt, once it concludes, we will invest a massive amount of capital to acquire office buildings and large commercial complexes."

"Understood!"

Zhou Andong naturally wouldn't oppose a deal that was guaranteed to make money.

"Find a few media outlets you have good relations with and tell them that a vice president of the Mainland Construction Bank is being investigated by law enforcement for illegal and disciplinary violations. Also, mention that the Mainland Zhongbao Group has a close relationship with this vice president and has major problems with its finances."

Yuan Wanqi understood as soon as she heard this. "Boss, are you interested in this Zhongbao?"

Zhou Andong laughed. "Although Zhongbao hasn't been established for long, it's a super-sized piece of fat meat. It's just that its nature is a bit special and it doesn't accept private investment, so we can only use the power of Xiangjiang capital to pry open a gap."

Yuan Wanqi said, "Since they want to list in Xiangjiang, they will definitely have to accept private equity funds."

"Private equity funds aren't very interesting," Zhou Andong said ambitiously. "Since we're investing, we need to secure a seat on the board."

"Good!" Yuan Wanqi agreed. "I'll make the contacts in a while."

"That's all then." Zhou Andong hung up the phone and then called Zhang Xuan.

It only rang twice before the other party picked up, and Zhang Xuan's voice came through.

"Who is this?"

"President Zhang!" Zhou Andong teased. "You're a banker now; even I, your boss, have to rush to call and greet you."

"A banker?" Zhang Xuan's dissatisfied voice came through. "Do you know how I've spent the last two months? I've been so busy I don't know day from night, and I've lost a whole circle of weight.

Let me tell you, if you don't give me a raise, I'm going back to Jingcheng immediately and quitting."

"Raise!" Zhou Andong said firmly. "You must get a raise; no one can oppose it."

"That's more like it." Zhang Xuan giggled. "Tell me, what do you want?"

Zhou Andong asked, "Has Alice told you about the bank opening a branch in Shanghu?"

"She did!" Zhang Xuan said. "The Jian Dong International team arrives in Xiangjiang on the 30th, and both sides will go to Shanghu on May 1st."

Zhou Andong asked again, "How are things on your end? Was there any resistance when you took over?"

Zhang Xuan snorted coldly. "How could there not be resistance? But I kicked them all out. Now, the bank's senior management only has three foreigners left who are obedient and quite capable; the rest are all our own people."

"Our own people?" Zhou Andong looked curious. "Did you poach them from the National Investment?"

"What do you mean 'poach'?" Zhang Xuan said righteously. "I hired them with high salaries."

"Yes, yes, yes, we hired them with high salaries." Zhou Andong laughed heartily. "Do you know about Zhongbao?"

"I do," Zhang Xuan asked curiously. "Why are you suddenly interested in Zhongbao?"

"It's not that I'm interested in Zhongbao; it's that they are interested in me, Zhou Andong." Zhou Andong briefly explained the situation. "Since they want to swallow my Future Culture, then don't blame me for cutting a piece of meat off Zhongbao."

"Those bastards, they really don't know who they are anymore." Zhang Xuan cursed through gritted teeth. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have knocked their teeth out."

"Beating them up is meaningless."

Zhou Andong shifted his body to lean against the headboard more comfortably.

"Physical pain recovers quickly. You have to make them feel heartache and make their souls suffer heavy damage so they'll never forget it for the rest of their lives."

"That's true!" Zhang Xuan laughed. "If we get our hands into Zhongbao and become board members, their souls will definitely suffer a heavy blow."

"Prepare yourself," Zhou Andong said. "This matter must be negotiated by you, Miss Zhang."

"No problem." Zhang Xuan agreed readily. "However, it probably won't be possible to get too many shares."

"We don't need too many," Zhou Andong said, quite content. "Even if it's just one percent, I won't complain, as long as I can get a board seat.

When I'm in a good mood, I'll disgust them a little; when I'm in a bad mood, I'll disgust them again; and when I'm in a neutral mood, I'll keep disgusting them."

Zhang Xuan burst into laughter. "Those bastards are always disgusting others; I really want to see what their expressions look like when they're the ones being disgusted."

Zhou Andong said with a smile, "Alright, get back to work; I should get up too."

"You're still not up? You detestable capitalist."

Zhang Xuan cursed fiercely and then slammed the phone down.

"Beep, beep, beep..."

Zhou Andong held the phone, a busy signal coming from the receiver.

This girl's temper is getting worse and worse. I have to talk to Brother Dazuo and have him properly discipline his sister; slamming the phone on her boss is just too improper.

Zhou Andong put the phone down, put on his clothes, and just as he was about to leave after washing up, the phone rang again.

He turned back, sat on the sofa, picked up the phone, and Tang Lin's voice came through the receiver.

"Boss, your real-name report on Zhang Jingkuan was reported in this morning's paper. I just took the bus out, and everyone is discussing it."

Zhou Andong asked, "How is the response to the news about the 500,000 reward for evidence of Zhang Jingkuan's crimes?"

"It's very sensational." Tang Lin smacked his lips. "It's just that Zhang Zuo was the one who found the reporter to break the news, and there was a small problem."

"Zhang Zuo did it?" Zhou Andong's eyelid twitched wildly. "What small problem?" ===== CHAPTER 1874 =====