Chapter 854: Shadows of Espionage

In the conference room of Juxiantang Advertising Company, Ma Rui sat at the center of the long table.

Sitting on both sides of the table were Zhao Hu, Zhao Weiguo, Chen Jiadong, and the Office Director and driver, Xiao Tian; several pairs of eyes were fixed squarely on Ma Rui.

Ma Rui had just finished laying out the grand blueprint for Future Advertising Company—things like installing televisions for free in elevators, on trains, and on buses, playing their advertisements on a twenty-four-hour loop. After this whole spiel, the room fell into dead silence.

For a full few minutes, no one dared to chime in.

Finally, Zhao Weiguo couldn't hold it in anymore and gathered the courage to speak: "That... Ma Rui, the pie you've drawn is certainly big enough. But I just want to ask one thing: setting aside whether those elevators, trains, and buses will even let us install TVs, the money just to buy those televisions alone is an astronomical figure..."

"That's right! Even if you install TVs in elevators, there's no way to get a signal!" said Yu Zhiwei.

Chen Jiadong didn't speak; he had zoned out, wondering what the world would look like if everything Ma Rui described could actually be realized.

Ma Rui waved a hand, explaining: "I called this meeting today just to give you all a line of thought. The questions you asked are very good, but have you ever thought that as long as we have ideas and solve problems as we encounter them, things you think are impossible can be achieved? Besides, I'm not saying we have to get this done by tomorrow; I mean that as an advertising company, our vision needs to be broader. We can't just be smug about making a few ads for people; if we're going to do it, we should be the best advertising company in the country."

Yu Zhiwei had remained silent; he had come from Guangdong Province and had also been to Hong Kong, so he had seen quite a bit of the world.

He spoke in slightly awkward Mandarin: "The most urgent thing right now is to invite a media director from a large advertising company over. As long as we tell him our requirements, he will naturally know what to do."

After hearing this, Ma Rui made the decision on the spot: "Fine, you handle this matter. If necessary, I can even give up some shares to him."

As soon as these words were out, Chen Jiadong's eyes lit up, and he immediately replied: "Ma Rui, I happen to have a female fellow villager who has worked at Ogilvy Advertising for several years and has always been a supervisor in the media department. Why don't we invite her over? She's one of our own, and it would be convenient to work with her."

Zhao Weiguo curled his lip: "Chen Jiadong, is that the girl you held hands with while crossing the street? That girl looks average; do you really have a crush on her?"

Chen Jiadong glared: "Screw you, so what if I held hands crossing the street? I've held hands with plenty of people!"

Ma Rui waved his hand: "I'm talking about business! Zhao Weiguo, you really know how to derail things. You've led my train of thought astray. I'll say this in advance: Chen Jiadong, even if she is your fellow villager, she still has to have a three-month probationary period. Whether she's suitable or not, we'll decide by secret ballot when the time comes."

Chen Jiadong smiled and agreed: "That's a must, no problem."

"By the way," Ma Rui changed the subject, "Xiao Tian just took a job; a joint-venture beef company wants to shoot a promotional video. Who's going?"

Zhao Weiguo rushed to say: "I'll go, just assign me an assistant."

Ma Rui nodded: "Let Lao Yu go with you. Remember, don't drink."

"Understood," Zhao Weiguo nodded.

Inside a suite at the New Dadu Hotel, Zhao Jing stood before Cheng Shao, looking flustered as he said: "Boss, this time I'm truly at my wit's end. I've used every method possible, but the warehouse of that company belonging to He Zheng and the others can always keep shipping out steel bars; it's as if they never run out no matter how much they use. Tell me, did they anticipate we were going to make a move long ago?"

Cheng Shao's face darkened, and he cursed under his breath: "It seems the He Family really has some damn ability. However," he sneered, "they won't be able to jump around for many more days. His big backer is about to retire; then we'll see who's left to hold an umbrella for him."

Zhao Jing hurriedly chimed in: "The Boss is right; in a few months, we'll deal with him properly."

Cheng Shao narrowed his eyes: "How is the matter of me having you arrange people inside the He Family's company going?"

Zhao Jing nodded quickly: "That's going very smoothly. Beauties, after all, are always a scarce commodity. To tell you the truth, even the advertising company opened by his nephew has our people in it."

Cheng Shao curled his lip, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes: "Well done. As soon as we catch evidence of them evading taxes, have the relevant departments go investigate immediately."

Zhao Jing replied crisply and cleanly: "Don't worry, Boss, no problem!"

At the headquarters of He Group, He Zheng sat in his office, and his female secretary, Zhang Ting, brewed him a cup of Pu'er tea and handed it over cautiously.

Just then, He Zheng raised his arm, the cup tilted, and the hot tea splashed directly onto the desk, soaking a page of a document through.

Zhang Ting's face turned white as a sheet, and she stammered: "I-I'm sorry, I..."

While apologizing, she hurriedly grabbed a rag to wipe the document.

Her eyes, however, couldn't help but glance at the paper—it clearly read: The Finance Department suggests the following: Due to the rapid development of business in Southeast Asia, which has caused a shortage of the Group's working capital, it is suggested: Sell some of the company's office buildings and construction land to solve the funding problem...

This was an internal report written by the finance team.

He Zheng waved his hand impatiently: "Why are you so clumsy? Go back to work in the Business Department tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ting's tears fell on the spot, and she said aggrievedly: "Manager He, I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it, please keep me..."

He Zheng frowned and stopped scolding: "Alright, stop crying, I can't stand seeing women cry. Hurry up and call those managers—Qin Tianzhen, Jia Geng, Yi Xiaotian, and Ivan—over here; we need to have a meeting."

Seeing that He Zheng's anger had subsided, Zhang Ting broke into a smile through her tears: "I'll go call them right away!"

Before long, several people were sitting in the conference room.

Just as Zhang Ting was about to step out, He Zheng beckoned to her: "Today, you'll be responsible for the meeting minutes."

Zhang Ting quickly sat near him and spread out her notebook.

He Zheng laid out the company's current financial situation and asked everyone to come up with solutions.

Jia Geng spoke up first: "If funds are tight, I think we might as well sell those villas in Hong Kong. Those houses have already risen in value by nearly ten times, which could scrape together three hundred million. The land we acquired in Si Jiu Cheng is all in good locations; selling them now wouldn't fetch a good price. Didn't Siqiang say that these lands could increase in value tenfold in the future? If we sell them now, we'll never be able to buy them back."

Qin Tianzhen also chimed in: "He Zheng, if you sell those good plots of land, our father will surely beat you to death."

He Zheng waved a hand, his attitude firm: "If we don't lay the groundwork in Southeast Asia now, it'll be too late later. I plan to invest one billion; the costs over there are low. Regarding this matter, no matter who tries to persuade me, it's impossible to change."

Qin Tianzhen was anxious: "I don't approve. Our father has long said you have too much of a gambling streak. Don't look at how well those Southeast Asian countries are developing now; they can turn their backs faster than flipping a book, and their policies change at a moment's notice. Once we build the factories, if they pull a 'pig-butchering' scam on us, we'll be finished. I suggest we must base ourselves domestically and cut expenses; those lands and fixed assets cannot be sold."

He Zheng slammed the table: "You don't have the final say in this company. I am going to develop Southeast Asia, and I am going to sell the plots in Beijing. Even my father can't control me!"

The tone was extremely intense, full of hostility.

Zhang Ting buried her head and recorded everything calmly, not missing a single word.

Yi Xiaotian sighed and advised: "He Zheng, Tianzhen is right. Although the economy in Southeast Asia is good at the moment, it's true that their policies are volatile, and we can't control that."

He Zheng coldly dropped one sentence: "Meeting adjourned."

The few people looked at each other, finally shook their heads, stood up, and left.

Qin Tianzhen slammed the door and walked out without looking back.

Only He Zheng and Zhang Ting remained in the conference room.

He Zheng was full of pent-up anger and cursed: "I'm just a puppet! This whole bunch are all my father's spies!"

Zhang Ting walked over, patted his shoulder lightly, and said softly: "Manager He, anger hurts the body. Everyone has a point; with real estate so hot right now, it would indeed be a pity to sell."

He Zheng turned his head and cursed: "Get lost, you're all in the same boat."

Zhang Ting rolled her eyes, then coaxed him again: "Manager He, don't be angry. How about... I accompany you to sing karaoke tonight?"

He Zheng waved his hand and said impatiently: "You go."