“Indeed, it’s him. I never thought Sun Xipeng would have the guts to try to ruin us,” Li Feng said, a hint of admiration in his tone. If he hadn’t had enough funds, Xiangfeng Investment Company would have been finished.
Initially, he thought this was tied to Li Quan and his group, who had been targeting him for a long time. But now, it seemed unlikely. If Li Quan was behind it, their actions would be redundant.
Analysing Li Quan’s moves, they wanted to take over Xiangfeng Investment Company, while Sun Xipeng clearly aimed to destroy it. Their methods were different.
Li Feng even wondered how Li Quan would react if Sun Xipeng succeeded. Would they turn on Sun Xipeng?
At the same time, Li Feng was secretly alarmed. He had many enemies: Li Quan’s group, Sun Xipeng’s group. It felt like the whole world was against him.
“Then let them pay the price,” Hu Yuanyuan said, her eyes flashing with resolve. She regained her strong-willed nature. If it was a fight they wanted, she was ready. Xiangfeng was her life’s work, and she wouldn’t let anyone touch it.
“Exactly, bring it on. What’s there to fear?” Li Feng nodded. He wasn’t one to back down. If Sun Xipeng dared target Xiangfeng, he’d pay.
“This time, I’ll swallow Sun Group and that three billion,” Li Feng said ambitiously.
Hu Yuanyuan looked at him in surprise. Though he’d mentioned it before, she didn’t expect him to aim so big.
“Are you sure? The twenty-something billion I have isn’t nearly enough,” she said. She’d held stocks worth over ten billion, usable in a pinch, plus Li Feng’s twenty-something billion, enough to challenge Sun Group. But after the brokerage forced liquidation and the three-hundred-million fine from the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission, they were left with just Li Feng’s funds.
“Don’t worry, I’m absolutely certain,” Li Feng said, a glint in his eyes. “My only concern is the force behind Sun Xipeng. It’s far stronger than him. From the investment department’s mass resignation to the brokerage and bank’s reactions, and now the commission’s fine, it’s a massive operation. If it was just Sun Xipeng, I could crush him with one finger.”
“Who could it be?”
“Their methods are covert. I can’t trace them yet,” Li Feng shook his head, frustrated by being in the dark.
“Because of this force, we must be cautious, or we’ll fail,” Li Feng said gravely. “From their relentless moves, they’ll strike again soon. If I’m right, the next target is our smart chip factory.”
Hu Yuanyuan’s face shifted. The new Smart One chip technology, recently designated as their top secret, was coveted by many. Sun Xipeng’s group wouldn’t overlook it.
“Don’t worry. Even if Smart One falls into their hands, they can’t produce it unless they steal our factory’s machines,” Li Feng said coldly, a chill in his eyes. “If it comes to that, I’ll blow up the machines.”
Without his consent, no one would take what was his. In his past life, he lived for country and people. This time, he’d live for himself.
He’d never let his possessions fall into others’ hands unless he allowed it. Anyone trying would pay dearly.
“When do we fight back?” Hu Yuanyuan wasn’t surprised. As a scion of a prominent family, she was taught to prioritise family interests. Smart One was Li Feng’s, and without his approval, no one could touch it.
“No rush. I want to see who else jumps out,” Li Feng said, a glint in his eyes. “This time, I’ll take down everyone who emerges.”
“Next, you stay at the company, respond passively to all emergencies, even seek help from others,” Li Feng told Hu Yuanyuan.
“You mean…” Hu Yuanyuan looked at him in shock.
Li Feng uttered eight words, “Openly repair the plank road, secretly cross Chencang.”
As expected, the next day, the Smart One factory faced trouble. The Tianhai City Health Bureau, Industry and Commerce Bureau, and Tax Bureau launched a joint surprise inspection, nitpicking and ordering Hu Yuanyuan to shut down for rectification.
Though prepared, Hu Yuanyuan was furious. In all her years running the company, she’d never faced such an aggressive onslaught. She nearly lost her temper.
Fortunately, she remembered Li Feng’s plan and, with a grim face, ordered the factory to comply.
“President Hu, this can’t go on. The company’s in chaos, and something big will happen,” Xu Qing said as soon as Hu Yuanyuan sat down back at the company.
The company’s stocks were down to a few tens of millions, and the Smart One factory was halted. Employees were whispering about bankruptcy.
“We must hold on,” Hu Yuanyuan said, glancing at Xu Qing. “Announce that this month’s salaries will be doubled to reassure employees. The company will overcome this.”
“President Hu…” Xu Qing hesitated. With the company’s situation, doubling salaries was unsustainable.
“Do as I say. The difficulties are temporary,” Hu Yuanyuan said calmly. She had to follow Li Feng’s plan, hoping he wouldn’t let her down.
Xu Qing looked at Hu Yuanyuan in surprise. Despite the company’s crises, Hu Yuanyuan remained composed, as if everything was under control.
Xu Qing recalled when she first joined Xiangfeng. Hu Yuanyuan’s calm leadership had built the company to its current scale.
Surely, President Hu had a plan. With her intelligence and sharp judgment, how could she not? If she had no strategy, how could she be so calm?
Excited, Xu Qing anticipated how Hu Yuanyuan would turn the tide.
“President Hu, I know what to do,” Xu Qing said, her spirits lifted, shedding her earlier anxiety.
