Chapter 033: The Gentleman First, the Villain Later—An Overwhelming Assault of Wealth

Since his opponent had come to him so courteously, Zhang Tianfeng was determined to show him proper respect. Even if the other party planned to act noble now and treacherous later, he wouldn’t embarrass them. In the realm of business, it’s not all about fighting and conquest; much depends on social etiquette and human relations, which, when used wisely, can spare one a great deal of trouble.

He fetched two bottles of cold drinks, then sat down and asked, “Mr. Xu, I suppose your company’s expansion strategy is simply to rely on financial muscle?”

“Exactly. In an era where time is even more valuable than money, throwing cash at problems may seem crude, but it’s the most effective approach,” Xu Juncong replied. “Yuanli Group has used this method to secure manpower resources in twelve coastal cities. Tangwan Town is a key strategic location for us—we absolutely will not abandon it, so…”

“Just tell me how much you intend to offer,” Zhang Tianfeng cut in, slicing through the negotiation with directness.

“It’s always easier talking with smart people.” Xu Juncong smiled, lowering his head. “As long as you’re willing to leave this industry, our company is prepared to pay you fifty thousand.”

“This… Isn’t that a bit insulting? You think fifty thousand is enough to get rid of me? It should be at least five million,” Zhang Tianfeng retorted, baring his teeth. It was the first time he’d ever felt so belittled.

“Five million? You certainly dare to dream!” Xu Juncong said. “This is a special offer, because you helped us clear out Tang Liqi and his riffraff. If it were anyone else, we wouldn’t offer a single cent—we’d simply crush them with the weight of a big corporation.”

“Business warfare is even more ruthless than the battlefield; defeat can come in the blink of an eye. You wouldn’t want all your hard-earned money to go up in smoke, would you?”

Trying to intimidate me because I’m young? You’ve got the wrong man.

“Let’s fight, then. We’ll settle a couple of rounds first, and discuss the rest later.” Zhang Tianfeng stood, gesturing politely to the door. “Mr. Xu, if you come to negotiate with me again, my asking price will be ten times higher—five million becomes fifty million. Think carefully.”

What an arrogant young man, talking about fifty million! Even five hundred would be too much!

Suppressing his anger, Xu Juncong pulled a small booklet from his pocket and placed it on the table. “This is our company’s final gesture of goodwill. If you change your mind, contact me anytime.”

Inside the booklet was an introduction to Yuanli Group. It described a company fostered by the Deep City Labor Bureau, boasting powerful backing and abundant capital. It listed the number of enterprises served, the tally of steady partners, and the size of its brand reputation. It never declared outright how formidable they were, but every page flaunted their strength.

“Hah, anyone can talk big. Who do they think I am?” Zhang Tianfeng thought. The economic reforms had been underway for nearly a year, and the human resources market was a complete mess—especially in coastal cities, where people flowed in and out constantly. Even the president of Yuanli Group probably didn’t know how many sharks lurked in these murky waters.

“Boss, Yuanli Group is indeed formidable. My father mentioned their business model is rather innovative, probably guided by some high-level expert from Hong Kong,” Gao Ran said, entering.

Zhang Tianfeng cooled his hands with the cold drink. “No matter how ingenious their ideas, they can’t escape the need for money. I’ll just focus on making money myself.”

“Wrestling with such a giant, the million you earned from my father probably won’t last,” Gao Ran said with a smile.

“We’ll see. I still have about four hundred thousand on hand. We’ll deal with it once it’s gone,” Zhang Tianfeng replied, entirely unconcerned about Xu Juncong and Yuanli Group.

“What? Only forty-odd thousand left? Didn’t my dad just give you a million?”

“Isn’t money meant to be spent?”

“Where did you spend it?”

“Do I need to tell you?”

Gao Ran was left speechless, venting her frustration on the tables and chairs.

...

The next day, Zhang Tianfeng went to inspect the new shop. With limited funds, he had purchased a smaller property to prevent competitors from buying up their leased locations. The new store was still under renovation; all the blueprints and design styles had been personally drafted by Zhang Tianfeng, with Qin Yuelan coordinating the construction.

“Boss, have some water,”

Seeing Zhang Tianfeng arrive, Red Hair, who had been daydreaming, offered him a bottle of chilled mineral water.

“Thanks. What time did you all get here?”

“Around six. Sister Lan said we needed to start early today; the sun delays construction, so we came ahead of schedule.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Red Hair was surprised by the appreciation, shaking his head. “Boss, you’re too polite. Working for you is what we should do.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a familiar Hong Kong pop tune began to play nearby, a modified version mixed with gongs and firecrackers. Uniformed staff in matching T-shirts and trousers appeared on the street, each carrying a thick stack of flyers.

“Hiring, hiring! Free consultations for workers, free job placement, don’t miss out as you pass by!”

“You look like a cultured gentleman—surely you’re a highly educated talent. Yuanli Group values graduates like you, offering management roles in state-owned enterprises and well-paying positions in foreign firms. Would you like to take a look?” A young woman approached, handing a flyer to Zhang Tianfeng with a smile.

“Xiaoyue, he’s not looking for a job—he’s the boss of Bo Le, here to inspect his business.”

The girl paused, hurriedly retrieving the flyer, and left to join her colleagues in promoting nearby.

“This is… rather amusing.”

“Boss, it’s not amusing—it’s outrageous!” Red Hair grumbled. “Yesterday we bought this place, and they immediately bought up the shops on either side, renovated overnight, and showed up at dawn to steal our business.”

“Isn’t this disturbing the neighborhood?” It was only seven-thirty; factories hadn’t opened yet, and residents should be protesting.

“Disturbing? They think a little cash makes them untouchable. They called all the protestors over and gave each a hundred yuan. A few thousand later, the whole issue was settled.”

Red Hair was furious. At first, he thought the crowd would smash Yuanli Group’s operation, but instead, they left laughing with their payout. Now, even if Yuanli played funeral music at midnight, no one would object.

“Red Hair, remember this: since the birth of money, in any era, nothing can be done without it.”

“But watching them throw money around so carelessly—it’s infuriating!”

Zhang Tianfeng smiled softly, patting Red Hair’s shoulder. “Just work diligently, and soon you’ll experience what that feels like.”

“Alright, thank you, boss. I’ll get back to work.” Red Hair left with a smile, and Zhang Tianfeng lingered for a while.

This was the main road to the factories; Xu Juncong had bought up all the strategic spots—street corners, bus stops, hotel intersections, even the market.

‘Money is wonderful, but I’m not taking the bait. Let’s see what you can do!’

Xu Juncong’s arrival hadn’t caused Zhang Tianfeng much trouble. The intermediary market was lucrative at the moment; as soon as one fell, a crowd rushed in to fill the vacancy. Xu Juncong was better than Tang Liqi and his ilk, at least a few notches higher, creating fewer headaches for Zhang Tianfeng.

As for business strategies, there was no need for immediate response.

Zhang Tianfeng had his own plan; for now, he would proceed steadily and surely.