Chapter 100

(Bowing in gratitude for the support of "Interpretation of Unrequited Love"!)

"Is this really true? Mr. Zhou, you're planning to set up a KTV specifically for singing, and you want me to be the general manager?" Kong Xiaolin covered her mouth with both hands, looking at Zhou Ming with disbelief.

Taking action immediately has always been Zhou Ming's style. Therefore, after discussing the ideas for the KTV and bar with Du Peng, he immediately found Kong Xiaolin to tell her about the idea and invited her to be the general manager to help him manage the nightlife venue. After listening to Zhou Ming's speech to the bank managers, Kong Xiaolin had become a huge admirer of Zhou Ming. Now, seeing that Zhou Ming was really inviting her, she couldn't believe it.

Zhou Ming nodded affirmatively and said, "Of course it's true. And in the future, this won't just be a KTV; it will also be a dance hall, a bar, and a place where all nightlife venues gather. How about it? Are you willing to help me?"

"I'm absolutely willing!" Kong Xiaolin nodded vigorously, afraid that if she nodded too slowly, Zhou Ming might change his mind.

"But I'm not an easy boss to please. I want you to integrate the brainwashing mode from last time into your daily management," Zhou Ming said to Kong Xiaolin deliberately.

Kong Xiaolin nodded and said, "No problem. After hearing your ideas last time, I was greatly inspired. I've been thinking about how to implement them. I've already created a preliminary training program, which is in my room. If you want to see it now, I can go get it right away."

"That's not necessary. As long as you feel it's not too difficult," Zhou Ming said.

Just as Zhou Ming and Kong Xiaolin were talking, the meeting room door was suddenly pushed open, and several people walked in. Zhou Ming's eyes twitched when he saw the person leading them. It was the Toyota man who had hit on Tang Ran in front of him and insulted him, and who Zhou Ming had later taught a lesson. Why was he here with a group of people? Was he looking for revenge?

Seeing this, Kong Xiaolin's face turned serious, and she stepped forward to ask, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The Toyota man looked at Kong Xiaolin with a deliberately invasive gaze, as if he were trying to strip her with his eyes, and whistled provocatively, making Kong Xiaolin clench her teeth in anger.

The Toyota man then approached Zhou Ming and said, "Mr. Zhou, it's been a while. I hope you're well?"

Kong Xiaolin, who had seen thugs before, immediately guessed the possible story when she saw the Toyota man talking to Zhou Ming. She quickly stepped in front of Zhou Ming and said to the Toyota man, "I warn you, this is the Nanhu Hotel, the best and most important hotel in Nanjiang City. If you dare to cause trouble here, I'll call the police and have you arrested!"

"Call the police? I'm so scared!" The Toyota man deliberately patted his chest in disdain and then turned his gaze to Zhou Ming. "What? Is the great Mr. Zhou, the tycoon of the business and financial world in Nanjiang City, and our development advisor, just a coward who hides behind women?"

Zhou Ming smiled and pulled Kong Xiaolin behind him. At this moment, Tang Ran and Xiao Xue also noticed the situation and stopped singing. However, they were both timid and only dared to come over and hold Zhou Ming and Du Peng's hands, not daring to stand up like Kong Xiaolin.

Zhou Ming looked at the Toyota man and the people with him and asked, "Are you here for revenge? Are you planning to break my arm or leg?"

The Toyota man sighed and shook his head, looking at Zhou Ming with disdain. "Mr. Zhou, you are a tycoon in Nanjiang City. Can't you speak with a bit more class? Your words disappoint me. Do you know why I'm here today? I'm here to thank you."

Zhou Ming said, "Thank me? What for?"

"Of course, for giving me a second chance!" The Toyota man said. "You might not know, but after you ruined me last time, my company went bankrupt. However, I was lucky to be noticed by a big boss. Now I'm the business manager of Shenzhou Real Estate! Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is Zhou Hu, and you can call me Manager Zhou."

"Alright, Manager Zhou. But I'm not interested in your story, and I've never heard of Shenzhou Real Estate. If you have something to say, say it. If not, please leave," Zhou Ming said to Zhou Hu.

Zhou Hu's lips curled in disdain. "Oh? Mr. Zhou, you're still so arrogant? Do you know you're in big trouble? I'm asking you, did you call a meeting with the bank managers in Nanjiang City to withdraw all the funds from the market?"

Zhou Ming nodded and said, "Yes, I called that meeting. How has it affected your company?"

"That's why I say you're in big trouble!" Zhou Hu said. "Our boss wants me to tell you that you made Du Peng buy and speculate on land, and after making money, you called a meeting with the bank managers to cut off the market's funds, preventing others from making money. This is very selfish. Business is about making money together! Our boss wants you to find a way to call another meeting with the bank managers to resolve this issue."

"Are you crazy? This is the city government's business. Why are you coming to me?" Tang Ran said, defending Zhou Ming.

Zhou Hu said, "Oh? Isn't this Ran Ran? Still as pure and beautiful as ever, a pleasure to look at. But some things aren't as simple as you think! And doesn't your brother Ming always say to take responsibility for your actions? Since he did this, he should be the one to resolve it."

Zhou Ming frowned and said, "Don't be a fool. What if I don't do it? What will your boss do?"

Zhou Hu looked up at Zhou Ming and said, "If you don't do it, it's a pity. Our boss says you should be careful."

"Are you done?" Zhou Ming asked. After getting a nod, he said, "If you're done, get out of here. You're an eyesore. The police will be here soon. I don't know who your boss is, but you'll definitely be in jail for a few days."

"Alright, Zhou Ming, you're still tough now. We'll see how tough you are in a few days!"

Zhou Hu left the meeting room with his people. After they left, Kong Xiaolin asked Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, should we call the police to arrest them?"

"No need, just a lunatic," Zhou Ming said. He noticed that Du Peng's expression was different and asked Tang Ran, Xiao Xue, and Kong Xiaolin to stay in the meeting room and have some food. Then he pulled Du Peng aside and asked, "What's wrong? Do you know about Shenzhou Real Estate? Is it a big deal?"

Du Peng nodded and said, "Yes, Shenzhou Real Estate was the first real estate company to follow after I sold the land. From what I know, this company is mainly responsible for the land speculation. Although it appears to be a newly registered company, its background is very powerful, more powerful than you can imagine."

Zhou Ming was surprised. He looked at Du Peng, who had a serious and earnest expression, not joking. This made Zhou Ming even more alarmed.

After all, Du Peng was a privileged youth from the capital, and if he said a company had a powerful background, it must be something significant.

Of course, this information also resolved another doubt Zhou Ming had. When he first came to Nanjiang, he had wondered why the land speculation had to be resolved through economic means and not administrative pressure on the speculating companies. Besides policy reasons, there must be another reason: the influence of Shenzhou Real Estate and its powerful background.

It was likely because of this influence that the central government had to instruct Chen Yunfei to find another solution.

Otherwise, for a matter like land speculation, a policy could have been issued to stop it, just like the real estate bubble in Qionghai a few years later, which was halted by a single policy.

Although the government had other considerations when issuing those policies, it couldn't be denied that if the government really wanted to take action, such speculative behavior could be stopped in a matter of minutes. It wouldn't be like now, where even the mayor of Nanjiang, appointed by the central government, was helpless and had to invite Zhou Ming from Linyang, even giving Du Peng a high-level reception at the train station.

All of this wasn't because the experts in the capital and Haibin were incapable, but because they had been warned by a certain power and dared not speak up. Zhou Ming was an unexpected surprise for that power.

Now, by cutting off the market's funds through a meeting with the banks, Zhou Ming had stopped the land speculation. This didn't mean the banks would take the company's money, but taking the money of other companies would have the same effect. After all, when no one in the market was willing to take over, no matter how high the land prices were, they would end up in their own hands.

It's like the stock market; no matter how high the price goes, someone has to be trapped in it. Otherwise, even the big players can't get out.

Now, these people felt their show was over, so they sent Zhou Hu to warn him.

"So if possible, it's best to avoid conflict with them," Du Peng tried to persuade Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, "But it might be too late for that now. You saw what happened just now."

"That's just his usual way of doing things. He's always so arrogant," Du Peng said.

"Alright, I understand. Let's see what happens next," Zhou Ming said, patting Du Peng. "Thank you for telling me this."

Du Peng smiled bitterly and said, "Zhou Ming, you're too formal. And I'm just a Monday morning quarterback. If I had discovered this earlier, it wouldn't have come to this. If it weren't for your current status, I could tell you more."

Zhou Ming raised his hand and said, "Forget it. Some things are better left unknown. It would affect my judgment."

At this moment, Kong Xiaolin came over cautiously and asked, "Mr. Zhou, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What could happen?" Zhou Ming said. "Alright, I'm done talking with Du Peng. Let's go inside and continue discussing the KTV and other nightlife venues."

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