Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 494: Chapter 494: President Chao Arrives

The lighting store of Dou Jiahui was causing quite a stir ever since the renovations began, and the merchants on this street couldn’t possibly ignore it.

The scale of this new shop was significant, and it was clear that no good would come from it! The big business owners instinctively rejected the newcomer.

However, they weren’t in a rush to suppress it; they needed to observe how it was run first. As long as their own niche markets weren’t directly infringed upon, naturally, someone would be unable to bear it and take initiative.

In fact, everyone expected Lan Shan to be the first one to take action.

So when the newly opened store clashed with some ruffians, it was no surprise. Who won or lost seemed normal; the real test was who would last.

The military region, provincial mobile, and China Construction sent flower baskets, which they had heard about, but that wasn’t enough to prompt them to send congratulatory baskets—it was just a formality, and not to be taken too seriously.

...

Besides, the military region had no control over local affairs, and provincial mobile and China Construction were far too distant from Yuyuan.

It wasn’t until the arrival of the city’s number one car that everyone truly realized that a dragon had crossed the river.

However, that still wasn’t enough. The key resided in how long the number one car stayed.

After the big secretary had stayed in the store for over twenty minutes, the big merchants knew they had to send flower baskets.

But Lan Shan Lighting didn’t send a flower basket.

The big secretary finally left the store at eleven-thirty, and just as he got into the car, there was the sound of gongs and drums nearby—it was Lan Shan Lighting delivering their flower basket.

He merely glanced at it and didn’t wait for the procession to approach, getting into his car and leaving.

Lan Shan Lighting had chosen this exact moment, fearing that following the crowd would render them unnoticed and worried that Dou Jiahui might cause trouble, prompting the big secretary’s intervention. So they timed it with the departure of the number one car.

The big secretary only glanced before getting into his car and driving away. As soon as the car left, the flower basket carriers reached the store’s entrance, and Dou Jiahui kicked the basket, shouting, “Get lost!”

The basket was immediately kicked apart, and the bearer, with resignation, said, “But boss, today is a day of great joy.”

At these words, Dou Jiahui grew even angrier, “Damn it, you know today’s a joyous day?”

He was about to blow up again but was restrained by others. After all, it was, indeed, a day of celebration. The incident from earlier was one thing, but for the rest, it was better to hold back, and after the celebration was over, they’d settle the score slowly.

Seeing the basket could no longer be delivered, the carriers simply threw it on the ground and walked away.

Worried that Dou Jiahui might lose his temper again, his friends quietly threw the basket into the trash.

As per tradition, a lunch was arranged at midday. Dou Jiahui hosted twenty tables at the Yunyuan Grand Hotel to treat his visiting friends.

Feng Jun and others from Luohua Manor took up a table by themselves. Other guests frequently shot glances at the table overflowing with beautiful ladies. Luckily, many of Dou Jiahui’s friends were acquainted with Feng Jun.

It wasn’t long before everyone knew that the true investor of the lighting store was Feng Jun—Dou Jiahui never concealed the source of his funding.

But it seemed that fate decided Feng Jun was not high-profile enough, and another beauty approached, “President Feng, may I sit here?”

The newcomer was none other than the business manager of Bai Ye Company, Lin Xiaojia. She had rushed here after her flight experienced air traffic control delays, just in time for the meal.

Feng Jun smiled and nodded, briefly introducing her to the others. Manager Lin was quite confident and said, “Ah, how did I unintentionally sit at this table? I thought I was quite a beauty, but now, I’m feeling quite deflated.”

The women all laughed at this, and it was Sister Hong who finally spoke up, “Manager Lin is definitely a beauty, enviable for being successful in both love and career.”

Feng Jun thought about it and agreed that none of the five women at his table—since Li Xiaobin hadn’t arrived—were faring too well in their romantic lives.

Of course, Manager Lin was unaware of these details. Blushing at Sister Hong’s reply, she collected herself and answered, “I couldn’t care less about him. I’m here to finalize next year’s partnership. The nerve of that guy telling me to think it over—infuriating indeed.”

Feng Jun jokingly responded, “He’s just trying to blackmail you, agree to marry him and next year’s deal will naturally fall into place.”

“To have me marry him?” Lin Xiaojia haughtily retorted, “Let me first assess his professional capabilities. If he can rank first among all the national prefecture-level cities, I might even pursue him.”

Lifting a hand, Feng Jun teased her, “This was supposed to be about romance, you’re being a bit utilitarian now.”

Lin Xiaojia merely shook her head with a laugh, “I don’t think I’m being utilitarian.”

Amidst the laughter, an emcee took the stage, rambled on, and announced the beginning of the banquet.

Although Feng Jun’s table was placed in a corner, it was quite lively since many of Dou Jiahui’s friends knew him. Not to mention, everyone was aware that it was through Feng Jun’s financial support that the usually destitute Dou Jiahui had managed to open this store.

Wealth in the mountain attracts distant relatives, how could a mere corner contain such fiery enthusiasm?

Classmates from elementary school came over to toast, bluntly accusing Da Pang of not sitting with them and forgetting old friends for new faces!

Feng Jun could only respond with a smile, “We are classmates, but they are my employees, so I’m really sorry.”

This response set his elementary school classmates wondering: Why did you hire so many beautiful women? And amongst them, there seemed to be… a suspiciously underage girl?

Among the eight elementary school classmates, seven left, and Lao Na pulled Feng Jun aside, whispering, “Lan Shan has a deep background, and they know they were wrong. You need to have a word with Er Pang, to forgive and forget where possible.”

“Hehe,” Feng Jun laughed noncommittally, without giving a direct answer.

At half-past twelve, new guests arrived; Chao Ying walked in with an aide.

She smiled and greeted Dou Jiahui before directly asking, “Where is Feng Jun, Boss Feng sitting?”

“President Chao, hello,” Lao Na shamelessly sidled up, “Looking for Feng Jun, right? I’ll take you to him.”

Chao Ying gave him a glance, tilting her head to think, “You’re from… Chaoyang?”

“Yes, yes,” Lao Na nodded eagerly, “I’m classmates with Dou Jiahui and Feng Jun since elementary.”

Following him, Chao Ying approached the table and despite being a well-travelled President Chao, she couldn’t help but be dazzled—where did all these beauties come from?

When Feng Jun saw her approaching, he quickly stood up, smiling in greeting, “President Chao has come as well?”

“President Feng, hello,” Chao Ying reached out her hand, smiling as they shook hands, then sized him up, “TSk-tsk, becoming more handsome. Too bad I don’t have a second daughter.”

“President Chao jokes,” Feng Jun laughed lightly, “Being handsome is just a minor advantage, I really don’t care much about it.”

Chao Ying was amused by his humor, “These young people nowadays are really humorous… May I join this table for a bit?”

Just as President Chao made her entrance, a top-ranking secretary answered a call, “What? That woman is Feng Jun’s employee?”

Calling them employees was just Feng Jun’s way of dealing with his elementary school classmates, mainly because there was no need to elaborate.

But after his classmates returned to their seats, they definitely had to remark—was this guy hiring based on looks?

Some also said, hiring based on looks is fine, but you must be able to actually hire them, and those women’s salaries definitely weren’t low.

However, no one doubted Feng Jun’s words; none of the women objected, which made it obvious.

The word spread, and many guests came to know that those beauties were all subordinates of President Feng.

Among these guests were those who could pass the word to the top secretary, who indeed was inquiring about this matter.

When he heard that the person who could make the Gu Family send greetings was actually Feng Jun’s subordinate, you can imagine the shock in his heart.

After much thought, he finally decided, “I should find a time to mention this to the leadership.”

Eventually, Chao Ying ended up at the same table as Feng Jun, also asking him to introduce everyone present.

Feng Jun certainly wouldn’t go into detail with the introductions, “This is Sister Hong,” “This is Cai Xin,” “This is Teacher Mei,” “This is Director Yang.”

Chao Ying observed everyone carefully, wondering to herself: Who had invited the Number One car over?

But all the women maintained their composure well in front of President Chao, especially Sister Hong and Director Yang, who, although smiling and nodding, even exhibited a subtle and almost imperceptible detachment in their manners.

It wasn’t arrogance, just detachment.

The perceptive President Chao detected the accent of Yang Yuxin; in fact, the title “Director” was already quite suspicious.

She couldn’t help but ask outright, “Director Yang is from the capital city?”

“I’m from the capital,” Yang Yuxin glanced at her, recalling the joke Feng Jun had made earlier, then added, “Currently running errands for President Feng.”

Seeing her cool demeanor, President Chao didn’t ask further, but she kept it in mind.

After a satisfying meal, Chao Ying glanced at Feng Jun, “President Feng, shall we find a place to chat?”

Feng Jun couldn’t be bothered to look for another place, “I’ve just opened a presidential suite, let’s go up.”

The presidential suite at Yunyuan Grand Hotel actually housed five women, as Teacher Mei’s Spirit Stone had to be kept close; Gu Jiahui felt uncomfortable even slightly away from it, and Zhang Caixin was also ill at ease.

The famed daughter-in-law of the Gu Family had managed to involve the Number One figure of Yunyuan City, who was actually sleeping on a sofa in the presidential suite.

Feng Jun could invite President Chao to his luxury business suite, but it seemed inappropriate for a man and woman alone, and also somewhat lacking in prestige, for his parents were still in Chaoyang; the more he could show off his own presence, the better his parents’ lives would be.

Upon arriving at the presidential suite, the other five women also came in, leaving President Chao somewhat stunned: wasn’t this guy… a bit too dissipated?

Teacher Mei and Director Yang went to make tea for everyone, while Sister Hong, Zhang Caixin, and Gu Jiahui just sat there, watching the two of them.

“It’s fine, no one is an outsider here,” Feng Jun declared with a smile, and then pulled out a cigarette; Sister Hong, leaning forward, sparked the lighter for him.

Feng Jun took a drag and asked, “May I know what directions President Chao has for me?”