Chapter 26: The Ruthless Shen Yuequn

Just as Huang He and Leng Zhiruo were discussing matters concerning LY, Huang He's phone rang. Without even looking, Huang He said, "This must be Shen Yuequn calling!" He answered the call right away, and sure enough, Shen Yuequn’s voice came through.

“Chairman, I’m completely confused by what you’ve done. Please, tell me straight!” came Shen Yuequn’s helpless voice from the other end.

“Old Shen, let me ask you a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you want to keep being a salesman for Jiangnan Leather Factory, or do you want to be the general manager of our Northeast branch?” Huang He asked, laughing.

A sharp intake of breath came from the other end, as if Shen Yuequn was stunned by Huang He’s words. But Huang He continued, “You’ve noticed it yourself—the blind box sales are going much smoother than I anticipated, especially your performance. You completed your tasks exceptionally; you sold more blind boxes than anyone else. That’s why I’m giving you this opportunity!”

“I plan to invest heavily to establish our first branch in the three northeastern provinces. That’s why I spent so much money advertising on your local TV, and more marketing plans will follow. My goal is to ensure that within three months, every city in the northeast has a mobile stall belonging to us!”

“I want to make the northeast a model for our company, then use your experience as the core to expand nationwide,” Huang He said. “So this benefit is only for you, Shen Yuequn. The others in other regions still have to buy their own stock, and they won’t enjoy the branch’s perks for now!”

“Why the northeast?” Shen Yuequn sounded puzzled. “Chairman, although I’m from here, I have to say the northeast isn’t such a great place right now, not as good as the southeast…”

“Of course I know!” Huang He interrupted him. “Of course I know the southeast and coastal areas are richer, but the waters there are too deep. Right now, I can’t control things and could be overturned in an instant, never to recover.”

“That’s why your region is a good choice, one I can manage. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand!” Shen Yuequn replied, excitement in his voice.

“So, this branch needs someone to oversee everything.”

“I have high hopes for you, so I intend to let you take this position. Currently, we have 19 salespeople in the northeast, spread across 11 cities. You will be responsible for leading and managing them, overseeing shipments and collections, and handling basic tasks. But you’ll also be responsible for the company’s marketing, building the market structure, maintaining public relations, and so on. These tasks are varied and heavy. You’ll need to step back from frontline sales and focus solely on these matters. Of course, your stall can be handed over to your wife—there’s no problem there.”

“Your main job next will be to set up the branch: running procedures, renting offices, renting warehouses, and so forth. These are your tasks!”

“That’s my idea. Of course, if you’re not interested, you can keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll ask others if they’re interested,” Huang He said, speaking steadily and smoothly, without giving Shen Yuequn any chance to interrupt.

“Why me?” Shen Yuequn hesitated. “I’m just a farmer, I have no education, I barely know how to read, and I don’t understand much else. Can someone like me be a manager?”

“To be a manager, as long as you can read, that’s enough. What’s the use of education?” Huang He laughed heartily over the phone. “Old Shen, you don’t understand—the most important thing to me as chairman is not ability, but loyalty!”

“In the whole northeast, there are 19 people, but only you have followed my orders from beginning to end without discounting them. I like that very much.”

“But most importantly, you haven’t cheated a single penny from me, unlike the others, who are ungrateful wolves…” Huang He’s voice turned a bit sinister, making Shen Yuequn shiver.

“So, will you take on this task?” Huang He asked again.

“I’ll do it!” Shen Yuequn answered without hesitation. He was ambitious, and of course wouldn’t pass up such an appointment.

“Very good. Next, you face another choice!” Huang He’s voice grew curious. “You can choose to become the company manager. In that case, the branch’s expenses will be covered by headquarters, and headquarters will send a finance officer to work there. You’ll receive 10% equity in the branch, and share in the profits. As for salary, that’s three thousand yuan a month.”

“That salary isn’t important—your income depends mainly on the company’s performance!”

“Second option: you can go further. Forty percent equity in the branch will be yours, and headquarters retains sixty percent only to ensure ownership. As long as you strictly follow company pricing and marketing strategies, headquarters won’t interfere in branch operations.”

“At the same time, headquarters will only handle shipments and settle payments for goods delivered to the branch. The remainder is your income—the company won’t touch a penny!”

“But with this, headquarters won’t provide any financial support to the branch. You’ll have to cover all expenses yourself, and bear all profits and losses,” Huang He said calmly.

——————————

“What do you think Shen Yuequn will choose?” After hanging up, Huang He looked at Leng Zhiruo beside him and asked with a smile.

Shen Yuequn hadn’t answered immediately; he said he needed to think it over and would reply to Boss Huang tomorrow.

“The second!” Leng Zhiruo replied without hesitation.

“Why are you so sure?”

“I’ve heard a story about him!” Leng Zhiruo hesitated, then continued, “It was during the days he was responsible for monitoring you. He once told someone, ‘The chairman’s sister-in-law is so beautiful. If only such a woman were my wife!’”

“Oh!” Huang He raised his eyebrows and unconsciously glanced at Leng Zhiruo. Indeed, she was very beautiful, very alluring.

“So, you think he’s an ambitious man?” Huang He asked curiously.

“No! My story isn’t finished.” Leng Zhiruo shook her head. “The person then asked Shen Yuequn if he wanted to change wives. But Shen Yuequn said, ‘My wife treats me well, I wouldn’t betray her. But I’ll spend money to let her get plastic surgery, exercise, and study! I’ll make her just like Secretary Leng.’”

“Then my wife will be just as much a beauty as the chairman’s sister-in-law!”

“Damn, that’s twisted…” Huang He felt a tingling in his gums after hearing the story. Shen Yuequn was even more ambitious and ruthless than he’d imagined.

In this way, Shen Yuequn was certain to choose the second path.

“But brother-in-law, did you really have someone investigate all 19 people in the northeast?” Leng Zhiruo recalled the phone conversation and asked incredulously, “To investigate these 19 people, you’d need to send at least thirty people, costing tens of thousands. Are we really so rich that we can spend money like that?”

“No, I don’t have that much spare cash. After all, I only mortgaged my house for a million. I had someone monitor only Shen Yuequn—none of the others. But it’s easy to guess; most of them would probably try to swindle me!” Huang He toyed with the penknife in his hand.

Leng Zhiruo opened her mouth, speechless. She’d just been lamenting Shen Yuequn’s cunning, but her brother-in-law was even more devious. With a simple lie, he’d scared Shen Yuequn into honesty for at least a year, and Shen Yuequn couldn’t even spot the flaw in Huang He’s words—after all, he couldn’t possibly keep watch over the other 19 people.