"Damn it!"
Murong Ba threw his phone to the ground and stomped on it twice.
"I'm not as good as Lu Ming?"
"I, Murong Ba, am inferior to a grave-keeper nobody?"
Furious, Murong Ba paced back and forth in the room, smashing everything he could. He even kicked the sofa, going on a rampage like a Siberian husky.
The surrounding servants hid by the doorway, terrified and not daring to approach.
After a long while.
The strategist Qiu Zhen coughed forcefully and said, "Master Ba, things aren't completely hopeless yet. We still have a sliver of hope."
Murong Ba roared, "Hope for what? Lu Ming somehow found ten national treasures to back him up. Kaiyuan Jewelry now has the people and the money. Liang Ren is giving him special treatment. If we even say a word against him, we'll be accused of not valuing Shanghai's future! Lu Ming has seized the moral high ground and is using my own methods against me. Damn this scoundrel, he's making me so angry!"
Growing angrier, Murong Ba delivered another kick, sending the office desk several meters back.
Seeing this.
Qiu Zhen gestured to the people at the door, signaling them to leave. They all obediently departed and closed the door.
Qiu Zhen walked over and righted the sofa, then said, "Master Ba, if I say there's a sliver of hope, then there is. I've been with you for so long, when have I ever lied?"
Having vented his frustration, Murong Ba calmed down slightly.
He slumped onto the dilapidated sofa and asked, "Then tell me, what can I do now to turn this situation around?"
Qiu Zhen glanced around, then leaned closer to Murong Ba and whispered, "The solution is simple, isn't it? Just use the two sets of orders you previously issued, the overt and covert ones?"
Overt and covert orders. Murong Ba narrowed his eyes, thinking back carefully.
There was indeed such a thing.
At the time, Murong Ba had issued two sets of orders. On the surface, he used higher welfare benefits to lure talents, while secretly dispatching thugs to threaten and intimidate them.
Qiu Zhen continued, "We'll use these two tactics again. First, we'll find all ten top talents and offer them even better benefits to entice them to join us. If they refuse, we'll employ the second tactic: we'll eliminate them all discreetly!"
Eliminate them all?
That was a bit ruthless.
Even for someone as brutal as Murong Ba, a chill ran down his spine.
These ten talents held positions of significant importance. They were all nationally protected individuals, not easy to get rid of. Doing so would undoubtedly cause immense social upheaval.
For one thing, Liang Ren would never allow it!
Qiu Zhen sensed his worry and said softly, "A true man is ruthless! If Lu Ming has already bullied us this far, and we don't retaliate, they will only bully us more severely in the future! While Lu Ming and his ilk haven't truly grown too powerful yet, Master Ba, let's go all out. If all else fails, we can flee back to Jinling and seek protection from your sister, General Murong."
Murong Ba nodded. At this point, there was no other way.
This was the only method that could salvage the situation and prevent the impending collapse.
He waved his hand. "Fine, I'll do it! Damn it, Lu Ming, you're forcing me to do this! You're forcing me!"
...
Meanwhile, at the Xiao family residence.
Jiang Mengxin was still in a state of disbelief. First, she had signed employment agreements with the ten top talents, and then she had signed a cooperation agreement for the 996 project with Ma Tengyun.
The signing of these two agreements meant that Kaiyuan Jewelry was set to soar.
The Jiang family would then be firmly established in Shanghai!
It felt wonderful.
The problem was, it all felt like a dream, so unreal.
Jiang Mengxin called Lu Ming over and whispered, "Honestly, what method did you use to invite these ten national treasure-level experts?"
Lu Ming smiled slightly. "My friend, who's a black market intermediary, invited them."
"Don't play dumb with me!" Jiang Mengxin said sternly, "I'm asking you seriously, answer me truthfully!"
Lu Ming had anticipated that Jiang Mengxin would probe for details.
If she didn't get a clear explanation, with her timid and suspicious nature, she wouldn't dare to fully utilize these ten individuals.
So.
Lu Ming chuckled and leaned close to Jiang Mengxin's ear, whispering, "Do you know what I used to do?"
Jiang Mengxin rolled her eyes. "Aren't you just a grave-keeper?"
Lu Ming nodded. "Yes, I'm a grave-keeper, but do you know I didn't guard just any graves? The cemetery I guarded was a high-class cemetery!"
Jiang Mengxin was speechless.
A high-class cemetery?
So what?
In the end, he was still a grave-keeper, wasn't he?
Does working at a five-star hotel make you superior to working at a roadside greasy spoon? Hmph.
Lu Ming continued, "There was a fire accident at the cemetery I guarded. Many graves were burned, and the ashes and urns were destroyed. During that fire, I managed to rescue many urns. These ten talents' urns were among those rescued!"
What?
Jiang Mengxin said, "Because you saved the urns of their deceased relatives back then, they owe you a favor and are now repaying you?"
Lu Ming burst into laughter. "Yes! But not entirely. On one hand, it's to repay me for saving the urns back then. On the other hand, they themselves wanted to participate in such a great project as 996, and the salary we offered was much higher than what they earned before. It benefits them and benefits us, and it aligns with their interests. So, why wouldn't they come?"
With that explanation, Jiang Mengxin was more inclined to accept.
She nodded. "I see. It seems you, the damn grave-keeper, aren't entirely useless. At least you can connect with some high-society individuals. Regardless, I owe it to you that I've overcome this crisis."
As she spoke, Jiang Mengxin handed Lu Ming a card.
She said, "Here's thirty thousand. It's a reward for your hard work. Go buy yourself something nice to eat."
Lu Ming smiled. "Then thank you, my dear wife, for your generosity."
Huh?
My dear wife?
Jiang Mengxin froze. Although the term was normal, it was the first time Lu Ming had ever called her that.
For some reason, Jiang Mengxin's face instantly turned red.
Shyness?
Or anger?
Jiang Mengxin glared at Lu Ming and chided him, "Don't push your luck. We're not legally married, so I'm not your wife. Don't call me that."
Lu Ming coughed awkwardly. He had gotten carried away and said that word impulsively.
The atmosphere became a little ambiguous and awkward.
Just then.
Xiao Zhan rushed in, his expression tense. "President Jiang, Brother Lu, something's happened! Murong Ba has sent an invitation for a banquet to entertain the ten top talents!"