The Art of Teasing - Chapter 172

Chapter 172

Wen Zhengyu deeply respected capable people and also liked those who did solid work. She didn't think there was anything wrong with having ideals and ambitions.

Ye Ling was precisely the sort of person who wanted to build a career. Lian Xin, with such a deep family foundation, still wanted to expand his business overseas. Ma Lu was an orphan, with no inheritance left by parents or family, and he had a simple, honest younger brother who didn't seem destined for great things to look after. He had led a group of brothers through years of life-and-death situations, earning money with his life—it would be abnormal if he didn't want to build a career.

But in conducting oneself and doing business, one still had to look at character.

When people interacted, it really just came down to whether they got along or not.

She had also never imagined that she and Ma Lu could share the same life-risking, dedicated work relationship he had once had with her maternal grandmother. Her grandmother had a bond with Ma Lu, having taken him in and mentored him, and could be considered a half-parental figure. Grandmother was Grandmother; she was herself. She and Ma Lu had known each other for less than half a year, and the number of times they had met was even fewer. There was a certain connection between them; compared to the ordinary boss-employee relationship, hers with Ma Lu was slightly more complex and relatively closer. An ordinary employee wouldn't care whether the boss was foolish or not, going so far as to risk suspicion just to fight for a few cents of profit for a boss whose mind wasn't too sharp. Yet Ma Lu could fight for this profit for her, but also had calculations involving the oil field project. Wen Zhengyu wanted to have a good talk with him and see exactly what the situation was.

She kept Ma Lu back, and they moved to the tea room, sitting down for a slow conversation.

She first asked Ma Lu about his thoughts and plans for the future.

Ma Lu was a little surprised and didn't quite understand why Wen Zhengyu was suddenly asking about these things. He was currently following Wen Zhengyu's lead, and their entire group hadn't earned a single cent up to now, relying on the money Wen Zhengyu provided to get by. Wen Zhengyu had full authority to make decisions; even if she wanted to replace people at the security company, he couldn't say anything.

Ma Lu felt quite ashamed and said, "I want to earn money first. At least earn enough to cover everyone's salaries and daily operating expenses, so we don't let Miss Zhengyu's invested money go to waste."

Wen Zhengyu was stunned for a moment, then said, "I thought you wanted to build the security company into a multinational enterprise."

Ma Lu's face flushed red all the way to the base of his neck. Not daring to lift his head, he said, "I do think that. Anyone who opens a company wants to make it bigger and better. But right now..."

Wen Zhengyu looked at Ma Lu in confusion and asked, "There are difficulties?"

Ma Lu said, "The demand for security services domestically is quite different from overseas. Many clients, upon hearing that our brothers used to escort shipments in war zones and fought real gun battles against looters, wave their hands and leave. They say their requirements for bodyguards are just being able to drive, understanding some etiquette and reception protocols, and knowing a bit of martial arts to protect them when danger arises—that's enough."

"Occasionally, there are one or two clients willing to use our bodyguards, but as soon as they hear our quoted prices, they wave their hands and leave."

"The major clients who need bodyguards following them year-round and can afford the price all have their own bodyguard teams."

Ma Lu glanced furtively at Wen Zhengyu, his head drooping even lower, and said, "Since opening, only Fourth Master and CEO Ye have made a gesture—just two deals."

Wen Zhengyu held her forehead. "So that's why you want to expand the company's business into the Middle East?"

Ma Lu nodded. "It's familiar territory over there." Actually, people had privately asked them whether they would take on certain kinds of jobs, but the entire Lian family, young and old, was over here, and everything prioritized stability. They would rather lose money than dare to earn money that wasn't entirely clean here. Fourth Master and Eighth Miss both did business strictly by the rules; Seventh Master had nearly had his leg broken just for playing cards. They naturally didn't dare to take the slightest liberty.

Wen Zhengyu said, "You're no longer working for your previous security company. If you go back there, wouldn't there be issues like business competition?"

Ma Lu said, "The security department I worked for before was an internal department of the group, only responsible for handling matters within the group. We didn't take outside business."

Wen Zhengyu pondered this, glancing at Ma Lu. Seeing his teacup was still full, she invited him to drink his tea.

Ma Lu drained his tea, and Wen Zhengyu refilled it for him.

She lifted her own tea and took a slow, leisurely sip, then said unhurriedly, "The dangers of doing security work over there—you know them better than I do. If you're reluctant to give up the network and foundation you built over there before and want to go back to develop there, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to keep you here." As she spoke, she saw Ma Lu's fingers tremble slightly, as if he was a little startled. She pretended not to notice and continued, "If it's a matter of business development being difficult domestically and being unable to get work, that's actually a minor issue."

Ma Lu immediately felt his Eighth Miss was speaking a bit too glibly, as if it cost her nothing. But since he was eating from Eighth Miss's bowl, even if she said the moon was black, he could only keep silent.

Wen Zhengyu asked again, "If you could turn a profit domestically, would you still want to go back and develop in the Middle East?"

Ma Lu said, "If we could become profitable domestically, and if funding is sufficient, I'd want to build a training ground over there for simulated live-combat training." Then he thought about the profit situation, and mentioning this, he couldn't even lift his head.

Wen Zhengyu asked, "And taking on contracts?"

Ma Lu said, "The brothers would still like to make a stable living. But if there's really no way..." He sighed, head lowered. "Ah..." Thinking of returning to the Middle East, to those days when he dared not close his eyes to sleep and his ears were filled with gunfire even in his dreams, his hands, resting on his legs, unconsciously pressed down tight.

Wen Zhengyu said, "If you want to set up the company in the Middle East, without asking Lian Zhang and the others for help, it would be very difficult to gain a foothold. And if you do ask them, you'd be operating under my name, but I've never considered developing in that direction, and I don't want to trouble them even less."

Ma Lu immediately realized he had caused trouble by acting on his own and promptly stood up.

Wen Zhengyu said, "Sit."

Ma Lu sat back down.

After talking for so long, Wen Zhengyu had a bit of a headache and felt a little dizzy. She rested her elbow on the armrest and propped her forehead on her hand. "If you don't want to return to the Middle East, then stay here in the country at ease and make a stable living. You know how to recruit and train security guards, right?"

Ma Lu nodded. "Yes."

Wen Zhengyu said, "If the bodyguard business is hard to do, you can first start the security guard business. Companies and enterprises all need security guards—the scope of business would be much broader. You start training security guards first. For those companies under my name, when their security contracts expire, I won't renew with them; I'll use your people. You can also discuss business with Ye Ling and Lian Xin on their side. However, since you've established a security company, rely on your own skills to earn money—you can't use my name. Business should be done as business. Even with my other companies, it'll be conducted as corporate cooperation. If you do worse than other security companies, I'll replace you just the same."

Ma Lu responded with a resounding, "Yes! We'll definitely do it well."

Wen Zhengyu gave a soft "Mm," then her tone shifted. "As for that Middle East oil field project, I don't know how Ye Ling and Brother Xin are considering it. If Ye Ling and Brother Xin go to the Middle East and need to use you, your responsibility is to protect them well—don't get involved in the oil field project."

Ma Lu nodded in agreement.

Wen Zhengyu added, "In the future, if for some reason I can't come out to handle affairs and you have matters requiring instructions, report to Brother Xin and Ye Ling simultaneously. Don't go to one after the other anymore."

Ma Lu replied, "Yes."

Wen Zhengyu said, "If there's nothing else, go on and get busy." As she spoke, she slowly stood up.

Ma Lu saw her sway slightly as she rose and quickly reached out to support her.

Wen Zhengyu had been rushing around all day, had come home and been busy up until now—she was indeed a bit dizzy and foggy-headed. She rubbed her forehead. "It's nothing. Just a bit tired. I'll be fine after resting." She paused, then said gently, "Now that you're back, work with peace of mind. A business just starting out—it's normal to encounter difficulties. Earning a bit or losing a bit doesn't matter, but you mustn't go down crooked paths."

Ma Lu agreed. "I remember."

Seeing Wen Zhengyu walking a little unsteadily, he escorted her all the way to the entrance of the small courtyard. When he saw Ye Ling come out to meet her, he greeted Ye Ling and only then turned to leave.

Passing through the outer courtyard, he saw Zhuo Yao leaning by the doorway and walked over.

Zhuo Yao asked, "You weren't dealt with by Miss Zhengyu, were you?"

Ma Lu said, "No. How is Miss Zhengyu's health?" Judging from the way she spoke, brewed tea, and arranged matters, she seemed to have recovered quite well, which put him slightly at ease. Wen Zhengyu had cultivated him like this—giving money when he needed money, people when he needed people, things when he needed things. When business was tough and couldn't get off the ground, she gave him business. Aside from matters of principle, she didn't interfere with him, letting him do things his way. Someone who could treat a subordinate to this extent—aside from her, he hadn't seen a second one.

Zhuo Yao said, "She's alright. Spent two days running around for that miserable oil field project of yours. Still recovering from an injury, you know—CEO Ye doesn't dare let her get tired, and you've had her running in circles."

Ma Lu's scalp instantly tightened, and he knew he had done things carelessly, caused a mess, and Miss Zhengyu had taken it upon herself to handle it for him. He nodded and left.

Wen Zhengyu and Ye Ling returned to their room, where she immediately curled up on the Arhat Bed, head aching and dizzy.

Ye Ling saw Wen Zhengyu was uncomfortable, so she arranged the throw pillows to let her lean more comfortably.

Wen Zhengyu shifted into a comfortable position, leaned for a few minutes, and recovered just a tiny bit before saying to Ye Ling, "Do you know why Ma Lu was organizing that oil project?"

Ye Ling asked, "Why?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "His business domestically couldn't go on. Since opening, he's only had two deals—one from Brother Xin, one from you."

Ye Ling: "..." She asked in detail about Wen Zhengyu's conversation with Ma Lu. Upon learning that Wen Zhengyu had actually told Ma Lu to establish a security guard team, she mulled it over and said, "It works too. Better to keep the benefits within one's own circle." She paused, then added, "You're silly. How much does hiring a security guard cost per month? The sum total of one company's security guards for a year is just that pittance. It can't sustain that company's overhead, and it also wastes all his high-precision equipment. He's going to have to figure out how to make money again." The money Wen Zhengyu had given Ma Lu had basically all been invested in equipment. On top of that, the security upgrades to Wen Zhengyu's vehicles and this residence had also cost a considerable sum. The very fact that Ma Lu had been able to scheme about the oil field project to this extent showed that he was likely facing significant financial pressure.

Wen Zhengyu looked at Ye Ling, puzzled.

Ye Ling glanced at Wen Zhengyu. "The kind of full-spectrum security arrangement you have—very few people can really afford it. Just break it down into individual components and sell them separately. For example: vehicle modification services, adding safety protection to cars; or home and residence security systems; electronic device anti-surveillance systems—just do them as individual projects. If clients are afraid to hire them because they fear the bodyguards might cause fatalities and get them entangled in lawsuits and disputes, you can sign client liability waivers. But those are all hard-earned money—with a waiver signed, the security company takes the fall, and it might even implicate you here. It's fine not to do that part either."

Wen Zhengyu stared at Ye Ling blankly. Suddenly, in the space between herself and Ye Ling, she saw the gap between a security operative and high-tech strategy.

Ye Ling realized that when these tech-focused types ventured out to start businesses, nearly all of them would run into the problem of business development shortcomings.

No matter. This was her specialty.

She said to Wen Zhengyu, "Give me thirty percent of the security company's shares. I guarantee they'll be profitable within a year."

Wen Zhengyu grabbed the phone and immediately called Ma Lu back.

After Wen Zhengyu finished the call, Ye Ling rubbed Wen Zhengyu's head and said, "In the future, don't casually give advice to your subordinates like that. You'll end up losing so much you won't even have underwear to wear." Wen Zhengyu had told bodyguards starting at a daily rate of five thousand yuan to train security guards earning a monthly salary of three thousand, and Ma Lu had agreed to do it. From this, Ye Ling could see just how naive one was and how desperate the other was. Of course, for Wen Zhengyu's face, the security guard team absolutely had to be established. Once set up, it could save some costs here and there, more or less. That small amount of money was better earned by their own security company than given to another. Nowadays, you could just give a fifty- or sixty-year-old grandpa a security uniform and put him on duty—it required no difficulty at all.

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