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Chapter 524: Initial Plans
Chapter 524: Initial Plans
Lu Jiaxin had originally planned to bring Lao Geng to Hong Kong City after the new year, but plans often change. Now, they were meeting at her home in City 49 instead.
When Lu Jiaxin saw Lao Geng, she was surprised. "Lao Geng, you're not what I expected," she said with a smile.
In her imagination, Lao Geng was a burly, robust man—the type who would navigate the gray areas of life. However, the man before her was rather slender, and his face bore a gentle smile when he wasn't speaking. Yet, his eyes held a sense of calm that could only come from a life filled with experiences.
"Boss, you're more beautiful than I imagined as well," Lao Geng said with a smile.
He had inquired about Lu Jiaxin's background and learned that she was only twenty years old and had already made a substantial deal before moving to Hong Kong City. With the profits from that deal, she had built a fortune worth hundreds of millions in less than four years. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a business legend. Yet, she maintained a low profile; the entertainment magazines in Hong Kong City only had a few years' old photos of her. Compared to three years ago, Lu Jiaxin was now a stunningly beautiful woman with a captivating aura.
After some pleasantries, Lu Jiaxin cut straight to the point. "I had someone look into it, and the scumbag who killed your sister has a powerful background. You can't deal with him yet," she said.
He had plotted to burn the people who killed his parents alive and had waited several years to disable his brother-in-law. While he had taken his revenge, his methods were too simple and violent. This scumbag had connections, and if he were to use similar means of retaliation, there was no doubt that the scumbag would escape unscathed. This was also the reason why Lu Jiaxin hadn't shared the culprit's information with him.
"Who is it?" he asked.
Lu Jiaxin didn't answer his question directly. Instead, she said, "If you just kill him, you'll be doing him a favor. He needs to be ruined, left with nothing, for you to find relief."
"Miss Lu," Lao Geng said, "you mentioned that this scumbag has connections."
Lu Jiaxin chuckled. "Have you ever heard the saying, 'Money can make the devil turn the grindstone'? Besides, if you kill him, his family will be untouched, and they can turn around and take revenge on you. But if he's ruined and disgraced, losing everything, those who protected him will also be implicated, ensuring your safety."
The despicable man deserved to die, but those who shielded him were equally hateful.
After hearing these words, Lao Geng asked directly, "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to form a caravan," Lu Jiaxin said, "and only do business with the Russians. Make it big and strong."
Lao Geng looked at her and said, "The border trade with Russia is profitable, but compared to your business, it's small change. Miss Lu, what is your ultimate goal?"
"The Western powers have their eyes on this behemoth," Lu Jiaxin explained, "and I want to tag along and get a share of the spoils. So, while you're doing business, I hope you can also gather information."
"What kind of information?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled. "There are no restrictions. Political, economic, cultural, celebrity gossip—anything goes. Also, I have a fondness for antiques, paintings, and all sorts of jewels. You can help me gather information on those as well. When the time is right, I'll find someone to buy these treasures."
The only situation in which one would sell their family heirlooms is when their life is at stake and they face an uncertain future. Lao Geng was quick to understand. "Do you think there will be a war in the Soviet Union?" he asked.
Only in such a scenario would the privileged class sell their treasured possessions. Otherwise, they would continue to oppress and exploit the common people.
Lu Jiaxin nodded slightly. "Yes, the internal conflicts within the Soviet Union are intensifying, but they're still manageable for now. However, the Western powers will secretly stir up trouble, and with these troublemakers, internal strife is inevitable."
It wasn't just about internal strife, though. America wanted to destroy the Soviet Union, the colossal power, so that it could become the dominant force. And indeed, their wishes came true—the Soviet Union collapsed, and America used financial tactics to reap the rewards of the Soviet Union's decades of accumulation.
Lao Geng mulled over the things Lu Jiaxin had done, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I'm good at gathering information, but not so much at doing business. However, I have a friend who's a skilled businessman. Unfortunately, he was betrayed by his own younger brother and now merely acts as a middleman, earning a commission."
Misjudging someone's character was a common occurrence, and while some learned from their mistakes, others seemed perpetually blind to it. This particular friend of his had an even more tragic story, having been backstabbed by his own flesh and blood.
"You take the lead, and he can assist you," Lu Jiaxin instructed.
"Alright," Lao Geng agreed.
"How much capital do you think you'll need?" she asked.
Lao Geng thought for a moment before suggesting, "Let's start with a capital of 100,000 yuan. We'll start small and expand the team once we start making profits."
Lu Jiaxin readily agreed, then added, "Keep this matter between you and me. Don't involve any third parties. As for the information you gather, deliver it to the person I assign, and unless necessary, avoid direct contact with me."
Lao Geng appreciated the arrangement. "Boss, when do you plan on revealing that scumbag's details to me?"
"When you've earned one million yuan, I'll tell you," Lu Jiaxin replied. With that amount of money, he would also be able to use the cash ability to take his revenge.
Lao Geng understood that this was a test of his abilities. "Boss, how will we split the profits? And will the money be delivered to you through a middleman?" he asked.
Lu Jiaxin explained, "Consider my 100,000 yuan as an investment. We'll split the profits 60-40, with 60% going to me and 40% to you. You can keep that 40% as expenses for your information gathering."
She added, "Once you've earned one million, we'll change the split to 50-50. And if you make it to three million, it'll be 40% for me and 60% for you."
The more they earned, the lower her percentage became, but the absolute amount she received increased. This way, they would be incentivized to work harder as they would get a larger sum.
Lao Geng admired Lu Jiaxin's generosity. However, he knew that her primary goal wasn't their business profits but the valuable information he could provide.
The two of them talked for about two hours, and as mealtime approached, Lao Geng prepared to leave. He had arrived empty-handed, but now he carried a bag containing 30,000 yuan in green bills.
Lu Jiaxin only had green bills at hand, as foreign currency was hard to come by in this city. She didn't want to bother going to the bank for yuan, so she gave him the green bills, which could be used to purchase goods.
After Lao Geng left, Lu Jiaxin leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples. Simply relying on Lao Geng for information wasn't enough. She also needed to get Nie Zhan involved in Silver Leaf (SL) for investment purposes and to take advantage of the opportunity to fleece a large sum. After all, following the dissolution of Silver Leaf, the rupee would experience a steep depreciation. Additionally, investing there would allow them to keep a closer eye on the situation in that region.
Just then, she received a call from Nie Zhan, who informed her that he was available the next day if she needed him.
"Don't come over. I'll be returning the day after tomorrow," Lu Jiaxin replied. "There's no need to meet these relatives. They're all a bunch of idiots with delusions of grandeur. Now that they know how wealthy I am, their tails are up in the air. If you come, they'll be even more insufferable."
Noticing her irritable tone, Nie Zhan asked, "Who upset you now?"
Lu Jiaxin briefly explained the situation with the Lu family, expressing her disappointment. "I used to think they were alright, but I was wrong. Fortunately, he married a sensible wife; otherwise, they would've been cheated to their deaths without even realizing it."
Nie Zhan wasn't surprised. "Money clouds people's judgment," he remarked.
In the competitive world of Hong Kong's wealthy families, one could expect all sorts of bizarre incidents to occur.
"Everyone loves money, but you have to know your own worth," Lu Jiaxin said. "It's like a child holding a gold ingot on the street. Getting robbed is one thing, but the real danger is being trampled to death by the robbers."
(End of Chapter)
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