Chapter 100: "You’re in Big Trouble, Zhou Ming"

"Is this for real? Mr. Zhou, you want to create a KTV specifically for singing, and you want me to be the General Manager?" Kong Xiaolin said, covering her mouth in disbelief as she looked at Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming, known for his decisive actions, had immediately approached Kong Xiaolin with his idea after discussing the concept of KTV and bars with Du Peng. He invited her to manage the nightlife venue. Kong Xiaolin had admired Zhou Ming immensely after his meeting with the bank presidents and could hardly believe his invitation.

Zhou Ming confirmed with a nod, "Of course it's real. In the future, it won't just be a KTV; it will be a dance hall, a bar, and a nightclub all combined. How about it? Are you willing to help me?"

"I'm absolutely willing!" Kong Xiaolin nodded vigorously, afraid that if she hesitated, Zhou Ming might change his mind.

"But I'm not an easy boss. I need you to incorporate that brainwashing model from last time into your daily management," Zhou Ming said, teasing Kong Xiaolin.

Kong Xiaolin agreed, "No problem. Since I heard your ideas last time, I've been inspired and have been working on a preliminary training program. It's in my office, and I can get it for you right away if you want to see it."

"That won't be necessary. As long as you find it manageable, that's fine," Zhou Ming replied.

While Zhou Ming and Kong Xiaolin were talking, the meeting room door was suddenly pushed open, and several people walked in. Zhou Ming's eyes twitched as he recognized the leader—the Toyota guy who had previously flirted with Tang Ran and had been rude to Zhou Ming, only to be put in his place. Was he here for revenge?

Seeing this, Kong Xiaolin's expression hardened, and she stepped forward to confront them, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The Toyota guy looked Kong Xiaolin up and down in a provocative manner, as if trying to strip her with his eyes, and whistled suggestively, infuriating Kong Xiaolin.

Then he approached Zhou Ming and said, "Mr. Zhou, long time no see. I hope you've been well."

Although Kong Xiaolin had seen thugs before, she quickly guessed what might be happening when the Toyota guy spoke to Zhou Ming in such a manner. She stepped in front of Zhou Ming and warned him, "I'm warning you, this is South Lake Hotel, the best and most important hotel in South Jiang City. If you cause trouble here, I'll call the police!"

"Call the police? I'm so scared!" The Toyota guy said sarcastically, patting his chest dismissively, then turned his gaze to Zhou Ming. "So, the powerful Mr. Zhou in the business and financial world, is just a coward hiding behind women?"

Zhou Ming smiled, pulling Kong Xiaolin behind him. At this point, Tang Ran and Xiao Xue noticed what was happening and stopped singing. They timidly came over and took Zhou Ming and Du Peng's hands, afraid to act like Kong Xiaolin.

Zhou Ming glanced at the Toyota guy and his companions and asked, "Are you here to get revenge? Planning to break my arm or leg?"

The Toyota guy sighed and shook his head, disdainfully saying to Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, you're a renowned business tycoon in South Jiang City. Can you speak with a bit more class? I'm quite disappointed. Do you know I'm here to thank you?"

Zhou Ming was intrigued and asked, "Thank you? What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for giving me a second chance at life!" The Toyota guy said, "You might not know, but after you ruined me last time, my company went bankrupt. However, I was lucky enough to be noticed by a big boss. Now, I'm a business manager at Shenzhou Real Estate. Allow me to introduce myself again—I'm Zhou Hu, or you can call me Manager Zhou."

"Alright, Manager Zhou, but I'm not interested in your story, and I've never heard of Shenzhou Real Estate. If you have business, say it. If not, please leave," Zhou Ming said.

Zhou Hu smirked arrogantly, "Oh? Mr. Zhou is still so arrogant? Don't you know you're in big trouble? Did you hold a meeting with the bank presidents in South Jiang City, asking them to withdraw all their funds from the market?"

Zhou Ming nodded, "Yes, I did hold that meeting. How does it affect your company?"

"That's exactly why I said you're in big trouble!" Zhou Hu said. "Our boss wants me to tell you that by letting Du Peng hoard land and profit, and then turning around to hold a meeting with the banks to freeze the market funds, you're being very selfish. Business should be about making money together! Our boss says you need to find a way to hold another meeting with those bank presidents to resolve this issue."

"Are you crazy? That's a matter for the city government. Why are you coming to me?" Tang Ran interjected, defending Zhou Ming.

Zhou Hu responded, "Oh, isn't this Ranran? Still as pure and beautiful as ever, delightful to the eyes. But some things aren't as you think! Besides, doesn't Mr. Ming always say he's brave and decisive? Since this problem was created by him, he should solve it."

Zhou Ming frowned, "Don't be so insolent. What if I don't do it? Did your boss say what should be done?"

Zhou Hu looked at Zhou Ming and said, "If you don't, then it's a pity. Our boss says you should take care of yourself."

"Is that all?" Zhou Ming asked. Receiving confirmation, he said, "If that's all, then get out of here. Don't be a nuisance. The police will be here soon. I don't know who your boss is, but at the very least, you'll be detained for a few days."

"You think you're tough now, Zhou Ming? Wait and see how tough you are in a few days!"

Zhou Hu left with his group, and after they departed, Kong Xiaolin asked Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, should we call the police on them?"

"No need. They're just a bunch of lunatics," Zhou Ming said. He then noticed Du Peng's unusual expression and asked him aside, "You seem to know about Shenzhou Real Estate. Do they have significant influence?"

Du Peng nodded, "Yes. Shenzhou Real Estate was one of the first to follow up after I sold the land. From what I know, this real estate speculation crisis is primarily manipulated by this company. Although it appears to be a newly registered company, its backing is immense—something you can't even imagine."

This information surprised Zhou Ming. Du Peng, being a powerful figure, didn't joke about such matters. It meant that Shenzhou Real Estate had a formidable force behind it.

This also answered Zhou Ming's earlier question about why the land speculation crisis had to be resolved through economic means rather than administrative pressure. It likely had to do with the powerful forces behind Shenzhou Real Estate.

It was probably because this company's backing was interfering, making it necessary for the central government to instruct Chen Yunfei to find another way to address the issue.

Otherwise, a simple policy could have halted the speculation, similar to how the government stopped the real estate bubble in Qionghai years later. Despite other considerations, it shows that the government could swiftly end such speculation if it truly wanted to; otherwise, Chen Yunfei, the centrally appointed mayor of South Jiang City, wouldn't be left helpless, and Zhou Ming wouldn't have been called from Linyang and treated so highly at the train station.

It's clear that experts from the capital and coastal regions were deterred by some powerful entity's warning, while Zhou Ming was an unexpected surprise to them.

By holding meetings to cut off the market funds, Zhou Ming had made it so that the land speculation would falter. The banks wouldn't seize the company's money, but they would pull funds from others. In a market where no one is willing to buy, even if the land prices are high, it would eventually crash.

It's similar to stocks—no matter how high the speculation goes, it eventually needs someone to be trapped inside. Otherwise, if no one buys, even the speculators can't escape.

Zhou Ming realized that the people involved in the speculation felt their play was coming to an end, prompting them to send Zhou Hu as a warning.

"If possible, it's better to avoid conflicts with them," Du Peng advised Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming shook his head, "It might be too late for that. You saw what just happened."

"That's just his usual way of doing things. He's that arrogant," Du Peng said.

"Alright, I understand. We'll see what happens next," Zhou Ming said, giving Du Peng a pat on the back. "Thanks for the information."

Du Peng smiled wryly, "Zhou Ming, you're being too polite. I'm just offering hindsight. If I had discovered this earlier, it wouldn't be so bad. If it weren't for your current status, I could tell you more."

Zhou Ming raised a hand, "Forget it. It's better not to know some things now; it might affect my judgment."

At that moment, Kong Xiaolin cautiously approached Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. What could possibly happen?" Zhou Ming said. "Alright, I've finished discussing with

 Du Peng. Let's go back to talking about the KTV and the nightlife venue."