Chapter 253: Exploiting the Obvious

Xikou Restaurant is an ordinary but somewhat extraordinary restaurant. It is ordinary because it is indeed very ordinary, with no difference from the other restaurants around in terms of appearance or decoration. It is extraordinary because it is a very old restaurant. It is unrealistic to say that it is a century-old restaurant, but it has been open since the reform and opening up of China, and no one can remember when it was opened.

At mealtimes, Xikou Restaurant is quite busy with people coming and going, but if someone who lives here regularly walks by, they can still tell that Xikou Restaurant is a bit different from usual.

At the restaurant, the staff are arguing with some men in suits.

'What's going on at your restaurant? Manager Liu, we're old acquaintances. I've never come here without business partners when discussing business, and I've never booked the best private room. But today you're telling me there are no private rooms and I have to sit in the lobby. Are you kidding me?' The boss leading the way, with a briefcase in his hands, slammed his hand on the table and shouted, his tone of voice full of dissatisfaction.

In front of him was a middle-aged man also wearing a suit. He smiled and said apologetically, 'Mr. Qian, don't be angry. If it were usual, I would definitely arrange a best box for you, but today there are special circumstances. How about you make do in the hall? Or I can find you a quieter location?'

Hearing Manager Liu say this, Boss Qian was furious. He pointed at Manager Liu and angrily cursed, 'Make do in the hall? Manager Liu, if we weren't old acquaintances, I would damn well beat you up today!'

While saying this, Boss Qian deliberately raised his fist high: 'Manager Liu, you're deliberately trying to make me lose face. Do you know who my guest is today? This is the brother-in-law of our district chief's family. How dare you let him sit in the lobby? Do you want to keep this restaurant open or not? Hurry up and find a way to get me a private room, or I'll demolish your restaurant!'

Manager Liu said with a bitter expression: 'Boss Qian, I really didn't mean to make you lose face. If there was a private room for you, why would I make things difficult for you?'

Manager Liu then pulled Boss Qian aside and whispered, 'Even if you weren't here with the brother-in-law of the district chief, and even if the district chief himself came, there's no way we could spare the private room.'

This really surprised Boss Qian, and he looked at Manager Liu and said, 'Are you trying to bluff me? Your restaurant is called Xikou Restaurant, not Nanhu Hotel, so what VIPs could be coming? Even if the district chief came, there's no way we could spare the private room.'

'I don't know what's going on either, but someone important is indeed coming to eat with us today. The boss told me personally, but I don't know who it is. So please bear with us today, and I'll buy you a drink to apologise some other time. Is that okay?'

Manager Liu said, patting Boss Qian on the shoulder. As soon as he finished speaking, a waiter hurriedly came over to tell him that the VIPs had arrived.

Hearing this, Manager Liu hurriedly apologised to Boss Qian, then hurriedly ran towards the door, leaving Boss Qian stunned. A moment later, he saw Manager Liu leading two young people and a middle-aged man in, and escorting them all the way upstairs. Boss Qian often dined here, so he knew that the upstairs was the VIP room, and these people were the bigwigs Manager Liu had been talking about.

'Just a few young people, what bigwigs,' Boss Qian muttered.

After mumbling, Boss Qian turned around and smiled apologetically, wondering what to say to his guests. But he heard the other person suddenly yell, 'Holy shit! Wasn't that just Advisor Zhou Ming? Boss Qian, what kind of place is this that you brought me to? How come someone like Advisor Zhou would come here to eat?'

This shout left Boss Qian confused: 'What did you say, Boss Zhang? What Advisor Zhou?'

The other person said to him disdainfully, 'You're not in our circle, Boss Qian. I'll tell you, Consultant Zhou is the legend and pride of our Nanjiang. If it weren't for him inventing the stock market, how could I have made so much money so quickly? Even with the help of my brother-in-law, it would be impossible.'

After he finished, he looked around and said, 'I didn't think this was a place Consultant Zhou would come to. I can't believe I'm eating in the same restaurant as Consultant Zhou. Boss Qian, you're something else. I have some really good ideas for this business!'

Mr Qian's eyes widened. 'Mr Zhang, are you serious? This is wonderful, a blessing from heaven, and that magical and great consultant, Zhou!

Mr Qian's words came from the bottom of his heart. Although he didn't know Zhou Ming, just the name alone was enough to change Mr Zhang's attitude, which was enough to show the weight of that name.

Of course, Zhou Ming had no idea that his hurried meeting could actually lead to a business deal. At this time, he was just being led by the waiter to the upstairs box. Luo Han and the bodyguard ** followed behind him. ** still looked indifferent, while Luo Han was full of disbelief. He leaned over to Zhou Ming and said, 'Consultant Zhou, are we really going to cooperate with them? Is that really okay?'

'Nothing is impossible, and we're here anyway. If it doesn't work out, we can just sit down for dinner and leave, unless you're afraid they'll poison you or you don't like the class of the place,' said Zhou Ming.

Lohan was helpless at what Zhou Ming said. Of course he was not afraid of being poisoned, that was just a plot in novels. As for the class here, if even Zhou Ming could come here, what else could he not come? He just recalled that in the morning he had heard Zhou Ming talk about borrowing the east wind, and in the evening there was this dinner. To him, the development of the plot really seemed like a novel.

Zhou Ming and the others were led to the door of a private room. Zhou Ming knocked on the door and went in. At this time, there were already three people sitting inside.

'Hello Wang Dong, I'm very happy to be able to have dinner with you.'

Zhou Ming was the first to greet them as he entered the room, and the people in the box were Wang Dong and the other two people, who Zhou Ming had met before. They were all bosses from Binhai.

'We are also very happy that Consultant Zhou could honour our appointment, but I'm sorry that due to some reasons, we can only invite Consultant Zhou to have dinner here,' Wang Dong said to Zhou Ming, and invited Zhou Ming to sit down and eat.

'I understand Wang Dong's concerns. After all, you are also a co-owner from Binhai. Acting alone is not a very honourable thing to do, and it is only right to want to be reserved. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and I am not that delicate. Two years ago, I could not even afford to eat in this kind of restaurant, so there is nothing to be sorry about.'

Zhou Ming sat down while he was talking, and said to Wang Dong, 'Don't just talk about me, Wang Dong, you guys sit down too. Let's all eat first, and then talk while we eat.'

Zhou Ming of course understood Wang Dong's thoughts very well. He and Wang Dong were still rivals, entangled in the Nanjiang stock market. Wang Dong was not the leader of the Binhai side, so naturally he would have reservations. That was why they could only choose this small, remote restaurant, so that they wouldn't run into other people and could talk about their business without worry.

After everyone had sat down, Zhou Ming asked, 'Wang Dong, you said you are going to withdraw from the stock market. What's going on?'

Wang Dong was taken aback. He didn't expect Zhou Ming to be so direct. He was prepared to engage in some polite small talk, but now faced with Zhou Ming's question, he felt embarrassed and said, 'Consultant Zhou, I don't mind you laughing at me if I tell you the truth. It's just that we have realised our mistake and think we should withdraw.'

'Do you think that the Nanjiang stock market has no investment value?' Zhou Ming asked again.

'Of course not,' Wang Dong hurriedly shook his head, 'the development of the Nanjiang stock market is so good, it is very valuable for investment, it's just that for me, now is not the time.'

'In fact, what I want to say is, Wang Dong, you can withdraw your capital at any time, you don't need to tell me, our stock market is very free, we won't force your money to stay in it, Wang Dong, you can rest assured,' Zhou Ming said.

Wang Dong, however, said, 'Consultant Zhou, actually, that's not what I meant. I just want to ask Consultant Zhou for a favour.'

Zhou Ming gave a gesture to say go ahead, and Wang Dong continued, 'I would like to ask Consultant Zhou, what is the current situation of the Nanjiang stock market? Can we maintain stability after we withdraw our capital?'

Hearing Wang Dong's words, Zhou Ming laughed: 'So Wang Dong wants to withdraw from the stock market without anyone noticing, or maybe you want us or someone else to take over your shares?'

Wang Dong smiled and nodded in apology, but Zhou Ming's expression immediately changed. He slammed his hand down on the table and said, 'Wang Dong, what do you take our Nanjiang stock market for? I won't pursue your behaviour of coming here to speculate and try to mess with the stock market, but now you want me to take over for you. Do you take yourself too lightly?'

Zhou Ming's words were sonorous and powerful, and they scared Wang Dong. Wang Dong was anxious to explain something, but Zhou Ming simply would not listen: 'Wang Dong, you don't need to say anymore. There is no room for discussion on this matter. Although I am a businessman, I have now been appointed as a development consultant, and I have single-handedly built up the stock market. How could I possibly allow someone to run away with an idea? Wang Dong, don't you agree?'

Wang Dong was stunned and had no time to answer the question. Zhou Ming continued, 'So the situation is very simple. Either you find a way to sell your stocks, or you can just wait for the market to crash.'

'But given the current market situation in Nanjiang, if I sell, will it cause the market to fall and make people realise that I'm selling?' Wang Dong asked.

'This is inevitable. I think you can see the current situation of the stock market. You are the ones supporting it. If you don't sell now, I'm afraid you won't have the chance in a few days.' Zhou Ming said.

'You are obviously taking advantage of me!' Wang Dong suddenly thought of something to say.

Zhou Ming, however, shook his head: 'There is no such thing as taking advantage of you. You just have to do it. Pay the price for your speculative behaviour in Nanjiang.'

After saying this, before Wang Dong could react, Zhou Ming continued, 'Oh, let me tell you something else. As you may have guessed, the Hong Kong businessmen who previously invested in the stock market have already withdrawn their investments.'

Zhou Ming's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back, and Wang Dong suddenly collapsed in his chair, unable to speak.

'Well, thank you, Wang Dong, for your hospitality, but I have some things to do, so I'll be going first.'

Zhou Ming ate a few more mouthfuls of food, and finally left after leaving these words for Wang Dong. Wang Dong waved his hand, wanting Zhou Ming to stay, but he didn't know what to say.

After leaving the private room, Luo Han asked Zhou Ming, 'So this is the east wind you were talking about, Mr. Zhou, but will he really do it himself? After all, this is obvious exploitation.'

Zhou Ming did not give a direct answer, but instead asked him, 'Mr. Luo, if it were you, what would you choose?'

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