Chapter 309: Wharton Company

Zhou Ming drove all the way back to Harvard campus in his Buick. He did not call Du Peng to ask him to help find out if the country would help him hide the fact that he had made a billion dollars. On the one hand, he did not understand the operations of the country's foreign affairs and did not know how long it would take for the news to be conveyed from Cheng Jun to the central government. On the other hand, it was Zhou Ming himself. Even if the country did not help him, it did not matter.

When Zhou Ming returned to the dormitory, it was already dark. He thought back to when he left the dormitory today, he had just finished counting the sales figures with his classmates from the finance class.

He pushed open the door to the dormitory and the monitor Chen Shu hurried over to report to Zhou Ming: 'Teacher, today's sales at our dormitory convenience store have dropped a lot compared to yesterday. From 9am until now, it's only been just over 3,000 US dollars.'

Chen Shu's tone was very frustrated, but it was no wonder. Yesterday's net profit was 30,000 US dollars, but today it had actually shrunk tenfold. Such a huge drop must have made him feel very bad.

Zhou Ming laughed and comforted him, saying, 'This is normal. After all, the pent-up emotions of our customers all exploded yesterday, and it's impossible to have such a hot sales situation every day. And yesterday started at 6 pm, which was the peak sales time for the convenience store in the dormitory. Most students have classes during the day, and there are even cheaper convenience stores outside. It's already pretty good to have more than 3,000 U.S. dollars.'

'I understand, but it's still hard for us when it suddenly becomes so little,' Chen Shu said, and then he remembered something and said, 'Oh yes, teacher, there's one more thing. Huang Yi told me today that another dormitory convenience store has opened in another Adams Building.'

'So soon there's a follower? It seems that our revenue on the first day was indeed deceptive, but the Americans are really strong in action.'

Zhou Ming casually said this, although he felt a little surprised, he didn't take it to heart. He just said to Chen Shu, 'Never mind that, go and tell all the students to come to the lobby for a meeting immediately.'

'Is it about today's earnings? Or is there a problem with a competitor?' Chen Shu asked subconsciously.

'Neither. It's something else. Don't guess, just go and notify,' Zhou Ming said, patting Chen Shu on the shoulder.

Chen Shu nodded and went to notify the meeting. Since the students in the finance class were not familiar with Harvard yet, they basically went out in groups, whether it was for dinner or to go to the library to read. Coupled with the fact that it was almost time for dinner, all the students were in the dormitory. Chen Shu went to notify them, and in just a quarter of an hour, all the students came down and sat in the lobby.

Zhou Ming was very pleased that the students could come down so quickly, which showed that they had not changed their initial intentions.

After all the students had taken their seats, Zhou Ming stood up and said, 'Although our dormitory convenience store achieved sales of 50,000 US dollars yesterday, I still want to say that I have wronged you. You are all financial elites selected by the country, but I have made you work here in a retail store, as salespeople and porters. I know you are all very aggrieved and eager to become real financial people!'

Zhou Ming's words caused an uproar in the room. No one understood why Zhou Ming had suddenly said this. Li Yang, who was quick-witted, said, 'Teacher, we are not upset about anything. And as you said, we have also learned a lot from the convenience store in the dormitory, such as how to plan, operate and promote. This is something we must learn no matter what we do in the future, and there is nowhere to sharpen our skills!'

With Li Yang taking the lead, the other students followed suit, saying, 'Yes, teacher, we don't mean to blame you at all. On the contrary, we are very grateful to you. Thank you for giving us such a rare opportunity.'

Facing the words of the students in the finance class below, Zhou Ming felt very gratified, but he still gestured for everyone to be quiet and then said, 'I know that my students are all good people. You understand me very well. No matter what decision I make, you will support me. But you are here to study finance and economics after all, and always messing around at the dormitory convenience store is not really the thing to do.'

'So I have some good news to tell you today,' Zhou Ming continued, "I am going to set up a financial investment company, and you will all become employees of the company.'

As Zhou Ming announced the news, there was an outburst of enthusiastic cheering in the hall. It felt like the fans had heard that the Chinese team had won the World Cup championship. Zhou Ming also smiled, adding, "Of course, unless you don't want to work for my company.'

In response to Zhou Ming's words, the students immediately gave their answer: 'Yes, we have been waiting for this day!'

'Okay, since everyone has decided to join my company, then you will all have to listen to me as your boss,' said Zhou Ming. 'Although we have a new business, we still cannot let go of the dormitory convenience store project. However, everyone can gradually withdraw from this matter and recruit others to do it, either from the community or from within Harvard University.'

Finally, Zhou Ming named Li Yang: 'You are in charge of this project, so I'll leave it to you.'

'Teacher, don't worry, I will do my best!' Li Yang said very confidently.

'I have great confidence in you,' Zhou Ming said.

This matter was settled like that. Although class leaders like Chen Shu and Ye Ning were a little puzzled by Zhou Ming's sudden decision, they temporarily put these doubts behind them out of blind confidence in Zhou Ming.

The next day, Ming Zhou drove along the Charles River to the south of downtown Brighton. Accompanying Ming Zhou was Danny, the president of the Harvard Student Union.

'This Wharton Company is located in the Skywalk Building in the Fenway District,' said Danny, pointing in the direction of a tall office building. Ming Zhou looked in the direction he was pointing, and there was indeed a tall office building.

'Wharton is a new company incorporated not long ago. The reason it is being sold in such a hurry is because the company's first director has suddenly withdrawn his investment. Since the business has not yet taken off, there are no debt problems. 'Danny thought for a moment and added, 'Of course, if you are still in doubt, you can also bring a lawyer to inspect the company's accounts and other documents.'

'And this company is not a subsidiary or a company related to my father's company. My father just happened to know this news because he is acquainted with the owner of this company, that's all,' Danny added at the end.

Zhou Ming understood why Danny added this sentence, and he laughed and said, 'I don't doubt you, Danny, my friend.'

Danny also laughed and continued, 'In addition, according to our Massachusetts law, no company has a defined scope of business. In other words, as long as a company is legally registered in Massachusetts, it can engage in all legal business activities if it wishes to do so. Therefore, many fruit companies go into finance, and finance companies can also sell fruit. This is all permitted by law.'

Danny continued, 'Of course, if you want to make business operations smoother and make your business scope clear at a glance, you can also change the company name at any time, as long as it has been approved by the relevant departments.'

'Without the approval of the relevant departments, it is not allowed to change any letter of the company name, because this involves taxation and other legal issues,' Danny said. 'You may not understand yet, but here in the United States, the tax department is even more formidable than the army. If you try to evade taxes, they will definitely come knocking on your door the next day, kicking your butt in the legal sense.'

During Danny's American-style introduction, Zhou Ming's car had already pulled into the parking lot of the Sky Ladder Building, and then Zhou Ming, Danny, and bodyguard Zhang Lin got out of the car together.

'Wharton & Co. is on the 12th floor of the Sky Ladder Building. This is a very good floor of the building, and it was Wharton & Co. who chose it because they had the money. No one knew that someone would suddenly withdraw their investment, and now the lawsuit is still going on.'

Danny was explaining to Zhou Ming as they rode the elevator up to the floor. The room opposite the elevator exit was Wharton & Co.

At the entrance to the company, a white American man in his thirties was standing at the door. Through Danny's introduction, Zhou Ming learned that he was the chairman and chief operating officer of Wharton.

Wharton saw Danny coming over and went up to him, giving him a warm hug and saying, 'Hey Danny, my brother, I'm really happy to see you!'

'Me too Wharton, but let's talk about that later. First, I want to introduce you to a friend I brought with me, Mr. Zhou Ming.'

Danny introduced Zhou Ming at the right time. Zhou Ming also went up to shake Walden's hand, but Walden was stunned first. He stared at Zhou Ming in surprise and took a few close looks, then turned to Danny and said in an incredulous tone, 'Brother Danny, you've made a mistake, haven't you? You've brought a Chinese guy here? Don't you know these guys are all crooks and scoundrels, and as poor as the niggers?'

Zhou Ming immediately frowned and said, 'Mr. Walden, please be careful with your words.'

Danny also said, 'Brother Walden, Chinese Chow is my friend, and I hope you can put away your ethnic stereotypes.'

Walden shrugged nonchalantly and said, "I'm sorry for saying something so inappropriate, but it's the truth. This so-and-so Chinese Chow, right? I don't mean to offend you, but among the Chinese I've met, they are indeed like this.'

'So Mr. Walden, have you always lived in a slum?" Zhou Ming asked in return.

Zhou Ming's words were shocking, causing Wharton to immediately frown and glare at Zhou Ming, but he could not say anything. Zhou Ming then said, 'Mr. Wharton, I came here today to talk about the acquisition and do not want to dwell on these issues. If Mr. Wharton is trying to intimidate me and try to provoke me with these words so that I make an impulsive decision, then I think you can save your breath.'

'What? How did you know?' Wharton blurted out immediately.