Campus Cultivation Master-Chapter 714 - 0716: Cash is King

Just as Chu Feng was about to speak, a voice suddenly came from the private room next door. It was clear that someone had entered the adjacent private room.

"What are you all thinking? Qi Family Energy is offering a salary that is one and a half times higher than what we’re getting now. Should we go or not?" Chu Feng might not be familiar with the voice, but he knew they must be employees of his Fengjing Group.

"Although the salary is higher, they don’t even have a place yet. Isn’t it too risky to just go over there?"

"What’s there to risk, both Manager Wang and Manager Zhao have already left. Qi Family Energy promised them that they could pay one year’s salary in advance, and if we follow suit, we could also get six months’ salary up front."

"How come I didn’t hear about Manager Zhao leaving? Why haven’t there been any news at all?"

"Would you talk about such matters? Besides, getting that money is not something you can just do cavalierly. You need to bring something to the table that’s worth the price."

"Ah, are you saying that we have to steal Fengjing Group’s documents to go to Qi Family Energy?" someone exclaimed in shock upon hearing this.

"People die for riches as birds die for food, and besides, what we’re dealing with isn’t core secrecy. Just taking a bit over there could exchange for half a year’s salary. No matter how you look at it, this deal is worth it."

Xingzi and Chu Feng listened until the end before Xingzi looked at Chu Feng and said, "Young Master Chu, could this be considered a welcoming gift?"

Chu Feng’s brows furrowed tightly. Although they had guessed earlier that the first wave of attacks from the Qi Family would probably be a price war, they hadn’t expected it to be so severe and direct.

The salaries at Fengjing Group weren’t low, not just in East River, but even across the whole of Huaxia.

Now, Qi Family Energy was directly increasing the price by fifty percent to poach people, a salary flux that Fengjing Group, just starting out, simply couldn’t afford.

Although Chu Feng could ensure that people like Li Zhi wouldn’t change their stance because of money,

Just having them was not enough, there also had to be skilled workers for assembly. But now it seemed very likely that Qi Family Energy would soon have poached all of Fengjing Group’s staff clean.

By then, even if Li Zhi and the others really found the most suitable permutations and combinations, there would be nobody to do the assembly. Wouldn’t all of this turn out to be a futile joy?

And Chu Feng now also understood the Qi Family Energy’s fundamental reason for waging a price war.

The Qi Family had money, that couldn’t be changed; they had been in business for many years, and their enterprise was dozens of times larger than Chu Feng’s.

Of course, these were facts, not objectives. The purpose of the Qi Family was nothing more than to force Chu Feng to make one of two choices.

The first was for Chu Feng to bring out his research results and let someone else produce them, in which case the Qi Family would gain a lot of control. Maybe then, under the Qi Family’s operation, the production of the Holy Stele could enter the Qi Family’s factory.

Of course, the second way was to secure funding, and if it came to that, it would disrupt the homogeneity and independence of Fengjing Group’s assets.

This would endow the company with some characteristics of stocks, and the Qi Family would then have even more space to maneuver.

Maybe with some operations, the Qi Family could become shareholders of Fengjing Group.

Both scenarios were the last things Chu Feng wanted to see.

But now, the Qi Family had clearly seized Chu Feng’s vulnerability.

Xingzi looked at Chu Feng with a smile, evidently waiting for him to think it through on his own.

"Young Master Chu, what do you think of such a welcoming gift?" Xingzi asked with a smile.

Chu Feng said, "I have no interest in a welcoming gift. I am just curious where Qi Wen’s money is coming from. Although Qi Wen is the eldest son of the Qi Family and the future head they are focusing on cultivating, I doubt the Qi Family would just give him so much money to play with. I might not know the total salary expenses of Fengjing Group, but I do know that our monthly payroll must be at least over a hundred million.

Qi Wen has suddenly increased it by fifty percent, and he’s even paying six months in advance. This means that Qi Wen’s one-time expenditure would be over ten billion. And they haven’t even started production, spending so much already. Is the Qi Family really so capricious, letting Qi Wen play around like this?"

Xingzi said, "Of course not, the Qi Family has its limits with Qi Wen as well. As far as I know, the total funds Qi Wen brought for this trip to East River is no more than fifty billion."

Chu Feng said, "That’s exactly what I’m truly concerned about. I want to know what ways he has to make money, to see if I could also take that path."

Xingzi said, "Of course, you can, and it’s very convenient."

Chu Feng looked at Xingzi and said, "You didn’t want me to ask you for a loan, did you?"

Xingzi said, "Young Master Chu is truly brilliant. The money Qi Wen has is indeed lent to him by me."

Chu Feng said, "If you’ve already lent him the money, why are you seeking a partnership with me? If he fails, what will he have to repay you with? Do you intend to emulate Lei Feng’s good deeds and lend money without expecting it back?"

Xingzi shook her head, "Of course not. I’m not running a charity. This is exactly why I’ve come to seek a partnership with you, Young Master Chu."

Chu Feng said, "Be more clear. I don’t like beating around the bush."

Xingzi said, "My target is Qi Wen. I want to take over Qi Wen’s industries. That’s why I need your help, Young Master Chu. Once you win against Qi Wen, I can use the opportunity of him repaying the loan to directly take over his industries. After all, repaying debts is a fundamental principle."

Chu Feng said, "How can I trust you then? How can I trust that your real target isn’t me? The key is, why are you so certain that I will definitely win?"

Xingzi smiled and said, "From our past encounters, Young Master Chu, you have never been one to lose out. Also, you’ve always been an undefeated leader, so there’s a wealth of historical experiences that serve as proof. How else should I choose a partner?"

After hearing Xingzi’s words, Chu Feng said, "Your words just now really did move me somewhat. Of course, the main thing is that you spoke the truth. That’s very good, it’s a quality necessary in a partner."

Hearing Chu Feng’s words, Xingzi’s eyes lit up, "Does that mean we can partner up, Young Master Chu?"

Chu Feng shook his head, "I only said that it’s a necessary quality in a partner. But that doesn’t mean I have to work with you."

Xingzi said, "Young Master Chu, partnering with me would definitely be beneficial without any harm to you. I can lend you money at zero interest, as long as you use it to fight against Qi Wen."

Chu Feng stood up and said, "You could lend me the money, but I’m not in the habit of taking money from women. If you really want to help me, you could stop giving loans to Qi Wen."

Xingzi said, "If I stop giving loans to Qi Wen, I will lose the reason and opportunity to take over Qi Family Energy from him."

Chu Feng said, "So, is that it? You want to use your own loan to take over Qi Family Energy. But have you thought about the fact that I could simply play the long game with Qi Wen? What reason, what excuse do I have, to invite the wolf into my house and make you, a vicious woman, my opponent?"

Xingzi remained calm. If it had been before, Xingzi might have already exploded.

But now, Xingzi was very composed, "But now you don’t have much choice, because my return is with the intention of taking down Qi Wen—or rather to catch someone just like him."

Chu Feng stood up, "Do you really think that Fengjing Group has no other path to follow but you?"

Xingzi responded unhurriedly, "Qi Wen has already cut off all possible loan channels for you, consider this a little gift from me. Now, apart from me, there isn’t a single bank in the entire East River, even in Songjiang, willing to provide a loan to your Fengjing Group. And it’s not just the banks—even those underground lenders have been informed."

The Qi Family, as a powerful newcomer crossing the river, indeed has the capacity to manage this. With just one word from the Qi Family, naturally there will be people to carry out these endeavors for them.

Chu Feng said, "Then let’s wait and see, shall we? See who has more money."

After finishing his words, Chu Feng left directly. This tea session, for Chu Feng, wasn’t without its gains.

At the very least, Chu Feng now knew the opposing bid.

Watching Chu Feng leave so confidently, Liu Mei furrowed her brows slightly because something seemed amiss. The loan she offered was drawn from the headquarters.

According to Xingzi’s investigations, Chu Feng should be desperate for cash. Yet now, Chu Feng seemed to not take these matters to heart at all.

Chu Feng returned to Fengjing Group and shared in detail with everyone what he had learned.

Upon hearing this news, everyone’s expression suddenly became grave.

What they feared most was this price war, especially since the foundation of Fengjing Group was still fragile.

"If the Qi Family continues this relentless price war with us, our Fengjing Group might not last much longer," Cui Jingyan said with concern.

Chu Feng shook his head, "Qi Wen won’t engage in an endless price war; he’s not a fool. Xingzi’s actions must be known to Qi Wen in full. All we have to do is hold on for three months, and we should be fine."

Zhuang Xinyan said, "Three months, but that means you will incur almost double the expenses. Where will the money come from? My secretary just called me, and no one in East River is willing to lend us any money. It’s not just you, but even the Zhuang and An Families are included."

The most uptodat𝓮 n𝒐vels are published on (f)reew𝒆(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦