Chapter 64: A Battleground at the Dinner Table.
Even Jiang Si took a break from her busy schedule to call: "The Hong Kong news reports say that you, Chairman Jiang, are still shining brightly in Shenzhen, and they also criticized me for being far inferior to you."
Jiang Miaomiao looked at the sales figures displayed on the computer screen and said with a hint of sarcasm, "So you're jealous?"
Jiang Si said sourly, "Yes."
Jiang Miaomiao laughed.
"When I was humbly begging for investment, weren't I jealous?"
"When I'm threatened or coerced, do I feel jealous?"
Making money is never without its bitterness.
Jiang Si sighed.
Just then, Qin Shuang came in to give her some documents to sign. She said earnestly, "I just want to sincerely congratulate you. If you need any help, just ask me. That's all. I'm hanging up now."
Qin Shuang, hearing this tone, asked, "Is it the former Chairman Jiang?"
Jiang Si nodded, tapping her fingers on the stack of newspapers on the table: "Even the Hong Kong media, who look down on the mainland, personally went to cover the unveiling ceremony and came back to publish their stories. Qin Shuang, admit your mistake, you underestimated her!"
Qin Shuang said, "Why do you care about her? Why are you helping her? Aren't you afraid that she will grow stronger in Pengcheng and turn around at any time to take over your Dajiang Group's position?"
Jiang Si replied, her words carrying a hidden meaning: "My eldest niece is quite aloof, unlike you."
Jiang Miaomiao had just hung up the phone when she heard that Shan Zuoxi was angrily demanding to see her.
The eighth floor of the mall is the staff office area.
When Shan Zuoxi entered her private office, she found there were no extra chairs, so she plopped down on the desk, raised her right foot and stepped on the table, impatiently tapping the table and urging, "I'm thirsty, have your people pour me a glass of ice water."
"There are places selling drinks everywhere in the mall. You specifically came to me just to ask for a free drink?" Jiang Miaomiao said without any politeness. "I think Young Master Shan isn't thirsty, he's angry. Who dares to give you attitude? Could it be Dr. Lu?"
"You know it and you still say it?" Shan Zuoxi shouted. "I don't know why that little firecracker gave me such a hard time... I just didn't dare to give her a hard time! You women are really fickle and heartless."
Jiang Miaomiao replied lazily without hesitation, "Women are fickle and heartless, but nothing is worse than men being heartless after pulling out their penises, is it?"
After thinking for a moment, Shan Zuoxi said, "Hey Jiang, why do I always feel like you're talking in a sarcastic tone?"
Jiang Miaomiao clicked her tongue and said, "Honest advice is hard to hear but beneficial. If it weren't for Dr. Lu, I would have only praised you to death and never given you any pointers."
Dan Zuoxi squinted and asked, "What do you mean?"
Jiang Miaomiao kept him in suspense, wanting to see his displeasure and helplessness!
Shan Zuoxi used to change female companions every week, but since he became interested in Lu Han, he has been alone for more than two months.
Dr. Lu, who even finds it too hot to go downstairs to pick up a package, still manages to know his temperament very well, which must have taken some time.
“However, Young Master Shan…” Jiang Miaomiao raised her hand, “I helped you two meet today, but what about your installment payments?”
Dan Zuoxi tapped his phone with disdain and showed her his WeChat Moments. The first post was a repost of Lu Han's post about the opening ceremony, with the perfunctory caption: "Open for Business."
Jiang Miaomiao frowned: "You just posted this? 0 likes? You're not popular at all?" She looked at him with disdain, as if she had misjudged him.
"What a joke. This young master is bisexual and suitable for all ages!" Shan Zuoxi retorted, directly using voice messages to shut down several WeChat groups, "What are you all doing? If you're still alive, hurry up and like my Moments posts!"
He then pointed his phone screen at Jiang Miaomiao.
The number of likes skyrocketed instantly, from 0 to 135 to 1280 to 3654, and finally stopped at 4302, which is his current total number of WeChat friends.
Dan Zuoxi grinned smugly, his two rows of teeth shining white.
Jiang Miaomiao, having been influenced by Dr. Yan Yousui, observed carefully and concluded: "Your teeth aren't yellow? +1 thumbs up for not smoking."
Dan Zuoxi was full of doubts: "We were chatting about our WeChat Moments, how did it suddenly jump to whether or not we smoke? Besides, it's normal for men to smoke."
Jiang Miaomiao realized, "Then it's abnormal that you don't smoke? No wonder Dr. Lu said you're gay."
Dan Zuoxi shouted, "Bullshit! She's always spreading rumors that I'm impotent and that I'm gay!"
Jiang Miaomiao shook her head: "Luo Jialang harassed Jiang Mian, so you set a trap to make him sick. Dr. Lu spread rumors that you are gay, but you rushed to get close to him. Young Master Shan, if you are not gay, then you are definitely a BDSM enthusiast."
Shan Zuoxi: "..."
Dan Zuoxi: "With a mouth like yours, you're destined to be an old maid."
Hehe, Jiang Miaomiao patted his shoulder with one hand: "You might receive my wedding invitation soon."
Dan Zuoxi raised an eyebrow, about to say something more, but Jiang Miaomiao interrupted him: "Young Master Dan, even if I become the richest man, I might not receive a wedding invitation from you and Dr. Lu."
With a series of loud crashes, Shan Zuoxi's face instantly turned ashen.
He stared at Jiang Miaomiao with a gloomy face, his expression unchanging.
"Oh dear." Jiang Miaomiao waved her hand in front of his eyes.
Dan Zuoxi's mind was already filled with the Storm Revenge stance at level eighty.
His eyes didn't even follow her hand's movement.
His words were so vivid and moving that Shan Zuoxi was speechless, his head spinning. He... he didn't know either.
Jiang Miaomiao stopped laughing: "When it comes to feelings, some people think it's okay to play around, while others genuinely can't afford to play that game. So if you've never intended to be sincere, don't go after decent women. How can you have the nerve to let innocent, respectable women take your place?"
"..." Shan Zuoxi, who was feeling guilty after being talked to, suddenly wanted to kill someone.
What was wrong with him? How could he agree to cooperate with a woman like that? He's discovered the truth: this woman is just jealous of the rich!
***
What is the most important thing in doing business?
money.
Longgang Shopping Mall made considerable profits for seven consecutive days, but after prices returned to normal on the eighth day, daily sales declined but were still good.
Jiang Miaomiao still has 20% of empty shops left, making them highly sought-after.
Many people immediately wanted shops.
A good person knows to send a gift to gauge the situation; a bad person will simply make a phone call or send someone over to let them know.
"Hehe." Jiang Miaomiao put on her sunglasses and rejected them all.
There's a saying: Back then, when she wanted to attract investment and sponsorship, they ignored her. Now, they can't even reach her.
"Boss, there's something wrong with the data for these stores!" Wen Rongying, true to his reputation as the team's top tech expert, seamlessly integrated his skills into his work. He combined the store surveillance videos with their sales records and discovered that some stores had virtually no customers yet boasted unusually high daily sales.
Xi Shouge watched the 7-day surveillance video at accelerated speed. "There really weren't many customers coming and going, and they were all high-end women's clothing stores?"
Shi Yi scoffed, "Judging from the decor and the foreign name, it does look like a high-end store, but I've never heard of these brands before. They're all knock-offs!"
Xi Shouge suddenly realized the truth.
Mo Congyun had brought all the relevant store contracts, and the two quickly flipped through them: "Although the second parties are all different companies, the legal representatives behind each company are interconnected. Strangely, several of them have the surname Shang."
"Surname Shang?" Jiang Miaomiao's expression changed slightly, and she pinched her philtrum: "I said I'm only immoral, not illegal, but I didn't expect to break my promise so quickly."
Shi Yi asked suspiciously, "What do you mean? Is there something wrong with these shops, and it's related to you?"
"Ignorant of the law!" Jiang Miaomiao retorted. "This is a merchant using the women's clothing section of the online store to launder money! The amount laundered is usually small, and there's not much urgency. They typically use non-branded women's clothing with self-set prices to create the illusion of high unit prices and high sales volume for continuous money laundering. This is the simplest and safest money laundering method, and it can withstand scrutiny on a daily basis. But if someone reports it, and they scrutinize these transaction records without finding corresponding consumers, they'll find out. Shang Han, that woman, really knows how to stir things up..."
Xi Shouge frowned: "But none of the legal representatives in this group with the surname Shang are named Shang Han."
"Master Wen, release the Shang family tree," Jiang Miaomiao said.
Wen Rongying complied, and a family tree with clear hierarchy and numerous members immediately appeared on the white wall projection. Shang Han was at the bottom of the family tree, meaning she was the lowest-ranking member of the Shang family. The other legal representatives were scattered throughout the various levels, belonging to her elders.
Xi Shouge asked again, "Is this Shang Han the lowest-ranking member of the Shang family, or is she a woman? At most, she's an accomplice, right?"
Jiang Miaomiao clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Everyone thought she was frail and delicate, like Lin Daiyu from "Dream of the Red Chamber".
Jiang Miaomiao also felt she resembled her, not only in appearance but also in spirit. Lin Daiyu was a sensitive and intelligent person, and this Shang Han was even more so!
"Didn't you see I'm pinching your philtrum?" Jiang Miaomiao replied. Headache throbbing.
Xi Shouge reached out to help her up: "Would you like me to make you some tea?"
Jiang Miaomiao waved her hand, took out a bottle of Tiger Balm from her pocket, opened it, and sniffed it. The cool, pungent smell went straight to the top of her head. She instantly felt energized!
Jiang Miaomiao immediately took out her phone and texted Shang Han, inviting her to come out for a chat.
[Shang Han: Sorry. I'm busy today; I'm still at the hospital having an NT scan.]
[Jiang Miaomiao: How about I treat you to dim sum tomorrow morning? Meals, especially breakfast, are very important for pregnant women. We can chat about the businesses you've partnered with while we eat.]
[Shang Han: You figured it out so quickly? See you tomorrow morning.]
...You figured it out so quickly?
Does this mean that Shang Han knew about and deliberately used the mall to launder money, waiting for her to discover it?
Jiang Miaomiao frowned and switched to using Tiger Balm to massage her temples.
This time we've really run into a tough nut to crack!
...
Early the next morning.
Shang Han arrived on time, but unexpectedly, she was all alone.
She was frail and thin, yet her belly was unusually protruding. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that her pregnancy was fraught with danger.
Shang Han smiled and sat down.
Jiang Miaomiao gestured for her to look closely at the menu on the table: "I need to cleanse my liver and improve my eyesight, as well as clear heat and detoxify, so I ordered chrysanthemum tea. Miss Shang, you should be able to drink it, right?"
This implies that she overlooked something and that he missed it, so she's angry.
Shang Han accepted the offer with a smile, but said, "Ms. Jiang, you should call me Mrs. Tang. My husband comes from a family of police officers."
Her words implied that she had powerful connections and protection from the authorities.
Hehe, Jiang Miaomiao opened her desktop menu and tapped the hot drinks page with her finger: "Mrs. Tang eats almond paste and black sesame paste, be careful not to overeat and cause a disaster."
Shang Han didn't care at all that her connections with both the legitimate and criminal worlds were exposed. "If I can't finish it, I'll share it with others. The more people who share it with me, the more the black and white will eventually mix together like a mixed milk, and then I'll be even less afraid."
Jiang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow coolly: "But not only did you not share your food with me, you also tried to break my rice bowl."
"Because I can tell that Miss Jiang absolutely doesn't like to eat. But I didn't mean to break your bowl, after all, I genuinely like you..." Shang Han shook her finger and chuckled, her smile truly pure and romantic.
It was so beautiful that it instilled a bone-chilling fear in those present.
Mo Congyun felt as if he were seeing a beautiful woman's head growing on a giant python.
The saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" has been proven true by Shang Han.
Jiang Miaomiao said "Oh," and then said, "You're going to exchange my golden rice bowl for a prison rice bowl, Mrs. Tang? Is this how you like me?"
Shang Han smiled charmingly, "The dishes haven't been wiped yet, no wonder Miss Jiang misunderstood my good intentions. I don't usually have a good appetite, but lately, to save some nutrition for the child, I force myself to eat more even when I can't! But everyone is used to me eating little, and they're used to eating for me. It's rare for me to want to eat a normal amount, and they all complain. They've all forgotten that I was the one who gave up my portion in the first place. Now, not only do I not want to give it up, I want them to pay back tenfold for what they ate from me before!"
Jiang Miaomiao kept her eyes fixed on Shang Han the whole time. Naturally, she saw a cruel glint of amusement flash in her eyes.
“But what does it have to do with me?” Jiang Miaomiao remained unmoved.
Shang Han was slightly taken aback, then smiled charmingly: "I'm borrowing your territory to stir up the seemingly clear but actually muddy water, which will inevitably dirty your place. I'll help you clean it up later, and I'll definitely give you a generous gift."
Jiang Miaomiao shook her head and said, enunciating each word clearly, "What if I don't lend you the land?"
Shang Han's smile vanished as she stared intently at her, then glanced down at the chrysanthemum cup in her hand. With a flick of her slender hand, tea spilled directly onto the table, the water spreading instantly. "I've already dirtied it; you can't refuse now."
Jiang Miaomiao, just bear with it for now. "Are you forcing me to believe you'll clean it up?"
Shang Han smiled faintly, and as if she had planned this all along, she took out a document and contract and handed it to Mo Congyun.
Mo Congyun, who couldn't get a word in edgewise and could only listen to the sarcastic remarks of the two big shots, was suddenly called out by name and was flattered.
This alteration directly demonstrates that Jiang Miaomiao merely rented out the shops, but had no connection whatsoever with the business details of these shopping malls. If the shops are subsequently found to be involved in money laundering, a little proof will suffice to clear her of any involvement.
"The contract is fine; it provides us with full protection," Mo Congyun replied in a low voice.
Jiang Miaomiao's pupils shrank as she looked at the unfathomable Shang Han before her: "You've cleaned me up so easily, how can I be more afraid?"
Shang Han interjected, "Isn't Miss Jiang known for her audacity and recklessness? The entire Jiang family almost got wiped out by you when they joined forces, so why are you afraid?"
Jiang Miaomiao stared at her belly and said directly, "I'm afraid that if I'm not careful, I might create bad karma for my offspring and prevent them from taking the civil service exam."
Jiang Miaomiao won back a point.
Shang Han was stunned by those words and instinctively reached out to touch her abdomen. Clearly, she was also afraid!
Knowing that Shang Han had a weakness, Jiang Miaomiao tilted her head and smiled at her: "I've only been in business for seven days now. If I report and expose myself, I think I'll be blameless or even meritorious, right? After all, I'm new here and lack experience. I was suddenly harmed while doing business in Pengcheng. I think the Pengcheng government understands me. I think the Gangcheng government wouldn't want me, this 'Outstanding Youth of Gangcheng,' to be involved in organized crime for no reason and ruin Gangcheng's reputation, right?"
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