Two days later.
All branches of Linglong Club announced their decision to renovate.
They also promised to continue paying wages and all benefits during the renovation period.
The more than 1,000 employees were naturally very happy, but in contrast, the managers all looked extremely distressed.
Because all this money has to come from them.
Yang Yun led the managers to Chen Zhe's office.
Previously, the East District was in charge because Hu Ling worked in the East District.
The North District is now in charge.
Because the person who proposed this plan was Chen Zhe, who is currently working in the North District.
Yang Yun slammed a piece of paper onto Chen Zhe's desk.
He said aggressively, "Don't go too far!! The things you're buying are ridiculously expensive, like rosewood, agarwood, pearl curtains, agate and jade, brocade and silk... What are all these things? Are you trying to open a club or a museum? Do you even know what it means to spend money wisely?"
Chen Zhe smiled, picked up the paper, and glanced at it.
"This is only part of it; the ones bought later were even more expensive..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yang Yun angrily grabbed Chen Ze by the collar.
"I regret it now! Right now! Give me my money back!!! I must be crazy to believe you, you liar. I'm absolutely certain you've embezzled a lot of my money!"
The other managers shared the same idea as her.
His angry expression almost swallowed Chen Zhe whole.
“Chen Zhe, Manager Yang is right. We are going through a difficult time right now. It’s too extravagant and wasteful of your money to spend on these things. To put it bluntly, one set of your furniture is worth the renovation cost of two stores.”
Chen Zhe gently pushed Yang Yun's hand away.
Then look at those managers.
Do you think I did something wrong?
"Of course you're wrong! You were talking to us about the 'low-end economy,' saying that whoever wins over the low-end will win the world. You told us to make our high-end clubs more accessible to the average person, attract more customers, and then use those customers to speak for us. You also told us to use the media to create momentum against the pressure from above, saying that as long as public opinion is in place, the higher-ups won't dare to act too openly and arrogantly. But what have you done now? You've spent so much money on renovations. Forget about low-end customers, even our old customers might not be able to afford it."
"A manager said."
The budget was previously said to be 200 million.
However, once these expenses were listed, the total amount far exceeded two hundred million.
They all thought Chen Zhe must have lost his mind, since he had never mentioned spending money on this before.
Chen Zhe certainly wouldn't mention this beforehand; if he did, the plan would fall through.
They definitely won't agree to the plan of investing almost all their money in renovations.
Even Lin Meiyu, who is considered her most supportive, would probably call her crazy.
But Chen Zhe felt that doing so was the right thing to do.
Only by doing this can Linglong Club be brought back to life.
"Everyone, please listen to me..."
Chen Zhe couldn't stand them arguing any longer; time was the last thing he could afford to waste right now.
...
At the same time.
The Paradise Club across the street.
Shen Xingang and Ninth Master opened the window and watched the construction workers coming and going across the street.
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"Without Hu Ling, Linglong Club is just a bunch of stupid pigs. Lin Meiyu can't even get the approval of the higher-ups, yet she still dares to go all out with the renovations. Haha, I heard that the materials they used and the furniture they bought were all very expensive. They're really something else."
Shen Xingang laughed heartily, then took a deep drag on his cigar. At this moment, the Linglong Club across from him, which had once made him somewhat wary, was now nothing in his eyes.
Ninth Master also laughed and said, "President Shen, I heard that the one who proposed the renovation this time is a young man named Chen Zhe."
"Chen Zhe?"
Shen Xingang thought for a moment and finally remembered it.
"That young man who ran the supermarket and fought with Wei Ming before?"
"It's definitely him. I heard that this renovation was his idea."
Shen Xingang laughed again.
"Is Chen Zhe also someone who wants to get revenge on Hu Ling? With him doing this, Linglong Club probably won't have the money to continue operating, and maybe we won't even need to take action anymore."
"Haha, Mr. Shen is right. Hu Ling is arrogant and domineering, and her heart is like a snake. Too many people have a grudge against her, so it's normal for them to want to take revenge on her."
"That's right, this woman is too ruthless. I found out after some investigation that she has been involved in Donghai for many years and has gotten involved in many well-known companies in Donghai. If I hadn't found out early, my company might have been affected by her now."
Thinking about this still makes Shen Xingang feel lingering fear. If Wei Meng hadn't given herself away, he really wouldn't have discovered it.
Controlling a partner's family or spouse to seize their shares is a truly insidious tactic that is difficult to guard against.
Therefore, he would find it difficult to rest easy as long as Hu Ling remained alive.
Donghai City was his territory, and Hu Ling's existence posed too great a threat to him. He was just a little regretful that Hu Ling hadn't returned all her money before she died.
"President Shen, I think you shouldn't worry too much. Although I've been working under her for the past few years and I think she's very capable and resourceful, I still don't believe she can beat you. She doesn't have the deep foundation of your Shen family in Donghai. For her to fight you is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; she's overestimating herself."
"Hehe, are you trying to flatter me?"
Shen Xingang asked.
"President Shen, I'm just telling the truth. Look, no one outside knows that Paradise on Earth Club belongs to the Shen family. Even I only found out now. If you hadn't brought me here, I might never have discovered this. You've kept it so well hidden for so many years. How could Hu Ling possibly outmaneuver you?"
Shen Xingang smiled.
“I don’t care about these kinds of clubs at all. They’re just small businesses to me. I don’t need to mention them to outsiders.”
"Haha, yes, yes, Mr. Shen is so modest, that's why I said you are the one who will do great things."
Shen Xingang was quite pleased with Ninth Master's flattery.
"I dare not speak about other things, but when it comes to business, I wouldn't even consider ten Hu Lings a threat. This woman is somewhat clever, but all she thinks about are crooked and wicked ways. I don't take her seriously at all."
"Yes! Mr. Shen is right, this is called good triumphing over evil!"
"Hahaha!"
The two of them smiled at each other again.
Shen Xingang pointed to the sign of the Linglong Club across the street and said, "This move by them is a dead end. Once they make this move, we don't need to make any more moves."
Ninth Master was somewhat puzzled.
"How so?"
Shen Xingang said.
"They want to attract powerful and influential clients with high-end decor, and then win them over to speak on their behalf and help them relieve the pressure from above. Haha, I saw through their tactics immediately. Their idea is good, but they're too naive. With Hu Ling dead, all the secrets she knew about the leaders will be lost with her. Those who were afraid to vent their anger before will only kick her while she's down. How could they possibly let Linglong Club survive? Hahaha!"
"So that's how it is. So they'll be driven to their deaths by this plan? Right?"
“That’s right. If they hadn’t caused so much trouble, they might have been able to hold out a little longer, but now, they are doomed.”
...
"You think my move is a sure way to lose?"
Chen Zhe asked Yang Yun with a smile.
Isn't that so?
Yang Yun, hands on her hips, said, "You've wasted all our money on these stupid, expensive, and useless renovations, just to hasten the destruction of Linglong Club! To put it bluntly! We could have held on for a while with this money, but now you've ruined all our hopes!"
The remaining managers.
They were all hoping that Linglong Club could be revived, which is why they risked their lives and fortunes.
But unexpectedly, Chen Zhe, who previously claimed to be promoting the "low-end economy," is now spending money and indulging in extravagance that surpasses even those of the super-rich.
It feels like taking their money and tearing it up piece by piece in front of them. Who could stand that?
Chen Zhe smiled.
He laughed very loudly.
"Don't think you can cover up your mistake by laughing! Chen Zhe, I'm telling you one more time, you'd better stop this wrong behavior right now, or you'll give me back my money!"
Yang Yun wasn't joking. She didn't want to see her money go to waste, spending it on such expensive and useless luxuries; it was an insult to her intelligence.
Chen Zhe originally wanted to explain.
But he felt that even if he told them, they wouldn't believe him.
So he decided to make a bet with them.
"A bet?? What kind of bet?"
A manager asked.
“Give me a month. After a month, Linglong Club will reopen. If I can’t deliver a satisfactory result by then, I will compensate you with my Zheshang Discount Supermarket. If that’s not enough, I will borrow from Sister Lin and Sister Chen. In short, I will give you all the money I have, even if it means going bankrupt.”
The managers were all stunned.
They had actually considered this issue before, and they believed that Chen Zhe had someone to rely on, which was why he made the plan so frivolous.
But unexpectedly, Chen Zhe has now made a bet that he dares to give away Zhe Shang Zhe Supermarket.
"You...you're not joking?"
Yang Yun asked.
"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond, but... what if I win? What if I can revive Linglong Club and bring it back to the top tier of entertainment venues? What will you do then?"
"Hehe! If you really have that ability, then consider the money I invested as a gift to you. You dare to bet with your Zhe Shang Zhe Supermarket? Then I dare to bet with my money too."
Chen Zhe shook his head.
"That's not enough. I need to add another clause: if I win, then from now on you'll do whatever I say. Don't jump out and start criticizing me like you did today. I... don't like that!"
When Chen Zhe said this, his smiling face suddenly turned serious, a serious look that no one had ever seen before.
So I was immediately startled by his change in expression.
Chen Zhe pulled out a cigarette from the table next to him and lit it with a snap.
I took a deep breath.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating half of his face as he slowly exhaled the breath of smoke that had passed through his lungs.
He said calmly, "I don't like people who question my orders. From the day you agreed to my plan, I should have been your boss. I hope you understand that."
Chen Zhe's sudden change in demeanor was unacceptable to Yang Yun and the others; even Mei Xiaoting felt that what he said was a bit excessive.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to us like that? Don't forget! You were the last one to become manager; you're the least senior person here!"
Yang Yun said, very unconvinced.
Chen Zhe snorted and then pressed a switch on the table.
The office door was opened.
A dozen or so bodyguards in black uniforms rushed in.
Yang Yun and the others were shocked and furious by the scene.
"Chen Zhe, what do you want to do? Are you trying to intimidate us?"
Chen Zhe shrugged.
"That's right, I'm threatening you now, what can you do about it?"
...
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