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The courtyard was located west of the city, and they arrived there in no time. After getting out of the car, Lu Jian's first attention wasn't the courtyard's layout, but rather some subtle oddities. None of the rooms had thresholds, and there were very few stairs. Clearly, they had been specially renovated. Could it be for Mr. Tian? However, Lu Jian didn't ask, and followed Cheng Xi into the room with a normal expression.
The two sat down as host and guest. Cheng Xixian smiled and said, "I'm sorry for putting up with me during this period, Brother Lu. How are you? Are you used to living in this small place like Dongning?"
Lu Jian sighed, "How can you be wronged if you stay safe on the shore? You, on the other hand, not only defeated the government troops, but also won such a great victory. It's a pity that you didn't get to witness the grand occasion with your own eyes."
It was quite pleasing to see Lu Jian, a man who put grace first, suddenly look fascinated. Cheng Xi chuckled, "It was thanks to Brother Shen's help that we were able to achieve such a victory. It's a pity that he was in a hurry to go back, otherwise we could all sit down and have a drink."
Lu Jian smiled slightly: "That's just his temper. He won't do anything without profit. I heard that you guys also asked for a ransom. Do you have any other plans for the future?"
This question was quite insightful. If he had been able to find out about the ransom, he must have also heard about Panyu's attitude. Now that the army was no longer strong enough to suppress the enemy, the only option left was to recruit them. The Red Flag Gang's decision to release the prisoners for a ransom was intriguing. Others might not have cared much, but a partner like Lu Jian would definitely need to be thoroughly informed.
Cheng Xi did not hide it: "It's just some perfunctory tactics. As the saying goes, surround three sides and leave one side, we must give them some way out."
Giving the imperial officials a way out might sound arrogant, but it was surprisingly accurate. Although the Red Flag Gang had conquered a considerable territory, it would take time to completely swallow it up. This retreat was truly the best approach.
Lu Jian smiled and sighed, "With an opponent like you, I'm afraid some people won't be able to sleep. Come to think of it, I should thank you. From now on, when I travel around Panyu, I'm afraid no one will come out to cause trouble."
The reason for the sudden dispatch of the government troops this time was clear to both of them; it was nothing more than Lord Lu's manipulation. Now that they had hit a wall and caused such a huge disaster, the Lu family had no time to care about the Red Flag Gang. Lu Jian's personal safety was indeed more guaranteed.
"Then Brother Lu must thank me very much." Cheng Xi joked with a smile.
Lu Jian nodded seriously, "Of course. Since you're here, I won't be polite. Your Minsheng Bank is planning to open a branch in Panyu?"
All the previous conversations were just staged; this was the real meat of the show. Lu Jian had come to Dongning not just to seek refuge, but also to observe the Red Flag Gang's workshops, with the idea of collaborating. However, it was somewhat surprising that he ultimately chose a bank. Cheng Xi casually asked, "Why, Brother Lu, are you interested in banks?"
Lu Jian looked at Cheng Xi for a moment, shook his head and sighed, "In the past, I only knew that you had great ambitions, but I didn't expect that I was wrong. If this bank is run well, it may be the foundation of the Red Flag Gang."
Hearing him say this, Cheng Xi actually became interested: "Since Brother Lu feels this way, why do you still want to ask about the bank's affairs?"
She hadn't explained her true purpose for establishing the bank, but if Lu Jian felt the bank was so important to the Red Flag Gang, a "foundation," wouldn't it be reckless to try to take advantage of it? After all, all of her workshops had other investors, but the bank was her sole proprietorship, so she should have been more cautious, both emotionally and logically.
Lu Jian smiled and said, "Because your method may work in other workshops, but it is too conservative to be used in this bank, and it cannot achieve the full effect."
This tone was too loud. Cheng Xi pretended to be surprised: "Brother Lu, what do you think I opened this bank for?"
Facing this challenge, Lu Jian said sternly, "Money shops and silver cabinets naturally first consider currency exchange. Just exchanging gold, silver, and copper coins can bring huge profits. After that, when they have money, they use it to make money. However, your bank lends money at low interest rates and deposits money at high interest rates. You are definitely not trying to make money from that little interest, but to use money to make money. Whether it's opening a workshop or trading on the sea, the profit is far greater than that little interest. In this way, you can not only win over the poor people who need money, but also make the wealthy families obey your orders and not dare to act rashly. It can be said that you kill two birds with one stone."
These things are just superficial. Cheng Xi did not respond and just waited for Lu Jian to continue.
As expected, Lu Jian paused for a moment before continuing, "Opening this bank initially might have been a temporary solution, but opening it in Panyu is a completely different matter. Now that the Red Flag Gang has triumphed, no one in Nanhai can challenge them. With fame comes credibility, and a bank that manages finances is the perfect fit. As long as the bank can gain a foothold, it's possible to control the wealth of an area. However, if they have this ambition, relying solely on the Red Flag Gang to open up the situation is too slow."
Such clear logic is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Cheng Xi asked with interest, "Are you saying that the only way to open up the situation as soon as possible is to give the bank more shareholders?"
"Panyu is not like Dongning. There are countless merchants with huge fortunes. The Red Flag Gang is now trying to block the sea route and make everyone pay tolls. I don't know how many people are jealous. These people are not a big deal on weekdays, but once the Red Flag Gang is in trouble, they will definitely do bad things in secret and cause more trouble. Since we can't eradicate them, why not bring them to our side?" Lu Jian answered very straightforwardly, "Besides, this bank can do more than just accept money. There are so many goods on the sea. If we give merchants a place to negotiate prices and guarantee transactions, we will completely control the foundation of maritime trade."
What he'd said before was just some theoretical stuff, but the last sentence really impressed Cheng Xi. Negotiated price guarantees for transactions—isn't that what futures are? The profits here are unimaginable to the average person, and for a legitimate exchange, the revenue is probably comparable to tariffs.
She wasn't a finance major, so she had only a limited understanding of these things. Opening a bank was simply about absorbing idle social capital and, incidentally, tying more people to the Red Flag Gang's side. As for futures, insurance, and the like, she hadn't figured it out yet. She simply didn't have the skills or the talent to do it. Unexpectedly, Lu Jian had come up with it ahead of time and even connected it to a bank. Regardless of whether it could be realized, his foresight alone was truly remarkable and worthy of admiration.
The only question was how much Lu Jian wanted. Cheng Xi didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Brother Lu, how many shares do you want to invest?"
Lu Jian held up a finger and said, "I only want 10%. Not just me, but all shareholders must hold no more than 40% of the total shares. Only then can you maintain firm control of the bank."
This answer was different from what Cheng Xi had expected. Lu Jian had never been a gentle person. No matter how he pretended, he was still somewhat cruel and ruthless at heart, and his desire for control was extremely strong. Now he had taken a step back so decisively, which was really hard to imagine.
After a moment of silence, Cheng Xi said, "It seems that Brother Lu really likes this bank."
Lu Jian smiled faintly. "It's not just a bank that I'm interested in, but your ability. Only with the Red Flag Gang at the helm can this bank attract wealthy investors and attract a large number of merchants. Besides this 10% stake, I only ask for one thing. If you trust me, I hope you can let me manage this Panyu bank."
If there was any ulterior motive, it was probably this. Lu Jian wasn't just giving in; he was completely tying himself to the Red Flag Gang. In the past, he'd tried every possible means to seize the initiative, attempting to control the Red Flag Gang, even going so far as to target himself as its leader. Who could have imagined such a drastic change after just a few days?
Was this a change of heart, or was he completely won over by himself? With that gentle and peaceful mask, Cheng Xi couldn't really tell Lu Jian's true feelings, but since it was delivered to her, why not?
Chuckling softly, Cheng Xi said, "With Brother Mingde's help, why worry about not accomplishing great things?"
As she spoke, she raised her hand, a gesture Lu Jian was incredibly familiar with. After a moment's hesitation, he also raised his hand in return. High-fiving was a standard business contract, but Lu Jian had never made such an oath with a woman before.
"Pah, pah, pah," his two hands tapped three times, crisply and without any delay. Cheng Xi stood up with a smile: "From now on, Brother Lu will have to take care of the bank in Panyu."
Lu Jian also stood up, gently tucked his right hand into his sleeve, and kept smiling: "Boss Cheng is willing to trust me, Lu is of course happy, but this bank was built by you, I will continue to give you guidance in the future."
Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Brother Lu, you are too polite. If you have any ideas, just tell me."
That smile was just like the high-five just now, crisp and clear, without any hesitation. Lu Jian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. When he knew he might never be able to influence the Red Flag Gang again, he did feel unwilling and anxious. However, after returning to the shore and seeing Dongning's arrangements, Lu Jian realized that he had been wrong.
All of this wasn't hastily arranged after the victory; rather, the Red Flag Gang had meticulously laid the groundwork as soon as they occupied Dongning. Whether it was the battle itself or the various subsequent arrangements, Cheng Xi displayed a decisiveness far superior to that of ordinary people. She might not be filled with hatred, as she thought, but she was definitely more ambitious and far-reaching than she realized.
Now, he no longer had the capital to compete with the Red Flag Gang. If he maintained a superior attitude, he would probably be left behind and politely distanced.
It was at this moment that Lu Jian suddenly realized he shouldn't be judging the situation based on her identity as a "woman." If she were a man, what would he do? In a time of great strife, if a force he had supported suddenly rose to prominence, would he rely on his status to seek repayment? Of course not. He would simply strengthen his relationship with that force and seek greater benefits. Would things be different if she were a woman?
Of course not. He would only make himself more visible and indispensable, not the opposite. At least when it came to business, he was still a bit conceited, and what Cheng Xi needed most was someone to help her manage her business. As long as he didn't disappear from her sight, as long as his importance grew, eventually, things would naturally change.
Since she was different from ordinary women, he shouldn't use those stupid methods. He still had plenty of time, so why not give it a try?
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