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After fighting such a big battle and returning victorious, he naturally couldn't just show up and leave.
Cheng Xi will stay in Panyu for a few more days to meet with the bank's shareholders and reach a private balance with those powerful figures in the officialdom.
However, since she was an important criminal of the imperial court, Cheng Xi was relaxed on the outside but cautious on the inside. She chose to live in a private residence in the city as a safe house, rather than in key places like banks and fish stalls. Only her close confidants could know her whereabouts.
"Gang leader!"
Following a shout, He Ling walked in quickly, staring straight at the person in front of her. Her eyes were already red before she opened her mouth.
Seeing the little girl like this, Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Why, it's been a long time since we last met, did you miss me so much?"
He Ling burst into tears and choked up, saying, "I knew that the leader would be able to repel those evil thieves!"
These words contained too many emotions, including joy and pride, as well as anxiety and regret, as if he hated himself for doing too little.
Cheng Xi saw the confusion in her heart and said softly, "Winning a battle depends on more than just one person, and not just the soldiers on the front line. Those of you who are doing your duty in the rear also have a share of the credit."
Tears welled up in He Ling's eyes and she shook her head vigorously. "I'm just an accountant. What good can I do? I'm not even as good as the nurses on the island. Boss, if there's a next time, can you let me stay with you?"
"No." Cheng Xi answered very straightforwardly, and also became serious. "You should know how useful Mr. Lu was in this battle when you were in Panyu. Without him, the merchants would not have fought so hard, and the government troops would not have been able to send troops so easily. Banks are also one of the foundations of the Red Flag Gang. What you need to do is learn more, work harder, and carve out a place for yourself. One day, you can become my right-hand man."
He Ling was stunned by these words. She knew she had a heavy responsibility, but she hadn't expected the gang leader to see so far and place such high hopes on her. She was just a little girl from a brothel. Could she possibly become someone like Lu Jian?
Understanding what the little girl was thinking, Cheng Xi said, "You may not know yet, but the victory in this battle was so easy, and it was also thanks to A'mo. It was she who suggested making mines, which severely damaged the barbarian's ship and saved Luoling Island. And there was also Shi Hao, a new recruit in the female camp. She joined the death squad, risked her life in a night raid, and blew up the enemy flagship. If it weren't for them, who knows how many lives would have been sacrificed and how much more war would have been delayed. Whether you can do it or not depends on your wisdom and courage, not the difference between men and women. Don't set limits for yourself, just do it with all your might."
These words struck He Ling like a bolt of thunder. Her eyes widened, and she couldn't help but open her mouth, wanting to ask, "Are you serious?" But the next moment, she clamped her mouth shut, knowing the gang leader wouldn't lie. The little sister who had studied martial arts with her back then was already far ahead, and she didn't want to lose to her.
The tears stopped at some point, and He Ling gritted her teeth and said, "I will do it. I will never let the leader down."
"Just don't let yourself down." Cheng Xi smiled, took out a handkerchief and handed it over. "I'll be staying in Panyu for the next two days. I need you to tell me about any changes in the bank."
This sentence immediately captured He Ling's attention. She quickly wiped her face and began to speak seriously.
The bank's development strategy was set by Cheng Xi, Tian Yu, and Lu Jian, and any changes required a joint decision. Lu Jian had even written a detailed report on the growth of the trading floor. However, what Cheng Xi wanted to know wasn't the obvious details, but rather the unmentioned details.
During this period, the front line was fighting, and there were also many activities in the rear. Pepper futures were particularly involved, which led to many changes. After listening to He Ling, Cheng Xi nodded slightly and suddenly asked, "What do you think of these changes that are worth noting?"
He Ling hesitated for a moment before answering, "Mr. Lu intends to expand his influence and plant people in the bank."
These were done in a very covert manner, and there was nothing wrong with them on the surface. However, He Ling was in charge of checking the accounts, and had a close relationship with Wang Sanniang, the manager of the weaving factory, so he still noticed this undercurrent.
This answer made Cheng Xi quite satisfied, and he asked, "Then how do you think we should deal with it?"
Now He Ling was at a loss for an answer. If he wanted to control the bank, he would need a large number of smart and capable shopkeepers, brokers familiar with official circles, and all kinds of connections, which the Red Flag Gang could not provide. In fact, even accountants were not enough. He Ling was also afraid of being tampered with, and he had many concerns about taking in female apprentices.
After thinking for a long time, she said, "I'm afraid we have to start with Lu Jian."
To catch a thief, you must first catch the leader. If we can control Lu Jian, maybe he will be more restrained.
Cheng Xi shook his head. "That's the wrong direction. The bank's development relies on the prestige of the Red Flag Gang. To put it bluntly, Lu Jian is just using my reputation to gain power. As long as I hold on to my troops, no one can shake my authority in the bank. What we need to do is to open up a channel for advancement. There are countless smart people in this world. Discover them, promote them, and give them dignity and respect. Only then will we have talents to use."
He Ling hadn't expected to hear such a conclusion, but it felt like a window had opened in her heart. Yes, why were those from the women's camp so devoted to the leader? It was because they had a path forward they'd never dared to imagine, a status that allowed them to stand tall and proud before others. This wasn't something Lu Jian could give. He only used his own family. How many talents could the Lu family, a mere family, possibly possess?
However, after realizing this, she immediately became nervous: "Then Lu Jian spread rumors privately, saying that he had an affair with you, Gang Leader. Doesn't that mean he has bad intentions?"
When she first learned about this, she was extremely angry and secretly wrote a letter to inform the gang leader, but he didn't take it seriously at all. Now that she knew Lu Jian's plan, this was no longer just a rumor, there must be some ulterior motive!
Cheng Xi smiled. "He has his own agenda, don't I? The more Lu Jian spreads these rumors, the more his status will depend on me, and his position in Panyu will change my attitude. This is the relationship between active and passive. Moreover, these rumors can also reassure shareholders and merchants, which may be an advantage in the early stages of development."
"But if lies are spread too much, some people will take them seriously!" He Ling was still worried.
"Then tell more lies. Who do you think spread the rumors about me and Shen Sandao to Panyu?" Cheng Xi blinked.
He Ling was completely speechless. She really didn't expect that it was the gang leader who spread this matter instead of Shen Feng. Wouldn't this tarnish her reputation?
As if guessing what He Ling was thinking, Cheng Xi smiled and leaned back in his chair: "You have to remember one thing, 'chastity' is the most insignificant thing in this world. No man cares about it. It's just a shackle imposed on women to pass on their offspring to men. If you don't take it to heart, gossip won't hurt you. What you should really control is power and status. As long as I am the leader of the Red Flag Gang, no one will dare to talk nonsense in front of me, not even the so-called 'drunken gaffes'. All the superiors and inferiors are determined by men. They understand it better than any woman and abide by the logic here. That is, those in power can trample on most of the world's rules without fear."
He Ling opened her mouth, but for a moment, she was speechless. She knew better than anyone else that life was more important than chastity, but she had never imagined the gang leader could exploit this. And she had indeed used it, in a way that left her speechless.
Seeing the little girl still in a daze, Cheng Xi said, "So don't think about your reputation all day long, and be a moral role model in the eyes of others. You must be ambitious, aggressive, and keep fighting and biting, using everything you can. Power is like this, no one can get it decently. Rather than falling into the hands of those villains, it is better for it to fall into our own hands. As long as you don't forget your original intention, there is nothing you can't do."
These words were said very calmly and frankly. He Ling looked at the smile on the other person's face, gradually began to smile too, and nodded vigorously.
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