There is a garden on the bank of the green lake called Lotus Valley in Zuodun Town. The pavilions, towers, ponds and waterside pavilions are reflected in the green lake and green willows, creating a quiet and exquisite traditional garden scene.
This was originally a villa built by the Cao family at great expense, but after its completion, the Cao family encountered constant troubles.
Cao Jiashun, who advocated the construction of this villa, was criticized by his clansmen as a prodigal son who built a thing that would scatter wealth into the water. Ever since he built this garden, bad luck has happened one after another.
As a result, the Cao family never moved in for a single day, and now it has become the residence of Lu Ming and his party.
…
In the pavilion extending from the exquisite gallery, Lu Ming looked at the deed in his hand and smiled: "Brother Jiashun, are you really willing to give it up?"
Sitting opposite them were Cao Jiashun and Kang Li. Originally, Cao Jiashun wanted to call Lu Ming "uncle", after all, Lu Ming and his father Cao Deheng were on equal terms.
But Lu Ming really couldn't accept a man in his fifties calling him "uncle". Let's just say they were different and regardless of what Cao Jiashun said, he just called him "Brother Cao" or "Brother Jiashun". To be honest, Cao Jiashun's son in his twenties and daughter of seventeen or eighteen calling him "uncle", he was really used to it now.
The stack of land deeds and house deeds that Cao Jiashun sent over were the deeds for this garden and the surrounding land, including the entire Lotus Pond.
Hearing Lu Ming's words, Cao Jiashun smiled bitterly: "Brother, to be honest, this garden has become a cursed thing for our Cao family. But I think that brother is powerful and respected, and can control this small garden. If brother is willing to accept it, you will be a benefactor of our Cao family."
Lu Ming smiled and said, "I have no taboos. Well, then I'll be disrespectful to refuse!" He signed his name, pressed his fingerprint, made a gesture, and the blackhead beside him carefully put away the pile of deeds and notarized documents.
Both Cao Jiashun and his wife looked happy.
"Did the minority shareholder representative say when he would come again?" Lu Ming asked again.
The shares of the small shareholders that were acquired totaled about 10%, and there were more than 30 shareholders in total. Several of them came as representatives when they caused trouble last time.
Speaking of this, Cao Jiashun's joy faded, he shook his head and sighed, "Not really, but they said that if they come again, they will never leave until they achieve their goal."
Lu Ming pondered and suddenly asked, "Brother Cao and Little Chaxon, that is, Wells, the grandson of Governor Chaxon, have a good relationship?"
Cao Jiashun was stunned. He didn't expect that Boss Lu knew about this relationship. He thought it was a very private relationship. Then, a look of contempt appeared on his face. "He is just a waste, a playboy, useless!"
Lu Ming nodded. The Cao family had not given in to resisting Commander Hu from investing in the company because they had gone to great lengths to establish a relationship with Wells. They probably wanted to gain protection through this relationship, but judging from the development of the situation, it was indeed as the Cao family said, it was of no use.
However, Chakson's children are all in the imperial capital. His second son once came to Jiangning but was driven back.
Two years ago, Mrs. Hu gave birth to a son for Chakson. There were even rumors that Chakson's title was about to be passed on to this beloved son who was born in old age.
So, did Chuckson's eldest grandson come to Jiangning alone because he missed his grandfather too much and wanted to spend time with him? I'm afraid not.
Over there, Cao Jiashun seemed full of resentment when Wells was mentioned. "This guy has caused trouble again recently, and his grandfather wants to send him back to the capital!"
Lu Ming smiled and said, "It seems that they are not easy to deal with. Brother Cao, tell me about the situation of those small shareholder representatives."
Cao Jiashun nodded, "Okay, okay, I know a few situations very well."
…
There is a small two-story store next to Zuodun Department Store that has been vacant recently. Cao Jiashun accompanied Lu Ming to meet the owner.
Cao Jiashun was very suspicious. Could it be that the bookstore industry was going to undergo some major changes? Would it make a lot of money
Boss Lu has just arrived and is not in a hurry for anything else. Instead, he said he wants to find a location to open a bookstore and start the Xinzhi Bookstore chain.
Let’s see later if I can get a share.
Boss Lu can make a lot of money in the East China Sea, but in a small place like this, his vicious eyes are beyond the imagination of local businessmen.
Cao Jiashun contacted the landlord directly and made an appointment to talk in the store, and the landlord naturally received him warmly.
Although the Cao family has been unlucky recently, it seems that they are being suppressed by the government and small shareholders are making trouble, but no matter what, even plucking a single hair can crush them to death.
He didn't pay much attention to the business card that Lu Ming handed over, which read "Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lu's Mining Company."
There are too many coal mines in Longgang. Even the owners of small coal mines dare to call themselves the bosses of mining companies. There are also many coal intermediaries who do not have their own coal mines but often have scary reputations.
It's a two-story building, and the landlord asked for an annual rent of 1,000 yuan. Considering the local prices, he was certainly asking for a lot.
Although Cao Jiashun didn't know much about the store market, he was the successor of the Cao family after all, and he was careful in his work. Although it was a small matter of renting a house, he still brought a knowledgeable company accountant with him.
"Old Chen, 300 yuan is about right. Didn't you rent it out for 300 yuan before?" Accountant Liu frowned, thinking, who are you taking advantage of
When it comes to rent, the landlord is not polite, "Yes, that's why I raised the rent and they moved out!"
Lu Ming thought the layout was good and said with a smile, "How about this, I'll buy your store. Brother Cao, write me a check for 20,000 yuan. I'm afraid he won't trust my check. I'll pay you back when I get back."
20,000? Accountant Liu's eyes widened.
The landlord surnamed Chen immediately felt something was wrong. Seeing that Cao Jiashun was really going to write a check, he immediately shouted, "When did I say I was selling it? I'm not selling it!"
It was incredible that Mr. Cao, such a big boss, would suddenly come to rent a house in person. Now he is offering several times the price to buy it. It is obvious that there is something fishy going on.
The black slaves who followed in were seen staring at their walls and floors from time to time.
The landlord surnamed Chen felt that there was something fishy going on.
"Okay, then you think about it!" Lu Ming would not talk much with him. He walked out of the store and glared at Heitou: "You are naughty!"
Heitou shrank his neck and dared not say a word.
"Brother Lu, let me find a middleman to talk to him. I should be able to buy it for three to four thousand yuan." Cao Jiashun said as he walked beside Lu Ming.
Heitou muttered quietly, "It's his fortune that my master likes his house, so it's his blessing that he gets several times more, but he wants to reduce his fortune. He should blame himself for that. In a few days, he won't even need three or four thousand yuan..."
Seeing Lu Ming's gaze over there, he was so scared that he dared not say anything more.
"Well, then I'll trouble you, Brother Jiashun!" Lu Ming smiled at Cao Jiashun.
Cao Jiashun coughed twice, hesitated, looked at Lu Ming's expression, and said, "Brother Lu, can I buy a share in this Xinzhi Bookstore chain? I'll take 500,000 yuan, and you decide how much shares to give me."
Lu Ming was stunned and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This bookstore must be losing money since the books were half-sold and half-given away.
However, if we look at it from a long-term perspective, when Heishan and Longgang develop, this old bookstore that once helped countless future elites will definitely have a very good future.
However, even if it takes decades, I am not planning for profits decades later. It does not make any sense. My original intention is to try my best to help some poor people who like to read.
"Okay, don't blame me if you lose money." Lu Ming looked at Cao Jiashun and smiled. You are a local, so it is your duty to make some donations to your fellow villagers.
I feel like I am a guiding light in the eyes of businessmen like Cao Jiashun who know their own strength to some extent, as if I can make a lot of money in any industry I am eyeing.
Now that I am in Donghai, it is even easier to raise funds.
There is nothing we can do about it.