Chapter 126: Preparations Before the Meeting

Hearing Lin Feng’s question and concern, Zhang Wen immediately waved his hands anxiously at him before refusing. “Chairman Lin, there’s no need. We haven’t even used up the funding you gave us before. The laboratory has everything we need, and we’re not lacking anything. Once we achieve some results, if the subsequent research requires more resources, I certainly won’t stand on ceremony with you!”

After hearing this, Lin Feng smiled in satisfaction and gave Zhang Wen a thumbs-up as encouragement. He then stopped disturbing him and left the laboratory with Zhao Ze, walking outside.

“Zhao Ze, the security here will be entrusted to you from now on. Remember to train these boys properly. Although none of them were injured during the trip to Japan, their skills are still far too weak. I’m not satisfied!” Lin Feng suddenly said to Zhao Ze once they were outside the laboratory.

Zhao Ze was stunned. He had not expected Lin Feng to be dissatisfied with the current performance of these men. To be honest, Zhao Ze himself was very satisfied. Even when he had trained soldiers in the army, he had never felt such a sense of fulfillment.

“Young Master Lin, they’ve already improved incredibly quickly. In less than half a year, they’ve gone from ordinary gang members to possessing combat strength that nearly rivals China’s four major special forces units. You’re still not satisfied?” Zhao Ze asked in astonishment.

“Yes, I’m not satisfied! I know that from your perspective, their performance is satisfactory, but I believe they can become even better. After all, my wealth—and, more importantly, my future plans—will develop very rapidly. I need more experts whose skills are on your level, or even surpass your current abilities.” Seeing Zhao Ze looking somewhat complacent, Lin Feng quickly brought him back to reality.

Only then did Zhao Ze awaken as if from a dream. He had indeed fallen into a misconception, still measuring the men by his former standards. Thinking about everything Lin Feng had accomplished during this period, he realized that their growth was indeed far from sufficient.

“Young Master Lin, I understand now! I’ll strengthen their training in this area. I’ll strive to have everyone begin cultivating techniques as soon as possible, so they can become experts like you,” Zhao Ze said after he had worked things out.

“It’s good that you understand. You’ll have to work hard. I’ll see if I can develop something later to refine their bodies and cleanse their marrow, helping them establish a stronger foundation.” Lin Feng patted Zhao Ze on the shoulder and encouraged him.

“Ah, Young Master Lin, are you planning to cleanse their bodies and marrow one by one with your inner power? Wouldn’t that be too exhausting for you?” Zhao Ze asked in surprise after hearing Lin Feng’s proposal.

Lin Feng first gave him a disdainful look before lecturing him. “Do you think body refinement and marrow cleansing can only be done by transferring cultivation? It can also be accomplished with medicine!”

Zhao Ze stared at Lin Feng in shock, as though he had just heard something unbelievable. Stammering, he asked, “Then... doesn’t that mean we could produce experts in batches?”

Seeing the expression on Zhao Ze’s face, as though he had just seen a ghost, Lin Feng replied helplessly, “That’s only in theory. Do you think medicines capable of refining the body and cleansing the marrow are as common as cabbages? Can you just grab a whole armful whenever you want?”

“Right, right. I was being foolish.” Zhao Ze only came back to his senses after hearing this. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

Lin Feng gave Zhao Ze another disdainful look before leaving the laboratory and returning to the Lin family villa in Zhanhai City. He had originally planned to take Lin Yu to the Ma family and introduce him to their representative, but when he returned to the villa, he found that members of the Ma family had already arrived to pay a visit.

“Haha, Young Master Lin truly is an extraordinary man! Your heroic bearing puts us elders to shame.” In the villa’s reception hall, the father of Young Master Ma immediately showered Lin Feng with praise when he saw him return.

Ever since he had established ties with the Lin family of Yanjing through Lin Feng, and since the Lin family had subsequently granted the Ma family the benefits of an agency agreement, the father and son’s standing within the Ma family had risen sharply. Therefore, as soon as the Ma family heard that Lin Feng and his family had returned, they sent him along with another member of the family, who served as the mayor of Zhanhai City, to offer their thanks.

“Haha, Uncle Ma, it’s you! I was just thinking of going over to the Ma family to see you. I didn’t expect you to already be here at my home!” Lin Feng said courteously after entering the reception hall and hearing Young Master Ma’s father.

Now that the Lin and Ma families were business partners, Lin Feng knew that he had to maintain the proper attitude.

The two members of the Ma family saw that not only Lin Chuanzi but even Lin Feng—the most formidable and domineering member of the Lin family—was treating them courteously. They felt greatly honored. However, although Lin Feng could speak to them so casually, the Ma family members did not dare act presumptuously.

Before the Ma family members seated in the hall could speak, Lin Feng stood up again and gestured toward Lin Yu. “This is my cousin, Lin Yu. He has come to Zhanhai City this time to take up a post. The old master of our family has already made the arrangements. He’ll be working in the Investment Promotion Department of the Municipal Bureau.”

As soon as Lin Feng finished speaking, Young Master Ma’s father hurriedly continued. The heads of both families had already discussed this matter, so all the direct members of the Ma family knew about it, including Lin Yu’s status within the Lin family.

Standing up, Young Master Ma’s father introduced the relative who had come with him. “I’m Ma Tianming of the Ma family. This is my younger brother, Ma Tianci, the mayor of Zhanhai City. You two should exchange contact information. Lin Yu, if you run into any trouble in the future, you can contact your Uncle Ma at any time.”

After Ma Tianming finished the introduction, Mayor Ma immediately handed over several personal business cards, giving one to every member of the Lin family.

“That’s good. From now on, I’ll have to trouble Mayor Ma to look after Lin Yu,” Lin Feng said courteously after accepting the card.

Seeing Lin Feng being so polite, Mayor Ma also stood and waved his hands modestly.

The two families continued chatting for a while, with most of the conversation taking place between Lin Chuanzi and the Ma family members. After more than half an hour, the Ma family finally rose and left the Lin residence.

Lin Yu stayed at the Lin family villa for one night, then left early the following morning to report to his new post. Lin Feng believed that with Mayor Ma looking after him, there should be no problems.

For the next several days, Lin Feng and Xia Ruoxi stayed busy with their respective affairs. A week later, news arrived from Future-Style’s Yanjing branch: the office renovations had been completed, and Xia Ruoxi’s best friend, Huang Qian, had taken over and officially begun operations.

Xia Ruoxi had also transferred a number of capable employees from various departments at headquarters to the Yanjing branch. They would train the newcomers there and help the branch get on the right track as soon as possible.

Once everything had been arranged, Xia Ruoxi prepared to hold a contract-signing press conference to announce the allocation of agency rights. Although the arrangements had already been determined by the nation’s senior officials, they still needed to cooperate with the government by holding a formal signing ceremony and helping promote the country’s plans.

Xia Ruoxi scheduled the press conference for March 1 at the Imperial Hotel, located near the company’s headquarters. She had booked rooms there several times in the past and found the environment quite good.

After confirming the date and venue, Xia Ruoxi instructed the executive office’s secretarial team to prepare the invitations. Every company, consortium, and family listed among the agency recipients designated by the government was to receive an invitation without exception.

As for the portions of the domestic agency rights that had already been promised to the Lin family or to Lin Feng personally, Xia Ruoxi ordered the secretarial team to prepare formal printed invitations and send those out as well.

After arranging the secretarial team’s work, Xia Ruoxi instructed the planning department, marketing department, and other relevant departments to begin preparing for the press conference. The guests attending the signing ceremony would all be major figures from the world’s leading rankings, so Xia Ruoxi had to make every arrangement with the utmost care and avoid any mistakes or embarrassment.

As for the publicity department, Xia Ruoxi ordered them to keep the matter confidential for the time being and not disclose the contents of the contract-signing press conference to the public, lest it bring trouble to the company.

After finishing the company’s arrangements, Xia Ruoxi was still uneasy about the preparations at the hotel venue. She made a special trip to the Imperial Hotel and spoke with the manager about the scale of the press conference.

The manager was startled when he heard the details. The scale of the event and the stature of the guests were simply overwhelming. The loose change from any one guest’s fortune would have been enough to buy the hotel several times over.

Unable to make the decision himself, the manager immediately reported to his superiors. Before long, the hotel’s owner arrived in person to meet Xia Ruoxi.

For one thing, his employees had reported that the matter exceeded their authority. For another, the visitor was Xia Ruoxi, president of Future-Style Technology. In all of Zhanhai City—and indeed throughout the entire country—what enterprise would not want to curry favor with Future-Style Technology?

“President Xia, I apologize for the inadequate welcome. My surname is Zhou, and I’m the owner of this hotel.” When Chairman Zhou of the Imperial Hotel arrived and saw Xia Ruoxi, he immediately took out a business card and respectfully presented it to her with both hands.

Xia Ruoxi accepted the card and greeted him courteously as well. Given her current wealth and social standing, she did not need to be so polite, but she had always insisted on treating people this way. In her view, no matter how great a person’s achievements were, everyone should communicate with one another as equals.

After seeing Chairman Zhou take a seat, Xia Ruoxi said, “I’m planning to reserve the entire Imperial Hotel around March 1. I intend to hold a contract-signing press conference here. During that period, representatives from major companies, prominent families, and powerful consortia will be attending. I was worried about the arrangements, so I came here personally to take a look.”

As she spoke, she handed Chairman Zhou a list of the guests attending the press conference.

After Xia Ruoxi finished, Chairman Zhou immediately accepted the documents. However, without even opening them, he assured her, “President Xia, please rest assured. The Imperial is a five-star hotel and one of the finest establishments in Zhanhai City. Over the years, we’ve hosted quite a few press conferences and received many distinguished guests.”

Hearing the hotel chairman make such a guarantee, Xia Ruoxi finally relaxed. She smiled faintly and nodded in thanks.

Chairman Zhou had made that assurance without looking at the guest list. Afterward, he casually opened the document and glanced at it.

He froze instantly.

Then he rapidly flipped through several more pages before opening his mouth in astonishment and staring wide-eyed at Xia Ruoxi, his expression one of utter disbelief.

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