Chapter 88: Yet Again (Please Vote for Recommendations)

Gui A County. Huakun Supermarket Headquarters.

“Old Sun, have the inspection team submit the next phase of Huakun Supermarket’s expansion plan for me to review,” Lu Kun said, sitting comfortably in his office chair, spinning his pen deftly as he addressed Sun Bowen, who stood before him.

“Uh...” Sun Bowen hesitated, looking as if he wanted to speak but was unsure how.

“Is there a problem?” Lu Kun raised an eyebrow.

Sun Bowen swallowed and pondered how best to start.

“If you have something to say, out with it. Don’t drag your feet,” Lu Kun said impatiently, annoyed by Sun Bowen’s habit of never saying things outright.

“Boss, are we... are we really planning to open another branch again?” Sun Bowen ventured nervously.

Lu Kun: ???

He hadn’t expected Old Sun to be so cheeky!

“Yes,” Lu Kun replied gruffly.

“But... but boss, we don’t have enough money on the books. Just recently, to seize the retail market in Fengyang City, we’ve already opened two large supermarkets and six campus stores...” Sun Bowen blurted out, anxious.

Right now, he feared nothing except his boss making an impulsive decision to open more branches, which might break the company’s cash flow. If that happened, over three hundred employees might lose their livelihoods.

Lu Kun raised his hand to silence him.

“The funds for opening new branches won’t come from Huakun’s working capital this year,” Lu Kun said seriously, stopping his pen.

“Then?” Sun Bowen still had lingering doubts.

“Soon, Huakun Supermarket will be bringing in foreign investment,” Lu Kun spoke calmly.

By “foreign investment,” Lu Kun actually meant capital from Hong Kong.

It wasn’t until Hong Kong’s return in 1997 that the term “Hong Kong capital” became distinct from foreign and domestic capital.

“What? Foreign investment? Does that mean Huakun will become a joint venture between China and overseas partners?” Sun Bowen was elated, almost dancing with joy.

Huakun Supermarket now dominated the retail terminal market of a prefecture-level city, but overall, it was still a small enterprise.

Lu Kun calculated: Huakun Supermarket owned five large and medium stores, and eighteen campus stores. This scale might barely qualify as a mid-sized enterprise in coastal regions, but in Angui Province, it was a different story. The consumer market here was much smaller than on the coast.

“Don’t get carried away. You have to be strong yourself to withstand the storms,” Lu Kun said, watching Sun Bowen’s slightly manic excitement with a touch of exasperation.

Only Lu Kun knew the truth. The talk of Hong Kong capital was just a front. He’d simply managed to get past that fat man, Li Erfu. In a few days, the stock of Shenzhen Development would soar, and he’d have enough money to take his wife to Hong Kong, secure her Hong Kong residency, and register a shell company for her. The shell company, using the guise of Hong Kong capital, would invest a modest amount in Huakun Supermarket. Lu Kun would retain control, enjoy government incentives, and everything would be splendid.

“Boss, with a foreign investment background, we’ll avoid a lot of trouble. Public relations expenses are already a huge outlay—almost as much as our human resources costs. Not to mention all those tempting government benefits...” Sun Bowen rambled.

“Enough, I know all that already,” Lu Kun interrupted his chatter.

“Don’t spread the news about the joint venture. The framework of the deal isn’t even finalized,” Lu Kun said, feigning seriousness.

“Understood, boss, I get it,” Sun Bowen nodded earnestly.

Seeing Lu Kun’s authoritative manner, Sun Bowen never imagined he was being misled. Deep down, he admired his boss, thinking he was just quietly enjoying retirement at home, but had managed to accomplish something so significant without anyone noticing.

“One more thing, Old Sun, I’ll be away for at least ten days, maybe half a month. Keep an eye on the company for me while I’m gone,” Lu Kun instructed.

“What?” Sun Bowen pulled a face, complaining, “Boss, didn’t you just go on vacation last month? Why are you leaving again?”

“Vacation? That was a business trip to buy equipment!” Lu Kun retorted, sounding righteous.

He couldn’t let Sun Bowen know about the stock trading. If Sun Bowen found out that Lu Kun was investing over two million in stocks, he’d think Lu Kun was insane.

Sun Bowen’s mouth twitched, secretly thinking, “Who are you kidding? The purchasing team already negotiated the equipment deals, your presence hardly matters.” But he kept those thoughts to himself; he would never dare say them aloud.

“Are you grumbling about me?” Lu Kun eyed Sun Bowen, guessing what was on his mind.

“Of course not, boss. Even if you gave me a barrel for courage, I wouldn’t dare grumble about you,” Sun Bowen said hurriedly.

“Good, now get out!” Lu Kun laughed, cursing playfully.

“Aye, withdrawing from court!” Sun Bowen replied, mimicking a courtier.

...

After learning that the company would soon receive foreign investment, Sun Bowen was reinvigorated, his enthusiasm for work soaring. With more responsibilities handed to him, Lu Kun could finally enjoy a few days of leisure.

“Hey, Brother Liu, have you finished handing over your work?” Lu Kun called Liu Dexin to maintain their rapport.

The information department had already compiled the news for Lu Kun. The Fengyang municipal party committee and government had two big shots speaking up for Liu Dexin, both of considerable standing. Huakun Supermarket, though established in Fengyang, had yet to win over any influential figures in official circles.

“Ah, it’s Brother Lu! Ha ha. My work handover is done, and tomorrow I’ll report to the Gui A county committee. How about you come to my new place for drinks the evening after tomorrow?” Liu Dexin invited.

“That sounds great! You’re a major figure in Gui’an now.”

“Ha ha, Brother Lu, don’t just praise me. You’re not simple either! You’ve become a prominent merchant. I hear you’ve almost monopolized the retail market in Fengyang.”

“Not at all, you flatter me.”

Praise is the currency of social circles; anyone in business must master it.

“So it’s settled. Tomorrow night at seven, my driver and your nephew Shixun will pick you up and bring you to my new home for drinks.”

After hanging up, Lu Kun’s mouth twitched—what was this about “nephew Shixun”? That old skinflint Liu was always trying to win favors for his foolish son.