Chapter 584: Extra—Ren Shan 2

Chapter 584: Side Story—Ren Shan (2)

Su Ping’s actions this time made Ren Shan realize the importance of influence.

She needed to have A City firmly under her control. If she had, finding Su Ping wouldn’t have been such a mess.

She wanted absolute authority in A City.

Using the business from the Sancha Market in Yangcheng, she exchanged 55% of the shares of A City’s Zhihang Construction from Zuo Zuying and began getting involved in Zhihang Construction’s operations.

At this time, A City was undergoing comprehensive development. Ren Shan manipulated Brother Bao and Second Brother Qian into schmoozing with a certain high-ranking official, securing a small project for the sports park.

The entire project took less than half a month to complete, with a total profit of 330 grand.

In a grand office, Ren Shan, Brother Bao, and Second Brother Qian gathered together.

Brother Bao was beaming. "330 grand in profit! Thirteen days, and we only invested less than 200,000. This is like free money!"

Second Brother Qian couldn’t hide his excitement either. "Sister Ren, should we send a kickback to that official? After all, he’s the one who gave us the project."

Ren Shan nodded. "Yes."

Brother Bao spoke up. "How much? 50,000?"

Second Brother Qian glanced at him. "Who knows, we might get more projects like this. How about we send 80,000? Eight is a lucky number."

Ren Shan, sitting in her executive chair, toyed with a pen and said calmly, "Send all 330,000. Also, withdraw some money from the company account to buy a pair of top-shelf booze and two high-end smokes to send along."

Brother Bao lost his cool. "What?! We work for free, take money from the company to gift him, and still end up getting screwed?!"

Second Brother Qian was also puzzled. "Sister Ren, splitting it fifty-fifty is already the max respect we can show."

Ren Shan lifted her gaze to look at Second Brother Qian. "You go personally. Tell him the 330,000 is the total profit from the project. We were just running point for him. The cigarettes and liquor are our company’s tribute."

"Let him take as much of the 330,000 as he wants. Only take what he gives you—don’t ask for anything. And make sure your words are smooth."

Brother Bao threw his hands up. "I don’t agree!"

"Don’t think we actually earned all 330,000. His share might already be taken, and what’s left is ours."

Ren Shan lowered her eyelids. "If he gets his share, that’s his game. Handing him the authority to distribute the remaining money is called respect. The logic is simple—we did the work, but the connections are his. Connections can’t be replicated, but there are plenty of fish in the sea who can do this job."

"So not only do we need to express gratitude, but we also have to show our sincerity. Think long-term. It’s just 330,000. If we can ride the coattails of a powerful connection and turn his network into ours, we profit. Even if we run into someone who takes everything, we’d just be eating one loss. At least we’d know our worth in this game. Either way, it’s better than quietly pocketing the 330,000."

"It wasn’t easy to get this connection. What I want isn’t just this 330,000. Use the money to let the higher-ups distribute it. The gifts are non-negotiable—consider it a toll fee."

"Some paths, without someone to guide us, we’ll never find or get through."

Late that night, Second Brother Qian and Brother Bao showed up with a briefcase and, as instructed by Ren Shan, brought the cigarettes and liquor to the official’s residence.

"So, Director Tang, here’s the total profit of 330,000 from the sports park project. The job came through you—we at Zhihang Construction were just helping out..."

The well-dressed official waved his hand politely. "Come on now, how can you work without pay? Take it, take it."

Second Brother Qian insisted, "No, no, Director Tang, it was just our pleasure."

The man chuckled. "You folks at Zhihang Construction really got class and ambition. Alright, since you worked hard, take 250,000 back. A big company like yours has a payroll to meet. If you don’t take anything, how can I ask for your help next time?"

Brother Bao's smile grew more sincere as he glanced at Second Brother Qian, who shot him a knowing glance.

Brother Bao chuckled and said, "We couldn't possibly take that much. How about this—we'll take 23, and Director Tang can make it an even ten for good measure, perfect and complete."

The cultured man burst into laughter. "Hahaha, I knew I picked the right people! There are several major projects in the city this year. I’ll talk to the higher-ups and get you in on the action when the time comes."

Two months later, Zhihang Construction secured the massive project of renovating and repaving all the roads in City A.

By the end of the year, they also won the government relocation project.

The following year, they secured the project to build a new school in West District and the road construction project connecting City A to two neighboring counties.

Zhihang Construction was riding high. In just three years, they had their own office building, cornered nearly all the construction work in City A, and began expanding into the provincial capital.

But Ren Shan remained unsatisfied. She hadn’t made enough money yet, but those above her had likely profited sufficiently—she needed to watch out for being used and discarded.

Despite Zhihang’s current dominance, they might already be seen as a target on their backs. After all, the dead don’t talk.

In the same sealed office, Brother Bao and Second Brother Qian noticed Ren Shan’s grim expression and instinctively schooled their expressions. In just a few years, Zhihang had become entirely Ren Shan’s domain.

"Sis Ren, what's the matter?"

Ren Shan twirled her pen. "The one above us is wary of us now."

Brother Bao didn’t understand, but Second Brother Qian did.

"You mean..."

"Exactly."

"What do we do?"

A cold glint flashed in Ren Shan’s eyes. "Do you know what a fuse is?"

"A fuse, commonly known as a safety wire, is a resistor that protects the entire system when there’s a short circuit or overload. It plays a crucial role in protecting the circuitry and ensuring its internal safety."

"I’ve long anticipated this day and have already planted a failsafe. As long as that middle fuse burns out, the one above us will be at ease, and we’ll be safe."

"Business is war. Small gains come from playing straight and tact, but great wealth depends on strategy and maneuvering. In this world, there’s no right or wrong—only weighing pros and cons. Kindness and weakness won’t achieve great things. The word ‘profit’ has always been accompanied by a blade. If you dare to enter this game for wealth, you must bear the risks. It’s a battle of wits—who's one step ahead. Tang Feng made money, but he didn’t understand this principle. He had it coming. So, Second Brother Qian, do you understand now?"

Brother Bao still didn’t grasp it, but he knew how to read the room. Seeing Second Brother Qian’s dark expression, he held his tongue.

Second Brother Qian gritted his teeth. "Ren Shan, I understand."

Two days later, there was a small accident in City A.

The same Tang leader who had helped them initially got drunk, stumbled, and drowned in a lake. The incident made barely a splash, and Zhihang remained unscathed.

With Zhihang’s current influence, they no longer needed anyone to guide them—they were now the most powerful connection themselves. Ren Shan was pleased, but Second Brother Qian started looking over his shoulder.

Because he noticed that Ren Shan had recruited several ex-special forces soldiers to stay by her side. He sensed a grave threat to his life—after all, he and Brother Bao still held 45% of the company’s shares.