rpbooks Chapter 14: One move to cripple a multinational corporation, and she says: Pay me my salary!
Chapter 14: One move to cripple a multinational corporation, and she says: Pay me my salary!
The next day, Lin Fan was awakened by an enticing aroma of food.
It's not the overpowering, rich, dark sauce of other grains, but rather the purest, most mellow flavor of the grain itself, mixed with the aroma of charred oil.
He stepped out of the room, where breakfast was already laid out on the stone table.
A bowl of white porridge, each grain of rice bursting open, topped with a thick layer of rice oil, like translucent cream, shimmering with a warm glow in the morning light.
A dish of pickled vegetables, as thin as hair, tossed with just the simplest sesame oil, is vibrant green and looks incredibly appetizing.
There were also a few fried pancakes, both sides were evenly golden brown, slightly puffed up, and the crispiness was almost palpable through the paper.
Fang Qingxue stood beside the stone table.
She wore an old, faded apron, her hands nervously clasped in front of her, a hint of unease on her fair face, yet her eyes couldn't hide the expectation of recognition.
"Sir, you're awake."
Her voice was soft, tinged with uncertainty.
"I...tried to do a little bit."
After spending the afternoon in self-reflection yesterday, her understanding of knife skills and heat control has entered a completely new realm.
Lin Fan glanced at it.
It looks quite appealing.
He sat down, picked up a piece of fried dough, and took a bite.
"Click."
The crust is so crispy it crumbles, while the inside is soft, chewy, and savory, bringing out the full aroma of the flour.
He picked up the bowl of porridge again and took a sip.
It is mild, smooth, and has a rich rice aroma.
"It's alright." Lin Fan put down his bowl, his tone flat. "I won't starve."
Upon hearing this comment, Fang Qingxue's heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled back into her chest.
Her tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and a smile that was brighter than the morning sun bloomed on her face.
This feeling brought her even more satisfaction and joy than breaking through her limits or defeating a powerful enemy.
"From now on, make this breakfast." Lin Fan took another bite of the pancake and casually gave the order.
"Yes, sir!"
Fang Qingxue readily agreed, her voice full of enthusiasm.
Just then, three soft sounds came from the courtyard gate.
"Thump, thump, thump."
The rhythm was steady, the force restrained, and it showed great restraint.
Lin Fan's eyebrows twitched slightly; he knew who it was without even thinking.
"Come in, the door's unlocked."
The courtyard gate was gently pushed open, and Li Zhenguo's face peeked in.
He wasn't wearing his flashy Tang suit today; instead, he wore a simple gray Zhongshan suit and carried two antique-looking gift boxes. Behind him followed a young man in casual clothes, but he stood ramrod straight, and his gaze swept across the courtyard as if he had instantly completed an environmental survey.
"Mr. Lin, good morning. I hope I haven't disturbed your meal?" Li Zhenguo bowed, a humble smile on his face.
But the next second, when his gaze passed over Lin Fan and landed on the figure wearing an apron and quietly adding porridge to Lin Fan's bowl, the smile on his face instantly froze.
His hand trembled violently, and the heavy-looking gift box almost slipped from his grasp and crashed to the ground.
Fang... Fang Qingxue?!
How could he not recognize this person!
A once-in-a-century prodigy of the international martial arts family, the Fang family, and one of the almost certain future leaders, she is known as the "Ice and Snow Valkyrie" in a circle that is inaccessible to ordinary people!
But now...
This Valkyrie, who walks among the clouds, is actually wearing an old apron, like the most docile maid, adding porridge to Lin Fan's bowl?!
Li Zhenguo felt a "buzz" in his brain, as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer, and his mind went blank for a moment.
What's going on?
The Fang family... has been subdued by this Mr. Lin?
Or is this privileged young woman being held hostage here?
Countless breathtaking thoughts exploded in his mind, each one enough to cause a huge uproar in the outside world. When he looked at Lin Fan, who was calmly eating the pancake, his eyes were filled with awe that was almost fearful.
Just who is this person?
"Speak if you have something to say." Lin Fan finished the last mouthful of porridge, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, "Don't stand there if you don't have anything to say, you're blocking the light."
"Yes, yes!" Li Zhenguo snapped back to reality and quickly had his assistant present the gift box.
"Mr. Lin, this is a small gift. Two catties of top-grade Wuyi Mountain mother tree Da Hong Pao tea, and a three-hundred-year-old wild ginseng, for you... for you to nourish your body." He almost blurted out "you, sir" again.
Lin Fan's gaze lingered on the two boxes for a moment.
Da Hong Pao, alright, it's a bit better than my own Gao Sui.
Wild ginseng is not very useful to me, but it's good for making chicken soup.
"Put your things down and leave." Lin Fan waved his hand, as if dismissing a lackey who had just collected protection money.
Li Zhenguo's face tightened, and he quickly said, "Sir, I've come specifically to report on the follow-up to the Bafang Martial Arts School incident!"
"Oh?" Lin Fan finally raised his eyelids, showing some interest.
"That 'Black Bear' organization emptied all its strongholds in Beijing overnight after Kenno and his gang escaped back. They ran faster than rabbits," Li Zhenguo said, his tone filled with a triumphant satisfaction.
"We've discovered that their backer is a North American conglomerate called 'War God Industries,' which specializes in gene-based drugs and biological weapons. Their purpose in coming here to challenge us is to test their new drug and, incidentally, to undermine the prestige of our Chinese martial arts community, thus preparing for their market penetration."
"But now, they're completely crippled." Li Zhenguo looked at Lin Fan, his eyes filled with fanatical admiration. "Your move didn't just destroy Kenno; it crippled the very foundation of their entire enhancement system! I heard they used their top experts, and they still haven't figured out what happened to Kenno's leg. In their internal parlance, it's called 'structural annihilation at the cellular level, something even a god couldn't reverse.' 'War God Industries' stock price plummeted by 30% overnight, suffering a severe blow!"
"Oh, that's good." Lin Fan nodded, satisfied with the result.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
"Furthermore," Li Zhenguo paused, lowering his stance even further, "Chen Kaishan of the Bafang Martial Arts Academy, as well as the heads of various martial arts academies in Beijing, all asked me to convey their deepest gratitude to you. They prepared a generous gift and wanted to visit you in person, but I stopped them, knowing that you prefer quiet."
"You're quite good at handling things." Lin Fan gave him an approving look.
That would be a real problem if a bunch of people came and blocked the door, kowtowing and begging to become my disciples.
"Of course, of course," Li Zhenguo said, flattered and nodding quickly.
He hesitated for a moment, but finally asked, "Mr. Lin, regarding that 'War God Industries,' what do you think our next step... should be to eliminate them completely?"
The implication was that, with just a word from Lin Fan, they would spare no expense to make this group disappear from the face of the earth.
Lin Fan waved his hand dismissively: "Too much trouble. I don't care if they don't bother me. That's your problem, don't ask me."
This answer made Li Zhenguo smile wryly.
Just as expected. This guy's temperament is such that even if the sky falls, as long as it doesn't hit the flowers and plants in his yard, he won't even bother to lift an eyelid.
"I understand." Li Zhenguo nodded and prepared to take his leave.
It's already a huge honor that we've had the chance to talk so much today.
Just as he turned around, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.
"Chairman Li."
It was Fang Qingxue.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight.
"War God Industries, you can hand over the dirty work that your official team can't handle to the Fang family."
Li Zhenguo was stunned on the spot.
Fang Qingxue continued, her tone as calm as if she were talking about a trivial matter:
"They have several biological laboratories overseas, and our Fang family happens to be somewhat interested in them."
As she spoke, she turned slightly to the side, looking at Lin Fan respectfully.
"Consider it... payment for this courtyard, sir."
Li Zhenguo's eyelids began to twitch uncontrollably.
Oh my God!
The Fang family is going to take action against War God Industries? That's a war between two international behemoths, enough to cause a double earthquake in the global financial and underground markets!
The reason was simply because... Mr. Lin found them annoying?
And... what does "the salary I'm paid" mean?
To have the eldest daughter of the Fang family personally take down a massive multinational corporation... just to pay her a salary?!
What kind of salary is this?! Even ghost money isn't spent like this!
Li Zhenguo felt as if his worldview had been repeatedly crushed and shattered into dust.
He looked at Lin Fan, who seemed indifferent and unconcerned, and then at Fang Qingxue, who looked completely matter-of-fact, as if she were saying, "We're having rice for lunch today."
He suddenly realized that his vision as the president of the martial arts association was... too narrow.
The way these big shots communicate has evolved to a level he can no longer comprehend.
"Well... thank you very much, Miss Fang." Cold sweat beaded on Li Zhenguo's forehead, and he practically fled in panic.
He feared his heart would give out if he stayed any longer.
Watching Li Zhenguo's disheveled departure, Lin Fan stroked his chin.
He glanced at Fang Qingxue beside him.
This gardener got a good deal.
She can cook, take care of the yard, and proactively take on chores to solve her own problems.
Hmm, not bad.
You can be promoted to a permanent position ahead of schedule.
"Well done." Lin Fan rarely praised him again. "Add an extra dish for lunch, stew that ginseng."
"Yes, sir!"
Fang Qingxue's eyes lit up instantly, brighter than the stars in the sky.