57 CEO Li Hao Tian's Decision
Northwest Drinks, Main office building.
The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable, as the people present all fidgeted around their chairs restlessly.
It was uneasily silent, as no one spoke.
"I feel that we should begin to take some appropriate measures against the Hui Yuan Drink Store. Their new drink has been revealed to be as popular as the Great Milk Tea, and they will definitely pose a threat to us in the future." Manager Yun abruptly spoke up in a clear voice, breaking the silence.
"How do we do that?" Li Hao Tian plainly asked.
Manager Yun was the one who had negotiated the deal with the Hui Yuan Drink Store over the selling rights, and had gained recognition for this, which greatly elevated his position.
However, ever since the success of the Sweet Strawberry Speciality, the rest of his colleagues were no longer as passionate as before when speaking towards him, and some even gloated at his misfortune.
He was put in a rather positon right now, and what he dearly needed, was to redeem himself in front of Li Hao Tian, the CEO of the Northwest Drinks.
And this was the perfect opportunity for him to do that.
"CEO, we can force the Hui Yuan Drink Store to hand up the selling rights of their new drinks by threatening them with the might of our company. After all, although we may not be as popular as the Hui Yuan Drink Store right now, our assets and heritage are well beyond theirs."
Seeing that Li Hao Tian did not stop him from speaking, Manager Yun plucked up even more courage as he announced, "CEO, I am willing to negotiate the second deal with them for the selling rights, and get rid of this thorn for our company!"
After saying this, Manager Yun put up his best and most confident smile while looking towards Li Hao Tian in expectation, waiting for his approval and praise.
However, what greeted him instead, was a file that came hurtling towards his face, knocking him back from his seat.
He fell down onto the ground, and his nose that took most of the force, started to bleed down his face. Manager Yun wiped the dripping blood off his nose, and casted a glance of disbelief at Li Hao Tian.
Why did the CEO throw a file towards him for no reason at all, when he was supposed to be complimenting him for his idea?
"You idiot! Did I hire you so that you can come up with such a stupid idea?! Threatening the other party, huh? You were the one who negotiated the deal with them, so you know the relationship between us best. Currently, in the eyes of the public, we are co-operators! We are friends doing business together! And you still dare to come up with such an idea, to threaten our co-operators?" Li Hao Tian furiously roared while glaring at Manager Yun.
"At this moment, do you still not understand their ploy? First, they hook us in with an agreement that they felt were beneficial to us! Next, they revealed the news of our cooperation to the public!"
"Now that they have managed to introduce even more new drinks, with our status being co-operators, we are not allowed to act against them at all, unless you want the entire world to know that we do not even respect our partners in business!"
"If we do as you say, who would even want to cooperate with us in a business deal in the future? Huh? Who would want to work with a company that forces and threatens their own partners? Tell me!" Li Hao Tian was no longer able to control his anger, and fiercely slammed down his hand on the table.
In the past, he was always the one tricking and scheming against others. When had he suffered a loss that great before?
Since he was unable to find the boss of the Hui Yuan Drink Store to vent his anger, he might as well use Manager Yun to relieve his burning rage instead.
The rest of the people in the meeting room simply gave Manager Yun a gaze of pity. Who asked him to act smart in the first place? If he had kept his mouth shout, and not try to be an attention-seeker, this situation will not happen to him at all.
"Does any of you here have any more logical ideas to share?" Li Hao Tian shifted his gaze from the miserable looking Manager Yun, and looked towards the rest of the people present.
The room went silent as those that got stared at involuntarily shrank their necks, including Manager Qin, who was the one who analysed that the Sweet Strawberry Speciality would have no success in the first place, and condescended it.
"Manager Qin, since you were the one who agreed with Manger Yun in the previous meeting, saying that they will not continue on the trend of high quality drinks, what do you have to say now?" Li Hao Tian, however, did not forget Manager Qin's words and presence, although the latter had tried to act as inconspicuous as possible.
"I…I...feel that…" Manager Qin was startled when he heard his name being called, and instantly became panicked afterwards as he mumbled and stumbled on his words.
It was at this moment, that the brawny man who had went along with Manager Yun along to Hui Yuan Drink Store to negotiate a deal, spoke up in a clear voice, "CEO, I feel that we should try to reach a consensus with the Hui Yuan Drink Store. Although we may be greater than the Hui Yuan Drink Store in terms of assets, but the Hui Yuan Drink Store is above us in potential. It is likely that the Hui Yuan Drink Store may become bigger than us in the future, and I suggest that we maintain a good relation with them instead, rather than fighting them head on."
Li Hao Tian placed a meaningful gaze upon the brawny man, who was also one of the managers within the company, Manager Chen.
His idea seemed like the best idea from a logical standpoint.
But as someone who had lorded over and dominated so many smaller businesses to reach his current success, how could he so easily succumb to that of a much smaller business than theirs?
His pride explicitly told him that he was unwilling, unwilling to do as such.
"Manager Chen's idea is a rather good one. But how could our Northwest Drinks, bow down to a mere Hui Yuan Drink Store so easily? We should at least give them so obstacles, before I will acknowledge them to be someone worthy for me to do so." Li Hao Tian slowly said after a while.
"But rather than using our own company to deal against them, why can't we make use of other companies to help us deal with this issue instead?" Li Hao Tian's lips curved into an insidious smile as he stated.
"Call the boss of the WaterLake. I have some relations with him, and I am sure that he is also taking notice of the threat of the Hui Yuan Drink Store." Li Hao Tian turned towards his secretary, before he left the meeting room silently.
Manager Chen looked towards the CEO's empty seat, and could not help but shake his head. He had an uneasy feeling welling up within him, and he felt that this decision of his could lead to some potential disastrous outcomes.
However, he was just a mere Manager, and did not have the authority to change his decisions. Manager Chen did not even bother to look and gloat at Manager Yun's pathetic circumstances just because he was unwilling to listen to his advice, and simply left the meeting room as well.
Maybe it was time for him to find a job elsewhere instead. Manager Chen sighed inwardly as he thought to himself.
------
Si Chen was unaware of the Northwest Drink's meeting, nor the matters which had occurred during it.
At this point of time, he was simply staring at the stats on his mind space
Host: Si Chen
Level: 8 – (257000/300000)
Net worth: $200500 => $250000
Cash – [$67500] => [$46000]
90% Shares -- Hui Yuan Drink Store [$65000] => [$75000]
90% Shares – Orchid Garden [$18000]
90% Shares – OnShop [$21000]
85% Shares – Seafood Restaurant [$55000] => [$70000]
51% Shares – Eternal Fashion [$22000] => [$27000]
Host Attributes:
Charm: 9.0
Strength: 10.7
Wisdom: 12.0
Free Attribute Points: 0
Skills:
Business Management – Level 2
Host gains knowledge of the intricacies of business management, and can navigate more smoothly within the business world.
Passive Effect: 15% Increase in profits; 15% increase in customers.
Food & Beverage Business Expertise – Level 8 (230/800)
Host gains knowledge of the secrets behind the Food & Beverage Industry, and can develop better tasting food and more flavourful drinks.
Passive Effect: 8% Increase in profits; 8% increase in customers
[Only applies to F&B related Businesses]
Art and Design – Level 4 (20/400)
Host gains knowledge on the study of visual thinking, and can create greater and more attractive design, and more innovative art.
Passive Effect: 4% Increase in profits; 4% increase in customers
[Only applies to Predominantly Art & Design related Businesses]
Note: Clothing, Handbags, Shoes, Bags Businesses etc.
His net worth increase was amazing, but not unexpected, given the different lines of income that streamed into his pockets.
He now had his hands into 5 businesses, with all of them within classified under the retail industry. He did not know when his current Mission Tasks will be completed, but he was sure that it won't take too long.
After all his efforts on learning up on F&B knowledge, as well as Art & Design, it was natural for their levels to increase.
Art & Design went up from Level 2 to Level 4, while F&B Business Expertise went up from Level 7 to Level 8.
When he was done checking, Si Chen then smiled in satisfaction, and made his way out of his room, towards the kitchen, to prepare himself some light food.
Opening the various cupboards and finding them packed with food, Si Chen felt that asking Yang Yun and Yang Ran to buy groceries for him was such a great idea.
Not only did he not need to pay for them, they were also unrestrained in buying.
It seemed like they truly were inexperienced in grocery shopping though, because while he was sifting through the cans and packages of food, he occasionally found cans of dog food, and other animal foods.
Sometimes he even wondered which kind of parents would dare to let them out of their house, with their complete lack of knowledge in this common affairs.
