Chapter 143: Another Trap

According to the gossip circulating among colleagues, Zhong Xiaoyao only knew that Zheng Qian had acquired a large number of shares in Zhengxin Shipyard and had already stripped Chen Weiqiang of his position as the helm.

This news shouldn't be false, as she had signed a non-disclosure agreement at Xia Xixi's request just a few days ago.

As for matters regarding Qianhe Group, Zhong Xiaoyao knew absolutely nothing.

No wonder her right eyelid had been twitching non-stop for the past two days; it turns out this was the reason.

The relationship between Xia Xixi and Zheng Qian was already ambiguous to begin with. Now that Qianhe Group had been established, with Zheng Qian serving as its chairman and the office moving to Long Lake, who knew when Zhong Xiaoyao would even get to see Zheng Qian again.

Xia Xixi, whom Zhong Xiaoyao had previously dismissed, had suddenly completely overshadowed her.

"Yaoyao, you don't need to worry too much. As far as I know, the Public Relations Department of Zhengxin Shipyard will be transferred by The Group to form a special administrative task force."

Zhong Xiaoyao didn't quite understand.

Seeing this, Chen Weiqiang simply laid it out clearly.

"The company will establish a new Public Relations Department to replace your positions, and you will serve as the team leader of the special administrative task force, a department directly led by President Zheng."

"Does that mean I will also be moving to Long Lake?" Zhong Xiaoyao confirmed.

Chen Weiqiang nodded, and Zhong Xiaoyao felt as if she had taken a reassuring pill.

After his explanation, Zhong Xiaoyao understood that this special administrative task force was a department of Zheng Qian's trusted confidants, and that all matters, big or small, would be handled by her team.

Such a department would certainly need to be by Zheng Qian's side at all times.

"It's just that the time isn't right yet, so I haven't had a chance to tell you. You must keep this a secret," Chen Weiqiang instructed.

Zhong Xiaoyao nodded and left the office, beaming with joy.

With such a massive advantage in information asymmetry, she could absolutely set a trap for Qin Xueli!

Zhong Xiaoyao found Qin Xueli immediately.

Qin Xueli had also been worried these past few days because she couldn't see Zheng Qian, but she didn't know what was happening within the company.

Logically speaking, even if Zheng Qian had become the chairman of Zhengxin Shipyard, he still had to come to the office; he couldn't just stop showing up.

"Lili, are you busy?" Zhong Xiaoyao walked over with a smile and asked affectionately.

"Not busy, what's up?" Qin Xueli replied gently.

The two hid daggers behind their smiles; while they appeared harmonious, a psychological battle had actually begun.

Usually, Zhong Xiaoyao was at daggers drawn with her, practically itching to start a fight right there in the office. Now that she was speaking to her so affectionately, there was definitely nothing good going on.

Qin Xueli raised her psychological guard to the highest level.

"Do you know any inside information about President Zheng?" Zhong Xiaoyao probed first. If Qin Xueli also knew about the news regarding Qianhe Group, then everything that followed would be moot.

Qin Xueli shook her head: "I really don't know. Do you have some news to share with me?"

Judging by her expression, Zhong Xiaoyao believed that Qin Xueli was unaware. Chen Weiqiang had also said that he had only told her this news alone.

If she could use this information gap to force Qin Xueli away during this period, then Qin Xueli wouldn't be transferred to Long Lake with her and would have to stay put at Zhengxin.

"It's like this: President Chen is currently looking for a group of outstanding colleagues to form a brand-new Public Relations Department. I recommended you to President Chen as the team leader. I wonder if you're interested?"

A brand-new Public Relations Department? Qin Xueli couldn't figure out what she was up to.

Shouldn't the Public Relations Department be directly managed by Zheng Qian? Why was Chen Weiqiang the one scouting people?

If a new team were to be established, Zhong Xiaoyao would definitely be the first in line; would it really fall to her, a deputy team leader?

And what would happen to the old Public Relations Department? As the deputy team leader, Qin Xueli hadn't received any notice of personnel changes.

Zhong Xiaoyao recommending her? Forget it; who knows what kind of trap might be inside.

"I'll ask President Zheng about it later. Thank you, Yaoyao." Qin Xueli wasn't going to fall for her trick.

"Qin Xueli, are you being ungrateful? I was kind enough to recommend you to President Chen, and you're still asking about President Zheng?"

"If I were you, I would already be in President Chen's office by now, instead of being so picky here."

Seeing that Qin Xueli wasn't taking the bait, Zhong Xiaoyao said in frustration.

Qin Xueli smiled calmly. She knew Zhong Xiaoyao was up to no good, likely having received some exclusive news and wanting to lure her to another department.

If she guessed correctly, the entire old Public Relations Department was going to be transferred, right? Playing this game with her? Zhong Xiaoyao was still a bit too green.

...

Long Lake. Qianhe Group. Zheng Qian had just finished a meeting with Chen Weiqiang and Liu Shiqi.

For the past few days, Chen Weiqiang had been supervising the two docks at Yenan Dock and Yebai. Following the standards provided by Huo Muyan, they improved the environment, upgraded equipment, expanded shipping lines, and increased capacity.

The workers worked in three shifts around the clock, completing all the work in just one week.

"The land reclamation permit has been submitted according to the new standards. The deposit will be paid by Qianhe Group. Barring any accidents, it should be approved within half a month."

Liu Shiqi also reported on the situation of The Group, stating that Qianhe Group had finished its integration and all departments had begun work.

Xia Xixi had already booked flight tickets for the three of them two hours later. The three of them packed their things and prepared to board.

Just as Zheng Qian was about to head to the airport, he ran into Huo Muyan, who had come looking for him.

She had retrieved the cargo ship data for Zhengxin Shipyard and carefully studied the cargo ships' size, tonnage, model, length, and width. Spending nearly a week, she led her design studio to work overtime to come up with four proposals.

She had been exhausted these past few days.

Huo Muyan immediately found Zheng Qian to review them, hoping he could make a decision. If he wasn't satisfied, they could revise them or redesign them.

After reviewing them, Zheng Qian was quite satisfied with all four proposals.

Upon receiving a satisfactory reply from Zheng Qian, Huo Muyan was ecstatic and continued: "Then please choose one proposal, and I will immediately start having people begin the painting."

"You decide. I'm in a rush to catch a flight."

Let her decide? Huo Muyan thought to herself, 'you are the client; what kind of sense does it make to let her decide?'

"Can it be done in two days?" Zheng Qian asked again.

"Is it that urgent? If it needs to be done in two days, we can only choose Proposal C."

Before Huo Muyan could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Zheng Qian.

"Fine, then let's go with Proposal C. Just take a photo for me once the painting is done. That's all for now, I'm about to miss my flight."

After saying this, Zheng Qian left Long Lake and headed to Yebai Airport to meet with Chen Weiqiang and Liu Shiqi.

Huo Muyan was stunned.

The proposals she had led her studio to design through such hard work and dedication over nearly a week, he just took one look at? And in the end, he picked the one that was fastest to paint?

Even Huo Muyan felt it was a pity for Zheng Qian to spend those 25 million.

...

The event Zheng Qian was going to attend was the Kyushu Maritime Trade Bidding Conference.

These past few days, Zheng Qian had meticulously prepared and done his homework, just so he could shine at this bidding conference.

In the business class cabin, Chen Weiqiang asked: "Qian, are you confident about this bidding conference?"

This bidding was mainly for agricultural product exports for the second half of this year.

As a major agricultural nation, Kyushu had a severe surplus in grain production, making it a major agricultural exporter and a large piece of the pie in export trade.

There were a total of 11 grain enterprises targeted for this bidding, distributed across the four regions of Jiangnan, Yezhou, Qilu, and the Northeast, with private enterprises accounting for more than half.

The number of enterprises participating in the bidding was even higher; basically, any shipping company with the capability to export would come to participate.

This included the Five Shipping Alliance.

As the most powerful shipping enterprise in Kyushu, Asia Shipping naturally wouldn't let this piece of the pie slip by.

In other words, Jiang Yanran would also be coming to participate.

Zheng Qian intended to wash away his previous shame at this bidding conference.