Chapter 326: Do More Good Deeds

"When a company grows too fast, it’s bound to attract envy." Chen Qingdi sighed softly, understanding this principle well.

He decided to make a change, to channel some of the Mingyue Group’s wealth outward to alleviate this envy. So, he dialed the number for Sun Boqi, the president of the city newspaper.

"President Sun, this is Chen Qingdi." His tone was friendly and steady.

"Oh, Chairman Chen! Hello!" Sun Boqi sounded a bit surprised, but he quickly regained his composure.

"I’d like to do some philanthropy, to build some infrastructure for the city," Chen Qingdi said, getting straight to the point.

Sun Boqi fell silent for a moment before offering some advice. "Chairman Chen, I know you have money, but projects like these are incredibly expensive. You really need to think it over, whether you want to sink this much money into something just to buy a good reputation."

Chen Qingdi chuckled. "Money is only yours once you’ve spent it. What’s sitting in an account is just a number. If I can do something for the people of this city, that’s a good thing."

Hearing this, Sun Boqi stopped trying to dissuade him and simply respected his decision. He knew the city needed more entrepreneurs like Chen Qingdi, people willing to contribute to the public good.

As time passed, the far-reaching impact of Chen Qingdi’s decision gradually became apparent. Mingyue Group not only succeeded in the commercial realm but also cultivated an excellent corporate image through its philanthropic endeavors.

The citizens couldn’t stop singing Chen Qingdi’s praises, and his name was spoken with reverence throughout the city.

However, just as Sun Boqi had warned, philanthropy was not easy. Chen Qingdi encountered numerous difficulties and challenges during the construction of the infrastructure.

But when faced with these difficulties, Chen Qingdi never complained. Instead, he proactively sought solutions, working closely with his team to overcome every challenge.

Under Chen Qingdi’s leadership, Mingyue Group overcame one obstacle after another.

The infrastructure was gradually completed and put into operation, bringing tangible benefits and conveniences to the city’s residents. Dissenting voices faded away as people began to truly understand and accept Chen Qingdi’s benevolent actions.

「Niu Group Headquarters, Chairman’s Office」

Niu Fugui, however, was staring at the news on his computer screen, his brows tightly furrowed.

The news featured his rival of many years, Chen Qingdi, the chairman of the Mingyue Group. Chen Qingdi’s businesses were thriving, and his company was rapidly expanding.

The news was like a spark, igniting a blaze of fury in Niu Fugui’s heart.

BANG! Niu Fugui slammed his palm on the desk. The teacup trembled, sending ripples across the surface of the tea.

He roared at his secretary, Liu Defa, who was standing nearby, "If you can’t find a good way to deal with the Mingyue Group, then don’t bother coming to work anymore!"

A chill ran down Liu Defa’s spine. He knew Niu Fugui wasn’t a man who lost his temper easily, but when he did, his fury was like a thunderstorm.

Having been Niu Fugui’s secretary for many years, he was intimately familiar with his boss’s temperament. He didn’t want to lose his job, and more importantly, he didn’t want to lose the benefits that came with it.

That evening, Liu Defa met his good friend and childhood buddy, Zhao Daqiang, at a bar.

Zhao Daqiang was a freelancer. While he didn’t have a steady job, he possessed an impressive network of contacts and a knack for getting things done. Seeing Liu Defa’s long face, he smiled and asked, "What’s wrong, my old friend?"

Liu Defa told Zhao Daqiang about the situation with Niu Fugui. After listening, Zhao Daqiang just smiled.

"Isn’t this simple?" he said. "To know your enemy and know yourself is to be victorious in a hundred battles. If you want to hurt the Mingyue Group, the easiest way is to find their weak spot. And to do that, you need to find someone on the inside to sow discord and break them apart from within."

Hearing this, Liu Defa’s eyes lit up.

He understood what Zhao Daqiang was suggesting. They were going to wage a ’spy war’. "But where are we supposed to find this insider?" he asked.

Zhao Daqiang clapped his hands with a laugh. "The Mingyue Group is huge. They’re bound to have enemies or disgruntled employees. We just need to pull a few strings, and I’m sure we’ll find what we’re looking for."

In the days that followed, Liu Defa and Zhao Daqiang began to plan and act in concert.

They used every channel available to them to dig up information on the Mingyue Group’s internal affairs, searching for a potential opening.

At the same time, they actively contacted and cultivated their own informants, hoping to obtain the most valuable information in the shortest amount of time.

Meanwhile, Niu Fugui was not idle. He made a series of internal adjustments and strategic arrangements, preparing his own company for the battle to come.

Not long after, in a small tavern, Xiao Dashan, a manager from one of Mingyue Group’s subsidiaries, was having dinner with Liu Defa, the secretary from the Niu Group.

As the wine flowed, the details of a transaction involving confidential technical documents slowly came to light.

Xiao Dashan was an obscure figure within the Mingyue Group, but he was a man of outstanding ability. He had always worked under Chen Qingdi, struggling to make a living.

Tonight, he was slightly tipsy. As he looked at Liu Defa across the table, a conflicted light flickered in his eyes.

Liu Defa was a cunning man, skilled at using words to manipulate people. He smiled and slapped a check down in front of Xiao Dashan, as if it were bait he had prepared long ago.

"Just give me the technical documents I asked for last time, and the two hundred thousand on this check is all yours," Liu Defa said, glancing at Xiao Dashan with contempt, seemingly disappointed by his hesitation.

Xiao Dashan stared down at the check, his heart a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.

His job at the Mingyue Group was stable, but his salary was undeniably meager. He understood the consequences of this transaction perfectly: he would be selling out his company’s interests for a moment of financial relief.

The alcohol dulled his senses. He stared at the two hundred thousand before him, his heart wracked with conflict.

On one side was loyalty and professional ethics; on the other, the pressures of life and the allure of temptation.

"You know, even if you work under Chen Qingdi at the Mingyue Group for your entire life, you’ll probably never make much money. Just think about it." Liu Defa’s words were a double-edged sword, striking right at the softest part of Xiao Dashan’s heart.

Xiao Dashan’s hands clenched into fists, his gaze drifting. He thought of all his hard work and dedication to the company, but reality was a cruel master.

Compared to his boss, Chen Qingdi, his own income was pathetic. On top of that, the pressure from household expenses and his children’s education fees was mounting.

"I need time to think," Xiao Dashan said with great difficulty, taking a deep breath. He understood the gravity of this deal and needed time to weigh the pros and cons.

Back home, Xiao Dashan’s heart remained a battlefield of struggle and indecision.