Su Ruobing, in particular, had practically become his full-time secretary.
She was always cleaning up the messes for a hands-off boss like him.
Li Chang’an felt quite bad about it.
And in the foreseeable future, the problems Li Chang’an faced were only going to increase. While Su Ruobing would certainly benefit from his accomplishments on his turf here in Linjiang, Li Chang’an felt that their relationship was still too tenuous.
Relationships between people were all about mutual benefit.
Even with family, you couldn’t expect someone to work for free.
Therefore, Li Chang’an planned to share some of the profits with Su Ruobing. That way, he could ask for her help with future problems with more confidence.
It would change her role from that of a helpful superior to a true business partner.
The dynamic was completely different.
The call connected quickly. Li Chang’an skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Chairman Su, we have all the personnel we need now. As soon as the factories are fully repaired, we can begin production immediately!"
Hearing this, Su Ruobing breathed a sigh of relief.
She couldn’t help but smile. "In the past, we in Linjiang could only cooperate with those few military-industrial families, supplying them with cheap goods like firearms and ammunition. And even then, the heads of those families were always finding fault and pushing our prices down..."
"If this factory really gets up and running, Linjiang’s economy and job market will take off. I guess I’ll be riding your coattails!"
She was clearly in high spirits.
Unwilling to get engaged to that bastard Gu Ruilong, she had stormed off to this remote, godforsaken place, Linjiang.
She had originally thought that if she didn’t bow her head to her family,
she’d probably never have a chance to make a comeback in this lifetime.
But who would have thought she’d stumble upon a treasure like Li Chang’an? He not only uploaded the "Basic Martial Arts True Understanding 2.0 Version," a work capable of shifting the entire paradigm for humanity, but also designed a Super Electromagnetic Cannon and an Energy Particle Beam Cannon powerful enough to obliterate Tier Five Extraordinary Beasts.
Once these two things were fully realized, at the very least, Gu Ruilong would never be able to challenge her again in this lifetime regarding their bet.
Li Chang’an laughed as well and said, "Celebrating before the job is done is a bad omen!"
At his words, Su Ruobing’s smile faded.
After a moment of thought, she said seriously, "The other military-industrial families should be fine. The weapons they produce don’t overlap much with the Super Electromagnetic Cannon and Energy Particle Beam Cannon you’re about to put into production. Their business might still take a hit to some extent, but at most it will just reduce their profits a little. That alone isn’t enough to make them go to war over it."
"The only one we really have to guard against is the Gu Family!"
"The Gu Family’s best-selling military weapon is the Energy Particle Beam Cannon. From what I know, the profits from selling these cannons account for a third of the Gu Family’s annual income. The performance of the new version you’ll be selling is so much better that it will likely deal a devastating blow to their business..."
"As it stands, they’re the only ones likely to get desperate and do something crazy!"
Li Chang’an nodded. "I was thinking the same thing... But as you know, Chairman Su, I have a lot on my plate and can’t stay in the city every day. So if any problems come up at the factory and my secretary can’t find me, I must ask you to please help make some decisions!"
This was the first time Li Chang’an had ever brought something like this up on his own.
Su Ruobing was clearly a bit surprised. After a long moment, she teased, "I know you’re a busy man. After all, even though I’m managing this entire city, I’m not as elusive as you are!"
Her voice paused for a moment before she continued seriously, "I can agree to help look after the factory, but it is your factory, after all. If word gets out that I’m making decisions for you, it won’t look good!"
Her concerns were valid.
The factory belonged to Li Chang’an. If she interfered with its decisions, it would be like openly declaring to the world that she, the Chairman of the Rebirth Association, was trying to usurp control of a factory under her jurisdiction.
The news getting out would be a scandal.
And it could easily be exploited by those with ulterior motives.
This was precisely why Li Chang’an had made the call. He smiled and said, "Chairman Su, I’m preparing to establish a company in Cangxuan City. I’ve already thought of a name: the ’Night City Military Technology Group.’ This company will handle all future military production matters in Cangxuan City, and I’d like to invite you and Governor Xu to become shareholders!"
Hearing Li Chang’an’s proposal, Su Ruobing, who had been somewhat nonchalant, felt her heart skip a beat. She held her breath and asked, "Chang’an, what did you just say?"
Li Chang’an smiled. "On behalf of the ’Night City Military Technology Group,’ I’m inviting you and Governor Xu to become shareholders. I’ll personally hold 60% of the shares, and you and Governor Xu will each receive 20%."
The hand Su Ruobing was holding the phone with trembled involuntarily.
To be honest, as the eldest daughter of the Su Family from Kyoto, Su Ruobing lacked neither power nor money.
But the family was one thing, and she, as an individual, was another.
Within the family, she was the highly admired eldest daughter of the Su Family, wielding power and wealth that ordinary people couldn’t even dream of.
But all of that belonged to the Su Family.
What the Su Family could give, they could also naturally take away.
But now, Li Chang’an was offering her shares that would belong to her alone. It wasn’t because of the Su Family, and the Su Family would have no way to take them from her.
For Su Ruobing, this was actually a massive draw.
She didn’t care how much the shares were actually worth. What she cared about more was the gesture from Li Chang’an and the deeper meaning behind it.
’It meant that even if she, Su Ruobing, left the Su Family, she could still live very well on her own!’
After calming herself for a long moment, Su Ruobing managed to suppress the yearning and excitement in her heart. She shook her head and refused, "I’m not sure what Governor Xu’s attitude will be for now, but this kind of thing... I, I still feel it’s not quite appropriate..."